Today in 1991, US Patent 5011037 A was issued, an invention of Bruce A. Moen and Harold Cook, Jr., assigned to the Adolph Coors Company, for their “Container End Member.” This may win the prize for worst name. I understand that for industry, specific names are necessary for use in reducing confusion by the use of such jargon. For example, while the general public calls what holds a bottle sealed is a bottle cap, but within the industry it’s known as a crown. But calling the can top where it’s opened a “container end” actually seems more vague, although perhaps that really is the industry term. Anyway, here’s the Abstract:
A container end member is provided and has a first severable tab portion which is defined by a score line groove and has an integral hinge portion for permanently securing it to the container end member and a force applying tab portion permanently pivotally mounted on the container end member and used to apply a force on the first severable tab portion to form a pour opening in the container end member and a second severable tab portion having an integral hinge portion for permanently securing it to the container end member and having a raised surface projecting outwardly from the container end member so that a force may be applied thereto to sever the second severable tab portion and form a vent opening in the container end member.
