Container end member

A container end member for sealed association with a container body member to provide a sealed container comprising:

• a one piece end member having a peripheral wall portion and an integral central end wall portion;
• at least one severable tab portion integral with said central end wall portion;
• a hinge portion integral with said central end wall portion and having spaced apart ends;
• at least one severable score line groove having a main body portion and integral end portions defining said spaced apart ends of said hinge portion and defining said at least one severable tab portion so that said at least one severable tab portion may be pushed generally axially inwardly into said container body member to form an opening in said central end wall portion;
• at least one axially inwardly projecting portion having a first portion comprising a part of said at least one severable tab portion and a second portion comprising a part of said central end wall portion;
• said at least one severable score line groove being located in said at least one axially inwardly projecting portion;
• said at least one severable tab portion having a center point;
• said at least one severable score line groove having at least one arcuate portion;
• and
• said at least one arcuate portion having at least one concave portion and at least one convex portion in relation to said center point.

A container end member or the like for sealed association with a container member to provide a sealed container and which is provided with a system for forming openings therein comprising:

• a one piece end member having a central axis;
• an annular exterior rim portion on said end member for sealed association with the container member;
• a central end wall portion integrally connected to said annular exterior rim portion and extending generally transversely to said central axis and having an outer surface and an inner surface;
• a first severable tab portion in and integrally connected to said central end wall portion;
• a first hinge portion integral with said central end wall portion and having spaced apart ends;
• severable score line groove means having ends adjacent to said spaced apart ends of said first hinge portion and defining said first severable tab portion so that said first severable tab portion may be severed from said central wall portion in response to applied axially inwardly directed forces and form a pour opening in said central end wall portion;
• force applying means for applying said axially inwardly directed forces on said severable tab portion;
• pivot means permanently mounted on said central end wall portion for pivotally mounting said force applying means on said central end wall portion;
• said force applying means having an abutment end portion for contacting said first severable tab portion and a handle end portion so that, when an axially outwardly directed force is applied to said handle portion, said force applying means will pivot about said pivot means so that said abutment end portion will apply said axially inwardly directed forces to said first severable tab portion to sever said first severable tab portion along said first score line groove means and form said pour opening in said central end wall portion;
• a second severable tab portion in and integrally connected to said central end wall portion;
• said second severable tab portion being located in said central end wall portion at a location spaced from said first severable tab portion;
• a second hinge portion integral with said central end wall portion and said second severable tab portion;
• said second severable tab portion having a raised surface projecting axially outwardly from said central end wall portion so that an axially inwardly directed force may be applied thereto to sever said second severable tab portion and form a vent opening in said central end wall portion;
• retaining means for retaining said first severable tab portion, said force applying means and said second severable tab portion on said end member after said pour and vent openings have been formed;
• said second hinge portion having spaced apart ends;
• at least one severable score line groove having a main body portion and integral end portions defining said spaced apart ends of said second hinge portion and defining said second severable tab portion so that said second severable tab portion may be pushed generally axially inwardly into said container body member to form an opening in said central end wall portion;
• a recessed portion having an axial thickness less than the axial thickness of the remaining portions of said second severable tab portion and said central end wall portion and located between and integral with said central end wall portion and said second severable tab portion;
• said at least one severable score line groove being located in said recessed portion;
• and
• at least a portion of said main body portion of said at least one severable score line groove extending generally in a transverse direction in said recessed portion.