Beverage container with improved bottom strength

20~3591 BEVERAGE CONTAINER WIT~I IMi'ROV~D BOTTOM STRENGTH Background of the Inventlon Fleld of the Inventlon The present Inventlon relates ~enerally to metal contalner bodles Or the 5 type havinR a seamless sidewall and a bottom formed Integrally therewlth.

More particularly. the preserlt IlIvention relates to a bottom contour that provldes increase(l dome reversal pressllre, that provides greater resistance to damage when dropped. and that minlm~zes nr prevents growth In the helght of a contalner In whlch the bevera~e ls subjected to pasteurlzlng temperatures.

Descrlpl,lon of_the Reia ed_Art There have been numerous contalner conflguratlons of two-plece contalners, that Is, containers havlng a body that has an Integral bottom wall at one end. and an opposlte end that Is conflgured to have a closure secured thereto.

Contalner manufacturers package beverages of varlous types 15 In these contalners formed of elther steel or alumlnum alloys.

In the productlon of these contalners, It Is Important that the body wall and bottom wall of the contalner be as thln as posslble so that the contalner can be sold at a competltlve prlce.

Much work has been done on thlnnlng the body wall.

Aslde from seeklng thln body wall structures, varlous bottom wall conflRuratlons have been InvestlF,ated.

An early attempt In seeklng sufflclent strenRth of the bottom wall was to form the same Into a spherlcal dome conflRuratlon.

Thls Reneral conflP,uration Is shown In Dunn et al., U.S.

Patent No. 3,760,761, Issued Septemher 26. 19 ~ 3.

The bottom wall Is thereby 25 provlded wlth an Inwardly concave dome or bottom recess portlon whlch ~k 20~3591 Includes a large portlon of the area of the bottom wall of the contalner.

Thls domed configuratlon provides Increasell s~ rength and reslsts deformatlon of the bottom wall under increased Internal pressure of the contalner wlth llttle change In the overall geometry of the bottom wall throughout the 5 pressure range for whlch the container Is deslgned.

The prlor art that teaches domed bottoms also Includes P. G.

Stephan, U.S.

Patent No. 3,349,956, issued October 31, 1967; Kneusel et al., U.S.

Patent No. 3,693,8213, Issued September 26, 1972; Dunn et al., U.S.

Patent No.

3,730,3fl3, Issued May I . 1973: Toukmanlan, U.S.

Patent No. 3,904,069, lssued September 9, 1976; Lyu et al., U.S.

Patent No. 3,942,673, lssued March 9, 1976: Miller et al., U.~.

Patent No. 4,294,373, Issued October 13, 1981;

McMlllln, U.S.

Patent l~o. 4,834,25fi, Issued May 30, 1989; Pulclanl et al., U.S.

Patent No. 4,685,582, Issued August 11, 1987, and Pulclanl, et al., U.S.

Patent No. 4,768,672, Issued September 6, 1988, and Kawamoto et al., lssued Aprll 16 24, 1990.

Patents whlch teach apparatus for formlng containers wlth Inwardly domed bottoms and/or whlch teach contalners havlng Inwardly domed bottoms, Include Maeder et al., U.S.

Patent No. 4,289,014, Issued September 15, 1981;

Gombas, U.S.

Patent No. 4,341,321, Issued July 27, 1982; Elert et al., U.S.

Patent No. 4,372,143, Issued February 8, 1983; and Pulclanl et al., U.S.

Pstent No. 4,620,434, Issued November 4, 1986.

Of the above-mentloned patents.

Lyu et al. and Kawamoto et al. teach Inwardly domed bottoms In whlch the shape of the Inwardly domed bottom Is elllpsoldal .

26 Stephan, In U.S.

Patent No. 3,349.966, teaches uslng a reduced dlameter annular supportlng portlon wlth an Inwardly domed bottom dlsposed Intermedlate of the reduced dlameter annular supportlng portlon.

Stephan also teaches stacklng of the reduced dlameter annular supportlng portlon Inslde the double-seamed top of another contalner.

2053591 l~neusel et al., In U.S.

Paterlt No. 3,693,828, teach a steel contalner havlng a bottom portlon whlch is frustoconlcally shaped to provlde a reduced dlameter annular .supportlng portlon, and havlng an Internally domed bottom that ls dlsposed radlally inwardly of the ~nnular supportlng portlon.

Varlous 5 contours of the bottom are ad,lllsted to provlde more uniform coatlng of the Interlor bottom surface, Includln~ a reduced radlus of the domed bottom.

Pulcianl et al., In U.S.

Patent Nos. 4,685,582 and 4,768,672, Instead of the frustoconlcal portlon of T~neusel et al., teach a transltlon portlon between the cyllndrlcally shaped body of the contalner and the reduced dlameter 10 annular supportlng portlon that includes a flrst annular arcuate portlon that 18 convex wlth respect to the outside dlameter of the contalner and a second annular arcuate portlon that Is convex wlth respect to the outslde dlameter of the contalner.

McMlllln, In U.S.

Patent No. 4,834,256, teaches a transltlonal portlon 16 between the cyllndrlcally shaped body Or the contalner and the reduced dlameter annular supportlng portlon that Is contoured to provlde stable stackln~ for contalners havlng a double-seamed top whlch Is generally the same dlameter as the cyllndrlcal body, as well as provldlng stable stacklng for contalners havlng a double-seamed top that Is smaller than the 20 cyllndrlcal body.

In thls deslgn, contalners wlth reduced dlameter tops stack lnslde the reduced dlameter annular supportlng portlon; and contalners wlth larger tops stack agalnst thls speclally contoured transltlonal portlon.

Suplk, ln U.S.

Patent No. 4,732,292, Issued March 22, 1988, teaches maklng Indentlons In the bottom of a contalner that extend upwardly from 25 the bottom.

Varlous conflguratlons of these lndentatlons are shown.

The lndentatlons are sald to Increase the flexlblllty of the bottom and thereby prevent cracklng of Interlor coatlngs when the contalners are sub~ected to Internal fluid pressures.

20~3591 In U.S.

Patent No. 4,88fi,924. lssue(1 December 12~ 1989, whlch was dlsclo.sed In W.l.PØ Internatlonal Puhllcatlon No. W0 83/0267~ of August 4, 1983, Claydon et al. teach apparatlls for rolling the outer surface Or the annular supportlng portlon radlally inward, therehy redl1clng the radll of the 6 annular supportlng portlon.

Thls r olllng of the annular supportlng portlon Inwardly to prevent inverslon of the dome when the container is sub~ected to Internal fluld pressures.

Varlous of the prlor art patents, Includlng Pulcianl et al., U.S.

Patent No. 4,620,434, teach contours which are designed to increase the pressure at 10 whlch fluld Inslde the contalner reverses the dome at the bottom of the contalner.

Thls pressure is called the static dome reversal pressure.

In thls patent, the contour of the tran~sitlonal portlon Is glven such great emphasls that the radlus of the domed panel, though generally speclfled wlthln a range, Is not speclfied for the preferred embodlment.

16 However, It has been known that maxlmum vsluefi of statlc dome reversal pressure are achleved by Increaslng the curvature of the dome to an optlmum value, and that further Increases in the dome curvature result ln decreases In statlc dome reversal pressures.

As mentloned earller, one of the problems ls obtalnlng a maxlmum dome 20 reversal pressure for a glven metal thlckness.

However, another problem Is obtalnlng reslstance to damage when a filled contalner ls dropped onto a hard surface .

Present Industry testing for drop reslstance Is called the cumulatlve drop helght.

In thls test, a fllled contalner Is dropped onto a steel plate 26 from helghts beglnnlng at three Inches and Increaslng by three Inches for each successlve drop.

The drop helght reslstance Is then the sum of all the dlstances at whlch the contalner Is dropped, Includlng the helght at whlch the dome Is reversed, or partlally reversed.

That. 18, the drop helght 2053591 reslstance Is the cumulative height at whlch the bottom contour ls damaged sufflclently to preclude standing flrmly uprlght on a flat surface.

In ll.S.

Patent Appllcatlon ()7/606,618 havlng common Inventorship entlty, and belng of the same assignee a.s the present appllcatlon, It was shown that 5 decreaslng the dome radlus of the contalner Increases the cumulatlve drop helght reslstance and decreases the dome reversal pressure.

Further, It was shown ln thls prlor appllcatlon that Increaslng the helght of the Inner wall lncreases the dome reversal pressure.

However, as the dome ra(illls Is decreased for a glven dome hel~ht, the 10 lnner wall decreases In helght.

Therefore, for a glven dome helght, an lncrease ln cumulate drop reslstance, as achleved by a decrease In dome radlus, results ln a decrease in the height of the lnner wall together wlth an attendant decrease In the dome reversal pressure.

Thus, one way to achleve a good comblnatlon of cumulatlve drop helght 16 and dome roversal pre~sure, 1~ to Incr~ase the dome helght. thereby allowlng a reductlon In dome radius whlle leavlng an adequate wall helght.

However, there are llmlts to whlch the dome helght can be Increased whlle stlll malntainlng standard dlameter, helght, and volume speclflcatlons.

An addltlonal problem in beverage contalner deslgn and manufacturlng 20 has been In malntalnlng contalners wlthln speclflcatlons, subsequent to a pasteurlzlng process, when fllled beverage contalners are stored at hlgh amblent temperatures, and/or when they are e~posed to sunllght.

Thls Increase In height Is caused by roll-out of the annular supportlng portlon as the Internnl flllld pressure on the domed portlon applles a 26 downward force to the clrcumferentlal Inner wall, and the clrcumferentlal lnner wall applles a downward force on the annular supportlng portlon.

An Increase In the helght of a beverage contalner causes Jammlng o~ the contalners In fllllng and conveylng equlpment, and unevenness In stacklng.

2053~91 As Is known, a large quantlty of contalners are manufactured annuslly and the producers thereof are always seeklng to reduce the amount of metal utlllzed In maklng containers whilf? still malntalning the same operatlng characterlstlcs.

Because of the large quantltles of contalners manufactured, a small reductlon In metal thlckness, even of one-half of one thousandth of an Inch, wlll result In a substantlal reduction ln materlal costs.

Summary of the Invention l O Accordlng to the present lnventlon, the dome reversal pressure of a drawn and Ironed heverage contalner Is Increased wlthout Increaslng the metal thlckness, lncreaslng the helght of an Inner wall that surrounds the domed portlon, Increaslng the total dome helght, or decreaslng the dome radl us.

16 Further, In the present Inventlon, both Increased reslstance to roll-out Or the annular supportlng portlon and Increased cumulatlve drop helght reslstance are achleved without any Increase In metal content, and wlthout any changes ln the general slze or shape of the contalner.

A contalner whlch provldes Increased reslstanee to roll-out, Increased 20 dome reversal pressure, and Increased cumulatlve drop helght reslstance Includes a cyllndrlcal outer wall that Is dlsposed around a vertlcal a~ls, a bottom that Is attached to the outer wall and that provldes a supportlng surface, and a bottom recess portlon that Is dlsposed radlally Inwardly of the supportlng surface, thst Includes a center panel, or concave domed psnel, and 26 that Includes a clrcumferentlsl dome posltlonlng portlon that dl~poses the center panel a posltlonal dlstance above the supportlng surface.

In one embodlment of the present Inventlon, the bottom recess portlon Includes a part thereof that Is dlsposed at a flrst vertlcal dlstance above the supportlng surface and at a flrst radlal dlstance from the vertlcal axls; and 2053591 the bottom recess portlon also Inclu(les an adJacent part that Is dlsposed at a greater vertlcal dlstance above the supportlng surface and at a greater radlal dlstance from the vertlcal axls than the first part.

That Is, the bottom recess portion Includes an adJacent part that 5 e~tends radlally outward from a flrst part that Is closer to the supportlng surface.

In thls conflguratlon, thls adJacent part extends clrcumferentlally around the contalner, thereby providing an annular radlal recess that hooks outwardly of the part of the bottorn recess that Is closer to the supportlng surface In another embodlment of the present inventlon, the adJacent part Is arcuate and extends for only a portion of the clrcumference of the bottom recess portlon.

Preferably a plurallty of adJacent parts, and more preferably flve adlacent parts, extend radlally outward from a plurallty of the flrst parts, and are Interposed between respectlve ones of the flrst parts.

16 Generally speaklng, In the present Inventlon, a plurallty or strengthenlng parts are dlsposed in the clrcular Inner wall of the bottom recess portion, and elther extend clrcumferentlally around the bottom recess portlon or are clrcumferentlally spaced.

The strengthenlng parts proJect elther radlally outwardly or radlally inwardly wlth respect to the clrcular 20 lnner wall.

The strengthenlng parts may be contalned entlrely wlthln the Inner wall, may extend downwardly Into the annual supportlng surface, portlon, may extend upwardly Into the concave annular portlon that surrounds the domed portlon, and/or may e~ctend upwardly Into both the concave annular portlon 26 and the concave domed panel.

The strengthenlng parts may be round, elongated vertlcally, may be elongated clrcumferentlally, and/or may be elongated at an angle between vertlcal and clrcumferentlal.

2~3S91 In summary, the present inventlon provldes a contalner wlth lmproved statlc dome reversal pre.ssure wlthol]t ~ny Increase In materlal, and wlthout any change In dlmenslons that arfects interchangeablllty of fllllng andJor packaglng machlnery.

6 Further, the pre~sent Invention provldes a contalner wlth enhanced reslstance to pressure-cause(i roll-out and the resultant change ln the overall helght of the contalner that accompanles fluld pressures encountered durlng the pa~steurlzlng process.

Flnally, the present Inventlon provldes a contalner wlth lmproved 10 cumulatlve drop helght reslstance wlthout any Increase In materlal, and without any changes In dlmensions t;hat affect Interchangeablllty of fllllng machlner~v. thereby maklng posslble a reductlon of, or ellmlnatlon of, cushlonlng that has been provlded by carton and case packaglng.

In a flrst aspect of the present Inventlon, a contalner wlth lmproved 16 stren~th tncludes sn outer wAIl betng dlsposed around a vertlcal axls; a bottom belng attached to the outer wall and havlng a supportlng surface; a bottom recess portlon of the bottom belng dlsposed radlally lnwardly of the supportlng surface, havlng a dome posltlonlng portlon that connects the bottom recess portlon to the remalnder of the bottom, and havlng a center 20 panel that Is dlsposed above the supportlng surface by the dome posltlonlng portlon; and means for Increaslng the roll-out reslstance of the bottom recess portlon .

In a second aspect of the present Inventlon, a method for strengthenlng the bottom Or a contalner that Includes an outer wall that Is dlsposed around 26 a vertlcal a~ls, and a bottom that Is Integral wlth the outer wall and that Includes a supportlng surface, Includes formlng a bottom recess portlon In the bottom that Includes a dome posltlonlng portlon wlth a conve~c annular portlon that connects the bottom recess portlon to the remalnder Or the bottom, and that Includes a center panel that Is dlsposed above the 2053591 supportlng surface by the dome posltionlng portlon; and Increaslng the rollout reslstance of the convex annu lar portion.

In a third aspect of the present inventlon, a contalner wlth Increased strength lncludes an outer wall that Is disposed around a vertlcal axls, a 6 bottom that is attached to the outer wall and that provldes a supportlng surface, and a bottom recess portlon that Is dlsposed radlally Inwardly of the supportlng surface and that includes a center panel, the bottom recess portlon Includln~ a flrst part that Is dlsposed at a flrst vertlcal dlstance above the supportlng surface and at a flrst radlal dlstance from the vertlcal 10 axls; and the bottom recess portlon includlng an adJacent part that Is dlsposed at a greater vertlcal distance above the supportlng surface and at a greater radlal dlstance from the vertlcal axls than the flrst part.

In one varlatlon of thls third aspect, the adJacent part Is substantlally clrcumferentlal: and In another varlatlon of the thlrd aspect, the adJacent 16 part extends less than 180 degrees around the hottom recess portlon.

In a fourth aspect of the present Inventlon, a contalner wlth Increased reslstance strength Includes an outer wall that Is dlsposed around a vertlcal a~ls, a bottom that ls attached to the outer wall and that provlde6 a 6upportlng surfsce, and a bottom recess portlon that 18 dlsposed radlally 20 Inwardly Or the supportlng surface, and that Includes a center panel, the bottom recess portlon Includlng a flrst part that Is dlsposed at a flrst vertlcal dlstance above the supportlng surface and at a flrst radlal dlstance from the vertlcal axls; and the bottom recess portlon Includlng an adJacent part that Is dlsposed at the flrst vertlcal dlstance above the supportlng 25 surface and at a greater radlal dlstance from the vertlcal a~ls than the flrst part.

In a flfth aspect of the present Inventlon, a contalner wlth Increased strenRth Includes an outer wall that Is dlsposed around a vertlcal a~cls, a bottom that Is attached to the outer wall and that provldes a supportlng 2053591 surface, and a bottom recess portlon that Is dlsposed radlally Inwardly of the supportlng surface and that Includes a center panel, the Improvement whlch comprlses the bottom recess portion Including a flrst part that Is dlsposed substantlally clrcumferentially around the bottom recess portlon at a flrst 6 vertlcal dlstance above the supportlng surface, and that Is dlsposed at a flrst radlal dlstance from the vertical axls; and the bottom recess portlon Includlng an adJacent part that Is dlsposed substantlally around the bottom recess portlon at a ~reater vertical distance above the supportlng surface and that Is dlsposed at a dlfferent radlal dlstance from the vertlcal axls 10 than the flrst part.

In a slxth aspect of the present Inventlon, a contalner wlth lncreased strength Includes an outer wall that Is dlsposed around a vertlcal axls; a bottom that Is attached to the outer wall and that provldes a supportlng surface; a bottom recess portlon that Is dlsposed radlally Inwardly of the 16 supportlng surface and that Includes a center panel; and means comprlslng a reworked part of the bottom reces~s portlon, for Increaslng the roll-out 6trength Or the contalner.

In varlatlons of thls slxth aspect, the reworked part may be a cold worklng wlthout appreclable deformatlon of metal, or It may lnclude any and 20 all Or the characterlstlcs of the adJacent part as descrlbed In the thlrd, fourth, and flfth aspects.

In a seventh aspect of the present lnventlon, a method Is provlded for Increaslng strength Or a contalner whlch Includes an outer wall that Is dl6posed around a vertlcal axls, a bottom that Is attached to the outer wall 26 and that provldes a supportlng surface, and a bottom recess portlon that Is dl~posed radlally Inwardly of the supportlng surface and that Includes a center panel, whlch method Includes formlng the bottom recess portlon wlth a flrst part that Is dlsposed at a flrst vertlcal dlstance above the supportlng surface and at a flrst radlal dlstance from the vertlcal axls; and formlng the 205~91 bottom recess portlon wlth an ad3acent part that Is dlsposed at a greater vertlcal distance above the supportlng surface and at a greater radlal dlstance rrom the vertic,sl axls than the first part.

In one vartatlon of the seventh aspect, the second formlng step Includes 6 extendlng the adJacent part substantially around the bottom recess portlon;

and In another varlatlon of t.hls seventh aspect, the second formlng step Includes formlng the ad3acent part less than 180 degrees around the bottom recess portion.

In an elghth aspect of the present lnventlon a method ls provlded for 10 Increaslng the strength of a contalner whlch Includes an outer wall that Is dlsposed around a vertlcal axls. a bottom that Is attached to the outer wall and that provldes a supportlng surface, and a bottom recess portlon that Is dlsposed radlally Inwardly of the supportlng surface and that Includes a center panel, whlch method Includes formlng the bottom recess portlon wlth a 1~ flrst part that Is dlsposed at a flrst vertlcal dlstance above the supportlng surface and at a flrst radlal dlstance from the vertlcal axls, and formlng the bottom recess portlon wlth an adjacent part that Is dlsposed at the flrst vertlcal dlstance sbove the supportlng surface and at a greater radlal dlstance from the vertlcal axls than the flrst part.

In a nlnth aspect of the present Inventlon, a method Is provlded for lncreaslng the strength of a contalner whlch Includes an outer wall that Is dlsposed around a vertlcal axls, a bottom that Is attached to the outer wall and that provldes a supportlng surface, and a bottom recess portlon that ls dlsposed radlally Inwardly of the supportlng surface and that Includes a 25 center panel, whlch method Includes formlng the bottom recess portlon wlth a flrst part that Is dlsposed substantlally around the bottom recess portlon at a flrst vertlcal dlstance above the supportlng surface, and that Is dlsposed at a flrst radlal dlstance from the vertlcal axls; and formlng the bottom recess portlon wlth an ad3acent part that Is dlsposed substantlally around 20S~591 the bottom recess portlon at a second and greater vertlcal dlstance above the supportlng surface, and that is dispo~sed at a different radlal dlstance from the vertlcal axls than the flrst part.

In a tenth aspect of the present Inventlon, a method ls provlded for 6 Increaslng the strength of a container whlch Includes an outer wall that Is dlsposed around a vertlcal axls, and a bottom that Is attached to the outer wall and that provldes a supportlng surface, whlch method lncludes formlng a bottom recess portlon that Is dlsposed radlally Inwardly of the supportlng surface and that Includes a center panel; and reworklng a part of the bottom l 0 recess portlon .

In an eleventh aspect of the present Invention, a contalner wlth Improved strength Includes an outer wall belng dlsposed around a vertlcal axis; a bottom belng attached to the outer wall and havlng a supportlng surface; a bottom recess portlon of the bottom belng dlsposed radlally 16 Inwardly of the supportlng surface, hsvlng a dome posltlonlng portlon wlth 8 convex annular portlon that connects the bottom recess portlon to the remalnder of the bottom, and havlng a center domed panel that Is dlsposed above the supportlng surface by the dome posltlonlng portlon; and means for applylng a roll-ln force to the conve~ annular portlon that ls a functlon of 20 fluld pressure applled Internally to the center panel.

In a twelfth aspect of the present Inventlon, a method Is provlded for strengthenlng a contalner that Includes an outer wall that Is dlsposed around a vertlcal a~ls, and a bottom that Is Integral wlth the cyllndrlcal outer wall and that Includes a supportlng surface, whlch method Includes formlng a 25 bottom recess portlon In the bottom that Includes a dome posltlonlng portlon wlth a conve~ annular portlon that connects the bottom recess portlon to the remalnder of the bottom, and that Includes a center panel that Is dlsposed above the supportlng surface bv the dome posltlonlng portlon; and provldlng 2053591 a roll-ln force on the convex annular portlon that Is a functlon of fluld pressure applled Internally to the center panel.

In a thlrteenth aspect of the present Inventlon, a contalner wlth Improved strength comprlses an outer wall being dlsposed around a vertlcal 5 axls; a bottom belng attached to the outer wall, havlng an Inner wall, and havlng a center panel that ~s dlsposed upwardly by the Inner wall; and the lnner wall Includlng at least a part thereof that slopes outwardly and upwardly.

Brlef Descriptlon of the DrawllIgs FIGURE I Is a front elevatlon of beverage contalners that are bundled by shrlnk wrapplng wlth plastlc fllm;

FIGURE 2 Is a top vlew of the bundled beverage contalners of FIGURE 1 taken substantlally as shown by vlew llne 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

16 F1GURE 3 Is a cross sectlonal elevatlon Or the lower portlon o~ one Or the beverage contalners of F1GURES 1 and 2, showlng detalls that are generally common to two prlor art deslgns;

FIGURE 4 Is a cross sectional elevatlon of the lower portlon of a beverage contalner, showlng detalls that are generally common to those of 20 FIGURE 4, whlch, together wlth dlmenslons as provlded hereln.

Is used to describe a flrst embodlment of the present Inventlon;

FIGURE 6 Is a cross sectlonal elevatlon, showlng, at an enlarged scale, detalls that are generally common to both FIGURES 3 and 4;

FIGURE 6 Is a sllghtly enlarged ou~;llne, taken generally as a cross 25 sectlonal elevatlon, of the lower portlon of the outer contour of a contalner Or an embodlment of the present Inventlon whereln a plurallty Or arcuately shaped and clrcumferentlally space~l parts of the Inner sldewall are dlsposed radlally outward of other parts of the sldewall;

2a~3ssl FIGURE 7 is a bottom view of the contalner of FIGURE 6, taken substantlally as shown by vlew llne 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FICURE 8 ls a sli~htly enlar~ed outllne, taken generally as a cross sectlonal elevatlon. of the lower portlon of the outer contour of a contalner 5 made accordlng to an embodlment of the present Inventlon whereln a clrcumferentlal part of the lnner sidewall Is dlsposed radlally outward of another clrcumferentlal part Or the sldewall;

FIGURE 9 is a bottom vlew of the contalner of FIGURE 8, taken substantlally as shown by vlew llne 9-9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 ls a fragmentary and greatly enlarged outllne, taken generaJl~v as a cross sectlonal elevatlon, of the outer contour of the contalner of FIGURES 6 antl 7, taken substantlally as shown by sectlon llne 10-10 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 11 ls a fragmentary and ~reatly enlarged outllne, taken 15 Renerally as a cross sectlonal elevatlon, ot the outer contour Or the embodlment of FIGURES 6 and 7 taken substantlally as shown by sectlon llne 11-11 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 12 ls a fragmentary and greatly enlarged outllne, taken generally as a cross sectlonal elevatlon, of the outer contour of the 20 embodlment of FIGURES 8 and 9 taken substantlally as shown by sectlon llne 12-12 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 13 ls a fragmentary top vlew of the contalner of FIGURES 6, 7, 10, and 11, taken substantially as shown by vlew llne 13-13 of FIGURE 6, and showlng the effectlvely lncreased perlmeter of the embodlment of FIGURES 25 6 and 7; and FIGURE 14 ls a fragmentary top vlew of the contalner of FIGURES 8, 9, and 12, taken substantlally as shown by vlew llne 14-14 of FIGURE 8, and showlng both the perlmeter of the concave domed panel of the contalner of 14 1~ 2053591 FIGURE 5 and the effectively increased perimeter of the embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 9.

U~S~KL~11~N OF TEE ~K~KK~U ~ JUIL~ Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, these configurations are generally common to Pulciani et al in U.S.

Patents 4,658,582 and 4,768,672, to a design manufactured by the assignee of the present invention, and to embodiments of the present invention. More particularly, FIGURE 3 is common to the aforesaid prior art, FIGURE 4 is common to two embodiments of the prior art, and FIGURE 5 shows some details of FIGURES 3 and 4 in an enlarged scale.

Since the present invention differs from the prior art primarily by selection of some of the parameters shown in FIGURES 3-5, the forthcoming description refers to all of these drawings, except as stated otherwise;

and some dimensions pertaining to FIGURES 3 and 4 are placed only on FIGURE 5 in order to avoid crowding.

Continuing to refer to FIGURES 3-5, a drawn and ironed beverage container 10 includes a container body 11 with a bottom 15, a container closure 13, a generally cylindrical sidewall 12 that includes a first diameter Dl, and that is disposed circumferentially around a vertical axis 14; and an annular supporting portion, or annular supporting means, 16 that is disposed circumferentially around the vertical axis 14, that is disposed radially inwardly from the sidewall 12, and that provides an annular supporting surface 18 that coincides with a base line 19.

The annular supporting portion 16 includes an outer convex annular portion 20 that preferably is arcuate, and an inner convex annular portion 22 that preferably is arcuate, that is disposed radially inwardly from the outer convex annular portion 20, and that is connected to the outer convex annular portion 20. The outer and inner convex annular portions, 20 and 22, have radii Rl and R2 whose centers of curvature are common. More particularly, the radii Rl and R2 both have centers of curvature of a point 24, and of a circle of revolution 26 of the point 24. The circle of revolution 26 has a second diameter D2.

Ib 2053591 The bottom 15 includes a bottom recess portion 25; and the bottom recess portion 25 includes the inner convex annular portion 22, a circumferential inner wall, or cylndrical inner wall, 42, an inner concave annular portion 44 and a center panel, or concave domed panel 38.

An outer connecting portion, or outer connecting means 28 includes an upper convex annular portion 30 that is preferably arcuate, that includes a radius of R3, and that is connected to the sidewall 12.

The outer connecting portion 28 also includes a recessed annular portion 32 that is disposed radially inwardly of a line 34, or a frustoconical surface of revolution 36, that is tangent to the outer convex annular portion 20 and the upper convex annular portion 30. Thus, the outer connecting means 28 connects the sidewall 12 to the outer convex annular portion 20.

A center panel, or concave domed panel, 38 is preferably spherically-shaped, but may be of any suitable curved shape, has an approximate radius of curvature, or dome radius, R4, is disposed radially inwardly from the annular supporting portion 16, and curves upwardly into the container 10. That is, the domed panel 38 curves upwardly proximal to the vertical axis 14 when the container 10 is in an upright position.

The container 10 further includes an inner connecting portion, or inner connecting means, 40 having a circumferential inner wall, or cylindrical inner wall, 42 with a height Ll that extends upwardly with respect to the vertical axis 14 that may be cylindrical, or that may be frustoconical and slope inwardly toward the vertical axis 14 at an angle ~1 The inner connecting portion 40 also includes an inner concave annular portion 44 that has a radius of curvature R5, and that interconnects the inner wall 42 and the domed panel 38. Thus, the inner connecting portion 40 connects the domed panel 38 to the annular supporting portion 16.

The inner connecting portion 40 positions a perimeter P0 of the domed panel 38 at a positional distance L2 above the base line 19. As can be seen by inspection of FIGURE 5, the positional distance L2 is approximately equal to, but is somewhat less than, the sum of the height Ll of the inner wall 42, 2053591 the radlus of curvature R5 of the Inner concave annular portlon 44, the radius R2 of the Inner convex annul~r portlon 22, and the thlckness of the materlal at the Inner convex annular portlon 22.

As seen by Inspectlon and as can be calculated by trlgonometry, the 5 posltlonal dlstance L2 Is less than the aforementloned sum by a functlon of the angle al, and as a functlon of an angle a3 at whlch the perlmeter P0 of the domed panel 38 Is connected to the Inner concave annular portlon 44.

For example.

If the radlus R5 of the Inner concave annular portlon 44 Is 0.050 inches, If the radlus R2 of the inner convex annular portlon 22 Is 0.040 10 Inches. and If the thlckness of the materlal at the Inner convex annular portlon 22 Is about 0.012 lnche.s, then the posltlonal dlstance L2 Is about, but somewhat less than, 0.102 inches more than the helght Ll Or the lnner wall 42.

Thus, wlth radll and metal thlckness as noted above, when the helght L 16 of the Inner wall 42 Is 0.060 Inches, the posltlonal dlstance L2 Is about, but a llttle less than, 0.162 Inches.

The annular supportlng portlon 16 has an arlthmetlcal mean dlameter D~ that occurs at the Junctlon of the outer convex annular portlon 20 and the Inner conve~ annular portlon 22.

Thus, the mean dlameter D3 and the 20 dlameter D2 Or the clrcle 26 are the same dlameter.

The dome radlus R~ Is centered on the vertlcal axls 14.

The recessed annular portlon 32 Includes a clrcumferentlal outer wall 46 that extends upwardl,v from the outer convex annular portlon 20 and outwardly away from the vertlcal axls by an angle 2~ and Includes a lower 26 concave annular portlon 48 wlth a radlus Rc.

Further, the recessed annular portlon 32 may, accordlng to the selected magnltudes Or the angle a~, the radlus R3, and the radlus R6, Include a lower part of the upper convex annular portlon 30.

20~3591 Flnally, the contalner 10 Includes a dome helght, or panel helght, Hl as measured from the supportlng surface 18 to the domed panel 38, and a post dlameter, or smaller dlameter, Dl, of the Inner wall 42.

The upper convex annular portlon 30 Is tangent to the sldewall 12, and has a center 60.

The 5 center 60 is at a helght H2 above the supportlng surface 18. A center 62 of the lower concave annular portlon 48 Is on a dlameter D5.

The center 62 Is below the supporttng surface 18.

More speclflcally, the supportlng surface 18 Is at a dlstance H~ above the center 62.

Referrlng now to FIGURES 3 and 5, in the prlor art embodlment of the 10 three Pulclanl, et al. patents. the followlng dlmenslons were used: Dl = 2.697 Inches; D2, D3 = 2.000 Inches; D5 = 2.365 Inches; Rl, R2 = 0.040 Inches;

R3 = 0.200 Inches; R~ = 2.375 lnches; R5 = 0.050 Inches; Ri = 100 Inches;

and al = less than 6.

Referrlng now generally to FIGURES 6-12, contalners 10 made generally 15 accordlng to the prlor art conflguratlon of FIGURES 3-6 can be reworked lnto containers 62 of FIGURES 6, 7, 10, and 11, or can be reworked lnto contalners 64 of FIGURES 8, 9, and 12.

Referrlng now to FIGURES 6, 7, 10, and 11, the contalner 62 Includes a cyllndrlcal sldewall 12 and a bottom 66 havin~ an annular supportlng portlon 20 16 wlth an annular supportlng surface 18.

The annular supportlng surface 18 Is dlsposed clrcumferentlally around the vertlcal axis 14, and Is provlded at the clrcle of revolutlon 26 where the outer convex annular portlon 20 and the Inner convex annular portlon 22 ~oln.

The bottom 66 Includes a bottom recess portlon 68 that Is dlsposed 26 radlally Inwardly o~ the supportlng surface 18 and that Includes both the concave domed panel 38 and a dome posltlonlng portlon 70.

The dome posltlonlng portlon 70 dlsposes the concave domed panel 38 at the posltlonal dlst.ance L~ above the supportlng surface 18.

The dome 2053~91 posltlonlnR portlon 70 Includes the Inner convex annular portlon 22 an lnner wall 71 and the Inner concave annular portlon 44.

Referrln~ now to FIGURES 3-5 and more speclally to FIGURE 5 before reuorklng Into elther the contalner 62 or the contalner 64 the container 10 6 Includes a dome posltionlng portlon 54.

The dome posltlonlng portlon 54 Includes the Inner convex annular portlon 22 the Inrler wall 42 and the Inner concave annular portlon 44.

ReferrlnR now to FIGI)RES ) and 11 fragmentary and enlarged proflles of the outer surface contours of the contalner 62 Or FIGURES 6 and 7 are 10 shown.

That Is the inner surface contours of the contalner 62 are not - shown.

The proflle of FIGURE 10 is taken substanttally as shown by sectlon llne 10-10 of FIGURE 7 and shows the contour of the bottom 66 of the contalner 62 In clrcumferentlal parts thereof In whlch the dome posltlonlng portlon 70 15 Or the bottom recess portlon 68 has not been reworked.

Referrlng agaln to FIGURES 6 and 7 the dome posltlonlng portlon 70 of the contalner 62 Includes a pluralltv Or flrst parts 72 that are arcuately dlsposed around the clrcumference of the dome posltlonln~ portlon 70 at a radlal dlstance Ro from the vertlcal a~is 14 as shown In FIGURE 7.

The 20 radlal d!stance Ro Is one half of the Ins~de dlameter Do of FIGURES 10 and 11.

The Inslde dlameter Do occurs at the Junctlon of the Inner convex annular portlon 22 and the Inner wall 71.

That Is the Inslde dlameter Do Is deflned by the radlally Inward part of the inner convex annular portlon 22.

The dome posltlonln~ portlon ~0 also Includes a plurallty Or 25 clrcumferentlally-spaced ad~ acent parts 74 that are arcuately dlsposed around the dome posltlonln~ portlon 70. that are clrcumferent~ally spaced apart that are dlsposed at a radlal dlstance RR from the vertlcal a~ls 14 whlch Is greater than the radlal dlstance Ro~ and that are Interposed Intermedlate of respectlve ones of the plurality of first parts 72 as shown In FIGURE 7.

19 20~3591 The radial distance RR of FIGURE 7 Is equal to the sum of one half of the Inslde dlameter Do and a radial dlstance Xl of FIGURE 11.

In a preferred eonfl~IlratIon of ~he FIGIJR~S 6 and 7 eml odlment, the adJacent parts 74 are 5 In number. each have a full radtal dlsplacement for 5 an arcuate angle a~l of 30 (legrees, and each have a total length L3 of 0.730 Inches .

Referrlng a~ain to FIGURE 10.

In clrcumferentlal parts of the contalner 62 of FIGURES 6 and 7 whereln the dome posttlonlng portlon 70 Is not reworked. the mean dlameter D~ of the annIllAr sllpportln~ portlon 16 Is 2.000 10 Inches; and the Inside dlameter Do of the bottom recess portlon 68 Is 1.900 - Inches whlch ls the mlnlmum dlameter of the Inner convex annular portlon 22.

A radlus Rl of the outer contour of the outer convex annular portlon 20 Is 0.052 Inches: and an outer radlus R8 of the Inner convex annular portlon 22 Is 0.062 Inches.

16 Tt should be notlced that the radll R1 and R; are to the outslde of the contalner 62 and are therefore larger than the radll Rl and R2 of FIGURE 5 by the thlckness of the materlal.

Referrlng now to FIGURE 11, In clrcumferentlal parts of the FIGURES 6 and 7 embodlments whereln the dome posltlonlng portlon 70 Is reworked, a 20 radlus R9 of the Inner convex annular portlon 22 Is reduced, the Inslde dlameter Do Is Increased by the radlal dlstance Xl to the lnslde dlameter D1, a hooked part 76 of the dome posltlonln~ portlon 70 Is Indented, or dlsplaced radtally outward. by a radlal dlmenslon X~, and the arlthmetlcal mean dlameter D~ Or the supportln~ portlon 16 ls lncreased by a radlal dlmenslon 25 X~ from the dlameter D3 of FIGURE 10 to an arlthmetlcal mean dlameter D5 of FIGURE 11.

The hooked part 76 Is centered at a dlstance Y from the supportlng surface 18 and Includes a radlus RR.

Referrlng now to F1GURES 8, 9, and 12, the contalner 64 lncludes the cyllndrlcal sldewall 12 and a bottom 78 havlng the annular supportlng portlon 2053591 16 wlth the supportln~ surrace 18. A bottom recess portlon 80 Or the bottom 78 Is dlsposed radlallv Inwardly of the supportlng surface 18 and Includes both the concave domed panel 38 and a dome posltlonlng portlon 82.

The dome posltlonlng portlon 82 dlsposes the concave domed panel 38 at 5 the posltlonal dlstancl? L2 above the supportlng surface 18 as shown ln FIGURE 12.

The dome posltlonlng portlon 82 Includes the tnner convex annular portlon 22. an Inner wall 83, and the Inner concave annular portlon 44 as shown and descrlbed In conlunctlon wlth FIGURES 3-6.

The dome posltlonln~ portion 82 Or the contalner 64 Includes a 10 clrcumferentlal flrst part 84 that Is dlsposed around the dome posltlonlng portlon 82 at the radlal distance RR from the vertlcal axls 14 as shown In FIGURES 9 and 12.

The radlal dlstance R~ Is one half Or the dlameter Do Or FIGURE 12 plus the r~dlal dlstance Xl.

The dlameter Do occurs at the Junctlon of the Inner convex annular portlon 22 and the Inner wall 42 Or 15 FIGURE 5.

That Is, the dlameter Do Is deflned by the radlally Inward part of the Inner convex annular portlon 22.

The dome posltlonlng portlon 82 also Includes a clrcumferentlal ad~acent part 86 that Is dlsposed around the dome posltlonlng portlon 82, and that Is dlsposed at an effectlve radius RE from the vertlcal axls 14 whlch Is greater 20 than the radlal dlstance RR of the ftrst part 84.

The effectlve radlus R~ Is equal to the sum of one half of the dlameter Do and the radlal dlmenslon X2 of FIGURE 12.

That Is, the ad~lacent part 86 Includes the hooked part 76;

and the hooked part 76 Is dlsplaced from the ra-llal dlstance Ro by the radlal dlmenslon X2.

Therefore.

It Is proper to say that the ad~acent part 86 Is 25 dlsposed radlally outwardly of the flrst part 84.

Referrlng agaln to FIGURE 10, prlor to reworklng, the mean dlameter D~ Or the annular supportln~ portlon 16 o~ the contalner 64 Is 2.000 Inches; the Instde dlameter Do Or the bottom recess portton 68 ts 1.900 tnches, whlch Is the mlnlmum dlameter of the Inner conve~ annular portlon 22; and the radll 20~3~91 R7 and R~ of the outer and Inner convex annular portions, 20 and 22, are 0.052 Inches.

Referring now to FIGURÆ 12, the r~dlus R~ of the lnner convex annular portlon 22 Is re(illced, the dlameter Do Is Incre~sed by the radlal dlstance Xl 5 to the dlameter r)R~ a hooked psrt 76 of the dome posltlonlng portlon 82 Is Indented, or dlfipl~ced radlally outwar~, by the r~dlal dlmenslon X2, and the arlthmetlcal mean dlameter D~ of both the supportlng portlon 16 and the supportlng surf~ce 18 Or FICURE I n are increased by the radlal dlmenslon X3 to the diameter DS of FICURE 12.

The hooked part 76 is centered at the 10 dlstance Y from the supportlng surface 18 and Includes the radlus R~.

Referring now to FIGURES 5, l 3, ~nd 14, t.he concave domed panel 38 Or the contalner 10 of FIGURE 5 Include.s the perlmeter P0.

However, when the contalner 10 is reworked into the contalner 62 of FIGURES 6 and 7, the domed panel 38 Includefi an effectlve perlmeter Pl whlch Is larger than the 15 perlmeter P0.

In llke manner, when the contalner 10 of FIGURE 6 ls reworked lnto the contslner 64 of FIGURES 8 and 9, the domed panel 38 lncludes an effectlve perlmeter P2 whlch Is also larger than the perlmeter P0.

For testlng. contalners 10 made accordlng to two dlfferent sets of dlmenslons, and conformlng generally to the conflguratlon of FIGURES 3-6, 20 have been reworked Into both contalners 62 and 64.

Contalners 10 made to one set Or dlmenslons before reworklng are deslgnated hereln as B6A contalners, ~nd contalners 10 made accordlng to the other set of dlmenslons are deslgnated hereln as Tampa contalners.

The B6A and the Tampa contalners Include many dlmenslons that are the same.

26 Further, many of the dlmenslons of the B6A and Tampa contalners are the same as a prlor art confl~ur~tlon of the asslgnee Or the present Inventlon.

Referrln~ now to FICIJRES 4, 5 and 10, prlor to reworklng, both the B6A contalners and the Tampa contslners Included the followlng dlmenslons: Dl = 2.698 Inches: Dt, D3 = 2.000 Inches; D5 = 2.609 Inches; R3 = 0.200 Inches; R6 20S3591 = 0.050 Inches; R6 = 0.200 Inches; R7 and Rll = .060; H2 = 0-370 Inches; H3 = 0.008 Inches; and 2 = 30 de~rees.

Other dlmenslons, Includlng R~, Hl, and the metal thlckness are specified In Table 1.

The metal used for both the B6A and Tampa contalners for tests 6 reported herein was alumln-lrn ~llo~ whlch l.s deslRnated as 3104 Hl9, and the test materlal was taken from productlon stock.

The dome radll~s R~. as shown In Table 1, ls the approxlmate dome radlus of a contalner 10; and the dome radlus R~ Is dlfferent from the radlus Rr of the domer toollng.

More particularl!~, as shown In Table 1, toollng wlth 10 a radlus RT of 2.12 lnches produces a contalner 10 with a radlus R~ of approxlmately 2.38 Inches.

Thls dlfference In radlus of curvature between the contalner and the toollng Is true for the three Pulclanl et al. patents, for the prlor art embodlments of the asslRnee of the present Inventlon, and also for the 16 present Inventlon.

Referrlng now to FIGURES 6, 8, and 10, the dome radlus R~ wlll have an actual dome radlus RC proxlmal to the vertlcal axls 14, and a dlfferent actual dome radlus R~ at the perlmeter P0.

Also, the radll RC and Rp wlll vary In accordance wlth varlat~ons of other parameters, such as the helght Ll of the 20 lnner wall 71.

Further, the dome radlus R~ wlll vary at varlous dlstances between the vertlcal a~ls 14 and the perlmeter P0.

The dome radlus RC wlll be somewhat smaller than the dome radlus R~, because the perlmeter P0 of the concave domed panel 38 wlll sprlng outwardly.

However, In the charts, the dome radlus R~ Is glven, and at the 26 vertlcal a~ls 14, the dome radlus R~ Is close to belng equal to the actual dome radlus Rc.

When the contalners 10 are reworked Into the contalners 62 and 64, as shown In FIGURF~S 6 and 8, the dome radll RC and R~, as shown on FIGURE 4, may or may not chan~e sll~htly wlth contalners 10 made to varlous 23 2053591 parameters and reworked to varlous parameters. Changed radll, due to reworklng of the dome posltlonln~ portlons, 70 and 82, are deslgnated actual dome radlus R~ and actual dome radllls R~R for radll near the vertlcal axls 14 and near the perlmeter P0, respectively. However, slnce the dlfference between the dome radll RC and R~ Is small, and slnce the dome radll RC and Rp change only sllghtly durlng reworklng, If at all, only the radlus R~ of FIGURE 4 ls used in the accompan,vlng charts and In the followlng descrlptlon.

Reworklng of the dome positlonlng portlons, 70 and 82, results In an lncrease In the radlus R5 of FIGURE 5. To show thls change In radlus, the radlus R~, after reworklng, Is deslgnated radlus of curvature R5R ln FIGURES 11 and 12 and In Table 1. As seen In Table 1, thls change In the radlus R5 can be rather mlnlmal, or qulte large, dependlng upon varlous parameters ln the orlRlnal con~alner 10 and/or In reworklng parameters.

When the chanRe In the radlus R5 of FIGURE 6 Is qulte large, as shown 16 for the Tampa contalner reworked lnto the contalner 64, reworklng of the contalner 10 Into the container 64 effectlvely extends the dlameter of the center panel 38 from a dlameter D~ to an effectlve dlameter D~, as shown In FIGURE 12.

Therefore, In the reworklng process, an annular portlon 88 of the dome posltlonlng portlon 82. as shown in FIGURE 12, Is moved lnto, and affectlvely becomes a part of, the center panel 38.

Further, especlally In the process In whlch the reworklng Is clrcumferentlal, as shown In FIGURES 8, 9, and 12, an annular portlon 90, as shown ln FICURE 10, Or the bottom 78 whlch lles outslde of the annular supportlng surface 18, Is moved radlally Inward, and effectlvely becomes a part of the dome posltlonlnR portlon 82 of FIGURE 12.

In Table 1, the statlc dome reversal pressure (S.D.R.) Is In pounds per square Inch, the cumulatlve drop helght (C.D.H.) Is In Inches, and the 24 2053591 Internal pressure (I.P.) at whlch the cumulatlve drop helght tests were run Is In pounds per s(luare Inch.

The purpose for the cumulatlve drop hel~ht Is to determlne the cumulatlve drop helght at whlch a fllled can exhlblts partlal or total reversal 6 of the domed panel.

The procedure Is as follows: I ) warm the product In the contalners to 90 degrees, plus or mln~ls 2 de~rees.

Fahrenhelt; 2) posltlon the tube of the drop helght tester to 5 degrees from vertlcal to achleve conslstent contalner drops: 3) Insert the contalner rrom the top of the tuhe, lower It to the 3 10 lnch positlon, ~nd support the contalner wlth a flnger; 4) allow the contalner to free-fall and strlke the steel base; 5) repeat the test at helghts that successlvely Increase by 3 Inch increments; 6) feel the domed panel to check for an,v bulglng or "reversal" of the domed panel before testlng at the next helght; 7) record the helght at whlch dome reversal occurs; 8) calculate the 16 cumulatlve drop helght, that Is, add each helght at whlch a glven contalner has been dropped, Includlng the helght at whlch dome reversal occurs; and 9) average the results from 10 contalners.

A control was run on both B6A and Tampa contalners prlor to reworklng Into the contalners 62 and 64.

In thls control testlng, the B6A contalner 20 had a statlc dome reversal pressure of 97 psl and the Tampa contalner had a statlc dome reversal pressure of 95 psl.

Further, the B6A contalner had a cumulatlve drop helght reslstance of 9 Inches and the Tampa contalner had a cumulatlve drop helght reslstance of 33 Inches.

Referrlng now to Table 1, when B6A contalners were reworked lnto the 25 contalners 62, whlch have a plurallty Or clrcumferentlally-spaced adJacent parts 74 that are dlsplaced radlally outwardly, the statlc dome reversal pressure Increased from 97 psl to 111 psl, and the cumulatlve drop helght reslstance Increased from 9 Inches to 10.8 Inches.

2053S9l Table I CONTAINER 62 CONTAINER 64 INTE;~RRUPTED CONTINUOUS ANNUL,AR ANNUI,AR INI)ENT INDENT B6A TAMPA B6A TAMPA R~ 2.38 2.038 2.38 2.038 RT 2.12 1.85 2.12 1.85 R5R --- --- 0.08 0.445 Hl .385 .415 .385 .415 Dll 1.950 1.9502.0001.984 DS 2.020 2.0202.0612.041 RH 030 030 .060 .060 Rg .030 .030 .026 .026 Xl .025 .026 .060 .042 X2 054 .051 .066 .065 X3 .010 .010 .026 .021 Y .084 .086 .076 .092 thkns. .0116 .0118.0116.0118 I.P. 58 59 68 69 S.D.R. 111 120 121 126 C.D.H. 10.8 30.0 18.0 60.0 When the Tampa contalners were reworked Into the contalners 62, the statlc dome reversal pressure lncreased from 96 psl to 120 psl, and the cumulatlve drop hel~ht reslstance decreased from 33 Inches to 30 lnches.

20~3591 When the B6A contalners were reworked Into the contalners 64, whlch have a clrcumferentlal ad~lacent part 8fi that Is dlsplaced radlally outwardly from a clrcumferentlal flrst part 84, the statlc dome reversal pressure Increased from 97 psl to 121 psi, and the cumulatlve drop helght reslstance 6 Increased from 9 Inches to 18 Inches.

Flnally, when the Tampa contalners were reworked Into the contalners 64, the statlc dome reversal pressure Increased from 9~ psl to 126 psl, and the cumulatlve drop helght resl~stance Increased from 33 Inches to 60 Inches.

Thus, B6A an(l Tampa contalners reworked Into contalners 62 of FIGURES 10 6 and 7 showed an Improvement In statlc dome reversal pressure of 14.4 percent and 26.3 percent. respectlvel~. B6A and Tampa contalners reworked Into contalners 62 showed an Improvement In cumulatlve drop helght reslstance of 20 percent In the case of the B6A contalner, but showed a decrease of 10 percent In the case of the Tampa contalner.

16 Further, B6A and Tampa contalners reworked Into contalners 64 of FIGURES 8 and ~ showed an Improvement In statlc dome reversal pressure Or 24.7 percent and 32.6 percent, respectlvely. B6A and Tampa contalners reworked lnto contalners 64 showed an Improvement In cumulatlve drop height reslstance of 100 percent In the case of the B6A contalner, and an lncrease 20 Or 81.8 percent In the case Or the Tampa contalner.

Therefore, the present Invention provldes phenomenal Increases in both statlc dome reversal pressure and cumulatlve drop helght wlthout Increaslng the slze of the colltalner, wlthout serlously decreaslng the fluld volume Or the contalner as would be caused by Increaslng the helght Ll of the Inner 25 wall, 71 or 83. or by greatly decreaslng the dome radlus R~ Or the concave domed panel 38, and wlthout Increaslng the thlckness of the metal.

Whlle reworklng the Tampa contalners Into the contalners 62 dld not show an Increase In the cumulatlve drop helght reslstance, It 19 belleved that thls Is dlle to three facts.

One fact Is that reworklng of the contalners 10 20S3~91 lnto the contalners 62 and 64 was made wlthout the beneflt of adequate toollng.

Therefore, the test samples were not In accordance wlth productlon quallty. t~nother fact Is that reworklng the Tampa contalners Into the contalners 64 resulted In a greater radial dlstance Xl than dld the reworklng 6 Or the Tampa contalners Into the contalners 62.

The thlrd fact ls that the cumulatlve drop height re.sistance of the Tampa contalners had already been Increased In accordance wlth the teachlng of U.S.

Patent Appllcatlon, Serlal Number 07/605,618 of common assl~nee.

However.

It remalrls a fact that reworklng the B6A contalners Into the 10 contalners 62 dld Provlde substantlal Increases In both the statlc dome reversal pressure and the cumlllatlve drop helght reslstance.

It Is belleved that wlth further testlng, parameters wlll be dlscovered whlch will provlde addltlonal lncreases In both statlc dome reversal pressure and cumulatlve drop hel~ht reslstance.

16 Slnce the present Inventlon provldes a substantlal lncrease ln statlc dome reversal pressure, and wlth some parameters, a substantlal lncrease ln cumulatlve drop helght reslstance, It ls belleved that the present lnventlon, when used wlth smaller dome radll Rl, or wlth center panel conflguratlons other than spherlcal radll, wlll provlde even greater comblnatlons of statlc 20 dome reversal pressures and cumulatlve drop helght reslstances than reported hereln.

From general en~lneerlng knowledge, It Is obvlous that a dome radlus R~ that Is too lar~e would reduce the statlc dome reversal pressure.

Further, It has been known that too small a dome radlus R~ would also reduce the statlc 26 dome reversal pressure, even though a smaller dome radlus R~ should have Increased the statlc dome reversal pressure.

Whlle It Is not known for a certalnty, It appears that smaller values of dome radll R~ placed forces on the Inner wall 42 that were concentrated more dlrectly downwardly agalnst the Inner conve~ annular portlon 22, thereby 28 20~591 causlng roll-out of the Inner conVe,Y annular portlon 22 and fallure of the contalner 10.

In contrast, a lar~er dome radlus R~ would tend to flatten when pressurlzed. That Is, as a dome that was Inltlally flatter would flatten further due to pressure. it would expand radlally and place a force radlally outward on the top of the Inner wall 42, thereby tendlng to prevent roll-out of the inner convex annular portlon 22.

However, a larger dome radius R~ would have Insufflclent curvature to reslst Internal pressures, thereby resultlng In dome reversal at pressures that are too low to meet beverage producers' requlrements.

The present Inventlon, by strengthenln~ the Inr~r wall 42 of the contalner 10 to the Inner wall 71 of the contalner 62, or by strengthenlng the Inner wall 83 Or the contalner 64, Increases In statlc dome reversal pressures that are achleved. These phenomenal Increases In statlc dome 16 reversal pressures are achleved by decreaslng the force whlch tends to rollout the Inner convex annular portlon 22.

More speclflcally, as seen In FIGURE 12, In the Instance Or the contalner 64 where the ad~acent part 86 of the dome posltlonlng portlon 82 Is clrcumferentlal, an efrectlve dlameter D~ of the concave domed panel 38 Is Increased. The contalner 64 also has an effectlve perlmeter Pt as shown In FIGURE 1 4.

Or, as seen In FIGURE I I whlch shows clrcumferentlally-spaced ad~acent parts 74 that are dlsplaced outwardly, an effectlve radlus Re of the domed panel 38 Is Increased. An Increase In the radlus R~ by the clrcumferentlally spaced adJacent parts 74 Increases the effectlve perlmeter Pl of the domedpanel 38 as shown In FIGURE 13.

It can be seen by Inspectlon of FIGURES I I and 12 that placlng the dome pressure force rarther outwardly, as shown by the dlameter De and the radlus RE, reduces the moment arm of the roll-out force. That ls, the ablllty 29 2053591 of a glven force to roll-out the inner convex annular portlon 22 depends upon the dlstance, radlallv lnward. where the dome pressure force Is applled.

Therefore, the Increase In the effectlve dlameter ~ of the contalner 64, and the Increase In the effectlve radlus RE. decrease the roll-out forces and 6 therebv lncrease the reslstance to roll-out.

Also. as shown ln Table 1, the radlus R9 Is reduced; and, from the precedln~ dlscus~lon, It can be seen that thls reductlon ln radlus also helps the contalners 62 and 64 reslst roll-out.

Contlnulng to refer to Fl(~,IJRE 12, the flrst part 84 of the contalner 64 10 ls clrcumferentlal and ml~ht be consldered to have a helght H~, and the adJacent part 86 Is also clrcumferentlal and mlght be consldered to have a helght H5.

That Is, deflnlng the heights. i~ and H5, Is somewhat arbltrary.

However, as can be seen, the adjacent part 86 ls dlsposed radlally outward from the flrst part 84; and the hooked part 76 of the dome posltlonlng 16 portlon 82 ts formed wlth the radlus RH.

Thus, In effect, after reworklng into a contalner 64, the dome posltlonlng portlon 82 Is bowed outwardly at the dlstance Y from the supportlng surface 18.

Thls bowlng outwardly of the dome posltlonlng portlon 82 ls belleved to provlde a part of the phenomenal Increase In statlc dome 20 reversal pressure.

That Is, as the concave domed panel 38 applles a pressure-caused force downwardlv, the outwardly-bowed dome posltlonlng portlon 82 tends to buckle outwardly, elastlcally and/or both elastlcally and plastlcally.

As the dome posltlontng portlon 82 tends to buckle outwardly, lt places 25 a roll-ln force on the Inner conve~ annular portlon 22, thereby lncreaslng the roll-out resistance.

That Is, whereas the downward force of the concave domed panel 38 presses downwardl:~ tendlng to unroll both the outer conve~ annular portlon 20 and the Inner convex annular portlon 22, the elastlc and/or elastlc and 2053591 plastlc buckllng of the dome positlonlng portlon 82 tends to roll up the convex annular portlons. 20 and 22.

In llke manner, as shown in FIGURE 11, In clrcumferentlal portlons of the conts~ner 62 whtch tnclude the adlacent parts 74 and the hooked parts 5 76, the tendenc~ of the dome posltlonlnR portlon 70 to buckle outwardly Is slmllar to that descrlbed for the dome postttonlng portlon 82.

However, slnce the hooked part 76 exlsts only in those clrcumferentlal parts of the dome posltlonln~ portlon 70 wheretn the ad~acent parts 74 are located, the roll-ln effect ls not as ~reat as In the contalner 64.

In summary. as shown and descrlbed hereln, the present lnventlon provldes contalners, 62 and 64. in whlch Improvement.s ln roll-out reslstance, statlc dome reversal pressure, and cumulatlve drop helght are all achleved wlthout Increaslng the metal thlckness, wlthout decreaslng the dome radlus R~, wlthout Increaslng the posltlonal dlstance L2, wlthout Increaslng the dome 16 helght Hl, and wlthout appreclably decreaslng the fluld capaclty Or the contalners, 62 and 64.

Or, conversely. the present lnventlon provldes contalners, 6'' and 64, ln whlch satlsfactory values of roll-out reslstance, statlc dome reversal pressure, and cumulatlve drop helght can be achleved uslng metal of a thlnner gauge than has heretofore been posslble.

It Is belleved that the present lnventlon ylelds une~pected results.

Whereas, In prlor art deslgns, a decrease ln the dome radlus R~ has decreased the dome reversal pressure, In the present Inventlon, a decrease ln the dome radtus R~, comblned wlth strengthenlng the dome posltlonlng portlon, 70 or 82, achleves a remarkable Increase In both dome reversal pressure and 26 cumulatlve drop helght reslstance.

Further, the fact that phenomenal Increases In both cumulatlve drop helght reslstance and statlc dome reversal pressures have been achleved by slmply reworklng a contalner of standar~l dlmenslons Is belleved to constltute une~pected results.

2~53591 When referrln~ to dome radli R~. or to llmlts thereof, It should be understood that. whlle the concave domed panels 38 of contalners 62 and 64 have been made wlth toolln~ havln~ a spherlcal radlus, both the sprlng-back Or the concave domed panel 38 of the contalner 10, and reworklng of the 5 contalner 10 Into contalners 62 and 64, change the dome radlus from a true spherlcal radlus.

Therefore, In the clalms, a specifled radlus, or a range of radll for the radlus, R~ would appl,y to either a central portlon 92 or to an annular portlon 94, both of Fl(,URES 6 and 8.

The central portlon 92 ha~s a dlameter Dcp whlch may be any percentage of the dlameter Dp of the concave domed panel 38; and the annular portlon 94 may be dlsposed at any dlstance from the vertlcal a~ls 14 and may have a radlal wldth X~ of any percenta~e of the dlameter Dp of the concave domed panel 38.

16 Further, whlle the precedlng dlsclls~lon has focused on center panels 38 wlth radll R~ that are generally spherlcal, and that are made wlth spherlcal toollng, the present lnventlon Is appllcable to contalners, 62 or 64, In whlch the concave domed panels 38 are elllpsoldal, conslst of annular steps, decrease In radlus or curvatllre as a functlon of the dlstance rsdlally 20 outwsrd Or the concave domed panel 38 rrom the vertlcsl a~cls 14, have some portlon 92 or 94 that Is substantlally spherlcal, Include a portlon that Is substantlally conlcsl, and/or Include a portlon that Is substantlally rlat.

Flnally, whlle the llmlts pertalnlng to the shape of the center panel 38 may be deflned as functlons of dome radll R~, llmlts pertalnlng to the shape 25 o~ the center panel 3&~ can be deflned as llmlts for the central portlon 92 or for the annular portlon 94 of the center panel 38, or as llmlts ror the angle a~, whether at the perlmeter P0, or at any other radlal dlstance rrom the vertlcal a~ls 14.

32 205~91 Referrln~ flnall~ to FIG~1RES 5-12, another dlst~nctlve dlfference In the present Inventlon Is In the slope of the Inner walls, 71 and 83, of contalners 62 and 64. respectlvely.

As seen In FIGURE 5, the Inner wall 42 of the prlor art slopes upwardly and Inwardly hy the an~le ~p In stark contrast to the prlor art, the Inner wall 83 Or the contalner 64 of FIGURES 8, 9, and 12 Include~ a negatlvely-sloplng part 96 that slopes upwardly and outwardlv ~t a ne~atlve angle a!j.

As seen In FIGURE 9, the negatlvelv-sloplng part 96 extends clrcumferentlslly around the vertlcal axls 14.

Also In stark contrast to the prlor art, the Inner wall 71 Or the contalner 62 of FIGUR~S 6, 7. and 11 Includes a ne~atively-sloplng part 98 that slopes upwardly and outwardly by a negatlve angle 6~ and that Is dlsposed arcuately around less than one-half of the bottom 66 of the contalner 62.

The Inner wall 71 also Includes another negatlvely-sloplng l 6 psrt 100 that slopes upwardly and outwardly at the ne~atlve angle ~6, and that Is spaced clrcumferentlally from the negatlvely-sloplng part 98.

Therefore, In the appended clalms, center panel should be understood to be wlthout llmltatlon to a partlcular. or a slngle, geometrlcal shape.

In summary, the present lnventlon provldes these remarkable and 20 une~pected Improvements by means and method as reclted In the aspects Or the lnventlon whlch are lncluded hereln.

Although alumlnum contalners have been Investlgated, It Is belleved that the same prlnclple, namely Increaslng the roll-out resistance of the Inner wall, from the Inner wall 42 of the contalner 10 to elther the Inner wall 7 l 25 Or contalner 62 or the Inner wall 83 of the contalner 64, would be effectlve to Increase the stren~th of contalners made from other materlals, Includlng ferrous and nonferrous metals, plastlc and other nonmetalllc materlals.

Referrlng flnally to FIGURES l and 2, upper ones of the contalners l 0 stack onto lower ones of the contalners 10 wlth the outer connectlng portlons 2053591 28 of the upper ones of the contalners 10 nested Inslde double-seamed tops 66 of lower ones of the contalners 10; and both adJacently dlsposed and vertlcall~ stacked contalners 10 are bundled Into a package 58 by the use of a shrlnk-wrap pl~stlc 60.

Whlle thl.s method of packa~ing Is more economlcal than the prevlous method of boxln~. posslble dama~e due to rough handllng becomes a problem, so that the requlrements for cumulative drop reslstances of the contalners 10 Is more strln~ent.

It Is thls problem that the present Invention addresses and solves.

Whlle speclfle methods and apParatus have been disclosed ln the precedlng descrlptlon, It should be understood that these speclflcs have been ~lven for the purr)ose of dlsclosln~ the prlnclples of the present lnventlon and that many varlatlons thereof wlll become apparent to those who are versed In the art.

Therefore, the scope of the present Inventlon Is to be 16 determlned by the appended clalms.

Industrlal Appllcablllt,y The present Inventlon Is appllcable to contalners made of alumlnum and varlous other materlals.

More partlcularlv, the present Inventlon Is 20 appllcable to beverage contalners of the type havlng a seamless, drawn and lroned, cyllndrlcally-shaped body, and an Integral bottom wlth an annular supportln~ portlon.

34