(19)
(11) EP 1 266 839 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
16.07.2003 Bulletin 2003/29

(43) Date of publication A2:
18.12.2002 Bulletin 2002/51

(21) Application number: 02254152.8

(22) Date of filing: 13.06.2002
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B65D 47/10
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 13.06.2001 GB 0114410

(71) Applicant: Portola Packaging Limited
Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN4 5NT (GB)

(72) Inventors:
  • Mavin, Gerry
    Ashington, Northumberland NE63 8QX (GB)
  • Glover, Stephen
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN5 8LD (GB)
  • Stephenson, Timothy
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN11 0FF (GB)

(74) Representative: McLeish, Nicholas Alistair Maxwell 
Boult Wade Tennant Verulam Gardens 70 Gray's Inn Road
London WC1X 8BT
London WC1X 8BT (GB)

   


(54) Pull-tab


(57) There is described a pull-tab for use in removing a membrane adhered to a container (32). The container (32) defines an opening (40) having a periphery and the membrane overlies the opening (40) and is adhered to the periphery so as to prevent access to the contents of the container (32) via the opening (40) prior to the removal of the membrane. The pull-tab (54) comprises a peripheral portion having a shape corresponding to at least a part of the periphery of the opening (40) and is joined to the membrane in a region approximate that part. A tab portion (58) is joined to the peripheral portion (56). The peripheral portion (56) comprises means (66,68,70,72) to restrict a pulling force applied to the tab portion (58) from being substantially transmitted to all but a sector of the peripheral portion until such time as the membrane approximate that sector has been pulled away from the container (32).






Search report