The Invention of the Modern Soda Can Pull-Tab
A 1965 design for a ring-shaped metal tab that makes it easy to pull open a tear strip on a beverage can.
Original patent title: “Ring-shaped tab for tear strips of containers”
A 1965 design for a ring-shaped metal tab that makes it easy to pull open a tear strip on a beverage can. Granted to Individual in 1967 with 2 claims and 28 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a one-piece metal tab designed to be attached to a tear strip on a container wall. The tab features a large ring-shaped aperture that acts as a finger handle, allowing a user to pull the strip with sufficient leverage. To prevent the thin metal from bending or snapping under pressure, the design includes stiffening beads—rolled edges—that run along the inner and outer circumference of the ring and extend down the neck of the tab.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover tabs that lack the specific stiffening beads described in the claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more →.
- Does not cover non-ring-shaped opening mechanisms like simple push-buttons.
- Does not cover the actual scoring or weakening of the metal container wall itself.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the geometry of the stiffening beads. By extending the outer bead along the sides of the attachment portion, the designers created a structural spine that prevents the tab from folding or failing when the user pulls upward.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Classic aluminum soda cans
Beer cans with ring-pull openers
Metal food cans with peel-off lids
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This design was a critical evolution in the convenience of aluminum beverage packaging. By providing a secure handle, it solved the issue of users struggling to grip small, flat metal tabs, effectively standardizing the 'pop-top' experience for millions of consumers.
Filed
July 6, 1965
Granted
October 31, 1967
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major packaging manufacturers like Ball Corporation and Crown Holdings have refined this basic concept into the modern stay-on-tab designs used globally today.
Market impact
This patent helped transition the beverage industry away from separate 'church key' openers toward integrated, user-friendly packaging. It set the mechanical standard for how consumers interact with pressurized metal containers.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a one-piece metal tab designed to be attached to a tear strip on a container wall. The tab features a large ring-shaped aperture that acts as a finger handle, allowing a user to pull the strip with sufficient leverage. To prevent the thin metal from bending or snapping under pressure, the design includes stiffening beads—rolled edges—that run along the inner and outer circumference of the ring and extend down the neck of the tab.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the geometry of the stiffening beads. By extending the outer bead along the sides of the attachment portion, the designers created a structural spine that prevents the tab from folding or failing when the user pulls upward.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover tabs that lack the specific stiffening beads described in the claim.
- Does not cover non-ring-shaped opening mechanisms like simple push-buttons.
- Does not cover the actual scoring or weakening of the metal container wall itself.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
29/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
1/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$8K – $26K
Midpoint $16K · expired or expiring · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Patent Claims
1 independent claim · 0 dependent
Claims are the legal boundaries of the patent. An independent claim stands alone. A dependent claim adds limitations to its parent, narrowing — but not broadening — the scope.
The original legal language
Original claims
2 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Brown, O. L., & Peters, D. B. (1967). The Invention of the Modern Soda Can Pull-Tab (U.S. Patent No. 3,349,949). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3349949/pull-tab-pop-top-can
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Invention of the Modern Soda Can Pull-Tab cover?
A 1965 design for a ring-shaped metal tab that makes it easy to pull open a tear strip on a beverage can.
Who owns patent US 3349949?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 1967.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 3349949 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 28 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This design was a critical evolution in the convenience of aluminum beverage packaging. By providing a secure handle, it solved the issue of users struggling to grip small, flat metal tabs, effectively standardizing the 'pop-top' experience for millions of consumers.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover tabs that lack the specific stiffening beads described in the claim.
Same assignee
More from Individual
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