Composite can with compressed end to provide easy opening

Abstract

A composite container body having metal ends secured thereto by means of conventional crimping, and intended for opening by use of any of the various types of toothed driving wheel can openers presently in service. In a particularly preferred embodiment this is accomplished by compressing and densifying the end portion or portions of the composite container body a sufficient distance along its length to eliminate or at least minimize any interference between the toothed driving wheel of the can opener and the exterior of the container body. A weakening score line is preferably provided around the periphery of the metal end to be opened to even further reduce the resistance to cutting encountered by the cutter element as the toothed driving wheel advances said cutter element about the periphery of the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A composite can comprising a hollow laminated body including at least one layer of fibrous paper material and having at least one seamed metal end closure closing an end of said body and specifically designed to facilitate opening thereof with a can opener of the type having a cutter element and a toothed driving wheel, said end portion of said hollow laminated body adjacent said seamed metal end closure being compressed to an outside diameter smaller than that of the uncompressed portions of said hollow laminated body, said compressed end portion of said body adjacent said second metal end closure being of sufficient overall length to substantially eliminate interference between said toothed driving wheel and said laminated body, whereby shredding of the outermost surface of said hollow laminated body by said toothed driving wheel during opening is substantially eliminated. 
     
     
       2. The composite can of claim 1, wherein said compressed portion of said hollow laminated body extends at least about 3/16 inches (0.476 cm.) beyond the lowermost portion of the exterior surface of said seamed end closure. 
     
     
       3. The composite can of claim 1, wherein said compressed portion of said hollow laminated body extends at least about 3/8 inches (0.953 cm.) beyond the lowermost portion of the exterior surface of said seamed end closure. 
     
     
       4. The composite can of claim 1, wherein the compressed portion and the uncompressed portions of said hollow laminated body are joined to one another by means of a transition zone of uniform thickness about its periphery, as measured in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said container at any given cross-section along the length of said transition zone. 
     
     
       5. The composite can of claim 1, wherein the compressed portion and the uncompressed portions of said hollow laminated body are joined to one another by means of a transition zone of non-uniform thickness about its periphery, as measured in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said container at any given cross-section along the length of said transition zone. 
     
     
       6. A composite can comprising a hollow laminated body including at least one layer of fibrous paper material and having at least one seamed end closure closing an end of said body and specifically designed to facilitate opening thereof with a can opener of the type having a cutter element and a toothed driving wheel, said hollow laminated body being compressed along its entire length after formation of said body, but prior to securement of said end closure thereto to compact and densify said hollow laminated body and thereby increase the resultant radial clearance beneath the lowermost exposed portion of said seamed end and the outermost surface of said laminated body, whereby shredding of the outermost surface of said hollow laminated body by said toothed driving wheel during opening is substantially eliminated. .Iadd. 
     
     
       7.  A composite can comprising a hollow laminated body including at least one layer of fibrous paper material and having at least one seamed metal end closure closing an end of said body and specifically designed to facilitate opening thereof with a can opener of the type having a cutter element and a toothed drive wheel, said end portion of said hollow laminated body adjacent said metal end closure being compressed to an outside diameter smaller than that of the uncompressed portions of said hollow laminated body and connected to said uncompressed portion by means of a transition zone, said transition zone having a substantially linear innermost surface and a substantially non-linear outermost surface, said compressed end portion of said body adjacent said seamed metal end closure being of sufficient overall length to substantially eliminate interference between said toothed driving wheel and said laminated body whereby shredding of the outermost surface of said hollow laminated body by said toothed driving wheel during opening is substantially eliminated..Iaddend. .Iadd.8. The composite can of claim 7, wherein said compressed portion of said hollow laminated body extends at least about 3/16 inches (0.476 cm.) beyond the lowermost portion of the exterior surface of said seamed end closure..Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The composite can of claim 7, wherein said compressed portion of said hollow laminated body extends at least about 3/8 inches (0.953 cm.) beyond the lowermost portion of the exterior surface of said seamed end closure..Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The composite can of claim 7, wherein the compressed portion and the uncompressed portions of said hollow laminated body are joined to one another by means of a transition zone of uniform thickness about its periphery, as measured in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said container at any given cross-section along the length of said transition zone..Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The composite can of claim 7, wherein the compressed portion and the uncompressed portions of said hollow laminated body are joined to one another by means of a transition zone of non-uniform thickness about its periphery, as measured in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said container at any given cross-section along the length of said transition zone..Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A composite can comprising a hollow laminated body including at least one layer of fibrous paper material and having at least one seamed end closure closing an end of said body and specifically designed to facilitate opening thereof with a can opener of the type having a cutter element and a toothed driving wheel, said hollow laminated body being compressed along its entire length after formation of said body, but prior to securement of said end closure thereto to compact and density said hollow laminated body and thereby increase the resultant radial clearance beneath the lowermost exposed portion of said seamed end and the outermost surface of said hollow laminated body by said toothed driving wheel during opening is substantially elminated..Iaddend. .Iadd.13. In a composite container constructed particulary for the accommodation of the cutting blade and drive wheel of a conventional can opener, a composite wall defining a tubular body with opposed ends, said wall, along a circumferential section of the tubular body adjacent at least one of said ends, being inwardly compressed and densified, defining a wall portion both thinner than and of a greater density than the remainder of said wall, said circumferential section having an internal diameter equal to the internal diameter of the remainder of said tubular body, a metal end cap overlying said one of said ends, said end cap including a peripheral flange seamed to said wall portion to define a peripheral sealing bead, said circumferential section and said wall portion defined thereby extending a substantial distance along said tubular body beyond said bead to define an external recess peripherally 
     
     
        about said body..Iaddend. .Iadd.14.  The container of claim 13 wherein said recess extends beyond said bead a distance greater than the height of said bead..Iaddend. .Iadd.15. For use in the formation of a composite container, a tubular body defined by a composite wall, said body having opposed ends, said composite wall, adjacent at least one of said ends, being inwardly compressed and densified to define a wall portion both thinner than and of greater density than the remainder of said wall for engagement by and seaming to a metal end, said tubular body, at said wall portion, having an internal diameter equal to the internal diameter of the tubular body defined by the remainder of said wall..Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The construction of claim 15 wherein said wall portion is of a height, longitudinally along said tubular body, of approximately 5/16 inch..Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The container of claim 14 wherein said composite wall is defined by multiple plies of a paperboard product..Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A method of forming a composite container for facilitating accommodation of the cutting blade and drive wheel of a conventional can opener, said method comprising the steps of forming a tubular composite body of constant internal diameter with opposed open ends, compressing a section of the wall of the body circumferentially about said body adjacent one of said ends and along a portion of the length of the body inwardly from said one of said ends while retaining the constant internal diameter of said body between said open ends and prior to any further end forming operation and in a manner defining a peripheral recess externally about said body, subsequently positioning a flanged metal end cap over said one of said ends, and forming the flange of the end cap and the compressed section adjacent said one of said ends into an interlocked seam permanently engaging said cap to said body..Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The method of claim 18 wherein compressing the section of the wall of the body is effected to a generally constant depth and for a sufficient distance along the length of the body to retain a distinct portion of the peripheral recess for a substantial distance beyond the formed seam..Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The method of claim 19 wherein compressing the section of the wall is effected for a distance sufficient to provide that the portion of the peripheral recess beyond the formed seam be greater than the height of the formed seam..Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The method of claim 18 wherein the tubular composite body is formed by spirally winding multiple plies of a paperboard product..Iaddend.