Easy opening can end

Claim 2

In metal end wall construction for an easy open can of a type in which a continuous generally circular marginal score line located close to the recessed corner of a recessed can end wall seamed to can side walls defines a removable end panel, and in which ring pull tab means having a ring portion, side edge portions and a nose is secured by rivet means to the end panel; the combination of an elliptically shaped score line portion, in the can circular end-panel-defining score line, defining the zone of initial rupture of the score line; the axis of the pull tab means which passes through the rivet means and nose being radial of that curved elliptical portion of the score line which the axis intersects, and being radial of the end-panel-defining score line; means independent of the rivet means which secures the pull tab means to the end panel, and engageable with side edge portions of the pull tab means outside the ring portion of the pull tab means, holding the pull tab axis in said radial position; the pull tab nose being rounded, and the rounded portion of the nose extending radially along said pull tab axis to a position outwardly overlapping the elliptical score line portion; a secondary straight score line formed in the end panel perpendicular to said pull tab axis; and said secondary score line being spaced from each of and extending between the pull tab rivet means and the elliptical score line portion.

Claim 3

The construction defined in claim 1 in which the elliptical portion has a flatter curvature than that of the generally circular marginal score line, and in which the elliptical portion is connected by more sharply curved portions to the circular marginal score line.

Claim 4

The construction defined in claim 1 in which the pull tab means has straight side edges, and in which the engageable means includes buttons projecting from the end panel engaging the pull tab straight side edges and holding the pull tab means in said radial position against movement on the rivet means which secures the pull tab means to the end panel.

Claim 5

The construction defined in claim 1 in which the elliptical score line portion has a greater depth than that of the secondary score line.

Claim 6

Easy open metal can construction including a metal can having a bottom wall and side walls forming an open upper end, an end wall, a double seam between the end wall and open upper end of the side walls, the end wall having a recessed corner below the seam and a recessed end panel extending from the recessed corner; an end-panel-defining continuous score line formed in the recessed end wall corner immediately adjacent the open upper end of the side walls and double seam; an outwardly convex elliptically shaped score line portion connected with the remainder of the score line defining the zone of the initial rupture of the score line and located further from the can side wall and double seam than the remainder of the score line; metal pull tab means, rivet means securing the pull tab means to the end panel, the pull tab means having a rounded nose, the axis of the pull tab means which passes through the rivet means and nose being radial of that elliptical score line portion intersected by the axis, and radial of the remainder of the end-panel-defining score line; the pull tab means having a ring portion and side edges outside the ring portion, means interengageable between the pull tab side edges and end panel holding the pull tab means axis in said radial position; the rounded nose overlapping and extending slightly outward beyond the elliptical score line portion; and a secondary straight score line formed in the end panel perpendicular to said pull tab axis, the elliptical score line portion having greater depth than that of the secondary score line, the secondary score line being spaced from and located between the pull tab rivet means and the elliptical score line portion, and the secondary score line and elliptical score line portion defining a flap-like portion which bends on the secondary score line when the elliptical score line portion is initially ruptured.

Claim 7

Easy open metal can construction including a metal can having a bottom wall and side walls forming an open upper end, an end wall, a double seam between the end wall and open upper end of the side walls, the end wall having a recessed corner below the seam and a recessed end panel extending from the recessed corner; an end-panel-defining continuous score line formed in the recessed end wall corner immediately adjacent the open upper end of the side walls and double seam; an outwardly convex elliptically shaped score line portion connected with the remainder of the score line defining the zone of the initial rupture of the score line and located further from the can side wall and double seam than the remainder of the score line; metal pull tab means, rivet means securing the pull tab means to the end panel, the pull tab means having a rounded nose, the axis of the pull tab means which passes through the rivet means and nose being radial of that elliptical score line portion intersected by the axis, and radial of the remainder of the end-panel-defining score line; the pull tab means having a ring portion and side edges outside the ring portion, means interengageable between the pull tab side edges and end panel holding the pull tab means axis in said radial position; the rounded nose overlapping and extending slightly outward beyond the elliptical score line portion; and a secondary straight score line formed in the end panel perpendicular to said pull tab axis, the elliptical score line portion having greater depth than that of the secondary score line, the secondary score line being spaced from and located between the pull tab rivet means and the elliptical score line portion, and the secondary score line and elliptical score line portion defining a flap-like portion which bends on the secondary score line when the elliptical score line portion is initially ruptured.