Pouring spout steel can end construction

In a metal can end of a type having a seam flange adapted to be connected by seam means to a can body which can end has a recessed corner located below the seam flange with a flat end panel extending inward from the recessed corner, the flat panel having a pear-shaped score line therein defining a removable portion to be torn from said end panel to form a pouring spout opening when pulled by an aluminum pull tab having a ring end and a bottom nose wall connected by a rivet formed integrally in the flat panel and located close to the score line, the pull tab bottom nose wall having slots therein forming an ear-like portion to which the rivet is connected and having a stepped tip spaced from said ear-like portion;

• wherein the improvement comprises an annealed, tempered, tin-free steel can end;
• the pear-shaped score line having an outer wider straight end portion connected by rounded corners with inwardly converging terminal portions having spaced-apart ends;
• the outer straight end score line portion being located close to the can end recessed corner with the pull tab stepped tip overlying and spaced above the center of the outer straight end score line portion;
• and the pull tab bottom nose wall and panel wall riveted thereto bending on a bend line extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the pull tab which extends through the rivet and stepped tip with the bend line located between the rivet and stepped tip when the ring end of the pull tab is raised to wipe the tip into and across the score line to initially rupture the score line at said center and to spread the rupture in either direction from said center along the outer straight end score line portion.