Tab and can end employing the same

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/978,882, filed Oct. 10, 2007.

1. Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to openers for opening containers and, more particularly, to tabs used to open can ends, such as beer/beverage can ends and food can ends. The invention further relates to can ends having tabs.

2. Background Information

A tab is typically secured to a can end by a rivet, and the can end is opened by lifting a lift portion of the tab by pulling upwards on the tab so as to pivot the tab about the rivet. Specifically, when the tab pivots after the lift portion of the tab has been lifted upwards, the opposite end (e.g., nose portion or end) of the tab fractures a score line disposed on the can end, which permits the end-user to access the contents of the can.

Prior to use, the tab is generally in a flat orientation, parallel to the plane of the end panel of the can end. Lifting the tab requires the end-user to reach with their finger between the tab and the seam of a can end and to exert an upward lift force on the bottom side of the tab. Such an approach can create difficulty for the end-user to acquire proper leverage to open the can end. The difficulty can become more pronounced if the end-user has relatively long fingernails and/or weak fingers that make it awkward for the end-user to reach between the tab and the seam of the can end. Also, the area available for finger access between the tab and the seam decreases for smaller can end diameters, as well as for can ends having smaller center panels. This further increases the difficulty associated with opening the can end.

There is, therefore, room for improvement in tabs, and in can ends, such as beer/beverage can ends and food can ends, which employ tabs.

These needs and others are met by embodiments of the invention, which are directed to a tab for containers (e.g., cans) wherein the tab is structured to facilitate access to the tab and relatively easy actuation of the tab to facilitate easy opening of the can end by the end-user.

As one aspect of the invention, a tab is provided for a can end. The tab has a body comprising a bottom surface disposed in a plane, and a top surface disposed opposite the bottom surface at a preselected height, h₁, with respect to the plane of the bottom surface; a nose portion located at a first end of the body of the tab; a lift portion located at a second end of the tab, opposite the nose portion; a rivet receiving portion located proximate to the nose portion, the rivet receiving portion including a rivet hole; and a flange located at the rearward edge of the lift portion of the tab, the flange including an upper portion and an underside disposed opposite the upper portion. The underside of the flange is disposed at a preselected height, h₂, with respect to the plane of the bottom surface of the tab. The preselected height, h₂, forms a ratio, h₂:h₁, with respect to the preselected height, h₁, which has a value of between about 0.60 to about 0.95.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a tab, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the tab of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the tab of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

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Previous Patent Application:
Utility pocket with magnetic closure
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Container and latch assembly therefor
Industry Class:
Receptacles

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