Improvements in Sheet Metal Preserving Cans, Boxes, and other Vessels and Receptacles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 12th Oct., 1992-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sheet Metal Preserving Cans, Boxes, and other
Vessels and Receptacles.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by Arthur Emil Kleinfeldt, Francis
Patridge McColl and Gustavus Albert Waeber, Manufacturers, all of No. 165
Duane Street, in the City and State of New York, U.S.A.), to be as follows :—
These improvements relate to those classes of sheet metal cans and other vessels
which are capable of being hermetically sealed so that their contents may be
preserved for long periods of time. They are designed to provide, for all the
purposes for which such vessels can be employed, convenient forms of metallic
receptacles which can be very economically manufactured and in respect of cheapness
of construction will compete with any others before the public, which can be readily
opened, when desired, even by the most inexperienced person, and which are
especially adapted to serve as satisfactory substitutes for all the different varieties
of hermetically sealing boxes which are opened by stripping off a portion of the
material of which they are composed and which at the present time are coming so
largely into use.
In order to effect these objects the invention consists :-
First. In forming, at any desired point between the extremities of the body of a
sheet metal can or other analogous receptacle, but preferably near one of such
extremities, a somewhat deep groove, bead or shoulder or their equivalent_so
impressed into the metal that the portion of the body wall of the can or other
vessel which is between the groove or equivalent and one end of the body or between
the groove or equivalent and the end of the body nearest thereto will be parallel
with the residue of the body wall, or sufficiently so, but will be in a different plane
therefrom and separated from it by a narrow bridge of the material of a width about
equal to the depth of the groove, so that the metal, weakened as it will be by the
striking up of the groove, will be adapted to be torn or cut through along the path
of the groove or along the space or bridge between the two planes of the metal by
the action upon it of one of the covers or heads of the vessel when a slight sudden
force from blows or otherwise is applied to, or caused to operate upon or be trans-
mitted to, such cover.
Second. In so forming one of the covers or heads of a sheet metal can or other
metallic vessel that the metal composing such cover or head shall be weakened to a
greater or less extent at a suitable point throughout the whole or a portion of its
periphery, and in then combining this head with the body of the can in, such a
manner as to cause the edge of that extremity of the can body which is next to the
head to become a fulcrum or lever against or by means of which the weakened
portion of the head may be easily ruptured so as to open the can whenever a few
smart blows with any convenient instrument are struck upon the outside of either
head of the can, or whenever either head is subjected to concussion in any other
desired manner.
Third. In providing a sheet metal vessel or other receptacle with a somewhat
deep circunferential bead, rib or corrugation at any convenient point between the
extremities of its body, or between the top and bottom edges of its head or cover,
in combination with another circumferential bead, rib or corrugation immediately
above the first one, but without any strip-section or tongue or other prolongation of
a. strip-section, and without any key or other device for tearing out any portion of
the material

page_text: Fourth. In providing a sheet metal vessel or other receptacle with a somewhat
deep, circumferential bead, rib or corrugation at any convenient point between the
extremities of its body, or between the top and bottom edges of its head or cover in
combination with a groove or incision made partly through the metal in, or upon, or
closely adjacent to the said bead, rib or corrugation, but without any incision, strip-
section, tongue or key.
The various figures of the accompanying drawings illustrate different modes in
which the different parts of this invention may be put into use, and these figures
will now be described in detail.
A, Fig. 1, is the body of a cylindrical sheet metal can which is constructed in all
respects in the usual manner except at its upper end. At this upper end we impress
in any convenient way into the metal constituting the walls d¹, d', of the can a
somewhat deep groove or channel b, b, which preferably extends entirely around the
periphery of the can, as shown. In this particular figure this channel extends in a
downward direction, as seen, but this is not essential. When this groove or channel
is formed and at the same operation therewith, a certain portion, represented at d, of
the wall of the can body is carried inward to a depth about equal to that of the
groove, so that this portion, when the operation is finished, is caused to stand in a
different, although parallel, plane from the plane of the residue of the body wall.
The head or cover, B made in the usual or any suitable manner, is then so fitted to
the top of the can body that its flange a, a, shall closely encircle the latter, while the
sharp edge of the flange fits into and rests in the bottom of the groove. In this
position the cover when the can is to be closed for the market, is soldered to the
part d of the wall in the customary manner and the can is then complete.
When it is desired to open it to obtain access to its contents, it is merely necessary
to strike a few sharp blows upon the cover or in any manner apply a sudden force
to it, when the lower edge of the flange a will quickly cause the metal of the wall
portion d to be broken through along the groove b, b, and the cover can then be
removed without further effort.
It is not in all cases essential that the flange a of the cover should extend entirely
down to the bottom of the groove, or even down to the groove. In the forms shown
in Figs. 2, 3, 9, 10, 11 and 12, it will be seen that the flange edge stops somewhat
short of the groove, but the operation of opening the can will not be affected by this
as the stiffness imparted to the portion d of the body wall by the soldering to it of
the flange a in these figures will easily enable the force operating upon the cover to
cause the rupture of the metal at the groove b, b, in as satisfactory a manner as in
the form shown in Fig. 1.
It is also not always essential that the portion d of the body wall should be so
formed as to stand in a parallel plane with that of the portion d¹. This is illustrated
in Figs. 4, 5, 15 and 16, which show forms of construction which will often be found
very desirable. In these figures it will be seen that the portion of the wall marked d"
stands at a slight angle with the plane of the residue of the wall d', but this lack of
paralellism will not be found in practice to affect the operation of opening the can.
In the forms shown in these figures the flange of the cover is also turned outward at
somewhat of an angle, as seen at a'. This may be done whenever desired without
impairing the ready opening of the can. In each of these four figures, as also in
Fig. 6, indicates the somewhat thick line of solder which is employed to secure
together the flange a and the wall portion ", in Figs. 4, 5, 15 and 16, and d in
Fig. 6, this solder being shown on a somewhat exaggerated scale in order to make
the figures more plain.
The remaining figures up to Fig. 18 do not require special mention as the
construction of the forms shown in them will be readily apparent and as their
operation is substantially similar to that of Fig. 1. In Figs. 6, 10, 11 and 12,
however, it will be observed that the groove or channel of the other figures is
replaced by a substantially right-angled shoulder seen at m, but the operation of
these forms will be in all respects the same as has been already described.
In Fig. 16 the part marked ⁄ denotes a narrow band or ring which, when desired,

page_text: may be caused to encircle the wall so as to act as a re-inforce and impart greater
stiffness to the metal, but otherwise than this the form shown in this figure does not
differ essentially from the other figures.
Whenever preferred, an incision extending partially through the metal may be
made on either the inside or the outside of the body wall of the cam either along
Instances of this form of
the path of the groove or equivalent or adjacent thereto.
construction are shown at i in Figs. 2, 9 and 12. When such an incision is employed,
it will be found to facilitate the operation of rupturing the wall of the can, but it is
not essential to the successful working of my improvements.
In the forms shown in Figs. 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 16, the head or
cover B after the can has been opened will be found to serve as a slip or removable
cover for the vessel, inasmuch as the flange a united, as it is, to the wall portion d
or d which in opening the can will be broken off at the groove, will either fit
conveniently over the residue of the can body, as in some of these figures, or will
extend more or less into the end of the body, as in the others of said figures, and
thus constitute a satisfactory closure for the can.
In all cases where it is found difficult with certain kinds of cans in the market to
avoid injury to them during the operation of "processing" their contents, this part
of these improvements will be especially desirable, as cans constructed in accordance
with my improvements will always successfully withstand any pressure to which
they may be subjected in " processing" them if the operation be in any manner
properly performed.
Figures 17 to 31, inclusive, illustrate the second part of my invention, all the
figures from 18 to 31 showing in detail some of the various modifications of which
this part of my methods of construction are susceptible.
In Fig. 17, A is the body of the can, and B is that one of the can heads to which
the form of my improvements shown in this figure is applied. c is what may be
termed a depressed groove made by sinking the metal at this point to a considerable
depth, the effect of this being to weaken the metal around the entire periphery of
the head at the groove and thereby render it easy to be broken through along the
line of the groove when blows are struck upon either of the heads, or when sufficient
force is applied to either of them by any other means. d is the flange of the head
made in the usual way, and of a diameter sufficient to fit closely over the extremity
of the body of the can. The head, as thus constructed, is secured to the can body
by soldering the flange to the latter in the customary manner, and by doing this the
edge e e of the body is brought into such relation to the depressed groove c that the
said edge, stiffened and sustained as it is by the vertical strength of the body,
becomes a fulcrum or lever or resisting point against which the force tending to
rupture the head at the groove may operate. It will now be evident that if a few
blows are struck upon the outside or top of either of the heads, or if either of them
is subjected to suitable force in any other manner, the effect of the severe pressure
thus suddenly applied working against this point of resistance will be to quickly
cause the head B to be ruptured along the line of the groove and the can thereby
to be opened.
The modifications of my improvements which are shown in Figs. 18 to 31,
inclusive, do not require detailed explanation as the manner of their operation will
be readily apparent. from the description which has been given of Fig. 17. In all
these modified forms one head of the can is weakened by some form of groove or
bead or its equivalent, and the effect produced will be the same as in Fig. 17.
In Figs. 18, 19 and 20, a shoulder, s, is formed near one extremity of the can
body and the lower part of the cover or head is caused to rest upon this shoulder,
but otherwise the operation will be the same as in the other figures, the shoulder
in these cases constituting the fulcrum or resisting point instead of the edge of the
walls of the can as in the other figures.
In Fig. 21, a similar shoulder, s, is formed near the end of the can body, but in
addition thereto the flange d is carried or doubled over the edge e of the body, so

page_text: .
that in this instance both the shoulder and this edge e co-operate to form the
fulcrum against which the cover will be ruptured.
In the form shown in Fig. 24, in place of a groove or bead, a substantially square
shoulder or angle is represented as formed in the cover or head itself, but the
rupture in the head will be effected in the sanie manner as in Fig. 17.
In Fig. 25 a narrow band or ring b is shown as encircling a portion of the flange
of the cover. This band is designed to serve as a re-inforce to impart increased
stiffness to this part of the flange and thereby aid the rupturing operation, but it
can always be omitted if desired.
It will be seen that in Fig. 18 and also in Figs. 28, 29, 30 and 31, a slight
incision, g, is shown as made partially through the metal at the point where the
rupture of the head is to take place. The object of this incision is to still further
weaken the head and thereby facilitate the rupture. The incision need not
necessarily be at the precise point where the groove or bead or shoulder is placed,
but may, if preferred, be made adjacent to and parallel therewith. In some cases
the addition of the incision will be found desirable, but in most instances the head
can readily be ruptured without employing it.
The special object of the third and fourth parts of my improvements is to provide
a sheet metal receptacle which shall be extremely simple in form and construction,
and shall be adapted to serve as a satisfactory substitute for hermetically-scaling
metallic vessels which are opened by stripping off a portion of their material,
while at the same time it dispenses with certain parts essential to all strip vessels.
and therefore can be produced much more cheaply than they are able to be.
All strips vessels require to have the blanks out of which their bodies are
formed so cut that one end of the strip-section shall be prolonged beyond the actual
diameter of the vessel in order to constitute what is generally termed a "tongue,"
which is to be grasped by the opening instrument to start the stripping operation.
This necessitates a very great waste of material, since in every vessel a piece of metal
equal in width to the length of the tongue and in length to the height of the vessel
body, must be cut away to form the tongue, and then becomes worthless. In
addition there must be provided with every vessel a suitable tool--usually termed
a "key" which is necessary for tearing off the strip-section. The value of
this waste metal and the expense of keys for a large number of strip vessels,
amounts to a very considerable sum and adds materially to the cost of such
receptacles.
The modes of carrying out in practice these third and fourth parts of my
invention are illustrated in Figures 32 to 38, inclusive, and will now be described.
A A, in Figs. 32 and 33, represent the bodies of two cylindrical sheet metal
cans, and B B in each figure are the heads or covers, which in the cans here shown
are constructed and secured to the bodies A A in the usual manner.
In carrying out the third part of my improvements as represented in Fig. 32, I
make a somewhat deep corrugation, rib or bead m at any convenient point between
the extremities of such a can body as is shown in the figure, though preferably
quite near one end thereof, as seen. This corrugation is carried circumferentially
around the can body, and I combine with it a groove or incision i made partly
through the metal closely adjacent to the corrugation, and preferably in the
angle or corner thereof nearest to the end of the can body, as shown in the
figure.
