<P> As early as 1922, inventors were applying for patents on cans with tab tops, but the technology of the time made these inventions impractical . Later advancements saw the ends of the can made out of aluminium instead of steel . </P> <P> Cans are usually in sealed paperboard cartons, corrugated fiberboard boxes, or trays covered with plastic film . The entire distribution system and packaging need to be controlled to ensure freshness . </P> <P> Mikolaj Kondakow and James Wong of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada invented the pull tab version for bottles in or before 1951 (Canadian patent 476789). Then, in 1962, Ermal Cleon Fraze (1913--1989) of Dayton, Ohio, United States, invented the similar integral rivet and pull - tab version (also known as ring pull in British English), which had a ring attached at the rivet for pulling, and which would come off completely to be discarded . He received US Patent No. 3,349,949 for his pull - top can design in 1963 and licensed his invention to Alcoa and Pittsburgh Brewing Company, the latter of which first introduced the design on Iron City Beer cans . The first soft drinks to be sold in all - aluminium cans were R.C. Cola and Diet - Rite Cola, both made by the Royal Crown Cola company, in 1964 . </P> <P> The early pull - tabs detached easily . In 1976 the Journal of the American Medical Association noted cases of children ingesting pull - tabs that had broken off and dropped into the can . </P>

When did soft drinks first come in cans