Metal end closure with an extended score which is opened with a secondary tool
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorsErik E. Gatewood, Mark A. Jacober
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A metallic container end closure is provided that generally comprises a primary pour opening and an extended or secondary score which is opened with a secondary tool to form a secondary pour opening. The fact that a secondary tool is required allows the secondary score to be shallower, and thus more secure than deeper scores that are openable by finger pressure alone. Once the secondary tool is used to fracture the secondary score, a secondary pour opening is produced adjacent to the primary pour opening to form a larger opening. A user may insert materials such as ice or oranges through the enlarged pour opening.
Claims19
A container end closure with a peripheral curl adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container, comprising:
- a central panel having a rivet interconnecting a pull tab to an upper surface of said central panel, said pull tab adapted for applying a downward force;
- a primary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said primary tear panel at least partially defined by a primary score extending from a starting point to a termination point and by a first hinge, said primary score configured to be sheared by said downward force of said pull tab to deflect said primary tear panel about said first hinge and create a primary pour opening;
- and
- a secondary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said secondary tear panel at least partially defined by a secondary score extending from a starting point to a termination point and by a second hinge, said secondary score located proximate to said primary score, said secondary tear panel configured to be sheared by a downward force generated by a secondary tool to deflect said secondary tear panel about said second hinge and create a secondary pour opening, wherein said primary pour opening and said secondary pour opening are positioned adjacent to form a contiguous pour opening area to enhance pour characteristics and selectively allow insertion of additional materials.
A method of forming a primary pour opening and an adjacent secondary pour opening in a metallic end closure to enhance pour characteristics, comprising:
- providing said metallic end closure adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container, comprising:
- a central panel with a peripheral curl on a perimeter edge, a pull tab for applying a first downward force on a primary tear panel interconnected to said central panel, and said primary tear panel at least partially defined by a primary score;
- a secondary tear panel positioned adjacent to said primary tear panel, said secondary tear panel at least partially defined by a secondary score;
- lifting a tail end of said pull tab to apply said first downward force on said primary tear panel to shear said primary score, deflect said primary tear panel about a first hinge, and create said primary pour opening in said metallic end closure;
- providing a secondary tool for applying a second downward force on said secondary tear panel;
- and
- engaging said secondary tool with said secondary tear panel to apply said second downward force on said secondary tear panel to shear said secondary score, deflect said secondary tear panel about a second hinge, and create said secondary pour opening in said metallic end closure.
A container end closure with a peripheral curl adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container, comprising:
- a central panel having a rivet interconnecting a pull tab to an upper surface of said central panel, said pull tab adapted for applying a downward force, wherein a nose of said pull tab is rotatable about said rivet to define an area of engagement about said rivet;
- a primary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said primary tear panel at least partially defined by a primary score extending from a starting point to a termination point and by a first hinge, wherein at least a portion of said primary tear panel is positioned in said area of engagement, said primary score configured to be sheared by said downward force of said pull tab to deflect said primary tear panel about said first hinge and create a primary pour opening;
- a secondary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said secondary tear panel at least partially defined by a secondary score extending from a starting point to a termination point, said primary score, and a transition portion between a deboss area of said central panel and a non-deboss area of said central panel, wherein said secondary tear panel is positioned outside of said area of engagement, said secondary tear panel configured to be sheared by a downward force generated by a secondary tool to deflect said secondary tear panel about at least a portion of said transition portion that forms a second hinge with said central panel and create a secondary pour opening;
- a transition zone positioned between said termination point of said primary score and said starting point of said secondary score, wherein said transition zone is an uninterrupted portion of said central panel;
- and
- wherein said primary pour opening and said secondary pour opening combine to form a contiguous pour opening area to enhance pour characteristics and selectively allow insertion of additional materials into said container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.