Easy-open ecology end

Claim 2

An easy-opening end structure for use with a container comprising: and end wall of sheet material including a chuck wall terminating in a peripheral flange positioned vertically above a center panel section and a groove located at the base of the chuck wall and extending vertically below said center panel section; means in said center panel section defining a pour panel at least partially circumscribed by a scoreline to form an opening in said center panel section; tab means including a lifting end and an opening end; means to affix said tab means to said center panel section such that the opening end thereof overlies said pour panel whereby said tab remains fixed to said central panel section after formation of said opening; said scoreline including a portion located between the opening end of said tab and said affixing means and defining a generally circular pour panel; said tab including spaced side legs interconnected at the forward end by a cross-member including finger means to bear against said panel during an opening sequence, said cross-member of said tab being in chordal relation to said scoreline; said tab being a longitudinally rigid lever operative in response to raising the lifting end thereof to cause the opening end of the tab to bear against said panel and to lift on said affixing means thereby lifting the portion of center panel surrounding said affixing means to initiate rupture of the portion of the scoreline located between the opening end of the tab and the affixing means by a shearing action; and said tab being operative in response to raising the lifting end thereof to urge said panel downwardly to effect rupture of the remainder of the scoreline.

Claim 3

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tab functions as a class 1 lever subsequent to initiation of rupture of said portion of said scoreline.

Claim 4

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tab is of sheet material and includes an opening end portion having a plurality of layers of sheet material.

Claim 5

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said scoreline is discontinuous to form a hinge to retain said panel on said end wall subsequent to rupture of said scoreline.

Claim 6

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tab includes a flap member which forms an extension of the cross-member, said cross-member extending substantially across the width of the opening end of the tab, and said flap member forming an extension of the cross-member and being spaced from said side legs.

Claim 7

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said scoreline is discontinuous and forms a hinge connecting said pour panel and said central panel, said hinge being located laterally of said tab; and said opening end of said tab being operative in response to lifting of the lifting end of said tab and rupture of said portion of the scoreline and to urge said pour panel downwardly and beneath said central panel.

Claim 8

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein the opening end of said tab includes a finger which extends downwardly and bears agains the panel during an opening sequence, and said finger being positioned in alignment with said affixing means and operative in response to lifting of the lifting end of said tab to urge said panel downwardly subsequent to initial rupture of the scoreline.

Claim 9

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said panel is downwardly dished and includes hinge means laterally of said tab for retaining said panel subsequent to rupture of said scoreline.

Claim 10

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said attaching means is an integral rivet, a rivet well surrounding said rivet; said portion of said scoreline being located in said rivet well, and said pour panel including a raised bead a portion of which overlies said rivet well to the front of said rivet and forward of said scoreline.

Claim 11

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 9 wherein said scoreline is a pinched scoreline.

Claim 12

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 9 wherein said opening end of said tab includes finger means bearing against said panel; and said finger including a downwardly extending rearward portion for initial contact with the raised bead on said pour panel.

Claim 13

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 11 wherein said downwardly extending finger is in alignment with said rivet.

Claim 14

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 12 wherein said tab includes flap means extending rearwardly from said opening end, and said flap means receiving said rivet.

Claim 15

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cross-member defines a relatively broad forward face of said tab.

Claim 16

An easy-opening end as set forth in claim 14 wherein said cross-member is formed of multiple folds of sheet material.

Claim 17

An easy-opening end structure for use with a container comprising: an end wall of sheet material; means cooperating with the end wall for attachment to a container; means in said end wall defining a panel arranged essentially on a center line of said end all and at least partially circumscribed by a scoreline to form an opening in said end wal; tab means including a lifting end and an opening end; rivet means to affix said tab means to said end wall on the center line thereof such that the opening end thereof overlies said panel whereby the tab remains affixed to said end wall after formation of said opening; said opening end of said tab being composed of multiple folds of sheet material having a relatively broad face; rivet well means surround said rivet; bead means located on said panel and spaced from said scoreline; said scoreline being generally circular in configuration and including a portion located in the rivet well and between the opening end of the tab and said rivet means; said tab being a longitudinally rigid lever and including spaced side legs, and being operative in response to raising the lifting end thereof to cause the finger means on the opening end of the tab to bear against said panel and to lift on said rivet means and to lift on the portion of said end wall in said rivet well to initiate rupture of the portion of the scoreline located between the opening end of the tab and the affixing means by a shearing action; and said tab being operative as a class one lever in response to raising the lifting end thereof to urge said panel downwardly to effect progressive rupture of the remainder of the scoreline.

Claim 18

An easy-opening end structure for use with a container comprising: an end wall of sheet material; means cooperating with the end wall for attachment to a container; means in said end wall defining a panel arranged essentially on a center line of said end all and at least partially circumscribed by a scoreline to form an opening in said end wal; tab means including a lifting end and an opening end; rivet means to affix said tab means to said end wall on the center line thereof such that the opening end thereof overlies said panel whereby the tab remains affixed to said end wall after formation of said opening; said opening end of said tab being composed of multiple folds of sheet material having a relatively broad face; rivet well means surround said rivet; bead means located on said panel and spaced from said scoreline; said scoreline being generally circular in configuration and including a portion located in the rivet well and between the opening end of the tab and said rivet means; said tab being a longitudinally rigid lever and including spaced side legs, and being operative in response to raising the lifting end thereof to cause the finger means on the opening end of the tab to bear against said panel and to lift on said rivet means and to lift on the portion of said end wall in said rivet well to initiate rupture of the portion of the scoreline located between the opening end of the tab and the affixing means by a shearing action; and said tab being operative as a class one lever in response to raising the lifting end thereof to urge said panel downwardly to effect progressive rupture of the remainder of the scoreline.

Claim 19

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 16 wherein said tab includes cross-member means at the opening end thereof interconnecting said side legs, said tab being formed of sheet material, and said cross-member means being formed of at least two plys of sheet material.

Claim 20

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 16 wherein said panel includes hinge means laterally positioned with respect to said rivet; and said progressive rupture of the remainder of said scoreline starting opposite said hinge and progressing sequentially and terminating at said hinge.

Claim 21

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 18 wherein said hinge means is located beneath the opening end of said tab and forward of said rivet.

Claim 22

An easy-opening end structure as set forth in claim 19 wherein said opening end of said tab includes a broad face disposed in chordal relation with said scoreline.

Claim 23

An easy-opening end structure for use with a container comprising: an end wall of sheet material including a chuck wall terminating in a peripheral flange positioned vertically above a center panel section and a groove located at the base of the chuck wall extending vertically below the center panel section, said center panel section including an intermediate wall forming the connection between the groove and the center panel section, means in said center panel section defining a downwardly dished circular panel partially circumscribed by a scoreline to form an opening in said end wall; tab means including a lifting end and an opening end; rivet means to affix said tab means to said center panel section such that the opening end thereof overlies said circular panel whereby the tab remains affixed to said center panel section after formation of said opening; said scoreline including a portion located between the opening end of the tab and said rivet means; said panel including hinge means retaining said panel to said end wall upon rupture of said scoreline; means forming a raised bead on said dished panel positioned beneath the opening end of said tab and oriented angularly toward said hinge; bead means adjacent at least a portion of said scoreline; and including a portion between said intermediate wall section and said dished panel; said tab being a longitudinally rigid lever operative in response to raising the lifting end thereof to cause the opening end of the tab to bear against the raised bead on said dished panel and to initiate rupture by shearing that portion of the scoreline located between the opening end of the tab and the rivet means; and said tab being operative in response to raising the lifting end thereof to urge said dished panel downwardly to effect rupture of the remainder of the scoreline and to urge said hinged panel through the formed opening.

Claim 24

An easy-opening end structure for use with a container comprising: an end wall of sheet material including a chuck wall terminating in a peripheral flange positioned vertically above a center panel section and a groove located at the base of the chuck wall extending vertically below the center panel section, said center panel section including an intermediate wall forming the connection between the groove and the center panel section, means in said center panel section defining a downwardly dished circular panel partially circumscribed by a scoreline to form an opening in said end wall; tab means including a lifting end and an opening end; rivet means to affix said tab means to said center panel section such that the opening end thereof overlies said circular panel whereby the tab remains affixed to said center panel section after formation of said opening; said scoreline including a portion located between the opening end of the tab and said rivet means; said panel including hinge means retaining said panel to said end wall upon rupture of said scoreline; means forming a raised bead on said dished panel positioned beneath the opening end of said tab and oriented angularly toward said hinge; bead means adjacent at least a portion of said scoreline; and including a portion between said intermediate wall section and said dished panel; said tab being a longitudinally rigid lever operative in response to raising the lifting end thereof to cause the opening end of the tab to bear against the raised bead on said dished panel and to initiate rupture by shearing that portion of the scoreline located between the opening end of the tab and the rivet means; and said tab being operative in response to raising the lifting end thereof to urge said dished panel downwardly to effect rupture of the remainder of the scoreline and to urge said hinged panel through the formed opening.

Claim 25

An improved tab of sheet material for use with an easy-opening end structure comprising: a relatively rigid body member having a lifting end and an opening end spaced from the lifting end; said body member including spaced leg means; said leg means being curled under to provide for reinforcement of said legs; means between said legs and between said lifting and opening end for receiving affixing means to attach said tab to an end structure; cross-member means interconnecting said spaced legs at the opening end; finger means projecting downwardly from said cross-member and including a forward and rearward finger portion at said opening end for contacting a portion of the panel in the end to be ruptured; and said finger being centrally located at the opening end thereof and said rear finger portion which extends downwardly relative to said forward finger portion.

Claim 26

An improved tab of sheet material for use with an easy-opening end structure comprising: a relatively rigid body member having a lifting end and an opening end spaced from the lifting end; said body member including spaced leg means; said leg means being curled under to provide for reinforcement of said legs; means between said legs and between said lifting and opening end for receiving affixing means to attach said tab to an end structure; cross-member means interconnecting said spaced legs at the opening end; finger means projecting downwardly from said cross-member and including a forward and rearward finger portion at said opening end for contacting a portion of the panel in the end to be ruptured; and said finger being centrally located at the opening end thereof and said rear finger portion which extends downwardly relative to said forward finger portion.

Claim 27

An improved tab as set forth in claim 22 wherein said cross-member is formed of at least two plys of sheet material.

Claim 28

An improved tab as set forth in claim 23 wherein said means to attach said tab to an end structure includes flap means extending from said cross-member towards the opening end of said tab, said flap means being spaced inwardly of said legs, and said flap forming a continuation of the upper portion of said cross-member.