US3522899A - Easy open means for bottles and the like - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 4, 1970 SIEMONSEN ET AL 3,522,899

EASY OPEN MEANS FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE 3 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Feb. 3, 1969 N WW NU mm m m wa m l L w EE DR mA Y B 1 v a a v. 4 H. 5 0 4 o G F THEIR ATTORNEYS g- 1970 F. A. SIEMONSEN ET AL 3,522,899

EASY OPEN MEANS FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets$heet 2 Filed Feb. 3, 1969 mvsmoas 0 K A. SIEMONSEN R L. GARRlQUES v w .4 WW I p.

THEIR ATTORNEYS Aug. 4, 1970 F. A. SIEMONSEN ET 3,522,899

EASY OPEN MEANS FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 3. 1969 FIG."

FIG. IO

FIG. l2

INVENTORS FREDERIK A. SIEMONSEN ALFRED L. GARRIQUES FIG. I4

THEIR ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oflice 3,522,899 Patented Aug. 4, 1970 3,522,899 EASY OPEN MEANS FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Frederik A. Siemonsen, Bon Air, and Alfred L. Garriques,

Richmond, Va., assignors to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 587,170, Oct. 17, 1966, now Patent No. 3,462,036. This application Feb. 3, 1969, Ser. No. 796,002 The portion of the term of the patent subsequent to Aug. 19, 1986, has been disclaimed Int. Cl. B65d 41/10, 43/02 US. Cl. 215-46 24 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to an improved easy open crown type closure cap for a bottle which is made as one unitary assembly or piece and includes a pull ring fastened thereto which enables easy opening by tearing a section in the cap and removal of the entire cap as one piece.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 587,170, filed Oct. 17, 1966.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many liquid products, such as beverages, for example, are sold in bottles which utilize comparatively small diameter crown type closure caps. Although it has been previously proposed to provide a tear section in a small diameter crown type closure cap to enable opening without requiring a separate opener, it still requires a comparatively large force to sever such a tear section and open the associated bottle. In addition, many present caps of the character mentioned are made in two or more separate pieces which are more difficult to install in position to provide an effective seal on an associated bottle and upon removing such present caps many undesirable sharp edges and loose parts are created.

SUMMARY This invention provides an improved closure cap for a bottle which is easier to open than previously proposed caps. Further this invention provides an improved one piece easy Open cap which is also removed in one piece.

Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description of the embodiments thereof presented in the accompanying drawings proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings show present preferred embodiments of this invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating an improved closure cap of this invention fastened in position on an associated bottle;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating the top portion of the neck of the bottle of FIG. 1 with its closure cap fastened in position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view looking normally downwardly toward the closure cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view on the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating another embodiment of the improved closure cap of this invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 77 of FIG. 3 prior to bonding a sealing material against the inside surface of the closure cap and particularly illustrating the depth of various score lines provided in such closure cap;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7 and on the line 88 of FIG. 6 which particularly illustrates the comparatively deeper score lines provided in the closure cap of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 and taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 1 essentially illustrating a closure cap and associated bottle as presented in the above-referenced copending patent application;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view looking normally toward the closure cap of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10 and illustrating the pull ring of the closure cap of FIG. 10 in its initially raised position;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 illustrating a portion of the closure cap of FIG. 12 partially torn away; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the pull ring of FIG. 10 taken on the line 14--14 of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to FIGS. l-5 of the drawings wherein one exemplary embodiment of this invention is illustrated and designated generally by the numeral 20 and comprises a bottle 21 which utilizes an improved easy open crown type closure cap designated generally by the numeral 22.

Bottle 21 of this example is shown as a conventional glass bottle which has a lower cylindrical portion 27 and a frustoconical upper end portion 23 which terminates in a conventional neck 24 at its upper end. Neck 24 has an annular bead 25 surrounding its terminal upper end and a dispensing opening 26 is provided through the neck 24 which defines the open end for bottle 21 enabling a liquid product such as a beverage, or the like, to be dispensed therethrough. Bottle 21 may be made of any suitable material such as glass, plastic, metal, or the like, and in those applications where bottle 21 is made of glass it may be of the throw-away type if desired.

