US3759206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Push-in easy-opening closures
Assignee: The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Pty Ltd
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Filing: 1971-09-15
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1991-09-15
Abstract
Abstract This specification dislcoses an easy-opening closure for a can end which comprises an opening formed by partially severing a portion from the can end to leave the portion attached thereto by an integral neck, and a closure member formed from said severed portion and which is larger than said opening. The sheet metal adjacent the free edge of the opening is downwardly turned while the sheet metal adjacent the free edge of the closure member is upwardly turned, said free edges being in contact with or in close proximity to each other. A sealant is applied at least in the region of the free edges if required by the purpose for which the can end is to be used. The specification also discloses a method of forming such a closure comprising the steps of: forming an upwardly directed bulge in the sheet metal, thus stretching the sheet; partially severing a central portion of said bulge, to define an opening and said severed portion defining a closure member for said opening, and displacing the closure member downwardly so that its free edge is below the free edge of the opening; partially flattening the thus truncated bulge of sheet metal around said opening to reduce its size, and turning downwardly said free edge defining said opening; partially flattening the closure member to increase its size, and turning upwardly said free edge of the closure member, the free edge portion of said closure member being in contact with or in close proximity to said free edge defining said opening, and applying a sealant at least in the region of the free edges of the opening and the closure member to seal the closure if required by the purpose for which said container member is to be used.
Inventors
- 👤 A Dalli
- 👤 M Debenham
- 👤 R Schackleford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:33
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D51/00; B21D51/16; B21D51/38; B21D51/383; B65; B65D; B65D17/00; B65D17/28; B65D17/401; B65D2205/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of forming an easy-opening closure in a sheet metal container member, said method comprising forming a bulge in an area of the sheet metal container member, at least partially severing a portion of the sheet metal in said area to provide a free edge wherein at least a portion of said bulge lies substantially outside of said portion, the free edge of the sheet metal from which said portion is at least partially severed defining an opening, and said severed portion defining a closure member for said opening, thereafter reducing the size of said opening by at least partly flattening said bulge to place at least a part of the free edge portion of said closure member and the free edge defining said opening or the interior surface of the sheet metal adjacent said opening in overlapping contact or in overlapping close proximity, whereby said container member having said easy-opening closure is suitable for use in forming a container for liquids.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of forming an easy-opening closure in a sheet metal container member, said method comprising forming a bulge in an area of the sheet metal container member, at least partially severing a portion of the sheet metal in said area to provide a free edge wherein at least a portion of said bulge lies substantially outside of said portion, the free edge of the sheet metal from which said portion is at least partially severed defining an opening, and said severed portion defining a closure member for said opening, thereafter reducing the size of said opening by at least partly flattening said bulge to place at least a part of the free edge portion of said closure member and the free edge defining said opening or the interior surface of the sheet metal adjacent said opening in overlapping contact or in overlapping close proximity, whereby said container member having said easy-opening closure is suitable for use in forming a container for liquids.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
partially or wholly severing a central portion of said bulge to provide a free edge, the free edge of said sheet metal from which said portion is severed defining an opening and said severed portion defining a closure member for said opening;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
partially or wholly severing a central portion of said bulge to provide a free edge, the free edge of said sheet metal from which said portion is severed defining an opening and said severed portion defining a closure member for said opening;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said portion of the sheet metal is only partially severed with at least one unsevered area connecting said closure member to the remainder of said sheet metal and serving as a hinge during the closure opening operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bulge includes an approximately flat area of sheet metal that is generally parallel to the plane of the sheet metal surrounding said bulge, said severing being carried out substantially within said flat area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
displacing the closure member in the opposite direction from said bulge so that its free edge is in a different plane than the free edge of the opening;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
displacing the closure member in the opposite direction from said bulge so that its free edge is in a different plane than the free edge of the opening;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
at least partially flattening the bulge of sheet metal around said opening to reduce its size and to place at least a part of the free edge portion of said closure member and said free edge defining said opening or the surface of the sheet metal adjacent said opening in overlapping contact or in overlapping close proximity, and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
at least partially flattening the bulge of sheet metal around said opening to reduce its size and to place at least a part of the free edge portion of said closure member and said free edge defining said opening or the surface of the sheet metal adjacent said opening in overlapping contact or in overlapping close proximity, and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
Method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sheet metal is steel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
Method as claimed in claim 4, wherein after said bulge is flattened, a sealant is applied to at least the region of the free edges of said opening and said closure member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
applying a sealant at least in the region of the free edges of the opening and the closure member to seal the closure if required by the purpose for which said container member is to be used, whereby said container member having said easy-opening closure is suitable for use in forming a container for liquids.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
applying a sealant at least in the region of the free edges of the opening and the closure member to seal the closure if required by the purpose for which said container member is to be used, whereby said container member having said easy-opening closure is suitable for use in forming a container for liquids.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the container contents are below atmospheric pressure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the container contents are above atmospheric pressure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bulge is formed before said portion is severed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
Method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the size of said closure member is increased prior to the application of said sealant.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
Method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said closure member is bulged when severed, and thereafter the bulged closure member is flattened to increase the size thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said free-edge poRtion of said closure member has a plurality of segments, at least one of said segments overlying a surface of the sheet metal adjacent said opening, and at least one other of said segments overlying the opposite surface of the sheet metal adjacent said opening.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said unsevered area is located in the bulged area of the sheet metal container member.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
18 words
A method of forming an easy-opening closure in a container member of sheet metal comprising the following steps:
Claim 23
Independent Claim
18 words
A method of forming an easy-opening closure in a container member of sheet metal comprising the following steps:
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
Process as claimed in claim 13, wherein the free edge defining said opening is displaced in the direction of the closure member displacement.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
Method as claimed in claim 13, wherein steps (1) and (2) are in a single operation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
Method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said bulge includes an approximately flat area of sheet metal that is generally parallel to the plane of the sheet metal surrounding said bulge, said severing being carried out substantially within said flat area.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
Method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said portion of the sheet metal is only partially severed with at least one unsevered area connecting said closure member to the remainder of said sheet metal and serving as a hinge during the closure opening operation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
Method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said sheet metal is steel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
Method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the closure member is bulged when severed and thereafter the bulged closure member is at least partially flattened to increase its size.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of forming an easy-opening closure in a sheet metal container member, the steps comprising: forming a bulge in an area of the member to displace metal in said area generally normally of the sheet; at least partially severing a portion of the displaced sheet metal inwardly of the periphery thereof to provide a free edge of displaced metal outwardly of the severed portion at least partially defining an opening, with said severed portion defining a closure member for said opening; and reducing the size of said opening by at least partly flattening the said displaced metal defining said opening to move the marginal portion of the free edge and the marginal edge portion of the closure member into overlapping relationship.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of forming an easy-opening closure in a sheet metal container member, the steps comprising: forming a bulge in an area of the member to displace metal in said area generally normally of the sheet; at least partially severing a portion of the displaced sheet metal inwardly of the periphery thereof to provide a free edge of displaced metal outwardly of the severed portion at least partially defining an opening, with said severed portion defining a closure member for said opening; and reducing the size of said opening by at least partly flattening the said displaced metal defining said opening to move the marginal portion of the free edge and the marginal edge portion of the closure member into overlapping relationship.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the free edge defining said opening is displaced towards the free edge portion of the closure member, whereby the easy-opening closure presents a smooth opening periphery to an opener''s finger.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |