Easy-opening can end and method of opening
AssigneeCrown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.
InventorVinson S. Potts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An easy-opening can end includes a dispensing opening covered by a pivoting tab located on the interior side of the end. The pivoting tab is adapted to be pushed inwardly so as to break the seal at the dispensing opening and subsequently pivoted to the open position in response to movement of a finger engageable portion. The tab is fastened to the can end at an area of pivotal attachment. The area of pivotal attachment is connected to the can end by a peninsular region and separated from a part of the can end by a score or a lance line. Prior to pivoting the tab, the area of pivotal attachment is depressed at the score or lance line to vent the can.
Claims80
A can of the easy-opening type comprising:
- a can body;
- an end panel attached to said can body and having a dispensing opening communicating between the interior and the exterior of said can body;
- and
- a closure tab pivotally attached to said end panel, said tab comprising a closure portion sealingly engaging said end panel on the interior side thereof adjacent said dispensing opening, said closure portion extending on the interior side of said end panel from said dispensing opening to the area of pivotal attachment of said tab to said end panel, said tab further comprising a finger engageable portion located on the exterior of said end panel so as to permit said closure portion to be pivoted from the closed position to the open position, said dispensing opening and said tab permitting said closure portion to be pushed inwardly so as to break the seal between said closure portion and said end panel during opening while said finger engageable portion remains on the exterior side of said end panel thereby facilitating subsequent pivoting of said closure tab about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the can body.
A method of opening an easy-opening type can comprising a can body, an end panel attached to said body with a dispensing opening communicating with the interior of the can body, and a closure tab pivotally attached to said end panel, said closure tab having a closure portion sealingly engaging said end panel on the interior side thereof adjacent said dispensing opening, said closure tab also having a finger engageable portion, the method comprising:
- pushing said closure tab inwardly at said dispensing opening to break said seal between said closure portion and said end panel, and
- pivoting said closure tab in a plane substantially parallel to said end panel by engaging said finger engageable portion at the exterior of said end panel after said seal has been broken.
A closure for a container of the easy-opening type comprising:
- a panel having a dispensing opening, a tab operating opening and an area of pivotal attachment;
- and
- a closure tab pivotally attached to said panel at said area of pivotal attachment so as to pivot about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of said panel, said tab including a closure portion extending along the interior side of said panel so as to cover and seal said dispensing opening and said tab operating opening when said closure tab is in the closed position, said tab further comprising a finger engageable portion adapted to extend through said tab operating opening before and after said closure portion has been pushed inwardly at said dispensing opening for use in pivoting said closure portion to the open position about said axis.
A method of opening a container of the easy-opening type comprising a panel having a dispensing opening, a tab operating opening and an area of pivotal attachment for a closure tab, the tab including a closure portion sealingly engaging the panel on the interior side thereof adjacent the dispensing opening and the tab operating opening, the tab further including a finger engageable portion extending through the tab operating opening, the method comprising:
- pushing said closure tab inwardly at said dispensing opening to break at least a portion of the seal between said tab closure and said end panel;
- retaining at least some of said finger engageable portion extending through said tab operating opening after said pushing, and
- pivoting said closure tab about an axis substantially perpendicular to said panel by engaging the retained finger engageable portion at the exterior of said panel.
A method of opening a container of the easy-opening type comprising a closure tab, a panel having a dispensing opening, a tab operating opening and an area of pivotal attachment for a closure tab, the tab including a closure portion sealingly engaging the panel on the interior side thereof adjacent the dispensing opening, the tab operating opening and the area of pivotal attachment, tab further including a finger engageable portion extending through the tab operating opening, the method comprising:
- pushing said closure tab at the area of pivotal attachment inwardly for venting said container;
- retaining at least some of said finger engageable portion extending through said tab operating opening after said pushing;
- and
- pivoting said closure tab about an axis substantially perpendicular to said panel by engaging the finger engageable portion at the exterior of said panel.
A closure for a container of the easy-opening type comprising:
- a panel having a dispensing opening, a tab operating opening and an area of pivotal attachment, said area of pivotal attachment being connected to a portion of said panel by a peninsular region and separated from the remainder of said panel;
- and
- a closure tab pivotally attached to said panel at said area of pivotal attachment so as to pivot about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of said panel, said tab including a closure portion extending along the interior side of said panel so as to cover and seal said dispensing opening and said tab operating opening when said closure tab is in the closed position, said tab further comprising a finger engageable portion adapted to extend through said tab operating opening before and after said closure portion has been pushed inwardly at said dispensing opening for use in pivoting said closure portion to the open position about said axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.