Background Art As shown in Fig. 1, several types of can lids, with opening tabs 30 designed to easily break the seal of an opening piece 22 of a can 10 along a depressed seam, have been proposed and used. For example, a conventional pull type opening tab is designed to pull an opening piece upwardly so as to break the seal of the opening piece along a depressed seam until the opening piece is completely removed from the can lid while forming an opening on the can lid. Another pull type opening tab is designed to pull the opening piece upwardly so as to open the can lid without completely removing the opening piece from the can lid. A push type opening tab is designed to be levered up, and so the tab pushes the opening piece into a can while breaking the seal of the opening piece along a depressed seam until a desired opening is formed on the can lid.

In addition, combined type opening tabs, each designed to be pulled upwardly so as to push the opening piece into the can while breaking the seal of the opening piece along a depressed seam, have been widely used in the prior art. Such an opening tab 30 for cans is typically made of steel or aluminum. In order to open the can lid prior to emptying a can, the tab 30, locked to the top surface 20 of the can lid using a rivet 24, is levered up, thus breaking the seal of an opening piece 22 along a depressed seam 21 of the can lid and forming a desired opening on the top surface 20 of the can lid.

Therefore, it is possible for a user to empty the can through the opening formed on the can lid.

However, such a conventional can is a pressure-tight can or a vacuum sealed can, and so the can may be easily affected by a water hammering action in that the highly pressurized contents of the can undesirably pressurize the can lid when unexpected external impact is applied to the can. In the case of such a water hammering action, shearing stress is formed on the opening piece 22 defined on the can lid by the depressed seam 21 and may unexpectedly break the seal of the opening piece 22 along the depressed seam 21. Therefore, it is necessary for the depressed seam 21 to have a sufficient thickness to resist such a shearing stress caused by the water hammering action. In order to break the opening piece 22 along the depressed seam 21 and to form an opening on the can lid, it is necessary for a user to apply a substantial force to the opening piece 22 using the tab 30. Since the tab 30 comes into contact with the opening piece 22 and initially applies a breaking force to the depressed seam 21 at a time the end portion 31 of the tab 30 is raised up by a user, it is somewhat difficult to raise the end portion 31 of the tab 30 upwardly from the top surface 20 of the can lid. This forces some children or some elderly people to request a person around them to open their cans instead of them. In addition, the opening tab, closely positioned on the can lid without leaving a substantial gap between the tab and the can lid, forces a user to insert a thin material, such as a

fingernail, between the end portion 31 of the tab 30 and the can lid so as to slightly separate the end portion 31 from the top surface 20 of the can lid prior to breaking the seal of the opening piece 22 along the depressed seam 21 by levering up the tab 30. However, such conventional cans are very inconvenient to users while opening the can lid. That is, it is very difficult to open the can lids by operating the opening tabs 30 by fingernails of users.

The conventional cans thus sometimes undesirably break the nails of users or damage the fingers of users. Another disadvantage of the conventional can lid structure resides in that the opening piece 22 of the can lid may be easily contaminated with impurities, such as dust, and so the lid structure is unsanitary.

Disclosure of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a can lid structure with an opening means providing an enhanced opening function and improved sanitariness, which is designed to easily raise the outside end of an opening tab from the top surface of a can lid by a finger- pressing action, thus primarily forming an appropriate gap between the tab and the can lid prior to levering up the tab so as to open the can lid at an opening piece, the tab being also provided with a thumb pushing part, a thumb-operable resilient bulge and/or a depressed groove at predetermined positions, thus allowing a user to easily raise the end portion of the tab upwardly from the can lid and to open the can lid while accomplishing desired sanitariness, operational convenience and operational reliability of cans.

The can lid structure of the present invention is made to improve the can lid structures disclosed in U. S.

Patent No. 5,813,559, Japanese Patent No. 2,913,279, Korean Patent No. 141,618 and Korean Patent Application No. 99-12,571, all being owned or applied by the inventor of this invention.

In order to accomplish the above object, the primary embodiment of the present invention provides a can lid structure, comprising an opening piece formed on a can lid along a depressed seam, and an opening tab exteriorly attached to the can lid using a rivet and used for breaking the seal of the opening piece along the depressed seam when necessary, wherein depressed linear portions in the form of depressed grooves are formed on the opening tab at predetermined positions. In another embodiment of this invention, a thumb pushing part or a thumb-operable resilient bulge is formed on a predetermined portion of the opening tab, thus elastically raising the free end portion of the tab from the can lid while forming an appropriate gap between the tab and the lid when the tab is pressed down by a finger at the thumb pushing part or at the thumb-operable resilient bulge.

In the present invention, a plurality of regularly spaced grooves in the form of a concentric circular profile, a linear profile or a comb structural profile may be formed on an upper or lower surface of the thumb- operable resilient bulge, thus allowing the bulge to be smoothly operated.

In a further embodiment, the opening tab is designed to have its original function as a can opening means and a collateral function as a sanitary cover for the opening piece of the can lid. In such a case, the opening tab remarkably improves the sanitariness of a can in addition to the enhanced opening function.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a can lid with an opening tab in accordance with the primary embodiment of the present invention; Figs. la to le are plan or sectional views, showing the construction of depressed linear portions provided on

the opening tab in accordance with modifications of the primary embodiment of this invention, respectively; Figs. lf and lg are plan and sectional views, showing a depression formed on the can lid at a position under the depressed linear portions of the opening tab in accordance with another modification of the primary embodiment of this invention; Figs. lh to lj are plan views, showing the construction of a thumb pushing part provided on the opening tab in accordance with other modifications of the primary embodiment of this invention, respectively; Figs. lk to ln are sectional or plan views, showing the construction of depressed linear portions formed on the opening tab in accordance with other modifications of the primary embodiment of this invention, respectively; Figs. lo to lq are plan views, showing the construction of a thumb pushing part provided on the opening tab in accordance with further modifications of the primary embodiment of this invention, respectively; Fig. lr is a sectional view, showing a can lid opening operation of the opening tab according to the primary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a can lid with an opening tab in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention ; Figs. 2a to 2c are plan or sectional views, showing the construction of regularly spaced grooves formed on the upper or lower surface of the thumb-operable resilient bulge of the opening tab in accordance with modifications of the second embodiment of this invention, respectively; Figs. 2d to 2i are plan views, showing the construction of reinforcing parts provided on the thumb- operable resilient bulge of the opening tab in accordance with modifications of the second embodiment of this invention, respectively ; Figs. 2j to 21 are plan views, showing the construction of depressed linear portions formed on the opening tab in accordance with modifications of the second embodiment of this invention, respectively; Figs. 2m to 2o are sectional or plan views, showing

the construction of depressed linear portions formed on the opening tab in accordance with other modifications of the second embodiment of this invention, respectively; Figs. 2p to 2u are plan views, showing the construction of regularly spaced grooves formed on the upper or lower surface of the thumb-operable resilient bulge of the opening tab in accordance with other modifications of the second embodiment of this invention, respectively; Figs. 2v and 2w are plan and sectional views, showing a depression formed on the can lid at a position under the depressed linear portions of the opening tab in accordance with another modification of the second embodiment of this invention; Fig. 2x is a view, showing a depression formed on the can lid at a position under the depressed linear portions of the opening tab in accordance with a further modification of the second embodiment of this invention; Figs. 2y and 2z are plan views, showing a desired advertising or tab opening instructional pattern provided on the thumb-operable resilient bulge of the opening tab in accordance with a modification of the second embodiment of this invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a can lid with an opening tab in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention ; Figs. 3a to 3e are plan views, showing the construction of opening tabs collaterally acting as a sanitary cover for the opening pieces of the can lids and individually having regularly spaced grooves on the upper or lower surface of a thumb-operable resilient bulge in accordance with modifications of the third embodiment of this invention, respectively; Figs. 3f to 3h are plan views, showing the construction of opening tabs collaterally acting as sanitary cover for the opening pieces of the can lids and individually having regularly spaced grooves on the upper or lower surface of a thumb-operable resilient bulge in accordance with other modifications of the third embodiment of this invention, respectively ;

Figs. 3i to 31 are plan views, showing the construction of opening tabs collaterally acting as a sanitary cover for the opening pieces and individually having reinforcing parts on the thumb-operable resilient bulge in accordance with modifications of the third embodiment of this invention, respectively ; Figs. 3m to 3o are plan views, showing the construction of opening tabs collaterally acting as a sanitary cover for the opening pieces and individually having depressed linear portions in accordance with modifications of the third embodiment of this invention, respectively ; Figs. 3p and 3q are plan views, showing the construction of opening tabs collaterally acting as a sanitary cover for the opening pieces and individually having depressed linear portions in accordance with other modifications of the third embodiment of this invention, respectively ; and Figs. 3r to 3t are plan views, showing the construction of opening tabs collaterally acting as a sanitary cover for the opening pieces and individually having a desired advertising or tab opening instructional pattern provided on the thumb-operable resilient bulge of the opening tab in accordance with modifications of the third embodiment of this invention, respectively.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention As shown in the accompanying drawings, the opening tab 30 provided on the can lid of this invention has a free end portion, or a first end portion 31, to which the finger force of a user is applied when the can lid is opened. A hole 34 is formed at the center of the end portion 31, while a rivet hole is formed at a fixed end portion, or a second end portion, of the opening tab 30 at which the opening tab 30 is locked to the can lid using a rivet 24. A depressed linear portion 38 in the form of a depressed groove is formed on the tab 30 at a position close to the first end portion 31 as shown in Figs. la to lr. A thumb pushing part 36, having a

variety of shapes, may be provided on the tab 30 at a middle portion between the hole 34 and second end portion, thus allowing a user to more easily press the opening tab 30 downwardly. In accordance with other modifications of the primary embodiment of this invention, a thumb-operable resilient bulge 33, normally swelling upwardly, may be formed on the opening tab 30 as shown in Figs. 2a to 2z. A plurality of regularly spaced grooves 37 in the form of a concentric circular profile, a linear profile or a comb structural profile may be formed on the upper or lower surface of the resilient bulge 33. The depressed linear portions 38, provided at positions around the first end portion 31, are depressed grooves, which have a predetermined size and extend in a transverse direction. An arcuate slit 32 is formed around the rivet hole of the opening tab 30 and allows the tab 30 to be bent when the tab 30 is levered up to open the can lid.

In the above opening tab 30, it is preferable for the opening tab 30 to be gradually enlarged in width in a direction from the second end portion toward the first end portion 31 and to have an arcuate profile at both ends thereof.

The thumb-operable resilient bulge 33, formed at the center of the first end portion 31 of the opening tab 30, is designed in that it has a shape and an elasticity, both allowing the bulge 33 to normally swell upwardly, but selectively and resiliently be convexly inverted when it is pressed down by a finger. That is, when the thumb- operable resilient bulge 33 is pressed down by a thumb of a user, the bulge 33 partially and elastically raises the tab body, including the end portion 31, from the top surface 20 of the can lid while forming an appropriate gap between the tab body and the top surface of the can lid. In the present invention, several types of resilient bulges 33, for example, a dome-shaped bulge as shown in Fig. 2a or an overbridge-shaped bulge as shown in Fig. 2e, may be formed on the opening tab 30. In order to allow the resilient bulge 33 to be smoothly and resiliently operated when it is pressed downwardly by a finger, a plurality of regularly spaced grooves 37 in the

form of a concentric circular profile, a linear profile or a comb structural profile are formed on the upper or lower surface of the resilient bulge 33 as shown in Figs.

2a to 2u. Of course, it should be understood that the profile of the grooves 37 may be somewhat freely changed without affecting the functioning of this invention.

In the present invention, a depressed linear portion 38 in the form of a depressed groove may be formed on the first end portion 31 of the opening tab 30 while extending in a transverse direction. The above depressed linear portion 38 allows a user to easily raise the first end portion 31 of the opening tab 30 upwardly from the top surface 20 of the can lid and to allow both a tab raising action and a tab levering action to be separately and orderly performed by a user. Of course, the depressed linear portion 38 may have a variety of profiles without affecting the functioning of this invention as shown in Figs. la to lr and Figs. 2j to 2z.

However, it is necessary for the depressed linear portion 38 to have a sufficient strength to resist against an external force applied thereto when the seal of the opening piece 22 is broken along the depressed seam of the can lid. In the present invention, two depressed linear portions 38 may be transversely formed on opposite edges of the opening tab 30. It is thus possible to bend the first end portion 31 of the opening tab 30 upwardly from the top surface 20 of the can lid at the depressed linear portions 38 so as to form a gap between the end portion 31 and the top surface 20, with an inclination angle of the end portion 31 relative to the top surface 20 ranging from about 25° to about 30°.

Alternatively, two depressed linear portions 38 may be transversely formed on each edge of the opening tab 30 as shown in Figs. lk to ln and Figs. 2m to 2o. In addition, the shapes of the grooves 37 and cut reinforcing parts 35 may be changed from the shapes shown in the drawings without affecting the functioning of this invention. When an upwardly acting force is applied to the end portion 31 of the opening tab 30 having the depressed linear portions 38 as shown in Fig. lr, the end

portion 31 is elastically raised upwardly at the depressed linear portions 38, thus forming an appropriate gap between the end portion 31 and the top surface 20 of the can lid. The gap between the end portion 31 of the opening tab 30 and the can lid allows a user to easily lever up the opening tab 30 by a finger. When the user levers up the opening tab 30 as described above, the second end portion of the opening tab 30 presses down the opening piece 22, thus breaking the seal of the opening piece 22 along the depressed seam 21 and forming an opening on the can lid.

On the other hand, in order to open the can lid having the thumb-operable resilient bulge 33 on the opening tab 30 as shown in Figs. 2a to 2z prior to emptying the can 10, the resilient bulge 33 of the opening tab 30 is primarily pressed down by a finger so as to be resiliently convexly inverted. In such a case, the bulge 33 elastically raises the end portion 31 of the opening tab 30 from the top surface 20 of the can lid while forming a substantial gap between the end portion 31 of the opening tab 30 and the top surface 20 of the can lid. Thereafter, a slight force is applied to the primarily raised end portion 31 of the opening tab 30, the end portion 31 is secondarily bent at the depressed linear portions 38, thus allowing a user to more easily handle the end portion 31 of the opening tab 30. The gap between the end portion 31 of the opening tab 30 and the can lid allows the user to easily lever up the opening tab 30 with fingers gripping the end portion 31. When the user levers up the opening tab 30 as described above, the second end portion of the opening tab 30 presses down the opening piece 22. The seal of the opening piece 22 is broken along the depressed seam 21 and forms an opening on the can lid. Therefore, it is possible for the user to empty the can through the opening formed on the can lid.

In the modifications of Figs. lh to li and Figs. lo to lq, the opening tab 30 is provided with a thumb pushing part 36 which allows a small-sized hole 34 to be formed at a position close to the end portion 31. Such

a thumb pushing part 36 thus provides a large area on the tab 30 at a position between the hole 34 and the arcuate slit 32 and allows a user to more easily press the tab 30 with a thumb.

In the modifications of Figs. lf, lg, 2v and 2w, a depression 23 is defined on the top surface 20 of the can lid at a position under the depressed linear portions 38 of the opening tab 30. The above depression 23 allows the end portion 31 of the opening tab 30 to be more easily bent at the depressed linear portions 38 when the thumb pushing part 36 or the resilient bulge 33 is pressed down by a finger so as to raise the end portion 31 of the opening tab 30 upwardly from the top surface 20 of the can lid.

In the modifications of Figs. lo to lq and Figs. 2y and 2z, a desired advertising or tab opening instructional pattern 100 in the form of letters, symbols or figures is provided on the thumb pushing part 36 or on the thumb- operable resilient bulge 33 of the opening tab 30. The formation of the above pattern 100 on the opening tab 30 may be accomplished through an intaglio process, an embossing process, a carving process and a printing process.

In the modifications of Figs. 2d to 2i, 2k, 21, and 2s to 2v, cut reinforcing parts 35 are formed on the thumb-operable resilient bulge 33 of the opening tab 30 so as to allow the resilient bulge 33 to be more smoothly operated when the bulge 33 is pressed down by a user. In the present invention, the cut reinforcing parts 35 may have a variety of shapes without affecting the functioning of this invention. In addition, the opening tab 30, locked to the top surface 20 of the can lid using a rivet 24, may be designed to normally and totally cover the opening piece of the top surface 20. The above tab 30 is selectively rotated on the top surface 20 at an angle of 180° prior to being levered up to break the seal of the opening piece 22 along the depressed seams 21.

In the third embodiment of Figs. 3 to 3t, the opening tab 30 collaterally acts as a sanitary cover for the opening piece 22 of the can lid. As well known to

those skilled in the art, the opening piece 22 is a portion at which the lips of a user come into contact with while emptying the can. That is, the objective of the opening tabs 30 according to the third embodiment is to remarkably improve the sanitariness of the can.

In the third embodiment, the opening tab 30 is locked to the top surface 20 of the can lid while totally covering the opening piece 22 of the top surface 20. In such a case, two depressed lines 233 are transversely formed on the opening tab 30 at appropriate positions between the thumb-operable resilient bulge 33 and the riveted end portion. A levering projection 234 is formed on the opening tab at the central position between the two depressed lines 233.

The opening tab 30 according to the third embodiment collaterally acts as a sanitary cover which totally covers the opening piece 22 of the can lid, thus preventing the opening piece 22 from being contaminated with impurities, such as dust. Therefore, the opening tab 30 of this embodiment accomplishes a desired sanitariness of the can.

In order to open the can lid prior to emptying the can, the resilient bulge 33 of the opening tab 30 is pressed down by a finger, and so the bulge 33 is resiliently convexly inverted. In such a case, the bulge 33 elastically raises the end portion 31 of the opening tab 30 from the top surface 20 of the can lid. Thereafter, the opening tab 30 is levered up, thus being bent upwardly at the depressed lines 233 as shown in Fig. 3.

In such a case, the levering projection 234 of the opening tab 30 is protruded from the arcuate cutting line 232 and presses the opening piece 22 of the can lid downwardly, thus breaking the seal of the opening piece 33 along the depressed seam 21 and forming an opening on the can lid. In a brief description, the opening tab 30 according to the third embodiment of Figs. 3 to 3t has its original function as a can opening means and a collateral function as a sanitary cover for the opening piece 22. Therefore, the opening tab 30 of the third embodiment remarkably improves the sanitariness of a can in addition to the enhanced opening function.

In the above-mentioned third embodiment, a desired advertising or tab opening instructional pattern 100 in the form of letters, symbols or figures may be provided on the opening tab 30 as shown in Figs. 3r to 3t. In addition, cut reinforcing parts 35 may be formed on the thumb-operable resilient bulge 33 of the opening tab 30 as shown in Figs. 3i to 31. In this embodiment, a plurality of regularly spaced grooves 37 in the form of a concentric circular profile, a linear profile or a comb structural profile may be formed on the upper or lower surface of the resilient bulge 33 as shown in Figs. 3a to 3h. The above depressed linear portions 38 allow the resilient bulge 33 to be more smoothly operated when the bulge 33 is pressed down by a finger. Furthermore, one or more depressed linear portions 38 in the form of depressed grooves having a predetermined size may be formed on the first end portion 31 of the opening tab 30 as shown in Figs. 3m to 3q.

Industrial Applicability As described above, the present invention provides a can lid structure with an opening means providing enhanced opening function and improved sanitariness. The opening means of this invention allows a user to easily, simply and sanitarily open and empty a can. The present invention thus accomplishes a desired sanitariness of cans while being very convenient to users.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.