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US 6,889,862 B2Granted
Large opening beverage container
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorJoseph S Vaughan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an improved opening end closure which is adapted for interconnection to a beverage container to prevent premature rupturing and detachment of the tear panel from the center panel. More specifically, the present invention includes an improved cent bead, an enlarged score origination loop, and a pull tab with a cut-out portion with one leg longer than the other leg for selectively orienting the direction of force created on the tear panel away from the hinge portion of the tear panel.
Claims21
An end closure adapted for interconnection to a container, comprising:
- a central panel having a product side and a public side and a peripheral curl adapted for interconnection to the container;
- a tear panel positioned in the central panel which is defined by a frangible primary score and a secondary score, and a non-frangible hinge portion, said tear panel originating with a score origination loop having a radius of curvature of at least about 0.050 inches;
- a stay on tab hingedly interconnected to said public side of said central panel comprising a nose portion on one end and a lift end on an opposing end, said nose portion extending over a portion of said tear panel;
- a reinforcing cent bead positioned within said central panel and having a first leg and a second leg positioned proximate to said rivet, opposite said tear panel, said first and second legs having a length no greater than about 0.125 inches;
- and
- a central webbing of said stay on tab positioned between said nose portion and said lift end, said webbing having a hinge region and a tab interconnected to said rivet, and further comprising a horseshoe shaped void region with a first leg and a second leg, said first leg extending a greater distance toward said nose than said second leg, wherein when said nose of said stay on tab is forced downward, a force on said tear panel is oriented away from said score origination loop.
3 more elements
A metallic end closure adapted for interconnection to a container, comprising:
- a central panel having a product side and a public side and a peripheral curl adapted for interconnection to a neck of the container;
- a tear panel positioned in the central panel which is defined by at least a frangible primary score, originating with a score origination loop having a radius of curvature of at least about 0.050 inches and terminating with a tail loop;
- a stay on tab hingedly interconnected to said public side of said central panel which includes a nose portion on one end and a lift end on an opposing end, said nose portion extending over a portion of said tear panel;
- a reinforcing cent bead integrally interconnected to said central panel and having a first leg and a second leg positioned proximate to said rivet, opposite said tear panel, said first and second legs of said reinforcing bead having a length no greater than about 0.125 inches;
- and
- a central webbing of said stay on tab positioned between said nose portion and said lift end, said webbing having a hinge region and a tab interconnected to said rivet, and further comprising a horseshoe shaped void region with a first leg and a second leg, wherein when said nose of said stay-on tab is forced downward, a force on said tear panel is oriented away from said score loop.
3 more elements
A metallic end closure adapted for interconnection to a container, comprising:
- a central panel having a product side and a public side and a peripheral curl adapted for interconnection to a neck of the container;
- a tear panel positioned in the central panel which is defined by at least a frangible primary score and a non-frangible hinge portion, said tear panel originating with a score origination loop and terminating with a tail loop;
- a stay on tab hingedly interconnected to said public side of said central panel which includes a nose portion on one end and a lift end on an opposing end, said nose portion extending over a portion of said tear panel;
- a reinforcing cent bead integrally interconnected to said central panel and having a first leg and a second leg positioned proximate to said rivet, opposite said tear panel, said first and second legs having a length no greater than about 0.125 inches;
- and
- a central webbing of said stay on tab positioned between said nose portion and said lift end, said webbing having a hinge region and a tab interconnected to said rivet, and further comprising a horseshoe shaped void region with a first leg and a second leg, said second leg extending a greater distance toward said nose than said first leg, wherein when said nose is forced downward, a force on said tear panel is oriented away from said score origination loop to substantially prevent detachment of said tear panel from said central panel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.