Retainable tab construction for sealed cans

Claim 2

A sealed can comprising: a top, side walls, and a bottom defining a sealed interior compartment, the top having a weakened section defining a tab adapted to be disassociated from the top to provide access to the interior compartment, a first key engaging means extending from the weakened section, an elongated substantially rigid key, first connecting means for slidably connecting the key and key engaging means to facilitate manual engagement of the key and digital manipulation thereof to sever the tab from the top to provide a top opening defined by the weakened section, a second key engaging means extending from the top, and second connecting means for shifting the key and severed tab away from the opening to permit access to the interior compartment without interference from the key and severed tab.

Claim 3

The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first key engaging means includes a rivet having a lower end in sealing engagement with surfaces of the weakened section of the top and an upper head projecting beyond the top in engagement with the key, and the first connecting means includes an elongated slot in the key for receiving the rivet, with the rivet head being larger then the transversed dimension of the slot for purposes of slidably connecting the key to the rivet.

Claim 4

The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein the key is slidable from a first position at which it is disposed interiorly of the periphery of the top and a second position at which manual engagable portions of the key extend beyond the periphery of the top to facilitate digital manipulation of the key to sever the tab from the top.

Claim 5

The invention in accordance with claim 3, wherein twisting means are provided for permitting twisting of the key when in the second position to sever the tab from the top by curling the weakened portion about the key as the key is twisted.

Claim 6

The invention in accordance with claim 4, wherein limiting means are provided for limiting the longitudinal movement between the first and second positions.

Claim 7

The invention in accordance with claim 5, wherein the limiting means further includes stop means which restricts the movement of the key relative to the second connecting means after the tab has been severed from the top and moved away from the opening.

Claim 8

The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second connecting means is defined by a pivotal connection between the key and second key engaging means to permit the key with severed tab to be shifted away from the opening.

Claim 9

The invention in accordance with claim 7, wherein limiting means are provided for limiting the longitudinal movement between the first and second positions.

Claim 10

The invention in accordance with claim 8, wherein the limiting means further includes stop means which restricts the movement of the key relative to the second connecting means after the tab has been severed from the top and moved away from the opening.

Claim 11

The invention in accordance with claim 7, wherein the pivotal connection also permits twisting of the key to sever the tab from the top.

Claim 12

The invention in accordance with claim 7, wherein both of the second means cooperate to retain the key on the can top following severence of the tab from the top.

Claim 13

The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein the key includes a handle at one end and a stop at the other and engagable with the second key engaging means.

Claim 14

The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein interengaging surfaces of the key and a pair of spaced raised projections extending upwardly from the top define latching means to latch the key securely between the space between the projections after the key with severed tab has been shifted away from the opening.

Claim 15

The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first key engaging means includes a rivet having a lower end in sealing engagement with surfaces of the weakened section of the top and an upper head projecting beyond the top in engagement with the key, and the first connecting means including an elongated slot in the key for receiving the rivet, with the rivet head being larger then the transversed dimension of the slot for purposes of slidably connecting the key to the rivet, the key having a handle at one end, the key being slidable from a first position at which it is disposed interiorly of the periphery of the top and a second position at which the handle of the key extends beyond the periphery of the top to facilitate digital manipulation of the key to sever the tab from the top, the key when in the second position being adapted to sever the tab from the top by curling the weakened portion about the key as the key is twisted, limiting means are provided for limiting the longitudinal movement between the first and second positions, the limiting means further includes stop meas which restricts the movement of the key relative to the second connecting means after the tab has been severed from the top and moved away from the opening, the second connecting means being defined by a pivotal connection between the key and second key engaging means to permit the key with severed tab to be shifted away from the opening, the pivotal connection permitting twisting of the key to sever the tab from the top, the key includes a stop at the other end engagable with the second key engaging means for retaining the key on the top after the tab has been severed from the top, interengaging surfaces of the key and a pair of spaced raised projections extending upwardly from the top define latching means to retain the key securely between the space between the projections after the key with severed tab has been shifted away from the opening.