System for forming an opening in a container end member

A one-piece metallic end member having a cylindrical peripheral rim wall portion with a central axis and a pair of perpendicular transverse diametrical central reference lines extending through said central axis, a relatively thin central end wall portion having a generally flat outer surface and a generally flat inner surface, a mounting hole means having a center point located at the intersection of said central reference lines, a severable tab portion in said central wall portion and having a longitudinal axis extending along one of said central reference lines from a radially inwardly offset relationship to a first part of said peripheral rim wall portion toward said central axis and terminating in a radially outwardly spaced relationship to a portion of said mounting hole means, said severable tab portion having a central body portion defined by a continuous generally curved score line groove means having a curved end portion extending across said one of said central reference lines, a pair of spaced curved side portions located on opposite sides of said one of said central reference lines and extending toward said mounting hole means from said curved end portion, one of said spaced curved side portions having a terminal portion extending laterally across said one of said central reference lines between said mounting hole means and said central body portion and having a terminal end terminating on a radial reference line extending from the central axis of said mounting hole means and said terminal end being located in laterally spaced offset relationship to said one of said reference lines, the other of said spaced curved side portions having a terminal end terminating on said radial reference line in radially outwardly spaced relationship to said terminal end of said one of said spaced curved side portions, an integral hinge portion extending along said radial line between said terminal ends and means for applying an axially inwardly directed force on said severable tab portion comprising:

• a force applying means for moving said severable tab portion to form said opening in said end member comprising a one-piece integrally formed plastic member for providing an opening in said end member by severing said severable tab portion along said score line groove means, said force applying means having an elongated body portion having a central longitudinal axis generally co-planar with said one of said reference lines, a transverse handle end portion located in radially inwardly spaced relationship to a second part of said peripheral rim wall portion and between said peripheral rim wall portion and said mounting hole means and having a portion thereof spaced from said upper surface of said central end wall portion, a transverse abutment end portion located in radially inwardly spaced relationship to said first part of said peripheral rim wall portion and between said hinge means and said curved end portion, an attachment means portion having a flat lower surface and a connecting shaft means extending downwardly therefrom through said mounting hole means and having a terminal end portion located below said central end wall portion of said end member and fixedly engaged with said inner surface of said central end wall portion circumjacent said mounting hole means and holding said flat lower surface of said attachment means portion in abutting engagement with said outer surface of said central end wall portion of said end member circumjacent said mounting hole means;
• sealing means associated with said mounting hole means and said attachment means portion for preventing the passage of gases and liquids therebetween;
• said transverse abutment end portion of said force applying means having a force applying edge portion extending transversely across and engageable with said central body portion of said severable tab portion between said pair of spaced curved side portions of said score line groove means for applying a severing force to said severable tab portion;
• and
• pivot means on said force applying means located between said transverse abutment end portion and said attachment means portion for enabling said handle end portion of said force applying means to be lifted axially upwardly away from said outer surface of said central end wall portion of said end member to cause axially inwardly pivotal movement of said abutment means against said central body portion of said severable tab portion to sever said severable tab portion from said central end wall portion of said end member along said score line groove means by axially inwardly pivotal movement about said hinge portion whereby said severable tab portion remains connected to said central end wall portion of said end member at said hinge portion and said force applying means remains attached to said central end wall portion of said end member by said attachment means portion.