US3762597A - Can with easy-open captive tear strip - Google Patents

Can with easy-open captive tear strip Download PDF

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Publication number
US3762597A
US3762597A US00227424A US3762597DA US3762597A US 3762597 A US3762597 A US 3762597A US 00227424 A US00227424 A US 00227424A US 3762597D A US3762597D A US 3762597DA US 3762597 A US3762597 A US 3762597A
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United States
Prior art keywords
tear strip
tab
pull tab
score line
tear
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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.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US00227424A
Inventor
E Kaminski
F Nadolsky
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Stolle Corp
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Stolle Corp
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Publication of US3762597A publication Critical patent/US3762597A/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS 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
    • B65D17/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions
    • B65D17/28—Rigid 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
    • B65D17/401—Rigid 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
    • B65D17/4012—Rigid 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

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT discloses, in a beverage can adapted to [21 1 Appl' 227424 be opened for drinking therefrom, or for dispensing the contents thereof, a captive tear strip extending diamet- [521 U.S. Cl. 220/54 ri lly su n ially mirely acr the can end.
  • the present application discloses an improvement in the structure of said patent which overcomes an objection thereto. It was found that when the pull tab was raised to initiate the tear, considerable effort was required to tear open the rest of the strip.
  • a pair of fulcrum elements are provided on the pull tab, one on each side of thepull tab, and preferably ahead (toward the tab nose) of the normal bend line of the pull tab. These fulcrum elements come into play when the pull tab is raised to initiate the tear, and cause initial portions of the tear strip to be forced upward, whereby the tearing open of the rest of the tear strip is greatly facilitated.
  • FIG. 4 is a view similar toFIGS. 1 and 2, showing another modification.
  • the pull tab 12 has the conventional ring 15 by means of which the tab maybe elevated and by means of which the tear strip 16 may be torn open.
  • the pull tab also has the nose 17 which initiates the perforation of the score line.
  • the nose 17 of the pull tab punctures the score line and initiates the tear. In doing so, the tear strip bends along the line indicated at l8..-The exact position of this bend may vary from a point substantially tangent to the rear of the rivet 13 to a point perhaps the nose 17.
  • the present invention contemplates the provision of fulcrums or lugs 19, one on each side of the center line of the pull tab and disposed in front of the bend line, i.e. toward the nose of the tab 17.
  • the exact position of the lugs 19 is not critical except that preferably they should be in front of the bend line 18 and preferably fairly close to the bend line. It will be clear that since the elements 19 function as fulcrums, they will provide greater leverage if they are closer to the bend line 18 than to the nose 17. It will be clear as seen in FIG. 3 that as the tab 12 is raised to the vertical position, the tear strip 16 istorn upwardly in the region 16a. From thispoint on, it is a simple matter to tear open the tear strip all the way by pulling backward on the ring 15 of the pull tab 12.
  • FIG. 2 a slight modification is shown where the fulcrums 19a are in the form of abutments or offsets rather than in the form of projecting lugs as in FIG. 1. They are also shown closer to the bend line 18 which is considered advantageous.
  • FIG. 4 another modification is shown wherein the fulcrums are provided by interference between the sides of the tab, and theportion of the area within the scoreline which hasbeen depressed downwardly; and these fulcrums provide the same camming action described above.
  • the score line 11 extends laterally beyond the tab as indicated at 11 and crosses under the tab at 19 to provide the above notedinterference resulting in fulcrums to provide the camming action.
  • a beverage can and the like having a tear strip in one end thereof extending diametrically substantially entirely across said can end and being defined by a score line, and a pull tab for tearing open said tear strip, said pull tab being secured by a rivet or the like to said end within said score line adjacent one end of said tear strip, and having a nose to initiate a tear upon lifting up of said pull tab, said score line at the other end of said tear strip being interrupted so as to make said tear strip captive when torn open, said pull tab, when raised, causing said tear strip to bend downwardly along, a transverse line behind said rivet; said pull tab being provided with a pair of fulcrum elements, one on each side of the centerline of said tear strip, said fulcrum elements being disposed between saidbend line and said nose, and serving to pull the tear strip upward behind the rivet and facilitate removal thereof.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers Opened By Tearing Frangible Portions (AREA)

Abstract

The application discloses, in a beverage can adapted to be opened for drinking therefrom, or for dispensing the contents thereof, a captive tear strip extending diametrically substantially entirely across the can end. The tear strip is torn open by means of a pull tab, which is provided with fulcrum elements which, upon raising the pull tab to initiate the tear, force a portion of the tear strip upward, thereby facilitating the tearing open of the tear strip.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Kaminski et al. 1 1 Oct. 2, 1973 I54] CAN WITH EASY-OPEN CAPTIVE TEAR 3,415,411 l2/l968 Saunders .1 2211 54 STRIP 2.978.140 4/[96] Walsh .1 220/54 [75] Inventors: i s t c g t i l g ff Primary Examiner-Georgc T. Hlall a 0 s an a m 0 lo Attorney-John W. Melville et all [73] Assignee: The Stolle Corporation, Sidney, Ohio 221 Filed: Feb. 18, 1972 [571 ABSTRACT The application discloses, in a beverage can adapted to [21 1 Appl' 227424 be opened for drinking therefrom, or for dispensing the contents thereof, a captive tear strip extending diamet- [521 U.S. Cl. 220/54 ri lly su n ially mirely acr the can end. The [51] Int. Cl B65d 17/20 tear strip i -t n p y means of a p which iS [58] Field of Search 220/54, 48, 53 provided with fulcrum elements which, p raising the pull tab to initiate the tear, force a portion of the [56] References Cited tear strip upward, thereby facilitating the tearing open UNITED STATES PATENTS Of the tear 1 3,404,800 l0/l968 Arfert 220/54 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures W4C W CAN WITH EASY-OPEN CAPTIVE TEAR STRIP BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In Stolle U. S. Pat. No. 3,462,042, issued Aug. 19, 1969, there is disclosed a can with a captive tear strip. One of the great objections to the now universal easyopen cans is that the tear strip, after removal from the can, is discarded. It has been noted that in public parks, picnic areas and the like the ground is littered with discarded tear strips. This is not only unsightly but it is dangerous to small children and others who may be barefooted. Serious cuts and infections have resulted from stepping on such discarded tearstrips.
It has also been noted that, while careless persons will throw such tear strips on the ground, they will usually put the empty cans in trash receptacles, when such receptacles are provided. The philosophy of the above mentioned patent was that if the tear strip were captive on the can, most such tear strips would end up in trash receptacles rather than on the ground.
The present application discloses an improvement in the structure of said patent which overcomes an objection thereto. It was found that when the pull tab was raised to initiate the tear, considerable effort was required to tear open the rest of the strip. According to the present invention a pair of fulcrum elements are provided on the pull tab, one on each side of thepull tab, and preferably ahead (toward the tab nose) of the normal bend line of the pull tab. These fulcrum elements come into play when the pull tab is raised to initiate the tear, and cause initial portions of the tear strip to be forced upward, whereby the tearing open of the rest of the tear strip is greatly facilitated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING FIG. 4 is a view similar toFIGS. 1 and 2, showing another modification.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION In said Stolle patent, there was disclosed a can having an end with a score line ll. A pull tab 12 was secured to the can end by means of .a rivetl3 disposed within the score line 11. The scoreline 11 was interrupted and the ends of the score diverged as indicated at 14 so that when the tear strip was torn open, it could not be completely removed from the can end butwas held captive.
The pull tab 12 has the conventional ring 15 by means of which the tab maybe elevated and by means of which the tear strip 16 may be torn open. The pull tab also has the nose 17 which initiates the perforation of the score line. The foregoing parts and elements are conventional and do not per se constitute a part of the invention.
When the pull tab 12 is elevated to a substantially vertical position, the nose 17 of the pull tab punctures the score line and initiates the tear. In doing so, the tear strip bends along the line indicated at l8..-The exact position of this bend may vary from a point substantially tangent to the rear of the rivet 13 to a point perhaps the nose 17.
The present invention contemplates the provision of fulcrums or lugs 19, one on each side of the center line of the pull tab and disposed in front of the bend line, i.e. toward the nose of the tab 17. The exact position of the lugs 19 is not critical except that preferably they should be in front of the bend line 18 and preferably fairly close to the bend line. It will be clear that since the elements 19 function as fulcrums, they will provide greater leverage if they are closer to the bend line 18 than to the nose 17. It will be clear as seen in FIG. 3 that as the tab 12 is raised to the vertical position, the tear strip 16 istorn upwardly in the region 16a. From thispoint on, it is a simple matter to tear open the tear strip all the way by pulling backward on the ring 15 of the pull tab 12.
In FIG. 2 a slight modification is shown where the fulcrums 19a are in the form of abutments or offsets rather than in the form of projecting lugs as in FIG. 1. They are also shown closer to the bend line 18 which is considered advantageous.
In FIG. 4 another modification is shown wherein the fulcrums are provided by interference between the sides of the tab, and theportion of the area within the scoreline which hasbeen depressed downwardly; and these fulcrums provide the same camming action described above. Thus, it will be observed that the score line 11 extends laterally beyond the tab as indicated at 11 and crosses under the tab at 19 to provide the above notedinterference resulting in fulcrums to provide the camming action.
It will be clear that many modifications may be made in the configuration and exact location of the fulcrums orlugs 19 and 19a and therefore no limitations other than specifically setforthin the claims is intended or should be implied.
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusiveproperty or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. In a beverage can and the like. having a tear strip in one end thereof extending diametrically substantially entirely across said can end and being defined by a score line, and a pull tab for tearing open said tear strip, said pull tab being secured by a rivet or the like to said end within said score line adjacent one end of said tear strip, and having a nose to initiate a tear upon lifting up of said pull tab, said score line at the other end of said tear strip being interrupted so as to make said tear strip captive when torn open, said pull tab, when raised, causing said tear strip to bend downwardly along, a transverse line behind said rivet; said pull tab being provided with a pair of fulcrum elements, one on each side of the centerline of said tear strip, said fulcrum elements being disposed between saidbend line and said nose, and serving to pull the tear strip upward behind the rivet and facilitate removal thereof.
2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said fulcrum ele ments are disposed nearer said bend line than said nose.
3. The structure of claim 2, wherein said fulcrum elements are constituted by lugs extending laterally beyond said scoreline.
4. The structure of claim 2, wherein said fulcrum elements are constituted by offsets in the, pull tab extending outwardly beyond said score line.
5. The structure of claim 1, wherein said score line the sides of the tab and the portion of the area within extends laterally outward beyond the tab and crosses the score line which has initially been depressed in raisinwardly under the tab on both sides ahead of said bend ing the tab.
line to provide said fulcrums by interference between

Claims (5)

1. In a beverage can and the like having a tear strip in one end thereof extending diametrically substantially entirely across said can end and being defined by a score line, and a pull tab for tearing open said tear strip, said pull tab being secured by a rivet or the like to said end within said score line adjacent one end of said tear strip, and having a nose to initiate a tear upon lifting up of said pull tab, said score line at the other end of said tear strip being interrupted so as to make said tear strip captive when torn open, said pull tab, when raised, causing said tear strip to bend downwardly along a transverse line behind said rivet; said pull tab being provided with a pair of fulcrum elements, one on each side of the centerline of said tear strip, said fulcrum elements being disposed between said bend line and said nose, and serving to pull the tear strip upward behind the rivet and facilitate removal thereof.
2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said fulcrum elements are disposed nearer said bend line than said nose.
3. The structure of claim 2, wherein said fulcrum elements are constituted by lugs extending laterally beyond said score line.
4. The structure of claim 2, wherein said fulcrum elements are constituted by offsets in the pull tab extending outwardly beyond said score line.
5. The structure of claim 1, wherein said score line extends laterally outward beyond the tab and crosses inwardly under the tab on both sides ahead of said bend line to provide said fulcrums by interference between the sides of the tab and the portion of the area within the score line which has initially been depressed in raising the tab.
US00227424A 1972-02-18 1972-02-18 Can with easy-open captive tear strip Expired - Lifetime US3762597A (en)

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Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4061243A (en) * 1976-11-02 1977-12-06 The Continental Group, Inc. End closure with variable size pour opening
DE2819468A1 (en) * 1977-06-06 1978-12-14 Stolle Corp SOCKET WITH BUILT-IN OPENER
FR2394456A1 (en) * 1977-06-17 1979-01-12 Sauter Blechverpackung CONTAINER WITH LID TO TEAR
FR2508417A1 (en) * 1981-06-29 1982-12-31 Nihon Seikan Kk EXTREME PLATE BOX WITH INCISION AND OPENING TAB
EP0074223A1 (en) * 1981-09-03 1983-03-16 STOLLE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Easy open can end with pull tab having retained tear strip with stress relief means
US4465204A (en) * 1983-07-13 1984-08-14 The Stolle Corporation Pull tab for easy open end
US4530631A (en) * 1983-07-13 1985-07-23 The Stolle Corporation Pull tab for easy open can end-method of manufacture thereof
US4930658A (en) * 1989-02-07 1990-06-05 The Stolle Corporation Easy open can end and method of manufacture thereof
US6360909B1 (en) 2000-02-18 2002-03-26 Sonoco Development, Inc. Container closure having a frangible seal
US20090090716A1 (en) * 2007-10-05 2009-04-09 Stengel Jr Gilbert P Flip-Up Pop-Top Can Lid
US20100269316A1 (en) * 2005-02-07 2010-10-28 Roberts James H Scatter urn and cremation urn containing same
JP2013023231A (en) * 2011-07-15 2013-02-04 Showa Aluminum Kan Kk Beverage can
USD727725S1 (en) 2011-10-27 2015-04-28 Ball Corporation Vented container end closure
US9233784B2 (en) 2011-11-04 2016-01-12 Ball Corporation Vented metallic container end closure
USD749415S1 (en) 2012-11-13 2016-02-16 Ball Corporation Container end closure
USD750488S1 (en) 2012-11-28 2016-03-01 Ball Corporation End closure
US9446879B2 (en) 2010-08-06 2016-09-20 Ball Corporation Container end closure with optional secondary vent opening
US9694935B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2017-07-04 Ball Corporation End closure with a ring pull actuated secondary vent
US9714115B2 (en) 2014-07-30 2017-07-25 Ball Corporation Vented container end closure
US10017295B2 (en) 2010-08-06 2018-07-10 Ball Corporation Container end closure with optional secondary vent opening
US20190300234A1 (en) * 2016-07-21 2019-10-03 Ardagh Mp Group Netherlands B.V. Pull-tab and method for producing the pull-tab

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2978140A (en) * 1960-05-10 1961-04-04 United Shoe Machinery Corp Container opening devices
US3404800A (en) * 1966-09-15 1968-10-08 Reynolds Metals Co Opening means for a container
US3415411A (en) * 1966-12-06 1968-12-10 Nat Steel Corp Hand-opening sheet metal end closure

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2978140A (en) * 1960-05-10 1961-04-04 United Shoe Machinery Corp Container opening devices
US3404800A (en) * 1966-09-15 1968-10-08 Reynolds Metals Co Opening means for a container
US3415411A (en) * 1966-12-06 1968-12-10 Nat Steel Corp Hand-opening sheet metal end closure

Cited By (30)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4061243A (en) * 1976-11-02 1977-12-06 The Continental Group, Inc. End closure with variable size pour opening
DE2819468A1 (en) * 1977-06-06 1978-12-14 Stolle Corp SOCKET WITH BUILT-IN OPENER
FR2393733A1 (en) * 1977-06-06 1979-01-05 Stolle Corp EASY OPEN BOX COVER
FR2394456A1 (en) * 1977-06-17 1979-01-12 Sauter Blechverpackung CONTAINER WITH LID TO TEAR
FR2508417A1 (en) * 1981-06-29 1982-12-31 Nihon Seikan Kk EXTREME PLATE BOX WITH INCISION AND OPENING TAB
DE3204974A1 (en) * 1981-06-29 1983-01-20 Nihon Seikan Co. Ltd., Ohmiya, Saitama CAN
US4491236A (en) * 1981-06-29 1985-01-01 Kiyoshi Kawamata Can end having integral opening means
EP0074223A1 (en) * 1981-09-03 1983-03-16 STOLLE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Easy open can end with pull tab having retained tear strip with stress relief means
US4465204A (en) * 1983-07-13 1984-08-14 The Stolle Corporation Pull tab for easy open end
US4530631A (en) * 1983-07-13 1985-07-23 The Stolle Corporation Pull tab for easy open can end-method of manufacture thereof
US4930658A (en) * 1989-02-07 1990-06-05 The Stolle Corporation Easy open can end and method of manufacture thereof
US6360909B1 (en) 2000-02-18 2002-03-26 Sonoco Development, Inc. Container closure having a frangible seal
US8074329B2 (en) * 2005-02-07 2011-12-13 Roberts James H Scatter urn and cremation urn containing same
US20100269316A1 (en) * 2005-02-07 2010-10-28 Roberts James H Scatter urn and cremation urn containing same
US20090090716A1 (en) * 2007-10-05 2009-04-09 Stengel Jr Gilbert P Flip-Up Pop-Top Can Lid
US8870012B2 (en) * 2007-10-05 2014-10-28 Gilbert P. Stengel, JR. Flip-up pop-top can lid
US9446879B2 (en) 2010-08-06 2016-09-20 Ball Corporation Container end closure with optional secondary vent opening
US10017295B2 (en) 2010-08-06 2018-07-10 Ball Corporation Container end closure with optional secondary vent opening
JP2013023231A (en) * 2011-07-15 2013-02-04 Showa Aluminum Kan Kk Beverage can
USD727725S1 (en) 2011-10-27 2015-04-28 Ball Corporation Vented container end closure
USD762114S1 (en) 2011-10-27 2016-07-26 Ball Corporation Vented container end closure
US9233784B2 (en) 2011-11-04 2016-01-12 Ball Corporation Vented metallic container end closure
USD749415S1 (en) 2012-11-13 2016-02-16 Ball Corporation Container end closure
USD750488S1 (en) 2012-11-28 2016-03-01 Ball Corporation End closure
US9694935B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2017-07-04 Ball Corporation End closure with a ring pull actuated secondary vent
US10556718B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2020-02-11 Ball Corporation End closure with a ring pull actuated secondary vent
US9714115B2 (en) 2014-07-30 2017-07-25 Ball Corporation Vented container end closure
US10358257B2 (en) 2014-07-30 2019-07-23 Ball Corporation Vented container end closure
US10981694B2 (en) 2014-07-30 2021-04-20 Ball Corporation Vented container end closure
US20190300234A1 (en) * 2016-07-21 2019-10-03 Ardagh Mp Group Netherlands B.V. Pull-tab and method for producing the pull-tab

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