The closure member or closure cap 22 has a top portion 30 which is adapted to be placed over the dispensing opening 26 and an integral skirt 31 depending from the peripheral edge 32 of the top portion 30 and skirt 31 is fastened around annular bead 25 of neck 24 in a known manner to secure the closure cap 22 to the bottle 21.

The closure cap 22 has a roughly triangular tear section 33 provided therein and defined by a substantially V-shaped score line 34 which has a pair of diverging leg portions which diverge in one direction from a point indicated at 35 adjacent the center of the top portion '30 of cap 22. One of the leg portions designated by the numeral 36 extends from point 35 across top portion 30 and along the full height of skirt 31 while the other leg portion 37 of the V-shaped score line 34 extends from point 35 to a location indicated by the numeral at 40 adjacent the upper edge of skirt 31.

Closure cap 22 has a second score line 41 provided in its top portion 30 which extends from point 35 in an opposite direction from the direction of the outwardly extending legs 36 and 37. The score line 41 cooperates with the V-shaped score line 34 to assure that the closure cap 22 is opened in a simple and substantially effortless manner and as will be described in detail subsequently.

The closure cap 22 has a pull ring 43 fastened to the tear section 33 which is confined within V-shaped score line 34 and as Will be seen particularly in FIG. 3 the pull ring 43 is fastened to tear section 33 adjacent point 35. Pull ring 43 has a finger-receiving opening 44 which enables a user desiring to open bottle 21 to insert a finger within opening 44 to tear out tear section 33 and thereby unfasten the closure cap 22 from bottle 21 in a simple and effortless manner.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 the pull ring 43 of this exemplary embodiment of the invention is fastened to the closure cap 22 utilizing an integral rivet 45 comprising cap 22 and which extends through a cooperating opening 46 provided in a fastening flange portion 50 of pull ring 43 and the top portion of rivet 45 is riveted in position against the top surface of fastening flange portion 50 adjoining opening 46.

The closure cap 22 may be removed from bottle 21 in a simple and substantially effortless manner by inserting an object such as a fingernail beneath the pull ring 43, lifting ring 43, and then inserting a finger through the finger-receiving opening 44. The bottle 21 is then firmly held and an outward pull against ring 43 causes its end portion 52 to be fulcrumed against top portion to provide an easier initial popping or severing of the tear strip 33 adjacent point 35. This popping serves to immediately provide a vent for the bottle 21 to relieve any pressure that may have built up within such bottle and assures a safer operation in that it assures that the closure cap 22 will not fly off as might otherwise be possible if the construction of the closure cap did not provide such initial venting.

Upon continuing to pull the pull ring 43 outwardly an edge of tear strip 33 which adjoins leg portion 36 of score line 34 is completely severed from the remaining portion of the closure cap 22 while simultaneously the edge of tear strip 33 adjoining leg 37 is also severed until point or location 40 is reached. Once location 40 is reached the tear strip 33 is lifted away from the plane of the top portion 30 of cap 22. A continued pull against pull ring 43 results in severing the closure cap 22 along score line 41 which practically simultaneously therewith releases the depending skirt 31 from beneath head 25 over a substantial are which is defined by the distance between the terminal end of leg portion 36 and the terminal end of score line 41. This provides an immediate release of the closure cap 22 enabling it to be lifted away from bottle 21 simply and easily.

It might appear from the above description that the opening of cap 22 is achieved in interrupted sequential steps; however, the unique construction of cap 22 enables it to be opened in one smooth pulling motion. Also, the ring 43 may be pulled in any desired direction away from the bottle 21 to provide easy removal of cap 22 as described above.

The closure cap is held together as a unitary assembly which may be thought of as one piece and is comprised of an integral metallic portion, pull ring 43, and a seal (to be later described) bonded within such closure cap. Further, upon pulling the pull ring 43 outwardly in the manner described above the severing that takes place along the V-shaped score line 34 and substantially rectilinear score line 41 results in releasing the closure cap 22 from bottle 21 so that it is still held together as one piece or unitary assembly whereby numerous separate cutting edges and loose parts are eliminated by cap 22 to help avoid the likelihood of injury to a person opening bottle 21.

