US3760752A — Easy-opening device for sheet metal containers an…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 203 words

An easy-opening device for the quick creation of an opening in a container, especially a pressure-resistant beverage can, comprising in combination: a container wall whose surface area includes the intended opening; a wall panel initially constituting an integral portion of the container wall and covering the intended opening; a transverse cut separating the wall panel from the adjacent container wall along a major portion of the intended opening contour, with an uncut contour portion defining a bending hinge for the wall panel; the transverse cut being so arranged that the peripheral marginal wall portion of the wall panel and the marginal container wall portion around the intended opening remain aligned and substantially contiguous so as to present a substantially continuous, step-free surface on at least the outer side of the container; a peripheral ledge constituted as an integral part of the wall panel and extending from its periphery toward the adjacent container wall in such a manner that an overlap configuration is created in the area of the transverse cut, the overlap permitting easy removal of the wall panel through an inward pivoting motion around the bending hinge, while maintaining the container closed and preventing an outward pivoting motion under internal container pressure.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 203 words

An easy-opening device for the quick creation of an opening in a container, especially a pressure-resistant beverage can, comprising in combination: a container wall whose surface area includes the intended opening; a wall panel initially constituting an integral portion of the container wall and covering the intended opening; a transverse cut separating the wall panel from the adjacent container wall along a major portion of the intended opening contour, with an uncut contour portion defining a bending hinge for the wall panel; the transverse cut being so arranged that the peripheral marginal wall portion of the wall panel and the marginal container wall portion around the intended opening remain aligned and substantially contiguous so as to present a substantially continuous, step-free surface on at least the outer side of the container; a peripheral ledge constituted as an integral part of the wall panel and extending from its periphery toward the adjacent container wall in such a manner that an overlap configuration is created in the area of the transverse cut, the overlap permitting easy removal of the wall panel through an inward pivoting motion around the bending hinge, while maintaining the container closed and preventing an outward pivoting motion under internal container pressure.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 60 words

An easy-opening device as defined in claim 1, wherein the container wall is part of an end closure of a beverage container, and the intended opening is located near the periphery of the end closure and has a generally circular contour, its bending hinge being provided in a portion of the contour which is near the center of the closure.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 36 words

An easy-opening device as defined in claim 1, wherein the cut through the container wall presents an offset, step-shaped cross-sectional outline, both of the adjacent marginal wall portions including similar periphery ledges in the overlap configuration.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 70 words

An easy-opening device as defined in claim 1, wherein the ledge extending from the peripheral marginal wall portion of the wall panel is inwardly offset from the outer side of the container wall by a distance approximately equal to the wall thickness and extends from the wall panel to form an overlap configuration with the marginal wall portion surrounding the intended opening, the offset ledge thus covering the transverse cut.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 39 words

An easy-opening device as defined in claim 1, wherein the cut in the sheet metal wall has an inclined cross-sectional orientation so that each of the adjacent marginal wall portions includes a generally triangle-shaped ledge in the overlap configuration.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 42 words

An easy-opening device as defined in claim 1, further comprising: means to hold the removable wall panel in its closed position so that a predetermined opening force in the direction of panel removal is required in order to overcome the holding means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 35 words

An easy-opening device as defined in claim 6, wherein the holding means are arranged to create a preloaded friction lock between adjacent portions of the removable wall panel and the wall surrounding the intended opening.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

An easy-opening device as defined in claim 6, wherein the holding means are provided on one or more discrete points on the contour of the intended opening in the form of material interferences between the adjacent marginal wall portions.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 150 words

A method of producing an easy-opening device by preparing an intended opening in a sheet metal wall covered by an easily removable wall panel, comprising the steps of: cutting the sheet metal wall along a line which defines at least a major portion of the contour of an easily removable wall panel so as to create a narrow gap in the wall, while maintaining the surface alignment between the sheet metal wall and the removable wall panel on either side of the cut; shaping at least one of the marginal wall portions to form a peripheral ledge which extends toward the other wall portion; and deforming at least one of the marginal wall portions so that its peripheral ledge shifts in the direction toward the other marginal wall portion, thereby closing the gap and creating an overlap configuration which restricts the removability of the wall panel to one direction only.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 150 words

A method of producing an easy-opening device by preparing an intended opening in a sheet metal wall covered by an easily removable wall panel, comprising the steps of: cutting the sheet metal wall along a line which defines at least a major portion of the contour of an easily removable wall panel so as to create a narrow gap in the wall, while maintaining the surface alignment between the sheet metal wall and the removable wall panel on either side of the cut; shaping at least one of the marginal wall portions to form a peripheral ledge which extends toward the other wall portion; and deforming at least one of the marginal wall portions so that its peripheral ledge shifts in the direction toward the other marginal wall portion, thereby closing the gap and creating an overlap configuration which restricts the removability of the wall panel to one direction only.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 132 words

A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the steps of cutting and shaping include the steps of penetrating into the sheet metal wall from both sides thereof with cutting tools which operate in the manner of shears, while clamping the wall portions adjacent to the cutting tools so as to maintain the adjacent wall surfaces in alignment; and shaping both peripheral marginal wall portions into ledges of reduced thickness, thereby displacing the wall material situated in the path of the tools toward the clamped wall portions so as to form oppositely located raised beads; the step of deforming including the step of flattening the raised beads and thereby displacing the peripheral ledges toward one another until the gap is substantially closed and the ledges contact one another in an overlap configuration.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 138 words

A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the steps of cutting and shaping include the steps of cutting through the sheet metal wall from both sides thereof with cutting tools which operate in the manner of shears, while clamping the wall portions adjacent to the cutting tools so as to maintain the adjacent wall surfaces in alignment; and shaping both peripheral marginal wall portions into ledges, thereby bending and stretching the wall material situated in the path of the tools away from its original location so as to form a gap, the ledges thus formed on both sides of the gap being of reduced thickness and correspondingly lengthened; the step of deforming including the step of bending the peripheral ledges into alignment with the adjacent wall surfaces, thereby substantially closing the gap and creating an overlap configuration.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 115 words

A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the steps of cutting and shaping include the steps of cutting the sheet metal wall from one side thereof with a punch-type cutting tool so as to sever the wall material along the outer flank of the tool; and shaping the marginal wall material situated in the path of the tool into an offset ledge which extends outwardly from the removable wall panel; the step of deforming including the step of laterally expanding the removable wall panel, thereby shifting its peripheral margin and its ledge toward the outer marginal wall portion, whereby the gap created by the cut is substantially closed and an overlap configuration is created.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 95 words

A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the step of cutting is peRformed with a die punch which cuts a narrow gap into the sheet metal wall by removing the wall material situated in the path of the punch; the steps of shaping and deforming including the step of impressing oppositely oriented, generally V-shaped grooves into the adjacent marginal wall portions on either side of the gap, whereby the spaced flanks of the gap are displaced toward one another and inclined so that the gap is substantially closed and an overlap configuration is created.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 39 words

A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising the step of locally indenting at least one of the marginal wall portions to create a preloaded controlled material interference between the removable wall panel and the surrounding wall portion.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 37 words

A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising the step of lubricating the marginal wall portions adjacent to the gap for the deforming step by applying a sealant to the gap before the latter is closed.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-09-24	1977-03-26	1977-09-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-09-24	1981-03-26	1981-09-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-09-24	1985-03-26	1985-09-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Easy-opening device for sheet metal containers and the like and method of producing such devices

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