Patent ID: 9033174
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
1. An end closure for a beverage container with an improved access pull tab, comprising: a peripheral curl adapted for interconnection to a neck of the container; a chuck wall interconnected to said peripheral curl and extending downwardly therefrom; a countersink having an outer panel wall interconnected to a lowermost portion of said chuck wall and an inner panel wall; a central panel interconnected to said inner panel wall and oriented in a substantially horizontal plane and having a substantially vertical center axis; a pull tab interconnected to an exterior surface of said central panel at an interconnection point, said pull tab including a lift ring and a nose on an end opposite the lift ring, said nose positioned proximate to a frangible score line in said central panel which defines a pour opening; and a deflectable protuberance in said central panel which is positioned below said pull tab between said interconnection point and a distal end of said lift ring, said deflectable protuberance having an apex with a height substantially the same as said central panel in a first position prior to deflection and said deflectable protuberance having said apex raised relative to said central panel in a second position after deflection which elevates said lift ring of said pull tab to provide improved access for a user's fingers below said lift ring.