EP0024163A1 - Languette d'arrachage pourvue d'une mémoire - Google Patents

Languette d'arrachage pourvue d'une mémoire Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0024163A1
EP0024163A1 EP80302692A EP80302692A EP0024163A1 EP 0024163 A1 EP0024163 A1 EP 0024163A1 EP 80302692 A EP80302692 A EP 80302692A EP 80302692 A EP80302692 A EP 80302692A EP 0024163 A1 EP0024163 A1 EP 0024163A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pull tab
panel
securing
grip
memory
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP80302692A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Gary K. Hasegawa
James J. Fridl
Donald R. Richardson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Continental Group Inc
Original Assignee
Continental Group Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US06/066,596 external-priority patent/US4231487A/en
Priority claimed from US06/079,851 external-priority patent/US4244488A/en
Application filed by Continental Group Inc filed Critical Continental Group Inc
Publication of EP0024163A1 publication Critical patent/EP0024163A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D17/00Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions
    • B65D17/50Non-integral frangible members applied to, or inserted in, preformed openings, e.g. tearable strips or plastic plugs
    • B65D17/501Flexible tape or foil-like material
    • B65D17/505Flexible tape or foil-like material applied to the external and internal part of the container wall
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D17/00Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions
    • B65D17/28Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions at lines or points of weakness
    • B65D17/401Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions at lines or points of weakness characterised by having the line of weakness provided in an end wall
    • B65D17/4012Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions at lines or points of weakness characterised by having the line of weakness provided in an end wall for opening partially by means of a tearing tab
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2517/00Containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting, piercing or tearing of wall portions, e.g. preserving cans or tins
    • B65D2517/0001Details
    • B65D2517/001Action for opening container
    • B65D2517/0013Action for opening container pull-out tear panel, e.g. by means of a tear-tab
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2517/00Containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting, piercing or tearing of wall portions, e.g. preserving cans or tins
    • B65D2517/0001Details
    • B65D2517/0058Other details of container end panel
    • B65D2517/0059General cross-sectional shape of container end panel
    • B65D2517/0061U-shaped
    • B65D2517/0062U-shaped and provided with an additional U-shaped peripheral channel
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2517/00Containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting, piercing or tearing of wall portions, e.g. preserving cans or tins
    • B65D2517/50Non-integral frangible members applied to, or inserted in, a preformed opening
    • B65D2517/5002Details of flexible tape or foil-like material
    • B65D2517/5005Details of flexible tape or foil-like material with a part of the tape melted through the opening
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2517/00Containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting, piercing or tearing of wall portions, e.g. preserving cans or tins
    • B65D2517/50Non-integral frangible members applied to, or inserted in, a preformed opening
    • B65D2517/5002Details of flexible tape or foil-like material
    • B65D2517/5016Details of flexible tape or foil-like material with means for maintaining the tape fixed to the upper surface after initial opening
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2517/00Containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting, piercing or tearing of wall portions, e.g. preserving cans or tins
    • B65D2517/50Non-integral frangible members applied to, or inserted in, a preformed opening
    • B65D2517/5002Details of flexible tape or foil-like material
    • B65D2517/5024Material
    • B65D2517/5027Single layer
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2517/00Containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting, piercing or tearing of wall portions, e.g. preserving cans or tins
    • B65D2517/50Non-integral frangible members applied to, or inserted in, a preformed opening
    • B65D2517/5072Details of hand grip, tear- or lift-tab
    • B65D2517/5075Hand grip with finger opening
    • B65D2517/5078Hand grip with finger opening finger opening edge rolled or folded over

Definitions

  • This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in easy opening containers, and most specifically to a container wherein the pull tab and removable panel portion remain attached to the container after the opening thereof has been effected.
  • the tab is either fixedly secured to the container panel and merely serves to break away and inwardly displace the displaceable panel portion, or the tab is fixedly secured to the removable panel portion and is removed from the container together with the removable panel portion.
  • the tab is permanently secured to the container panel in addition to its securement to the removable panel portion so that when the removable panel portion is displaced, it is retained with the container by the tab and is shifted to an out-of-the-way position. The net result is that the removable panel portion is still exposed to a certain extent and in many instances is retained in an awkward position.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a pull tab for easy opening containers wherein the pull tab or strip and detached panel portion are automatically moved to and held in an out-of-the-way position.
  • the present invention provides a pull tab for attachment to an easy opening container; said pull tab including an attaching portion or intermediate securing portion for securement to a removable panel portion, and a grip portion; said pull tab being formed of a plastics material and having a memory for moving said intermediate portion and said grip portion together with an attached removable panel portion to an out-of-the-way position when said pull tab is utilized to remove an attached panel portion.
  • the pull tab is preferably injection molded so as to include an intermediate portion having joined to opposite ends thereof by reverse bends an attaching portion and a grip portion., the attaching portion and the grip portion normally overlying the intermediate portion.
  • the tab is applied by bonding the intermediate portion to the removable part of a panel and folding the attaching portion so as generally to eliminate the return bend connecting it to the intermediate portion and bonding the attaching portion to the panel adjacent the removable panel portion. Due to the memory properties of the plastics material and the internal stressing occuring from the straightening out of the return bend, when the pull tab is utilized to remove a panel portion, after the panel portion has been completely removed, the internal stresses caused by the memory function as means to effect hinging of the intermediate portion generally 180° from its starting position to an out-of-the-way position adjacent to the resultant dispensing opening.
  • the pull tab is advantageously utilized when the panel has a pre-formed dispensing opening which is normally closed by a foil panel element to which the intermediate portion of the pull tab is bonded.
  • the intermediate portion may be particularly configurated for a snap fit into the dispensing opening with the intermediate portion having at least a pair of offset side flanges for overlying the panel adjacent the dispensing opening and thus positioning the intermediate portion within the dispensing opening.
  • the intermediate securing portion is provided with lines of weakness to effect rolling up of the tab to a substantially compact out-of-the way position while remaining attached to the container panel.
  • FIG 1 a conventional container of the easy opening type which is generally identified by the numeral 10 and includes a can body 11 having a closure unit 12 permanently secured thereto by means of a double seam 13.
  • the closure unit has an end panel 14 with a cutout defining a dispensing opening 15, as is best shown in Figure 4.
  • the dispensing opening 15 is initially sealed by a foil panel element 16 which underlies the end panel 14 and closes the dispensing opening 15.
  • the foil panel opening 16 is bonded to the underside of the end panel 14 surrounding the dispensing opening 15.
  • the container 10 is provided with a pull tab or strip generally identified by the numeral 17.
  • the tab 17 is formed of a suitable plastics material which may have a memory and includes an attaching portion 18, an intermediate portion 19 and a grip or pull portion 20.
  • the intermediate portion 19 is seated within the dispensing opening 15 and is suitably bonded to the upper surface of the foil panel element 16.
  • the intermediate portion 19 is hingedly connected to the end panel 14 by the attaching portion 18, as is best shown in Figure 2.
  • the grip portion 20 is preferably provided with a finger receiving opening 21 and while it normally closely overlies the intermediate portion 19, it is movable upwardly to be gripped in the position shown in Figure 2.
  • the tab 17 is initially formed with the attaching portion 18 overlying the intermediate portion 19 and integrally connected thereto by a reverse bend 22.
  • the grip portion 20 overlies the attaching portion 18 and is integrally connected thereto by a reverse bend 23.
  • the attaching portion 18 and the grip portion 20 are coplanar, having their free ends opposing one another and are spaced apart as at 24. Further, the attaching portion 18 and the grip portion 20 are spaced from the intermediate portion 19 by the construction of the reverse bends 22, 23.
  • the pull tab 17 when the pull tab 17 is utilized to tear out that part of the foil panel element 16 which is aligned with the dispensing opening 15 and which is bonded to the underside of the intermediate portion 19 is torn completely from the panel element 16, the internal stresses in the part 25 effected by the memory of the plastics material causes the intermediate portion 19, the grip portion 20 and the torn out portion of the foil panel element 16 immediately to fold to an out-of-the-way position, as shown in Figure 4.
  • the torn out portion of the foil panel element 16 is identified by the numeral 26 for identification purposes.
  • the pull tab and the removed panel portion 26 remain attached to the container 10 while being held in an out-of-the-way position automatically by the memory of the pull tab.
  • the intermediate portion 19 is formed snugly to fit in the dispensing opening 15. Further, to position the intermediate portion 19 within the dispensing opening 15, at least the side edges of the intermediate portion 19 are provided with flanges 27 which are offset from the plane of the intermediate portion 19 and seat on the outer surface of the end panel 14 so as to limit movement of the intermediate portion 19 into the general plane of the end panel 14.
  • FIG 7 a tab for an easy opening container formed in accordance with an alternate embodiment of this invention, the container being generally identified by the numeral 40.
  • the container 40 includes a conventional body 42 having at least the upper end thereof closed by a separately formed end unit generally identified by the numeral 44.
  • the end unit 44 is secured to the body 42 by a conventional double seam 16 and includes an end panel 48.
  • the end panel 48 is provided with a removable panel portion 50 which is outlined by lines of weakness 52 preferably in the form of scoring.
  • the removable panel portion 50 is illustrated as being of a generally triangular configuration, but may assume other shapes. It does, however, have a starting end 54 which is preferably provided with an integral rivet 56.
  • This embodiment particularly relates to the provision of a tab for effecting first the removal of the removable panel portion 50 and then the folding and concealing of the removed removable panel portion in an out-of-the-way position while still retained on the container.
  • the tab formed in accordance with this invention is generally identified by the numeral 58 and is preferably formed of a plastics material which is injection molded so as to have a memory.
  • the tab 58 is formed with three portions, an anchoring portion 60, a securing portion 62, and a grip portion 64.
  • the anchoring portion 60 is preferably rectangular in outline for reasons to be described hereinafter and extends to that edge of the removable panel portion 50 disposed remote from the starting end 54.
  • the anchoring portion 60 is divided into a plurality of panels by transversely extending memory fold lines 66.
  • the panel of the anchoring portion 60 disposed remote from the removable panel portion 50 is permanently secured to the end panel 48 by a suitable fastener 68 which is preferably in the form of an integral rivet.
  • the securing portion 62 is generally triangular in outline and is joined integrally with the anchoring portion 60 along the memory fold lines 66.
  • the outline of the securing portion 62 generally corresponds to that of the line of weakness 52 although it has a square cut remote end as opposed to the rounded starting part of the line of weakness.
  • the securing portion 62 is also provided with a plurality of memory fold lines 70 which extend transversely of the securing portion and are spaced in accordance with the spacing of the memory fold lines 66 for a reason to be described hereinafter.
  • the grip portion 64 has the same generally triangular outline as the securing portion 62, but is provided with a circular opening 72 for receiving one's fingers to effect a gripping thereof.
  • the grip portion 64 is also provided with memory fold lines 74 which are aligned with the memory fold lines 70.
  • the forward end of the grip portion 64 is integrally connected to the forward end of the securing portion 62 by a reverse bend 76.
  • the rear corner parts of the grip portion 64 are releasably secured to the underlying parts of the securing portions 62 by molded-in snaps 78 as is best shown in Figures 7 and 9.
  • the molded-in snaps 78 prevent the premature folding of . the grip portion 64.
  • the rivet or like fastening means 56 of the removable panel portion 50 extends through and secures the front end parts of the .securing portions 62 and the grip portion 64 to the front end 54 of the removable panel portion 50 which the already aligned memory fold lines 70 and 74 being aligned with the transverse lines of weakness 80 formed in the removable panel portion 50.
  • These transverse lines of weakness are illustrated as being in the form of scores which extend only partially across the removable panel portion 50, leaving central parts which are not subject to weakening.
  • the underside of the securing portion 62 is suitably bonded to the upper surface of the removable panel portion 50.
  • the end panel 48 will have a plastic coating to which the plastic pull tab 58 may be heat sealed. If not, a suitable adhesive (not shown) may be utilized.
  • the rear part of the grip portion 64 is lifted with the hold-down snaps 78 being disengaged.
  • An upward pull is then exerted on the rivet 56 or other fastening means so as to effect rupture of the end panel 48 along the lines of weakness 52 at the starting end 54 on the removable panel portion 50.
  • the grip portion is pulled rearwardly so as to tear out the removable panel portion in the manner generally shown in Figure 12 to effect the definition of a dispensing opening 82 in the end panel 48 as shown in Figure 10.
  • the end panel 48 may be provided with a protecting bead 84 adjacent to the opening 82.
  • the memory fold lines 70 and 74 become effective to effect a rolling up or folding of not only the grip portion 64 and the securing portion 62 but also the removed removable panel portion 50 along the lines of weakness 80 into a generally triangular cross sectional tube or pup tent arrangement.
  • the memory fold lines 66 are operative to effect a continuous folding up of the tab 58 so that the removable panel portion 50 which was disposed outermost of the folded up grip portion 64 and the securing portion 62 will be encaged within the folded up anchoring portion 60 as is best shown in Figure 10. Since the anchoring portion 60 is rectangular in outline and the removable panel portion 50 is triangular in outline, it will be seen that there will be a full encasement of the removable panel portion 50 so that there will be no exposed raw edges.
  • the anchoring portion 60 being permanently attached to the end panel 48 by the fastener 68, serves to hold the folded up,tab 58 and the removed removable panel portion 50 in an out-of-the-way position spaced from the dispensing opening 82.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers Opened By Tearing Frangible Portions (AREA)
EP80302692A 1979-08-14 1980-08-06 Languette d'arrachage pourvue d'une mémoire Withdrawn EP0024163A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US66596 1979-08-14
US06/066,596 US4231487A (en) 1979-08-14 1979-08-14 Pull tab having memory for effecting rolling up of tab and removable panel portion
US06/079,851 US4244488A (en) 1979-09-28 1979-09-28 Plastic pull tab with memory
US79851 2008-07-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0024163A1 true EP0024163A1 (fr) 1981-02-25

Family

ID=26746920

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP80302692A Withdrawn EP0024163A1 (fr) 1979-08-14 1980-08-06 Languette d'arrachage pourvue d'une mémoire

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0024163A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU6141580A (fr)
BR (1) BR8005105A (fr)
DK (1) DK349380A (fr)
ES (1) ES258153Y (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103043283A (zh) * 2012-12-07 2013-04-17 李红彪 一种可重复盖上的易拉罐盖结构

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB8404320D0 (en) * 1984-02-18 1984-03-21 Metal Box Plc Closure for container

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3813000A (en) * 1972-04-24 1974-05-28 R Underwood Can end construction
FR2334573A1 (fr) * 1975-12-09 1977-07-08 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Dispositif de fermeture pour recipient
US4164303A (en) * 1978-05-22 1979-08-14 Waterbury Nelson J Vendable reclosable container
US4203528A (en) * 1979-04-30 1980-05-20 The Continental Group, Inc. Self-storing pull strip for easy opening containers

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3813000A (en) * 1972-04-24 1974-05-28 R Underwood Can end construction
FR2334573A1 (fr) * 1975-12-09 1977-07-08 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Dispositif de fermeture pour recipient
US4164303A (en) * 1978-05-22 1979-08-14 Waterbury Nelson J Vendable reclosable container
US4203528A (en) * 1979-04-30 1980-05-20 The Continental Group, Inc. Self-storing pull strip for easy opening containers

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103043283A (zh) * 2012-12-07 2013-04-17 李红彪 一种可重复盖上的易拉罐盖结构

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES258153Y (es) 1987-07-16
ES258153U (es) 1986-11-01
DK349380A (da) 1981-02-15
AU6141580A (en) 1981-02-19
BR8005105A (pt) 1981-02-24

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT BE DE FR GB IT NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19810805

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19830505

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: RICHARDSON, DONALD R.

Inventor name: HASEGAWA, GARY K.

Inventor name: FRIDL, JAMES J.