Tab for easy-opening container wall

Claim 2

A one-piece tab of the type attachable to a tear portion of an easy-opening container wall to initiate severance of the tear portion from the container wall comprising: a lever portion of sheet material having integral means for stiffening the lever portion, said lever portion having an attachment location at which the lever portion can be attached to the tear portion, said lever portion extending away from said attachment location to define a lifting region; a gripping element of sheet material, said gripping element having a first end and a connecting location adjacent the other end thereof, at least portions of said gripping element and said lever portion being in substantially the same plane; a pliable connecting portion of sheet material for integrally interconnecting the lifting region of the lever portion to the connecting location of the gripping element, said connecting portion being bendable to permit substantially unrestricted pivotal movement of said gripping element relative to said lever portion in a direction tending to move the first end away from the container wall, said first end of said gripping element lying on the same side of said connecting portion as said attachment location; and the gripping element being manually pullable to move the lifting region of the lever portion away from the container wall to initiate severance of the line of weakness of lever action of said lever portion.

Claim 3

A tab as defined in claim 1 wherein a portion of the sheet material of said gripping element is turned to form a bead, said bead stiffening the gripping element and defining a relatively smooth surface for engagement by the finger of the user.

Claim 4

A tab as defined in claim 1 wherein said tab is integrally constructed of plastic material.

Claim 5

A tab as defined in claim 1 wherein the lever portion has an end adjacent the attachment portion and the sheet material of the lever portion at said end thereof is turned out of the plane of the lever portion.

Claim 6

A one-piece tab of the type attachable to a tear portion of an easy-opening container wall to initiate severance of the tear portion from the container wall comprising: an elongated lever portion of sheet material having integral means for stiffening the lever portion, said lever portion having an attachment location at which the lever portion can be attached to the tear portion, said lever portion extending away from said attachment location to define a lifting region; a gripping element of sheet material, said gripping element having a first end and a connecting location adjacent the other end thereof, said gripping element having a finger-receiving opening, at least portions of said gripping element and said lever portion being in substantially the same plane; a pliable connecting portion of sheet material for integrally interconnecting the lifting region of the lever portion to the connecting location of the gripping element, said connecting portion being bendable to permit substantially unrestricted pivotal movement of said gripping element relative to said lever portion in a direction tending to move the first end away from the contaiNer wall; and the gripping element being manually pullable to move the lifting region of the lever portion away from the container wall to initiate severance of the line of weakness by lever action with the sole lever action being derived from said lever portion.

Claim 7

A one-piece tab of the type attachable to a tear portion of an easy-opening container wall to initiate severance of the tear portion from the container wall comprising: an elongated lever portion of sheet material having integral means for stiffening the lever portion, said lever portion having an attachment location at which the lever portion can be attached to the tear portion, said lever portion extending away from said attachment location to define a lifting region; a gripping element of sheet material, said gripping element having a first end and a connecting location adjacent the other end thereof, said gripping element having a finger-receiving opening, at least portions of said gripping element and said lever portion being in substantially the same plane; a pliable connecting portion of sheet material for integrally interconnecting the lifting region of the lever portion to the connecting location of the gripping element, said connecting portion being bendable to permit substantially unrestricted pivotal movement of said gripping element relative to said lever portion in a direction tending to move the first end away from the contaiNer wall; and the gripping element being manually pullable to move the lifting region of the lever portion away from the container wall to initiate severance of the line of weakness by lever action with the sole lever action being derived from said lever portion.

Claim 8

An easy-opening container wall comprising: a container wall of sheet material having a line of weakness therein defining a tear portion at least partially removable therefrom; a tab constructed of sheet material and having a lever portion and a handle portion integrally joined by a connecting portion of sheet material, said handle portion at least partially being in substantially the same plane as said lever portion, said lever portion having an attachment location and said handle portion having an outer end; means for attaching said lever portion at said attachment location to said tear portion adjacent said line of weakness so that said tab overlies the container wall; said lever portion extending away from said attachment location to define a lifting region of said lever portion, said connecting portion integrally joining said handle portion to said lever portion at said lifting region, said outer end of said handle portion lying on the same side of said connecting portion as said attachment location; and said connecting portion being bendable to permit movement of said outer end of said handle portion a substantial distance away from said container wall with consequent pivotal movement of said handle portion relative to said lever portion to thereby expose said handle portion for easy manual gripping thereof, such pivotal movement of said handle portion being incapable of causing said lever portion to rupture said line of weakness whereby pulling outwardly on said handle portion following the pivotal movement thereof lifts said lifting region of said lever portion sufficiently to cause said lever portion to rupture said line of weakness.

