Can end with inseparable tear strip

Claim 2

An easy open can end comprising: an end wall, a score line in said end wall, a tear strip defined by said score line, means for pulling said tear strip away from said end wall by severing along said score line, and means for preventing penetration of a consumer''s skin by the edges of said score line on said tear strip and said end wall when those edges contact his skin, said penetration prevention means comprising an offset formed within said tear strip, extending substantially perpendicular to the major portion thereof, and positioned immediately adjacent said score line, said penetration prevention means also comprising at least one ridge means formed immediately adjacent said score line on the opposite side thereof from said offset and extending substantially perpendicular to the surface of said end wall.

Claim 3

The can end of claim 1 wherein said at least one ridge means extends away from a can body to which the can end is attached.

Claim 4

The can end of claim 1 wherein said score line includes predetermined configurations therein for preventing the complete severance of said score line, thereby preventing complete detachment of said tear strip from said end wall.

Claim 5

The can end of claim 3 wherein said predetermined configurations comprise force reversing curves extending in substantially opposite directions and terminating at ends of said score line.

Claim 6

An easy open can end comprising: an end wall, a score line in said end wall, a tear strip defined by said score line, means for pulling said tear strip away from said end wall by severing along said score line, and means for preventing penetration of a consumer''s skin by the edges of said score line on said tear strip and said end wall when those edges contact his skin, said penetration prevention means comprising a first offset extending substantially perpendicularly from said end wall, a second offset extending substantially perpendicularly from said tear strip, and a ledge intermediate said first and second offsets and having said score line extending therealong.

Claim 7

An easy open can end comprising: an end wall, a score line in said end wall, a tear strip defined by said score line, means for pulling said tear strip away from said end wall by severing along said score line, and means for preventing penetration of a consumer''s skin by the edges of said score line on said tear strip and said end wall when those edges contact his skin, said penetration prevention means comprising a first offset extending substantially perpendicularly from said end wall, a second offset extending substantially perpendicularly from said tear strip, and a ledge intermediate said first and second offsets and having said score line extending therealong.

Claim 8

The can end of claim 5 wherein said ledge is thinner than said end wall adjacent said first offset, and said score line penetrates said ledge approximately 50 percent of the thickness thereof.

Claim 9

An easy open can end comprising: an end wall, a score line in said end wall, a tear strip defined by said score line, means for pulling said tear strip away from said end wall by severing along said score line, and means for preventing penetration of a consumer''s skin by the edges of said score line on said tear strip and said end wall when those edges contact his skin, said penetration prevention means comprising a first ridge formed in said end wall immediately adjacent to and extending along said score line, and a second ridge formed in said tear strip immediately adjacent to and extending along said score line, said first ridge extending upwardly from said end wall and away from a can body to which the can end is attached, and said second ridge extending downwardly from said tear strip and toward the can body.

Claim 10

An easy open can end comprising: an end wall, a score line in said end wall, a tear strip defined by said score line, means for pulling said tear strip away from said end wall by severing along said score line, and means for preventing penetration of a consumer''s skin by the edges of said score line on said tear strip and said end wall when those edges contact his skin, said penetration prevention means comprising a first ridge formed in said end wall immediately adjacent to and extending along said score line, and a second ridge formed in said tear strip immediately adjacent to and extending along said score line, said first ridge extending upwardly from said end wall and away from a can body to which the can end is attached, and said second ridge extending downwardly from said tear strip and toward the can body.

Claim 11

The can end of claim 7 wherein said first ridge is formed to extend along a substantial portion of the entire length of said score line.

Claim 12

The can end of claim 7 wherein said pulling means comprises a rear opening tab fastened to said tear strip and having a lever portion thereon, and wherein said first ridge includes a platform section against which said lever portion may press when said tab is lifted.

Claim 13

An easy opening container wall comprising: a container wall of sheet material, said container wall having an outer surface; a line of weakness in said container wall defining a tear portion at least partially removable from the container wall; at least a segment of said tear portion adjacent said line of weakness being offset inwardly of said line of weakness, said segment extending along at least a substantial portion of said line of weakness; and means on the container wall for initiating removal of the tear portion.

Claim 14

An easy opening container wall comprising: a container wall of sheet material, said container wall having an outer surface; a line of weakness in said container wall defining a tear portion at least partially removable from the container wall; at least a segment of said tear portion adjacent said line of weakness being offset inwardly of said line of weakness, said segment extending along at least a substantial portion of said line of weakness; and means on the container wall for initiating removal of the tear portion.

Claim 15

An easy opening container wall as defined in claim 10 wherein said line of weakness is offset from at least a segment of the outer surface of the container wall immediately thereadjacent, said last mentioned segment extending along at least a substantial portion of the line of weakness.

Claim 16

An easy opening container wall as defined in claim 10 wherein said segment includes an inwardly offset panel extending over a major portion of the area of said tear portion.

Claim 17

An easy opening container wall comprising: a container wall of sheet material; a line of weakness in said container wall defining a tear portion only partially removable from the container wall, the sheet material of the container wall being rupturable along the line of weakness to partially remove the tear portion and to form an opening in the container wall; said tear portion being pivotable over the outside of the container wall following rupture of the sheet material along the line Of weakness to substantially invert the tear portion; said tear portion having a relatively sharp edge when the tear portion is partially removed from the container wall; a tab attached to said tear portion to initiate removal of the tear portion; guard means carried by said tear portion for hindering contact with said edge when said tear portion is partially removed from the container wall; and said guard means including at least a segment of said tear portion adjacent the line of weakness and extending therealong, said segment being inwardly offset from the line of weakness prior to rupture of the sheet material along the line of weakness.

Claim 18

An easy opening container wall comprising: a container wall of sheet material; a line of weakness in said container wall defining a tear portion only partially removable from the container wall, the sheet material of the container wall being rupturable along the line of weakness to partially remove the tear portion and to form an opening in the container wall; said tear portion being pivotable over the outside of the container wall following rupture of the sheet material along the line Of weakness to substantially invert the tear portion; said tear portion having a relatively sharp edge when the tear portion is partially removed from the container wall; a tab attached to said tear portion to initiate removal of the tear portion; guard means carried by said tear portion for hindering contact with said edge when said tear portion is partially removed from the container wall; and said guard means including at least a segment of said tear portion adjacent the line of weakness and extending therealong, said segment being inwardly offset from the line of weakness prior to rupture of the sheet material along the line of weakness.

Claim 19

An easy opening container wall comprising: a container wall of sheet material; a line of weakness in said container wall defining a tear portion only partially removable from the container wall, the sheet material of the container wall being rupturable along the line of weakness to at least partially remove the tear portion and to form an opening in the container wall; said tear portion being pivotable over the outside of the container wall following rupture of the sheet material along the line of weakness to substantially invert the tear portion; said tear portion having a relatively sharp edge when the tear portion is at least partially removed from the container wall; the rim of the opening being relatively sharp; a tab attached to said tear portion to initiate removal of the tear portion; a segment of said container wall extending along and closely adjacent the line of weakness being offset outwardly of the line of weakness to protect the user against injury from the rim of the opening; and a segment of said tear portion extending along and closely adjacent the line of weakness being offset inwardly of the line of weakness to protect the user against injury from the sharp edge of the partially removed tear portion.

Claim 20

An easy opening container wall comprising: a container wall of sheet material; a line of weakness in said container wall defining a tear portion only partially removable from the container wall, the sheet material of the container wall being rupturable along the line of weakness to at least partially remove the tear portion and to form an opening in the container wall; said tear portion being pivotable over the outside of the container wall following rupture of the sheet material along the line of weakness to substantially invert the tear portion; said tear portion having a relatively sharp edge when the tear portion is at least partially removed from the container wall; the rim of the opening being relatively sharp; a tab attached to said tear portion to initiate removal of the tear portion; a segment of said container wall extending along and closely adjacent the line of weakness being offset outwardly of the line of weakness to protect the user against injury from the rim of the opening; and a segment of said tear portion extending along and closely adjacent the line of weakness being offset inwardly of the line of weakness to protect the user against injury from the sharp edge of the partially removed tear portion.

Claim 21

An easy opening container wall as defined in claim 14 wherein a relatively flat strip of sheet material extends between and joins said segments, said line of weakness being formed in said strip.

Claim 22

An easy opening container wall comprising: a container wall of sheet material; a line of weakness in said container wall defining a tear portion at least partially removable from the container wall, the sheet material of the container wall being rupturable along the line of weakness to partially remove the tear portion and to form an opening in the container wall; said tear portion having a relatively sharp edge when the tear portion is at least partially removed from the container wall; the rim of the opening being relatively sharp; a tab attached to said tear portion to initiate removal of the tear portion; and a region of the tear portion being offset inwardly to define a bead which extends along a substantial segment of the line of weakness closely adjacent the line of weakness to protect the user against the sharp edge of the tear portion.

Claim 23

An easy opening container wall comprising: a container wall of sheet material; a line of weakness in said container wall defining a tear portion at least partially removable from the container wall, the sheet material of the container wall being rupturable along the line of weakness to partially remove the tear portion and to form an opening in the container wall; said tear portion having a relatively sharp edge when the tear portion is at least partially removed from the container wall; the rim of the opening being relatively sharp; a tab attached to said tear portion to initiate removal of the tear portion; and a region of the tear portion being offset inwardly to define a bead which extends along a substantial segment of the line of weakness closely adjacent the line of weakness to protect the user against the sharp edge of the tear portion.

Claim 24

An easy opening container wall as defined in claim 16 wherein the container wall has a narrow coined region of reduced thickness extending along the periphery of the tear portion, at least a major portion of said line of weakness being in said coined region.