US3843012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Easy open can end/and hinged opening tab
Assignee: ERMAL CO
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Filing: 1972-09-01
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Granted: 1974-10-22
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Expires: 1992-09-01
Abstract
Abstract An easy open can end in which a lifting tab is connected to a tear portion circumscribed by a primary line of weakness in the can end. The tab has a body which includes a nose portion, a lifting end and a support strip. The support strip is connected to the tear portion by a front connection positioned adjacent the tab nose and a rearward connection positioned between the front connection and the lifting end with the front and rearward connections lying on about the centerline of the tab while the nose portion of the tab is positioned in rupturing proximity to the primary line of weakness. The support strip is circumscribed by a slit in the tab body which begins at a point adjacent the front connection, extends rearwardly about the rearward connection and then forwardly to end adjacent the the front connection with the beginning and ending points of the slit spaced transversely of each other. The beginning and ending portions of the slit may include tear retarding portions and are positioned with respect to the front connection to provide a bend line in the strip which lies rearward of the front connection when the lifting end of the tab is raised to rupture the line of weakness through contact with the tab nose. During lifting of the tab, the support strip provides a supportive force between the front and rearward connections of the tab to the tear portion. The support strip may include spring means positioned intermediate the front and rearward connections which permits the support strip to elongate during bending of the tab with respect to the can end. The tab nose may be constructed to rupture an arcuately shaped line of weakness by providing a rupturing contact which causes initial rupture of the line of weakness and spreading surfaces which are progressively brought into contact with the extremities of the opening produced in the can end to spread the opening during lifting of the tab. In addition to an easy open can end, a tab is provided as defined above, for use with an easy open can end.
Inventors
- 👤 O Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:18
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D17/00; B65D17/28; B65D17/401; B65D17/4011
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
An easy open can end construction comprising: a tear portion circumscribed by a primary line of weakness; a tab having a body including a nose portion, a lifting end and a support strip; said support strip connected to the tear portion by a front connection positioned adjacent the tab nose and a rearward connection positioned between the front connection and the lifting end. said front and rearward connections lying on about the centerline of the tab with the nose portion of the tab positioned in rupturing proximity to said line of weakness; said support strip defined by a slit in the tab body, with the slit beginning at a point adjacent the front connection, extending rearwardly around the rearward connection and then extending forwardly to end at a point adjacent the front connection with the ending point spaced transversely from the beginning point of the slit and with the beginning and end portions of said slit including tear retarding portions; the beginning and ending of said slit positioned with respect to said front connection to define a tab bend line which lies rearward of the front connection when the lifting end of the tab is raised to rupture the line of weakness through contact with the tab nose, and said rearward connection providing support for said front connection through said support strip during rupturing of the line of weakness.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
An easy open can end construction comprising: a tear portion circumscribed by a primary line of weakness; a tab having a body including a nose portion, a lifting end and a support strip; said support strip connected to the tear portion by a front connection positioned adjacent the tab nose and a rearward connection positioned between the front connection and the lifting end. said front and rearward connections lying on about the centerline of the tab with the nose portion of the tab positioned in rupturing proximity to said line of weakness; said support strip defined by a slit in the tab body, with the slit beginning at a point adjacent the front connection, extending rearwardly around the rearward connection and then extending forwardly to end at a point adjacent the front connection with the ending point spaced transversely from the beginning point of the slit and with the beginning and end portions of said slit including tear retarding portions; the beginning and ending of said slit positioned with respect to said front connection to define a tab bend line which lies rearward of the front connection when the lifting end of the tab is raised to rupture the line of weakness through contact with the tab nose, and said rearward connection providing support for said front connection through said support strip during rupturing of the line of weakness.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The can end construction of claim 1, including a spring loop in said support strip positioned intermediate the said front and rearward connections; whereby said support strip is permitted to elongate during inward bending of the tab with respect to the can end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The can end construction of claim 1 wherein said support strip is connected to said tear portion by rivets formed in said tear portion which extend through apertures in said tear strip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The can end construction of claim 1, including: a chuck wall, said line of weakness lying in close proximity to said chuck wall, and said front connection positioned in relatively close proximity to said chuck wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The can end construction of claim 1 including an outer bead on said tab body to provide stiffening of the body when it is rotated upwardly in rupturing the line of weakness.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The can end construction of claim 1 wherein the tab nose is upwardly spaced from the tear portion, whereby the nose is rotated downwardly into contact with the line of weakness during lifting of the tab.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
The can end construction of claim 1 wherein the distance between the lifting end and the bend line is relatively large in comparison with the distance between the bend line and the tab nose to provide a mechanical advantage in increasing the downward force applied by the tab nose with respect to the upward force applied to the lifting end of the tab during opening of the can end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The can end construction of claim 7 including a stiffening peripheral bead on said tab.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The can end construction of claim 1 including stiffening ribs positioned on either side of the tab body between the lifting end and the bend line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The can end construction of claim 1 including a line of bending weakness in said tear portion positioned rearwardly of said front conNection to facilitate bending of the tear portion during lifting of the tab.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
The can end construction of claim 1 wherein said primary line of weakness includes an arcuate portion positioned adjacent said tab nose, the tab nose having a curved configuration in cross section including a rupturing contact positioned adjacent to the arcuate portion of the primary line of weakness and upwardly and rearwardly curved expansion surfaces, whereby said rupturing contact first encounters said line of weakness during lifting of the tab to cause initial rupture and the curved expansion surfaces are progressively brought into contact with the arcuate portion of the primary line of weakness during lifting of the tab to assist in spreading the opening along the primary line of weakness.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
An easdy open can end construction comprising: a tear portion circumscribed by a primary line of weakness, a tab connected to the tear portion by at least two connections through elongatable connection means which means elongate during lifting of the tab in rupturing the primary line of weakness, said elongatable connection means including loop means positioned between said two connections, and said loop means being operative to deform and elongate in response to lifting of said tab whereby said loop generally follows the bending curvature of the end wall beneath said loop.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
An easdy open can end construction comprising: a tear portion circumscribed by a primary line of weakness, a tab connected to the tear portion by at least two connections through elongatable connection means which means elongate during lifting of the tab in rupturing the primary line of weakness, said elongatable connection means including loop means positioned between said two connections, and said loop means being operative to deform and elongate in response to lifting of said tab whereby said loop generally follows the bending curvature of the end wall beneath said loop.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The can end construction of claim 12 wherein said elongatable connection means includes spring means positioned between the connections of the tab to the tear portion to provide a yieldable supporting force between the connections.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
An easy opening can end construction comprising: a tear portion circumscribed by a primary line of weakness; an opening tab having a nose and a lifting end; said line of weakness including an arcuate portion; said tab positioned with the tab nose adjacent said arcuate portion, and said tab nose shaped to provide a downwardly depending rupturing contact with the line of weakness and adjacent curved spreading surface for spreading contact with the arcuate portion of the line of weakness during downward movement of the tab nose with respect to the can end, whereby the tab nose ruptures the line of weakness to provide an opening and then spreads the opening during lifting of the tab.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
116 words
An easy opening can end construction comprising: a tear portion circumscribed by a primary line of weakness; an opening tab having a nose and a lifting end; said line of weakness including an arcuate portion; said tab positioned with the tab nose adjacent said arcuate portion, and said tab nose shaped to provide a downwardly depending rupturing contact with the line of weakness and adjacent curved spreading surface for spreading contact with the arcuate portion of the line of weakness during downward movement of the tab nose with respect to the can end, whereby the tab nose ruptures the line of weakness to provide an opening and then spreads the opening during lifting of the tab.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The can end construction of claim 14 wherein said tab is connected to the can end by yieldable support means, whereby said support means are permitted to elongate during lifting and rotation of said tab with respect to the can end in opening of the can end.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The can end construction of claim 15 wherein said yieldable support means is connected to said tear portion by at least two connections with said tear portion being bent inwardly at a point intermediate the connections during lifting of the tab in opening of the can end.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
106 words
A tab for use in rupturing and spreading an arcuate line of weakness in a can end comprising: a tab body including a lifting end and a nose; said nose having a curved cross-sectional configuration providing a downwardly depending rupturing contact and upwardly and rearwardly curved spreading surfaces, whereby when the nose is brought into contact with an arcuate line of weakness in a can end, the line of weakness is initially ruptured by the rupturing contact to form an opening and the opening is then spread through progressive contact of the spreading surfaces with the ends of the opening at the arcuate line of weakness.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
106 words
A tab for use in rupturing and spreading an arcuate line of weakness in a can end comprising: a tab body including a lifting end and a nose; said nose having a curved cross-sectional configuration providing a downwardly depending rupturing contact and upwardly and rearwardly curved spreading surfaces, whereby when the nose is brought into contact with an arcuate line of weakness in a can end, the line of weakness is initially ruptured by the rupturing contact to form an opening and the opening is then spread through progressive contact of the spreading surfaces with the ends of the opening at the arcuate line of weakness.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
129 words
An opening tab for an easy open can end comprising: a tab body having a lifting end and a rupturing nose; a support strip defined by a slit in said tab body; said support strip positioned along the axis of the tab body and connected to said body at the forward end of the strip adjacent to the tab nose; at least two connecting means positioned on said support strip for connecting the tab to a can end, and the ends of said slit teRminating adjacent the leading connecting means to provide a tab bend line positioned rearwardly of the leading connection means, whereby the tab pivots about the bend line during usage with the support strip providing support between the leading connecting means and the other connecting means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
129 words
An opening tab for an easy open can end comprising: a tab body having a lifting end and a rupturing nose; a support strip defined by a slit in said tab body; said support strip positioned along the axis of the tab body and connected to said body at the forward end of the strip adjacent to the tab nose; at least two connecting means positioned on said support strip for connecting the tab to a can end, and the ends of said slit teRminating adjacent the leading connecting means to provide a tab bend line positioned rearwardly of the leading connection means, whereby the tab pivots about the bend line during usage with the support strip providing support between the leading connecting means and the other connecting means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tab of claim 18 wherein the said connecting means are apertures in the support strip adapted to receive rivets formed in the can end.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tab of claim 18 including tear retarding means positioned at the ends of said slit to retard tearing of the slit at its ends.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tab of claim 18 wherein said slit includes a reverse curved portion at either of its ends.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The tab of claim 19 wherein said slit includes a reverse curved portion at either of its ends with the reverse curved portions extending to as far as the centerline of the aperture forming the leading connecting means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
49 words
The tab of claim 18 including spring means in the support strip positioned between the said connecting means, whereby a yieldable supporting force is provided between the connecting means while permitting elongation of the support strip during pivoting of said tab about the bend line in the support strip.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tab of claim 18 including a peripheral supporting rib positioned about said tab body to stiffen the body.
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) | 1977-10-21 | 1978-04-22 | 1978-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-21 | 1982-04-22 | 1982-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-21 | 1986-04-22 | 1986-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |