Tab and can end employing the same

Abstract

A tab is provided to facilitate opening of a can end. The tab has a nose portion located at a first end of the tab and a lift portion located at a second end of the tab opposite the nose portion. A rivet receiving portion is located proximate to the nose portion, and includes a rivet hole. A flange extends rearwardly from the lift portion of the tab to define a gap. The gap provides increased space between the underside of the flange and the exterior of the container end, thereby facilitating opening of the container end.

1 . A tab structured to be affixed to a can end, the tab comprising:
 a body comprising a bottom surface disposed in a plane, and a top surface disposed opposite the bottom surface at a preselected height, h 1 , 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 body 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, the flange including an upper portion and an underside disposed opposite the upper portion,   wherein the underside of the flange is disposed at a preselected height, h 2 , with respect to the plane of the bottom surface of the body of the tab, and   wherein the preselected height, h 2 , forms a ratio, h 2 :h 1 , with respect to the preselected height, h 1 , which has a value of between about 0.60 to about 0.95.   
   
   
       2 . The tab of  claim 1 , wherein the value of the ratio h 2 :h 1  is between about 0.65 to about 0.93. 
   
   
       3 . The tab of  claim 1 , wherein the value of the ratio h 2 :h 1  is between about 0.68 to about 0.9. 
   
   
       4 . The tab of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the flange is generally coplanar with the top surface of the body of the tab at the lift portion of the tab. 
   
   
       5 . The tab of  claim 1 , wherein the edge of the flange is disposed at an angle with respect to the remainder of the body of the tab. 
   
   
       6 . The tab of  claim 1 , wherein the lift portion of the tab includes a finger hole; wherein the flange has an arcuate edge; and wherein the arcuate edge of the flange is oriented concavely with respect to the finger hole. 
   
   
       7 . The tab of  claim 1 , wherein the lift portion of the tab includes a finger hole; wherein the flange has an arcuate edge; and wherein the arcuate edge of the flange is convexly with respect to the finger hole. 
   
   
       8 . The tab of  claim 1 , wherein the flange has an arcuate-shaped edge comprising opposing ends; wherein a first axis passes through the rivet hole and one of the opposing ends of the arcuate-shaped edge; wherein a second axis passes through the rivet hole and the other of the opposing ends of the arcuate-shaped edge; wherein the first axis is disposed at an angle, θ 1 , with respect to the second axis; and wherein the angle, θ 1 , has a value between about 10 degrees and about 50 degrees. 
   
   
       9 . The tab of  claim 8 , wherein the value of the angle, θ 1 , is between about 25 degrees and about 45 degrees. 
   
   
       10 . The tab of  claim 8 , wherein the arcuate-shaped edge of the flange further comprises a center point disposed intermediate the opposing ends of the arcuate-shaped edge; wherein a third axis extends longitudinally through the center of the tab, thereby passing through the center point; wherein the first axis is disposed on one side of the center point at an angle of θ 1 /2 with respect to the third axis; and wherein the second axis is disposed on the other side of the center point at an angle of θ 1 /2 with respect to the third axis. 
   
   
       11 . The tab of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the nose portion of the tab has curled or hemmed edges; wherein a portion of the lift portion of the tab has curled or hemmed edges; and wherein the flange of the tab is substantially devoid of any curl or hem. 
   
   
       12 . The tab of  claim 11 , wherein the curled or hemmed edges of the lift portion terminate at ends proximate to the flange; and wherein the curled or hemmed edges transition into the flange by tapering from a hem or partial curl into an area of folded, flattened metal about twice the thickness of the flange. 
   
   
       13 . The tab of  claim 1  in combination with a can end affixed to the tab. 
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein the can end is selected from the group consisting of beer can ends, beverage can ends and food can ends. 
   
   
       15 . The tab of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises opposing first and second sides, a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends of the body intermediate the opposing first and second sides, and a plurality of slots extending through corresponding portions of the opposing first and second sides of the body of the tab between the nose portion and the lift portion; wherein the slots are disposed in opposing pairs; wherein each of the opposing pairs of slots combine to form a fulcrum; wherein the fulcrum defines a bend axis that extends generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body of the tab; and wherein the slots are structured to enable the lift portion of the tab to flex about the bend axis with respect to the nose portion of the tab. 
   
   
       16 . The tab of  claim 15 , wherein the body further comprises a relief aperture and a paneled or beaded area; wherein the relief aperture is disposed adjacent to an outer periphery of the rivet receiving portion and surrounds a portion of the rivet hole of the rivet receiving portion; wherein the paneled or beaded area is disposed adjacent the relief aperture, between the relief aperture and the lift portion; and wherein the paneled or beaded area is recessed with respect to the top surface of the body of the tab. 
   
   
       17 . The tab of  claim 16 , wherein the relief aperture is generally C-shaped and includes an outer periphery; wherein the paneled or beaded area includes a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge; wherein each of the first edge, the second edge and the third edge is disposed proximate to the top surface of the body of the tab and extends downwardly toward the bottom surface of the body of the tab; wherein the first edge extends generally transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tab and terminates at opposing ends; wherein the second edge extends outwardly from a corresponding one of the opposing ends of the first edge toward the nose portion of the tab; wherein the third edge extends outwardly from the other corresponding one of the opposing ends of the first edge, opposite the second edge; wherein each of the second edge and the third edge terminates at a corresponding juncture with the outer periphery of the generally C-shaped relief aperture; wherein the fourth edge is disposed at the outer periphery of the generally C-shaped relief aperture; and wherein the fourth edge extends from the corresponding juncture between the second edge and the generally C-shaped relief aperture to the corresponding juncture between the third edge and the generally C-shaped relief aperture, thereby integrally connecting the second edge and third edge. 
   
   
       18 . The tab of  claim 17 , wherein the paneled or beaded area forms a web; wherein the web extends longitudinally from the base of the first edge to the fourth edge; and wherein the web extends transversely from the base of the second edge to the base of the third edge.