Can end for a container

Abstract

An end member for a container having a circumferential sidewall, the end member having a peripheral seaming edge adapted to be integrally connected to the sidewall, and having a central panel wall with a means for opening a frangible panel segment of the panel wall is claimed. The end member comprises a deboss panel recessed in the central panel. The deboss panel has first and second spaced apart end portions joined by first and second sidewalls. The first spaced apart end portion has an apex and first and second arcuate portions. A distance between the first and second arcuate portions is defined by a plurality of progressively increasing secant lengths located in spaced relation from the apex. A score groove is located within the deboss panel defining an outer perimeter of the frangible panel segment. The score groove has a first end and a second end joined to the first end by a curvilinear segment. The first end and the second end are separated by a generally linear hinge segment of the central panel wall. The curvilinear segment includes first and second curved segments joined by a transition point located adjacent the apex of the deboss panel. The generally arcuate transition region is defined by a plurality of progressively increasing chordal lengths located in spaced relation from the apex of the deboss panel. A ratio of the plurality of progressively increasing secant lengths to the progressively increasing chordal lengths increases along respective lengths of the first and second arcuate portions of the deboss panel.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An end member for a container, the end member having a central panel wall with a product side and a public side, the public side having a means for opening a frangible panel segment, the end member comprising: 
 a deboss panel recessed in the central panel, the deboss panel having a profile defined by first and second spaced apart end portions joined by first and second sidewalls;    a score groove within the deboss panel defining an outer perimeter of the frangible panel segment, the score groove having a portion adjacent the first spaced apart end portion of the deboss panel wherein a distance between the deboss profile and the score groove has an increased length.    
     
     
         2 . The end member of  claim 1  wherein the distance between the deboss profile and the score groove is greater than 0.050 inches.  
     
     
         3 . The end member of  claim 1  wherein the distance between the deboss profile and the score groove is between 0.050 inches and 0.1 inches.  
     
     
         4 . The end member of  claim 1  wherein the second spaced apart end portion of the deboss panel includes first and second arcuate portions extending outwardly from an apex, and the distance between the score groove and the deboss profile becomes progressively longer along at least the first or second arcuate portion.  
     
     
         5 . The end member of  claim 4  wherein the distance between the deboss profile and the score groove becomes progressively longer along the first and second arcuate portions.  
     
     
         6 . The end member of  claim 1  wherein the first spaced apart end portion includes an apex and first and second arcuate portions joining the apex with the first and second sidewalls respectively wherein a distance between the first and second arcuate portions is defined by a plurality of progressively increasing secant lengths located in spaced relation from the apex, and the score groove includes a first end and a second end joined to the first end by a curvilinear segment, the curvilinear segment including a generally arcuate transition region adjacent the apex of the deboss panel, the generally arcuate transition region defined by a plurality of progressively increasing chordal lengths located in spaced relation from the apex of the deboss panel wherein a ratio of the plurality of progressively increasing secant lengths to the progressively increasing chordal lengths increases along respective lengths of the first and second arcuate portions of the deboss panel.  
     
     
         7 . The end member of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 a rivet located within the deboss panel and adapted to integrally attach a tab lever to the panel, the tab lever having a nose portion overlying at least a portion of the frangible panel and having a lift end opposite the nose; and  
 a coined region having an outer periphery located about the rivet wherein the score groove has a portion separated from the product side of the central panel by a residual, and the score groove includes a vent region located within the coined region and adjacent the rivet, and a length defined by a thickened portion of the residual located beyond the periphery of the coined region wherein the frangible panel segment initially opens within the vent region in response to a pulling force on the lift end of the tab lever.  
 
     
     
         8 . The end member of  claim 7  further comprising a vent coin adjacent the length of the score groove defined by a thickened portion of the residual for placing a compressive stress on the length of the score groove defined by a thickened portion of the residual.  
     
     
         9 . The end member of  claim 7  further comprising an anti-fracture score adjacent the score groove wherein the vent coin intersects the anti-fracture score.  
     
     
         10 . The end member of  claim 1  wherein the central panel has an outer peripheral edge segment including a stepped portion having at least a first panel radius interconnected to a second panel radius.  
     
     
         11 . The end member of  claim 10  further comprising a countersink portion connected to the central panel by the outer peripheral edge portion, the countersink including an inner wall, a curved segment, and an outer wall, the curved segment having an inner arcuate portion joined to an outer arcuate portion along an annular base, the inner wall having an upper portion joined to the outer peripheral edge portion of the center panel and a lower portion joined to the inner portion of the curved segment, and the outer wall having a lower portion joined to the outer portion of the curved segment, a crease portion angled outwardly of the center panel, and an upper portion wherein the crease is positioned at a first height above the annular base and the second panel radius is positioned at a second height, the second height being greater than the first height.  
     
     
         12 . A method of producing the end member of  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an end member including a central panel wall with a product side and a public side, a countersink, and an outer peripheral edge;    forming the score groove within the central panel;    coining the outer peripheral edge of the metal blank;    reforming the countersink downwardly with respect to the central panel;    forming the deboss panel within the central panel and spaced from the outer peripheral edge; and    reforming the outer peripheral edge of the end member wherein the outer peripheral edge portion includes a first panel radius interconnected to a second panel radius.    
     
     
         13 . An end member for a container having a circumferential sidewall, the end member having a peripheral seaming edge adapted to be integrally connected to the sidewall, and having a central panel wall with a product side and a public side, the public side having a means for opening a frangible panel segment, the end member comprising: 
 a rivet positioned within the central panel and adapted to integrally attach a tab lever to the panel, the tab lever having a nose portion overlying at least a portion of the frangible panel segment and having a lift end opposite the nose;    a coined region substantially surrounding the rivet, the coined region coin having an outer periphery;    a score groove in the central panel defining an outer perimeter of the frangible panel segment, the score groove having a portion separated from the product side of the central panel by a residual;    a vent region located adjacent the rivet, a portion of the vent region located within the coined region, the frangible panel segment opening initially within the vent region in response to a pulling force on the lift end of the tab lever; and    a length of the score groove defined by a thickened portion of the residual located beyond the periphery of the coined region.    
     
     
         14 . The end member of  claim 13  further comprising a vent coin adjacent the length of the score groove defined by a thickened portion of the residual for placing a compressive stress on the length of the score groove defined by a thickened portion of the residual.  
     
     
         15 . The end member of  claim 14  further comprising an anti-fracture score adjacent the score groove wherein the vent coin intersects the anti-fracture score.  
     
     
         16 . The end member of  claim 15  wherein the vent coin is located beyond the periphery of the coined region substantially surrounding the rivet.  
     
     
         17 . The end member of  claim 16  wherein the length of the score groove defined by a thickened portion of the residual is located entirely beyond the periphery of the coined region substantially surrounding the rivet.  
     
     
         18 . The end member of  claim 13  wherein the central panel has an outer peripheral edge segment including a stepped portion having at least a first panel radius interconnected to a second panel radius.  
     
     
         19 . The end member of  claim 18  further comprising a countersink portion connected to the central panel by the outer peripheral edge portion, the countersink including an inner wall, a curved segment, and an outer wall, the curved segment including an inner arcuate portion joined to an outer arcuate portion along an annular base, the inner wall including an upper portion joined to the outer peripheral edge portion of the center panel and a lower portion joined to the inner portion of the curved segment, and the outer wall including a lower portion joined to the outer portion of the curved segment, a crease portion angled outwardly of the center panel, and an upper portion wherein the crease is positioned at a first height above the annular base and the second panel radius is positioned at a second height, the second height being greater than the first height.  
     
     
         20 . The end member of  claim 19  further comprising a deboss panel recessed in the central panel, the deboss panel including a profile defined by first and second spaced apart end portions joined by first and second sidewalls, the first spaced apart end portion including an apex and first and second arcuate portions joining the apex with the first and second sidewalls respectively wherein a distance between the first and second arcuate portions is defined by a plurality of progressively increasing secant lengths located in spaced relation from the apex, and the curvilinear segment of the score groove including a generally arcuate transition region adjacent the generally arcuate apex portion of the deboss panel, the generally arcuate transition region defined by a plurality of progressively increasing chordal lengths located in spaced relation from the apex of the deboss panel wherein a ratio of the plurality of progressively increasing secant lengths to the progressively increasing chordal lengths increases along respective lengths of the first and second arcuate portions of the deboss panel.  
     
     
         21 . The end member of  claim 13  the thickened portion of the residual includes a first region and a second region, the residual located within the first region having a greater thickness than the residual located within the second region.  
     
     
         22 . The end member of  claim 21  wherein the first region is located adjacent the coined region substantially surrounding the rivet.  
     
     
         23 . An end closure for a container, comprising: 
 a central panel having a public side and an opposing product side and an outer peripheral edge segment, the outer peripheral edge segment including a stepped portion including a first panel radius interconnected to a second panel radius;    a countersink connected to the central panel by the outer peripheral edge portion, the countersink including an inner wall, a curved segment, and an outer wall, the curved segment including an inner arcuate portion joined to an outer arcuate portion along an annular base, the inner wall including an upper portion joined to the outer peripheral edge portion of the center panel and a lower portion joined to the inner portion of the curved segment, and the outer wall including a lower portion joined to the outer portion of the curved segment, a crease portion angled outwardly of the center panel, and an upper portion wherein the crease is positioned at a first height above the annular base and the second panel radius is positioned at a second height, the second height being greater than the first height; and    a seaming curl joined to the upper portion of the outer wall for joining the end closure to a container.    
     
     
         24 . The end closure of  claim 23  further comprising: 
 a rivet centrally recessed within the central panel and adapted to integrally attach a tab lever to the panel;  
 a coined region substantially surrounding the rivet, the coined region having an outer periphery;  
 a score groove in the central panel defining an outer perimeter of the frangible panel segment, the score groove having a first end and a second end joined to the first end by a curvilinear segment, the score groove including a portion separated from product side of the central panel by a residual;  
 a vent region, a portion of the vent region located within the coined region adjacent the rivet, the frangible panel segment opening initially within the vent region in response to a pulling force on the lift end of the tab lever; and  
 a length of the score groove defined by a thickened portion of the residual located within the vent region and beyond the periphery of the coined region.  
 
     
     
         25 . The end closure of  claim 24  further comprising a vent coin adjacent the length of the score groove defined by a thickened portion of the residual for placing a compressive stress on the length of the score groove defined by a thickened portion of the residual.  
     
     
         26 . The end closure of  claim 25  further comprising an anti-fracture score adjacent the score groove wherein the vent coin intersects the anti-fracture score.  
     
     
         27 . The end closure of  claim 24  wherein the vent coin is located beyond the periphery of the coined region substantially surrounding the rivet.  
     
     
         28 . The end closure of  claim 23  further comprising a deboss panel recessed in the central panel, the deboss panel including a profile defined by first and second spaced apart end portions joined by first and second sidewalls, the first spaced apart end portion including an apex and first and second arcuate portions joining the apex with the first and second sidewalls respectively wherein a distance between the first and second arcuate portions is defined by a plurality of progressively increasing secant lengths located in spaced relation from the apex, and the curvilinear segment of the score groove including a generally arcuate transition region adjacent the generally arcuate apex portion of the deboss panel, the generally arcuate transition region defined by a plurality of progressively increasing chordal lengths located in spaced relation from the apex of the deboss panel wherein a ratio of the plurality of progressively increasing secant lengths to the progressively increasing chordal lengths increases along respective lengths of the first and second arcuate portions of the deboss panel.  
     
     
         29 . An end member for a container, the end member comprising: 
 a central panel wall having a product side and a public side, the public side a frangible panel segment and a means for opening the frangible panel segment;    a deboss panel recessed in the central panel, the deboss panel having a substantially gibbous-shaped profile defined by first and second spaced apart end portions joined by first and second substantially linear sidewalls;    a score groove within the deboss panel defining an outer perimeter of the frangible panel segment, the score groove having a portion adjacent the first spaced apart end portion of the deboss panel wherein a distance between the deboss profile and the score groove has an increased length.    
     
     
         30 . The end member of  claim 29  wherein the distance between the deboss profile and the score groove is greater than 0.050 inches.  
     
     
         31 . The end member of  claim 29  wherein the distance between the deboss profile and the score groove is between 0.050 inches and 0.1 inches.  
     
     
         32 . The end member of  claim 29  wherein the second spaced apart end portion of the deboss panel includes first and second arcuate portions extending outwardly from an apex, and the distance between the score groove and the deboss profile becomes progressively longer along at least the first or second arcuate portion.  
     
     
         33 . An end member for a container, the end member comprising: 
 a central panel wall having a product side and a public side, the public side a frangible panel segment and a means for opening the frangible panel segment;    a deboss panel recessed in the central panel, the deboss panel having a substantially pear-shaped profile defined by first and second spaced apart end portions joined by first and second curvilinear sidewalls;    a score groove within the deboss panel defining an outer perimeter of the frangible panel segment, the score groove having a portion adjacent the first spaced apart end portion of the deboss panel wherein a distance between the deboss profile and the score groove has an increased length.    
     
     
         34 . The end member of  claim 33  wherein the second spaced apart end portion of the deboss panel includes first and second arcuate portions extending outwardly from an apex, and the distance between the score groove and the deboss profile becomes progressively longer along at least the first or second arcuate portion.  
     
     
         35 . The end member of  claim 33  wherein the distance between the deboss profile and the score groove is greater than 0.050 inches.  
     
     
         36 . The end member of  claim 35  wherein the distance between the deboss profile and the score groove remains substantially constant throughout the second end portion of the deboss profile.  
     
     
         37 . The end member of  claim 33  wherein the distance between the deboss profile and the score groove is between 0.050 inches and 0.1 inches.  
     
     
         38 . The end member of  claim 37  wherein the distance between the deboss profile and the score groove remains substantially constant throughout the second end portion of the deboss profile.