Invention of pull-tab cans

In 1959, the recyclable aluminum can was introduced to the market in a 7 oz. size by the Adolph Coors Company. Ermal “Ernie” Cleon Fraze was born on a farm near Muncie in Indiana in 1913 and later moved to Ohio. During the 1940s, Fraze embarked on a career as a machine tool operator. Using a loan from his wife Martha, Fraze founded the Dayton Reliable Tool Company (DRT), his own machine tool business in Dayton in 1949.

While at a picnic in 1959, Fraze had forgotten his “Church-Key” to open beverage cans, which forcing him to use his car bumper to open cans of drink. Fraze thought there had to be a better way to open cans, so he developed a landmark method of attaching a tab to the can which later known as the “Pull-Top” in 1962.

This system could be opened by pulling the removable tab to access the drink. Surprisingly, Fraze did not receive a patent for his pull-top until 1967 and, eventually over 75% of US beer producers adopted Fraze's can by 1965.

His rivals, John S. Bozek and John Henchert of the Continental Can Co., William E. Taylor of the American Can Co., and Daniel Cudzik of Reynolds Aluminum Co. later improved Fraze’s patents and were became his strongest competitors in opening means and designs.

In 1977, Fraze imporved his original invention by patenting the first push-in and fold-back tab, known as the “Pop-Top”. Among the reason because of the increase of litter and potential for injury. This particular tab remained on the can, and it is still the principle design used on canned beverages today. Pull tabs revolutionized the way beverage cans and food containers were opened and their contents removed.
Invention of pull-tab cans