IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0580624
(1975-05-27)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Strobe, Carl J.
- Wells, Robert A.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
9 인용 특허 :
1 |
초록
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An easy-open container having a wall in which an openable member is integrally formed and defined by a selectively separable region. The openable member has an opening tab which is raised outwardly from the container wall, with the opening tab having a flange which overhangs at least part of the sep
An easy-open container having a wall in which an openable member is integrally formed and defined by a selectively separable region. The openable member has an opening tab which is raised outwardly from the container wall, with the opening tab having a flange which overhangs at least part of the separable region. Finger pressure applied inwardly onto the opening tab toward the container wall causes the separable region to become ruptured, allowing the openable member to move inwardly with respect to the wall. Inward movement of the openable member is limited by the overhanging flange which contacts the periphery of the opening. In some embodiments, the separated opening member is retained on the container wall and is then displaced to reveal an opening in the container wall for access to the contents of the container. In other embodiments, the opening member becomes detachable from the container wall. Several openable members are disclosed which can reclose the opened container. The opening tab may be an integral part of the openable member, or may be a separate element which is attached to the openable member.
대표청구항
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1. Easy opening wall structure 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; opening tab means disposed on said openable member and inc
1. Easy opening wall structure 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; opening tab means disposed on said openable member and including a portion which overhangs at least part of said separable region for contacting said outer side to prevent said openable member from becoming moved more than a predetermined distance inwardly relative to said wall, and to support said opening tab means for sliding displacement along said outer side when said separable region becomes separated; said opening tab means having force receiving area to receive an externally applied force directed toward said openable member; and means associated with said opening tab means to direct said externally applied force to a location in the vicinity of said separable region, so that said force is applied to initiate the separation of said separable region. 2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said overhanging portion of said opening tab means supports said separated openable member for displacement movement beneath and substantially parallel to said wall. 3. Apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising: locking means operative to retain said separated openable member in place when said openable member has undergone a certain extent of said displacement movement away from said opening formed in the wall. 4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein: said overhanging portion of said opening tab means supports said separated openable member for displacement movement beneath said wall; and further comprising means disposed between said displaced openable member and the inner side of said wall to maintain said displaced openable member spaced apart from said wall, so as to provide a vent passage which allows air to enter the container while the contents of the container are withdrawn through said opening in the wall. 5. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said overhanging portion is operative to support said separated openable member for a limited extent of sliding displacement relative to said wall, so that such opening in said wall is uncovered by said sliding displacement of said separated openable member. 6. Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein: said separable region defining said openable member in said wall includes a pair of opposed spaced-apart mutually convergent lines of separation; said overhanging portion includes surface means positioned to be received between the convergent edges which are provided by said convergent lines of separation when said openable member becomes separated from said wall; and said surface means is operative to engage said convergent edges when said separated openable member is slidingly displaced a predetermined distance relative to said wall, so that the maximum extent of such sliding displacement is limited by engagement between said surface means and said convergent edges. 7. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said opening tab means is asymmetrically positioned on said openable member and occupies only a portion of said openable member, so that the remaining extent of the openable member is unobstructed from sliding beneath the inner side of said wall when said openable member is separated from said wall and slidingly displaced in a predetermined direction; and said overhanging portion of said opening tab overhangs the sides of said opening alongside said predetermined direction of sliding displacement. 8. Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: means on said openable member which is engageable with the periphery of said opening when said separable region is separated, so that said engaging means prevents said openable member from being withdrawn through said opening. 9. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said force receiving area comprises means located on said opening tab means in position to distribute said externally applied force nonuniformly to said separable region. 10. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said separable region comprises a score line formed in said wall, said score line being defined by a pair of side walls; one side wall of said score being proximately perpendicular to said outer side; and the other side wall of said score line being angularly inclined inwardly toward said openable member and joining said one side wall at an acute included angle. 11. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said opening tab means is a separate member which is secured to the outer side of said openable member. 12. Apparatus as in claim 11, further comprising rivet means formed in said openable member and extending through a rivet-receiving opening defined in said separate member to secure together said separate member and said openable member. 13. Apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said separate opening tab means is secured to said openable member at a location which is assymetrically positioned on said openable member. 14. Apparatus as in claim 13, wherein: said opening tab means includes a ring member defining a ring opening and supported in radially offset relation to the axis about which opening tab means is rotatable within the opening formed in said wall; said ring opening positioned to be moved by said rotation into alignment with at least a portion of the opening formed in said wall, so that the edge of said opening portion is covered on the outer side of said wall by said ring member. 15. Apparatus as in claim 14, further comprising: means on said ring member operative to engage said wall and retain said opening tab means in position with said ring opening aligned with said opening portion. 16. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said opening tab means overhangs substantially the entire extent of said separable region. 17. Apparatus as in claim 16, wherein a portion of said opening tab means is displaceable from an underlying portion of said openable member to define a region within which part of said wall can be received when said separated openable member is displaced away from said opening in the wall. 18. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said opening tab means is a separate member which is secured to a location on said openable member; and said means to direct force is disposed between and in mutually contacting relation with said opening tab means and said openable member in spaced apart relation to said location of securement, so that said externally applied force is transmitted from said opening tab means to said openable member at least through said force transmitting means. 19. Apparatus as in claim 18, wherein said mutually contacting relation is in close proximity to a location on said separable region. 20. Apparatus as in claim 16, further comprising: ring means extending from said opening tab means in substantially flat and parallel relation to said wall; and said ring defining means defining a ring opening which is disposed for movement into alignment with said opening in said wall when said separated openable member undergoes said displacement. 21. Easy opening wall structure 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, and having a portion which is displaced relative to said outer side; opening tab means disposed on said openable member and extending a distance outwardly beyond said outer side of said wall, said opening tab means including a portion which overhangs at least part of said separable region; said opening tab means having a force receiving area to receive an externally applied force directed toward said openable member so that such force is transmitted to said separable region, whereupon said overhanging portion moves into contact with said wall when said separable region becomes completely separated and said openable member moves a limited distance inwardly relative to said wall; means on said separated openable member to contact said wall so as to prevent withdrawal of said separated openable member through the opening formed in said wall by completely separating said separable region, and so as to support said openable member on said inner side for a limited extent of sliding displacement which displaces a portion of said openable member away from said opening; said opening tab means overhangs at least a sufficient extent of said separable region for contacting the outer side of said wall to prevent said opening tab means from freely passing through said opening formed in said wall and to support said opening tab means for sliding displacement along said outer side of said wall, when said openable member becomes separated from said wall, so that said opening tab means and said openable member disposed therewith are prevented from freely entering the container and can be slidably displaced to expose said opening; and said opening tab means has a portion which is displaced to conformingly fit said displaced portion of said openable member. 22. Apparatus as in claim 21, wherein: said opening tab means is a separate member which is secured to said openable member by means which leaves said displaced portion of said opening tab means free to become separated from said displaced portion of said openable member, so as to define a region for receiving part of said wall when said separated openable member is slidably displaced away from said opening in said wall; and means defining a displaced region on the outer side of said wall in spaced apart relation to said openable member, said displaced wall region being located to receive said displaced portions of said slidably displaced opening tab means and said openable member. 23. Apparatus as in claim 16, further comprising bead means peripherally surrounding and extending outwardly from said separable region. 24. Apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said overhanging portion of said opening tab means includes means positioned to receive container contents sprayed outwardly from the container upon separation of said separable region and to deflect said sprayed contents toward said upper surface of said wall. 25. An easy opening container comprising: a container wall having an inner side facing into the container, and having an outer side; an openable member defined in said wall by a selectably separable region of weakness; flange means extending outwardly from said openable member and overhanging at least a portion of said separable region; means associated with said flange means and responsive to externally applied force directed against said flange means to apply said force to assist in separating said separable region; and means on said openable member defining a necked region which is disposed outwardly from said wall between said flange means and said unseparated separable region, said necked area having a dimension which is less than the corresponding dimension across selected edge portions of said separable region, so that said necked area engages said edge portions and supports said separated openable member on said edge portions for slidable movement relative to said wall to displace a portion of the engaged openable member away from the opening formed in said wall by separating said separable region. 26. Structure as in claim 25, wherein: said openable member is defined in said wall by a closed separable region, so that said openable member becomes completely separated from the remainder of said wall when said separable region is completely separated. 27. Structure as in claim 25, wherein: said openable member is defined in said wall by a separable region which in interrupted by a nonseparable region, so that said openable member remains connected to the remainder of said wall when said separable region is completely separated. 28. A container as in claim 25, wherein: said openable member includes a tab member which is defined in said wall by said separable region and which is offset on said openable member from said flange means, so that said tab means enters said container and becomes maintained below the inner side of said wall for relative displacement when said separable region becomes separated and said openable member moves inwardly to an extent limited by contact of said flange means with said outer side of said wall. 29. A container as in claim 28, wherein: said necked area is at an intermediate location on said openable member and retains the separated openable member for rotation relative to said wall; and said tab means is spaced apart from said necked area, so that said tab means becomes displaced beneath said wall to expose an opening in the wall when said separated opening means is rotated. 30. A container as in claim 28, wherein: said necked area is located at one end of said openable member and retains the separated openable member for sliding movement relative to said wall; so that said tab means slides beneath said wall as said separated openable member is slidably displaced relative to the wall to expose the opening in the wall. 31. A container as in claim 30, further comprising means to separate said tab means from said inner side of said wall when said tab means slides beneath the wall, so that said tab means is separated from the inner side sufficiently to provide air vent access to the interior of the opened container. 32. Easy opening wall structure for a container, comprising: a wall having an outer side and an inner side; an openable member defined in said wall fracturable web at the root of a score line surrounding said openable member; opening tab means disposed on said openable member and including a portion which overhangs at least part of said score line; said opening tab means having a force receiving area to receive an externally applied force directed toward said openable member whereby such force is transmitted to the vicinity of said score line to fracture and completely separate said web of said score line, whereupon contact of said overhanging portion with said wall prevents said opening tab means and said completely separated openable member from freely entering the container through the opening formed in said wall by said separation; and means retaining said separated openable member on said inner side of said wall for a limited extent of sliding displacement slides said separated openable member and said opening tab means away from the opening formed in said wall. 33. Structure as in claim 32, wherein: said opening tab means is a separate member which is attached to a location on said openable member; and further comprising means to direct said externally applied force toward said outer side of said wall in the vicinity of said score line. 34. Structure as in claim 32, wherein said score line is fracturable to provide an opening having a peripheral overhang which obstructs withdrawal of said separated openable member through said opening. 35. Easy opening wall structure 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; separate opening tab means attached to a location on said openable member and including a portion which overhangs at least part of said separable region to define a channel between said opening tab means and said outer side of said wall, thereby supporting said opening tab means for sliding displacement along said outer side of said wall supporting and said separated openable member for sliding displacement along said inner side of said wall; said opening tab means having a force receiving area to receive an externally applied force directed toward said openable member; means associated with said openable member adjacent said separable region to engage the periphery of the opening which is formed in said wall by separation of said separable region, so as to prevent withdrawal of the separated openable member through said opening; and force transmitting means on said opening tab means in spaced apart relation to said location of attachment on said openable member, so that said externally, applied force is partially transmitted from said opening tab means to said openable member through said force transmitting means. 36. The structure as in claim 35, wherein said force transmitting means is disposed to contact said openable member in the vicinity of a location on said separable region. 37. The structure as in claim 35, wherein said force transmitting means comprises means located on the underside of said opening tab means. 38. Easy opening wall structure 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 on a plane; at least a portion of said openable member being deformed inwardly from said plane; separate opening tab means attached to said inwardly deformed portion of said openable member; said opening tab means having a force receiving area to receive an externally applied force directed toward said openable member; and said opening tab means having means which overhangs at least part of said separable region so as to support said opening tab means and said openable member attached thereto for sliding displacement along said wall upon separation of said separable region. 39. Structure as in claim 38, wherein said region of weakness is separable to provide an opening having a peripheral overhang which obstructs withdrawal of said separated openable member through said opening. 40. The structure as in claim 38, further comprising force transmitting means on said opening tab means to transmit said externally applied force from said opening tab means to the vicinity of said separable region. 41. Easy opening wall structure for a container, comprising: a wall having an outer side and an inner side; an openable member defined in said wall by a fracturable web at the root of a continuous score line surrounding said openable member; opening tab means disposed on said openable member and including a portion which overhangs at least a sufficient extent of said score line so as to support said opening tab means for slidable displacement along said outer side of said wall, upon fracture of said web; means associated with said opening tab means to overhang a sufficient extent of said score line so as to support said opening tab means for slidable displacement along said outer side of said wall, upon fracture of said web; said opening tab means having a force receiving area to receive an externally applied force directed toward said openable member; and means to direct said externally applied force toward said outer side of said wall in the vicinity of said score line to fracture said web of said score line, whereupon engagement of said overhanging portion with said wall prevents said openable member from moving more than a limited distance inwardly away from said wall. 42. The structure of claim 41, wherein said force directing means comprises means locating said opening tab means in asymmetrical relation to said openable member, so that a nonuniform force is applied to fracture said separable region. 43. The structure of claim 41, wherein said force directing means comprises means on said opening tab means to engage the vicinity of said score line. 44. Structure as in claim 41, wherein said score line is fracturable to provide an opening having a peripheral overhang which obstructs withdrawal of said openable member through said opening. 45. Easy opening wall structure 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; opening tab means disposed on said openable member and having a force receiving area to receive an externally applied force directed toward said openable member; and said opening tab means overhanging at least part of said separable region and having a portion which is in contact with a location in the vicinity of said region of weakness when said force is applied to said opening tab means, so that said region of weakness becomes completely separated as a result of the force applied to said vicinity. 46. Apparatus as in claim 38 further comprising protruding means formed in said wall outside of said openable member and extending outwardly at least as far as the outward extent of said opening tab means and at least partially surrounding said opening tab means. 47. Apparatus as in claim 38 wherein said openable member is elongate and has a medial portion defined by a curvilinear extent of said separable region; said overhanging portion includes a peripheral surface on said opening tab means which is disposed outwardly from said outer side of said wall, and which is configured to be rotatably supported within the curvilinear edge which partially defines said opening when said curvilinear extent is displaced inwardly.
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