Patent ID: 6234336
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: B65D,Y10S

Abstract:
A stay-on-tab container closure comprising:(a) a circular center panel formed from a sheet material having a thickness;said center panel having upper and lower surfaces;(b) a recessed area formed on said center panel at a lower elevation than the remaining portions of said center panel;(c) a frangible score formed on said upper surface of said center panel and disposed within said recessed area;said score, when viewed from above, having a curvilinear bight portion and two end portions disposed at the ends of said bight portion in spaced-apart relation to one another;said bight portion defining most of the periphery of a downwardly displaceable tear panel;said end portions defining therebetween a hinge portion which permanently attaches said tear panel to a fixed portion of said center panel;(d) said tear panel being flat and without axial curvature and having upper and lower surfaces;said surfaces of said tear panel being smooth and without visually perceptible contour features;(e) a rivet disposed on said fixed portion of said center panel within said recessed area proximate said hinge portion; and(f) an opening tab hingedly secured to said rivet, said opening tab having a forward portion overlying said tear panel, said forward portion having a forward edge smoothly curving about said rivet.