It will also be appreciated that in many previously proposed small crown type closures provided for a bottle the seal is generally provided in such previous closures utilizing a separate inner sealing member which is held against the neck of the bottle by an outer member and these inner and outer members are not fastened together. In many of such previous closure caps upon pulling a pull tab which is provided in association with the outer member of the cap the opening action is achieved by tearing away a strip in the outer member thereby resulting in the outer member of such previously proposed cap being severed into at least two pieces while the inner sealing member still must be lifted away from the bottle. In addition, in such a previous closure cap once the outer member is removed, whether in one or more pieces, the inner separate member is substantially free to be removed; however, if there is a pressure buildup within the container it is entirely likely that such pressure could expel the inner member outwardly with great force and could cause injury to a person opening the bottle using such a previous closure cap.

By contrast, the likelihood of an injury as described in connection with previously proposed closure caps is not possible with the improved closure cap 22 of this invention. With closure cap 22 there is initial venting provided upon initially lifting the pull ring 43 upwardly as aided by the unique fulcruming by end portion 52 of pull ring 43 against top portion 30. Once this initial venting has been achieved and pull ring 43 is pulled outwardly the V-shaped score line 34 and score line 41 cooperate in a manner as perviously described to enable easy removal of the closure cap 22 in a substantially easier manner than has been previously possible and in one piece.

In the exemplary embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 1 the closure cap 22 has its second score line 41 extending in a direction opposite the direction of the outwardly extending legs of V-shaped score line 34. In particular, the score line 41 is a rectilinear score line, as previously mentioned, which extends from point 35 on a line diametrically opposite a center line 55 which bisects the V-shaped score line 34, i.e., bisects the included angle between legs 36 and 37 of score line 34.

However, although score line 41 is arranged on such a diametrically opposite line 55 it will be appreciated that score line 41 may be displaced at any desired angular position relative to line 55 to in effect provide severing of a substantially large area portion of cap 22 to release a substantial portion of its skirt 31 from against neck 24 and thereby achieve an easy opening which was heretofore not possible utilizing presently known constructions.

The closure cap 22 has a suitable sealing material designated generally by the numeral 60 bonded to the inside surface of its top portion 30. The sealing material may be comprised of any suitable sealing material which is capable of being bonded to the inside surface of the closure cap 22 and once the cap is pulled away by pulling pull ring 43 and severing tear section 33 the sealing material 60 is also pulled away and removed as an integral part of the severed or split cap 22.

The sealing material 60 illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings is shown in the form of a flow-in type of sealing material which is comprised of a comparatively thick annular strip 61 and an integral substantially thinner central section 62 adjoining the annular strip 61. The annular strip 61 is adapted to be aligned above and sealed against a cooperating annular surface 63 defining the top portion of bottle neck 24 to provide an optimum seal for the contents within bottle 21. The annular strip 61 is held firmly against the bottle neck 24 by the depending skirt 31 in a known manner and as previously mentioned. The substantially thinner central portion 62 of seal 60 is such that it is readily severed upon initially pulling the pull ring 43 outwardly to thereby immediately provide a vent to relieve any pressure buildup within the bottle 21 and for reasons as were previously described earlier in this specification.

Another exemplary embodiment of a closure cap of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The closure cap of FIG. 6 is quite similar to the closure cap 22 and may be used interchangeably with the closure cap 22; therefore, the closure cap of FIG. 6 will be designated generally by the reference numeral 22A and parts thereof which are similar to corresponding parts of closure cap 22 which will be designated by the same numeral as closure cap 22 also followed by the letter designation A and not described again. Only those component parts which are different from corresponding parts of closure cap 22 will be designated by a new numeral also followed by the letter designation A and described in detail.

The main differences between closure cap 22A and closure cap 22 is in the construction of the top portion 30A of closure cap 22A and the seal bonded against the inside surface of the top portion 30A. In particular, it will be seen in FIG. 6 that the V-shaped score line 34A has an interruption at 65A along its leg portion 36A and similarly leg portion 37A of score line 34A has an interruption at 66A. The interruptions 65A and 66A provided in legs 36A and 37A respectively of V-shaped score line 34A Provide a pair of corresponding strengthened areas, which will also be referred to as strengthened areas 65A and 66A, in the top portion 30A of the closure cap 22A.

The provision of such strengthened areas 65A and 66A enable the V-shaped score line 34A to be scored comparatively deep as compared to the thickness of the top portion 30A defining closure cap 22A. This comparatively deep scoring enables easier severing of the tear strip 33A yet the areas 65A and 66A assure that the overall structural intergrity of the closure cap particularly in its susceptible top portion 30A, which is more susceptible to rupture due to pressure buildup within an associated container, is maintained substantially undiminished.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings wherein the sectional views presented highlight the comparative depth of scoring provided in cap 22 and 22A respectively. For example, it will be seen that in FIG. 7 the score line provided in the closure cap 22 has a depth indicated at 77 and such depth is substantially uniform for the V-shaped score line 34 as well as the substantially rectilinear oppositely arranged score line 41. The closure cap 22A illustrated in FIG. 8 has a depth of scoring indicated at 80A which is shown as being substantially uniform for its V-shaped score line 34A and rectilinear score line 41A.

As will be readily apparent by comparing FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the depth shown at 80A for closure cap 22A is substantially greater than the depth shown at 77 for closure cap 22. Although the severing of tear section 33A in closure cap 22A is substantially the same as described in connection with section 33 of cap 22, the increased depth of scoring enables easier severing of the tear strip 33A and hence easier opening of cap 22A as mentioned earlier.

The increased depth of scoring illustrated at 80A in connection with closure cap 22A has been shown as being provided along the depending skirt portion 31A of the closure cap 22A in addition to being provided in the top portion 30A of such closure cap. However, it will be appreciated that such increased depth of scoring may be provided only in the top portion 30A if desired and may be utilized in connection with V-shaped score line 34A and/or rectilinear score line 41A.

To provide a more effective severing of the closure cap 22A from an associated bottle the strengthened areas 65A and 66A are located at a corresponding radial position from point 35A. In particular, it will be seen from FIG. 6 of the drawings that the strengthened areas 65A and 66A are arranged to be intersected by a common uniform radius arc.

Reference is now made to FIG. 9 of the drawings wherein the closure cap 22A is shown in cross section with its sealing material bonded in position against the inside surface of its top portion 30A. The sealing material provided for closure cap 22A is in the form of an annular bead 82A which is suitably bonded against the inside surface 30A and is adapted to be sealed against an associated annular surface such as annular surface 63 provided on bottle neck 24 of bottle 21.

With the provision of an annular bead type sealing surface such as surface 82A it will be appreciated that upon pulling upwardly on pull ring 43A the central portion of the closure cap 22A does not have any sealing material therebeneath and thereby the initial severing of that portion of the tear strip 33A adjoining point 35A provides an immediate venting without necessitating that any sealing material that might otherwise be bonded thereunder be punctured. Thus, the initial venting is more etficiently provided with the seal configuration illustrated in FIG. 9 of the drawings.

The closure members or closure caps 22 and 22A are thus provided in the form of a small crown type closure cap each having an associated pull ring fastened thereto. The pull ring may be fastened in position by an integral rivet provided in the closure cap 22 or 22A or may be fastened in position in any suitable manner. In addition, it will be appreciated that, except for the pull ring in each instance, each closure cap 22 and 22A is made from a single thickness of material, preferably of a material containing aluminum.

The use of aluminum enables provision of a closure cap which is rust proof, and which may be protected inexpensively as by anodizing, for example, to assure that a product, such as a carbonated beverage, contained within a bottle on which the closure cap 22 and 22A may be used will not attack or detrimentally affect its associated closure cap. In addition, by utilizing metal containing aluminum the score lines and the skirt in each of the closure caps is provided in an easier and more efficient manner.

Any suitable sealing material such as cork, plastic materials, etc., may be bonded or otherwise secured against the inside surface of the closure caps 22 and 22A. When utilizing a cork sealing material it is preferably bonded as an integral part of the closure cap utilizing an albumin glue. When utilizing a plastic sealing material it is desirable that the plastic be capable of easy securing to its associated cap.

Any suitable plastic material may be utilized; however, one plastic material that has proven successful is a microcellular vinyl compound that bonds to aluminum and which is sold under the trade name of Darex by the Dewey and Almy Chemical Division of W. R. Grace and Company located at Cambridge, Mass.

Thus, it is seen that closure caps 22 and 22A are each essentially defined and formed as one piece (unitary assembly). Also, the unique construction and arrangement of the V-shaped score line and cooperating rectilinear score line in the top portion of each closure cap enables it to be initially vented immediately, to prevent the cap from blowing off, and simply and readily removed by a continuous outward pulling motion against an associated pull ring provided on each closure cap. Further, such opening is achieved in an easier manner than was possible heretofore.

It was previously proposed in the above-referenced patent application to provide a closure cap with a tear section similar to the tear section provided in each of the closure caps 22 and 22A and such previously proposed construction is shown in FIGS. 10-14 of the drawings. A brief description will now be made to highlight the problem that still exists utilizing such previously proposed closure cap construction. Specifically it is still comparatively difficult to open a bottle that utilizes the cap construction shown in FIG. 10.

In particular, FIG. 10 illustrates a bottle which is very similar to the bottle 21 shown in FIG. 1; therefore, the bottle of FIG. 10 will also be designated by the reference numreal 21 and its component parts will be designated by the same numerals as previously. Bottle 21 has a closure cap designated generally by the reference numeral 85 fastened thereagainst essentially in a similar manner as described previously in connection with closure cap 22. The description will now proceed with a description of closure cap 85 which will be described only in suflicicnt detail to enable a ready understanding of the differences between such closure cap and the improved closure cap of this invention.

Closure cap 85 has a pull ring 86 which is substantially identical to pull ring 43. The pull ring 86 is fixed to closure cap 85 by an integral rivet 90 provided in the closure cap 85 which is similar to rivet 45 provided in closure cap 22; therefore, the detailed description of the pull ring 86 and rivet 90 will not be made in detail due to their similarity to corresponding components of closure cap 22.

The closure cap 85 has a tear section 91 defined therein by a score line 92 and tear section 91 has an inner end portion 93 arranged adjacent the center portion of the cap 85. The pull ring 86 is secured to the inner end portion 93 by the integral rivet 90.

The tear section 91 is defined by score line 92 in such a manner that one edge 94 of the tear section 91 extends from the inner end 93 of tear section 91 across the top portion 95 of closure cap 85 and down the rim portion or skirt 96 of cap 85 to the free end edge shown at 97. The other edge of the tear section 91 designated by the numeral 100 is defined by an opposite portion of score line 92 which extends from end portion 93 toward the top edge or rim of the skirt 96 and then loops back or reversely turns to run substantially concentrically with the outer periphery of the top portion 95 to terminate at a point 101.

As illustrated in FIGS. -l3 of the drawings, the pull ring 86 is disposed substantially concentrically on the top portion 95 of the closure cap 85 and is firmly attached to the inner end 93 of tear section 91 by the integral rivet 90 as previously mentioned. To open the bottle 21 the ultimate consumer lifts upon the pull ring 86 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 12 to cause fulcrum points or area 103 of pull ring 86 to fulcrum against the top portion 95 of closure cap 86 and raise and separate the inner end 93 of the tear section 91 from the cap 86.

With the pull ring 86 disposed in the raised position illustrated in FIG. 12, the ultimate consumer can now fully insert a finger into the finger-receiving opening 105 of the pull ring 86 and pull outwardly and upwardly on the same in the same manner illustrated in FIG. 13 to cause the tear section 91 to begin to separate from the remainder of the closure cap 85 along opposed edges 94 and 100 thereof. Further outward movement of the pull ring 86 causes the edge 94 of tear section 91 to tear or separate completely from the closure cap 85 along the top portion 95 and skirt portion 96 thereof and then to begin to tear along the reversely turned part of the edge 100 until the particular point shown at 101 is reached. This severing relieves the holding tension of the skirt 96 from around the bead 25 of bottle neck 24 and enables the cap 85 to be pulled away from bottle 21.

However, with this previously proposed closure cap 85 considerably more force is required to tear the tear section 91 first along that portion of the score line 92 defining edge 94 and then along the reversely turned portion of score line 92 defining edge 100. By contrast after severing the tear strip 33 from the improved closure cap 22 of this invention cap 22 is, in effect, substantially instantaneously split along its rectilinear score line 41 to thereby enable easy and immediate lifting of cap 22 from its associated bottle 21 in a simpler and easier manner than is possible with cap 85. Similarly, and as described earlier, cap 22A would also be easier to open.

While present preferred embodiments of this invention, have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that this invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A one-piece closure member for a container having an open end for dispensing a product contained therein, said closure member comprising, a top portion adapted to be disposed over said open end, an integral skirt depending from the peripheral edge of said top portion and adapted to be disposed around said container adjacent said open end to secure said closure member to said container, a tear section in said closure member extending across the major portion of said top portion and defined by a score line having a bight and a pair of leg portions which extend from said bight, one of said leg portions extending across said top portion and along the full height of said skirt and the other of said leg portions extending to a location adjacent the uper edge of said skirt, and a pull ring fastened to said tear section adjacent said bight and having a finger receiving opening to enable easy grasping and tearing, said closure member being adapted to be easily removed from an associated container by pulling said pull ring outwardly to sever said tear section and release a portion of said skirt with a portion of said tear section adjoining the outer end of said other leg portion remaining attached to said closure member to enable said closure member to be lifted away from said container in one piece.

2. A closure member as set forth in claim 1 in which said score line comprises a V-shaped score line having said leg portions in the form of diverging leg portions which diverge in one direction from a point in said top portion and further comprising a second score line in said top portion extending from said point in an opposite directon from said one direction, said second score line having a depth which is a fractional part of the thickness of said top pontion, said second score line enabling said closure member to be sheared therealong substantially simultaneously with shearing of said tear section to release a large portion of said skirt and enable easier removal of said closure member from said container in said one piece.

3. A closure member as set forth in claim 2 in which said point is common to the bight of said V-shaped score line and the inner edge of said second score line to thereby comprise a scored area which is more easily severed.

4. A closure member as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a sealing material secured on the inside surface of said top portion, said sealing material being removed as an integral part of said closure member upon pulling said pull ring.

5. A closure member as set forth in claim 4 in which said sealing material is in the form of an annular bead bonded against said inside surface and adapted to be sealed against an associated annular surface of said container adjacent said open end.

6. A closure member as set forth in claim 1 made of metal containing aluminum and further comprising a sealing material made of plastic which is bonded to said metal containing aluminum, said plastic sealing material being removed as an integral part of said closure member upon pulling said pull ring.

7. A closure member as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a sealing material secured on the inside surface of said top portion in a comparatively thick annular strip which is adapted to be sealed against an associated surface of said bottle surrounding said open end and said sealing material having a thinner central section adjoining said annular strip which is adapted to be readily severed upon initially pulling said pull ring to immediately provide a vent for said container to relieve any pressure buildup within said container.

8. A closure member as set forth in claim 2 in which said V-shaped score line is interrupted at a location along each of its leg portions to define a pair of strengthened areas in said top portion which enable said V-shaped score line to be comparatively deep as compared with the thickness of said top portion, said strengthened areas assuring the overall structural integrity of said closure member is maintained and said comparatively deep V-shaped score line enabling easy severing of said tear section.

9. A closure member as set forth in claim 8 in which each of said strengthened areas is located at a corresponding radial position from said point.

10. A closure member as set forth in claim 9 made of metal containing aluminum and further comprising a sealing material made of plastic which is bonded to said metal containing aluminum, said plastic sealing material being removed as an integral part of said closure member upon pulling said pull ring.

11. 'In combination: a bottle having a dispensing opening for dispensing a product contained therein and a onepiece closure cap secured over said opening, said cap comprising, a top portion disposed over said opening, an integral skirt depending from the peripheral edge of said top portion and being radially inwardly compressed around said bottle adjacent said opening to secure said cap to said bottle, a tear section in said cap extending across the major portion of said top portion and defined by a score line having a bight and a pair of leg portions which extend from said bight, one of said leg portions extending across said top portion and along the full height of said skirt and the other of said leg portions extending to a location adjacent the upper edge of said skirt, and a pull ring fastened to said tear section adjacent said bight and having a finger receiving opening to enable easy grasping and tearing, said cap being easily removed from said bottle by pulling said pull ring outwardly to sever said tear section and release a portion of said skirt with a portion of said tear strip adjoining the outer end of said other leg portion remaining attached to said cap to enable said cap to be lifted away from said bottle in one piece.

12. A combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said score line comprises a V-shaped score line having said leg portions in the form of diverging leg portions which diverge in one direction from a point in said top portion and further comprising a second score line in said top portion extending from said point in an opposite direction from said one direction, said second score line having a depth which is a fractional part of the thickness of said top portion, said second score line enabling said cap to be sheared therealong substantially simultaneously with shearing of said tear section to re lease a large portion of said skirt and enable easier removal of said cap from said bottle in said one piece.

13. A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which said point is common to the bight of said V-shaped score line and the inner edge of said second score line to thereby comprise a scored area which promotes said substantially simultaneous shearing along said second score line.

14. A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which said cap further comprises a sealing material secured on the inside surface of said top portion, said sealing material being removed as an integral part of said cap upon pulling said pull ring.

15. A combination as set forth in claim 14 in which said pull ring has an edge which provides a fulcrum therefor against said top portion adjacent said second score line so that a small area of said tear section is severed at a location adjacent said point to provide a vent for any pressure buildup within said bottle immediately upon pulling said pull ring.

16. A combination as set forth in claim 14 in which said sealing material in said cap is in the form of an annular bead bonded against said inside surface and sealed against an associated annular surface of said bottle adjacent said opening.

17. A combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said cap is made of metal containing aluminum and further comprises a sealing material made of plastic which is bonded to said metal containing aluminum, said plastic sealing material being removed as an integral part of said cap upon pulling said pull ring.

18. A combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said cap further com-prises a sealing material secured on the inside surface of said top portion in a comparatively thick annular strip which is sealed against an associated annular surface of said bottle which surrounds said open-.

ing, said sealing material having an integral comparatively thinner central section adjoining said annular strip which is readily severed upon initially pulling said pull ring to immediately provide a vent for said bottle to relieve any pressure buildup within said bottle.

19. A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which said V-shaped score line in said cap is interrupted at a location along each of its leg portions to define a pair of strengthened areas in said top portion which enable said V-shaped score line to be comparatively deep as compared with the thickness of said top portion, said strengthened areas assuring the overall structural integrity of said cap is maintained and said comparatively deep V-shaped score line enabling easier severing of said tear section.

20. A combination as set forth in claim 19 in which each of said strengthened areas in said top portion of said cap is located at a corresponding radial position from said point.

21. A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which said second score line extends in said opposite direction and on a line substantially diametrically opposite a line bisecting said V-shaped score line.

22. In combination, a container having an open end for dispensing product means disposed in said container, and a one-piece closure member secured to said open end of said container to close said open end, said closure member having a top portion disposed over said open end and a depending peripheral rim portion disposed around said container at said open end thereof to secure said closure member to said container, said closure member having a tear section integral therewith throughout the entire juncture of said tear section with the remainder of said closure member and provided with two edges that join together at adjacent ends thereof to define one end of said tear section with one edge thereof extending from said top portion to the free edge of said rim portion and with the other edge being spaced oppositely from said one edge along its full length and terminating short of said free edge of said rim portion so that said tear section remains integral with said closure member even though its opposed edges have been separated from said closure member, and a ring pull tab means secured to said tear section at said top portion of said closure member and having a finger-receiving opening passing therethrough to facilitate the pulling of said one edge of said tear section from said closure member.

23. A combination as set forth in claim 22 in which said tear section extends across the major portion of said top portion.

24. A one-piece closure member for a container having an open end for dispensing product means disposed in said container, said closure member having a top portion adapted to be disposed over said open end and a depending peripheral rim portion adapted to be disposed around said container at said open end thereof to secure said closure member to said container, said closure member having a tear section integral therewith throughout the entire juncture of said tear section with the remainder of said closure member and provided with two edges that join together at adjacent ends thereof to define one end of said tear section with one edge thereof extending from said top portion to the free edge of said rim portion and with the other edge being spaced oppositely from said one edge along its full length and terminating short of said free edge of said rim portion so that said tear section remains integral with said closure member even though its opposed edges have been separated from said closure member, said toar section extending across the major portion of said top portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Kondarow et a1 215-465 Brown et a1 22054 Arnaud 215-465 XR La Barge et a1 215-46 1 2 FOREIGN PATENTS 658,870 10/ 1951 Great Britain.

US. Cl. X.R. 21539 Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 97,684 involving Patent No. 3,522,899, F. A. Siemonsen and A. L. Garriques, EASY OPEN MEANS FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE, final judgment adverse to the pabentees was rendered June 4, 1974, as to claims 22-24.

[Oficial Gazette November 12, 1.974.]

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