Abstract:
A container has a selectively openable panel defined at least in part by a frangible score groove in a surface of the container. The frangible score groove is selectively fracturable by a lifting action administered by a user to a secured to the container. The tab has a nose portion separated from a lift end by a central webbing. The central webbing has a hinge region and a rivet island. The rivet island is at least partially surrounded by a first void region. The central webbing also has a grab portion at the lift end of the tab. The grab portion has an enclosed region defining a billboard surface. The billboard surface has a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side. A bead created by displacing the material of the central webbing is located on the billboard surface. A pigment-carrying layer covers at least a portion of the billboard surface. A tactile indicium is located on the billboard surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     N/A 
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     N/A 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to beverage containers. More particularly, the invention relates to stay-on tabs having emboss and deboss strengthening beads carrying indicia formed on an increased area. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Typical end closures for beer and beverage containers have an opening panel and an attached leverage tab for pushing the opening panel into the container to open the end. The container is typically a drawn and ironed metal can, usually constructed from a thin plate of aluminum or steel. End closures for such containers are also typically constructed from a cutedge of thin plate of aluminum, formed into a blank end, and manufactured into a finished end by a process often referred to as end conversion. These ends are formed in the process of first forming a cutedge of thin metal, forming a blank end from the cutedge, and converting the blank into an end closure which may be seamed onto a container. 
     These types of container ends have been used for many years, with almost all such ends in use today being the “ecology” or “stay-on-tab” (“SOT”) ends in which the tab remains attached to the end after a tear panel, including large-opening ends (“LOE”), is opened. The tear panel being a portion of the can end defined by a score length. The tear panel may be opened, that is the score may be severed, and the tear panel displaced at an angular orientation relative to the remaining portion of the can end. The tear panel remains hingeably connected to the remaining portion of the can end by a hinge segment, leaving an opening through which the user draws the contents of the container. In an LOE, the opening is at least 0.5 square inches in area. 
     Opening of the tear panel is operated by the tab which is attached to the can end by a rivet. The tab is attached to the can end such that a nose of the tab extends over a proximal portion of the tear panel. A lift end of the tab is located opposite the tab nose and provides access for a user to lift the lift end, such as with the user&#39;s finger, to force the nose against the proximal portion of the tear panel. 
     When the tab nose is forced against the tear panel, the score initially ruptures at a vent region of the score. This initial rupture of the score is primarily caused by the lifting force on the tab resulting in lifting of a central region of the can end, immediately adjacent the rivet. As the tab is lifted further, the score rupture propagates along the length of the score, eventually stopping at the hinge segment. 
     Tabs are often also used to convey information to users. This information may be in the form of promotional materials, logos, or the like. Methods such as printing, incising, laser ablation, stamping, etc. have been employed to provide information on the tabs. To date, none of these methods has been widely accepted. 
     Some publications dedicated to methods of conveying information to a user in conjunction with beverage containers include: U.S. Publication No. 2006/0151501 which discloses a protective sanitary film for coating a can lid; U.S. Pat. No. 1,257,710 which describes a crimped bottle cap; U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,129 which described information-bearing tabs; U.S. Pat. No. 1,878,541 which describes an impressed cap; U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,240 which describes placing indicia on a beverage container; U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,910 which describes an embossing machine having upper tooling including multiple embossing stamps and lower tooling including an anvil only; U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,505 which discloses tamper evident tape; U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,695 which discloses a token which is insertable into the finger hole of a tab, which token may be marked by molding, embossing, hot die stamping, or ink jet printing where embossing is used only when thickness of tab is so great that indicia will not show through; U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,166 which is similar to U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,695; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,080,958, 6,433,302, 6,501,046, 6,706,995 and 6,498,318 which describe marking tabs with embossing via stamping or incising; U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,806 which is primarily dedicated to a laser etched image on a tab; U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,880 which discloses a second score having a shape and laser markings; U.S. Pat. No. 6,777,098 which discloses laser marking an anodized aluminum; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,868,627 which describes indicia on a tab which indicia may consist of a mark, shape, depression, cut, mold, impression. 
     Other publications which may be relevant to providing indicia on non-detachable tabs includes AU-784218, DE-19701547, DE-29716186, EP-0923457, GB-2105257, JP-3146174, WO-00/03832, WO-01/68460, WO-98/10945, and WO-99/09853. 
     The present invention is provided to solve the problems discussed above and other problems, and to provide advantages and aspects not provided by prior can end tabs of this type. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is directed to a tab for a container of the type having a selectively openable panel defined at least in part by a frangible score groove in a surface of the container. The frangible score groove is selectively fracturable by a lifting action administered by a user to the tab. The tab comprises a nose portion, a lift end opposite the nose portion, a central webbing, and a bead. The central webbing is located between the nose portion and the lift end, and has a hinge region and a rivet island. The rivet island is at least partially surrounded by a first void region. The central webbing further has a grab portion at the lift end of the tab. The grab portion has an enclosed region defining a billboard surface having a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side. A bead created is formed on the billboard surface by a displacing a portion of the central webbing. The bead may carry a tactile indicium. 
     The first aspect of the present invention may further comprise a pigment-carrying layer covering at least a portion of the billboard surface. 
     The tactile indicium of the first aspect of the invention may comprise relief features on the top and bottom sides. The relief features may comprise an embossed figure on the top side and a corresponding debossed figure on the bottom side. 
     The first aspect of the invention may further comprise a pigment-carrying layer wherein the tactile indicium overlaps a portion of the pigment-carrying layer. The pigment-carrying layer may have a profile shape substantially matching a profile shape of the tactile indicium. 
     The billboard surface of the first aspect of the invention may have a width that is at least 50% greater than a width of the tab across the rivet. The billboard surface may be substantially fan-shaped and have a width at least 50% greater than a width of the tab taken through the rivet island. 
     The first aspect of the present invention may further comprise a pigment-carrying layer located on the top side of the billboard surface wherein the tactile indicium includes an embossed figure on the top side of the billboard surface substantially corresponding in size, shape, and location to a size, shape and location of the pigment-carrying layer. 
     The first aspect of the present invention may further comprise a plurality of pigment-carrying layers each having a separate pigment characteristic. Further, the tactile indicium may have a profile shape corresponding in size, shape and location on the billboard surface to an overall profile of the plurality of pigment-carrying layers wherein each pigment-carrying layer represents a separate feature of the tactile indicium. Still further, the tactile indicium may include a first relief feature on the top side of the billboard surface and a second relief feature on the bottom side of the billboard surface. The first relief feature may be an embossed figure, and the second relief figure may be a debossed figure. 
     A second aspect of the present invention is also directed to a tab. The tab comprises a nose portion, and opposite lift end, a central webbing, and an indicium. The central webbing is located between the nose portion and the lift end and has a hinge region and a rivet island. The rivet island is at least partially surrounded by a first void region. The central webbing further has a grab portion at the lift end. The grab portion has an enclosed region defining a billboard surface having a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side. The indicium is located on the billboard surface and comprises tactile features on the top and bottom sides. 
     The indicium of this aspect of the invention may an embossed figure and a debossed figure. The indicium may further comprise a first layer of a pigment-carrying material. The indicium may further comprise a second layer of a pigment-carrying material having a distinct visual characteristic from the first layer. The embossed figure and the first and second layers may be located on the top side of the billboard surface. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a can end for a container. The can end comprises a curl defining an outer perimeter of the can end, a wall extending downwardly from the curl, a strengthening member joined to a lowermost end of the wall, a center panel, and a non-detachable tab. The center panel is joined to the strengthening member and centered about a longitudinal axis, and the center panel has a displaceable tear panel center panel at least substantially defined by a frangible score and a non frangible hinge segment. The non-detachable tab is staked to the panel by a rivet. The non-detachable tab has a nose end extending over a portion of the tear panel, a lift end opposite the nose end, and a central webbing between the nose and lift end. The webbing has a hinge region and a rivet island surrounding the rivet. The rivet island is at least partially surrounded by a first void region to provide a first exposed area of the center panel. The non-detachable tab further has an indicium-bearing grab portion having a width at least 50% wider than a width of the tab intersecting the rivet. 
     The center panel of the can end of this aspect of the invention may include a deboss panel recessed therein where the tab is located within the deboss panel. The deboss panel has a deboss profile including a first zone, within which the grab portion is located, that is fanned outwardly from a narrower intermediate zone in the vicinity of the rivet which widens to a third zone in which the tear panel is located. The first zone is at least as wide at its widest point as the third zone at its widest point. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a can end having a tab with emboss and deboss beads for strengthening the lift end of the tab; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the tap illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a can end having a tab with emboss and deboss beads taking the form of information carrying indicia; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a can end with a tab having a raised bear emblem; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a can end with a tab having a raised strawberry emblem; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the bear emblem tab only, showing the bear emblem on the bottom is recessed rather than raised; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view of the tab having the bear emblem taken through a portion of the bear emblem; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-section of a tab similar to  FIG. 5  showing tooling for forming the bear emblem; 
         FIG. 9  is an alternative view of the tooling provide to form the bear emblem; and 
         FIG. 10  is a progression diagram showing formation of the tab of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the end closure  10  for a container  11  (partially shown) has a central panel wall  12  having a seaming curl  14  for joining the wall to the container. The container is typically a drawn and ironed metal can, usually constructed from a thin plate of aluminum or steel. End closures for such containers are also typically constructed from a cutedge of thin plate of aluminum or steel, formed into blank end, and manufactured into a finished end by a process often referred to as end conversion. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the central panel  12  is joined to a container by a seaming curl  14  which is joined to a mating curl of the container. The seaming curl  14  of the end closure  10  is integral with the central panel  12  by a strengthening member  16 , typically either a countersink or a fold, which is joined to the panel outer edge  18  of the central panel  12 . This type of means for joining the central panel  12  to a container is presently the typical means for joining used in the industry, and the structure described above is formed in the process of forming the blank end from a cutedge of metal plate, prior to the end conversion process. However, other means for joining the central panel to a container may be employed with the present invention. 
     The steps of manufacturing the end begin with blanking the cutedge, typically a round or non-round cutedge of thin metal plate. Examples of non-round cutedge blanks include elliptical cutedges, convoluted cutedges, and harmonic cutedges. A convoluted cutedge may be described as generally having three distinct diameters, each diameter being 45° relative to the others. The cutedge is then formed into a blank end by forming the seaming curl, countersink, panel radius and the central panel. 
     The conversion process for this type of end closure includes the following steps: forming a rivet by first forming a projecting bubble in the center of the panel and subsequently working the metal of the bubble into a button and into the more narrow projection of metal being the rivet; forming the tear panel by scoring the metal of the panel wall; forming an inner bead or panel on the tear panel; forming a deboss panel by bending the metal of the panel wall such that a central area of the panel wall is slightly lower than the remaining panel wall; staking the tab to the rivet; and other subsequent operations such as wipe-down steps to remove sharp edges of the tab, lettering on the panel wall by scoring, incising, or embossing (or debossing), and restriking the rivet island. 
     The central panel wall  12  has a displaceable tear panel  20  defined by a frangible score  22  and a non-frangible hinge segment. The tear panel  20  of the central panel  12  may be opened, that is the frangible score  22  may be severed and the tear panel  20  displaced at an angular orientation relative to the remaining portion of the central panel  12 , while the tear panel  20  remains hingeably connected to the central panel  12  through the hinge segment. In this opening operation, the tear panel  20  is displaced at an angular deflection. More specifically, the tear panel  20  is deflected at an angle relative to the plane of the panel  12 , with the vortex of the angular displacement being the hinge segment. 
     The tear panel  20  is formed during the conversion process by a scoring operation. The tools for scoring the tear panel  20  in the central panel  12  include an upper die on the public side having a scoring knife edge in the shape of the tear panel  20 , and a lower die on the product side to support the metal in the regions being scored. When the upper and lower dies are brought together, the metal of the panel wall  12  is scored between the dies. This results in the scoring knife edge being embedded into the metal of the panel wall  12 , forming the score which appears as a wedge-shaped recess in the metal. The metal remaining below the wedge-shaped recess is the residual of the score  22 . Therefore, the score is formed by the scoring knife edge causing movement of metal, such that the imprint of the scoring knife edge is made in the public side of the panel wall  12 . 
     The central panel  12  further includes a tab  26 . The tab  26  has a generally elongated body with a central longitudinal axis A-A defined by a central cross section through the tab nose  30 , and through a central webbing  42  and the lift end  32 . Typical prior art container ends often have a tab  26  which is staked in the final steps of the conversion process by staking the area of the panel wall  12  adjacent and under the rivet island  46  at an angle, to bias the tab  26  such that the lift end  32  of the tab  26  rests close to the panel wall  12 . The central panel  12  may also have a recess near the lift end  32  of the tab  26  to allow for easier finger access. 
     The opening of the tear panel  20  is operated by the tab  26  which is attached to the central panel  12  by a rivet  28 , generally through a rivet hole  29 . The tab  26  is attached to the central panel  12  such that the nose  30  of the tab  26  extends over a proximal portion of the tear panel  20 . The lift end  32  of the tab  26  is located opposite the tab nose  30  and provides access for a user to lift the lift end  32 , such as with the user&#39;s finger, to force the nose  30  against the proximal portion of the tear panel  20 . 
     When the tab nose  30  is forced against the tear panel  20 , the score  22  initially ruptures at the vent region of the score  22  of the tear panel  20 . This initial rupture of the score  22  is primarily caused by the lifting force on the tab resulting in lifting of a central region of the center panel, immediately adjacent the rivet  28 , which causes separation of the residual metal of the score  22 . The force required to rupture the score in the vent region, typically referred to as the “pop” force, is a lower degree of force relative to the force required to propagate other regions of the score  22  by continued lifting of the lift end  32  of the tab  26 . Therefore, it is preferable for the panel  12  in the area around the rivet  28  only lifts enough to assist with initial score rupture, or “pop,” and remains substantially stiff and flat to provide the needed leverage for the tab  26  to propagate the scoreline of the tear panel  20 . The present invention provides such optimal stiffness in the center panel, as is explained further below. 
     After the initial “pop”, or venting of the tear panel, the user continues to lift the lift end  32  of the tab  26  which causes the tab nose  30  to be pushed downward on the tear panel  20  to continue the rupture of the score  22 , as an opening force. As the opening operation is continued, the tear panel  20  is displaced downward and is rotated about the hinge region to be deflected into the container. 
     The tab  26  has a central webbing  42  located between the nose  30  and the lift end  32 . The central webbing  42  includes a hinge region  44  and a rivet island  46  surrounding the rivet  28 . An opening or void region  48  of the tab webbing  42  provides an exposed area of the central panel  12 . The void region  48  has a curvilinear geometry which borders the rivet island  46  and at least partially surrounds the rivet  28 , with a first end of the void region  48  being disposed generally to one side of the rivet  28 , and a second end being generally disposed on an opposite side of the rivet  28 . The hinge region  44  of the tab webbing  42  includes a hinge line which is defined by a substantially straight line passing between the first end and the second end of the void region  48 . It may also be necessary to add material to the tab webbing  42 , modify the radius of the curl, add beading, or other strengthening means to ensure that this area is strong enough wherein the tab  26  bends at the hinge region  44  during opening. 
     The void region  48  is within the tab webbing  42 . The void region  48  may have a generally arch-shaped configuration. In this configuration, the rivet island  46  again follows the general shape of the void region  48 . 
     The figures represent only one example of the rivet island  46  configuration. However, those individuals who are ordinary skilled in the art would understand that the rivet island  46  and the void region  48  can take any number of shapes without departing from the spirit of the invention, including but not limited to all notch or lance type rivet islands. 
     The webbing  42  further comprises a grab portion  54 . The grab portion  54  is adapted for user manipulation. Typically, the grab portion  54  includes a finger hole or the like. More recently, tabs have included fully closed grab portions onto which information or the like can be etched, stamped, or incised. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present invention includes a grab portion  54  having an enclosed region defining a billboard surface  58 . The billboard surface  58  is at least partially closed, and preferably fully closed. The billboard surface  58  has a top side  62  and a bottom side  66 . 
     The grab portion  54  of the tab  26  may be strengthened by displacing the material of the central webbing located in the billboard surface by forming or reforming emboss and deboss beads  68 , 70  on the billboard surface  58 . This beading  68 , 70  may allow the billboard surface  26 , and consequently the tab  26 , to be formed from a lesser volume of material than previously used to produce a like tab  26 . By adding these strengthening beads  68 , 70  to the billboard surface  58  excess metal used to roll or curl the edges of the tab  26  for strength may be reduced or altogether eliminated. This is advantageous because reducing the volume of metal used to produce any component of a beverage container is a goal of can manufacturers. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 3-10 , the billboard surface may also comprise information carrying indicia. Surprisingly, the beading may serve another purpose by using the beading to convey information to a user. Here, the billboard surface  58  includes one or more indicia  98 . Accordingly, the indicia  98  are preferably tactile, including one or more relief features of the tab material made up of the emboss and deboss beads. The term “relief feature” is intended to be differentiated from incising where the material of the tab is merely stamped or marked with recessed marking of a very shallow, consistent or constant depth. “Relief features” is intended to indicate a variable depth pattern which is less consistent or constant, such as a topographical map may exhibit. This method of providing a tab with relief features allows for much more detailed imagery than ever before attained on tabs of this type which typically rely on incising, stamping or laser ablation for less remarkable imagery. 
     The relief features are generally present on the top and bottom sides of the billboard surface  58 . Preferably, the top side  62  of the billboard surface  58  has an embossed figure while the bottom surface has a debossed figure, although this relationship can be reversed without departing from the spirit of the invention. The debossed figure is preferably substantially the negative of the embossed figure. These features are preferably created between a pair of forming tools  102  and  106 , one tool  102  engaging the top side  62  while a complementary tool  106  engages the bottom side  66  in a female/male-type relationship. The resulting tactile indicium  98  is more highly detailed than that achieved via laser etching of an epoxy layer or that achieved via a simple stamps as disclosed in the prior art. Thus, highly detailed and more visually pleasing designs may be added to the billboard surface  58  by cold working the metal of the billboard surface  58  on the top side  62  and the bottom side  66 , serving the further purpose of strengthening the tab  26  at the grab portion  54 . This adds the unexpected benefit of strengthening this portion of the tab  26  and possibly allowing thinner material to be used to manufacture the tab  26 . In other words, the embossed figure and the debossed figure each have profile shapes which substantially correspond to each other. The embossed figure has relief details which are the negative of relief details of the debossed figure, wherein more highly raised details of the embossed figure will have a corresponding more recessed detail on the debossed figure on the reverse side of the billboard surface  58 . The unexpected result of forming more visually stimulating indicia having greater detail than achieved in prior art tabs of this kind is a stronger grab portion provided by the forming technique described. 
     The grab portion  54  and the billboard surface  58  are preferably relatively large in comparison to other portions of the tab  26 . For instance, the grab portion  54  may have a width measured between the widest segments  59  of the grab portion  54  which is at least 50% wider than a width of the tab  26  as measured through a parallel segment intersecting the rivet hole  29 , preferably 10% to 100% wider, more preferably 25% to 100% wider, and most preferably 50% to 100% wider, or any range or combination of ranges therein. This creates an enlarged billboard surface  58  having a similar size ratio which lends itself to the information carrying or displaying indicium or indicia, which again may also serve as stiffening beads of reformed metal. The grab portion  54  and the billboard surface  58  preferably have a fan-shaped appearance, wider at the lift end  32  of the tab  26  and tapering inwardly towards the rivet. This fan-shape also lends itself to an arcuate lift end  32  of the tab  26 . 
     The novel shape of the tab  26  requires a novel deboss panel  110  to allow the tab  26  to fit fully within the bounds of a deboss panel profile  114 . The deboss panel  110  is formed in the public side of the central panel  12 . The deboss panel  110  using conventional die-forming techniques. The deboss panel  110  has a novel deboss profile  114  which is defined by an inner radius line  118  and an outer radius line  122 . The deboss panel  110  may have bilateral symmetry. 
     The deboss profile  114  includes first and second opposing end portions joined by a pair of sidewalls. As illustrated, the deboss panel profile  114  has a first zone  126 , within which the grab portion  54  is located, that is fanned outwardly from a narrower intermediate zone  130  in the vicinity of the rivet  28 . The deboss profile  114  widens again in a third zone  134  where the tear panel  20  is located. The first zone  126  is at least as wide at its widest point as the third zone  134  at its widest point. 
     The billboard surface  58  further has a pigment-carrying layer  138  covering at least a portion of the billboard surface  58 . The pigment-carrying layer  138  may be provided by resin, paint, epoxy, coating, anodizing, wax, or any other pigment-carrying solution or solid that is capable of adhering to the billboard surface  58  material. 
     The tactile indicium  98  preferably overlaps a portion of the pigment-carrying layer  138 . This provides further detail and a more pleasing appearance to the indicium  98 . More preferably, the pigment-carrying layer  138  has a profile shape substantially matching a profile shape of the tactile indicium  98 . The profile shape of the pigment-carrying layer  138  corresponds in size, shape, and location to a size, shape and location of the tactile indicium  98 . Most preferably, the billboard surface  58  has a plurality of pigment-carrying layers  138 . Each layer  138  is associated with a design feature on the tactile indicium  98  having a separate pigment characteristic, such as shade or color. 
     For example, in  FIG. 4 , one layer  138  may be a shade of white to indicate a polar bear&#39;s body while another layer  138  may be a darker shade to represent details such as the ears, eyes, and nose. 
     Another example is illustrated in  FIG. 5 , if the tactile indicium  98  is a strawberry, one layer  138  may be red; another layer  138  may be darker to highlight the location and appearance of the strawberry pips; and another layer  138  may be green to highlight the location and appearance of strawberry leaves. 
     Thus, the tactile indicium  98  has a profile shape corresponding in size, shape and location on the billboard surface  58  to an overall profile of the plurality of pigment-carrying layers  138 , and each pigment-carrying layer  138  represents a separate feature of the tactile indicium  98 . 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 10 , a method and apparatus for forming the tab  26  of the present invention is illustrated. This method and apparatus is typical of tab formation known in the industry with some exceptions. First, the shape of a tab, which is larger than an actual finished tab, is blanked out of a strip of metal that is unreeled from a metal strip coil at a die station  200 . It should be noted the completed tab is not totally detached from, but remains partly joined to, the strip by a joint or “carry strip” until such time as the tab is attached (staked) to an end panel. Thereafter, the tab blank is formed with a predetermined pattern of convex and concave shapes, and curled (for improved rigidity) along its peripheral edge into a final tab profile. 
     The method of the present invention includes an embossing station  210  where the billboard panel  54  is reformed with an embossed bead. The billboard surface may be laser etched at laser marking station  220 . 
     At the laser marking station  220 , a laser may ablate the billboard surface to remove layer(s) of the pigment carrying layer to further enhance and sharpen the appearance of the embossed bead without adversely affecting the reformed billboard shape and embossed nature. 
     Next, the tabs are severed from the strip, while the tab is fixed to a rivet on a can end through the rivet hole in the rivet island at lane die  240 . 
     One of ordinary skilled in the art would understand that the principles of the present invention are readily adaptable to large opening ends and other types of beverage ends as well as the stay-on-tab ends shown in the drawings, and could be provided with food container ends as well, such as on a full open end. 
     Additionally, the terms “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” “top,” “bottom,” etc. are used for illustrative purposes relative to other elements only and are not intended to limit the embodiments in any way. The term “plurality” as used herein is intended to indicate any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively as necessary, up to an infinite number. The terms “joined,” “attached,” and “connected” as used herein are intended to put or bring two elements together so as to form a unit, and any number of elements, devices, fasteners, etc. may be provided between the joined or connected elements unless otherwise specified by the use of the term “directly” and/or supported by the drawings. 
     While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.