US 4,051,976 A · Container with attached closure

Abstract

Improved easy opening means for containers. Especially adapted to those used for liquids, including carbonated beverages, and permitting drinking from the container or pouring out contents. An important feature is attachment of closure to container after opening to avoid litter. Main feature is an openable segment in the top defined by a score line that extends almost all around its periphery, but interrupted at one point by an unscored section which provides hingeable attachment means to secure the segment to the top within the container after opening. Opening of the segment is accomplished by a manually operated elongated leverage lift tab which is hingeably secured to the top by a rivet which is positioned just outside of the segment and close to the score line. The outer longer lift end of the lift tab extends over the container top beyond the segment, and the shorter inner end extends partially over the segment, and comprises a downward pressure exerting extension. When the lift end is raised, the inner end exerts high downward pressure near the score line, thereby rupturing the score line with the rupture starting near the pressure point and extending on around the periphery, and the segment is thereby hinged down into the container where it remains attached to the top by the hingeable unscored section. The lift tab is then folded back out of the way to a position just above the container top, and ready for drinking from the can or pouring out the contents. Container top may be of ductile metal or of plastic. Primary objectives are the elimination of separate closure device that would cause litter, closure easier to open than heretofore, low cost, and no danger of a piece coming loose inside container.

Claims50

Dependent claims

An improved easy open container having a top made of sheet material and having easy opening means therein, and in which said easy opening means comprises,

an openable segment in said container top and with said segment defined by a weakening score line which extends almost all the way around the periphery of said segment but with said score line interrupted at one point and thereby leaving a relatively short unscored section along said periphery, and which unscored section forms a permanent hingeable attachment means to anchor said openable segment to said container top after opening of said segment,
an elongated leverage lift tab means for manaul leverage opening of said openable segment, and with said leverage lift tab means hingeably attached at a point along its length to rivet securement means, and with said rivet securement means permanently secured to said container top at a position on said top which is outward of said openable segment but close to said score line, and said leverage lift tab means having a longer outer lift end which overlies and extends outward over said container top beyond said openable segment, and having a shorter inner downward pressure exerting end means which extends partially over said openable segment in the region near said rivet securement means, and
said inner downward pressure exerting end means having pressure contact means whereby when said outer lift end of said leverage lift tab means is manually raised upward to open said openable segment, said inner downward pressure exerting end means will move downward and cause said pressure contact means to exert high downward pressure against said openable segment in the region near said rivet securement means, and will cause rupture along said score line, and whereby said pressure contact means will cause downward bending of said openable segment into said container, and provide an opened area in said container top, and wherein said segment remains attached to said container top by at least said unscored section hingeable attachment means.

An improved easy open container having a container top and having easy open means therein, and in which said easy open means comprises,

an openable segment in said container top and with said segment defined by a rupturable line which extends for at least a substantial way around the periphery of said segment, and with hingeable attachment means provided for permanently and hingeably attaching said openable segment to said container top after opening of said segment, leverage lift tab means for manual leverage opening of said openable segment, and with said leverage lift tab means hingeably attached at a point along its length to securement means permanently secured to said container top at a position on said top which is outward of said openable segment but close to said rupturable line, and said leverage lift tab means having an outer lift end which overlies and extends outward over said container top beyond said openable segment, and having an inner downward pressure exerting end means which extends over a portion of said openable segment, and with said portion in the region near said securement means, and said inner downward pressure exerting end means having pressure contact means whereby when said outer lift end of said leverage lift tab means is manually raised upward to open said openable segment said leverage lift tab will hinge through an arc about a substantially horizontal axis near said securement means, and said inner downward pressure exerting end means will move downward and cause said pressure contact means to exert high downward pressure against said openable segment in said region near said securement means, and will cause rupture along said rupturable line, and whereby said inner downward pressure exerting end means will cause downward displacement of said segment into said container, and provide an opening in said container top, and wherein after opening of said container said segment remains attached to said container top by at least said hingeable attachment means, and wherein said leverage lift tab means remains attached to said container top by said securement means.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Container with attached closure

Life of this patent

Container with attached closure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims50