Easy opening device in a container wall

Claim 2

In an easy opening device in a container wall comprising a score line in the container wall defining a panel which is at least partially severable from the container wall and having a starting end adjacent the periphery of the container wall and a tab attached to the starting end of the panel, the improvement comprising a second score line in the container wall defining a tear strip having a starting end toward the center of the container wall and a terminal unscored end toward the starting end of said removable panel, said tab being attached to said tear strip near its starting end, said second score line being adapted to be ruptured upon lifting of the tab, and said tear strip remains attached to the container wall to control bending of said removable panel during opening.

Claim 3

An easy opening device as set forth in claim 1 in which the score line defining said panel is substantially V-shaped toward one edge of the container wall and said second score defining a tear strip is substantially U-shaped and the ends of both score lines are located closely adjacent a common line.

Claim 4

An easy opening device as set forth in claim 2 which includes embossed ribs in said panel aligned substantially parallel to opposite edges of the panel.

Claim 5

An easy opening device as set forth in claim 3 in which said tab includes a nose end overlying the panel and a handle end overlying said tear strip and a weakening line in the upper portions of the tab between said nose end and said handle end.

Claim 6

An easy opening device as set forth in claim 4 in which said tab has downwardly formed wells therein and apertures in the bottoms of the wells through which the tab is attached to the panel and tear strip.

Claim 7

An easy opening device as set forth in claim 1 in which said tab is made of sheet metal and has reinforced portions along at least its longitudinal edges.

Claim 8

In an easy opening device in a container wall including a score line therein defining a panel which is at least partially severable from the wall with a starting end thereof adjacent one edge of container wall, said device further including a tab having a nose end overlying the starting end of the severable panel and affixed thereto, and a handle end toward an opposite edge of the container wall, the improvement comprising: connecting means attached to the handle end of the tab and extending therefrom toward the starting end of the severable panel to a permanent attachment of the connecting means to the container wall at a location short of the attachment of the nose end of the tab to the starting end of the panel, said connecting means being adapted to control bending of said panel during opening.

Claim 9

In an easy opening device in a container wall including a score line therein defining a panel which is at least partially severable from the wall with a starting end thereof adjacent one edge of container wall, said device further including a tab having a nose end overlying the starting end of the severable panel and affixed thereto, and a handle end toward an opposite edge of the container wall, the improvement comprising: connecting means attached to the handle end of the tab and extending therefrom toward the starting end of the severable panel to a permanent attachment of the connecting means to the container wall at a location short of the attachment of the nose end of the tab to the starting end of the panel, said connecting means being adapted to control bending of said panel during opening.

Claim 10

An easy opening device as set forth in claim 7 in which said connecting means comprises a U-shaped tear strip in the container with its open end toward said starting end of said panel and its closed end attached to the handle end of the tab.

Claim 11

An easy opening device as set forth in claim 7 in which said panel is defined by a substantially V-shaped score having its apex adjacent one edge of the container wall.

Claim 12

An easy opening device as set forth in claim 9 which includes embossed ribs in the opening flap aligned substantially parallel to opposite edges of the opening flap.

Claim 13

An easy opening device as set forth in claim 7 which includes an embossed depression in the end wall under the outer end of the handle end of the tab.