US3610463A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Easy opening container wall having stress relief scores
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-11-06
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Granted: 1971-10-05
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Expires: 1989-11-06
Abstract
Abstract An easy-opening container wall having a line of weakness therein defining a panel at least partially removable from the container wall and a tab attached to the panel to initiate severance of the panel from the container wall. The panel is weakened along a plurality of circumferentially extending regions. Preferably, the panel includes first and second axially offset sections interconnected by a connecting wall with one of the weakened regions being formed in each of the sections closely adjacent the connecting wall.
Inventors
- 👤 Omar L Brown
- 👤 Ermal C Fraze
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:22
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D17/00; B65D17/28; B65D17/404
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
In an easy-opening container wall wherein a line of weakness is formed in a container wall to define a panel at least partially removable from the container wall and a tab is connected to the container wall to initiate severance of the panel from the container wall and wherein the container wall is subjected to a force prior to manipulation of the tab tending to sever the line of weakness, the improvement to reduce the amount of stress which is absorbed by the container wall at the line of weakness in response to the application of the force to the panel comprising: the panel being weakened at a plurality of radially spaced, circumferentially extending regions closely adjacent said line of weakness with said weakened regions being weakened sufficiently to cause said panel along said weakened regions to absorb more of the stress resulting from said force than they would absorb in an unweakened cOndition to thereby reduce the amount of stress which is absorbed by said line of weakness, the panel being nonrupturable at said weakened regions in response to manipulation of said tab.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
In an easy-opening container wall wherein a line of weakness is formed in a container wall to define a panel at least partially removable from the container wall and a tab is connected to the container wall to initiate severance of the panel from the container wall and wherein the container wall is subjected to a force prior to manipulation of the tab tending to sever the line of weakness, the improvement to reduce the amount of stress which is absorbed by the container wall at the line of weakness in response to the application of the force to the panel comprising: the panel being weakened at a plurality of radially spaced, circumferentially extending regions closely adjacent said line of weakness with said weakened regions being weakened sufficiently to cause said panel along said weakened regions to absorb more of the stress resulting from said force than they would absorb in an unweakened cOndition to thereby reduce the amount of stress which is absorbed by said line of weakness, the panel being nonrupturable at said weakened regions in response to manipulation of said tab.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said regions forms a substantially complete loop, a first of said regions being surrounded by a second of said regions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said regions defines a residual web and said line of weakness defines a rupturable residual web, said rupturable residual web being thinner than major portions of at least one of said first-mentioned residual webs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein a first of said weakened regions is axially offset from a second of said weakened regions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
140 words
In an easy-opening container wall wherein a line of weakness is formed in a container wall to define a panel at least partially removable from the container wall and a tab is connected to the container wall to initiate severance of the panel from the container wall and wherein the container wall is subjected to a force other than through the manipulation of the tab tending to sever the line of weakness, the improvement to reduce the amount of stress which is absorbed by the container wall at the line of weakness in response to the application of the force to the panel comprising: a plurality of circumferentially extending weakened regions in said panel, each of said weakened regions forming a substantially complete loop and being weakened sufficiently to permit the panel to deflect therealong in response to said force.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
140 words
In an easy-opening container wall wherein a line of weakness is formed in a container wall to define a panel at least partially removable from the container wall and a tab is connected to the container wall to initiate severance of the panel from the container wall and wherein the container wall is subjected to a force other than through the manipulation of the tab tending to sever the line of weakness, the improvement to reduce the amount of stress which is absorbed by the container wall at the line of weakness in response to the application of the force to the panel comprising: a plurality of circumferentially extending weakened regions in said panel, each of said weakened regions forming a substantially complete loop and being weakened sufficiently to permit the panel to deflect therealong in response to said force.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An improvement as defined in claim 5 wherein a first of said weakened regions is axially offset from a second of said weakened regions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a easy-opening container wall wherein a line of weakness is formed in a container wall to define a relatively large panel at least partially removable from the container wall and a tab is connected to the container wall to initiate severance of the panel from the container wall, the improvement comprising: the panel including first and second axially offset sections integrally joined by a connecting wall with the first section substantially circumscribing the second section, said second secton covering a major area of the panel; one of said sections of the panel being weakened and thinned in a region extending circumferentially of the panel closely adjacent the connecting wall with the region extending for a substantial distance circumferentially of the panel; and said connecting wall containing material displaced from said region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a easy-opening container wall wherein a line of weakness is formed in a container wall to define a relatively large panel at least partially removable from the container wall and a tab is connected to the container wall to initiate severance of the panel from the container wall, the improvement comprising: the panel including first and second axially offset sections integrally joined by a connecting wall with the first section substantially circumscribing the second section, said second secton covering a major area of the panel; one of said sections of the panel being weakened and thinned in a region extending circumferentially of the panel closely adjacent the connecting wall with the region extending for a substantial distance circumferentially of the panel; and said connecting wall containing material displaced from said region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
An improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein both of said sections of said panel are weakened and thinned in a region extending circumferentially of the panel closely adjacent the connecting wall with both of the regions extending for a substantial distance circumferentially of the panel, said connecting wall containing material displaced from both of said regions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
An improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein each of said weakened regions substantially forms a loop and said weakened regions are generally concentric, said weakened regions being contiguous said connecting wall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-04-05 | 1975-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-04 | 1979-04-05 | 1979-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-04 | 1983-04-05 | 1983-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |