USRE28910E — Push-in easy-opening closures

Claim 1

Independent Claim 215 words

A method of forming an easy-opening.Iadd., push-in .Iaddend.closure in a sheet metal container member, said method comprising: forming a bulge in an area of the sheet metal container member, at least partially severing a portion of the sheet metal in said area to provide a free edge, wherein at least a portion of said bulge lies substantially outside of said portion, the free edge of the sheet metal from which said portion is at least partially severed defining an opening, and said severed portion defining a closure member for said opening, .Iadd. wherein said bulge includes an approximately flat area of sheet metal that is generally parallel to the plane of the sheet metal surrounding said bulge, said severing being carried out substantially within said flat area.Iaddend., thereafter reducing the size of said opening by at least partly flattening said bulge, to place .[.at least a part of the free edge portion of said closure member and.]. the free edge defining said opening or the interior surface of the sheet metal adjacent said opening in overlapping contact or in overlapping close proximity .Iadd.over at least a part of the free edge portion of said closure member, .Iaddend. whereby said container member having said easy-opening closure is suitable for use in forming a container for liquids.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 215 words

A method of forming an easy-opening.Iadd., push-in .Iaddend.closure in a sheet metal container member, said method comprising: forming a bulge in an area of the sheet metal container member, at least partially severing a portion of the sheet metal in said area to provide a free edge, wherein at least a portion of said bulge lies substantially outside of said portion, the free edge of the sheet metal from which said portion is at least partially severed defining an opening, and said severed portion defining a closure member for said opening, .Iadd. wherein said bulge includes an approximately flat area of sheet metal that is generally parallel to the plane of the sheet metal surrounding said bulge, said severing being carried out substantially within said flat area.Iaddend., thereafter reducing the size of said opening by at least partly flattening said bulge, to place .[.at least a part of the free edge portion of said closure member and.]. the free edge defining said opening or the interior surface of the sheet metal adjacent said opening in overlapping contact or in overlapping close proximity .Iadd.over at least a part of the free edge portion of said closure member, .Iaddend. whereby said container member having said easy-opening closure is suitable for use in forming a container for liquids.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 85 words

Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said portion of the sheet metal is only partially severed with at least one unsevered area connecting said closure member to the remainder of said sheet metal and serving as a hinge during the closure opening operation. .[.3. Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bulge includes an approximately flat area of sheet metal that is generally parallel to the plane of the sheet metal surrounding said bulge, said severing being carried out substantially within said flat

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 10 words

area..]. 4. Method as claimed in claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend., wherein

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

said sheet metal is steel. 5. Method as claimed in claim 4, wherein after said bulge is flattened, a sealant is applied to at least the region of

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

the free edges of said opening and said closure member. 6. Method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the container contents are below atmospheric

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 12 words

pressure. 7. Method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the container contents

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 12 words

are above atmospheric pressure. 8. Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

said bulge is formed before said portion is severed. 9. Method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the size of said closure member is increased prior to

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

the application of said sealant. 10. Method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said closure member is bulged when severed, and thereafter the bulged

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 62 words

closure member is flattened to increase the size thereof. 11. Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said free edge portion of said closure member has a plurality of segments, at least one of said segments overlying a surface of the sheet metal adjacent said opening, and at least one other of said segments overlying the opposite surface of the sheet metal

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 228 words

adjacent said opening. 12. .[.Method as claimed in claim 2.]. .Iadd.A method of forming an easy-opening closure in a sheet metal container member, said method comprising forming a bulge in an area of the sheet metal container member, at least partially severing a portion of the sheet metal in said area to provide a free edge wherein at least a portion of said bulge lies substantially outside of said portion, the free edge of the sheet metal from which said portion is at least partially severed defining an opening, and said severed portion defining a closure member for said opening, thereafter reducing the size of said opening by at least partly flattening said bulge to place at least a part of the free edge portion of said closure member and the free edge defining said opening or the interior surface of the sheet metal adjacent said opening in overlapping contact or in overlapping close proximity, whereby said container member having said easy-opening closure is suitable for use in forming a container for liquids, wherein said portion of the sheet metal is only partially severed with at least one unsevered area connecting said closure member to the remainder of said sheet metal and serving as a hinge during the closure opening operation.Iaddend. ; wherein said unsevered area is located in the bulged area of the sheet metal container member.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 212 words

A method of forming an easy-opening closure in a container member of sheet metal comprising the following steps: 1. forming a bulge in the sheet metal, thus stretching the sheet; 2. partially or wholly severing a central portion of said bulge to provide a free edge, the free edge of said sheet metal from which said portion is severed defining an opening and said severed portion defining a closure member for said opening; 3. displacing the closure member in the opposite direction from said bulge so that its free edge is in a different plane than the free edge of the opening; 4. at least partially flattening the bulge of sheet metal around said opening to reduce its size and to place at least a part of the free edge portion of said closure member and said free edge defining said opening or the surface of the sheet metal adjacent said opening in overlapping contact or in overlapping close proximity, and 5. applying a sealant at least in the region of the free edges of the opening and the closure member to seal the closure if required by the purpose for which said container member is to be used, whereby said container member having said easy-opening closure is suitable for use in

Claim 14

Independent Claim 212 words

A method of forming an easy-opening closure in a container member of sheet metal comprising the following steps: 1. forming a bulge in the sheet metal, thus stretching the sheet; 2. partially or wholly severing a central portion of said bulge to provide a free edge, the free edge of said sheet metal from which said portion is severed defining an opening and said severed portion defining a closure member for said opening; 3. displacing the closure member in the opposite direction from said bulge so that its free edge is in a different plane than the free edge of the opening; 4. at least partially flattening the bulge of sheet metal around said opening to reduce its size and to place at least a part of the free edge portion of said closure member and said free edge defining said opening or the surface of the sheet metal adjacent said opening in overlapping contact or in overlapping close proximity, and 5. applying a sealant at least in the region of the free edges of the opening and the closure member to seal the closure if required by the purpose for which said container member is to be used, whereby said container member having said easy-opening closure is suitable for use in

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

forming a container for liquids. 14. Process as claimed in claim 13, wherein the free edge defining said opening is displaced in the direction

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 12 words

of the closure member displacement. 15. Method as claimed in claim 13,

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 48 words

wherein steps (1) and (2) are in a single operation. 16. Method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said bulge includes an approximately flat area of sheet metal that is generally parallel to the plane of the sheet metal surrounding said bulge, said severing being carried out substantially

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 49 words

within said flat area. 17. Method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said portion of the sheet metal is only partially severed with at least one unsevered area connecting said closure member to the remainder of said sheet metal and serving as a hinge during the closure opening operation.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 37 words

. Method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said sheet metal is steel. 19. Method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the closure member is bulged when severed and thereafter the bulged closure member is at least

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 162 words

partially flattened to increase its size. 20. A method of forming an easy-opening closure in a sheet metal container member, the steps comprising: forming a bulge in an area of the member to displace metal in said area generally normally on the sheet; at least partially severing a portion of the displaced sheet metal inwardly of the periphery thereof to provide a free edge of displaced metal outwardly of the severed portion at least partially defining an opening, with said severed portion defining a closure member for said opening; .Iadd.wherein said bulge includes an approximately flat area of sheet metal that is generally parallel to the plane of the sheet metal surrounding said bulge, said severing being carried out substantially within said flat area.Iaddend.; and reducing the size of said opening by at least partly flattening the said displaced metal defining said opening to move the marginal portion of the free edge and the marginal edge portion of the closure member into

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 162 words

partially flattened to increase its size. 20. A method of forming an easy-opening closure in a sheet metal container member, the steps comprising: forming a bulge in an area of the member to displace metal in said area generally normally on the sheet; at least partially severing a portion of the displaced sheet metal inwardly of the periphery thereof to provide a free edge of displaced metal outwardly of the severed portion at least partially defining an opening, with said severed portion defining a closure member for said opening; .Iadd.wherein said bulge includes an approximately flat area of sheet metal that is generally parallel to the plane of the sheet metal surrounding said bulge, said severing being carried out substantially within said flat area.Iaddend.; and reducing the size of said opening by at least partly flattening the said displaced metal defining said opening to move the marginal portion of the free edge and the marginal edge portion of the closure member into

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 241 words

overlapping relationship. 21. .[.Method as claimed in claim 2,.]. .Iadd.A method of forming an easy-opening closure in a sheet metal container member, said method comprising forming a bulge in an area of the sheet metal container member, at least partially severing a portion of the sheet metal in said area to provide a free edge wherein at least a portion of said bulge lies substantially outside of said portion, the free edge of the sheet metal from which said portion is at least partially severed defining an opening, and said severed portion defining a closure member for said opening, thereafter reducing the size of said opening by at least partly flattening said bulge to place at least a part of the free edge portion of said closure member and the free edge defining said opening or the interior surface of the sheet metal adjacent said opening in overlapping contact or in overlapping close proximity, whereby said container member having said easy-opening closure is suitable for use in forming a container for liquids, wherein said portion of the sheet metal is only partially severed with at least one unsevered area connecting said closure member to the remainder of said sheet metal and serving as a hinge during the closure opening operation .Iaddend.wherein the free edge defining said opening is displaced towards the free edge portion of the closure member, whereby the easy-opening closure presents a smooth opening periphery to an opener's finger.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-07-20	1980-01-19	1980-07-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-07-20	1984-01-19	1984-07-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-07-20	1988-01-19	1988-07-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Push-in easy-opening closures

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