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US 9,884,701 B2Granted
Ecology can end with pressure equalization port
AssigneeRexam Beverage Can Company
InventorsRandall G. Forrest, Michael R. Gogola
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ecology stay-on tab beverage can end has a first curvilinear segment of frangible score severable to form a vent region and a pressure equalization port. A second curvilinear segment of frangible score has opposing terminal ends separated by a hinge segment of the center panel. The second curvilinear segment of frangible score is severable to form a pour opening. A lifting of a lift end of a tab actuates an opening sequence in which the first curvilinear segment of frangible score is severed causing the vent region and the pressure equalization port to form before the pour opening is completely formed.
Claims21
An ecology stay-on tab beverage can end comprising:
- a circumferential curl centered about a longitudinal axis;
- a circumferential wall extending downwardly from the curl;
- a circumferential strengthening member located downwardly from the wall;
- and
- a center panel located radially inwardly from the strengthening member and centered about the longitudinal axis comprising:
- a rivet attaching a tab to the center panel;
- a first curvilinear segment of frangible score severable to form a vent opening and a pressure equalization port;
- a second curvilinear segment of frangible score having opposing terminal ends separated by a non-frangible hinge segment of the center panel, the second curvilinear segment of frangible score being severable to form a pour opening,
- wherein a lifting of a lift end of the tab actuates an opening sequence in which the first curvilinear segment of frangible score is severed causing the vent opening and the pressure equalization port to form before the same lifting of the tab causes the pour opening to be completely formed, and
- wherein a score line having opposing terminal ends and comprising the first curvilinear segment of frangible score adjacent a first terminal end of the score line and extending therefrom and a non-frangible segment of the score line joining the first curvilinear segment of frangible score with the second curvilinear segment of frangible score, wherein the second curvilinear segment of frangible score extends from the non-frangible segment of the score line to a second terminal end of the score line.
7 more elements
An ecology stay-on tab beverage can end comprising:
- a circumferential curl centered about a longitudinal axis;
- a circumferential wall extending downwardly from the curl;
- a circumferential strengthening member located downwardly from the wall;
- a center panel located radially inwardly from the strengthening member and centered about the longitudinal axis comprising:
- a rivet attaching a tab to the center panel;
- a first curvilinear segment of frangible score severable to form a vent region and a pressure equalization port;
- a second curvilinear segment of frangible score having opposing terminal ends separated by a non-frangible hinge segment of the center panel, the second curvilinear segment of frangible score being severable to form a pour opening,
- wherein a lifting of a lift end the tab actuates an opening sequence in which a nose end of the tab engages the center panel at a location outside a boundary of the pour opening and migrates to a location within the boundary of the pour opening.
5 more elements
An ecology stay-on tab beverage can end comprising
- a circumferential curl centered about a longitudinal axis;
- a circumferential wall extending downwardly from the curl;
- a circumferential strengthening member located downwardly from the wall;
- and
- a center panel located radially inwardly from the strengthening member and centered about the longitudinal axis comprising:
- a tear panel defined by a frangible score having terminal ends separated by a non-frangible hinge segment which retains the tear panel to the center panel upon opening the ecology stay-on tab beverage can end;
- and
- a rivet attaching a tab to the center panel, wherein the tab comprises:
- a central webbing;
- a rivet island having a rivet hole through which the rivet passes;
- a void region partially surrounding a rivet island having opposing legs extending along opposite sides of the rivet island;
- and
- a tab hinge extending from between the opposing legs,
- wherein the rivet hole is offset on the rivet island such that it is located closer to a first opposing leg than a second opposing leg.
11 more elements
An ecology stay-on tab beverage can end comprising:
- a circumferential curl centered about a longitudinal axis;
- a circumferential wall extending downwardly from the curl;
- a circumferential strengthening member located downwardly from the wall;
- a center panel located radially inwardly from the strengthening member and centered about the longitudinal axis comprising:
- a tab attached to the center panel, the tab comprising:
- a central webbing;
- and
- a rivet island having a rivet hole through which the rivet passes;
- and
- a tear panel defined by a frangible score having terminal ends separated by a non-frangible hinge segment which retains the tear panel to the center panel upon opening the ecology stay-on tab beverage can end, and
- a raised ramp forming a tapered surface on a public side of the center panel wherein engagement by a nose end of the tab with the raised ramp causes rotation of the rivet island about the rivet during the single lifting motion of the lift end of the tab,
- wherein a single lifting motion of a lift end of the tab without manually rotating the rivet island about the rivet creates, in order, a vent opening, a pressure equalization port and a pour opening.
9 more elements
In an ecology stay-on tab beverage can an improvement in an opening sequence comprising:
- a lifting of a lift end of a tab by a user causing a score line in a vent region to fracture and a continued lifting of the lift end causes a pressure equalization port to be formed as the score line continues to fracture as the lifting of the lift end of the tab causes a nose end of the tab to initially press against an area of the can end which is outside a periphery of a tear panel on the center panel providing further leverage against which a rivet attaching the tab to the center panel is further lifted to propagate fracture of the score line past a vent region and into a pressure equalization port region to open the pressure equalization port prior to opening a pour opening upon continued lifting of the lift end of the tab.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.