	US 12,246,371 B1
	Pull tab with raised lift end and associated method
Mitchell Everts, Whitefish, MT (US); and Andrew Hogenkamp, Minster, OH (US)
Assigned to Intellectual Capital Management, Whitefish, MT (US)
Filed by Intellectual Capital Management, Whitefish, MT (US)
Filed on Sep. 9, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/829,257.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/537,633, filed on Sep. 11, 2023.
Int. Cl. B21D 51/38 (2006.01)

CPC B21D 51/383 (2013.01)

20 Claims

1. A progressive die manufacturing method of producing a pull tab for opening a beverage container of a type having a frangible region of a container lid and a rivet adjacent the frangible region, comprising steps of:

producing at least one tab blank from a carrier sheet, the at least one tab blank fixed with one or more carrier strips of the carrier sheet at one or more attachment points on the pull tab;

at a tab station, forming the at least one tab blank into the pull tab having a nose configured to apply downward pressure on the frangible region of the container lid, a rivet receiving portion adjacent to the nose that includes a rivet aperture therethrough, and a lift portion disposed distally from the nose and terminating at a distal end of the pull tab, each of the one or more attachment points being proximate the lift portion;

at a lift station, bending the pull tab to create deformations such that the lift portion is elevated relative to a top plane of the pull tab; and

cutting the one or more carrier strips from the one or more attachment points proximate the lift portion of the pull tab to release the pull tab from the carrier sheet.

12. A progressive die manufacturing method of producing a pull tab for opening a beverage container of a type having a frangible region of a container lid and a rivet adjacent the frangible region, comprising steps of:

producing at least one tab blank from a carrier sheet, the at least one tab blank fixed with the carrier sheet at one or more attachment points on the pull tab;

at a tab station, forming the at least one tab blank into a pull tab having a nose configured to apply downward pressure on the frangible region of the container lid, a rivet receiving portion adjacent to the nose that includes a rivet aperture therethrough, a lift portion disposed distally from the nose and terminating at a distal end of the pull tab, and a finger hole located in proximity to the lift portion, one or more carrier strips fixed with the pull tab at one or more attachment points proximate the finger hole;

the tab station forming a center bar of the pull tab disposed between the nose and the lift portion with a thickness for structural integrity;

at a lift station, bending the pull tab to create deformations that elevate the lift portion relative to a highest continuous surface that runs along a length of the pull tab from the nose to the lift portion; and

cutting the one or more carrier strips from the one or more attachment points of the pull tab to release the pull tab from the carrier sheet.

17. A progressive die manufacturing method of manufacturing a pull tab for opening a container of a type having a frangible region of a container lid and a rivet adjacent the frangible region, comprising steps of:

producing at least one tab blank from a carrier sheet, the at least one tab blank fixed with the carrier sheet at one or more attachment points on the pull tab;

moving the carrier sheet and the at least one tab blank through a tab station;

at the tab station, forming the at least one tab blank into the pull tab having a nose configured to apply downward pressure on the frangible region of the container lid, a rivet receiving portion adjacent to the nose that includes a rivet aperture therethrough, a lift portion disposed distally from the nose and terminating at a distal end of the pull tab, and a finger hole located in proximity to the lift portion, the one or more carrier strips fixed with the pull tab at one or more attachment points on the lift portion;

the tab station forming a center bar of the pull tab disposed between the nose and the lift portion with a thickness for structural integrity;

moving the carrier sheet and the pull tabs to a lift station;

at the lift station, bending the pull tab to create deformations that elevate the lift portion relative to a top plane of the pull tab, wherein:

the lift station is integrated within the tab station,

the lift station creates bends in the pull tab, each bend at an angle to achieve a desired elevation of the lift portion, and

the lift station creates bends in the pull tab at a location on the lift portion for optimal stacking and user access;

moving the carrier sheet and the pull tab to a cutting station; and

cutting the one or more carrier strips from the one or more attachment points of the pull tab to release the pull tab from the carrier sheet.