초록 ▼

Convenience feature wall panel (36) and integral opener (52) structure providing Class 1 and Class 2 lever action severance of scored sheet metal. In a beverage can embodiment, a U-shaped tab (40) positioned on the can end wall with its closed end contiguous to peripheral chime seam metal (32) is mo

Convenience feature wall panel (36) and integral opener (52) structure providing Class 1 and Class 2 lever action severance of scored sheet metal. In a beverage can embodiment, a U-shaped tab (40) positioned on the can end wall with its closed end contiguous to peripheral chime seam metal (32) is moved from the original contour of the wall panel to provide a pour opening (94). The movable tab, along with the integrally attached opener, is retained by sheet metal at the open end (46) of the U-shaped movable tab which is unitary with the remainder of the wall panel. Profiling formed in the movable tab sheet metal presents longitudinally-extending reinforcing rib means (53, 54, 55, 56) with a transverse portion (58) of the movable tab which is free of longitudinally-extending rib means providing for folding of longitudinal sections (90, 92) of the movable tab in overlaying relationship to each other and a portion of such remainder of the wall panel as the movable tab and integral opener are stored externally of the can out of the way of the pour opening.

대표청구항 ▼

Easy-access sheet metal wall panel and integral opener structure for a can which provides for Class 1 and Class 2 lever action in severing a portion of such wall panel to provide an opening, comprising a sheet metal wall panel for a can, such wall panel having a predetermined contour, scoreline mean

Easy-access sheet metal wall panel and integral opener structure for a can which provides for Class 1 and Class 2 lever action in severing a portion of such wall panel to provide an opening, comprising a sheet metal wall panel for a can, such wall panel having a predetermined contour, scoreline means of reduced sheet metal thickness defining the scored periphery of an elongated tear strip in the sheet metal wall panel, such tear strip being symmetrical about its central longitudinal axis, an elongated sheet metal opener for severing residual metal of such scoreline means to make such tear strip movable from the predetermined contour of such wall panel, such elongated opener having a working end and a handle end located at opposite longitudinal ends of its central longitudinal axis, and unitary rivet means for securing such elongated opener to such elongated sheet metal tear strip with the central longitudinal axis of such opener overlaying and having the same direction as the central longitudinal axis of such tear strip; such scoreline means including an arcuate-shaped scoreline defining one longitudinal end of such elongated tear strip and a pair of elongated scoreline legs extending toward the remaining longitudinal end of such elongated tear strip, such centerline longitudinal axis of the elongated tear strip intersecting such arcuate-shaped scoreline substantially at its midpoint, such elongated scoreline legs extending from such arcuate-shaped scoreline, one each on opposite lateral sides of its midpoint, such scoreline legs being spaced laterally from the central longitudinal axis of the tear strip with the major component of direction of each of such pair of scoreline legs being substantially the same as that of the centerline longitudinal axis of such tear strip; the unitary rivet means joining sheet metal contiguous to the working end of such opener to sheet metal within the scored periphery of such tear strip contiguous to such arcuate-shaped scoreline end of such tear strip, such unitary rivet means being symmetrically disposed in relation to the central longitudinal axis of the elongated sheet metal opener and the centerline longitudinal axis of the elongated tear strip; such working end of the elongated opener including an initial-contact edge located at its distal end contiguous to its centerline longitudinal axis, and pivot point contact means located in longitudinally recessed relationship to such initial-contact edge including one pivot point contact on each lateral side of such opener in laterally spaced relationship from the central longitudinal axis of such elongated opener; such elongated opener being secured to sheet metal of the elongated tear strip such that its initial-contact edge is contiguous to and in overlaying relationship to a portion of such sheet metal tear strip which is contiguous to such arcuate-shaped scoreline at its midpoint so as to cause initial rupturing of such arcuate-shaped scoreline by Class 1 lever action upon movement of such opener handle end in an arc in a direction away from the external surface of such wall panel, such unitary rivet means being positioned to act as the fulcrum for such Class 1 lever action during such initial rupture; such scoreline means being further severed after such initial rupture by contact of such working end pivot point means with wall panel sheet metal externally of such tear strip to cause further severing along such scoreline means by Class 2 lever action with such pivot point contact means acting as the fulcrum for such Class 2 lever action as the handle end of the tab opener is continued to be moved in such arc externally of such can.