US 9,950,832 B2Granted

Beverage can end frangible score geometry

AssigneeRexam Beverage Can Company

InventorsMichael R. Gogola, Randall G. Forrest, Rex Villasin, Jonathan P. Meyer

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Abstract

An ecology stay-on tab beverage can end has a first axis extending though a rivet. A tear panel is defined by a frangible score and a non-frangible hinge that joins a first end of the frangible score with a second end of the frangible score. The first axis forms a line of asymmetry of the tear panel. A second axis intersects the first axis at a right angle. An intersection of the first axis with the second axis defines a center point of a clock-like reference having a 12 o'clock position at the first point and a 6 o'clock position at the second point. A first radius of curvature of the frangible score between a 5 o'clock position and a 7 o'clock position is at least 3.6 times larger than a second radius of curvature between a 7 o'clock position and a 9 o'clock position.

Claims34

Dependent claims

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 tab having a lift end opposite a nose end;
a rivet attaching a tab to the center panel;
a first axis extending through the rivet, the lift end of the tab, and the nose end of the tab and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
a tear panel defined by a frangible score and a non-frangible hinge that joins a first end of the frangible score with a second end of the frangible score, wherein the first axis forms a line of asymmetry of the tear panel;
and
a second axis intersecting the first axis at a right angle at a midpoint of a first axis segment defined by a length between a first point where the first axis intersects the frangible score near the rivet and a second point where the first axis intersects the frangible score and which is located radially outwardly of the first point, wherein an intersection of the first axis with the second axis defines a center point of a clock-like reference of the frangible score having a 12 o'clock position at the first point and a 6 o'clock position at the second point,
wherein the frangible score has a convex first radius of curvature between a 5 o'clock position and a 7 o'clock position that is at least 3.6 times larger than a convex second radius of curvature between a 7 o'clock position and a 9 o'clock position, and
wherein a convex third radius of curvature located between a 1 o'clock position and a 2 o'clock position is less than a convex fourth radius of curvature between the 1 o'clock position and a 4 o'clock positions wherein the fourth radius of curvature intersects a 3 o'clock position.

10 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 tab having a lift end opposite a nose end;
a rivet attaching a tab to the center panel;
a first axis extending through the rivet, the lift end of the tab, and the nose end of the tab and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
a tear panel defined by a frangible score and a non-frangible hinge that joins a first end of the frangible score with a second end of the frangible score, wherein the first axis forms a line of asymmetry of the tear panel;
a second axis intersecting the first axis at a right angle at a midpoint of a first axis segment defined by a length of the first axis between a first point where the first axis intersects the frangible score near the rivet and a second point where the first axis intersects the frangible score which is located radially outwardly of the first point, wherein an intersection of the first axis with the second axis defines a center point of a clock-like reference of the frangible score having a 12 o'clock position at the first point and a 6 o'clock position at the second point;
and
a third axis intersecting the first axis at a right angle at a distance from the first point on the frangible score located radially outwardly from the midpoint of the first axis segment relative to the longitudinal axis and having a third axis segment defined by a length of the third axis between a fifth point on the frangible score and a sixth point on the frangible score,
wherein a ratio of the length of the third axis segment to the length of the first axis segment is greater than 1.2.

10 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 tab having a lift end opposite a nose end;
a rivet attaching a tab to the center panel;
a first axis extending through the rivet, the lift end of the tab, and the nose end of the tab and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
a tear panel defined by a frangible score and a non-frangible hinge that joins a first end of the frangible score with a second end of the frangible score, wherein the first axis forms a line of asymmetry of the tear panel;
a second axis intersecting the first axis at a right angle at a midpoint of a first axis segment defined by a length of the first axis between a first point where the first axis intersects the frangible score near the rivet and a second point where the first axis intersects the frangible score which is located radially outwardly of the first point, wherein an intersection of the first axis with the second axis defines a center point of a clock-like reference of the frangible score having a 12 o'clock position at the first point and a 6 o'clock position at the second point, wherein a second axis segment is defined by a length of the second axis between a third point on the frangible score located at the 3 o'clock position and a fourth point on the frangible score located at the 9 o'clock position;
and
a third axis intersecting the first axis at a right angle at a distance from the first point on the frangible score located radially outwardly from the midpoint of the first axis segment relative to the longitudinal axis and having a third axis segment defined by a length of the third axis between a fifth point on the frangible score and a sixth point on the frangible score,
wherein a ratio of the length of the second axis segment to the length of the third axis segment is less than 1.0.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/814,993Filed 31 Jul 2015
Published: US 2017/0029165 A12 Feb 2017
Granted: 24 Apr 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B65D 17/4012
Characterised by having the line of weakness provided in an end wall: for opening partially by means of a tearing tab
B65D 17/401
At lines or points of weakness: characterised by having the line of weakness provided in an end wall
B65D 17/404
At lines or points of weakness: details of the lines of weakness
B65D 2517/0013
Action for opening container: pull-out tear panel, e.g. by means of a tear-tab