US3795342A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stowable tab and tear strip
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-05-08
•
Granted: 1974-03-05
•
Expires: 1992-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A stowable tab for use with an aluminum end closure for a beverage container includes a pull ring having a ring handle portion and a lever portion attached to a tear strip, the latter of which is formed by scoring lines in the top of the end closure. A centrally located depressed region and, preferably, a volume compensating raised region spaced from the depressed region is formed in the end closure. The score lines terminate in spaced-apart relationship at or near the depressed region. The tear strip is formed with a leading edge adjacent the periphery of the end closure and has two spaced side portions which extend from the leading edge of the tear strip toward and preferably partially into the depressed region. The tear strip and lever portion of the pull tab are designed such that the forward half of the tear strip bends inwardly from the end closure, while the rearward half of the tear strip bends outwardly from the end closure. The tear strip bends along two areas, a first laterally disposed area centrally located on the tear strip and a second area located near its root end in the depressed region. When the tear strip has been severed along its score lines, it will be resting above the depressed region. By exerting a slight pressure on the top of the tear strip, it will bifold along the two areas into the depressed region. Thus the tear strip is stowed in the depressed region while the pull ring is stowed at a location where it will not interfere with the use of the can.
Inventors
- 👤 M Ashton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:08
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D17/00; B65D17/28; B65D17/401; B65D17/4012; B65D2517/00; B65D2517/0001; B65D2517/0058; B65D2517/0074; B65D2517/0079
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A container closure member comprising: end wall means defining a depressed region; tear strip means integral with said end wall means defined by a first score line having a leading portion positioned adjacent the peripheral portion of said end wall means, said score line having spaced side portions extending along said end wall means, said side portions terminating a spaced distance from each other in said depressed region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A container closure member comprising: end wall means defining a depressed region; tear strip means integral with said end wall means defined by a first score line having a leading portion positioned adjacent the peripheral portion of said end wall means, said score line having spaced side portions extending along said end wall means, said side portions terminating a spaced distance from each other in said depressed region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The closure member of claim 1 wherein said depressed region is centrally located on said end wall means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The closure member of claim 1 wherein said depressed region has a width at least as wide as said tear strip means and a length at least one-half the length of said tear strip means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The closure member of claim 1 further comprising: pull tab means having a lever portion affixed to the forward portion of said tear strip means and having a pull ring integral with and extending rearwardly from said lever portion, the rearward portion of said pull ring positioned above said depressed region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The closure member of claim 4 further comprising: rivet means attaching the forward half of said tear strip means to said lever portion forward of and adjacent to the longitudinal midpoint of said tear strip means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The closure member of claim 5 wherein the forward portion of said lever portion conforms to the shape of the score lines defining the forward half of said tear strip means, said lever portion including means at its forward end for concentrating an initial tearing force in a localized region of the leading portion of said score line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The closure member of claim 5 wherein said spaced side portions of said score line defining said tear strip means diverge from the leading portion thereof to a given spaced distance adjacent the longitudinal midpoint of said tear strip means and diverge from said midpoint to a lesser spaced distance at the terminus thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The closure member of claim 5 wherein the peripheral edges of said lever portion are smooth and rounded.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
The closure member of claim 1 further comprising: pull tab means attached to the forward end of said tear strip means by rivet means, said tear strip having a second score line running generally laterally thereof and located rearwardly of said rivet means, said score line being noncoextensive with said tear strip means, the forward end of said pull tab means having a downwardly directed flange portion thereon immediately adjacent the rearwaRd side of said leading portion of said first score line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The closure member of claim 9 wherein said second score line is positioned near the central portion of said tear strip means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The closure member of claim 10, said tear strip means further defining a longitudinal structural relief region therein running from adjacent the leading portion of said first score line to adjacent the midpoint of said tear strip means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The closure member of claim 4, said lever portion having a relief region therein, said tear strip means having a relief region therein mating with the relief region in said lever portion, at least the substantial part of said relief regions positioned forward of the longitudinal midpoint of said tear strip means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
The closure member of claim 1 wherein said end wall means has a primary level, said depressed region extending below said primary level and being located proximately centrally of said end wall means, said end wall means defining a raised region at least partially surrounding said depressed region, said raised region extending above said primary level, said side portions of said tear strip means extending along said raised region and terminating proximate said depressed region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The closure member of claim 13, wherein said raised region extends along said end wall means from adjacent said depressed region to adjacent the peripheral portion of said end wall means, and wherein the leading portion of said score line is positioned in said raised region.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
101 words
The closure member of claim 14 further comprising pull tab means having a lever portion affixed to the forward portion of said tear strip means and having a pull ring connected to said lever portion, a region of said end wall means defining at least part of said primary level being positioned opposite said depressed region from the location of said tear strip means, said region defining primary level being sized to accommodate said pull ring when said tear strip means is severed from said end wall means along said score line and is folded to fit in said depressed region.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The closure member of claim 1 wherein said end wall means further defines a raised region extending above said depressed region, said raised region at least partially surrounding said depressed region, said leading edge of said score line and at least part of said side portions of said score lines being located in said raised region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
108 words
A container and end closure therefor comprising: container means defining a cavity for holding a substance; wall means having an inside and an outside, said wall means defining a recess means extending inwardly of said wall means, said wall means connected to an end of said container means to close said end; tear strip means in said wall means having a leading edge and having a terminus, said leading edge located outside said recess means, said terminus located in said recess means, said tear strip means severable from said end wall means along its leading edge and side edges and integral with said wall means at its terminus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
108 words
A container and end closure therefor comprising: container means defining a cavity for holding a substance; wall means having an inside and an outside, said wall means defining a recess means extending inwardly of said wall means, said wall means connected to an end of said container means to close said end; tear strip means in said wall means having a leading edge and having a terminus, said leading edge located outside said recess means, said terminus located in said recess means, said tear strip means severable from said end wall means along its leading edge and side edges and integral with said wall means at its terminus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The container of claim 17 wherein said recess means is sized to accommodate said tear strip means when said tear strip means is bifolded.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The container of claim 17 further comprising: pull tab means attached to said tear strip means for severing said edges from said end wall means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The container of claim 19, said tear strip means being elongate from its leading edge to its terminus.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The container of claim 20 wherein said tear strip means defines first means for initiating a first fold line between said leading edge and said terminus.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The container of claim 21 wherein the distance between said leading edge and said first means is substantially equal to the distance between said first means and said terminus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The container of claim 21 wherein the distance between said leading edge and said first means is greater than the distance between said first means and said terminus.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The container of claim 23 wherein said tear strip means defines second means for initiating a second fold line adjacent the terminus thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The container of claim 23 wherein said tear strip means further defines means for preventing substantial bending forward of said first means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The container of claim 23 wherein said tear strip means further defines means for preventing substantial bending rearward of said first means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
62 words
The container of claim 23 further comprising: pull tab means attached to the forward portion of said tear strip means, said pull tab means cooperating with the forward portion of said tear strip means to initiate inward folding along said first means, said pull tab means further cooperating with said tear strip means to prevent substantial bending forward of said first means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
The container of claim 23 wherein said tear strip means diverges to a greater width from its leading edge to adjacent said first means and converges therefrom to a lesser width adjacent its terminus.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
79 words
The container of claim 28 further comprising: pull tab means attached to said tear strip means forward of said first means, said pull tab means and said tear strip means cooperating to facilitate folding of said tear strip means along said first fold line, said pull tab means conforming generally to the shape of said tear strip means forward of said first means and having a slightly lesser width than said tear strip means forward of said first means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The container of claim 17 wherein said wall means further defines a volume-compensating relief region spaced from said recess means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
The container of claim 17 further comprising: pull tab means including a forward lever portion attached to said tear strip means and a rearward ring portion, the rearward end of said ring portion positioned above said depression to facilitate hand manipulation thereof.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
The container of claim 21 wherein said first means comprises at least one reinforcing relief region in said tear strip means forward of said first means and a mating reinforcing relief region in said lever portion of said pull tab means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
The container of claim 21 further comprising: rivet means attaching said pull tab means to said tear strip means, said rivet means located within said mating relief regions.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The container of claim 21 wherein the distance between said leading edge and said first means is less than the distance between said first means and said terminus.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
112 words
In an easy-open end closure including a tear strip and a pull tab, the improvement comprising: at least two spaced projections extending upwardly from and integral with the tear strip, said pull tab having a lever portion conforming to the leading edge of said tear strip and having an aperture in said lever portion sized to fit over said projections, a first of said projections positioned along the rearward edge of said aperture, at least one other projection positioned forwardly of said first projection, said projections being deformed over the sides of said aperture and onto the top of said pull tab whereby said pull tab is retained on said tear strip.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
112 words
In an easy-open end closure including a tear strip and a pull tab, the improvement comprising: at least two spaced projections extending upwardly from and integral with the tear strip, said pull tab having a lever portion conforming to the leading edge of said tear strip and having an aperture in said lever portion sized to fit over said projections, a first of said projections positioned along the rearward edge of said aperture, at least one other projection positioned forwardly of said first projection, said projections being deformed over the sides of said aperture and onto the top of said pull tab whereby said pull tab is retained on said tear strip.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
38 words
In the end closure of claim 35 said aperture being triangular, said tear strip having three of said projections extending upwardly therefrom in a triangular pattern corresponding to the dimensions of said triangular aperture, said projections being elongate.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
37 words
In the end closure of claim 36, an apex of said triangular apertures being adjacent the leading edge of said pull tab, the side of said aperture opposite said apex being laterally disposed across said pull tab.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
45 words
In the end closure of claim 35, said tear strip having a peripheral relief region adjacent the leading edge and the forward portions of the side edges, said pull tab having a peripheral relief region mating with said peripheral relief region on said tear strip.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
84 words
A container closure member comprising: end wall means defining A depressed region, said depressed region being positioned a spaced distance from the peripheral portion of said end wall means; tear strip means in said end wall means defined by a first score line having a leading portion positioned adjacent said peripheral portion and within said spaced distance, said score line having spaced side portions extending along said end wall means, said side portions terminating a spaced distance from each other in said depressed region.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
84 words
A container closure member comprising: end wall means defining A depressed region, said depressed region being positioned a spaced distance from the peripheral portion of said end wall means; tear strip means in said end wall means defined by a first score line having a leading portion positioned adjacent said peripheral portion and within said spaced distance, said score line having spaced side portions extending along said end wall means, said side portions terminating a spaced distance from each other in said depressed region.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
The closure member of claim 39 wherein said depressed region is centrally located on said end wall means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
51 words
The closure member of claim 39 further comprising: pull tab means having a lever portion affixed to the forward portion of said tear strip means and having a pull ring integral with and extending rearwardly from said lever portion, the rearward portion of said pull ring positioned above said depressed region.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
82 words
The closure member of claim 40 further comprising: pull tab means attached to the forward end of said tear strip means by rivet means, said tear strip having a second score line running generally laterally thereof and located rearwardly of said rivet means, said score line being noncoextensive with said tear strip means, the forward end of said pull tab means having a downwardly directed flange portion thereon immediately adjacent the rearward side of said leading portion of said first score line.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
54 words
The closure member of claim 42 wherein said second score line is positioned near the central portion of said tear strip means, said tear strip means further defining a longitudinal structural relief region therein running from adjacent the leading portion of said first score line to adjacent the midpoint of said tear strip means.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
52 words
The closure member of claim 41, said lever portion having a relief region therein, said tear strip means having a relief region therein mating with the relief region in said lever portion, at least the substantial part of said relief regions positioned forward of the longitudinal midpoint of said tear strip means.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
75 words
The closure member of claim 39 wherein said end wall means has a primary level, said depressed region extending below said primary level and being located proximately centrally of said end wall means, said end wall means defining a raised region at least partially surrounding said depressed region, said raised region extending above said primary level, said side portions of said tear strip means extending along said raised region and terminating proximate said depressed region.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
144 words
The closure member of claim 45 wherein said raised region extends along said end wall means from adjacent said depressed region to adjacent the peripheral portion of said end wall means, and wherein the leading portion of said score line is positioned in said raised region, said closure member further comprising pull tab means having a lever portion affixed to the forward portion of said tear strip means and having a pull ring connected to said lever portion, a region of said end wall means defining at least part of said primary level being positioned opposite said depressed region from the location of said tear strip means, said region defining primary level being sized to accommodate said pull ring when said tear strip means is severed from said end wall means along said score line and is folded to fit in said depressed region.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
56 words
The closure member of claim 39 wherein said end wall means further defines a raised region extending above said depressed region, said raised region at least partially surrounding said depressed region, said leading edge of said score line and at least part of said side portions of said score lines being located in said raised region.
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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) | 1977-03-04 | 1977-09-03 | 1978-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-04 | 1981-09-03 | 1982-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-04 | 1985-09-03 | 1986-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |