Two position pull tab easy-open container component

Claim 2

An easy-open container component comprising: a panel portion having an aperture therein, and a rim and an edge defining the aperture, an internal sealing membrane bonded to the underside of said panel and sealing said aperture, and a two-position pull tab having a flange vertically spaced from said rim, and a plug member including a side wall, and a bottom wall, said bottom wall being positioned within said aperture so that its undersurface is substantially planar to the underside of said panel portion, and is bonded to a portion of said sealing membrane through said aperture, said pull tab being adapted to be pulled upwardly to cut said sealing membrane along said edge when said pull tab is removed from said panel portion, and said side wall being adapted to be pressuredly sealingly engaged by said edge when said plug member is pressed into a second position within said aperture whereby said Undersurface of said bottomwall is below the underside of said panel portion and whereby said pull tab serves as a reclosure.

Claim 3

The container component of claim 1 wherein said rim is disposed in substantially the same plane as said panel portion.

Claim 4

The container component of claim 1 wherein said rim is a raised substantially arcuate bead and said edge faces downward.

Claim 5

The container component of claim 3 wherein said downwardly facing edge is disposed above the level of the adjacent inner surface of said panel.

Claim 6

The container component of claim 3 wherein said membrane is gas impermeable.

Claim 7

The container component of claim 5 wherein said membrane includes a layer of foil.

Claim 8

The container component of claim 5 wherein said membrane is thermoplastic.

Claim 9

The container component of claim 1 wherein said pull tab is an injection molded plastic piece formed with an integral pull handle element.

Claim 10

The container component of claim 1 wherein said side wall is tapered inwardly from top to bottom and the upper portion of said sidewall is larger than said aperture and is pressuredly sealingly engaged by said edge when said plug member is pressed into said second position to permit said pull tab to serve as a reclosure.

Claim 11

The container component of claim 2 wherein said side wall is tapered inwardly from top to bottom and the upper portion of said sidewall is larger than said aperture and is pressuredly sealingly engaged by said edge when said plug member is pressed into said second position to permit said pull tab to serve as a reclosure.

Claim 12

The container component of claim 3 wherein said side wall is tapered inwardly from top to bottom and the upper portion of said sidewall is larger than said aperture and is pressuredly sealingly engaged by said edge when said plug member is pressed into said second position to permit said pull tab to serve as a reclosure.

Claim 13

The container component of claim 8 wherein said side wall is tapered inwardly from top to bottom and the upper portion of said sidewall is larger than said aperture and is pressuredly sealingly engaged by said edge when said plug member is pressed into said second position to permit said pull tab to serve as a reclosure.

Claim 14

An easy-open container component comprising: a panel portion having an aperture therein, and a raised substantially arcuate, beaded rim and a downwardly facing edge, said edge being disposed above the level of the adjacent inner surface of said panel and defining the aperture, a metallic foil sealing membrane bonded to the underside of said panel and sealing said aperture, and a two-position, molded, plastic pull tab having a flange vertically spaced above the uppermost portion of said rim, and a plug member including a side wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall being positioned within said aperture, and having its undersurface substantially planar to the underside of said panel portion and bonded to a portion of said sealing membrane through said aperture, said pull tab being adapted to being pulled upwardly to cut said sealing membrane along said edge when said pull tab is removed from said panel portion, and said side wall being tapered inwardly from top to bottom and being adapted to be pressuredly engaged by said edge when said plug member is pressed into a second position within said aperture whereby said undersurface of said bottom-wall is below the underside of said panel portion and whereby said pull tab serves as a reclosure.

Claim 15

An easy-open container component comprising: a panel portion having an aperture therein, and a raised substantially arcuate, beaded rim and a downwardly facing edge, said edge being disposed above the level of the adjacent inner surface of said panel and defining the aperture, a metallic foil sealing membrane bonded to the underside of said panel and sealing said aperture, and a two-position, molded, plastic pull tab having a flange vertically spaced above the uppermost portion of said rim, and a plug member including a side wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall being positioned within said aperture, and having its undersurface substantially planar to the underside of said panel portion and bonded to a portion of said sealing membrane through said aperture, said pull tab being adapted to being pulled upwardly to cut said sealing membrane along said edge when said pull tab is removed from said panel portion, and said side wall being tapered inwardly from top to bottom and being adapted to be pressuredly engaged by said edge when said plug member is pressed into a second position within said aperture whereby said undersurface of said bottom-wall is below the underside of said panel portion and whereby said pull tab serves as a reclosure.

Claim 16

The container component of claim 13 wherein the upper portion of said sidewall is larger than said aperture and is that portion of said side wall which is pressuredly sealingly engaged by said edge when said plug member is pressed into said second position whereby said pull tab serves as a reclosure.

Claim 17

The container component of claim 13 wherein said edge has corners and is inclined upwardly with respect to said aperture so that its bottom corner is closest to said sealing membrane and functions as a knife-like cutting edge when said sealing membrane is pulled upwardly against it, when said pull tab is removed from said panel portion.

Claim 18

The container component of claim 15 wherein said edge is inclined upwardly and inwardly from said bottom corner so that said top corner is closest to said plug member is inserted into said aperture to thereby permit said pull tab to serve as a reclosure.