Removable-panel metal end with cut protection

Abstract

A removable-panel metal end for a container having cut protection. The metal end includes a top wall having a fold region and a panel. The panel is removable from the rest of the top wall and is delinated by a score. The fold region and score are configured such that in one area the score is outward and beneath the fold region in order to provide protection against any burrs created in the smile area by the removal of the panel and outside that one area the score is either equal to or inward of the fold region in order to prevent interference from the fold region during the panel's removal.

1 . A removable-panel metal end for a container, comprising: 
 a top wall having a center and an outer periphery, a score formed in the top wall extending about the center and spaced radially inwardly from the outer periphery so as to delineate a panel in the top wall that is severable from an outer peripheral portion of the top wall;    an integral rivet formed in the panel, and an opening tab attached to the rivet, the opening tab having a nose positioned adjacent an upper surface of the panel proximate the score, such that pivoting of the opening tab about the rivet causes the nose to bear downwardly on the panel to initiate severing of the score adjacent the nose; and    a fold region formed in the outer peripheral portion of the top wall, the fold region comprising a bottom layer that extends radially outwardly from the score to an outer fold, a middle layer that extends radially inwardly from the outer fold to an inner fold, and an upper layer that extends radially outwardly from the inner fold such that the inner fold generally overlies the score;    wherein the score adjacent the tab nose lies radially outwardly of the inner fold such that the inner fold forms a cut-protection feature, and wherein at other locations remote from the tab nose the score does not lie radially outwardly of the inner fold to the same extent.    
   
   
       2 . The removable-panel metal end of  claim 1 , wherein the inner fold is circular and at a substantially constant radius from the center, and wherein the score has a non-circular path.  
   
   
       3 . The removable-panel metal end of  claim 2 , wherein the score for an angular sector adjacent the tab nose has a non-circular-arc shape.  
   
   
       4 . The removable-panel metal end of  claim 3 , wherein the score outside said angular sector has a circular-arc shape.  
   
   
       5 . A removable-panel metal end for a container, comprising: 
 a top wall having a panel wherein the panel is severable from the top wall along a score delineating the panel from the top wall;    an integral rivet formed in the panel, and an opening tab attached to the rivet, the opening tab having a nose positioned adjacent an upper surface of the panel proximate the score, such that pivoting of the opening tab about the rivet causes the nose to bear downwardly on the panel to initiate severing of the score adjacent the nose; and    a fold region formed generally along the score, the fold region comprising a bottom layer that extends from the score away from the panel to an outer fold, a middle layer that extends from the outer fold toward the panel to an inner fold, and an upper layer that extends from the inner fold away from the panel such that the inner fold generally overlies the score;    wherein the inner fold adjacent the tab nose generally extends past the score and overlies part of the panel by a first distance such that the inner fold forms a cut-protection feature, and wherein at other locations remote from the tab nose the inner fold extends up to the score or beyond the score by a second distance, the second distance is less than the first distance.    
   
   
       6 . A container having a removable-panel metal end with cut protection, said container comprising: 
 a tubular side wall having a top flange and defining a top opening; and    a metal end attached to the top flange of the side wall to close the top opening, wherein the metal end comprises, 
 a top wall having a center and an outer periphery, a score formed in the top wall extending about the center and spaced radially inwardly from the outer periphery so as to delineate a panel in the top wall that is severable from an outer peripheral portion of the top wall,  
 an integral rivet formed in the panel, and an opening tab attached to the rivet, the opening tab having a nose positioned adjacent an upper surface of the panel proximate the score, such that pivoting of the opening tab about the rivet causes the nose to bear downwardly on the panel to initiate severing of the score adjacent the nose, and  
 a fold region formed in the outer peripheral portion of the top wall, the fold region comprising a bottom layer that extends radially outwardly from the score to an outer fold, a middle layer that extends radially inwardly from the outer fold to an inner fold, and an upper layer that extends radially outwardly from the inner fold such that the inner fold generally overlies the score,  
 wherein the score adjacent the tab nose lies radially outwardly of the inner fold such that the inner fold forms a cut-protection feature, and wherein at other locations remote from the tab nose the score does not lie radially outwardly of the inner fold to the same extent.