US3838788A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Can end construction
Assignee: Van Dorn Co
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Filing: 1973-03-15
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1993-03-15
Abstract
Abstract An aluminum food product can having an easily opened can end member seamed to one end of the can body. The can is opened by tearing a removable panel portion from the can end member along an endless main score line located adjacent and above an inwardly projecting shoulder formed in the can body below the seam. The removable panel portion has a hazard-eliminating protective triple metal thickness dull edge fold formation at its periphery. The main score line is formed in the top layer of the triple fold and the two lower layers extend radially in all directions beneath and beyond the location of the main score line. A pull ring having a center line extending through its rivet connection with the removable panel portion and its nose is located and held with its center line extending radially of the can end with the nose overlapping the score line. Two bend line scores are provided in the removable panel portion extending perpendicular to the pull ring center line, one located between the rivet and pull ring nose and the other located a considerable distance behind the rivet. Angularly, centrally diverging control ribs are formed in the removable panel portion located outside of the pull ring and extending from the second bend line score outwardly beyond the first bend line score toward the main score line. The cooperative structural features reduce the pull required to open the can.
Inventors
- 👤 D Stargell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:19
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D17/00; B65D17/28; B65D17/401; B65D17/4011; B65D2517/00; B65D2517/0001; B65D2517/001; B65D2517/0016; B65D2517/0058; B65D2517/0074; B65D2517/0079
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
In a metal can of a type in which a can end member is seamed to one end of a can body, in which the can end member has a panel portion removable by tearing along an endless main score line located adjacent and above an inwardly projecting shoulder formed in the can body below a seam formed between the end member and body, in which the removable panel portion has a hazardeliminating protective triple metal dull edge fold formation at its periphery, in which a pull ring is riveted to the removable panel portion with a center line extending radially through the rivet connection and a pull ring nose overlapping the main score line, and in which the main score line is formed in the top layer of the triple fold and the two lower triple fold layers extend beneath and beyond the location of the main score line; the construction in which two bend line scores are formed in the removable panel portion extending perpendicular to the pull ring center line, the first located between the rivet and main score line close to the rivet, and the second located behind the rivet approximately the same distance as the spacing between the first and main score line; and angularly centrally diverging control ribs formed in the removable panel portion located outside the pull ring and extending between the first and second bend line scores.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
In a metal can of a type in which a can end member is seamed to one end of a can body, in which the can end member has a panel portion removable by tearing along an endless main score line located adjacent and above an inwardly projecting shoulder formed in the can body below a seam formed between the end member and body, in which the removable panel portion has a hazardeliminating protective triple metal dull edge fold formation at its periphery, in which a pull ring is riveted to the removable panel portion with a center line extending radially through the rivet connection and a pull ring nose overlapping the main score line, and in which the main score line is formed in the top layer of the triple fold and the two lower triple fold layers extend beneath and beyond the location of the main score line; the construction in which two bend line scores are formed in the removable panel portion extending perpendicular to the pull ring center line, the first located between the rivet and main score line close to the rivet, and the second located behind the rivet approximately the same distance as the spacing between the first and main score line; and angularly centrally diverging control ribs formed in the removable panel portion located outside the pull ring and extending between the first and second bend line scores.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The construction defined in claim 1 in which the first bend line is spaced outboard of the center of the rivet a distance equal to about one-third of the spacing of the first bend line from the main score line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The construction defined in claim 1 in which the first bend line is spaced outboard of the center of the rivet about 0.080 inch, and is spaced from the main score line about 0.227 inch; and in which the second bend line is spaced about 0.226 inch from the center of the rivet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The construction defineD in claim 1 in which the angularly diverging control ribs extend from a location between the first and main bend lines to a location aligned with the second bend line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The construction defined in claim 4 in which the control ribs are embossed downwardly in the panel portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The construction defined in claim 5 in which interengaging means are formed on the pull ring and panel preventing rotation of the pull ring on the rivet to maintain the radially extending location of the pull ring center line during tearing of the removable panel portion from the end member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
249 words
In a metal can end of a type which is adapted to be seamed to a can body, in which the can end has a seam flange and a recessed corner located below the seam flange, in which a recessed portion extends inward from the corner, in which an annular three-layer fold extends continuously around the recessed portion adjacent said corner, in which there is an inwardly convex upper reverse bend between the top two layers of the three-layer fold and an outwardly convex lower reverse bend beneath the upper layer and between the lower two layers of the three-layer fold, in which there is a continuous main score line in the top surface of the top fold layer located radially between the upper and lower reverse bends, and in which a pull ring has rivet connection with the recessed portion and has a nose located adjacent the score line; the improvement including two spaced bend line scores formed in the can end extending perpendicular to a pull ring center line passing through the rivet connection and nose, the first score line being located between the rivet connection and main score line close to the rivet, the second score line being located behind the rivet connection at approximately the same distance as the spacing between the first line and main score line; and angularly centrally diverging control ribs formed in the can end and located outside the pull ring and extending between the first and second bend line scores.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
249 words
In a metal can end of a type which is adapted to be seamed to a can body, in which the can end has a seam flange and a recessed corner located below the seam flange, in which a recessed portion extends inward from the corner, in which an annular three-layer fold extends continuously around the recessed portion adjacent said corner, in which there is an inwardly convex upper reverse bend between the top two layers of the three-layer fold and an outwardly convex lower reverse bend beneath the upper layer and between the lower two layers of the three-layer fold, in which there is a continuous main score line in the top surface of the top fold layer located radially between the upper and lower reverse bends, and in which a pull ring has rivet connection with the recessed portion and has a nose located adjacent the score line; the improvement including two spaced bend line scores formed in the can end extending perpendicular to a pull ring center line passing through the rivet connection and nose, the first score line being located between the rivet connection and main score line close to the rivet, the second score line being located behind the rivet connection at approximately the same distance as the spacing between the first line and main score line; and angularly centrally diverging control ribs formed in the can end and located outside the pull ring and extending between the first and second bend line scores.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The construction defined in claim 7 in which the first bend line is spaced outboard of the center of the rivet a distance equal to about one-third of the spacing of the first bend line from the main score line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The construction defined in claim 7 in which the first bend line is spaced outboard of the center of the rivet about 0.080 inch and is spaced from the main score line about 0.227 inch; and in which the second bend line is spaced about 0.226 inch from the center of the rivet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The construction defined in claim 7 in which the angularly diverging control ribs extend from a location between the first and main bend lines to a location aligned with the second bend line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The construction defined in claim 10 in which the control ribs are embossed downwardly in the panel portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The construction defined in claim 11 in which interengaging means are formed on the pull ring and panel preventing rotation of the pull ring on the rivet to maintain the radially extending location of the pull ring center line during tearing of the removable panel portion from the end member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
The construction defined in claim 8 in which an arc defined by the intersection of an extension of the second bend line with the main score line subtends an initial opening angle of from 120* to 150*, whereby a wide initial opening is provided by lifting the pull ring to initially bend the can end on the first bend line and then on the second bend line.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
The construction defined in claim 13 in which the metal in the can end inboard of the main score line is distorted angularly from the outer ends of the extremitites of the first bend line across the three-layer fold to the main score line as the can end is initially bent on the first bend line.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The construction defined in claim 13 in which the contour of the bent distortion of th can end metal occurring initially on the first bend line has an open shallow U-shape; and in which the secondary bent dIstortion of the can end on the second bend line is a substantially straight line bend.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The construction defined in claim 13 in which the portion of the can end inboard of the three-layer fold and containing the rivet connection lies in the plane of and extends inwardly from the lowermost layer of the three-layer fold.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The construction defined in claim 16 in which interengaging means are formed on the pull ring and can end preventing rotation of the pull ring on the rivet connection to maintain a radially extending location of the pull ring center line during tearing of the can end on the main score line.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
The construstion defined in claim 13 in which the portion of the can end in which the rivet connection is formed lies in the plane of the top layer of the three-layer fold; and in which the pull ring has a bottom wall which extends in a flat plane between the rivet connection and the pull ring nose.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
The construction defined in claim 18 in which interengaging means are formed on the pull ring and can end preventing rotation of the pull ring on the rivet connection to maintain a radially extending location of the pull ring center line during tearing of the can end on the main score line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |