US3860143A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Easy-open container with nondetached tab
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-29
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Granted: 1975-01-14
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Expires: 1992-12-29
Abstract
Abstract An easy-open container of the type used to receive beverages or other commodities, having a tear-type opening tab which remains attached to the container after opening. The opening tab portion is defined in a container surface to bend along a predetermined line when the tab is torn to open the container. A handle member having an opening therein is attached to the tab and becomes folded over the container surface to be disposed onto the aperture made in the container surface when the container is opened. The opening within the handle member permits pouring or drinking from the container, and protects against inadvertent contact with rough edges of the opening in the container. The tab and handle remain attached to the opened container.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl J Strobe
- 👤 Robert A Wells
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:11
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D17/00; B65D17/28; B65D17/401; B65D17/4012; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A container having an easy-open feature, comprising: a container member including a surface; a tab defined on said surface of said container member by a region of predetermined weakness in said surface to undergo severing along said region and subsequent deformation away from said surface along a predetermined nonseverable bend line in response to the application of force to said tab; handle means attached to a location on said tab and extending therefrom to be disposed adjacent said surface at a location whereat movement of said handle means in a direction away from said surface applies force to said tab to sever said region of predetermined weakness and bend said tab along the bend line away from said surface; and said handle means having an opening therein in predetermined spaced relation to dispose said opening in proximate alingment with the aperture which remains in said surface by severing and bending of said tab.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A container having an easy-open feature, comprising: a container member including a surface; a tab defined on said surface of said container member by a region of predetermined weakness in said surface to undergo severing along said region and subsequent deformation away from said surface along a predetermined nonseverable bend line in response to the application of force to said tab; handle means attached to a location on said tab and extending therefrom to be disposed adjacent said surface at a location whereat movement of said handle means in a direction away from said surface applies force to said tab to sever said region of predetermined weakness and bend said tab along the bend line away from said surface; and said handle means having an opening therein in predetermined spaced relation to dispose said opening in proximate alingment with the aperture which remains in said surface by severing and bending of said tab.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The container as in claim 1, further comprising means on said handle means for retaining said handle means in position to maintain said opening in said alignment with said aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The container as in claim 1, further comprising retaining means disposed on said handle means in position for operative engagement with said surface to retain said opening in alignment with said aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The container as in claim 1, further comprising retaining means on said handle means adjacent said opening therein and disposed for entry into said aperture and engagement with an edge portion of said aperture when said handle means is moved to dispose said opening in alignment with said aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a container member having a surface; tab means defined in said surface by a region of relative weakness which is severable to permit said tab to be bent away from said surface along a predetermined nonseverable bend line to leave an aperture in said container member; handle means extending from said tab means to a location across said bend line from the tab means, said handle means normally being disposed in proximate relation with said location and being movable to apply force to said tab means to sever said region of weakness and to bend said tab means along said bend line to an extent which displaces said tab means away from said aperture and which places said handle means in position adjacent said aperture; and means on said handle means for retaining said handle means at said position adjacent said aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a container member having a surface; tab means defined in said surface by a region of relative weakness which is severable to permit said tab to be bent away from said surface along a predetermined nonseverable bend line to leave an aperture in said container member; handle means extending from said tab means to a location across said bend line from the tab means, said handle means normally being disposed in proximate relation with said location and being movable to apply force to said tab means to sever said region of weakness and to bend said tab means along said bend line to an extent which displaces said tab means away from said aperture and which places said handle means in position adjacent said aperture; and means on said handle means for retaining said handle means at said position adjacent said aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The container member as in claim 5, wherein said means for retaining comprises a member disposed on said handle means in position to extend into retaining relation with a location at the periphery of said aperture when said handle means is moved to said adjacent position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
The container member as in claim 5, wherein: said handle means has an opening disposed therein in predetermined spaced relation to said bend line to place said opening in alignment with said surface aperture when said handle means is moved to said adjacent position; and said handle means includes a surface area surrounding said opening and of sufficient extent to substantially cover the portion of said aperture not aligned with said opening when said handle means is moved to said adjacent position
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The container member as in claim 7, wherein said means for retaining comprises a member disposed on said handle means adjacent said opening to extend into retaining relation with a peripheral locatiOn defining said aperture when said handle means is moved to said adjacent location.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
The container member as in claim 7, wherein said means for retaining comprises a retaining member disposed on said handle means and extending outwardly of said surface in proximately normal relation with said opening, said retaining member being on said handle means in predetermined spaced relation with said bend line to place said retaining member in engaging contact with a portion of the edge defining said aperture when said handle means is moved to said adjacent position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
The container member as in claim 5, further comprising: an opening member connected to said tab means and having a portion disposed on said tab means adjacent at least a portion of said region of weakness; and means interconnecting said opening member and said handle means to enable force to be applied through said portion of the opening member to the region of weakness in response to said movement of the handle means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a container member having a surface: tab means defined in said surface by a region of relative weakness which is severable to permit said tab to be displaced away from said surface along a predetermined nonseverable bend line to provide an aperture in said container member; handle means attached to said tab means on a first side of said bend line and having an end extending to a location across said bend line from said first side; said end of said handle means normally being disposed in proximate relation to said location and being movable in a direction away from and around said bend line to an opened position where said tab is displaced away from said surface and said end of said handle means is disposed adjacent said surface on said first side of said bend line; and locking means positioned on said handle means for entry into said aperture and for retained engagement with the peripheral edge of said aperture when said handle means is moved to said opened position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a container member having a surface: tab means defined in said surface by a region of relative weakness which is severable to permit said tab to be displaced away from said surface along a predetermined nonseverable bend line to provide an aperture in said container member; handle means attached to said tab means on a first side of said bend line and having an end extending to a location across said bend line from said first side; said end of said handle means normally being disposed in proximate relation to said location and being movable in a direction away from and around said bend line to an opened position where said tab is displaced away from said surface and said end of said handle means is disposed adjacent said surface on said first side of said bend line; and locking means positioned on said handle means for entry into said aperture and for retained engagement with the peripheral edge of said aperture when said handle means is moved to said opened position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3674172A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-13 | 1978-07-15 | 1979-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-13 | 1982-07-15 | 1983-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | 1987-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |