Improvements in and relating to Cans, Boxes, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Apr., 1891-Accepted, 23rd May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Cans, Boxes, and the like.
I JAMES AYTOUN of 7 Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the construction of cans, boxes, and the like, and
consists in forming in any suitable part of a can, box, or the like a corrugation,
or fold, the object being to facilitate the opening of the said can, box, or the like.
To this end I form on the can or box a corrugation, or fold, the sides or walls
of which are parallel and in close proximity to one another.
This fold or corrugation may be made in sides, top, or bottom, of the can or
box, or in the lid thereto, or at the junction of the lid with the can or box.
I do not limit myself to any particular position for this corrugation or fold
but it is preferably exterior to the can or box so as not to interfere with the
capacity of the said can or box. It may be made horizontally round the can or
box or lid thereof, or it may be made vertical or at any desired angle therewith.
To open my improved can or box the corrugation or fold may be cut & so
parted by a pair of shears or scissors, or the head or summit of the corrugation
or fold may be filed, rubbed, or ground down, either wholly or partially, in the
latter case to allow of the insertion of a knife or its equivalent by means of which
the two walls of the corrugation or fold may be forced apart, thereby opening the
can or box. It will thus be seen that my improved can or box can be readily and
easily opened with almost any tool or instrument that may be at hand, and this
without in any way damaging or mangling its contents.
Dated this 24th day of July 1890.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Cans, Boxes, and the like.
I, JAMES AYTOUN of 7 Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement—
My invention relates to an improvement in the construction of cans, boxes, and
the like, and it consists in forming in any suitable part of the can, box, or the
like, a corrugation or fold completely encircling the can, box, or the like, the
object being to facilitate the opening of the said can, box, or the like, without
touching the contents thereof with the instrument used to open the said can, box,
or the like, or in any way damaging or mangling the contents thereof.
To this end I form round the body or lid, or at the junction of the lid with the
body of the can, box, or the like, a corrugation or fold projecting outwards and
completely encircling the said can, box, or the like. The sides of the corrugation
or fold are preferably parallel with and in close proximity to each other so that
the edge or summit forms a close fold.
To open my improved can box or the like the corrugation or fold is sheared,
cut, or clipped, all round by any suitable form of shears, or scissors, thus

page_text: separating the two parts of the can, box, or the like, and allowing them to come
apart at the line of shearing or cutting. When an instrument suitable for
cutting, shearing, or clipping, the corrugation or fold is not at hand, the edge
or summit of the corrugation or fold may be filed, ground, or rubbed down, to
separate the two parts of the corrugation or fold, or to allow of the insertion of
a knife, or its equivalent, for the purpose of separating the two parts of the
corrugation or fold.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I append a drawing
hereto which shows some methods of carrying my invention into practical
effect.
Referring to the said drawing, Figures 1 and 2 are views in side elevation and
plan respectively-both partly in section-of a can of the type used for preserved
meats, embodying my invention, and Figure 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of the
corrugation or fold. Figures 4 to 13 inclusive, are views in broken sectional
clevation of various other ways of carrying my invention into practice. Figures 4,
5, and 6 show the corrugation or fold formed on the top edge of a can, or the like.
Figures 7 and 8 show the corrugation or fold formed on the lid or cover of a can,
or the like, the said corrugation or fold being horizontal in Figure 7, and vertical
in Figure 8. Figures 9 and 10 show the corrugation or fold formed at the junction
of the lid or cover with the body of the can, or the like, the soldered junction of
the two parts forming the edge or summit of the corrugation or fold. Figure 11
shows on an enlarged scale-the method of carrying out my invention when the
body of the can, box, or the like, is made of such thick metal that it would be
difficult to shear a double thickness thereof. In this case the corrugation or fold
is made of a thin sheet of metal soldered on to the body of the can, box. or the
like. Figure 12 shows an arrangement suitable for sardine boxes, and Figure 13
an arrangement suitable for paint cans, the corrugation or fold being formed in the
top or cover so that when the corrugation or fold is cut off the top becomes
available as a lid.
Throughout the several figures A designates the corrugation or fold, and
dotted line. . the shearing or cutting line.
It will be seen that by my invention as hereinbefore fully described, cans, boxes,
and the like, can be readily and easily opened with almost any tool or instrument
that may be at hand without in any way damaging or mangling the contents
thereof.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
methods of carrying my invention into practical effect as hereinbefore set forth and
illustrated by the accompanying drawing, but that I hold myself at liberty to
make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. In the construction of cans, boxes, and the like, disposing the sheet metal
forming the body of a can, box, or the like to form an exterior corrugation or
fold therein, as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In the construction of cans, boxes, or the like, disposing the sheet metal
forming the top, cover, or lid of the said can, box, or the like, to form an exterior
corrugation or fold therein, as and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In the construction of cans, boxes, and the like, disposing the sheet metal
forming the body and also the top, lid, or cover, so that the junction of the two
said parts when the edges thereof are soldered, forms an exterior corrugation or
fold, as and for the purpose set forth.
4th. In the construction of cans, boxes, and the like, interposing between the top,
lid, or cover, and the body, of a can, box, or the like, or between any two other
parts thereof, a thin sheet of metal adapted to form an exterior corrugation or fold,

page_text: the separation of which will divide the said can, box, or the like, into two parts, as
set forth.
5th. The improvements in the construction of cans, boxes, and the like, as and
for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and illustrated by the accompanying
5 drawing.
D
11
Al 1001
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E., ETC.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.