Food and beverage can tab

Abstract

A tab for a container such as a food or beverage can. In some aspects, the tab includes a tab body comprising a nose, a handle, and a medial portion that extends between and couples the nose and the handle. The handle may define a central opening. The handle may include an outer curl having a first edge that is folded along a bottom surface of the tab body and that is directed toward the medial portion. The handle may include an inner curl extending from the central opening. The inner curl may include a second edge that is folded along the bottom surface of the tab body and that is directed away from the medial portion. A distance between the first edge and the second edge may be less than 0.5 mm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tab for a container, comprising:
 a tab body comprising a nose, a handle, at least one tab carrier, and a medial portion that extends between and couples the nose and the handle, wherein:
 the at least one tab carrier is positioned flush with or inset relative to a main body of the handle; 
 the handle defines a central opening; 
 the handle comprises an outer curl having a first edge that is folded along a bottom surface of the tab body and that is directed toward the medial portion; 
 the handle comprises an inner curl extending from the central opening, the inner curl comprising a second edge that is folded along the bottom surface of the tab body and that is directed away from the medial portion; and 
 the first edge and the second edge are separated by a distance less than 0.5 mm. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tab for a container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the distance between the first edge and the second edge is less than 0.1 mm.   
     
     
         3 . The tab for a container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the distance between the first edge and the second edge is less than 0.05 mm.   
     
     
         4 . The tab for a container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first edge and the second edge are in contact with one another.   
     
     
         5 . The tab for a container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second edge overlaps the first edge.   
     
     
         6 . The tab for a container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first edge overlaps the second edge.   
     
     
         7 . The tab for a container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least a portion of one or both of the first edge and the second edge is pressed against a bottom surface of a main portion of the handle.   
     
     
         8 . The tab for a container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tab body comprises a longitudinal axis; and   a portion of one or both of the first edge and the second edge is pressed against a bottom surface of a main portion of the handle such that an inner region of the handle proximate the longitudinal axis is thinner than an outer region of the handle outward of the inner region relative to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         9 . A tab for a container, comprising:
 a tab body comprising a nose, a handle, and a medial portion that extends between and couples the nose and the handle, wherein:
 the handle defines a central opening; 
 the handle comprises an outer curl having a first edge that is folded along a bottom surface of the tab body and that is directed toward the medial portion; 
 the handle comprises an inner curl extending from the central opening, the inner curl comprising a second edge that is folded along the bottom surface of the tab body and that is directed away from the medial portion; and 
 the second edge overlaps the first edge. 
   
     
     
         10 . The tab for a container of  claim 9 , wherein:
 at least a portion of one or both of the first edge and the second edge is pressed against a bottom surface of a main portion of the handle.   
     
     
         11 . The tab for a container of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the tab body comprises a longitudinal axis; and   a portion of one or both of the first edge and the second edge is pressed against a bottom surface of a main portion of the handle such that an inner region of the handle proximate the longitudinal axis is thinner than an outer region of the handle outward of the inner region relative to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         12 . The tab for a container of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the tab does not include any portion of a tab carrier.   
     
     
         13 . An EZO container, comprising:
 a can body;   a lid coupled to the can body;   a tab coupled to the lid, the tab being configured to open the lid, wherein the tab comprises:
 a tab body comprising a nose, a handle, and a medial portion that extends between and couples the nose and the handle, wherein:
 the handle defines a central opening; 
 the handle comprises an outer curl having a first edge that is folded along a bottom surface of the tab body and that is directed toward the medial portion; 
 the handle comprises an inner curl extending from the central opening, the inner curl comprising a second edge that is folded along the bottom surface of the tab body and that is directed away from the medial portion; and 
 
 a distance between the first edge and the second edge is less than about 0.5 mm. 
   
     
     
         14 . The EZO container of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the lid comprises:
 a center panel; 
 a peripheral curl coupled with a rim of the can body; and 
 a chuck wall disposed between the center panel and the peripheral curl; 
   the chuck wall comprises a substantially horizontal portion; and   the substantially horizontal portion is positioned less than about 4 mm below a top surface of the peripheral curl.   
     
     
         15 . The EZO container of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the substantially horizontal portion is oriented within about 30 degrees relative to the center panel.   
     
     
         16 . The EZO container of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the chuck wall comprises a substantially vertical portion that is disposed above the substantially horizontal portion; and   a transition between the substantially vertical portion and the substantially horizontal portion has a radius of between 0.75 mm and 1.25 mm.   
     
     
         17 . A method of forming a tab for a container, comprising:
 punching a tab body into a sheet of metal material, the tab body comprising:
 a nose, a handle, and a medial portion that extends between and couples the nose and the handle, wherein the handle defines a central opening; 
   forming an outer curl about the handle, the outer curl having a first edge that is folded along a bottom surface of the tab body and that is directed toward the medial portion;   forming an inner curl about the handle, the inner curl extending from the central opening and comprising a second edge that is folded along the bottom surface of the tab body and that is directed away from the medial portion; and   pressing the first edge and the second edge together such that the first edge and the second edge are separated by a distance of less than 0.5 mm.   
     
     
         18 . The method of forming a tab for a container of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 moving at least one tab carrier inward such that the at least one tab carrier is flush with or inset relative to a main body of the handle.   
     
     
         19 . The method of forming a tab for a container of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 removing at least a portion of at least one tab carrier from the handle.   
     
     
         20 . The method of forming a tab for a container of  claim 19 , where:
 the removing the at least a portion of the at least one tab carrier comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of trimming the at least a portion of the at least one tab carrier, filing the at least a portion of the at least one tab carrier, and sanding the at least a portion of the at least one tab carrier.