Improvements in or connected with Hermetically Sealed Tins or Cases.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left,. 23rd Nov., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Hermetically Sealed Tins
or Cases.
I JOHN WALTER BROOKE, of the Adrian Iron Works, Lowestoft, in the County of
Suffolk, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in or connected with hermetically sealed tins.
or cases.
The said invention will be clearly seen on the accompanying drawings and is as
follows.
I form a groove in the body of the tin, preferably near the top shewn at A Fig. 1
on the drawings, within the recess thus shewn I place a wire either of steel or other
suitable metal, with an end projecting through the tin marked B Fig. 1;-the method
of drawing the wire through the tin or other metal case may be performed in various
ways and does not affect my invention, a key, Fig. 3, upon which the wire is wound
may be found most convenient, further by my method the tin when cut with the wire
forms an edge inclining outwardly, thus giving the contents (especially when in a
solid state) freedom in leaving the tin without obstruction from the jagged edge.
As herein before stated a wire or strip of metal is placed in a groove prepared to
receive same and formed in the upper edge or other convenient position in the body,
of tin or case as shewn at Fig. 2 the upper edge being turned over and closed onto the
wire or strip to keep same in position, or the same method may be employed, in the
bottom or body of tin or case, in like manner.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1896
J. W. BROOKE,
Applicant.
Ímprovements in or connected with Hermetically Sealed Tins
or Cases.
I, JOHN WALTER BROOKE, of the Adrian Iron Works, Lowestoft, in the County of
Suffolk, Engineer, 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 said invention relates to that class of can which is employed to contain
perishable goods and is hermetically sealed by the aid of solder, and in which the
medium employed to open the can consists of a strip of wire which is drawn through
the metal by means of a key or ring.
Many devices have been suggested for effecting this object, but they have all been
more or less defective.
In some cases, the wire strip was liable to be injured in the formation of the tin
can, in others no proper provision was made for soldering the lid to the body of the

page_text: case, whilst in other cases the wire was required to cut through two thicknesses of
metal and generally no proper means were devised for retaining the wire in position
during the closing of the can, and thus the wire was liable to get out of place and
be rendered more or less inoperative, and the object of the present invention is to
overcome the difficulties above pointed out.
In carrying the present invention into effect, the body of the tin near to the end
thereof has formed therein a V-shaped or other suitable groove and within this groove
is laid the wire strip, one end thereof passing through a perforation to the exterior
of the can, the perforation of course being sealed by a dab of solder.
The edge of the can is turned or folded down inside so as to enclose the wire strip
within its groove and there securely hold it against the possibility of displacement.
The lid is of the usual internal kind formed with a downwardly extending rim, and
the rounded edge of the lid and the corresponding edge of the can formed by the
fold together form a convenient gutter for the reception of the solder which forms
the seal.
The wire strip is drawn through the metal of the groove by means of the usual
key or ring the shape of the groove efficiently guiding the wire and causing it to
follow the desired path.
The top of the tin together with the lid is by the cutting operation entirely
removed, leaving a perfectly plain surface over which the contents of the tin pass in
the removal thereof, whilst the can is left with an outwardly flaring lip or edge by
reason of the division of the annular groove by the wire strip, and this flared formation
greatly facilitates the removal of the contents of the can.
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1. is an elevation of a complete can constructed according to the present
invention..
Figure 2. is a plan thereof.
Figure 3. is a sectional view of the upper part of the can representing the same
after the formation of the groove and before the folding down of the edge.
Figure 4. is a similar view but representing the wire strip in position and the edge
folded down.
Figure 5. is a similar view but representing the lid in place and the can closed.
Figure 6. is a similar view to Figure 5. but showing the wire attached to the
key in readiness for the opening operation, and,
Figure 7. is a similar view but representing the upper part of the can and lid
removed after the opening operation.
In the several figures, in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference, Figures 3. to 7. are drawn to an increased scale with respect to Figures 1.
and 2.
a. represents the body of the can which, near to the upper or it might be the lower
end thereof, has formed therein by rolling or otherwise a groove a¹ which is
preferably V-shaped, and within this groove is laid the wire strip b. one end of
which is fastened thereto by solder and the other end of which passes out through
a perforation at a and which latter is sealed by a dab of solder, as is well
understood.
The upper edge a* of the body of the can is then turned over or folded down
inside by rolling or spinning as shown more particularly at Figure 4. so as to
enclose the wire strip b. within its groove a¹ and the wire strip is thus securely
held in the path which it is required to traverse in the cutting operation without
possibility of displacoment.
The lid c. which is of the usual internal kind formed with a downwardly
extending rim is made to tightly fit within the turned down portion a* of the

page_text: a. and the rounded edge of the lid c. and the corresponding edge of the
body a. of the can caused by the folding down of the part a together form a
convenient gutter for the reception of the solder which forms the seal..
In order to open a can of the construction hereinbefore described, the wire.
strip b. is attached to the usual key d. as represented at Figure 6., or is provided
with a loop or the like and is thereby drawn through the metal of the groove a¹,,
the shape of such groove efficiently guiding the wire b. and causing it to follow
the desired path.
The top a of the can, together with the lid c. is by the cutting operation entirely
removed as represented at Figure 7. leaving a perfectly plain and unobstructed.
interior surface over which the contents of the tin pass in the removal thereof
whilst the can a. is left with an outwardly flaring lip or edge by reason of the
division of the annular groove a¹ by the wire strip, and this flared formation
greatly facilitates the removal of the contents of the can.
Although the groove for the wire strip is herein shown and described as V-shaped
it might be of half round or other suitablo section but it is essential that the
metal should not be fractured in the formation thereof.
A can constructed in the manner hereinbefore described is easy to manufacture,
whilst at the same time it conforms to the various requirements of the trade both
as regards the closing and opening thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a can or tin, the combination of an annular groove in the body of the can
upon the interior thereof, a strip of wire laid in the groove and at one end fixed
to the can and at the other end passing to the outside thereof through a sealed
perforation and a turned down portion of the can enclosing the wire strip within
its groove, substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
2. In a can or tin, the combination of an annular groove in the body of the
can upon the interior thereof, a strip of wire laid in the groove and at one end.
fixed to the can and at the other end passing to the outside of the can through
a sealed perforation, a turned down portion of the can enclosing the wire strip.
within its groove and a lid formed with a turned down flange or rim to fit within
the turned down portion of the can, substantially as herein shown and described.
and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 21st day of November 1896.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant..