Stay-on tab for a beverage container
AssigneeRexam Beverage Can Company
InventorRandall G. Forrest
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A non-detachable pull tab for a beverage container has a nose end, a lift end opposite the nose end, and a central webbing of a metallic material between the nose and lift end. The central webbing has a hinge region, a rivet island surrounding a rivet hole, a void region at least partially surrounding the rivet island, and a grab portion between the first void region and the lift end. The grab portion has an upper surface, a lower surface, and an aperture therethrough. The aperture is defined by a circumferential wall of the grab portion extending from the upper surface to the lower surface and includes a first segment of a reworked portion of a burr.
Claims26
A non-detachable pull tab for a beverage container comprising:
- a nose end;
- a lift end opposite the nose end;
- and
- a central webbing of a metallic material between the nose and lift end, the central webbing comprising:
- a hinge region;
- a rivet island surrounding a rivet hole, the rivet island being at least partially surrounded by a first void region;
- and
- a grab portion between the first void region and the lift end, the grab portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and an aperture therethrough, the aperture defined by a circumferential wall of the grab portion extending from the upper surface to the lower surface and comprising a first segment of a reworked portion of a burr.
A non-detachable pull tab for a beverage container comprising:
- a nose end;
- a lift end opposite the nose end;
- and
- a central webbing of a metallic material between the nose and lift end, the central webbing comprising:
- a hinge region;
- a rivet island surrounding a rivet hole, the rivet island being at least partially surrounded by a first void region;
- and
- a grab portion comprising an indicium, the indicium comprising an aperture at least partially defined by a wall of a pierced segment of the metallic material extending from the upper surface to the lower surface of the grab portion and comprising a fractured portion of the metallic material, and a reworked portion of a burr located at least partially about the aperture, the reworked portion comprising a flattened segment.
An apparatus for forming a non-detachable tab comprising:
- a first tool having a piercing surface in a shape to form an indicium;
- a second tool in operable alignment with the first tool having an opening complimentary to the piercing shape of the first tool for receiving the piercing surface therein;
- a third tool having a shape retaining surface similar to the piercing surface;
- and
- a fourth tool in operable alignment with the third tool.
A method for forming a non-detachable tab comprising the steps of:
- providing a sheet of a metallic material;
- a first tool having a piercing surface in a shape to form an indicium;
- a second tool in operable alignment with the first tool having an opening complimentary to the piercing shape of the first tool;
- passing the sheet of metallic material between the first and second tools;
- forming an indicium on the sheet of metallic material by piercing the sheet of metallic material through relative movement between the first and second tools;
- and
- providing a third tool;
- providing a fourth tool in operable alignment with the third tool;
- passing the indicium between the third and fourth tools;
- and
- reworking a burr created in the forming an indicium step by providing relative movement between the third and fourth tools.
A non-detachable pull tab for a beverage container comprising:
- a nose end;
- a lift end opposite the nose end;
- and
- a central webbing of a metallic material between the nose and lift end, the central webbing comprising:
- a hinge region;
- a rivet island surrounding a rivet hole, the rivet island being at least partially surrounded by a first void region;
- and
- a grab portion between the first void region and the lift end, the grab portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and an indicium in the form of an aperture having a perimeter at least partially defined by a reworked portion of the metallic material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.