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US4039100A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Container having non-removable opening member with attached opening lever

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-07-28
•
Granted: 1977-08-02
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Expires: 1996-07-28
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Abstract

Abstract Easy-opening container wall structure having a non-removable and selectively separable openable member to which is attached an opening tab member. A portion of the opening tab member can be manually displaced outwardly from the container wall, thereby forcing another portion of the opening tab member against the container wall to initiate separation of the openable member. The opening tab member thereafter transmits inwardly-directed manual pressure to complete separation of the openable member, and to retain the opening tab member from unrestricted movement into the container. The periphery of the separated openable member co-acts with the periphery of the opening in the container wall to retain the separated openable member on the container.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert A. Wells

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 22:04
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D17/00; B65D17/28; B65D17/401; B65D17/4012

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 163 words
Easy opening wall apparatus for a container, comprising: a wall having an outer side and an inner side; an openable member smaller than said wall and defined in said wall by a selectably separable region of weakness completely surrounding said openable member; a separate opening tab member secured to the outer side of said openable member and overhanging at least a sufficient portion of said separable region to engage said outer side of said wall and prevent said opening tab member and said attached openable member from freely entering the container through said wall upon separation of said separable region, said opening tab member having a first portion which is manually movable outwardly away from said outer side to move a second portion of the opening tab member inwardly to contact said wall in the vicinity of said separable region and fracture said separable region; and means operative to retain said openable member on said wall when said separable region has become separated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 163 words
Easy opening wall apparatus for a container, comprising: a wall having an outer side and an inner side; an openable member smaller than said wall and defined in said wall by a selectably separable region of weakness completely surrounding said openable member; a separate opening tab member secured to the outer side of said openable member and overhanging at least a sufficient portion of said separable region to engage said outer side of said wall and prevent said opening tab member and said attached openable member from freely entering the container through said wall upon separation of said separable region, said opening tab member having a first portion which is manually movable outwardly away from said outer side to move a second portion of the opening tab member inwardly to contact said wall in the vicinity of said separable region and fracture said separable region; and means operative to retain said openable member on said wall when said separable region has become separated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 171 words
Easy opening wall apparatus for a container, comprising: a wall having an outer side and an inner side; an openable member defined in said wall by a selectably separable region of weakness completely surrounding said openable member; a separate opening tab member secured to the outer side of said openable member and overhanging at least a portion of said separable region; said opening tab member having a first portion which is manually movable outwardly away from said outer side to move second portion of the opening tab member inwardly to contact said wall in the vicinity of said separable region and fracture said separable region, said opening tab member comprising a ring having an outer portion which substantially overhangs said separable region; and an attachment portion which extends inwardly from said outer portion and which is secured to said openable member; and said attachment portion being bendably connected to said outer portion to provide a fulcrum about which said second portion moves inwardly as said first portion is manually moved outwardly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 171 words
Easy opening wall apparatus for a container, comprising: a wall having an outer side and an inner side; an openable member defined in said wall by a selectably separable region of weakness completely surrounding said openable member; a separate opening tab member secured to the outer side of said openable member and overhanging at least a portion of said separable region; said opening tab member having a first portion which is manually movable outwardly away from said outer side to move second portion of the opening tab member inwardly to contact said wall in the vicinity of said separable region and fracture said separable region, said opening tab member comprising a ring having an outer portion which substantially overhangs said separable region; and an attachment portion which extends inwardly from said outer portion and which is secured to said openable member; and said attachment portion being bendably connected to said outer portion to provide a fulcrum about which said second portion moves inwardly as said first portion is manually moved outwardly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said attachment portion is elastically bendable to allow said opening tab member to elastically return to an initial position on said wall after released from said manual movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said attachment portion is deformably bendable to allow said opening tab member to be permanently displaced from an initial position overhanging said separable region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 50 words
Apparatus as in claim 4, further comprising: means on said opening tab member to define a ring opening which is positionable in alignment with said wall opening by deformably bending said attachment portion; and means on said opening tab member to retain said ring in alignment with said wall opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 189 words
Easy opening wall apparatus for a container, comprising: a wall having an outer side and an inner side; an openable member defined in said wall by a selectably separable region of weakness completely surrounding said openable member; said openable member having means which underhangs at least a peripheral portion of the opening formed in said wall by said separable region, so that said openable member cannot be withdrawn through said opening; a separate opening tab member secured to the outer side of said openable member and overhanging at least a portion of said separable region; said opening tab member having a first portion which is manually movable outwardly away from said outer side to move a second portion of the opening tab member inwardly to contact said wall in the vicinity of said separable region and fracture said separable region; and said overhang of opening tab member supporting said opening tab member for translational movement along said outer side of said wall upon separation of said separable region, so that said opening tab member and the separated openable member can be displaced to expose an opening in said wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 189 words
Easy opening wall apparatus for a container, comprising: a wall having an outer side and an inner side; an openable member defined in said wall by a selectably separable region of weakness completely surrounding said openable member; said openable member having means which underhangs at least a peripheral portion of the opening formed in said wall by said separable region, so that said openable member cannot be withdrawn through said opening; a separate opening tab member secured to the outer side of said openable member and overhanging at least a portion of said separable region; said opening tab member having a first portion which is manually movable outwardly away from said outer side to move a second portion of the opening tab member inwardly to contact said wall in the vicinity of said separable region and fracture said separable region; and said overhang of opening tab member supporting said opening tab member for translational movement along said outer side of said wall upon separation of said separable region, so that said opening tab member and the separated openable member can be displaced to expose an opening in said wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 151 words
Easy opening wall apparatus for a container, comprising: a wall having an outer side and an inner side; an openable member defined in said wall by a selectably separable region of weakness completely surrounding said openable member; a separate opening tab member secured to the outer side of said openable member and overhanging at least a portion of said separable region; said opening tab member having a first portion which is manually movable outwardly away from said outer side to move a second portion of the opening tab member inwardly to contact said wall in the vicinity of said separable region and fracture said separable region; said opening tab member having an attachment portion which is attached to said openable member; and said attachment portion being elastically bendable to permit said openable tab member to return substantially to an initial position overlying said separable region, upon release of said manual movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 151 words
Easy opening wall apparatus for a container, comprising: a wall having an outer side and an inner side; an openable member defined in said wall by a selectably separable region of weakness completely surrounding said openable member; a separate opening tab member secured to the outer side of said openable member and overhanging at least a portion of said separable region; said opening tab member having a first portion which is manually movable outwardly away from said outer side to move a second portion of the opening tab member inwardly to contact said wall in the vicinity of said separable region and fracture said separable region; said opening tab member having an attachment portion which is attached to said openable member; and said attachment portion being elastically bendable to permit said openable tab member to return substantially to an initial position overlying said separable region, upon release of said manual movement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 191 words
Easy opening wall apparatus for a container, comprising: a wall having an outer side and an inner side; an openable member defined in said wall by a selectably separable region of weakness completely surrounding said openable member; a separate opening tab member secured to the outer side of said openable member and overhanging at least a portion of said separable region; said opening tab member having a first portion which is manually movable outwardly away from said outer side to move a second portion of the opening tab member inwardly to contact said wall in the vicinity of said separable region and fracture said separable region; said openable member having a first area which defines an access opening in said wall upon separation of said separable region, and a second relatively smaller area contiguous to said first area; and said second area being configured to provide an opening to receive said attachment portion of said opening tab member after said separable region is separated so that said opening tab member and the attached separated openable member can be slidably displaced along said wall to expose substantially all of said access opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 191 words
Easy opening wall apparatus for a container, comprising: a wall having an outer side and an inner side; an openable member defined in said wall by a selectably separable region of weakness completely surrounding said openable member; a separate opening tab member secured to the outer side of said openable member and overhanging at least a portion of said separable region; said opening tab member having a first portion which is manually movable outwardly away from said outer side to move a second portion of the opening tab member inwardly to contact said wall in the vicinity of said separable region and fracture said separable region; said openable member having a first area which defines an access opening in said wall upon separation of said separable region, and a second relatively smaller area contiguous to said first area; and said second area being configured to provide an opening to receive said attachment portion of said opening tab member after said separable region is separated so that said opening tab member and the attached separated openable member can be slidably displaced along said wall to expose substantially all of said access opening.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3403811A Cited
US3532248A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-08-01 1981-01-31 1981-08-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-08-01 1985-01-31 1985-08-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-08-01 1989-01-31 1989-08-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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