Release strip for tubular containers and methods and apparatus of applying same

A tubular container comprising:

• a tubular body having axially opposed ends and inner and outer surfaces;
• an end closure adjacent at least one of the ends of said tubular body and having a flange positioned in spaced adjacency with the outer surface of said tubular body adjacent to said one end;
• and
• a release strip removably engaged between said flange and the outer surface of said tubular body so that said flange will be released from said tubular body when said release strip is removed, said release strip having
• an elongate portion which is engaged between said flange and said tubular body and which has a predetermined width in the axial direction of said tubular body, said release strip being releasably adhered to said tubular body with a first discrete area of adhesive between said elongate portion and the outer surface of said tubular body and
• a tab portion extending laterally from said elongate portion generally adjacent to said tubular body and releasably adhered to the outer surface of said tubular body with a second discrete area of adhesive separate from said first area of adhesive and spaced apart from said first area of adhesive in the axial direction of said tubular body, said tab portion having a width in the axial direction of said tubular body greater than the width of said elongate portion in the same direction such that the ratio of the tab portion width to the elongate portion width is at least about 2.0.

A tubular container comprising:

• a tubular body having axially opposed ends and inner and outer surfaces;
• an end closure adjacent at least one of the ends of said tubular body and having a flange positioned in spaced adjacency with the outer surface of said tubular body adjacent to said one end;
• and
• a release strip removably engaged between said flange and the outer surface of said tubular body so that said flange will be released from said tubular body when said release strip is removed, said release strip having
• an elongate portion which is engaged between said flange and said tubular body and
• a tab portion extending from said elongate portion generally adjacent to said tubular body for grasping and pulling by the consumer to remove the release strip, said tab portion having a neck portion connected to said elongate portion and a head portion connected to said neck portion, said neck portion having a minimum width less than about 75% of the width of the elongate portion to facilitate twisting of the tab portion relative to the elongate portion during removal of the release strip, wherein said tab portion is generally T-shaped and said head portion has a longitudinal dimension extending perpendicularly to said elongate portion.

A tubular container comprising:

• a tubular body having axially opposed ends and inner and outer surfaces;
• an end closure adjacent at least one of the ends of said tubular body and having a flange positioned in spaced adjacency with the outer surface of said tubular body adjacent to said one end;
• and
• a release strip removably engaged between said flange and the outer surface of said tubular body so that said flange will be released from said tubular body when said release strip is removed, said release strip having
• an elongate portion with a first side edge which is engaged between said flange and said tubular body, said first side edge of said elongate portion terminating at a shoulder, and
• a tab portion extending from said elongate portion generally adjacent to said tubular body for grasping and pulling by the consumer to remove the release strip, said tab portion having a neck portion and a head portion connected to said neck portion,
• said neck portion defining an axially recessed contour facing said end closure which begins at said shoulder and terminates at said head portion such that at least a part of said head portion is closer to said end closure than the recessed contour of said neck portion.