US3807597A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-opening container top
Assignee: STROBE CARL J
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Filing: 1972-01-10
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Granted: 1974-04-30
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Expires: 1992-01-10
Abstract
Abstract Container top which is useful as a closure for beverage containers and the like and which is openable without requiring a can opener or other additional implements, which does not require removal of a tear tab or a similar disposable article, which does not deposit a detached closure member within the container, and which is noninjurous to the user. The container top is provided with a scored section which can be deformed from the container top to lie inwardly of the container. An opening member attached to the container top includes a tab displacing portion for separating the tab along the scored line, and also includes a deforming portion for deforming the tab from the top. The opening member is movable from a non-use position into alignment with the scored tab, and may contain an aperture coincident with the opening presented by deformation of the tab, through which the contents of the container are accessible. In another disclosed embodiment of the present apparatus, the opening member provides a removable closure for an opened container.
Inventors
- 👤 R Wells
- 👤 C Strobe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:47
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D17/00; B65D17/28; B65D17/401; B65D17/4012; B65D17/4014
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
Openable container apparatus, comprising: a container member mounted on a container and having an exterior surface; a container opening portion at least partially defined on said container member by a region of predetermined structural weakness relative to the remainder of the container member; opening means positioned on said container member in substantially flat alignment with said exterior surface and operative for selective movement toward said exterior surface of container member; means positioned on said opening means in confronting relation with said exterior surface and in selective confronting alignment with said region and operative to sever said region in response to said selective movement of said opening means toward said exterior surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
Openable container apparatus, comprising: a container member mounted on a container and having an exterior surface; a container opening portion at least partially defined on said container member by a region of predetermined structural weakness relative to the remainder of the container member; opening means positioned on said container member in substantially flat alignment with said exterior surface and operative for selective movement toward said exterior surface of container member; means positioned on said opening means in confronting relation with said exterior surface and in selective confronting alignment with said region and operative to sever said region in response to said selective movement of said opening means toward said exterior surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: means disposed on said opening means in confronting relation with said opening portion for contacting and displacing said severed container opening portion into the container in response to movement of said opening means toward said severed container opening portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein: said container opening portion is defined by a region of predetermined structural weakness of said container member and by a second region of substantially unchanged structural quality relative to said container member; said means for severing selectively making severing engagement with said first region and not making severing emgagement with said second region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein: said opening means includes an aperture which is at least partially surrounded by said means for severing and which is positioned by said selective movement to be in substantial alignment with the container opening provided by said displacement of said severed container opening portion into the container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein: said opening means includes a closure member confronting said exterior surface and positioned by said selective movement to removably close the container opening provided by said displacement of said severed container opening portion into the container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
A self-opening member for a container, comprising: a container member having an exterior surface; said container member being at least partially severed along a predetermined path to define an openable tab portion on said container member; a substantially flat tab opening member positioned on the container in substantially flat relation alongside said exterior surface of said container meMber; severing means disposed on said tab opening member in confronting relation with said exterior surface of said container member and operative to sever said container member along said predetermined path when urged thereagainst; and said tab opening member being positioned for selective movement toward said exterior surface of said container member to urge said severing means into severing contact with said predetermined path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
A self-opening member for a container, comprising: a container member having an exterior surface; said container member being at least partially severed along a predetermined path to define an openable tab portion on said container member; a substantially flat tab opening member positioned on the container in substantially flat relation alongside said exterior surface of said container meMber; severing means disposed on said tab opening member in confronting relation with said exterior surface of said container member and operative to sever said container member along said predetermined path when urged thereagainst; and said tab opening member being positioned for selective movement toward said exterior surface of said container member to urge said severing means into severing contact with said predetermined path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein: said tab opening member includes an aperture disposed in fixed relation with said severing means and substantially alignable with said openable tab portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein: said tab opening member is selectively positionable on said surface member to a first position wherein said severing means is unaligned with said predetermined path and to a second position wherein said severing means is disposed in severing proximity to said predetermined path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
204 words
A self-opening member for a container, comprising: a container member; said container member being at least partially severed along a predetermined path to define an openable tab portion on said surface member; a tab opening member operatively disposed adjacent said container member; means disposed on said tab opening member in confronting spaced apart relation with said container member and operative to sever said container member along said predetermined path when urged thereagainst; said tab opening member being selectively movable to urge said severing means from said spaced apart relation into severing contact with said predetermined path; said tab opening member including an aperture disposed in fixed relation with said severing means and substantially alignable with said openable tab portion; said tab opening member being selectively positionable on said surface member to a first position wherein said severing means is unaligned with said predetermined path and to a second position wherein said severing means is disposed in severing proximity to said predetermined path; means disposed on said container member at a location thereon spaced apart from said tab member to define a receptacle; and said tab opening member being selectively positionable to said first position to be at least partially received in said receptacle means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
204 words
A self-opening member for a container, comprising: a container member; said container member being at least partially severed along a predetermined path to define an openable tab portion on said surface member; a tab opening member operatively disposed adjacent said container member; means disposed on said tab opening member in confronting spaced apart relation with said container member and operative to sever said container member along said predetermined path when urged thereagainst; said tab opening member being selectively movable to urge said severing means from said spaced apart relation into severing contact with said predetermined path; said tab opening member including an aperture disposed in fixed relation with said severing means and substantially alignable with said openable tab portion; said tab opening member being selectively positionable on said surface member to a first position wherein said severing means is unaligned with said predetermined path and to a second position wherein said severing means is disposed in severing proximity to said predetermined path; means disposed on said container member at a location thereon spaced apart from said tab member to define a receptacle; and said tab opening member being selectively positionable to said first position to be at least partially received in said receptacle means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
194 words
A self-opening member for a container, comprising: a container member; said container member being at least partially severed along a predetermined path to define an openable tab portion on said surface member; a tab opening member operatively disposed adjacent said container member; means disposed on said tab opening member in confronting spaced apart relation with said container member and operative to sever said container member along said predetermined path when urged thereagainst; said tab opening member being selectively movable to urge said severing means from said spaced apart relation into severing contact with said predetermined path; said tab opening member including an aperture disposed in fixed relation with said severing means and substantially alignable with said openable tab portion; said tab opening member being selectively positionable on said surface member to a first position wherein said severing means is unaligned with said predetermined path and to a second position wherein said severing means is disposed in severing proximity to said predetermined path; and said tab opening member being operatively disposed adjacent said container member by means of a connective member extending between said tab opening member and an edge region of said container member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
194 words
A self-opening member for a container, comprising: a container member; said container member being at least partially severed along a predetermined path to define an openable tab portion on said surface member; a tab opening member operatively disposed adjacent said container member; means disposed on said tab opening member in confronting spaced apart relation with said container member and operative to sever said container member along said predetermined path when urged thereagainst; said tab opening member being selectively movable to urge said severing means from said spaced apart relation into severing contact with said predetermined path; said tab opening member including an aperture disposed in fixed relation with said severing means and substantially alignable with said openable tab portion; said tab opening member being selectively positionable on said surface member to a first position wherein said severing means is unaligned with said predetermined path and to a second position wherein said severing means is disposed in severing proximity to said predetermined path; and said tab opening member being operatively disposed adjacent said container member by means of a connective member extending between said tab opening member and an edge region of said container member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said tab opening member is connected to said exterior surface of said container member in said substantially flat relation at a location spaced apart from said tab portion and is operative for displacement about said location and into contact with said exterior sUrface in response to force exerted on the tab opening member in a direction toward the exterior surface, said means to sever being urged into said severing contact with said predetermined path in response to said displacement of the tab opening member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising: a displacement surface disposed on said tab opening member in confronting relation with said exterior surface and in position to contact and to displace said severed tab portion inwardly of the container when said tab opening member is moved from said spaced apart relation into said severing contact.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein: said tab opening member includes an aperture which is substantially aligned with said openable tab portion and which is positioned on the opening remaining in said exterior surface when said tab portion is severed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein: said tab opening member includes container closure means confronting said exterior surface and selectively removably insertable in closure relation with the opening which is formed in said container member by opening of said openable tab portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein: said openable tab portion is defined by a predetermined path at least partially severed from said container member and by a second region of substantially unchanged structural quality relative to said container member; and displacing means disposed on said tab opening member in confronting relation with said exterior surface to contact said openable tab portion on the severed side of said second region when said tab opening member is moved into severing contact with said predetermined path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein: said opening means is attached to a certain location on said container member; and said certain location is partially defined on said container member by a second region of predetermined structural weakness relative to the remainder of the container member and said opening means is operative to sever said second region in response to selective movement of said opening means away from said container member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
73 words
17 Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein: said tab opening member being attached to a certain location on said container member; said certain location being partially defined by a second region of predetermined structural weakness which is breakable when subjected to force applied through said tab opening member; and said certain location being retained in connection with the remainder of said container member notwithstanding the occurrence of said breakage of said second region.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein: said tab opening member is movably attached to said container member to be selectably positionable to said first and second positions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein: said connective member is aligned to position said tab opening member in said first position; and said connective member is yieldable to enable said tab opening member to be selectively moved to said second position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 19, wherein: said container member, said tab opening member, and said connective member are formed of a unitary piece of material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said means for severing comprises point means operative to make initial severing penetration at a predetermined location of initial contact on said region in response to initial selective movement of said opening means, and further comprises edge means extending from said point means and operative for severing engagement of said region from said predetermined location progressively along the remainder of said region in response to further selective movement of said opening means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-29 | 1977-10-29 | 1978-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-29 | 1981-10-29 | 1982-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-29 | 1985-10-29 | 1986-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |