Easy-opening container wall with coreline vent

Abstract

This disclosure describes an easy-opening container wall having a wall segment at least partially removable therefrom. A tab is secured to the container wall for initiating severance of the wall segment from the container wall. A rupturable scoreline is formed in the container wall adjacent the tab and rupturable in response to movement of the tab to initiate severance of the wall segment from the container wall.

I claim: 
     
       1. In an easy-opening container wall, the combination of: a scoreline in the container wall defining a rupturable web in the container wall, said rupturable web defining a wall segment at least partially removable from the container wall;   a tab for initiating removal of said wall segment, said tab having a .Iadd.longitudinally .Iaddend.handle portion and a rupturing portion;   interconnecting means for attaching said tab intermediate said portions thereof to the container wall with the rupturing portion lying closely adjacent said rupturable web and being engageable with said wall segment whereby movement of said handle portion of said .Iadd.longitudinally .Iaddend.tab away from the container wall forces said rupturing portion toward the container wall .Iadd.while said tab remains longitudinally rigid.Iaddend.; .[.and.].   rupturable scoreline means in the container wall adjacent said interconnecting means rupturable in response to movement of the handle portion of the tab away from the container wall .Iadd.while said tab remains longitudinally rigid .Iaddend.to form an aperture in the container wall to facilitate continued movement of said handle portion away from the container wall .Iadd.while said tab remains longitudinally rigid .Iaddend.whereby such continued movement of the handle portion causes said rupturing portion to initiate severance of said wall segment from the container wall along said rupturable web.[...]..Iadd.; and   said longitudinally rigid tab remaining longitudinally rigid during rupture of both said scoreline and said rupturable scoreline means and during movement of the handle portion away from the container wall whereby the rupturing portion of said rigid tab bears downwardly on said container wall while lifting on said interconnecting means as said handle portion of said rigid tab is moved away from said container wall. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       2. A tab as defined in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means is positioned between said rupturable web and at least a portion of said rupturable scoreline means prior to said movement of said handle portion of said tab away from the container wall. 
     
     
       3. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said rupturable scoreline means terminates in end portions and barrier dimple means are provided adjacent said end portions of said rupturable scoreline means to resist tearing of the material of the container wall beyond said rupturable scoreline means. 
     
     
       4. In an easy-opening container wall, the combination of: a scoreline in the container wall defining a rupturable web in the container wall, said rupturable web defining a wall segment at least partially removable from the container wall;   a longitudinally rigid tab for initiating removal of the wall segment from the container wall, said tab having a lifting portion and a rupturing portion;   interconnecting means for attaching said tab intermediate said portions thereof to said wall segment with the rupturing portion lying closely adjacent said rupturable web whereby movement of said lifting portion of said tab away from the container wall forces said rupturing portion toward the container wall; and   a line of weakness in said wall segment, said line of weakness having end portions spaced from said first rupturable web, said interconnecting means lying between at least a portion of said line of weakness and said rupturable web whereby movement of said handle portion of said tab away from the container wall stresses and ruptures the container wall along said line of weakness to provide an aperture in said wall segment to facilitate continued movement of said handle portion of said tab, such continued movement of the handle portion causing said rupturing portion to initiate severance of said wall segment from the container wall along said rupturable web.   
     
     
       5. A combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said line of weakness is generally trough-shaped and opens toward said rupturing portion of said tab. 
     
     
       6. A combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said end portions of said line of weakness are turned away from said rupturing portion of said tab. .[.7. A combination as defined in claim 4 including a barrier dimple in the wall segment closely adjacent one of said end portions of the line of weakness with said barrier dimple being crimped over toward said one end 
     
     
        portion..]. 8. A combination as defined in claim 4 including an elongated barrier dimple with the longitudinal axis of said barrier dimple lying closely adjacent and being generally transverse to one of said end 
     
     
        portions of said line of weakness. 9. In an easy-opening container wall of sheet metal, the combination of: a scoreline in the container wall defining a panel at least partially removable therefrom;   a line of weakness adjacent one end of the panel and partially enclosing a region of the panel, said line of weakness terminating short of said scoreline;   a .Iadd.longitudinally rigid .Iaddend.tab having a lifting end and a rupturing end; and   a hollow rivet integral with said region of the panel and partially surrounded by said line of weakness, said rivet lying intermediate said line of weakness and said scoreline, said rivet attaching said tab to the panel intermediate said ends thereof with the rupturing end of the tab closely adjacent said one end of the panel whereby movement of said handle end of said tab away from the container wall .Iadd.causes the rupturing end of said tab to bear downwardly against said container wall while said tab remains longitudinally rigid and .Iaddend.lifts said region of the panel .Iadd.by the rupturing end bearing downwardly as the lifting end of said longitudinally rigid tab is lifted thus raising said longitudinally rigid tab intermediate the ends thereof .Iaddend.to cause said tab to rupture said line of weakness as a rear opening tab to form an opening in the panel and causes said rupturing portion to push said one end of said panel downwardly to initiate removal of the panel from the container wall   
     
     
        in front opening fashion. 10. In a method of limiting tearing of sheet material beyond an end of a rupturable scoreline formed in the sheet material, the steps of: forming a barrier dimple in the sheet material closely adjacent the end of the rupturable scoreline; and   crimping said dimple toward said end of said rupturable scoreline to substantially prevent tearing of the sheet material beyond said end of the   
     
     
        rupturable scoreline. 11. A method as defined in claim 10 wherein said barrier dimple is elongated with the longitudinal axis thereof being generally transverse to a portion of the rupturable scoreline adjacent 
     
     
        said end of the rupturable scoreline. 12. A method as defined in claim 10 wherein the sheet material defines an easy-opening sheet metal can end having a hollow rivet integral therewith and the rupturable scoreline is 
     
     
        formed at least partially around said hollow rivet. 13. In an easy-opening container wall of sheet material, the combination of: a scoreline defining a rupturable web in the container wall, said rupturable web defining a wall segment at least partially removable from the container wall;   a longitudinally rigid tab for initiating removal of the wall segment from the container wall, said tab having a handle portion;   interconnecting means for attaching said tab to the container wall closely adjacent said rupturable web in position to rupture the container wall along the scoreline in response to moving of the handle portion away from the container wall; and   a line of weakness in the container wall, said interconnecting means lying between at least a portion of said line of weakness and said scoreline, said container wall being rupturable along the line of weakness in response to movement of the handle portion away from the container wall to form an aperture in the container whereby continued movement of the handle portion away from the container wall is facilitated and causes rupture of the container wall along said scoreline. .Iadd. 14. An end closure for a container, said end closure having a removable area defined by a score line adjacent to the periphery thereof, a rivet formed in said removable area, a longitudinally rigid pull tab secured intermediate the ends thereof to said removable area by said rivet and an ancillary score in said removable area, said ancillary score having a central portion adjacent to one side of said rivet, the ends of said ancillary score extending towards said peripheral score so that said longitudinally rigid pull tab may be manipulated by lifting one end thereof to cause the other end to bear downwardly on the end closure while the portion of the rigid tab intermediate the ends of said rigid tab lifts on said rivet to rupture said ancillary score and stress the metal between said scores to initiate rupture of said peripheral score. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. The end closure defined in claim 14 wherein said central portion of said ancillary score encircles said rivet for a portion of the circumference of said rivet. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. The end closure defined in claim 14 wherein said ends of said ancillary score are separated from said peripheral score by an inclined wall which slopes outwardly from said ancillary score. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. A container component, said component having a primary score defining a removable section in said component, a longitudinally rigid opening tab, means connecting said opening tab to said removable section, and an ancillary score in said removable section adjacent said connecting means whereby when one end of said longitudinally rigid opening tab is pulled upwardly the other end of said tab adjacent said primary score and forward of said connecting means bears downwardly to lift upon said connecting means through the action of said rigid tab and to stress said connecting means relative to said removable section, said ancillary score will rupture to permit said connecting means to move out of the plane of said removable section to facilitate the application of rupturing pressure against said primary score. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. A container end closure, said end closure having a primary peripheral score defining a removable section, a longitudinally rigid opening tab, a rivet connecting said opening tab to said removable section, said longitudinally rigid tab including means on one side of said rivet for applying pressure to said removable section immediately inwardly of said primary score to initiate rupture of said primary score, handle means on said opening tab disposed on the opposite side of said rivet, and an ancillary score disposed closely adjacent said rivet on said opposite side thereof, said ancillary score being rupturable through the action of said longitudinally rigid tab when said handle means is lifted to cause said means on one side of said rivet to bear down on said end closure forward of said rivet as said handle end of said tab is lifted to stress said rivet relative to said removable section, whereby said rivet is enabled to move out of the plane of said removable section to permit said pressure applying means to be moved by further manipulation of said handle means to effect initial rupture of said primary score. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. Container easy-open structure comprising a container wall, an outer scoreline of diminished material thickness located on the container wall defining a removable portion of such wall, an inner scoreline of diminished material thickness located within the removable portion of the container wall, the scorelines defining a tear segment in the container wall located between the scorelines, a longitudinally rigid opening member including a forward end and an intermediate portion, and securing means for securing the opening member through said intermediate portion to the tear segment, the opening member including a handle end in spaced relationship from the securing means, the inner scoreline having a starter section at the tear segment adjacent the securing means at a position to be ruptured with movement of the handle end of the opening member in a direction away from the container wall, the outer scoreline having a starter section at the tear segment adjacent the securing means at a position to be ruptured with movement of the handle end of the opening member in a direction away from the container wall, the rupture of one of the starter sections being by Class 1 lever action of said longitudinally rigid opening member and the rupture of the other starter section being by Class 2 lever action of said longitudinally rigid opening member, the starter sections of the scorelines being located on opposite sides of the securing means so that the securing means is completely within the tear segment. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 20. The structure of claim 19 in which the tear segment extends between the scorelines around a peripheral segment of the removable portion of the wall. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. The structure of claim 19 in which the starter section of the inner scoreline adjacent the securing means includes a pointed configuration. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. The structure of claim 21 in which the pointed configuration of the inner scoreline starter section projects in a direction away from the securing means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. The structure of claim 19 in which the tear segment has opposite ends and a midsection, and the opening member is secured to the midsection of the tear strip. .Iaddend..Iadd. 24. Container easy-open structure comprising a container wall, an outer scoreline of diminished material thickness defining a removable portion of the container wall, an inner scoreline of diminished material thickness located within the removable portion of the container wall, the scorelines defining a tear segment extending between the scorelines around a peripheral segment of the removable portion of the wall, a longitudinally rigid opening member, and securing means for securing the opening member to the tear segment, the opening member having a handle end non-bendable during use and a remaining end non-bendable during use located on opposite sides of the securing means, the inner scoreline having a starter section located in close proximity to the securing means at a position to be ruptured by Class 2 lever action with movement of the handle end of the longitudinally rigid opening member in a direction away from the wall, the outer scoreline having a starter section, the starter sections of the inner and outer scorelines being located on opposite sides of the securing means, the remaining end of the opening member including rupturing means for rupturing by Class 1 lever action the starter section of the outer scoreline with movement of the non-bendable handle end of the longitudinally rigid opening member in a direction away from the wall. .Iaddend..Iadd. 25. The structure of claim 24 in which the tear segment has opposite ends and a midsection and the opening member is secured to the midsection of the tear segment. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 26. The structure of claim 24 in which the removable portion of the wall includes profiling means for increasing the strength of the removable portions. .Iaddend..Iadd. 27. The structure of claim 24 in which the rupturing means at the remaining end of the opening member is aligned with and contiguous the starter section of the outer scoreline. .Iaddend..Iadd. 28. The structure of claim 27 in which the scorelines are formed on an exterior surface of the container wall. .Iaddend..Iadd. 29. The structure of claim 24 in which at least a major portion of the starter section of the inner scoreline underlies the opening member, with the starter section of the inner scoreline being positioned to be ruptured upon movement of the handle end of the opening member away from the container wall and the starter section of the outer scoreline being positioned to be ruptured subsequent to rupture of the inner scoreline. .Iaddend..Iadd. 30. The structure of claim 29 in which the starter sections of the scorelines are positioned to be ruptured in rapid sequence. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 31. The structure of claim 29 in which the starter section of the inner scoreline includes a pointed configuration underlying the opening member and projecting in a direction away from the securing means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 32. The structure of claim 24 in which the removable portion of the container wall constitutes a major portion of a wall of the container. .Iaddend..Iadd. 33. The structure of claim 32 in which the container wall is an end wall. .Iaddend..Iadd. 34. The structure of claim 24 including restraining means for restraining rotational movement of the opening member about the securing walls in a direction generally parallel to the container wall. .Iaddend..Iadd. 35. The structure of claim 24 in which movement of the rupturing means is in a direction toward the container wall with movement of the handle end of the opening member in a direction away from the wall. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 36. The structure of claim 24 in which the securing means comprises a unitary rivet, the rivet being formed from material of the container wall. .Iaddend..Iadd. 37. The structure of claim 24 in which the container wall comprises sheet metal. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 38. In an assembly including a panel having a removable portion, and a pull tab secured to said panel and restricted substantially against hinging relative to an adjacent portion of said panel; the improvement residing in a line of weakening formed in said panel removable portion immediately adjacent the connection between said pull tab and said panel for effecting the initial rupture of said panel upon the application of a panel rupturing force to said pull tab and the formation of hinge means in said panel with said hinge means including said connection and facilitating the hinging of said pull tab for effecting the further and separate rupture of said panel remote from said connection and the removal of said panel portion, and said pull tab being a longitudinally member which is not non-bendable during an opening sequence. .Iaddend..Iadd. 39. The assembly of claim 38 wherein said removable panel portion is defined by a second line of weakening formed separate and apart from the first-mentioned line of weakening. .Iaddend..Iadd. 40. The assembly of claim 38 wherein said line of weakening underlies said pull tab and additionally functions to form a vent opening upon the initial rupture of said panel. .Iaddend..Iadd. 41. The assembly of claim 38 wherein said line of weakening is generally U-shaped. .Iaddend..Iadd. 42. The assembly of claim 38 wherein said line of weakening is generally U-shaped and opens toward said connection. .Iaddend..Iadd. 43. The assembly of claim 38 wherein said line of weakening is generally U-shaped and has diverging end portions for preventing the accidental separate tearing out of said hinge means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 44. In a container end including an end panel defined by an upstanding chuck wall, a weakening line formed in said end panel and defining a removable panel portion, said weakening line including a starting portion disposed closedly adjacent said chuck wall, a pull tab having a nose for engaging said panel along said weakening line starting portion for effecting the rupture of said panel in the removal of said panel portion, and securing means securing said pull tab to said panel; the improvement comprising said securing means rigidly securing said pull tab to said panel portion and including hinge forming means in said removable panel portion for facilitating the hinging of said pull tab relative to said end panel to rupture said end panel along said weakening line starting portion, and said pull tab being a longitudinally rigid lever which is non-bendable during an opening sequence. .Iaddend..Iadd. 45. The container end of claim 44 wherein said hinge forming means includes a generally U-shaped weakening line opening towards said weakening line starting portion. .Iaddend..Iadd. 46. The container end of claim 44 wherein said hinge forming means includes a generally U-shaped weakening line opening towards said weakening line starting portion and having terminal ends directed away from said weakening line starting portion for preventing the accidental tearing out of a narrow portion only of said removable panel portion between said weakening lines. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 47. The container end of claim 44 wherein said line of weakening includes a generally U-shaped central portion and diverging adjacent portions. .Iaddend..Iadd. 48. The assembly of claim 38 wherein said removable panel portion is defined by a second line of weakening formed separate and apart from the first-mentioned line of weakening, and said lines of weakening define an intermediate strap-like hinge strip. .Iaddend..Iadd. 49. The assembly of claim 48 wherein said pull tab is secured only to said hinge strip. .Iaddend..Iadd. 50. A container end including an end panel, a continuous primary weakening line in said end panel defining a removable panel portion, a secondary weakening line in said removable panel portion separate and apart from said primary weakening line, a nose positioned adjacent said primary weakening line for effecting rupture of said primary weakening line, and a pull tab secured to said removable panel portion adjacent to said secondary weakening line and in alignment with said nose, and said nose and said pull tab forming a longitudinally rigid lever in which the nose is non-bendable relative to the pull tab for first stressing said removable panel portion to effect rupture thereof along said secondary weakening line and then effecting the movement of said nose to stress said end panel along said primary weakening line to rupture said end panel therealong. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 51. The container end of claim 50 wherein said pull tab is permanently connected to said nose. .Iaddend..Iadd. 52. The container end of claim 50 wherein said nose is displaced from the connection between said pull tab and said removable panel portion. .Iaddend..Iadd. 53. The container end of claim 50 wherein said nose is a part of said pull tab. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 54. In a container, the combination of:   a container wall of sheet material;   a first line of weakness in said container wall defining a tear strip manually removable therefrom;   a second line of weakness in said container wall adjacent said first line of weakness and defining a hinge, said hinge being spaced from said first line of weakness by a portion of said tear strip;   a longitudinally rigid lever type tab lying at least partially within the area of said tear strip, said tab having a handle end and a force applying end which is non-bendable in use relative to said handle end with the force applying end lying at a preselected location closely adjacent said first line of weakness; and   means integral with said tear strip for securing said tab to said tear strip, movement of said handle end of said tab urging said force applying end firmly against said container wall to cause hinged movement of said portion of said container wall about said hinge to initiate severance of the tear strip along said first line of weakness. .Iaddend..Iadd. 55. A combination as defined in claim 55 wherein said hinge lies within said tear strip and said tab extends across said hinge. .Iaddend..Iadd. 56. A combination as defined in claim 55 wherein said tear strip extends over a major portion of said container wall. .Iaddend..Iadd. 57. A combination as defined in claim 55 wherein said hinge lies intermediate said last mentioned means and said first line of weakness and said preselected location is on said tear strip. .Iaddend.