Can Pull Tab Curvature for Under-Finger Grip Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pull tab mechanisms on cans are difficult for users with disabilities such as osteoarthritis and those with long fingernails to open due to lack of sufficient space for gripping and the need to press against the tab's edge, which requires strength and dexterity.
Innovation Solution
A pull tab system with a concave curvature and underneath gripping portion that provides increased space for users to grip from beneath, accommodating longer fingernails and reducing the required force needed to open the can.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pull tab is formed flat and implemented flush against the top of the can, then the device structure is simple, but users with disabilities or long fingernails cannot grip the pull tab effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The pull tab is lifted from the flat plane of the can top by forming a cavity underneath it, creating a third dimension (vertical space) that allows fingers to approach and grip the tab from below. This dimensional change transforms the gripping interface from a two-dimensional surface contact to a three-dimensional space-available configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The pull tab is positioned within and supported by a cavity structure in the can top, creating a nested arrangement where the tab resides in the space created by the cavity. This nesting provides the tab with clearance from the can surface while maintaining structural integration.
2Force
If the pull tab is pressed against the front edge with fingertip, then the opening mechanism works for typical users, but users with osteoarthritis lack the strength to apply sufficient force
Solution Approach 1:
By allowing grip from underneath the tab rather than from the front edge, the invention changes the direction and leverage of the applied force. The cavity enables fingers to wrap around and push up from below, utilizing different muscle groups and force vectors that require less strength than pressing against the front edge.
3Ease of operation
If the pull tab is formed flush against the can top, then the device structure is simple, but long fingernails physically obstruct the front edge and prevent gripping
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity creates vertical clearance space underneath the pull tab, allowing fingers with long fingernails to approach and grip the tab from below rather than from the front. This dimensional change eliminates the physical obstruction problem by providing an alternative access path that accommodates varying finger and nail geometries.
Data Source
AI summary
A pull tab system with additional gripping portions. The pull tab system may be implemented with containers such as can to provide a mechanism to open the can. The pull tab includes an underneath concave curvature that increases the free space available below the pull tab to enable users with disabilities and long fingernails to grip the underside of the pull tab from below the pull tab. The pull tab system also may include a cavity implemented in the top surface of the can that extends beneath and under the pull tab to provide additional free space to grip the pull tab from below the pull tab.