Full or partial opening easy-open container end closure

Claim 1

An easy-open container end closure comprising: a substantially flat central panel; a substantially peripheral first score line in said central panel defining a removable first panel section; a second score line in said central panel positioned wholly within said first score line and defining a removable second panel section; an opening tab having a rivet hole therein, a nose at one end and a handle at the other end thereof; and rivet means integral with the second panel section extending through said tab rivet hole and securing said tab to said second panel section, said rivet means being substantially equidistant from a portion of said first score line and from a portion of said second score line, said distance from said rivet to said portions of said score lines being substantially equal to the distance from said rivet hole to said tab nose, and said rivet means and said tab means being adapted to permit circumferential rotation of said tab about said rivet, said rivet being positioned such that said tab can be positioned so that its nose can overlie either of said portions of said first or second score lines whereby said nose is capable of rupturing either of said portions of said first or second score lines when said handle is lifted and said tab is pivoted adjacent said rivet means, said end closure being designed such that said rupturing is meant to be effected when said handle is lifted in a direction substantially perpendicular to either of said portions of said score lines.