Score-line structure

Claim 2

A container construction having a pull tab opening device and comprising: a body section; an end portion closing one end of said body section and including a panel section having the pull tab opening device secured thereto, said panel section being defined by score-line means formed in the upper surface of said end portion; the improvement wherein said score-line means comprises a band of compressed work harden material of substantially uniform thickness coextensive with the perimeter of said panel section and forming a portion thereof, a score-line formed in said band of compressed, work hardened material and defining the perimeter of said panel sections, said score-line comprising a frangible base wall section that can be fractured to permit opening of said container, and an outer peripheral side wall surface substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of said band, said panel section, and the surface of said base wall section, with the base wall section being of uniform thickness, wherein upon formation of said score-line, there is provided a zone of compacted, work hardened material of substantially uniform thickness in the region of said base wall section, the outer periphery of said zone terminating abruptly and substantially in alignment with said outer peripheral side wall surface such that during fracture of said score-line shearing will take place along a path defined by the juncture of said base wall and said side wall and coextensive with the outer periphery of said zone.

Claim 3

A container construction as defined in claim 1 further including support means on said end portion disposed outward of said panel section and in close proximity to said score-line, which support means provides rigidity to the material disposed outwardly of and adjacent to said side wall surface, thereby facilitating attainment of the desired path of shearing.

Claim 4

A container construction as defined in claim 2 wherein saId support means is comprised of a raised rigid bead, provided by a reverse bent fold formed in the material of said end portion.

Claim 5

A container construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said end portion is formed as an integral unitary element with said body section.

Claim 6

A container construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said end portion comprises a separate element of said container assembly integrally joined to said body section.

Claim 7

A container construction having a pull tab opening device and comprising a body member including a cylindrical body section and an end portion closing one end of said body section, said end portion being formed as a unitary one piece section thereof, said unitary end portion being joined to said body section by support means in the form of a raised rigid rim, said rim being defined by a reverse bent fold formed in the material of said body member and disposed about the periphery of said end portion, said rim, comprising, respectively, radially inner and radially outer portions joined by a bight section, said radially inner portion being a continuation of said end portion and said radially outer portion being a continuation of said body section, with said respective radially inner and radially outer rim portions being in abutting, metal-to-metal contact to provide a rigid support structure; said end portion including, a panel section having the pull tab opening device secured thereto, said panel section being defined by score-line means which include a score-line form in the upper surface of said end portion, said score-line having an outer, peripheral side wall and a frangible base wall section that is fractured to permit opening of said container, said outer peripheral side wall of said score-line being disposed perpendicular to the upper surface of said panel section and in close proximity to said reverse-bent rigid rim such that upon fracturing of said frangible base wall section, said raised rim provides rigid support for said outer peripheral side wall and promotes shearing of the frangible base wall section at the junction of said base wall and said outer peripheral side wall.

Claim 8

A container construction having a pull tab opening device and comprising a body member including a cylindrical body section and an end portion closing one end of said body section, said end portion being formed as a unitary one piece section thereof, said unitary end portion being joined to said body section by support means in the form of a raised rigid rim, said rim being defined by a reverse bent fold formed in the material of said body member and disposed about the periphery of said end portion, said rim, comprising, respectively, radially inner and radially outer portions joined by a bight section, said radially inner portion being a continuation of said end portion and said radially outer portion being a continuation of said body section, with said respective radially inner and radially outer rim portions being in abutting, metal-to-metal contact to provide a rigid support structure; said end portion including, a panel section having the pull tab opening device secured thereto, said panel section being defined by score-line means which include a score-line form in the upper surface of said end portion, said score-line having an outer, peripheral side wall and a frangible base wall section that is fractured to permit opening of said container, said outer peripheral side wall of said score-line being disposed perpendicular to the upper surface of said panel section and in close proximity to said reverse-bent rigid rim such that upon fracturing of said frangible base wall section, said raised rim provides rigid support for said outer peripheral side wall and promotes shearing of the frangible base wall section at the junction of said base wall and said outer peripheral side wall.

Claim 9

A container as defined in claim 6 wherein upon the material in the region of said base wall section is compressed to provide a zone of work hardened material, the outer periphery of which terminates abruptly and in alignment with said side wall, such that during the fracture of said score-line shearing will take place along a path defined by the juncture of said base wall and said side wall and coextensive with the outer periphery of said work hardened zone.

Claim 10

A container end portion construction having a pull tab opening device and designed for use with a container having a body section for closing one end of said body section, and including a panel section having said pull tab opening device secured thereto, said panel section being defined by a score-line formed in the upper surface of said end portion which score-line includes an outer, peripheral side wall and a frangible base wall section that can be fractured to permit opening of said container said score-line including an outer peripheral side wall surface substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of said panel portion and the surface of said base wall section, wherein upon formation of said score-line said base wall is formed of a uniform thickness and there is provided a zone of compacted, work hardened material in the region of said base wall section, the outer periphery of said zone terminating abruptly and substantially in alignment with said outer peripheral side wall surface and perpendicular to the lower surfaces of said panel portion such that during fracture of said score-line shearing will take place along a path defined by the juncture of said base wall and said side wall and coextensive with the outer periphery of said zone, extending to said lower surfaces of the panel portion.

Claim 11

A container end portion construction having a pull tab opening device and designed for use with a container having a body section for closing one end of said body section, and including a panel section having said pull tab opening device secured thereto, said panel section being defined by a score-line formed in the upper surface of said end portion which score-line includes an outer, peripheral side wall and a frangible base wall section that can be fractured to permit opening of said container said score-line including an outer peripheral side wall surface substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of said panel portion and the surface of said base wall section, wherein upon formation of said score-line said base wall is formed of a uniform thickness and there is provided a zone of compacted, work hardened material in the region of said base wall section, the outer periphery of said zone terminating abruptly and substantially in alignment with said outer peripheral side wall surface and perpendicular to the lower surfaces of said panel portion such that during fracture of said score-line shearing will take place along a path defined by the juncture of said base wall and said side wall and coextensive with the outer periphery of said zone, extending to said lower surfaces of the panel portion.

Claim 12

A container construction having a pull tab opening device and comprising a body member including a cylindrical body section and an end portion closing one end of said body section and being formed as a unitary portion thereof, said end portion including a panel section having the said pull tab opening device secured thereto, said panel section being defined by score-line means which include a score-line formed in the upper surface of said end portion, and having an outer, peripheral side wall and a frangible base wall section that is fractured to permit opening of said container, the outer peripheral side wall of said score-line being disposed generally perpendicular to the upper surface of said panel section, said score-line means further including a band of compressed material of substantially uniform thickness which circumscribes said panel section, said score-line being formed in said band of compressed material to define the periphery of said panel section, with said base wall being of uniform thickness and compressed to provide a zone of work hardened material which terminates abruptly and in alignment with said peripheral outer side wall, such that during fracture of said base wall, shearing will take place along a path defined by the juncture of said base wall and said side wall and coextensive with the outer periphery of the work hardened zone, support means disposed outwardly of said panel section in close proximity to said peripheral side wall, said support means comprising a raised rigid rim provided by a reverse bent fold formed in the material of said body member, such that upon fracturing of said frangible base wall section, said raised rim provides rigid support for said outer peripheral side wall and promotes shearing of the frangible base wall section at the junction of said base wall section and said outer peripheral side wall.

Claim 13

A container construction having a pull tab opening device and comprising a body member including a cylindrical body section and an end portion closing one end of said body section and being formed as a unitary portion thereof, said end portion including a panel section having the said pull tab opening device secured thereto, said panel section being defined by score-line means which include a score-line formed in the upper surface of said end portion, and having an outer, peripheral side wall and a frangible base wall section that is fractured to permit opening of said container, the outer peripheral side wall of said score-line being disposed generally perpendicular to the upper surface of said panel section, said score-line means further including a band of compressed material of substantially uniform thickness which circumscribes said panel section, said score-line being formed in said band of compressed material to define the periphery of said panel section, with said base wall being of uniform thickness and compressed to provide a zone of work hardened material which terminates abruptly and in alignment with said peripheral outer side wall, such that during fracture of said base wall, shearing will take place along a path defined by the juncture of said base wall and said side wall and coextensive with the outer periphery of the work hardened zone, support means disposed outwardly of said panel section in close proximity to said peripheral side wall, said support means comprising a raised rigid rim provided by a reverse bent fold formed in the material of said body member, such that upon fracturing of said frangible base wall section, said raised rim provides rigid support for said outer peripheral side wall and promotes shearing of the frangible base wall section at the junction of said base wall section and said outer peripheral side wall.

Claim 14

A container end member for attachment to a container body section for closing one end of said body section, and including: a panel portion defined by score-line means formed in the upper surface of said end member, said score-line comprising a band of compressed material of substantially uniform thickness coextensive with the perimeter of said panel section and forming a portion thereof, a score line formed in said band of compressed material and defining the perimeter of said panel section, said score line comprising a frangible base wall section of uniform thickness fracturable to permit opening of said container, and an outer peripheral side wall surface substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of said panel portion and the surface of said base wall section, wherein upon formation of said score-line, there is provided a zone of compacted hardened material in the region of said base wall section, the outer periphery of said zone terminating abruptly and substantially in alignment with said outer peripheral side wall surface and substantially perpendicular to the lower surface of said end member and extending thereto such that during fracture of said score-line shearing will take place along a path defined by the juncture of said base wall and said side wall and coextensive with the outer periphery of said zone; and support means on said end member disposed outward of said panel portion and in close proximity to said score-line, which support means provides rigidity to the material disposed outwardly of and adjacent to said outer peripheral side wall surface, thereby facilitating attainment of the desired path of shearing.

Claim 15

A container end member for attachment to a container body section for closing one end of said body section, and including: a panel portion defined by score-line means formed in the upper surface of said end member, said score-line comprising a band of compressed material of substantially uniform thickness coextensive with the perimeter of said panel section and forming a portion thereof, a score line formed in said band of compressed material and defining the perimeter of said panel section, said score line comprising a frangible base wall section of uniform thickness fracturable to permit opening of said container, and an outer peripheral side wall surface substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of said panel portion and the surface of said base wall section, wherein upon formation of said score-line, there is provided a zone of compacted hardened material in the region of said base wall section, the outer periphery of said zone terminating abruptly and substantially in alignment with said outer peripheral side wall surface and substantially perpendicular to the lower surface of said end member and extending thereto such that during fracture of said score-line shearing will take place along a path defined by the juncture of said base wall and said side wall and coextensive with the outer periphery of said zone; and support means on said end member disposed outward of said panel portion and in close proximity to said score-line, which support means provides rigidity to the material disposed outwardly of and adjacent to said outer peripheral side wall surface, thereby facilitating attainment of the desired path of shearing.

Claim 16

A container end member as defined in claim 10 wherein said support means is comprised of a raised rigid bead, provided by a reverse bent fold formed in the material of said member.

Claim 17

A container end member as defined in claim 10 wherein said support means is comprised of an embossed area disposed adjacent to said score-line.