US4136797A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Easy-opening can end and method of opening
Assignee: Crown Cork and Seal Co Inc
•
Filing: 1977-10-20
•
Granted: 1979-01-30
•
Expires: 1997-10-20
Abstract
Abstract An easy-opening can end includes a dispensing opening covered by a pivoting tab located on the interior side of the end. The pivoting tab is adapted to be pushed inwardly so as to break the seal at the dispensing opening and subsequently pivoted to the open position in response to movement of a finger engageable portion. The tab is fastened to the can end at an area of pivotal attachment. The area of pivotal attachment is connected to the can end by a peninsular region and separated from a part of the can end by a score or a lance line. Prior to pivoting the tab, the area of pivotal attachment is depressed at the score or lance line to vent the can.
Inventors
- 👤 Vinson S. Potts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:09
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D17/00; B65D17/50; B65D17/506; B65D17/28; B65D2517/00; B65D2517/0001; B65D2517/001; B65D2517/0011; B65D2517/002; B65D2517/0026; B65D2517/0029; B65D2517/0058; B65D2517/0059; B65D2517/0061; B65D2517/0062; B65D2517/0091; B65D2517/0094; B65D2517/50; B65D2517/5002; B65D2517/5024; B65D2517/5027; B65D2517/5029
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 86
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A can of the easy-opening type comprising: a can body; an end panel attached to said can body and having a dispensing opening communicating between the interior and the exterior of said can body; and a closure tab pivotally attached to said end panel, said tab comprising a closure portion sealingly engaging said end panel on the interior side thereof adjacent said dispensing opening, said closure portion extending on the interior side of said end panel from said dispensing opening to the area of pivotal attachment of said tab to said end panel, said tab further comprising a finger engageable portion located on the exterior of said end panel so as to permit said closure portion to be pivoted from the closed position to the open position, said dispensing opening and said tab permitting said closure portion to be pushed inwardly so as to break the seal between said closure portion and said end panel during opening while said finger engageable portion remains on the exterior side of said end panel thereby facilitating subsequent pivoting of said closure tab about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the can body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A can of the easy-opening type comprising: a can body; an end panel attached to said can body and having a dispensing opening communicating between the interior and the exterior of said can body; and a closure tab pivotally attached to said end panel, said tab comprising a closure portion sealingly engaging said end panel on the interior side thereof adjacent said dispensing opening, said closure portion extending on the interior side of said end panel from said dispensing opening to the area of pivotal attachment of said tab to said end panel, said tab further comprising a finger engageable portion located on the exterior of said end panel so as to permit said closure portion to be pivoted from the closed position to the open position, said dispensing opening and said tab permitting said closure portion to be pushed inwardly so as to break the seal between said closure portion and said end panel during opening while said finger engageable portion remains on the exterior side of said end panel thereby facilitating subsequent pivoting of said closure tab about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the can body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The can of claim 1 wherein said closure portion is sealingly engaged at the area of pivotal attachment of said tab to said end panel prior to pivoting the closure portion from said closed position to said open position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The can of claim 2 wherein said closure tab comprises a flexible tape-like member on the interior side of said closure member for sealingly engaging the interior side of said end panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The can of claim 1 wherein said finger engageable portion extends along the exterior of said end panel away from the pivotal point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The can of claim 4 wherein said finger engageable portion extends over said dispensing opening and cooperates therewith when pushed toward the interior of the can so as to break the seal between said closure portion and the interior side of said end panel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The can of claim 5 wherein said finger engageable portion includes a projection capable of extending into said dispensing opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The can of claim 6 further comprising sealing means associated with said closure portion for isolating the point of pivotal attachment from the interior of said can body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The can of claim 7 further comprising a vent hole in said end panel covered by said closure portion when said tab is in the closed position, said vent hole being isolated from the interior of said can body by said sealing means prior to moving said closure tab to the open position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The can of claim 4 wherein said end panel includes an outwardly raised area adjacent said closure portion so as to protect against accidental opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The can of claim 4 wherein said end panel includes an outwardly raised area adjacent said closure portion and having an inclined surface cooperating with said finger engageable portion for producing a pivotal motion of said closure tab as said finger engageable portion is pushed inwardly toward said closure portion to break the seal at said dispensing opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The can of claim 1 wherein said end panel includes a tab operating opening located between said dispensing opening and the point of pivotal attachment, said finger engageable portion extending through said tab operating opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The can of claim 11 wherein said closure portion comprises a rigid member and a flexible tape-like member covering said closure portion on the interior side thereof and in sealing engagement with the interior side of said end panel when said closure tab is in the closed position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The can of claim 11 wherein said closure tab comprises a plastic material and said closure portion is integrally formed with said finger engageable portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The can of claim 11 wherein said finger engageable portion includes a segment extending laterally beyond the periphery of said tab operating opening on the exterior side of said end panel so as to be retained on the exterior side of said end panel after opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The can of claim 14 wherein the exterior side of said finger engageable portion comprises a roughened surface to assist in finger engagement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The can of claim 15 wherein said segment is spaced outwardly from said end panel so as to permit said closure portion to be pushed inwardly prior to contact of said segment with said end panel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The can of claim 14 wherein said segment is asymetrically located with respect to said tab operating opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The can of claim 17 wherein said segment extends toward said point of pivotal attachment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The can of claim 13 wherein the exterior side of said finger engageable portion comprises a roughened surface to assist in finger engagement.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The can of claim 1 wherein said end panel includes a raised area around said dispensing opening and said pivotal point of attachment, said closure tab being recessed upwardly in said raised area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The can of claim 20 wherein said tab comprises a rigid member having an interiormost surface substantially coplanar with the interior surface of said end panel surrounding said raised area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The can of claim 21 wherein said tab further comprises a flexible tape-like member extending over said interiormost surface and in sealing engagement with said surrounding area.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The can of claim 22 wherein said rigid member comprises a plastic material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The can of claim 22 wherein said rigid member comprises sheet metal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The can of claim 20 wherein the edges of said dispensing opening are hemmed under at the interior such that the edges of said end panel at said opening faces substantially away from said dispensing opening.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The can of claim 25 further comprising a tab operating opening located between said dispensing opening and the point of pivotal attachment, said finger engageable portion extending through said tab operating opening.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
The can of claim 26 wherein the edges of said tab operating opening are hemmed under at the interior such that the edge of said end panel at said tab operating opening face substantially away from said tab operating opening.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The can of claim 1 wherein said end panel comprises an attachment opening at said point of said pivotal attachment and said tab comprises an outwardly extending attachment portion extending outwardly through said attachment opening.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The can of claim 28 wherein said attachment portion comprises a flared portion located on the exterior of said end panel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The can of claim 29 wherein said attachment portion comprises an elongated neck so as to permit movement of said neck axially through said attachment opening.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The can of claim 29 wherein said attachment portion comprises an outer surface adapted to be pushed inwardly for venting the can prior to pushing said closure portion inwardly.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
The can of claim 31 wherein said attachment portion comprises an elongated neck so as to permit movement of said neck axially through said attachment opening when said outer surface of said attachment portion is pushed inwardly.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
The can of claim 29 wherein said end panel is curled upwardly toward the exterior side thereof at said attachment opening such that said flared portion engages the edge of said end panel at said attachment opening.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
40 words
The can of claim 11 wherein said finger engageable portion includes a flared section on the exterior side of said end panel for retaining said finger engageable portion in said tab operating opening when said closure portion is pushed inwardly.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
57 words
The can of claim 12 wherein said finger engageable portion comprises a rigid member connected to said closure portion, said finger engageable rigid member including a flared section on the exterior side of said end panel for retaining said finger engageable rigid member in said tab operating opening when said closure portion rigid member is pushed inwardly.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
41 words
The can of claim 13 wherein said finger engageable portion includes a flared section on the exterior side of said end panel for retaining said finger engageable portion in said tab operating opening when said finger engageable portion is pushed inwardly.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
36 words
The can of claim 1 wherein said end panel comprises at least one outwardly raised area adjacent said finger engageable portion and said tab operating opening so as to protect against accidental opening of said can.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of opening an easy-opening type can comprising a can body, an end panel attached to said body with a dispensing opening communicating with the interior of the can body, and a closure tab pivotally attached to said end panel, said closure tab having a closure portion sealingly engaging said end panel on the interior side thereof adjacent said dispensing opening, said closure tab also having a finger engageable portion, the method comprising: pushing said closure tab inwardly at said dispensing opening to break said seal between said closure portion and said end panel, and pivoting said closure tab in a plane substantially parallel to said end panel by engaging said finger engageable portion at the exterior of said end panel after said seal has been broken.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of opening an easy-opening type can comprising a can body, an end panel attached to said body with a dispensing opening communicating with the interior of the can body, and a closure tab pivotally attached to said end panel, said closure tab having a closure portion sealingly engaging said end panel on the interior side thereof adjacent said dispensing opening, said closure tab also having a finger engageable portion, the method comprising: pushing said closure tab inwardly at said dispensing opening to break said seal between said closure portion and said end panel, and pivoting said closure tab in a plane substantially parallel to said end panel by engaging said finger engageable portion at the exterior of said end panel after said seal has been broken.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 38 including the step of pushing said closure tab inwardly at the point of attachment for venting said can body before pushing said closure tab inwardly at said dispensing opening.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
137 words
A closure for a container of the easy-opening type comprising: a panel having a dispensing opening, a tab operating opening and an area of pivotal attachment; and a closure tab pivotally attached to said panel at said area of pivotal attachment so as to pivot about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of said panel, said tab including a closure portion extending along the interior side of said panel so as to cover and seal said dispensing opening and said tab operating opening when said closure tab is in the closed position, said tab further comprising a finger engageable portion adapted to extend through said tab operating opening before and after said closure portion has been pushed inwardly at said dispensing opening for use in pivoting said closure portion to the open position about said axis.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
137 words
A closure for a container of the easy-opening type comprising: a panel having a dispensing opening, a tab operating opening and an area of pivotal attachment; and a closure tab pivotally attached to said panel at said area of pivotal attachment so as to pivot about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of said panel, said tab including a closure portion extending along the interior side of said panel so as to cover and seal said dispensing opening and said tab operating opening when said closure tab is in the closed position, said tab further comprising a finger engageable portion adapted to extend through said tab operating opening before and after said closure portion has been pushed inwardly at said dispensing opening for use in pivoting said closure portion to the open position about said axis.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
The closure of claim 40 wherein said area of pivotal attachment comprises a pivot opening, said closure tab including a pivot portion extending through said pivot opening.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
36 words
The closure of claim 41 wherein said pivot portion extends outwardly through said pivot opening a sufficient distance so as to permit the pivot portion to be pushed inwardly from the exterior of said end panel.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
The closure of claim 42 wherein said pivot portion comprises a flared portion located on the exterior of said end panel.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
26 words
The closure of claim 43 wherein said pivot portion comprises an elongated neck so as to permit movement of said neck axially through said attachment opening.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
48 words
The closure of claim 40 wherein said finger engageable portion in said tab operating opening includes a flared section on the exterior side of said panel to retain said finger engageable portion in said tab operating opening when said closure portion is pushed inwardly at said dispensing opening.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
15 words
The closure of claim 40 wherein said closure portion extends upwardly through said dispensing opening.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
23 words
The closure of claim 40 wherein said tab operating opening is located generally between said dispensing opening and said area of pivotal attachment.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
27 words
The closure of claim 40 wherein said area of pivotal attachment comprises a pivot opening, said closure tab including a pivot portion extending through said pivot opening.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
24 words
The closure of claim 48 wherein said closure tab comprises plastic and said finger engageable portion and said pivot portion are integrally formed therefrom.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
15 words
The closure of claim 49 wherein said closure portion extends upwardly through said dispensing opening.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
44 words
The closure of claim 50 wherein said closure tab further comprises a flexible tape-like member covering said closure tab on the interior side thereof and in sealing engagement with the interior side of said panel when said closure tab is in the closed position.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
48 words
The closure fo claim 51 wherein said finger engageable portion in said tab operating opening includes a flared section on the exterior side of said panel to retain said finger engageable portion in said tab operating opening when said closure portion is pushed inwardly at said dispensing opening.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
44 words
The closure of claim 40 wherein said finger engageable portion includes a segment extending laterally beyond the periphery of said tab operating opening on the exterior side of said panel so as to be retained on the exterior side of said panel after opening.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
23 words
The closure of claim 53 wherein the exterior side of said finger engageable portion comprises a roughened surface to assist in finger engagement.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
34 words
The closure of claim 54 wherein said segment is spaced outwardly from said panel so as to permit said closure portion to be pushed inwardly prior to contact of said segment with said panel.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
18 words
The closure of claim 53 wherein said segment is asymetrically located with respect to said tab operating opening.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
15 words
The closure of claim 56 wherein said segment extends toward said point of pivotal attachment.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
23 words
The closure of claim 40 wherein the exterior side of said finger engageable portion comprises a roughened surface to assist in finger engagement.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
33 words
The closure of claim 40 wherein said end panel includes a raised area around said dispensing opening and said pivotal point of attachment, said closure tab being recessed upwardly in said raised area.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
29 words
The closure of claim 59 wherein said tab comprises a rigid member having an interiormost surface substantially coplanar with the interior surface of said panel surrounding said raised area.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
27 words
The closure of claim 60 wherein said tab further comprises a flexible tape-like member extending over said interiormost surface and in sealing engagement with said surrounding area.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
13 words
The closure of claim 61 wherein said rigid member comprises a plastic material.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
12 words
The closure of claim 60 wherein said rigid member comprises sheet metal.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
35 words
The closure of claim 40 wherein the edges of said dispensing opening are hemmed under at the interior such that the edge of end panel at said opening faces substantially away from said dispensing opening.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
39 words
The closure of claim 64 wherein the edges of said tab operating opening are hemmed under at the interior such that the edge of said panel at said tab operating opening face substantially away from said tab operating opening.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
34 words
The closure of claim 40 wherein said panel comprises an attachment opening at said point of said pivotal attachment and said tab comprises an outwardly extending attachment portion extending outwardly through said attachment opening.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
29 words
The closure of claim 66 wherein said attachment portion comprises a flared portion located on the exterior of said panel for retaining said attachment portion within said attachment opening.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
26 words
The closure of claim 67 wherein said attachment portion comprises an elongated neck so as to permit movement of said neck axially through said attachment opening.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
35 words
The closure of claim 66 wherein said panel is curled upwardly toward the exterior side thereof at said attachment opening such that said flared portion engages the edge of said panel at said attachment opening.
Claim 73
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of opening a container of the easy-opening type comprising a panel having a dispensing opening, a tab operating opening and an area of pivotal attachment for a closure tab, the tab including a closure portion sealingly engaging the panel on the interior side thereof adjacent the dispensing opening and the tab operating opening, the tab further including a finger engageable portion extending through the tab operating opening, the method comprising: pushing said closure tab inwardly at said dispensing opening to break at least a portion of the seal between said tab closure and said end panel; retaining at least some of said finger engageable portion extending through said tab operating opening after said pushing, and pivoting said closure tab about an axis substantially perpendicular to said panel by engaging the retained finger engageable portion at the exterior of said panel.
Claim 74
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of opening a container of the easy-opening type comprising a panel having a dispensing opening, a tab operating opening and an area of pivotal attachment for a closure tab, the tab including a closure portion sealingly engaging the panel on the interior side thereof adjacent the dispensing opening and the tab operating opening, the tab further including a finger engageable portion extending through the tab operating opening, the method comprising: pushing said closure tab inwardly at said dispensing opening to break at least a portion of the seal between said tab closure and said end panel; retaining at least some of said finger engageable portion extending through said tab operating opening after said pushing, and pivoting said closure tab about an axis substantially perpendicular to said panel by engaging the retained finger engageable portion at the exterior of said panel.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 70 including the step of pushing said closure tab inwardly at the area of pivotal attachment for venting said container before pushing said closure tab inwardly at said dispensing opening.
Claim 76
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of opening a container of the easy-opening type comprising a closure tab, a panel having a dispensing opening, a tab operating opening and an area of pivotal attachment for a closure tab, the tab including a closure portion sealingly engaging the panel on the interior side thereof adjacent the dispensing opening, the tab operating opening and the area of pivotal attachment, tab further including a finger engageable portion extending through the tab operating opening, the method comprising: pushing said closure tab at the area of pivotal attachment inwardly for venting said container; retaining at least some of said finger engageable portion extending through said tab operating opening after said pushing; and pivoting said closure tab about an axis substantially perpendicular to said panel by engaging the finger engageable portion at the exterior of said panel.
Claim 77
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of opening a container of the easy-opening type comprising a closure tab, a panel having a dispensing opening, a tab operating opening and an area of pivotal attachment for a closure tab, the tab including a closure portion sealingly engaging the panel on the interior side thereof adjacent the dispensing opening, the tab operating opening and the area of pivotal attachment, tab further including a finger engageable portion extending through the tab operating opening, the method comprising: pushing said closure tab at the area of pivotal attachment inwardly for venting said container; retaining at least some of said finger engageable portion extending through said tab operating opening after said pushing; and pivoting said closure tab about an axis substantially perpendicular to said panel by engaging the finger engageable portion at the exterior of said panel.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 72 further comprising the step of pushing said closure tab inwardly at said dispensing opening to break at least a portion of the seal between said tab closure and said end panel after pushing said closure tab inwardly at the area of pivotal attachment.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 72 wherein the step of pushing said closure tab comprises the step of simultaneously deforming said panel at said area of pivotal attachment.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
162 words
A closure for a container of the easy-opening type comprising: a panel having a dispensing opening, a tab operating opening and an area of pivotal attachment, said area of pivotal attachment being connected to a portion of said panel by a peninsular region and separated from the remainder of said panel; and a closure tab pivotally attached to said panel at said area of pivotal attachment so as to pivot about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of said panel, said tab including a closure portion extending along the interior side of said panel so as to cover and seal said dispensing opening and said tab operating opening when said closure tab is in the closed position, said tab further comprising a finger engageable portion adapted to extend through said tab operating opening before and after said closure portion has been pushed inwardly at said dispensing opening for use in pivoting said closure portion to the open position about said axis.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
162 words
A closure for a container of the easy-opening type comprising: a panel having a dispensing opening, a tab operating opening and an area of pivotal attachment, said area of pivotal attachment being connected to a portion of said panel by a peninsular region and separated from the remainder of said panel; and a closure tab pivotally attached to said panel at said area of pivotal attachment so as to pivot about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of said panel, said tab including a closure portion extending along the interior side of said panel so as to cover and seal said dispensing opening and said tab operating opening when said closure tab is in the closed position, said tab further comprising a finger engageable portion adapted to extend through said tab operating opening before and after said closure portion has been pushed inwardly at said dispensing opening for use in pivoting said closure portion to the open position about said axis.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
25 words
The closure of claim 74 wherein said area of pivotal attachment is separated from the remainder of said can end panel by a score line.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
24 words
The closure of claim 74 wherein said area of pivotal attachment is separated from the remainder of said can end by a lance line.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
15 words
The closure of claim 74 wherein said area of pivotal attachment comprises a domed portion.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
18 words
The closure of claim 77 wherein said tab comprises an upwardly extending portion which engages said domed position.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
22 words
The closure of claim 78 wherein said upwardly extending portion is fastened to said domed portion by means of a snap fit.
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) | 1982-01-29 | 1982-07-31 | 1983-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-01-29 | 1986-07-31 | 1987-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-01-29 | 1990-07-31 | 1991-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |