US2365100A - Key opening container - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 12, 1944. F. J. OCIBRIEN. 2,365,100

KEY OPENING CONTAINER Filed Dec. 15, 1942 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 KEY OPENING CONTAINER Frank J. OBrien, Pelham, N. Y., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 16, 1942, Serial No. 469,242

1 Claim.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in sheet metal containers having a tear strip with which a key is engageable for opening the container, and more particularly to the means for attaching the key to the container end.

It has been a common expedient to provide meanis for attaching the key to the end of the container so that it mayv be readily detached therefrom and used for removing the tear strip. The key has been secured to the container in various ways as by soldering, by welding, and by mechanical connection between the key and the container end. The heat necessary for securing the key to the container end, whether by soldering or by welding, often results in a marked discoloration or scorching of the inside of the container around the area where the key is attached thereto.

In attaching keys to container ends having a lacquered interior surface, the heat necessary for soldering or welding often results in the scorching of the lacquered surface. The mechanical means for connectin a key to a container as heretofore used depends upon the springing of the metal parts which hold the key in place, and keys attached in this manner either become detached from the end because of lack of a firm grip thereon or are so firmly gripped that they cannot be readily detached by the fingers of the person desiring to open the container.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanical means for securing a key to a container which is of such construction that the key is firmly held connected to the container and may be readily removed by the rupturing of a portion of the shank of the key.

In the drawing, t

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a container in which the key is attached to the container end by my improved means;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the containeron the line 22 of Figure 1, the key being shown in side elevation;

Figure 3 is a view showing a key placed on the container end and before the parts are shaped to secure the key to the container end;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the raised or embossed portions of the can The container includes a body portion l to Figure 6 is a section on the line B6 of Figure 5.

which an end 2 is attached by a double seam 3. The body wall is scored along the lines 44 to form a tear strip which may be removed so as to disconnect the end from the container and thus give access thereto. This tear strip d is provided with the usual projecting tongue to which a key may be attached so that the tongue may be rolled onto the key rupturing the metal along the score lines. The score lines preferably extend all the way around the container. This is the usual form of tear strip for opening a container.

The key for removing the tear strip is indicated at 5. Said key includes a handle portion 6 and a shank portion 1-. This shank portion is provided with a slot 8 through which the tongue of the tear strip may be inserted so that the tear strip may be wound onto the key. This is also a common form of key for removing the tear strip of a container.

The shank between the slot and the end of the key is cut away at both sides thereof as indicated at 9 and ID respectively. These cut-away portions are shown as semi-circular. They may, however, be otherwise shaped. A sufiicient amount of the metal of the shank is cut away so as to leave a relatively narrow neck I l.

Th container end is die-shaped so as to provide embossed or raised portions l2 and I3. These raised portions are similar in construction and as initially formed, each includes a wall M which is substantially at right angles to the plane of the end and inclined portions H: which merge into th plane of the container end. The walls l4-| 4 of the raised portions are spaced from each other and so shaped that the neck portion ll of the key [passes freely down between these walls and rests on the portion l6 of the container end which lies between these raised portions. After the key has been placed between these raised portions then the end is subjected to a bumping operation which bends the raised portion l2 into contact with the outer face of the neck portion of the key, as indicated at H. The raised portion I3 is likewise bent down into contact with the outer face of the neck of the key, as indicated at l8. This bumping operation will clamp the key firmly against the container end. This provides a very firm clamping means which may be formed without the use of any heat whatever and by only a slight bending of the metal, which is not sufiicient in any way to disrupt the meta1 coated or lacquer coated surface of the end.

When it is desired to remove the key, the operator grasps the handle of the key 5 and forces the same upward away from the container end.

The metal portions clamping the key at the neck thereof hold the key so firmly that the upward movement of the key will rupture the metal in the shank at the neck, thus separating the key from its connection to the container end. The metal from which the key is constructed may be of such a character as to permit comparatively easy rupturing of the same and the neck portion may be so dimensioned that the operator merely by the use of his fingers, can lift the key, rupture the shank, and thereby disconnect the key for use in removing the tear strip.

It is obvious that minor change in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

A key opening container including a body portion having score lines forming a tearing strip, a closure end secured to the container body and a key for removing the tearing strip, said key having a straight shank, a handle at one end of said shank, said shank adjacent the other end thereof being flat and having a slot adapted to engage the tearing strip and cut away portions disposed between the slot and the end of the key opposite the handle and at opposite sides of the shank, said cut away portions forming a relatively narrow neck in the shank, said container end having raised portions formed therein which are shaped and spaced so as to engage within the cut away portions forming the neck of the key which key is pressed flat against the end, said raised portions being bent into engagement with the outer face of the neck for forming a holding means firmly clamping the key to the container, and said neck portion being dimensioned so that when the handle end of the key is lifted the shank will be ruptured at said neck and the key released from the container end.

FRANK J. OBRIEN.

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