Improvements in containers

Abstract

A container having: a lid having a first and second breachable portions; the first breachable portion capable of being breached to permit passage of the container contents therethrough; the second breachable portion separate from the first, the second breachable portion capable of being breached to allow at least partial depressurisation of the container, a single piece opening member attached at substantially one end thereof to the lid and having a first end for impinging on the first breachable portion to breach same; and a second end of the single piece opening member includes a protrusion capable upon a downward application of force of impinging on and breaching the second breachable portion on the container lid to equalise pressure between the container contents and the external environment.

1 . A container, comprising:
 a lid having a first and second breachable portions;   said first breachable portion capable of being breached to permit passage of the container contents therethrough;   said second breachable portion separate to the first, the second breachable portion capable of being breached to allow at least partial depressurisation of the container,   a single piece opening member attached at substantially one end thereof to said lid and having a first end for impinging on the first breachable portion to breach same; and   
       a second end of said single piece opening member includes a protrusion capable upon a downward application of force of impinging on and breaching the second breachable portion on the container lid to equalise pressure between the container contents and the external environment. 
     
     
         2 . The container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container is an aluminium can. 
     
     
         3 . The container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one said breachable portion is formed by scoring the container lid about a region defining the, or each, breachable portion. 
     
     
         4 . The container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one said breachable portion is formed from a relatively thinner portion of material than the surrounding lid. 
     
     
         5 . The container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one said breachable portion is formed from a relatively weaker portion of material than the surrounding lid. 
     
     
         6 . The container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second breachable portion is substantially rectilinear. 
     
     
         7 . The container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second breachable portion is substantially smaller than the first breachable portion. 
     
     
         8 . The container as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second breachable portion is less than one fifth of the size of the first breachable portion. 
     
     
         9 . The container as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the area of the second breachable portion is less than approximately 1.6×10 −5  m 2 . 
     
     
         10 . The container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second breachable portion is substantially rectilinear. 
     
     
         11 . The container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opening member is a ‘pull-tab’. 
     
     
         12 . A single piece pull-tab for attachment to a container as claimed in  claim 11 , the single piece pull-tab comprising:
 a first end for impinging on a first breachable portion on the container to breach same; and   
       a second end of said single piece pull-tab includes a protrusion capable upon a downward application of force of impinging on and breaching a second breachable portion on the container to equalise pressure between the container contents and the external environment. 
     
     
         13 . The single piece pull-tab as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the protrusion is formed integrally with the single piece pull-tab. 
     
     
         14 . A container lid for a container as claimed in  claim 1 , the container lid comprising:
 the first and second breachable portions;   the single piece opening member having a first end for impinging on the first breachable portion to breach same; and   
       a second end of the single piece opening member includes a protrusion capable upon a downward application of force of impinging on and breaching the second breachable portion on the container lid to equalise pressure between the container contents and the external environment. 
     
     
         15 . A method of opening a container as claimed in  claim 1 , said method comprising the steps of:
 pushing downward on a tab portion adjacent the second breachable portion of the can, breaching the second breachable portion to at least partially depressurise the container; and   pulling upward on the end of the tab opposite the first breachable portion of the can, breaching the first breachable portion of the can to permit passage of the container contents.