AU4237199A - Beverage container with improved bottom strength - Google Patents

Description

I

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art:

S

S

Name of Applicant: Ball Corporation Actual Inventor(s): K. Reed Jentzsch Otis H. Willoughby Address for Service: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: BEVERAGE CONTAINER WITH IMPROVED BOTTOM STRENGTH Our Ref 593945 POF Code: 1015/297762 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): 5555 555 S. S S -1- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This application is a divisional of Australian patent application 85993/91, the contents of which are herein incorporated by cross-reference.

The present invention relates generally to metal container bodies of the type having a seamless sidewall and a bottom formed integrally therewith.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a bottom contour that provides increased dome reversal pressure, that provides greater resistance to damage when dropped, and that minimizes or prevents growth in the height of a container in which the beverage is subjected to pasteurizing temperatures and/or extreme temperatures encountered in shipping and storage.

Description of the Related Art There have been numerous container configurations of two-piece containers, that is, containers having a body that has an integral bottom wall at one end, and an opposite end that is configured to have a closure secured thereto. Container manufacturers package beverages of various types in these containers formed of either steel or aluminum alloys.

In the production of these containers, it is important that the body wall and bottom wall of the container be as thin as possible so that the container 20 can be sold at a competitive price. Much work has been done on thinning the :body wall.

.Aside from seeking thin body wall structures, various bottom wall S:configurations have been investigated. An early attempt in seeking sufficient strength of the bottom wall was to form the same into a spherical dome configuration. This general configuration is shown in Dunn et al, US Pat. No. 3,760,751, issued Sept 25 1973. The bottom wall is thereby provided with an inwardly concave dome or bottom recess portion which includes a large portion of the area of the bottom wall of the container. This domed configuration provides increased strength and resists deformation of the bottom wall under increased internal pressure of the container with little change in the overall geometry of the bottom wall throughout the pressure range for which the container is designed.

C:Wly Documents\DONOTDEL\5105973.docX7/29/99 The prior art that teaches domed bottoms also includes P G Stephan, US Pat. No. 3,349,956, issued Oct 31 1967; Kneusel et al, US Pat.

No. 3,693,828, issued Sept 26 1972; Dunn et al, US Pat. No. 3,730,383, issued May 1 1973; Toukmanian, US Pat. No. 3,904,069, issued Sept 9 1975; Lyu et al, US Pat. No. 3,942,673, issued Mar 9 1976; Miller et al, US Pat.

No. 4,294,373, issued Oct 13 1981; McMillin US Pat. No. 4,834,256, issued May 30 1989; Pulciani et al, US Pat. No. 4,685,582, issued Aug 11 1987, and Pulciani, et al, US Pat. No. 4,768,672, issued Sept 6 1988, and Kawamoto et al, issued Apr 24 1990.

Patents which teach apparatus for forming containers with inwardly domed bottoms and/or which teach containers having inwardly domed bottoms, include Maeder et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,289,014, issued Sept 15 1981; Gombas, US Pat. No. 4,341,321, issued July 27 1982; Elert et al, US Pat. No. 4,372,143, issued Feb 8 1983; and Pulciani et al, US Pat. No. 4,620,434, issued Nov 4 1986.

Of the above-mentioned patents, Lyu et al. and Kawamoto et al. teach inwardly domed bottoms in which the shape of the inwardly domed bottom is ellipsoidal.

Stephan, in US Pat. No. 3,349,956, teaches using a reduced diameter 20 annular supporting portion with an inwardly domed bottom disposed intermediate of the reduced diameter annular supporting portion. Stephan also teaches stacking of the reduced diameter annular supporting portion inside the double-seamed top of another container.

Kneusel et al, in US Pat. No. 3,693,828, teach a steel container having a bottom portion which is frustoconically shaped to provide a reduced diameter annular supporting portion, and having an internally domed bottom that is o disposed radially inwardly of the annular supporting portion. Various contours of the bottom are adjusted to provide more uniform coating of the interior bottom surface, including a reduced radius of the domed bottom.

Pulciani et al, in US Pat. No. 4,685,582 and US Pat. No. 4,768,672, instead of the frustoconical portion of Kneusel et al, teach a transition portion between the cylindrically shaped body of the container and the reduced C:\Ay Documents\DONOTDELS1O593.docX7/29/99 diameter annular supporting portion that includes a first annular arcuate portion that is convex with respect to the outside diameter of the container and a second annular arcuate portion that is convex with respect to the outside diameter of the container.

McMillin, in US Pat. No. 4,834,256, teaches a transitional portion between the cylindrically shaped body of the container and the reduced diameter annular supporting portion that is contoured to provide stable stacking for containers having a double-seamed top which is generally the same diameter as the cylindrical body, as well as providing stable stacking for containers having a double-seamed top that is smaller than the cylindrical body.

In this design, containers with reduced diameter tops stack inside the reduced diameter annular supporting portion; and containers with larger tops stack against this specially contoured transitional portion.

Supik, in US Pat. No. 4,732,292, issued Mar 22, 1988, teaches making indentions in the bottom of a container that extend upwardly from the bottom.

Various configurations of these indentations are shown. The indentations are said to increase the flexibility of the bottom and thereby prevent cracking of interior coatings when the containers are subjected to internal fluid pressures.

In US Pat. No. 4,885,924, issued Dec 12 1989, which was disclosed in S 20 W.I.P.O. International Publication No. WO 83/02577 of Aug 4 1983, Claydon et al. teach apparatus for rolling the outer surface of the annular supporting portion radially inward, thereby reducing the radii of the annular supporting portion. This rolling of the annular supporting portion inwardly to prevent inversion of the dome when the container is subjected to internal fluid pressures.

~Various of the prior art patents, including Pulciani et al, US Pat.

No. 4,620,434, teach contours which are designed to increase the pressure at which fluid inside the container reverses the dome at the bottom of the *.a :,'ocontainer. This pressure is called the static dome reversal pressure. In this patent, the contour of the transitional portion is given such great emphasis that the radius of the domed panel, though generally specified within a range, is not specified for the preferred embodiment.

C:WAy Documents\DONOTDEL\5105973.doc\7/2999 However, it has been known that maximum values of static dome reversal pressure are achieved by increasing the curvature of the dome to an optimum value, and that further increases in the dome curvature result in decreases in static dome reversal pressures.

As mentioned earlier, one of the problems is obtaining a maximum dome reversal pressure for a given metal thickness. However, another problem is obtaining resistance to damage when a filled container is dropped onto a hard surface.

Present industry testing for drop resistance is called the cumulative drop height. In this test, a filled container is dropped onto a steel plate from heights beginning at three inches and increasing by three inches for each successive drop. The drop height resistance is then the sum of all the distances at which the container is dropped, including the height at which the dome is reversed, or partially reversed. That is, the drop height resistance is the cumulative height at Is which the bottom contour is damaged sufficiently to preclude standing firmly upright on a flat surface.

In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/505,618 having common inventorship entity, and being of the same assignee as the present application, it was shown that decreasing the dome radius of the container increases the 20 cumulative drop height resistance and decreases the dome reversal pressure.

Further, it was shown in this prior application that increasing the height of the inner wall increases the dome reversal pressure.

However, as the dome radius is decreased for a given dome height, the inner wall decreases in height. Therefore, for a given dome height, an increase in cumulate drop resistance, as achieved by a decrease in dome radius, results in a decrease in the height of the inner wall together with an attendant decrease in the dome reversal pressure.

Thus, one way to achieve a good combination of cumulative drop height and dome reversal pressure, is to increase the dome height, thereby allowing a reduction in dome radius while leaving an adequate wall height. However, there are limits to which the dome height can be increased while still maintaining standard diameter, height, and volume specifications.

C:My Documents\DONOTDEL\51 05973do\7/29/99 6 An additional problem in beverage container design and manufacturing has been in maintaining containers within specifications, subsequent to a pasteurizing process, when filled beverage containers are stored at high ambient temperatures, and/or when they are exposed to sunlight.

This increase in height is caused by roll-out of the annular supporting portion as the internal fluid pressure on the domed portion applies a downward force to the circumferential inner wall, and the circumferential inner wall applies a downward force on the annular supporting portion.

An increase in the height of a beverage container causes jamming of the containers in filling and conveying equipment, and unevenness in stacking.

As is known, a large quantity of containers are manufactured annually and the producers thereof are always seeking to reduce the amount of metal utilized in making containers while still maintaining the same operating characteristics.

Because of the large quantities of containers manufactured, a small reduction in metal thickness, even of one-half of one thousandth of an inch, will result in a substantial reduction in material costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION aim of the present invention is to improve the strength of a drawn and 2o ironed beverage container without increasing the metal thickness, increasing the height of an inner wall that surrounds the domed portion, increasing the total dome height, or decreasing the dome radius.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a container with improved strength, said container having an internal containment space and being capable of receiving a beverage therein, which includes: an outer wall disposed around a vertical axis; a bottom attached to said outer wall and including an exteriorly convexly-shaped annular support including an annular supporting surface, wherein a radially innermost part of said annular support defines a first diameter, said bottom further including a panel positioning portion 3o and a generally concave centre panel that is disposed above said supporting surface by said panel positioning portion, wherein said centre panel has an upwardly extending outer portion; said panel positioning portion including: a C:AMy Documents\DONOTDEL 5105973.doc\7/29/99 I first part disposed inwardly and upwardly relative to said supporting surface; and a second part, positioned above said first part, including an upper portion disposed outwardly and upwardly relative to an upper portion of said first part, and connected to said outer portion of said centre panel, wherein said outer wall, said annular support, said first part, and said second part substantially define a portion of said internal containment space.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a container with an internal containment space, with increased resistance strength, and being capable of receiving a beverage therein, which includes an io outer wall that is disposed around a vertical axis, a bottom that is attached to said outer wall and including an exteriorly convexly-shaped annular support including an annular supporting surface and annular inner and outer convex portions, said supporting surface being positioned between said inner and outer convex portions, said inner convex portion being defined by a first radius and said inner convex portion defining a first diameter, said bottom further including a generally concave centre panel and a panel positioning portion between said supporting surface and said centre panel, said centre panel having an upwardly extending outer portion, the improvement which includes: said panel positioning portion including a first part which is disposed above said annular 20 support and which extends upwardly relative to said annular support in an orientation which is different than an orientation of said inner convex portion defined by said first radius; and said panel positioning portion further including a second part that is disposed between said first part and said centre panel, said second part including a first portion which extends upwardly and outwardly relative to an upper portion of said first part and said axis, respectively, said first part and said first portion of said second part having different orientations relative to said axis; wherein said outer wall, said annular support, said first part, and said second part substantially define a portion of said internal containment space.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a container with improved strength, said container having an internal containment space and being capable of receiving a beverage therein, which includes: an outer C:\My Documents\DONOTDEL5105973.doc7I2999 8 wall disposed around a vertical axis; a bottom attached to said outer wall including an exteriorly convexly-shaped annular support including an annular supporting surface, wherein a radially innermost part of said annular support defines a first diameter, said bottom further including a generally concave centre panel and a panel positioning portion between said supporting surface and said centre panel, said centre panel having an upwardly extending outer portion; said panel positioning portion including: a first part, contiguous with said supporting surface, that slopes upwardly relative to supporting surface; a second part, interconnected with and above said first part, that slopes upwardly io and outwardly relative to an upper portion of said first part and said axis, respectively; and a third part, interconnected with and above said second part and interconnected with said outer portion of said centre panel, that slopes upwardly and inwardly relative to an upper portion of said second part and said axis respectively; wherein said outer wall, said annular support, said first part, said second part, and said third part substantially define a portion of said internal containment space.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a drawn and ironed container capable of receiving a beverage therein, including: a *o~ substantially cylindrical sidewall disposed about a vertical axis; and a bottom 20 attached to said sidewall and including: an exteriorly convexly-shaped annular support including an annular supporting surface, wherein a reference plane substantially contains said annular supporting surface and wherein a radially innermost annular part of said annular support defines a first diameter; a generally concave centre panel; and a panel positioning portion positioned between said annular supporting surface and said centre panel and including °first and second parts, said first part extending upwardly relative to said supporting surface, said second part being positioned above said first part and extending upwardly and outwardly relative to an upper portion of said first part and said vertical axis, respectively, wherein a radially outermost part of said panel positioning portion is an upper portion of said second part and wherein a vertical distance of a radially outermost part of said centre panel relative to said C:Iy Documents\DONOTDEL\51O5973.doc\729/99 reference plane is significantly greater than a vertical distance of said upper portion of said second part relative to said reference plane.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a container with improved bottom strength, said container having an internal containment space, which includes: a substantially cylindrical wall disposed around a vertical axis; a bottom attached to said cylindrical wall and having a supporting surface, a sidewall connecting said cylindrical wall to said supporting surface, a centre panel disposed radially inwardly of said supporting surface, and a panel positioning portion connecting said supporting surface to said centre panel, io wherein said centre panel has a concave portion forming a first radius interconnecting said centre panel to said panel positioning portion; said panel positioning portion including: a first panel positioning part disposed inwardly and upwardly relative to said supporting surface; a second panel positioning part positioned above said first panel positioning part, disposed outwardly and upwardly relative to said first panel positioning part, and; an upwardly extending outer portion having a top end and a lower end, said top end being connected to said first radius; said first and second panel positioning parts forming a first sloping wall and said upwardly extending outer portion forming a second sloping wall, wherein the first and second sloping walls are joined at the upper 20 end of the first and the lower end of the second of said sloping walls to form a second radius therebetween, wherein said second radius is less than said first radius; wherein said cylindrical wall, said side wall, said first panel positioning part, said second panel positioning part and said outer portion substantially define at least a portion of said internal containment space.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a container with an internal containment space and with increased resistance strength which includes a substantially cylindrical wall that is disposed around a vertical axis, a bottom that is attached to said cylindrical wall and that provides a supporting surface, a sidewall connecting said cylindrical wall to said supporting surface, a central panel disposed radially inwardly of said supporting surface, and a panel positioning portion connecting said supporting surface to said central panel, the improvement which includes: said centre panel having a C:AMy Doouments\DONOTDEL\S105973.doG7/29/99 I concave portion forming a first radius interconnecting said centre panel to said panel positioning portion; said panel positioning portion including a first panel positioning part that is disposed at a first vertical distance above said supporting surface and at a first radial distance from said vertical axis; said panel positioning portion including an adjacent panel positioning part that is disposed between said first panel positioning part and said centre panel, said adjacent panel positioning part having at least a first portion disposed at a greater radial distance from said vertical axis than said first panel positioning part; a first portion of said adjacent part joined to said first part of said panel io positioning portion to form a second radius therebetween, wherein said second radius is less than said first radius; and wherein said cylindrical wall, said sidewall, said first panel positioning part and said adjacent panel positioning part substantially define at least a portion of said internal containment space.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a container with improved strength, said container having an internal containment space, which includes: a container wall disposed around a vertical axis; a bottom attached to said container wall, having a supporting surface, a sidewall connecting said container wall to said supporting surface, a centre panel disposed radially inwardly of said supporting surface, and a panel positioning 20 portion connecting said supporting surface to said centre panel, said centre panel having a upwardly extending outer portion; said panel positioning portion -i including: a first panel positioning part, contiguous with said supporting surface, that slopes inwardly and upwardly relative to supporting surface; a second panel positioning part, interconnected with and above said first panel positioning part, that slopes outwardly and upwardly relative to said first panel positioning part; a third panel positioning part, interconnected, at its lower edge with and above said second panel positioning part to define an inter-part radius therebetween and interconnected, at its upper edge with said outer portion of said centre panel, to define a wall radius therebetween, wherein said inter-part radius is less than said wall radius and wherein said third panel positioning part slopes inwardly and upwardly relative to said second panel positioning part; and wherein said outer wall, said sidewall, said first panel positioning part, said CAMy Documents\DONOTDELX5IO5973.doc\7/29/99 11 second panel positioning part, and said third panel positioning part substantially define at least a portion of said internal containment space.

In a preferred form the container includes a third part positioned above the second part and includes and upper portion disposed upwardly and inwardly relative to the upper portion of the second part.

The invention is distinguished from previous domed bottom containers (such as those disclosed in patents to Pulciani or Claydon mentioned above), which incorporate a substantially linear inner wall which disposes the centre panel of the container above its supporting surface. The inner wall of these io previous containers extend generally vertically, or inwardly towards the container axis. In contrast, the panel positioning portion of the container of the invention bows outwardly with at least a portion of the second part being disposed radially outwardly as compared to the upper portion of the first part.

The applicant has found that the container of the invention provides significant improvements in strength as compared to previous domed bottom containers of similar dimensions. Further, the container of the invention can be easily formed, and the improvements in strength realised, simply by reworking the inner wall of a domed bottom container. In this way, these strength 4444** improvements can be obtained without increasing the metal thickness, without 20 decreasing the dome radius of the container, without increasing the dome height and without appreciably decreasing the fluid capacity of the container.

Containers which include the panel positioning portion according to the invention have been found to exhibit significant improvements in both dome reversal pressure and in cumulative drop height resistance. These improvements are achieved without increases in metal content, and without any changes in the general size or shape of the container. While it is not known for certainty, it is believed that these improvements in the strength of the container have arisen in part by increases in strength of the mid region of the panel positioning portion, and also by an increase in the effective perimeter of the dome panel and by reduction in the effect of roll-out forces acting on the container.

C:AMy Documents\DONOTDEL\5iO5973.doc\7I2999 In one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom recess portion includes a part thereof that is disposed at a first vertical distance above the supporting surface and at a first radial distance from the vertical axis; and the bottom recess portion also includes an adjacent part that is disposed at a greater vertical distance above the supporting surface and at a greater radial distance from the vertical axis than the first part.

That is, the bottom recess portion includes an adjacent part that extends radially outward from a first part that is closer to the supporting surface. In this configuration, this adjacent part extends circumferentially around the container, io thereby providing an annular radial recess that hooks outwardly of the part of the bottom recess that is closer to the supporting surface.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the adjacent part is arcuate and extends for only a portion of the circumference of the bottom recess portion. Preferably a plurality of adjacent parts, and more preferably five adjacent parts, extend radially outward from a plurality of the first parts, and are interposed between respective ones of the first parts.

Generally speaking, in the present invention, a plurality of strengthening parts are disposed in the circular inner wall of the bottom recess portion, and either extend circumferentially around the bottom recess portion or are circumferentially spaced. The strengthening parts project either radially outwardly or radially inwardly with respect to the circular inner wall.

.:i The strengthening parts may be contained entirely within the inner wall, extend downwardly into the annual supporting surface, portion, may extend upwardly into the concave annular portion that surrounds the domed portion, and/or may extend upwardly into both the concave annular portion and the concave domed panel.

The strengthening parts may be round, elongated vertically, may be elongated circumferentially, and/or may be elongated at an angle between vertical and circumferential.

9 In summary, the present invention provides a container with improved static dome reversal pressure without any increase in material, and without any C:WMy Documents\DONOTDEL\51O5973.doc\712999 13 change in dimensions that affects interchangeability of filling and/or packaging machinery.

Further, the present invention provides a container with enhanced resistance to pressure-caused roll-out and the resultant change in the overall height of the container that accompanies fluid pressures encountered during the pasteurizing process.

Finally, the present invention provides a container with improved cumulative drop height resistance without any increase in material, and without any changes in dimensions that affect interchangeability of filling machinery, io thereby making possible a reduction of, or elimination of, cushioning that has been provided by carton and case packaging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation of beverage containers that are bundled by shrink wrapping with plastic film; FIG. 2 is a top view of the bundled beverage containers of FIG. 1 taken substantially as shown by view line 2-2 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of the lower portion of one of the beverage containers of FIGS. 1 and 2, showing details that are generally common to two prior art designs; 20 FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation of the lower portion of a beverage :container, showing details that are generally common to those of FIG. 4, which, together with dimensions as provided herein, is used to describe a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation, showing, at an enlarged scale, details that are generally common to both FIGS. 3 and 4; FIG. 6 is a slightly enlarged outline, taken generally as a cross-sectional elevation, of the lower portion of the outer contour of a container of an embodiment of the present invention wherein a plurality of arcuately shaped 000* and circumferentially spaced parts of the inner sidewall are disposed radially outward of other parts of the sidewall; FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the container of FIG. 6, taken substantially as shown by view line 7-7 of FIG. 6; C:AMy Documents\DONOTDEL51 05973.doc\7/29/99 FIG. 8 is a slightly enlarged outline, taken generally as a cross-sectional elevation, of the lower portion of the outer contour of a container made according to an embodiment of the present invention wherein a circumferential part of the inner sidewall is disposed radially outward of another circumferential part of the sidewall; FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the container of FIG. 8, taken substantially as shown by view line 9-9 of FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a fragmentary and greatly enlarged outline, taken generally as a cross-sectional elevation, of the outer contour of the container of FIGS. 6 and 7, taken substantially as shown by section line 10-10 of FIG. 7; FIG. 11 is a fragmentary and greatly enlarged outline, taken generally as a cross-sectional elevation, of the outer contour of the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 taken substantially as shown by section line 11-11 of FIG. 7; FIG. 12 is a fragmentary and greatly enlarged outline, taken generally as a cross-sectional elevation, of the outer contour of the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 taken substantially as shown by section line 12-12 of FIG. 9; FIG. 13 is a fragmentary top view of the container of FIGS. 6, 7, and 11, taken substantially as shown by view line 13-13 of FIG. 6, and showing the effectively increased perimeter of the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7; and 20 FIG. 14 is a fragmentary top view of the container of FIGS. 8, 9, and 12, *.o taken substantially as shown by view line 14-14 of FIG. 8, and showing both the perimeter of the concave domed panel of the container of FIG. 5 and the o* effectively increased perimeter of the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, these configurations are generally common to Pulciani et al. in US Pat. No. 4,685,582 and US Pat. No. 4,768,672, to a design manufactured by the assignee of the present invention, and to embodiments of the present invention. More particularly, FIG. 3 is common to the aforesaid prior art, FIG. 4 is common to two embodiments of the prior art, g 30 and FIG. 5 shows some details of FIGS. 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 FIGS. 3-5, the forthcoming description C:My Documents\DONOTDEL\5105973.doc\7/29/99 refers to all of these drawings, except as stated otherwise; and some dimensions pertaining to FIGS. 3 and 4 are placed only on FIG. 5 in order to avoid crowding.

Continuing to refer to FIGS. 3-5, a drawn and ironed beverage container 10 includes a generally cylindrical sidewall 12 that includes a first diameter D 1 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 R 1 and R 2 whose centres of curvature are common. More particularly, the radii R, and R 2 both have centres 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 D 2 o 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 R 3 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 25 to the outer convex annular portion 20 and the upper convex annular S"portion 30. Thus, the outer connecting means 28 connects the sidewall 12 to the outer convex annular portion S- A centre 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 R 4 is disposed radially inwardly from the annular supporting portion 16, and curves upwardly into the C:\My Documents\DONOTDEL\5105973.doc\7/29/99 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 L 1 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 a 1 The inner connecting portion 40 also includes an inner concave annular portion 44 that has a radius of curvature R., and that interconnects the inner wall 42 and the domed panel 38. Thus, the 0io inner connecting portion 40 connects the domed panel 38 to the annular supporting portion 16.

The inner connecting portion 40 positions a perimeter P 0 of the domed panel 38 at a positional distance L 2 above the base line 19. As can be seen by inspection of FIG. 5, the positional distance L 2 is approximately equal to, but is somewhat less than, the sum of the height L 1 of the inner wall 42, the radius of curvature R, of the inner concave annular portion 44, the radius R 2 of the inner convex annular portion 22, and the thickness of the material at the inner convex annular portion 22.

As seen by inspection and as can be calculated by trigonometry, the 20 positional distance L 2 is less than the aforementioned sum by a function of the

OOII

angle and as a function of an angle a 3 at which the perimeter P 0 of the domed panel 38 is connected to the inner concave annular portion 44.

.:i For example, if the radius R 5 of the inner concave annular portion 44 is 0.050 inches, if the radius R 2 of the inner convex annular portion 22 is 25 0.040 inches, and if the thickness of the material at the inner convex annular portion 22 is about 0.012 inches, then the positional distance L 2 is about, but somewhat less than, 0.102 inches more than the height L, of the inner wall 42.

Thus, with radii and metal thickness as noted above, when the height L, of the inner wall 42 is 0.060 inches, the positional distance L 2 is about, but a 0 30 little less than, 0.162 inches.

The annular supporting portion 16 has an arithmetical mean diameter D 3 that occurs at the junction of the outer convex annular portion 20 and the inner CAMy Documents\DONOTDEL\5105973.doc\7129/99 convex annular portion 22. Thus, the mean diameter D 3 and the diameter D 2 of the circle 26 are the same diameter. The dome radius R 4 is centred on the vertical axis 14.

The recessed annular portion 32 includes a circumferential outer wall 46 that extends upwardly from the outer convex annular portion 20 and outwardly away from the vertical axis by an angle a 2 and includes a lower concave annular portion 48 with a radius R 6 Further, the recessed annular portion 32 may, according to the selected magnitudes of the angle a 2 the radius R 3 and the radius R 6 include a lower part of the upper convex annular portion Finally, the container 10 includes a dome height, or panel height H, as measured from the supporting surface 18 to the domed panel 38, and a post diameter, or smaller diameter D 4 of the inner wall 42. The upper convex annular portion 30 is tangent to the sidewall 12, and has a centre 50. The centre 50 is at a height H 2 above the supporting surface 18. A centre 52 of the lower concave annular portion 48 is on a diameter D 5 The centre 52 is below the supporting surface 18. More specifically, the supporting surface 18 is at a distance H 3 above the centre 52.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5, in the prior art embodiment of the three Pulciani, et al. patents, the following dimensions were used: D, 2.597 inches; 20 D 2

D

3 2.000 inches; D 5 2.365 inches; R 2 0.040 inches;

R

3 0.200 inches; R 4 2.375 inches; R 5 0.050 inches; R 6 0.100 inches; and 1 less than Referring now generally to FIGS. 6-12, containers 10 made generally according to the prior art configuration of FIGS. 3-5 can be reworked into 25 containers 62 of FIGS. 6, 7, 10, and 11, or can be reworked into containers 64 of FIGS. 8, 9, and 12.

S" Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7, 10, and 11, the container 62 includes a cylindrical sidewall 12 and a bottom 66 having an annular supporting portion 16 with an annular supporting surface 18. The annular supporting surface 18 is 30 disposed circumferentially around the vertical axis 14, and is provided at the circle of revolution 26 where the outer convex annular portion 20 and the inner convex annular portion 22 join.

C:VWy Docments\DONOTDEL\5105973.do\7/29/99 The bottom 66 includes a bottom recess portion 68 that is disposed radially inwardly of the supporting surface 18 and that includes both the concave domed panel 38 and a dome positioning portion The dome positioning portion 70 disposes the concave domed panel 38 at the positional distance L 2 above the supporting surface 18. The dome positioning portion 70 includes the inner convex annular portion 22, an inner wall 71, and the inner concave annular portion 44.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, and more specially to FIG. 5, before reworking into either the container 62 or the container 64, the container io includes a dome positioning portion 54. The dome positioning portion 54 includes the inner convex annular portion 22, the inner wall 42, and the inner concave annular portion 44.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, fragmentary and enlarged profiles of the outer surface contours of the container 62 of FIGS. 6 and 7 are shown.

That is, the inner surface contours of the container 62 are not shown.

The profile of FIG. 10 is taken substantially as shown by section line 10-10 of FIG. 7 and shows the contour of the bottom 66 of the container 62 in circumferential parts thereof in which the dome positioning portion 70 of the bottom recess portion 68 has not been reworked.

20o Referring again to FIGS. 6 and 7, the dome positioning portion 70 of the container 62 includes a plurality of first parts 72 that are arcuately disposed S: around the circumference of the dome positioning portion 70 at a radial distance Ro from the vertical axis 14 as shown in FIG. 7. The radial distance Ro is one half of the inside diameter Do of FIGS. 10 and 11. The inside 00 25 diameter Do occurs at the junction of the inner convex annular portion 22 and the inner wall 71. That is, the inside diameter Do is defined by the radially inward part of the inner convex annular portion 22.

S The dome positioning portion 70 also includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced adjacent parts 74 that are arcuately disposed around the dome positioning portion 70, that are circumferentially spaced apart, that are disposed at a radial distance RR from the vertical axis 14 which is greater than the radial distance R 0 and that are interposed intermediate of respective C:\My Oocments\DONOTDEL'1O5973.doc\7/2999 ones of the plurality of first parts 72, as shown in FIG. 7. The radial distance RR of FIG. 7 is equal to the sum of one half of the inside diameter Do and a radial distance X, of FIG. 11.

In a preferred configuration of the FIGS. 6 and 7 embodiment, the adjacent parts 74 are 5 in number, each have a full radial displacement for an arcuate angle a4 of 30 degrees, and each have a total length L3 of 0.730 inches.

Referring again to FIG. 10, in circumferential parts of the container 62 of FIGS. 6 and 7 wherein the dome positioning portion 70 is not reworked, the mean diameter D 3 of the annular supporting portion 16 is 2.000 inches; and the inside diameter Do of the bottom recess portion 68 is 1.900 inches which is the minimum diameter of the inner convex annular portion 22. A radius R 7 of the outer contour of the outer convex annular portion 20 is 0.052 inches; and an outer radius R 8 of the inner convex annular portion 22 is 0.052 inches.

It should be noticed that the radii R 7 and R 8 are to the outside of the container 62 and are therefore larger than the radii R 1 and R 2 of FIG. 5 by the thickness of the material.

Referring now to FIG. 11, in circumferential parts of the FIGS. 6 and 7 embodiments wherein the dome positioning portion 70 is reworked, a radius R 9 of the inner convex annular portion 22 is reduced, the inside diameter Do is 20 increased by the radial distance X, to the inside diameter DR, a hooked part 76 of the dome positioning portion 70 is indented, or displaced radially outward, by a radial dimension X 2 and the arithmetical mean diameter D 3 of the supporting t portion 16 is increased by a radial dimension X 3 from the diameter D 3 of FIG. to an arithmetical mean diameter Ds of FIG. 11. The hooked part 76 is centred 25 at a distance Y from the supporting surface 18 and includes a radius RH.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9, and 12, the container64 includes the cylindrical sidewall 12 and a bottom 78 having the annular supporting portion 16 6 with the supporting surface 18. A bottom recess portion 80 of the bottom 78 is disposed radially inwardly of the supporting surface 18 and includes both the o000 30 concave domed panel 38 and a dome positioning portion 82.

0 The dome positioning portion 82 disposes the concave domed panel 38 at the positional distance L 2 above the supporting surface 18 as shown in C:Ay Documents\DONOTDEL\.SIO5973.doc\729/99 FIG. 12. The dome positioning portion 82 includes the inner convex annular portion 22, an inner wall 83, and the inner concave annular portion 44 as shown and described in conjunction with FIGS. The dome positioning portion 82 of the container 64 includes a circumferential first part 84 that is disposed around the dome positioning portion 82 at the radial distance RR from the vertical axis 14 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12. The radial distance RR is one half of the diameter Do of FIG. 12 plus the radial distance The diameter Do occurs at the junction of the inner convex annular portion 22 and the inner wall 42 of FIG. 5. That is, the io diameter Do is defined by the radially inward part of the inner convex annular portion 22.

The dome positioning portion 82 also includes a circumferential adjacent part 86 that is disposed around the dome positioning portion 82, and that is disposed at an effective radius RE from the vertical axis 14 which is greater than the radial distance RR of the first part 84. The effective radius RE is equal to the sum of one half of the diameter Do and the radial dimension X 2 of FIG. 12. That is, the adjacent part 86 includes the hooked part 76; and the hooked part 76 is displaced from the radial distance R 0 by the radial dimension X 2 Therefore, it is proper to say that the adjacent part 86 is disposed radially outwardly of the first part 84.

Referring again to FIG. 10, prior to reworking, the mean diameter D 3 of the annular supporting portion 16 of the container 64 is 2.000 inches; the inside diameter Do of the bottom recess portion 68 is 1.900 inches, which is the minimum diameter of the inner convex annular portion 22; and the radii R 7 and R 8 of the outer and inner convex annular portions 20 and 22, are 0.052 inches.

Referring now to FIG. 12, the radius R 9 of the inner convex annular i "•"portion 22 is reduced, the diameter Do is increased by the radial distance X, to the diameter DR, a hooked part76 of the dome positioning portion 82 is indented, or displaced radially outward, by the radial dimension X 2 and the arithmetical mean diameter D 3 of both the supporting portion 16 and the supporting surface 18 of FIG. 10 are increased by the radial dimension X 3 to the C:AMy Documents\DONOTDEL5105973.doc\7/29/99 I diameter D S of FIG. 12. The hooked part 76 is centred at the distance Y from the supporting surface 18 and includes the radius RH.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 13, and 14, the concave domed panel 38 of the container 10 of FIG. 5 includes the perimeter P 0 and an unreworked effective perimeter PE that includes the inner concave annular portion 44.

However, when the container 10 is reworked into the container 62 of FIGS. 6 and 7, the domed panel 38 includes a reworked effective perimeter PEl which is larger than the perimeter PE. In like manner, when the container 10 of FIG. 5 is reworked into the container 64 of FIGS. 8 and 9, the domed panel 38 includes a io reworked effective perimeter PE2 which is also larger than the unreworked effective perimeter PE- For testing, containers 10 made according to two different sets of dimensions, and conforming generally to the configuration of FIGS. 3-5, have been reworked into both containers 62 and 64.

Containers 10 made to one set of dimensions before reworking are designated herein as B6A containers, and containers 10 made according to the other set of dimensions are designated herein as TAMPA containers. The B6A and the TAMPA containers include many dimensions that are the same.

Further, many of the dimensions of the B6A and TAMPA containers and the same as a prior art configuration of the assignee of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 10, prior to reworking, both the B6A containers i and the TAMPA containers included the following dimensions: D, 2.598 inches; D 2

D

3 2.000 inches; D 5 2.509 inches; R 3 0.200 inches; R= 0.050 inches; R 6 0.200 inches; R 7 and R 8 0.052 inches; oV.. 25 H 2 0.370 inches; H 3 0.008 inches; and a 30 degrees. Other dimensions, including R 4

H

1 and the metal thickness are specified in Table 1.

The metal used for both the B6A and TAMPA containers for tests reported herein was aluminum alloy which is designated as 3104 H19, and the test material was taken from production stock.

S. 30 The dome radius R 4 as shown in Table 1, is the approximate dome radius of a container 10; and the dome radius R 4 is different from the radius RT of the domer tooling. More particularly, as shown in Table 1, tooling with a C:\My Documents\DONOTDEL5105973.doc\712999 radius RT of 2.12 inches produces a container 10 with a radius R 4 of approximately 2.38 inches.

This difference in radius of curvature between the container and the tooling is true for the three Pulciani et al patents, for the prior art embodiments of the assignee of the present invention, and also for the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 8, and 10, the dome radius R 4 will have an actual dome radius Rc proximal to the vertical axis 14, and a different actual dome radius Rp at the perimeter P 0 Also, the radii Rc and Rp will vary in accordance with variations of other parameters, such as the height L 1 of the inner wall 71. Further, the dome radius R 4 will vary at various distances between the vertical axis 14 and the perimeter P 0 The dome radius Rc will be somewhat smaller than the dome radius Rp, because the perimeter P 0 of the concave domed panel 38 will spring outwardly.

However, in the charts, the dome radius R 4 is given, and at the vertical axis 14, the dome radius R 4 is close to being equal to the actual dome radius When the containers 10 are reworked into the containers 62 and 64, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the dome radii Rc and Rp, as shown on FIG. 4, may or may not change slightly with containers 10 made to various parameters and reworked to various parameters. Changed radii, due to reworking of the dome positioning portions 70 and 82, are designated actual dome radius RCR and actual dome radius RpR for radii near the vertical axis 14 and near the perimeter P 0 :respectively. However, since the difference between the dome radii Rc and Rp is small, and since the dome radii Rc and Rp change only slightly during reworking, if at all, only the radius R 4 of FIG. 4 is used in the accompanying charts and in the following description.

Reworking of the dome positioning portions 70 and 82, results in an increase in the radius R 5 of FIG. 5. To show this change in radius, the radius R, after reworking, is designated radius of curvature R 5 R in FIGS. 11 and 12 and in Table 1. As seen in Table 1, this change in the radius R, can be 30 rather minimal, or quite large, depending upon various parameters in the original container 10 and/or in reworking parameters.

C:My Documents\DONOTDEL\5105973.doc\7129199 When the change in the radius R 5 of FIG. 5 is quite large, as shown for the TAMPA container reworked into the container 64, reworking of the container 10 into the container 64 extends an effective diameter DE of the centre panel 38, which includes the concave annular portion 44, and which is shown in FIG. 10, to an effective diameter DE 2 as shown in FIG. 12.

Therefore, in the reworking process, an annular portion 88 of the dome positioning portion 82, as shown in FIG. 12, is moved into, and affectively becomes a part of, the centre panel 38.

Further, especially in the process in which the reworking is circumferential, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 12, an annular portion 90, as shown in FIG. 10, of the bottom 78 which lies outside of the annular supporting surface 18, is moved radially inward, and effectively becomes a part of the dome positioning portion 82 of FIG. 12.

In Table 1, the static dome reversal pressure is in pounds per square inch, the cumulative drop height is in inches, and the internal pressure at which the cumulative drop height tests were run is in pounds per square inch.

The purpose for the cumulative drop height is to determine the cumulative drop height at which a filled can exhibits partial or total reversal of 20 the domed panel.

The procedure is as follows: 1) warm the product in the containers to 90 degrees, plus or minus 2 degrees, Fahrenheit; 2) position the tube of the 0.f drop height tester to 5 degrees from vertical to achieve consistent container drops; 3) insert the container from the top of the tube, lower it to the 3 inch position, and support the container with a finger; 4) allow the container to free-fall and strike the steel base; 5) repeat the test at heights that successively 0.0 increase by 3 inch increments; 6) feel the domed panel to check for any bulging or "reversal" of the domed panel before testing at the next height; .00.

7) record the height at which dome reversal occurs; 8) calculate the 30 cumulative drop height, that is, add each height at which a given container has been dropped, including the height at which dome reversal occurs; and 9) average the results from 10 containers.

C:AMy Documents\DONOTDEL\5105973.doc\7129199 A control was run on both B6A and TAMPA containers prior to reworking into the containers 62 and 64. In this control testing, the B6A container had a static dome reversal pressure of 97 psi and the TAMPA container had a static dome reversal pressure of 95 psi. Further, the B6A container had a cumulative drop height resistance of 9 inches and the TAMPA container had a cumulative drop height resistance of 33 inches.

Referring now to Table 1, when B6A containers were reworked into the containers 62, which have a plurality of circumferentially-spaced adjacent parts 74 that are displaced radially outwardly, the static dome reversal pressure to increased from 97 psi to 111 psi, and the cumulative drop height resistance increased from 9 inches to 10.8 inches.

TABLE 1 15 oo *e INTERRUPTED

CONTINUOUS

ANNULAR INDENT ANNULAR INDENT B6A TAMPA B6A TAMPA R,4 2.38 2.038 2.38 2.038 RT 2.12 1.85 2.12 1.85

R

5 R 0.08 0.445 H, .385 .415 .385 .415 DR 1.950 1.950 2.000 1.984 Ds 2.020 2.020 2.051 2.041 RH .030 .030 .050 .050

R

9 .030 .030 .026 .026 X, .025 .025 .050 .042 X2 .054 .051 .055 .055 X3 .010 .010 .026 .021 Y .084 .086 .076 .092 thkns. .0116 .0118 .0116 .0118 I.P. 58 59 58 59 S.D.R. 111 120 121 126 C.D.H. 10.8 30.0 18.0 60.0 When the Tampa containers were reworked into the containers 62, the static dome reversal pressure increased from 95 psi to 120 psi, and the cumulative drop height resistance decreased from 33 inches to 30 inches.

When the B6A containers were reworked into the containers 64, which have a circumferential adjacent part 86 that is displaced radially outwardly from CAMy Documents\DONOTDEL\5105973.dcA7/29/99 a circumferential first part 84, the static dome reversal pressure increased from 97 psi to 121 psi, and the cumulative drop height resistance increased from 9 inches to 18 inches.

Finally, when the TAMPA containers were reworked into the containers 64, the static dome reversal pressure increased from 95 psi to 126 psi, and the cumulative drop height resistance increased from 33 inches to inches.

Thus, B6A and TAMPA containers reworked into containers 62 of FIGS. 6 and 7 showed an improvement in static dome reversal pressure of 14.4 percent and 26.3 percent, respectively. B6A and Tampa containers reworked into containers 62 showed an improvement in cumulative drop height resistance of 20 per cent in the case of the B6A container, but showed a decrease of 10 per cent in the case of the TAMPA container.

Further, B6A and TAMPA containers reworked into containers 64 of FIGS. 8 and 9 showed an improvement in static dome reversal pressure of 24.7 percent and 32.6 percent, respectively. B6A and TAMPA containers reworked into containers 64 showed an improvement in cumulative drop height resistance of 100 per cent in the case of the B6A container, and an increase of 81.8 per cent in the case of the TAMPA container.

Therefore, the present invention provides phenomenal increases in both :static dome reversal pressure and cumulative drop height without increasing the size of the container, without seriously decreasing the fluid volume of the container as would be caused by increasing the height L 1 of the inner wall 71 or 83, or by greatly decreasing the dome radius R 4 of the concave domed 25 panel 38, and without increasing the thickness of the metal.

While reworking the TAMPA containers into the containers 62 did not show an increase in the cumulative drop height resistance, it is believed that this is due to two facts. One fact is that reworking of the containers 10 into the containers 62 and 64 was made without the benefit of adequate tooling.

Therefore, the test samples were not in accordance with production quality.

Another fact is that reworking the TAMPA containers into the containers 64 CAMy Do-ments\DONOTDEL510597.doc\7/29/99 26 resulted in a greater radial distance X, than did the reworking of the TAMPA containers into the containers 62.

However, it remains a fact that reworking the B6A containers into the containers 64 did provide substantial increases in both the static dome reversal pressure and the cumulative drop height resistance.

It is believed that with further testing, parameters will be discovered which will provide additional increases in both static dome reversal pressure and cumulative drop height resistance.

Since the present invention provides a substantial increase in static io dome reversal pressure, and with some parameters, a substantial increase in cumulative drop height resistance, it is believed that the present invention, when used with smaller dome radii R 4 or with centre panel configurations other than spherical radii, will provide even greater combinations of static dome reversal pressures and cumulative drop height resistances than reported herein.

From general engineering knowledge, it is obvious that a dome radius R 4 that is too large would reduce the static dome reversal pressure. Further, it has been known that too small a dome radius R 4 would also reduce the static dome reversal pressure, even though a smaller dome radius R 4 should have increased the static dome reversal pressure.

While it is not known for a certainty, it appears that smaller values of dome radii R 4 placed forces on the inner wall 42 that were concentrated more directly downwardly against the inner convex annular portion 22, thereby causing roll-out of the inner convex annular portion 22 and failure of the S: 25 container In contrast, a larger dome radius R 4 would tend to flatten when pressurized. That is, as a dome that was initially flatter would flatten further due to pressure, it would expand radially and place a force radially outward on the e top of the inner wall 42, thereby tending to prevent roll-out of the inner convex 30 annular portion 22.

ol o C:\My Documents\DONOTDEL\5105973.doc\7/29/99 27 However, a larger dome radius R 4 would have insufficient curvature to resist internal pressures, thereby resulting in dome reversal at pressures that are too low to meet beverage producers' requirements.

The present invention, by strengthening the inner wall 42 of the container 10 to the inner wall 71 of the container 62, or by strengthening the inner wall 83 of the container 64, increases in static dome reversal pressures that are achieved. These phenomenal increases in static dome reversal pressures are achieved by decreasing the force which tends to roll-out the inner convex annular portion 22.

More specifically, as seen in FIG. 12, in the instance of the container 64 where the adjacent part 86 of the dome positioning portion 82 is circumferential, an effective diameter DE of the concave domed panel 38 is increased. The container 64 also has an effective perimeter P2 as shown in FIG. 14.

Or, as seen in FIG. 11 which shows circumferentially-spaced adjacent parts 74 that are displaced outwardly, an effective radius RE of the domed panel 38 is increased. An increase in the radius RE by the circumferentially-spaced adjacent parts 74 increases the effective perimeter P 1 of the domed panel 38 as shown in FIG. 13.

It can be seen by inspection of FIGS. 11 and 12 that placing the dome pressure force farther outwardly, as shown by the diameter DE and the radius RE, reduces the moment arm of the roll-out force. That is, the ability of a given force to roll-out the inner convex annular portion 22 depends upon the distance, radially inward, where the dome pressure force is applied. Therefore, the increase in the effective diameter DE of the container 64, and the increase 25 in the effective radius RE, decrease the roll-out forces and thereby increase the resistance to roll-out.

Also, as shown in Table 1, the radius R 9 is reduced; and, from the preceding discussion, it can be seen that this reduction in radius also helps the containers 62 and 64 resist roll-out.

30 Continuing to refer to FIG. 12, the first part 84 of the container 64 is circumferential and might be considered to have a height H 4 and the adjacent part 86 is also circumferential and might be considered to have a height H 5 C:AMy Documents\DONOTDEL5105973.doc\7/29/99 That is, defining the heights H 4 and H5, is somewhat arbitrary. However, as can be seen, the adjacent part 86 is disposed radially outward from the first part 84; and the hooked part 76 of the dome positioning portion 82 is formed with the radius RH.

Thus, in effect, after reworking into a container 64, the dome positioning portion 82 is bowed outwardly at the distance Y from the supporting surface 18.

This bowing outwardly of the dome positioning portion 82 is believed to provide a part of the phenomenal increase in static dome reversal pressure. That is, as the concave domed panel 38 applies a pressure-caused force downwardly, the outwardly-bowed dome positioning portion 82 tends to buckle outwardly, elastically and/or both elastically and plastically.

As the dome positioning portion 82 tends to buckle outwardly, it places a roll-in force on the inner convex annular portion 22, thereby increasing the roll-out resistance.

That is, whereas the downward force of the concave domed panel 38 presses downwardly tending to unroll both the outer convex annular portion and the inner convex annular portion 22, the elastic and/or elastic and plastic buckling of the dome positioning portion 82 tends to roll up the convex annular portions 20 and 22.

20 In like manner, as shown in FIG. 11, in circumferential portions of the container 62 which include the adjacent parts 74 and the hooked parts 76, the tendency of the dome positioning portion 70 to buckle outwardly is similar to that described for the dome positioning portion 82. However, since the hooked part76 exists only in those circumferential parts of the dome positioning S 25 portion 70 wherein the adjacent parts 74 are located, the roll-in effect is not as great as in the container 64.

In summary, as shown and described herein, the present invention provides containers 62 and 64, in which improvements in roll-out resistance, static dome reversal pressure, and cumulative drop height are all achieved without increasing the metal thickness, without decreasing the dome radius R 4 without increasing the positional distance L2, without increasing the dome height H 1 and without appreciably decreasing the fluid capacity of the C:\My Documents\DONOTDEL\5105973.doc\7/29/99 containers 62 and 64. Or, conversely, the present invention provides containers 62 and 64, in which satisfactory values of roll-out resistance, static dome reversal pressure, and cumulative drop height can be achieved using metal of a thinner gauge than has heretofore been possible.