This completes this form of the can; and in order to open it after its contents
have been placed in it and it has been hermetically sealed, it is only necessary to
strike a few sharp blows upon either of its heads with a hanıner or any suitable
instrument which may be conveniently at hand, or to apply a quick force or
pressure to either of the heads, whereupon the body of the can will at once be
raptured along the weakening line of the incision and the head or cover can then
be readily taken off with the fingers.
By the method of construction shown in Fig. 33, which illustrates the fourth

page_text: part of my improvements, I am enabled to dispense with the groove or incision.
To effect this, I employ the corrugation m as in Fig. 32, but in place of combining
the incision with it, I substitute for the incision another corrugation n preferably
somewhat shallower than the corrugation m and located closely adjacent to the
latter and preferably on the side of it towards that end of the can body which is
nearest to the corrugation m.
The manner of opening the can when thus constructed is the same as already
described in respect of Fig. 32. A few blows or any other suitable force applied
to either of the heads B B will quickly cause the can body to be ruptured along a
line between the corrugations m and n, or along the upper part of the corrugation n.
the effect of the force being to produce a shearing or severing action on the metal
on one or the other of these lines, so that as soon as this takes place the head of
the can can be easily removed.
No special description of the covers illustrated in Figs. 34 and 35 will be needful,
as the corrugation m and incision i, in Fig. 34, and the corrugations m and n, in
Fig. 35, are precisely the same as are represented respectively in Figs. 32 and 33,
and the operation of them respectively is the same as in said figures, the covers
being included in the drawing solely for the purpose of showing that both of these.
parts of my improvements are equally as well applicable to the covers as to the
heads of sheet metal vessels.
Each of the cans last described will be found in practice to operate with entire
satisfaction. At the same time, the decided economy with which either of them
can be manufactured on a large scale as compared with strip vessels and many other
kinds of cans, renders them especially desirable for packers and others who require
air tight receptacles in great quantities.
Figs. 36, 37 and 38 represent modes in which the fourth part of my invention
may be employed when applied to sheet metal vessels which have their heads or
covers soldered inside the walls of their bodies, instead of encircling the outside of
such walls, as seen in Figs. 32 and 33. In Figs. 36 and 37 the heads B are each
secured in the manner stated, but in other respects the cans here shown do not
differ essentially from the one represented in Fig. 32, m¹ m¹ being the bead or
corrugation which is seen at m m in Fig. 32, except only that it is impressed from
the inside outward, thereby being the reverse of bead in Fig. 32, and the incisioni i
in Figs. 36 and 37 being also the same as the incision ii in Fig. 32, except only
that it is located at the bottom of the bead on the inside of the vessel wall, as seen
in Fig. 36, and at the apex of the bead on the outside of such wall, as in Fig. 37.
Fig. 38 is merely a detail view showing the same bead as in Figs. 36 and 37 with
the incision i placed on the outside of the wall of the vessel at the upper angle of
the bead, as may always be done when preferred.
Dated this 12th day January 1892.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sheet Metal Preserving Cans, Boxes, and other
Vessels and Receptacles.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by Arthur Emil Kleinfeldt,
Francis Patridge McColl, and Gustavus Albert Waeber, Manufacturers, all of
No. 165 Duane Street, in the City and State of New York, U.S.A.), and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
These improvements relate to those classes of sheet metal cans and other vessels
which are capable of being hermetically sealed so that their contents may be

page_text: preserved for long periods of time. They are designed to provide, for all the
purposes for which such vessels can be employed, convenient forms of metallic
receptacles which can be very economically manufactured and in respect of
cheapness of construction will compete with any others before the public, which
can be readily opened, when desired, even by the most inexperienced person, and
which are especially adapted to serve as satisfactory substitutes for all the different
varieties of hermetically sealing boxes which are opened by stripping off a portion
of the material of which they are composed and which at the present time are
coming so largely into use.
In order to effect these objects the inventions consist :-
First. In forming, at any desired point between the extremities of the body of a
sheet metal can or other analogous receptacle, but preferably near one of such
extremities, a somewhat deep groove, bead or shoulder or their equivalent so
impressed into the metal that the portion of the body wall of the can or other
vessel which is between the groove or equivalent and one end of the body or
between the groove or equivalent and the end of the body nearest thereto will
be parallel with the residue of the body wall, or sufficiently so, but will be in
a different plane therefrom and separated from it by a narrow bridge of the
material of a width about equal to the depth of the groove, so that the metal,
weakened as it will be by the striking up of the groove, will be adapted to be torn
or cut through along the path of the groove or along the space or bridge between
the two planes of the metal by the action upon it of one of the covers or heads
of the vessel when a slight sudden force from blows or otherwise is applied to,
or caused to operate upon or be transmitted to, such cover.
Second. In so forming one of the covers or heads of a sheet metal can or
other metallic vessel that the metal composing such cover or head shall be
weakened to a greater or less extent at a suitable point throughout the whole
or a portion of its periphery, and in then combining this head with the body
of the can in such a manner as to cause the edge of that extremity of the can
body which is next to the head to become a fulcrum or lever against or by means
of which the weakened portion of the head may be easily ruptured so as to open
the can whenever a few smart blows with any convenient instrument are struck upon
the outside of either head of the can, or whenever either head is subjected to
concussion in any other desired manner.
Third. In providing a sheet metal vessel or other receptacle with a somewhat
deep circumferential bead, rib or corrugation at any convenient point between the
extremities of its body, or between the top and bottom edges of its head or cover,
in combination with another circumferential bead, rib or corrugation immediately
above the first one, but without any strip-section or tongue or other prolongation
of a strip-section, and without any key or other device for tearing out any portion
of the material.
Fourth. In providing a sheet metal vessel or other receptacle with a somewhat
deep, circumferential bead, rib or corrugation at any convenient point between
the extremities of its body, or between the top and bottom edges of its head or
cover in combination with a groove or incision made partly through the metal
in, or upon, or closely adjacent to the said bead, rib or corrugation, but without
any incision, strip-section, tongue or key.
The various figures of the drawings filed with the Provisional Specification of
this application illustrate different modes in which the different parts of these
inventions may be put into use, and these figures will now be described in detail.
A, Fig. 1, is the body of a cylindrical sheet metal can which is constructed in
all respects in the usual manner except at its upper end. At this upper end
I impress in any convenient way into the metal constituting the walls d', d', of the
can a somewhat deep groove or channel b, b, which preferably extends entirely
around the periphery of the can, as shown. In this particular figure this channel
extends in a downward direction, as seen, but this is not essential. When this
groove or channel is formed and at the same operation therewith, a certain portion,

page_text: represented at d, of the wall of the can body is carried inward to a depth about
equal to that of the groove, so that this portion, when the operation is finished, is
caused to stand in a different, although parallel, plane from the plane of the residue
of the body wall. The head or cover, B, made in the usual or any suitable manner,
is then so fitted to the top of the can body that its flange a, a, shall closely encircle
the latter, while the sharp edge of the flange fits into and rests in the bottom of
the groove. In this position the cover when the can is to be closed for the market,
is soldered to the part d of the wall in the customary manner, and the can is then
complete.
When it is desired to open it to obtain access to its contents, it is merely
necessary to strike a few sharp blows upon the cover or in any manner apply a
sudden force to it, when the lower edge of the flange a will quickly cause the metal
of the wall portion d to be broken through along the groove b, b, and the cover can
then be removed without further effort.
It is not in all cases essential that the flange a of the cover should extend entirely
down to the bottom of the groove, or even down to the groove. In the forms shown
in Figs. 2, 3, 9, 10, 11 and 12, it will be seen that the flange edge stops somewhat
short of the groove, but the operation of opening the can will not be affected by this
as the stiffness imparted to the portion d of the body wall by the soldering to it of
the flange a in these figures will easily enable the force operating upon the cover to
cause the rupture of the metal at the groove b, b, in as satisfactory a manner as in
the form shown in Fig. 1.
It is also not always essential that the portion d of the body wall should be so
formed as to stand in a parallel plane with that of the portion d'. This is illustrated
in Figs. 4, 5, 15 and 16, which show forms of construction which will often be
found very desirable. In these figures it will be seen that the portion of the wall
marked d stands at a slight angle with the plane of the residue of the wall d', but
this lack of parallelism will not be found in practice to affect the operation of
opening the can. In the forms shown in these figures the flange of the cover is
also turned outward at somewhat of an angle, as seen at a¹. This may be done
whenever desired without impairing the ready opening of the can. In each of these
four figures, as also in Fig. 6, s indicates the somewhat thick line of solder which
is employed to secure together the flange a and the wall portion d", in Figs. 4, 5, 15
and 16, and d in Fig. 6, this solder being shown on a somewhat exaggerated scale
in order to make the figures more plain.
The remaining figures up to Fig. 16 do not require special mention as the con-
struction of the forms shown in them will be readily apparent and as their
operation is substantially similar to that of Fig. 1.
In Figs. 6, 10, 11 and 12, however, it will be observed that the groove or channel
of the other figures is replaced by a substantially right-angled shoulder seen at m,
but the operation of these forms will be in all respects the same as has been already
described.
In Fig. 16 the part marked denotes a narrow band or ring which, when desired,
may be caused to encircle the wall so as to act as a re-inforce and impart greater
stiffness to the metal, but otherwise than this the form shown in this figure does
not differ essentially from the other figures.
Whenever preferred, an incision extending partially through the metal may be
made on either the inside or the outside of the body wall of the can either along
the path of the groove or equivalent or adjacent thereto. Instances of this form
of construction are shown at i in Figs. 2, 9 and 12. When such an incision is
employed, it will be found to facilitate the operation of rupturing the wall of the
can, but it is not essential to the successful working of these improvements.
In the forms shown in Figs. 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 16, the head or
cover B after the can has been opened will be found to serve as a slip or remov-
able cover for the vessel, inasmuch as the flange a united, as it is, to the wall
portion d or which in opening the can will be broken off at the groove, will
either fit conveniently over the residue of the can body, as in some of these figures,

page_text: !
or will extend more or less into the end of the body, as in the others of said figures,
and thus constitute a satisfactory closure for the can.
In all cases where it is found difficult with certain kinds of cans in the market
to avoid injury to them during the operation of "processing" their contents, this
part of these improvements will be especially desirable, as cans constructed in
accordance with my improvements will always successfully withstand any pressure
to which they may be subjected in "processing" them if the operation be in any
manner properly performed.
Figures 17 to 31, inclusive, illustrate the second part of these inventions, all the
figures from 18 to 31, showing in detail some of the various modifications of which
this part of my methods of construction are susceptible.
In Fig. 17, A is the body of the can, and B is that one of the can heads to which
the form of my improvements shown in this figure is applied. c is what may be
termed a depressed groove made by sinking the metal at this point to a consider-
able depth, the effect of this being to weaken the metal around the entire periphery
of the head at the groove and thereby render it easy to be broken through along
the line of the groove when blows are struck upon either of the heads, or when
sufficient force is applied to either of them by any other means.
is the flange
of the head made in the usual way, and of a diameter sufficient to fit closely
over the extremity of the body of the can. The head, as thus constructed, is
secured to the can body by soldering the flange to the latter in the customary
manner, and by doing this the edge e, e, of the body is brought into such
relation to the depressed groove c that the said edge, stiffened and sustained as it
is by the vertical strength of the body, becomes a fulcrum or lever or resisting
point against which the force tending to rupture the head at the groove may
operate. It will now be evident that if a few blows are struck upon the outside
or top of either of the heads, or if either of them is subjected to suitable force in
any other manner, the effect of the severe pressure thus suddenly applied working
against this point of resistance will be to quickly cause the head B to be ruptured
along the line of the groove and the can thereby to be opened.
The modifications of the improvements which are shown in Figs. 18 to 31,
inclusive, do not require detailed explanation as the manner of their operation will
be readily apparent from the description which has been given of Fig. 17. In all
these modified forms one head of the can is weakened by some form of groove.or
bead or its equivalent, and the effect produced will be the same as in Fig. 17.
In Figs. 18, 19 and 20, a shoulder, s, is formed near one extremity of the can
body and the lower part of the cover or head is caused to rest upon this shoulder,
but otherwise the operation will be the same as in the other figures, the shoulder
in these cases constituting the fulcrum or resisting point instead of the edge of the
walls of the can as in the other figures.
In Fig. 21, a similar shoulder, s, is formed near the end of the can body, but in
addition thereto the flange d is carried or doubled over the edge e of the body, so
that in this instance both the shoulder and this edge e co-operate to form the
fulcrum against which the cover will be ruptured.
