Non-detachable tab can end with large oval opening

A metal easy-open can end with non-detachable means for making an opening therethrough suitable for pouring and drinking, the can end having

• a circular end wall,
• a rupturable score line in the end wall defining most of the periphery of a non-removable tear panel, while leaving between the tear panel and the remainder of the end wall an integral hinge whose length is substantially less than the maximum dimension of the tear panel, the score line extending away from one end of the hinge, around a bight where it is distant from the hinge, and back to the other end of the hinge, and the tear panel having its length lying on a diameter of the circular end wall,
• a tab extending generally parallel and close to an underlying area of the end wall, a rear part of the tab being engageable for upward lifting, and a forward part of the tab terminating in a nose at its front end, and
• a rivet located on said diameter and adjacent the score line, which rivet non-detachably connects the end wall to the tab and permits pivotal movement of the tab about an axis of rotation close to the rivet and generally parallel to the end wall when the rear part of the tab is lifted up from the end wall,
• whereby, when the rear part of the tab is lifted, the forward part of the tab is adapted to press down on the tear panel, so as to cause relative vertical movement between the tear panel and the rivet, initial rupture of the score line close to the rivet, propagation of the rupture away from the hinge, around the bight, and back to the hinge, and swinging of the tear panel down about the hinge to an open position,
• wherein the improvement comprises the tear panel, and hence the opening for pouring and drinking, which
• (a) has substantially the shape of an oval,
• (b) has its width, as measured perpendicular to said diameter, substantially greater than its length,
• (c) has an area greater than 0.5 in.sup.2, and
• (d) extends substantially to the center of the circular end wall.