# US 8,998,015 B2 · Can end > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,998,015 B2 - Document ID: US8998015B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/265,689 - Filed: 2010-04-22 - Published: 2012-02-23 - Granted: 2015-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-23 - Assignees: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Andrew Richard Williams; Brendan Keane; Brian Fields - Inventors: Andrew Richard Williams; Brendan Keane; Brian Fields - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8998015B2 ## CPC - B65D 17/4011: {for opening completely by means of a tearing tab} - B65D 17/4012: {for opening partially by means of a tearing tab} - B65D 79/008: {the deformable part being located in a rigid or semi-rigid container, e.g. in bottles or jars} - B65D 2517/0013: pull-out tear panel, e.g. by means of a tear-tab - B65D 2517/007: located within tear-out/push-in panel - B65D 2517/0076: located beneath tab contact point - B65D 2517/0089: Unusual details - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract The invention is an easily openable (1) can end which provides an improved way of providing finger access under the tab for a consumer. A can end is disclosed having an end pane (2)1, the end panel including a moveable portion (7) on which the tab is mounted. Finger access is provided by the moveable portion being moveable from a predetermined first state to a predetermined second state to thereby displace the handle of the tab away from the end panel and define a gap between the handle of the tab and the end panel suitable for finger access by a user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An easily openable can end comprising: an end panel, the end panel having a score line formed therein that defines an opening area, the end panel further comprising a moveable portion, the moveable portion having a first state, whereby at least part of the moveable portion is convex, and a second state, whereby at least part of the moveable portion is concave, a tab having a nose and a handle, the tab mounted to the end panel by a rivet disposed on the moveable portion, wherein when the moveable portion moves from the first state to the second state, the handle of the tab moves away from the end panel and defines a gap (Δh) between the handle of the tab and the end panel suitable for finger access by a user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An easily openable can end as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the first state, the handle of the tab is biased against the end panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An easily openable can end as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tab includes a resiliently formed tongue section, the tab mounted on the moveable portion via the tongue section to bias the handle of the tab against the end panel in the first state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An easily openable can end as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moveable portion comprises a bistable panel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An easily openable can end as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moveable portion is deformable in a see-saw rocking manner between the first and second states to thereby displace the handle of the tab away from the end panel and define the gap (Δh). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An easily openable can end as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moveable portion moves from the first state to the second state in a generally downwards motion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An easily openable can end as claimed in claim 6, wherein the moveable portion is formed such that: i. in the first state, the moveable portion protrudes upwardly from the end panel; and ii. in the second state, the moveable portion protrudes downwardly from the end panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An easily openable can end as claimed in claim 7, wherein the moveable portion is formed as a generally convex protrusion and a generally concave well in first and second states respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An easily openable can end as claimed in claim 8, wherein the tab is mounted on an inclined region of the moveable portion such that when occupying the first state, which is a convex state, the tab handle is inclined towards the end panel, and when occupying the second state, which is a concave state, the tab handle is inclined upwardly away from the end panel to thereby provide the gap (Δh) between the handle of the tab and the end panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An easily openable can end as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transition from first to second states is by a generally upwards motion of the moveable portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An easily openable can end as claimed in claim 10, wherein the moveable portion is formed such that: i. in the first state, the moveable portion protrudes downwardly from the end panel; and ii. in the second state, the moveable portion protrudes upwardly from the end panel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An easily openable can end as claimed in claim 11, wherein the moveable portion is formed as a generally concave well and a generally convex protrusion in first and second states respectively. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An easily openable can end as claimed in claim 12, wherein the tab is mounted on an inclined region of the moveable portion such that when occupying the first “concave” state, the tab handle is inclined towards the end panel, with transformation to the second “convex” state inclining the tab handle upwardly away from the end panel to thereby provide the gap (Δh) between the handle of the tab and the end panel suitable for finger access by a user. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An easily openable can end as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moveable portion is provided on a platform elevated relative to the remainder of the end panel such that in the first state, a lowermost point of the moveable portion does not extend below a lowermost plane of the can end, thereby enhancing stackability of the can end. ### Claim 15 A container comprising a can end and a container body, the can end including: an end panel, the end panel having a score line formed therein that defines an opening area, the end panel further comprising a moveable portion, the moveable portion having a first state, whereby at least part of the moveable portion is convex, and a second state, whereby at least part of the moveable portion is concave, a tab having a nose and a handle, the tab mounted to the end panel by a rivet disposed on the moveable portion, wherein when the moveable portion moves from the first state to the second state, the handle of the tab moves away from the end panel and defines a gap (Δh) between the handle of the tab and the end panel suitable for finger access by a user. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A container as claimed in claim 15, wherein in the first state, the handle of the tab is biased against the end panel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tab includes a resiliently formed tongue section, the tab mounted on the moveable portion via the tongue section to bias the handle of the tab against the end panel in the first state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A container as claimed in claim 15, wherein the moveable portion comprises a bistable panel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A container as claimed in claim 15, wherein the moveable portion is deformable in a see-saw rocking manner between the first and second states to thereby displace the handle of the tab away from the end panel and define the gap (Δh). ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) A container as claimed in claim 15, wherein the moveable portion moves from the first state to the second state in a generally downwards motion. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A container as claimed in claim 20, wherein the moveable portion is formed such that: i. in the first state, the moveable portion protrudes upwardly from the end panel; and ii. in the second state, the moveable portion protrudes downwardly from the end panel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A container as claimed in claim 21, wherein the moveable portion is formed as a generally convex protrusion and a generally concave well in first and second states respectively. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A container as claimed in claim 22, wherein the tab is mounted on an inclined region of the moveable portion such that when occupying the first state, which is a convex state, the tab handle is inclined towards the end panel, and when occupying the second state, which is a concave state, the tab handle is inclined upwardly away from the end panel to thereby provide the gap (Δh) between the handle of the tab and the end panel. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) A container as claimed in claim 15, wherein the transition from first to second states is by a generally upwards motion of the moveable portion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A container as claimed in claim 24, wherein the moveable portion is formed such that: i. in the first state, the moveable portion protrudes downwardly from the end panel; and ii. in the second state, the moveable portion protrudes upwardly from the end panel. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A container as claimed in claim 25, wherein the moveable portion is formed as a generally concave well and a generally convex protrusion in first and second states respectively. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A container as claimed in claim 26, wherein the tab is mounted on an inclined region of the moveable portion such that when occupying the first “concave” state, the tab handle is inclined towards the end panel, with transformation to the second “convex” state inclining the tab handle upwardly away from the end panel to thereby provide the gap (Δh) between the handle of the tab and the end panel suitable for finger access by a user.