In the form shown in Fig. 24, in place of a groove or bead, a substantially square
shoulder or angle is represented as formed in the cover or head itself, but the rupture
in the head will be effected in the same manner as in Fig. 17.
In Fig. 25 a narrow band or ring b is shown as encircling a portion of the flange
of the cover.
This band is designed to serve as a re-inforce to impart increased
stiffness to this part of the flange and thereby aid the rupturing operation, but it
can always be omitted if desired.
It will be seen that in Fig. 18 and also in Figs. 28, 29, 30 and 31, a slight
incision, is shown as made partially through the metal at the point where the
rupture of the head is to take place. The object of this incision is to still further
weaken the head and thereby facilitate the rupture. The incision need not
necessarily be at the precise point where the groove or bead or shoulder is placed,
but may, if preferred, be made adjacent to and parallel therewith. In some cases

page_text: the addition of the incision will be found desirable, but in most instances the head
can readily be ruptured without employing it.
The special object of the third and fourth parts of my improvements is to
provide a sheet metal receptacle which shall be extremely simple in form and
construction, and shall be adapted to serve as a satisfactory substitute for
hermetically-sealing metallic vessels which are opened by stripping off a portion of
their material, while at the same time it dispenses with certain parts essential to all
strip vessels and therefore can be produced much more cheaply than they are able
to be.
All strip vessels require to have the blanks out of which their bodies are formed
80 cut that one end of the strip-section shall be prolonged beyond the actual
diameter of the vessel in order to constitute what is generally termed a
66 tongue,"
which is to be grasped by the opening instrument to start the stripping operation.
This necessitates a very great waste of material, since in every vessel a piece of
metal equal in width to the length of the tongue and in length to the height of the
vessel body, must be cut away to form the tongue, and then becomes worthless. In
addition, there must be provided with every vessel a suitable tool-usually termed
a "key"-which is necessary for tearing off the strip-section. The value of this
waste metal and the expense of keys for a large number of strip vessels, amounts
to a very considerable sum and adds materially to the cost of such receptacles.
The modes of carrying out in practice these third and fourth parts of the
invention are illustrated in Figures 32 to 38, inclusive, and will now be described.
A, A, in Figs. 32 and 33, represent the bodies of two cylindrical sheet metal
cams, and B, B, in each figure are the heads or covers, which in the cans here
shown are constructed and secured to the bodies A, A, in the usual manner.
In carrying out the third part of my improvements as represented in Fig. 32, I
make a somewhat deep corrugation, rib or bead m at any convenient point between
the extremities of such a can body as is shown in the figure, though preferably
quite near one end thereof, as seen. This corrugation is carried circumferentially
around the can body, and I combine with it a groove or incision i made partly
through the metal closely adjacent to the corrugation, and preferably in the
angle or corner thereof nearest to the end of the can body, as shown in the
figure.
This completes this form of the can; and in order to open it after its contents
have been placed in it and it has been hermetically sealed, it is only necessary
to strike a few sharp blows upon either of its heads with a hammer or any
suitable instrument which may be conveniently at hand, or to apply a quick force
or pressure to either of the heads, whereupon the body of the can will at once be
ruptured along the weakening line of the incision i and the head or cover can then
be readily taken off with the fingers.
By the method of construction shown in Fig. 33, which illustrates the fourth
part of my improvements, I am enabled to dispense with the groove or incision.
To effect this, I employ the corrugation m as in Fig. 32, but in place of combining
the incision with it, I substitute for the incision another corrugation n preferably
somewhat shallower than the corrugation m and located closely adjacent to the
latter and preferably on the side of it towards that end of the can body which is
nearest to the corrugation m.
The manner of opening the can when thus constructed is the same as already
described in respect of Fig. 32. A few blows or any other suitable force applied
to either of the heads B, B, will quickly cause the can body to be ruptured along a
line between the corrugations m and n, or along the upper part of the corrugation n,
the effect of the force being to produce a shearing or severing action on the inetal
on one or the other of these lines, so that as soon as this takes place the head of the
can can. be easily removed.
No special description of the covers illustrated in Figs. 34 and 35 will be needful,
as the corrugation m and incision i, in Fig. 34, and the corrugations m and n, in

page_text: Fig. 35, are precisely the same as are represented respectively in Figs. 32 and 33,
and the operation of them respectively is the same as in said figures, the covers
being included in the drawing solely for the purpose of showing that both of these
parts of my improvements are equally as well applicable to the covers as to the
heads of sheet metal vessels.
Each of the cans last described will be found in practice to operate with entire
satisfaction. At the same time, the decided economy with which either of them
can be manufactured on a large scale as compared with strip vessels and many
other kinds of cans, renders them especially desirable for packers and others who
require air tight receptacles in great quantities.
Figs. 36, 37 and 38 represent modes in which the fourth part of my inventions
may be employed when applied to sheet metal vessels which have their heads or
covers soldered inside the walls of their bodies, instead of encircling the outside of
such walls, as seen in Figs. 32 and 33. In Figs. 36 and 37 the heads B are each
secured in the manner stated, but in other respects the cans here shown do not
differ essentially from the one represented in Fig. 32, m¹, m³, being the bead or
corrugation which is seen at m, m, in Fig. 32, except only that it is impressed from
the inside outward, thereby being the reverse of bead in Fig. 32, and the incision i, i,
in Figs. 36 and 37 being also the same as the incision i, i, in Fig. 32, except only
that it is located at the bottom of the bead on the inside of the vessel wall, as seen
in Fig. 36, and at the apex of the bead on the outside of such wall, as in Fig. 37.
Fig. 38 is merely a detail view showing the same bead as in Figs. 36 and 37 with
the incision i placed on the outside of the wall of the vessel at the upper angle of
the bead, as may always be done when preferred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is: :-
First. A sheet metal can, or analogous receptacle, which is provided with a
groove, bead, shoulder or their equivalent in the wall of the can body at any desired
point between the extremities thereof so formed that the portion of the wall
between such groove or equivalent and one end of the body or between the groove
or equivalent and that end of the body which is nearest thereto, shall be in a
different plane from that of the residue of the body, and so located in relation to
one of the heads or covers that a suitable force applied to, or operating upon, the
latter will cause the can body to be ruptured along the line of the groove or
equivalent or along the narrow zone of material between the two planes of the metal
and thereby enable the can to be readily opened, substantially as set forth.
Second. A sheet metal can, or analogous receptacle, which is provided with a
rupturing groove, bead, shoulder or their equivalent in the wall of its body sub-
stantially as shown, in combination with a head or cover which after it has been
_acted upon to open the can by rupturing the latter in the manner set forth will fit
upon or into the end of the can and be capable of being used as a removable or slip
cover therefor, substantially as described.
Third. A sheet metal can, box or other receptacle provided with a cover or head
which has formed in it a groove or bead or shoulder around the whole or a portion
of its periphery in such manner as to weaken the metal of the head along such
groove, bead or shoulder and which when secured in position upon the body of the
can places this weakened portion in such relation to the edge of the can body, or to
a shoulder in the can body, as to constitute such edge or shoulder a fulcrum or
resisting point against which the head may be ruptured by blows upon it or force
applied to it in the manner described.
Fourth. A sheet metal can, box or other receptacle provided with a cover or
head which is weakened by having formed in it a groove or bead or shoulder around
the whole or a portion of its periphery in the manner described, and is also further
weakened at the same point by having an incision made partially through the metal

page_text: along or adjacent to the line of the groove, so as to aid the operation of opening
the can by blows struck upon or force applied to the head, substantially as set
forth.
Fifth. A sheet metal vessel or receptacle provided with a somewhat deep
circumferential bead, rib or corrugation at any convenient point between the
extremities of its body, or between the top and bottom edges of its head or cover,
in combination with another circumferential bead, rib or corrugation immediately
adjacent to the first one, but without any incision, strip-section, tongue or key,
substantially as set forth.
Sixth. A sheet metal vessel or receptacle provided with a somewhat deep
circumferential bead, rib or corrugation at any convenient point between the
extremities of its body, or between the top and bottom edges of its head or cover,
in combination with a groove or incision made partly through the metal in, or
upon, or closely adjacent to the said bead, rib or corrugation, but without any
strip-section or tongue or other prolongation of a strip-section, and without any
key or other device for tearing out any portion of the material, substantially as
described.
DL: 10th 1
- 1000
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.