Full open end closure

Claim 2

In a container comprising a body and at least one metal end closure secured to the body by a permanent seal with a weakened score line in said end closure defining the contour of a removable closure section, said removable closure section having a generally planar main body portion and an opening tab connected thereto adjacent said score line, said tab being movable along a path to sever said score line, the improvement of means defining an elongated trough extending transversely of said path substantially the entire dimension between opposed points of said weakened score line and located in close proximity to said tab, said trough having a generally flat bottom wall inclined relative to said planar main body portion and integrally joined thereto by a side wall, said trough preventing crowning of said removable closure section between said opposed points during removal of said closure section.

Claim 3

A container as defined in claim 1, in which said bottom wall defines a relatively small acute angle with said main body portion and located adjacent an inner surface of said end closure section, said angle extending toward the container body adjacent said tab.

Claim 4

A container as defined in claim 1, further including a peripheral bead circumscribing said removable closure section adjacent said score line, said bead having opposed pairs of interrupted portions along which said closure section is bent during removal.

Claim 5

A container as defined in claim 1, in which said bottom and side walls of said trough intersect along a plane extending perpendicular to said path, said plane defining a bend line for said closure section during removal of said section.

Claim 6

In a container having an easy open end consisting of an end panel connected to a container body with a peripheral score line adjacent the outer edge of said end panel defining a removable section, said removable section having a front portion, an intermediate portion and a rear portion with an opening tab connected to the front portion, the improvement of means for preventing crowning between said opposed points of said score line as said section is severed from the front portion to the rear portion, said means including a bead circumscribing substantially the entire periphery of said section and being located a substantially constant dimension from said score line, said bead having pairs of interrupted portions at opposed locations to allow said section to be bent during removal.

Claim 7

In a container having an easy open end consisting of an end panel connected to a container body with a peripheral score line adjacent the outer edge of said end panel defining a removable section, said removable section having a front portion, an intermediate portion and a rear portion with an opening tab connected to the front portion, the improvement of means for preventing crowning between said opposed points of said score line as said section is severed from the front portion to the rear portion, said means including a bead circumscribing substantially the entire periphery of said section and being located a substantially constant dimension from said score line, said bead having pairs of interrupted portions at opposed locations to allow said section to be bent during removal.

Claim 8

A container as defined in claim 5, in which said means for preventing crowning further includes means defining an elongated trough extending across said intermediate portion, said trough being in general alignment with a pair of interrupted portions adjacent said front portion and having a generally flat bottom wall spaced below a planar main body portion of said section and integrally joined thereto by a side wall.

Claim 9

A container as defined in claim 6, in which said bottom wall defines a small acute angle with an inner surface of said removable section, one edge of said bottom wall defining a bend line when said section is removed.

Claim 10

A container comprising a circular body; a metal end closure permanently secured to one end thereof, said closure having substantially circular score line defining a removable section having front, intermediate and rear portions; an opening tab secured to said front portion of said removable section; means defining a peripheral bead in said removable section said bead being spaced a substantially constant dimension from said score line and having spaced means defining at least two spaced bend lines extending transversely between said front and rear portions; and means in said intermediate portion adjacent said tab for maintaining an area of said intermediate portion adjacent said front portion in a substantially flat condition during removal of said removable section; said means including an elongated trough extending transversely to the direction of removal of said section, said trough having a flat bottom wall inclined relative to a flat lower surface of said removable section and defining a small acute angle opening towards said body adjacent said front portion, said bead being interrupted in the areas aligned with opposite ends of said bottom wall to allow said front portion to be bent along said trough during removal of said removable section.

Claim 11

A container comprising a circular body; a metal end closure permanently secured to one end thereof, said closure having substantially circular score line defining a removable section having front, intermediate and rear portions; an opening tab secured to said front portion of said removable section; means defining a peripheral bead in said removable section said bead being spaced a substantially constant dimension from said score line and having spaced means defining at least two spaced bend lines extending transversely between said front and rear portions; and means in said intermediate portion adjacent said tab for maintaining an area of said intermediate portion adjacent said front portion in a substantially flat condition during removal of said removable section; said means including an elongated trough extending transversely to the direction of removal of said section, said trough having a flat bottom wall inclined relative to a flat lower surface of said removable section and defining a small acute angle opening towards said body adjacent said front portion, said bead being interrupted in the areas aligned with opposite ends of said bottom wall to allow said front portion to be bent along said trough during removal of said removable section.

Claim 12

A container as defined in claim 8, in which said small acute angle is at least 4*.