Metal end closure with an extended score which is opened with a secondary tool

Abstract

A metallic container end closure is provided that generally comprises a primary pour opening and an extended or secondary score which is opened with a secondary tool to form a secondary pour opening. The fact that a secondary tool is required allows the secondary score to be shallower, and thus more secure than deeper scores that are openable by finger pressure alone. Once the secondary tool is used to fracture the secondary score, a secondary pour opening is produced adjacent to the primary pour opening to form a larger opening. A user may insert materials such as ice or oranges through the enlarged pour opening.

Claims

1. A container end closure with a peripheral curl adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container, comprising: a central panel having a rivet interconnecting a pull tab to an upper surface of said central panel, said pull tab adapted for applying a downward force, wherein a nose of said pull tab is rotatable about said rivet to define an area of engagement about said rivet; a primary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said primary tear panel at least partially defined by a primary score extending from a starting point to a termination point and defined by a first hinge, wherein at least a portion of said primary tear panel is positioned in said area of engagement, said primary score configured to be sheared by said downward force of said pull tab to deflect said primary tear panel about said first hinge and create a primary pour opening; and a secondary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said secondary tear panel at least partially defined by a secondary score extending from a starting point to a termination point and defined by a second hinge, wherein said secondary tear panel is positioned outside of said area of engagement, and said secondary score configured to be sheared by a downward force generated by a secondary tool to deflect said secondary tear panel about said second hinge and create a secondary pour opening, wherein said primary pour opening and said secondary pour opening combine to form a contiguous pour opening area.

2. The container end closure of claim 1, wherein said starting point of said primary score is positioned in said area of engagement, and said termination point of said primary score is positioned outside of said area of engagement.

3. The container end closure of claim 1, wherein said central panel has a transition portion between a deboss area of said central panel and a non-deboss area of said central panel, and wherein at least a portion of said transition portion is said second hinge.

4. The container end closure of claim 1, further comprising a transition zone extending from said termination point of said primary score to said starting point of said secondary score, wherein said transition zone is configured to be sheared by said downward force generated by said secondary tool, and said transition zone is an uninterrupted portion of said central panel.

5. The container end closure of claim 1, wherein said secondary score forms an arc having a predetermined radius between approximately 0.01 and 1.0 inches.

6. The container end closure of claim 1, further comprising a protrusion positioned proximate to said secondary score, said protrusion configured to receive a portion of said secondary tool to provide said downward force on said secondary tear panel.

7. The container end closure of claim 1, further comprising a depression positioned proximate to said secondary score, said depression configured to receive a portion of said secondary tool to provide said downward force on said secondary tear panel.

8. A container end closure with a peripheral curl adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container, comprising: a central panel having a rivet interconnecting a pull tab to an upper surface of said central panel, said pull tab adapted for applying a downward force, wherein a nose of said pull tab is rotatable about said rivet to define an area of engagement about said rivet; a primary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said primary tear panel at least partially defined by a primary score extending from a starting point to a termination point, wherein said primary score is configured to be sheared by said downward force of said pull tab to create a primary pour opening; a secondary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said secondary tear panel at least partially defined by a secondary score extending from a starting point to a termination point, wherein said secondary tear panel is positioned outside of said area of engagement, and said secondary score configured to be sheared by a downward force generated by a secondary tool to create a secondary pour opening; and a transition zone extending from said termination point of said primary score to said starting point of said secondary score, wherein said transition zone is configured to be sheared by said downward force generated by said secondary tool, and said primary pour opening and said secondary pour opening combine to form a contiguous pour opening area to enhance pour characteristics and selectively allow insertion of additional materials into said container.

9. The container end closure of claim 8, wherein said primary tear panel is at least partially defined by a first hinge, and said primary score is configured to be sheared by said downward force of said pull tab to deflect said primary tear panel about said first hinge.

10. The container end closure of claim 8, wherein said secondary tear panel is at least partially defined by a second hinge, and said secondary score is configured to be sheared by said downward force generated by said secondary tool to deflect said secondary tear panel about said second hinge.

11. The container end closure of claim 10, wherein said central panel has a transition portion between a deboss area of said central panel and a non-deboss area of said central panel, and at least a portion of said transition portion is said second hinge.

12. The container end closure of claim 8, wherein said contiguous pour area covers between approximately 10% and 33% of an area of said central panel.

13. The container end closure of claim 8, wherein said central panel has at least two secondary pour openings positioned proximate to said primary pour opening.

14. The container end closure of claim 8, wherein said transition zone is an uninterrupted portion of said central panel.

15. A metallic container end closure, comprising: a central panel having a rivet interconnecting a pull tab to an upper surface of said central panel, said pull tab adapted for applying a downward force, and said central panel having a transition portion between a deboss area and a non-deboss area of said central panel, wherein a nose of said pull tab is rotatable about said rivet to define an area of engagement about said rivet; a primary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said primary score configured to be sheared by said downward force of said pull tab to create a primary pour opening; and a secondary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said secondary tear panel at least partially defined by a secondary score and defined by a second hinge, wherein at least a portion of said transition portion is said second hinge, wherein said secondary tear panel is positioned outside of said area of engagement, and said secondary score is configured to be sheared by a downward force generated by a secondary tool to deflect said secondary tear panel about said second hinge and create a secondary pour opening, wherein said primary pour opening and said secondary pour opening combine to form a contiguous pour opening area to enhance pour characteristics.

16. The metallic container end closure of claim 15, wherein said primary tear panel is at least partially defined by a first hinge, and said primary score is configured to be sheared by said downward force of said pull tab to deflect said primary tear panel about said first hinge.

17. The metallic container end closure of claim 15, wherein said primary score extends from a starting point to a termination point, and said secondary score extends from a starting point to a termination point, wherein a transition zone extends from said termination point of said primary score to said starting point of said secondary score, and said transition zone is configured to be sheared by said downward force generated by said secondary tool.

18. The metallic container end closure of claim 17, wherein said transition zone is an uninterrupted portion of said central panel.

19. The metallic container end closure of claim 17, wherein said starting point of said primary score is positioned in said area of engagement, and said termination point of said primary score is positioned outside of said area of engagement.

20. The metallic container end closure of claim 15, further comprising one of a protrusion and a depression positioned on said secondary tear panel, said one of said protrusion and said depression is configured to receive said secondary tool to provide said downward force on said secondary tear panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the Summary of the Invention given above and the Detailed Description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these embodiments. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. Additionally, it should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale.

(2) FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a prior art and closure interconnect to a container with a single pour opening;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an end closure interconnected to a neck of a container with a secondary score, wherein the primary and secondary pour openings are in a closed position;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the end closure of FIG. 2 wherein the primary pour opening is in an open position and the secondary score has been fractured; and

(5) FIG. 4 is top perspective view of one embodiment of an end closure with multiple secondary score positions positioned proximate to the primary pour opening.

(6) Similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a letter that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

(7) A list of the various components shown in the drawings and associated numbering is provided herein:

(8) TABLE-US-00001 Number Component 2 Container 4 Container Body 6 Necked Region 8 End Closure 10 End Closure Outer Perimeter 12 Primary Score 14 Primary Tear Panel 16 Pull Tab 18 Rivet 20 Pivot Point 22 Tail 24 Nose 26 Hinge 28 Anti-Fracture Score 30 Central Panel 32 Deboss 34 Secondary Score 36 Area of Engagement 38 Transition Zone 40 Secondary Tear Panel 42 Protrusion 44 Depression 46 Primary Pour Opening 48 Secondary Pour Opening

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) The present invention has significant benefits across a broad spectrum of endeavors. It is the Applicant's intent that this specification and the claims appended hereto be accorded a breadth in keeping with the scope and spirit of the invention being disclosed despite what might appear to be limiting language imposed by the requirements of referring to the specific examples disclosed. To acquaint persons skilled in the pertinent arts most closely related to the present invention, a preferred embodiment that illustrates the best mode now contemplated for putting the invention into practice is described herein by, and with reference to, the annexed drawings that form a part of the specification. The exemplary embodiment is described in detail without attempting to describe all of the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied. As such, the embodiments described herein are illustrative, and as will become apparent to those skilled in the arts, may be modified in numerous ways within the scope and spirit of the invention.

(10) Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning.

(11) Various embodiments of the present invention are described herein and as depicted in the drawings. It is expressly understood that although the figures depict metal end closures, container bodies, secondary scores, and methods and systems for using the same, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. It should also be understood that the terms container and container body, end closure and container end closure, and extended score and secondary score, tear panel and portion, and main and primary may be used interchangeably in some instances.

(12) Referring to FIG. 1, a top plan view of a prior art container with a single pour opening is shown. In the container 2 of FIG. 1, a container body 4 is provided with a necked region 6 leading to a body end which is covered, in the depicted embodiment, with an end closure 8. Manners of forming container bodies 4 and end closures 8 and of attaching or coupling the two, to form the depicted device, are well known in the art.

(13) The end closure 8 generally has an end closure outer perimeter 10 and includes a primary score 12 commonly formed by stamping with a die or knife to define a primary tear panel 14. A pull tab 16 is coupled to the end closure 8, for example, by a rivet 18 whose center defines a pivot point 20. Generally, lifting the tail 22 of the pull tab 16 upward results in the nose 24 of the pull tab 16 pressing downward on part of the primary tear panel 14 with sufficient force to cause a rupture to form along the primary score 12, causing the primary tear panel 14 to bend or pivot inward about a hinge 26 defined between the end points of the primary score 12. Once the primary tear panel 14 has been deflected inward, the end closure 8 has a primary pour opening with a perimeter defined by the primary score 12 and the hinge 26.

(14) In the depicted configuration, a second inward anti-fracture score 28 is positioned substantially parallel with the primary score 12 and may form a loop with the primary score 12 underneath the nose 24 of the pull tab 16. Typically, the anti-fracture score 28 has a shallower depth than the primary score 12. In other words, the anti-fracture score 28 has a larger score residual, or larger amount of material underneath the score, than the primary score 12. The anti-fracture score 28 is located proximate to the primary score 12 to relieve stress areas around the anti-fracture score 28 and prevent accidental opening of the primary score 12.

(15) Now referring to FIG. 2 and one embodiment of the present invention, a top plan view of an end closure 8 with a secondary score 34 is provided. The end closure 8 comprises a central panel 30 on which various features of the end closure 8 are disposed. A deboss area 32 is a recessed portion of the central panel 30. Features such as the rivet 18 and the pull tab 16 may be disposed on the deboss portion 32 of the central panel 30 so that the pull tab 16 is less susceptible to accidental openings and to improve the stackability of multiple end closures 8.

(16) As shown in FIG. 2, the primary score 12 is disposed on the deboss portion 32 of the central panel 12. The primary score 12 begins underneath the nose 24 of the pull tab 16 and extends to form a primary tear panel 14. As mentioned above, an anti-fracture score 28 is positioned on the primary tear panel 14 and follows the primary score 12. The primary score 12 and the anti-fracture score 28 terminate at a location proximate the rivet 18 and the beginning of the primary score 12 underneath the nose 24 of the pull tab 16. This area under the pull tab 16 may be referred to as an area of engagement 36, which his described in further detail below. As mentioned above, this unscored portion of the central panel 30 forms a hinge 26 about which the primary tear panel 14 may pivot.

(17) Adjacent to an end of the primary score 12 is a transition zone 38 which may be an unscored portion of the central panel 30 between the primary score 12 and a secondary score 34. The transition zone 38 contributes to the necessity of a secondary tool to fracture the secondary score 34 and helps prevent accidental opening of the secondary score 34, leaks, deformations, etc. Some embodiments of the present invention may optionally include a transition zone 38, and the secondary score 34 may be continuous with the end of the primary score 12. Further, the transition zone 38 may be a check slot in some embodiments or any other feature that inhibits propagation of a fracture along the primary score 12.

(18) The secondary score 34 extends outward from the transition zone 38 toward an edge of the central panel 30, where a first end of the secondary score 34 is positioned proximate to the transition zone 38 and a second end of the secondary score 34 is positioned opposite the first end. The shape of the secondary score 34 in FIG. 2 is an arc with a radius of curvature. In some embodiments, the radius of curvature is between approximately 1 and 0.01 inches. In other embodiments, the radius of curvature is between approximately 0.2 and 0.08 inches. In yet another embodiment, the radius of curvature is approximately 0.14 inches. It will be appreciated that a variety of secondary score 34 shapes beyond arcs may be used including, but not limited to, straight lines, polygons, n-order polynomials, spines, etc.

(19) In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the deboss area 32 of the central panel 30 extends along the secondary score 34 between the secondary score's 34 first end and second end. After the second end, the deboss area 32 continues until it reaches a fixed distance away from the edge of the central panel 30. From this point, the deboss area 32 remains at a fixed distance from the edge of the central panel 30 until the deboss area 32 reaches the primary tear panel 14. The deboss panel 32 then defines an area that captures the primary tear panel 14 and the pull tab 16 before coming full circle back to the secondary score 34.

(20) The transition between the deboss area 32 and the central panel 30 in the area between the secondary score 34 and the forward edge of the primary score 12 serves as a location for a second hinge. When a user applies a secondary tool to a secondary tear panel 40, the user breaks the transition zone 38 and fractures the secondary score 34, which along with the primary score 12 and the transition between the deboss area and the non-deboss area, defines the secondary tear panel 40. A user may then continue to press the secondary tool into the secondary tear panel 40 such that the secondary tear panel 40 pivots about the transition between the deboss area 32 and the central panel 30, or the second hinge. When complete, a secondary pour opening area is created that is adjacent to the primary pour opening, thus forming a larger, combined pour opening.

(21) As shown in FIG. 2, an area of engagement 36 may be defined by the nose of the pull tab 16, and tear panels may be positioned in relation to the area of engagement 36 in some embodiments of the present invention. The pull tab 16 is rotatable about the rivet, and the nose of the pull tab 16 is configured to rupture score lines. Thus, the area of engagement 36 is a circular area on the central panel 30 where the nose of the pull tab 36 may engage the central panel 30 and rupture a score. It will be appreciated that the area of engagement 36 may comprise non-circular shapes since pull tabs 36 do not always rotate completely around a rivet or effectively engage the central panel 30 in some locations between the end of the nose and the center of the pull tab 16.

(22) The primary tear panel and the secondary tear panel 40 may be positioned relative to the area of engagement 36. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the primary tear panel is positioned in the area of engagement 36. Thus, the nose of the pull tab 16 may engage a portion of the primary tear panel to rupture the primary score. In contrast, the secondary tear panel 40 may be positioned outside of the area of engagement 36 such that the nose of the pull tab 16 may not engage the secondary tear panel 40. However, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments, a portion of the secondary tear panel 40 may be positioned in the area of engagement 36. In some of these embodiments, the score residual of the secondary score may be too large for the pull tab 16 to rupture, which necessitates the use of a secondary tool.

(23) Some embodiments of the present invention may include a protrusion 42 or depression 44 to aid the user in fracturing the secondary score 34. As mentioned elsewhere herein, the user may apply a secondary tool to the secondary score 34 to fracture the secondary score 34 and pivot the secondary tear panel 40 about a hinge, thus defining a secondary opening. Some embodiments of the present invention may include a protrusion 42 or depression 44 located proximate to the secondary score 34. In various embodiments, the protrusion 42 and/or depression 44 may be positioned against the deboss area, the non-deboss area, and the transition between the deboss and non-deboss areas. A user may apply one end of a secondary tool in such a depression 44 so that the secondary tool does not slip away as the user engages the secondary score 34. Similarly, the user may apply one end of the secondary tool adjacent to a protrusion 42 so that the secondary tool does not slip away as the user engages the secondary score 34. It will be appreciated that various combinations of protrusions 42 and depressions 44 may be used to aid a user in applying the secondary tool to the end closure 8 of the container 2. This includes embodiments that utilize a plurality of protrusions 42, a plurality of depressions 44, or a combination of both protrusions 42 and depressions 44.

(24) Now referring to FIG. 3, an end closure 8 of a container 2 has a secondary tear panel that has been opened, forming a secondary pour opening 48. The combined area of the secondary pour opening 48 and the primary pour opening 46 may be described as covering a percentage of the area of the central panel. In one embodiment, the combined area of the secondary pour opening 48 and the primary pour opening 46 is between approximately 25% and 50% of the area of the central panel. In some embodiments, the combined area of the secondary pour opening 48 and the primary pour opening 46 is between approximately 10% and 33% of the area of the central panel. In other embodiments, the combined area of the secondary pour opening 48 and the primary pour opening 46 is between approximately 35% and 40% of the area of the central panel. Specifically, the secondary pour opening 48 may have a surface area of between approximately 0.03 square inches to 0.45 square inches. In various embodiments, the secondary pour opening 48 may have a surface area between approximately 0.05 square inches to 0.25 square inches. In some embodiments, the secondary pour opening 48 may have a surface area of approximately 0.15 square inches.

(25) In further embodiments, the end closure 8 of the container 2 comprises a plurality of secondary pour openings 48. In one embodiment, the primary pour opening 46 is flanked on either side by a secondary pour opening 48. In this embodiment, the user may selectively open one or both of the secondary pour openings 48 depending on the requirements of the user. Further, the plurality of secondary pour openings 48 are not necessarily the same size or located symmetrically about the primary pour opening 46. The primary pour opening 46 may be flanked by one secondary pour opening 48 on one side and a larger secondary pour opening 48 on the other side. This configuration provides the user with the ability to open smaller secondary pour opening 48 when adding a smaller material and the ability to open the bigger secondary pour opening 48 or both secondary pour openings 40 when adding larger materials such as fruit, etc.

(26) Further, the secondary pour opening(s) 48 may be located at any point on the central panel 30. In one embodiment, the secondary pour opening 48 comprises the entire central panel 30, and the secondary score 34 extends about a perimeter of the central panel 30. In further embodiments, the secondary pour opening 48 comprises the entire deboss area of the central panel 30, and the secondary score 34 is located proximate to the transition zone between the deboss area and non-deboss area of the central panel 30. Thus, a user may simply remove the deboss area or the central panel 30 entirely.

(27) In addition, and still referring to FIG. 3, the central panel may be divided into quadrants using the pivot point 20. In some embodiments the quadrants may represent co-equal areas of the central panel 30; in other embodiments the quadrants may represent non-equal areas of the central panel 30. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, one reference line can be oriented horizontally through the pivot point 20, and another reference line can be oriented vertically through the pivot point 20. The secondary score 34 has a first and second ends, and in this embodiment, the first end is located on the horizontal reference line between the left forward quadrant and the left rearward quadrant, and the second end is located below the same line in the left forward quadrant.

(28) In other embodiments, the secondary score 34 may be located in other positions relative to the reference lines and quadrants. In various embodiment, the secondary score 34 has both the first end and the second end located on the horizontal reference line between the left forward quadrant and the left rearward quadrant. This includes embodiments with various shapes such that a secondary score 34 may overlap with the horizontal reference line when the secondary score 34 is a straight line. In embodiments where the secondary score 34 is an arc, the secondary score 34 may extend into either the left forward quadrant or the left rearward quadrant. Thus, the top of the secondary score 34 may be above or below the horizontal reference line.

(29) It will be appreciated that the first end and second end of the secondary score 34 as well as the secondary score 34 itself may be located entirely in any one of the left forward quadrant, the left rearward quadrant, the right forward quadrant, and the right rearward quadrant.

(30) Now referring to FIG. 4, an end closure 8 of a container 2 is provided with multiple locations of the secondary score 34. The variable position of the secondary score 34 along with the primary score 12 and the transition between the deboss and non-deboss areas of the central panel 30 provide variable secondary opening sizes.

(31) The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the invention to the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments described and shown in the figures were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention.

(32) While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Moreover, references made herein to the present invention or aspects thereof should be understood to mean certain embodiments of the present invention and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a particular description. It is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.