Claim 9

An easy-opening container wall comprising: a container wall of sheet material having a line of weakness therein defining a tear portion at least partially removable therefrom; a tab constructed of sheet material and having a lever portion and a handle portion integrally joined by a connecting portion of sheet material, said handle portion at least partially being in substantially the same plane as said lever portion, said lever portion having an attachment location and said handle portion having an outer end; means for attaching said lever portion at said attachment location to said tear portion adjacent said line of weakness so that said tab overlies the container wall; said lever portion extending away from said attachment location to define a lifting region of said lever portion, said connecting portion integrally joining said handle portion to said lever portion at said lifting region, said outer end of said handle portion lying on the same side of said connecting portion as said attachment location; and said connecting portion being bendable to permit movement of said outer end of said handle portion a substantial distance away from said container wall with consequent pivotal movement of said handle portion relative to said lever portion to thereby expose said handle portion for easy manual gripping thereof, such pivotal movement of said handle portion being incapable of causing said lever portion to rupture said line of weakness whereby pulling outwardly on said handle portion following the pivotal movement thereof lifts said lifting region of said lever portion sufficiently to cause said lever portion to rupture said line of weakness.

Claim 10

A container wall as defined in claim 6 wherein said line of weakness defines a tear portion with a relatively narrow leading end, said attachment means being at said leading end of said tear portion, said lever portion having an end portion on the opposite side of said attachment location from said lifting region, the sheet material of said end portion of said lever portion being curved to form a relatively gentle bend in the tear portion as the lever portion initiates rupture of the line of weakness.

Claim 11

An easy-opening container wall as defined in claim 6 wherein said line of weakness defines a tear portion having a relatively narrow leading end, said attachment means being located at said leading end, said lever portion of said tab defining first and second fulcrum ends engageable with the container wall outside of the tear portion and on opposite sides of the attachment means.

Claim 12

An easy-opening container as defined in claim 6 wherein said lever portion has a nose end adjacent said means for attaching, said nose end substantially overlies a region of said line of weakness and said lever portion lies substantially within the area of said tear portion.

Claim 13

A tab of the type attachable to a tear portion of an easy-opening container wall wherein a line of weakness in the container wall defines the tear portion, said tab comprising: a first lever portion attachable to the tear portion at a first location on said lever portion, said lever portion having a fulcrum engageable with the container wall and a liftable region with said first location lying closely adjacent said fulcrum; a second lever portion having a bearing region engageable with the container wall, a handle end remote from said bearing region and a fulcrum intermediate said bearing region and said handle end; and means for connecting said liftable region of said first lever portion to said fulcrum of said second lever portion to permit pivotal movement of the second lever portion, the handle end lying on the same side of said liftable region as said firsT location, whereby movement of said handle end of said second lever portion away from the container wall pivots said second lever portion about said fulcrum thereof to cause said bearing region to move along said container wall with consequent lifting of said fulcrum of said second lever portion and said liftable region, the lifting of said liftable region of said first lever portion as a result of pivotable movement of said second lever portion being insufficient to initiate severance of the line of weakness, said line of weakness being rupturable by said first lever portion in response to an upward pulling force on said second lever portion following the pivotable movement of said second lever portion about the fulcrum thereof.

Claim 14

A tab of the type attachable to a tear portion of an easy-opening container wall wherein a line of weakness in the container wall defines the tear portion, said tab comprising: a first lever portion attachable to the tear portion at a first location on said lever portion, said lever portion having a fulcrum engageable with the container wall and a liftable region with said first location lying closely adjacent said fulcrum; a second lever portion having a bearing region engageable with the container wall, a handle end remote from said bearing region and a fulcrum intermediate said bearing region and said handle end; and means for connecting said liftable region of said first lever portion to said fulcrum of said second lever portion to permit pivotal movement of the second lever portion, the handle end lying on the same side of said liftable region as said firsT location, whereby movement of said handle end of said second lever portion away from the container wall pivots said second lever portion about said fulcrum thereof to cause said bearing region to move along said container wall with consequent lifting of said fulcrum of said second lever portion and said liftable region, the lifting of said liftable region of said first lever portion as a result of pivotable movement of said second lever portion being insufficient to initiate severance of the line of weakness, said line of weakness being rupturable by said first lever portion in response to an upward pulling force on said second lever portion following the pivotable movement of said second lever portion about the fulcrum thereof.

Claim 15

A tab attachable to a tear portion of an easy-opening container wall to initiate severance of the tear portion from the container wall comprising: a lever portion of plastic sheet material, one end portion of the lever portion being attachable to the tear portion adjacent the periphery of the tear portion, said lever portion extending away from said one end portion to define a lifting portion, said lever portion having integral stiffening means for making said lever portion substantially longitudinally rigid; a gripping element of plastic sheet material; and a connecting portion of plastic material for integrally joining the gripping element to the lifting portion of said lever portion, said gripping element at least partially being in substantially the same plane as said lever portion and extending from its juncture with the lever portion generally in the direction of said one end portion of said lever portion said gripping element having an end remote from said juncture to which a force may be applied to cause said lever portion to apply a force to the tear portion tending to initiate removal thereof.

Claim 16

A tab attachable to a tear portion of an easy-opening container wall to initiate severance of the tear portion from the container wall comprising: a lever portion of plastic sheet material, one end portion of the lever portion being attachable to the tear portion adjacent the periphery of the tear portion, said lever portion extending away from said one end portion to define a lifting portion, said lever portion having integral stiffening means for making said lever portion substantially longitudinally rigid; a gripping element of plastic sheet material; and a connecting portion of plastic material for integrally joining the gripping element to the lifting portion of said lever portion, said gripping element at least partially being in substantially the same plane as said lever portion and extending from its juncture with the lever portion generally in the direction of said one end portion of said lever portion said gripping element having an end remote from said juncture to which a force may be applied to cause said lever portion to apply a force to the tear portion tending to initiate removal thereof.

Claim 17

A tab as defined in claim 11 wherein said connecting portion defines a hinge which permits the gripping element to pivot relative to the lever portion.

Claim 18

A tab of the type attachable to a tear portion of an easy-opening container wall to initiate severance of the tear portion from the container wall comprising: a lever portion of sheet material having integral means for stiffening the lever portion, said lever portion having an attachment location at which the lever portion can be attached to the tear portion, said lever portion extending away from said attachment location to define a lifting region; a gripping element of sheet material, said gripping element having a first end and a connecting location adjacent the other end thereof; means for interconnecting the lifting region of the lever portion to the gripping element to permit relatively easy movement of said gripping element relative to said lever portion in a direction tending to move the said first end of the gripping element away from the container wall; the gripping element being manually pullable to initiate severance of the line of weakness by lever action of said lever portion; and the sheet material at said other end of said tab being deformed to define a forming section for preventing the lever portion from forming a relatively sharp bend in said tear portion during severance of the line of weakness.

Claim 19

A tab of the type attachable to a tear portion of an easy-opening container wall to initiate severance of the tear portion from the container wall comprising: a lever portion of sheet material having integral means for stiffening the lever portion, said lever portion having an attachment location at which the lever portion can be attached to the tear portion, said lever portion extending away from said attachment location to define a lifting region; a gripping element of sheet material, said gripping element having a first end and a connecting location adjacent the other end thereof; means for interconnecting the lifting region of the lever portion to the gripping element to permit relatively easy movement of said gripping element relative to said lever portion in a direction tending to move the said first end of the gripping element away from the container wall; the gripping element being manually pullable to initiate severance of the line of weakness by lever action of said lever portion; and the sheet material at said other end of said tab being deformed to define a forming section for preventing the lever portion from forming a relatively sharp bend in said tear portion during severance of the line of weakness.

Claim 20

A tab as defined in claim 13 wherein the sheet material at said other end of said tab is bent away from the tear strip to define the forming section.

Claim 21

A tab attachable to a tear portion of an easy-opening container wall to initiate severance of the tear portion from the container wall comprising: a lever portion of sheet material adapted to overlie a region of the container wall, said lever portion having integral stiffening means for stiffening the lever longitudinally; an attachment portion of sheet material attachable to the tear portion and connected to said lever portion adjacent one end of the lever portion to permit generally pivotal movement of said lever portion relative to said attachment portion; said lever portion having a fulcrum adjacent said one end of said lever portion; and a gripping element attached to said lever portion adjacent the other end thereof, said gripping element having an end remote from the juncture of said gripping element and said lever portion which movable with relative ease away from the container wall to facilitate manual gripping of the gripping element whereby an outward pulling force on said gripping element pivots said lever portion and causes the fulcrum to forcibly bear on the container wall with consequent severance of the tear portion from the container wall.

Claim 22

A tab attachable to a tear portion of an easy-opening container wall to initiate severance of the tear portion from the container wall comprising: a lever portion of sheet material adapted to overlie a region of the container wall, said lever portion having integral stiffening means for stiffening the lever longitudinally; an attachment portion of sheet material attachable to the tear portion and connected to said lever portion adjacent one end of the lever portion to permit generally pivotal movement of said lever portion relative to said attachment portion; said lever portion having a fulcrum adjacent said one end of said lever portion; and a gripping element attached to said lever portion adjacent the other end thereof, said gripping element having an end remote from the juncture of said gripping element and said lever portion which movable with relative ease away from the container wall to facilitate manual gripping of the gripping element whereby an outward pulling force on said gripping element pivots said lever portion and causes the fulcrum to forcibly bear on the container wall with consequent severance of the tear portion from the container wall.

Claim 23

A tab as defined in claim 15 wherein the tab is integrally constructed of a single piece of sheet material and said gripping element is integrally joined to the lever portion by a pliable region of sheet material.

Claim 24

A tab as defined in claim 11 wherein said one-end portion has an aperture therein, said tab including a reinforcing member joined to said lever portion of plastic material and surrounding said aperture to strengthen the region around said aperture.