Patent US3894651A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3894651A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Non-removable opener
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-10-18
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Granted: 1975-07-15
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Expires: 1993-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A metal can cover having a non-detachable flap with an attached opener. A scored line forming an almost closed curve weakens an area of a metal can cover to form a flap that can be hinged about a portion of metal between the ends of the line. The opener is a substantially rigid structure attached securely to the flap and has a pressure end of relatively restricted size to place high pressure in a limited area of the flap in a region of the scored line remote from the hinged area. At the opposite end of the opener from the pressure end is a handle end. The opener may be attached to the flap by integral folded portions, or a tongue of the material of the opener may extend from the pressure end toward the handle end to be attached to a central region of the flap by an integral rivet. A second rivet may be used to attach the opener to the flap at a point between the first rivet and the pressure end to assure that the flap will break free over the length of the scored line so that both the flap and the opener can be folded into the can. In any case, the arm remains relatively close to the flap as the latter pivots inwardly and does not interfere with drinking or pouring liquid from the can.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles N Hannon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:57
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D17/00; B65D17/28; B65D17/401; B65D17/4012
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A metal can cover comprising: A. a scored line forming an almost-closed curve in said cover near the perimeter thereof and defining a flap; B. a substantially rigid opener comprising: 1. a pressure end; and 2. a handle end; and C. means integral with said flap engaging and retaining said opener in an area of said opener removed from said pressure end, whereby upward pressure on said handle end causes said pressure end down to break said secored metal and pivot said flap into said can, said scored line extending on both sides of said opener for at least substantially the full length of said opener.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A metal can cover comprising: A. a scored line forming an almost-closed curve in said cover near the perimeter thereof and defining a flap; B. a substantially rigid opener comprising: 1. a pressure end; and 2. a handle end; and C. means integral with said flap engaging and retaining said opener in an area of said opener removed from said pressure end, whereby upward pressure on said handle end causes said pressure end down to break said secored metal and pivot said flap into said can, said scored line extending on both sides of said opener for at least substantially the full length of said opener.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
a handle end; and C. means integral with said flap engaging and retaining said opener in an area of said opener removed from said pressure end, whereby upward pressure on said handle end causes said pressure end down to break said secored metal and pivot said flap into said can, said scored line extending on both sides of said opener for at least substantially the full length of said opener.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
a handle end; and C. means integral with said flap engaging and retaining said opener in an area of said opener removed from said pressure end, whereby upward pressure on said handle end causes said pressure end down to break said secored metal and pivot said flap into said can, said scored line extending on both sides of said opener for at least substantially the full length of said opener.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The metal can cover of claim 1 in which the section of the metal cover between the ends of said scored line forms a hinge for said flap, said hinge comprising a rear end of said flap and the distal portion of said flap comprising a front end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The metal can cover of claim 2 in which said flap is deformed to strengthen it.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The metal can cover of claim 3 in which said flap is concavely deformed as viewed from the outer surface thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The metal can cover of claim 3 in which a portion of said flap is depressed, said portion being closer to said hinge than to said pressure end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The metal can cover of claim 5 in which said portion has a forward end juxtaposed to an intermediate region of said opener between said pressure end and said handle end and the depth of depression of said portion increases toward said hinge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
The metal can cover of claim 2 in which: A. said handle end is generally U-shaped and is closer to said rear end of said flap than is said pressure end and comprises, in addition, a tongue of material extending from said pressure end into the open area of said handle end; and B. said means engaging and retaining said opener comprises a rivet integral with said flap and extending through said tongue to hold said opener on said flap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The metal can cover of claim 7, comprising, in addition, an integral strap having a rear end joined to the portion of said handle end farthest from said front end of said flap and a front end joined to said tongue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The metal can cover of claim 8 in which said front end of said strap is joined to the proximal end of said tongue.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The metal can cover of claim 8 in which said front end of said strap is bifurcated and defines the sides of said tongue and is joined thereto forward of the portion of said rivet facing said rear end of said flap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The metal can cover of claim 8 in which said strap is substantially straight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The metal can cover of claim 8 in which said strap is bent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The metal can cover of claim 7 comprising, in addition: a second rivet extending from said flap and through said opener between said first-named rivet and said pressure end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The metal can cover of claim 13 comprising, in addition, an integral strap having a rear end joined to the portion of said handle end farthest from said front end of said flap and a front end curved around said first-named rivet and joined to said tongue between said rivets.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
The metal can cover of claim 7 comprising, in addition, first and second integral straps substantially symmetrically spaced on opposite sides of said rivets and each having a rear end joined to a rear portion of said handle end and a front end extending alongside said tongue and joined thereto forward of the portion of said rivet facing said rear of said flap.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The metal can cover of claim 15 in which a central portion of each of said straps is displaced from a straight line joining the front and rear ends thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
82 words
The metal can cover of claim 15 comprising, in addition, a second rivet extending through said opener between said first-named rivet and said pressure end, each of said straps having an Outer edge that extends from said rear end of the respective strap to a point substantially alongside said second rivet and an inner edge that extends from said rear end of said respective strap to a point forward of the portion of said first-named rivet facing said rear of said flap.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The metal can cover of claim 7 in which said handle end is substantially rigid and said tongue of material has sufficient flexibility to allow said handle end to be raised enough to engage said pressure end with said flap.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The metal can cover of claim 7 in which said pressure end of said opener is formed so as to be slightly displaced from contact with said flap prior to raising of said handle end.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The metal can cover of claim 19 in which said pressure end has a V-shaped cross-section with the edge thereof facing said flap.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The metal can cover of claim 1 in which said opener comprises strengthening means extending from a region of said handle end to a region of said pressure end.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The metal can cover of claim 21 in which said strengthening means comprises ribs formed in the surface of said opener within the perimeter thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The metal can cover of claim 21 in which said strengthening means comprises folded over edges of said opener.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The metal can cover of claim 23 in which the central portion of said opener around said rivet is displaced downwardly.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The metal can cover of claim 1 comprising integral rivet means extending longitudinally along said opener.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
The metal can cover of claim 25 in which said rivet means comprises leaves integrally formed of the material of said flap adjacent said opener and folded over edge portions of said opener to exert pressure thereon over a perceptible length thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
51 words
The metal can cover of claim 26 in which said opener comprises a central region having a width sufficient to fit between said folded over means and extensions beyond said folded over means on each side thereof to prevent said opener from sliding out of engagement with said folded over means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
74 words
The metal can cover of claim 1 in which said means integral with said flap comprises a first rivet, said cover comprising, in addition: A. a separate reinforcing strap of metal, said first rivet extending through said strap and said opener in the pressure end region of said opener; and B. a second rivet extending through said strap at a location of said flap farther removed from said pressure end than said first rivet.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The metal can cover of claim 28 in which said strap is between said opener and said flap.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
67 words
The metal can cover of claim 28 in which said opener has a central open area between said pressure end and said handle end, and said first rivet extends from said flap through said opener and one end of said strap in that order, and the other end of said strap extends through said open area and is engaged by said second rivet within said open area.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
The metal can cover of claim 2, comprising, in addition, a rib at least partially surrounding said scored line to strengthen the portion of said cover surrounding said flap.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The metal can cover of claim 31 in which said ribe is raised above the level of the adjacent area of said cover.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
The metal can cover of claim 32 in which the central region of said flap is depressed below the level of the area of said cover adjacent and outside of said rib.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
35 words
The metal can cover of claim 32 in which said cover comprises a step area between said raised rib and said depressed region of said flap, and said scored line is in said step area.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The metal can cover of claim 34 in which said scored line is located immediately adjacent said rib.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
The metal can cover of claim 34 in which said scored line is located in a substantially flat region of said step area spaced from said rib and the depressed region of said flap.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
73 words
The metal can cover of claim 1 in which: A. said means engaging and retaining said opener comprises a first rivet passing through said opener adjacent the pressure end thereof; B. said opener comprises: a central open area between said ends and a tongue extending from said pressure end into said open area; and C. a second rivet passing through said tongue, said second rivet being of larger diameter than said first rivet.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
38 words
The metal can cover of claim 1 in which said opener is a sheet metal having a flap extending from an edge region at the pressure end thereof and folded over said pressure end to strengthen said opener.
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) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |