Easy opening rectangular metal container

Claim 1

Easy open container construction including a can body having a seamless cup-like form including a bottom wall and integral side and end walls generally rectangular in cross section; the side and end walls, respectively, having inner surfaces and being parallel with each other and perpendicular to the bottom wall; a continuous ledge located adjacent but spaced from the upper open end of the body provided by an outwardly, upwardly directed recessed shoulder formed in thE upper ends of the side and end walls; a top end wall, a double seam between the top end wall and body above the ledge, the top end wall having a recessed end panel surrounded by a recessed corner, the recessed corner being seated on the body ledge; a continuous score line in said top end wall close to said corner and adjacent the ledge, the score line being located in a zone above the ledge and outside the projected inner surfaces of the body side and end walls; the score line defining an end panel tear-out portion; a ring pull tab secured to the end panel; the length of the can body between end walls being substantially greater than the width of the can body between side walls; and the height of the can body between bottom wall and top wall recessed end panel being at least one and onehalf times the can body width; whereby lifting of the ring pull tab tears the end panel tear-out portion along the score line from the top end wall leaving the raw metal top end wall edge at the score line located within the recessed shoulder protected by the double seam and ledge against accidental contact, and whereby a typically shaped loaf food product packed in the container may be removed in loaf form upon removal of the panel tear-out portion.