US 4,830,214 A · One-piece molded end closure

Abstract

A one-piece molded end closure has a pull ring spaced from a main panel having an annular flange extending therefrom. When the end closure is frangible through having score lines formed in the main panel, the pull ring is connected by a tenon adjacent a score point, which is the junction of two score lines and inside of the inner diameter of the pull ring, so that pulling on the pull ring, which is substantially parallel to the main panel, starts rupturing of the two score lines. The end closure also may be a plug type having a friction fit within a container whereby there are no score lines; the pull ring is still used to remove the end closure from the open end of the container. The method and apparatus for molding enable production of the end closure as one piece without any tearing of the pull ring or rupturing of the score lines when the end closure is removed from the molding apparatus. The main panel may be formed with a single continuous score line and the pull ring not at the center of the main panel. The end closure also may be formed integral with a cylindrical side wall of the container rather than having the end closure molded separately and then being sealed to an open end of a container.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A one-piece end closure of injection molded plastic for closing an open end of a container or the like including:

a panel having an annular surrounding portion at its periphery;
a pull ring disposed in spaced relation to said panel on the same side of said panel as said annular surrounding portion;
said pull ring having a diameter at least several times greater than its thickness;
means connecting a portion of said pull ring to said panel to maintain said pull ring in spaced relation to said panel;
said connecting means being connected to said panel so that said pull ring does not have its center at the center of said panel;
said pull ring and said connecting means being spaced from said annular surrounding portion;
said panel having score means formed therein to enable rupture thereof when subjected to a force exerted on said pull ring;
said score means including at least a single continuous score line surrounding said connecting means, said single continuous score line being endless so as to be capable of complete severing when subjected to a force exerted on said pull ring to remove the portion of said panel within said single continuous score line from the remainder of said end closure;
said single continuous score line being the only endless score line of said score means;
and said connecting means remaining attached to the removed portion of said panel after completion of rupturing of said single continuous score line so that said pull ring remains attached to the removed portion of said panel.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

One-piece molded end closure

Life of this patent

One-piece molded end closure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15