It is believed that the present invention yields unexpected results.

Whereas, in prior art designs, a decrease in the dome radius R 4 has decreased the dome reversal pressure, in the present invention, a decrease in the dome radius R 4 combined with strengthening the dome positioning portion 70 or 82, achieves a remarkable increase in both dome reversal pressure and cumulative io drop height resistance.

Further, the fact that phenomenal increases in both cumulative drop height resistance and static dome reversal pressures have been achieved by simply reworking a container of standard dimensions is believed to constitute unexpected results.

When referring to dome radii R 4 or to limits thereof, it should be understood that, while the concave domed panels 38 of containers 62 and 64 have been made with tooling having a spherical radius, both the spring-back of the concave domed panel 38 of the container 10, and reworking of the container 10 into containers 62 and 64, change the dome radius from a true spherical radius.

Therefore, in the claims, a specified radius, or a range of radii for the radius R 4 would apply to either a central portion 92 or to an annular portion 94, •-both of FIGS. 6 and 8.

The central portion 92 has a diameter Dcp which may be any percentage of the diameter Dp of the concave domed panel 38; and the annular portion 94 may be disposed at any distance from the vertical axis 14 and may have a radial width X 4 of any percentage of the diameter Dp of the concave domed oo..

panel 38.

Further, while the preceding discussion has focused on centre panels 38 S, 30 with radii R, that are generally spherical, and that are made with spherical tooling, the present invention is applicable to containers 62 or 64, in which the concave domed panels 38 are ellipsoidal, consist of annular steps, decrease in C:AMy Documents\DONOTDEL\515973.doc\7/29/99 radius of curvature as a function of the distance radially outward of the concave domed panel 38 from the vertical axis 14, have some portion 92 or 94 that is substantially spherical, include a portion that is substantially conical, and/or include a portion that is substantially flat.

Finally, while the limits pertaining to the shape of the centre panel 38 may be defined as functions of dome radii R 4 limits pertaining to the shape of the centre panel 38 can be defined as limits for the central portion 92 or for the annular portion 94 of the centre panel 38, or as limits for the angle a 3 whether at the perimeter P 0 or at any other radial distance from the vertical axis 14.

Referring finally to FIGS. 5-12, another distinctive difference in the present invention is in the slope of the inner walls 71 and 83, of containers 62 and 64, respectively. As seen in FIG. 5, the inner wall 42 of the prior art slopes upwardly and inwardly by the angle ao.

In stark contrast to the prior art, the inner wall 83 of the container 64 of FIGS. 8, 9, and 12 includes a negatively-sloping part 96 that slopes upwardly and outwardly at a negative angle As seen in FIG. 9, the negatively-sloping part 96 extends circumferentially around the vertical axis 14.

Also in stark contrast to the prior art, the inner wall 71 of the container 62 of FIGS. 6, 7, and 11 includes a negatively-sloping part 98 that slopes upwardly S 20 and outwardly by a negative angle a 6 and that is disposed arcuately around see, less than one-half of the bottom 66 of the container 62. The inner wall 71 also 0 "0.I includes another negatively-sloping part100 that slopes upwardly and outwardly at the negative angle a 6 and that is spaced circumferentially from the negatively-sloping part 98.

25 Therefore, in the appended claims, centre panel should be understood to be without limitation to a particular, or a single, geometrical shape.

In summary, the present invention provides these remarkable and unexpected improvements by means and method as recited in the aspects of 0@the invention which are included herein.

O.l 30 Although aluminum containers have been investigated, it is believed that the same principle, namely increasing the roll-out resistance of the inner wall, C:Ay Documents\DONOTDEL\5105973doc\729/99 from the inner wall 42 of the container 10 to either the inner wall 71 of container 62 or the inner wall 83 of the container 64, would be effective to increase the strength of containers made from other materials, including ferrous and nonferrous metals, plastic and other nonmetallic materials.

Referring finally to FIGS. 1 and 2, upper ones of the containers 10 stack onto lower ones of the containers 10 with the outer connecting portions 28 of the upper ones of the containers 10 nested inside double-seamed tops 56 of lower ones of the containers 10; and both adjacently disposed and vertically stacked containers 10 are bundled into a package 58 by the use of a io shrink-wrap plastic While this method of packaging is more economical than the previous method of boxing, possible damage due to rough handling becomes a problem, so that the requirements for cumulative drop resistances of the containers 10 is more stringent. It is this problem that the present invention addresses and solves.

While specific methods and apparatus have been disclosed in the preceding description, it should be understood that these specifics have been given for the purpose of disclosing the principles of the present invention and that many variations thereof will become apparent to those who are versed in ~20 the art. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by oo..

appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is applicable to containers made of aluminum and various other materials. More particularly, the present invention is applicable to 25 beverage containers of the type having a seamless, drawn and ironed, cylindrically-shaped body, and an integral bottom with an annular supporting portion.

*l C:\My Documents\flONOTDEL\51O5973.doc\7/29I99

Claims (43)

1. A container with improved strength, said container having an internal containment space and being capable of receiving a beverage therein, which includes: an outer wall disposed around a vertical axis; a bottom attached to said outer wall and including an exteriorly convexly-shaped annular support including an annular supporting surface, wherein a radially innermost part of said annular support defines a first diameter, said bottom further including a panel positioning portion and a io generally concave centre panel that is disposed above said supporting surface by said panel positioning portion, wherein said centre panel has an upwardly extending outer portion; said panel positioning portion including: a first part disposed inwardly and upwardly relative to said supporting surface; and a second part, positioned above said first part, including an upper portion disposed outwardly and upwardly relative to an upper portion of said first part, and connected to said outer portion of said centre panel, wherein said outer wall, said annular support, said first part, and said second part substantially S" 20 define a portion of said internal containment space. o* *o*o :0002. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said second part extends upwardly relative to said upper portion of said first part and outwardly relative to said axis.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first part of said panel S 25 positioning portion is substantially circumferential and said upper portion of said first part is disposed at a first radial distance from said vertical axis and at a first vertical distance from said supporting surface, and wherein said second part of said panel positioning portion is substantially circumferential and said upper portion of said second part is disposed at a greater vertical distance from said supporting surface and at a greater radial distance from said vertical axis than said upper portion of said first part. said upper portion of said first part. C:AMy Documents\DONOTOEL\515973.doc\7/29f9 9

4. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said second parts of said panel positioning portion are circumferentially spaced around said panel positioning portion and said upper portion of each of said second parts is disposed at substantially a first vertical distance from said supporting surface and substantially at a first radial distance from said vertical axis, wherein a plurality of said first parts are circumferentially spaced around said panel positioning portion, each of said first parts being vertically aligned with one of said second parts, and wherein said upper portion of each said first part is disposed at a lesser vertical distance from said supporting surface and at a io lesser radial distance from said vertical axis than said upper portion of a vertically adjacent of said second parts. A container as claimed in claim 1, further including a third part positioned above said second part and including an upper portion disposed upwardly and inwardly relative to said upper portion of said second part.

6. A container with an internal containment space, with increased resistance strength, and being capable of receiving a beverage therein, which includes an outer wall that is disposed around a vertical axis, a bottom that is attached to said outer wall and including an exteriorly convexly-shaped annular support including an annular supporting surface and annular inner and outer 20 convex portions, said supporting surface being positioned between said inner *999 and outer convex portions, said inner convex portion being defined by a first radius and said inner convex portion defining a first diameter, said bottom further including a generally concave centre panel and a panel positioning portion between said supporting surface and said centre panel, said centre S 25 panel having an upwardly extending outer portion, the improvement which includes: said panel positioning portion including a first part which is disposed above said annular support and which extends upwardly relative to said annular support in an orientation which is different than an orientation of said inner convex portion defined by said first radius; and said panel positioning portion further including a second part that is disposed between said first part and said centre panel, said second part C:ANy Oocuments\DONOTDEL\5105973.doc\7/299 9 including a first portion which extends upwardly and outwardly relative to an upper portion of said first part and said axis, respectively, said first part and said first portion of said second part having different orientations relative to said axis; wherein said outer wall, said annular support, said first part, and said second part substantially define a portion of said internal containment space.

7. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first portion extends substantially about said vertical axis.

8. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second part further includes a second portion, wherein an upper part of said second portion is disposed at a lesser radial distance from said vertical axis than an upper part of said first portion, said first and second portions of said second part being substantially horizontally adjacent.

9. A container as claimed in claim 8, wherein a plurality of said first portions are circumferentially spaced about said vertical axis and wherein said container further includes a plurality of said second portions, one of said second portions being positioned between adjacent said first portions. A container with improved strength, said container having an internal containment space and being capable of receiving a beverage therein, which includes: 20 an outer wall disposed around a vertical axis; I..I a bottom attached to said outer wall including an exteriorly convexly-shaped annular support including an annular supporting surface, wherein a radially innermost part of said annular support defines a first diameter, said bottom further including a generally concave centre panel and a S 25 panel positioning portion between said supporting surface and said centre panel, said centre panel having an upwardly extending outer portion; said panel positioning portion including: a first part, contiguous with said supporting surface, that slopes upwardly relative to supporting surface; 30 a second part, interconnected with and above said first part, that slopes 9" a upwardly and outwardly relative to an upper portion of said first part and said axis, respectively; and C:Auy DocumentsDONOTDELZI 05973.doc\729/99 a third part, interconnected with and above said second part and interconnected with said outer portion of said centre panel, that slopes upwardly and inwardly relative to an upper portion of said second part and said axis respectively; wherein said outer wall, said annular support, said first part, said second part, and said third part substantially define a portion of said internal containment space.

11. A container as claimed in claim 10, in which said second part of said inner wall is substantially circumferential.

12. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a part of said annular support includes said first part, said first part extending upwardly and inwardly relative to said supporting surface and said axis, respectively.

13. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said annular support further includes annular inner and outer convex portions, said supporting surface being positioned between said inner and outer convex portions, said inner convex portion being defined by a first radius and wherein said first part is positioned above said inner convex portion in an orientation which is different than an orientation of said inner convex portion defined by said first radius.

14. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first part extends S 20o upwardly relative to said supporting surface and said second part extends :-...upwardly and outwardly relative to said upper portion of said first part and said axis, respectively, said first and second parts having different orientations relative to said vertical axis.

15. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a reference plane contains 25 said annular supporting surface, a radially outermost part of said panel positioning portion is said upper portion of said second part, and said upper portion of said second part is disposed at a vertical distance above said reference plane which is substantially less than a vertical distance of a radially outermost part of said centre panel above said reference plane. S 30 16. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first part extends upwardly relative to said supporting surface and said second part extends upwardly and outwardly relative to said upper portion of said first part and said C:AMy DocumentsDONOTDEL\5105973.doc\7/29/99 axis, respectively, wherein said panel positioning portion further includes a third part positioned above said second part which extends upwardly and inwardly relative to said upper portion of said second part and said axis, respectively.

17. A container as claimed in claim 16, wherein said centre panel is substantially defined by a panel radius, said third part being in an orientation which is different from an orientation of said centre panel provided by said panel radius, said third part being interconnected with said outer portion of said centre panel by an arcuate portion.

18. A container as claimed in claim 16, wherein an annular lower end of said third part defines a second diameter and an annular upper end of said third part defines a third diameter, said second diameter being greater than said first diameter of said radially innermost part of said annular support and said third diameter being less than said first diameter.

19. A container as claimed in claim 16, wherein said third part further includes lower and upper end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, wherein said lower end portion of said third part is defined by a first radius, said upper end portion of said third part is defined by a second radius, and said intermediate portion is in an orientation other than that provided by either of said first and second radiuses. 0e*oo* 20 20. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a radially outermost annular part of said panel positioning portion includes an annular upper end of said 2' *second part, said annular upper end of said second part having a second diameter greater than said first diameter of said radially innermost part of said annular support, and wherein a radially outermost annular part of said centre panel defines a third diameter less than said first diameter.

21. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a radially outermost annular part of said centre panel defines a second diameter less than said first diameter -o-0 of said radially innermost part of said annular support. *22. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein a reference plane 30 substantially contains said annular supporting surface, a radially outermost part of said panel positioning portion is an upper end of said first portion of said second part, and said upper end of said first portion of said second part is C:iy DocumentsXDONOTDEL\5105973.doc\7/29/ 9 9 disposed at a vertical distance above said reference plane which is substantially less than a vertical distance of a radially outermost part of said centre panel above said reference plane.

23. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein said panel positioning portion further includes a third part positioned above said second part which extends upwardly and inwardly relative to an upper portion of said first portion of said second part and said axis, respectively.

24. A container as claimed in claim 23, wherein said centre panel is substantially defined by a panel radius, said third part being in an orientation which is different from an orientation of said centre panel provided by said panel radius, and said third part being interconnected with said outer portion of said centre panel by an arcuate portion. A container as claimed in claim 23, wherein an annular lower end of said third part defines a second diameter and an annular upper end of said third part defines a third diameter, said second diameter being greater than said first diameter of said inner convex portion and said third diameter being less than said first diameter.

26. A container as claimed in claim 23, wherein said third part further includes lower and upper end portions and an intermediate portion 20 therebetween, wherein said lower end portion of said third part is defined by a first radius, said upper end portion of said third part is defined by a second radius, and said intermediate portion is in an orientation other than that provided by either of said first and second radiuses.

27. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein a radially outermost annular 25 part of said panel positioning portion includes an upper end of said first portion of said second part, said upper end of said first portion of said second part having a second diameter greater than said first diameter of said inner convex portion of said annular support, and wherein a radially outermost annular part of said centre panel defines a third diameter less than said first diameter. 30 28. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein a radially outermost annular part of said centre panel defines a second diameter less than said first diameter of said inner convex portion of said annular support. C:'Ay Documents\DONOTDEL\5105973dac\7I2999

29. A container as claimed in claim 10, wherein a part of said annular support includes said first part, said first part further extending inwardly relative to said vertical axis. A container as claimed in claim 10, wherein said annular support further includes annular inner and outer convex portions, said supporting surface being positioned between said inner and outer convex portions, said inner convex portion being defined by a first radius and wherein said first part is positioned above said inner convex portion in an orientation which is different than an orientation of said inner convex portion defined by said first radius.

31. A container as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first and second parts have different orientations relative to said vertical axis.

32. A container as claimed in claim 10, wherein said centre panel is substantially defined by a panel radius and said third part is in an orientation which is different from an orientation of said centre panel provided by said panel radius, said third part being interconnected with said outer portion of said centre panel by an arcuate portion.

33. A container as claimed in claim 10, wherein said third part further includes lower and upper end portions and an annular intermediate portion therebetween, wherein said lower end portion of said third part is defined by a 0 o first radius, said upper end portion of said third part is defined by a second radius, and said intermediate portion is in an orientation other than that provided by either of said first and second radiuses. S:i 34. A container as claimed in claim 10, wherein an annular lower end of said third part defines a second diameter and an annular upper end of said third part 25 defines a third diameter, said second diameter being greater than said first diameter of said radially innermost part of said annular support and wherein a radially outermost annular part of said centre panel defines a third diameter less o* o than said first diameter.

35. A container as claimed in claim 10, wherein a radially outermost annular 30 part of said panel positioning portion is said upper portion of said second part, said upper portion of said second part having a second diameter greater than said first diameter of said radially innermost part of said annular support, C:AMy DocumentsXDONOTDEL\5105973.doc\7/29/99 L_ wherein a radially outermost annular part of said centre panel defines a third diameter less than said first diameter.

36. A container as claimed in claim 10, wherein a radially outermost annular part of said centre panel defines a second diameter less than said first diameter of said radially innermost part of said annular support.

37. A container as claimed in claim 10, wherein a reference plane substantially contains said annular supporting surface, a radially outermost part of said panel positioning portion is said upper portion of said second part, and said upper portion of said second part is disposed at a vertical distance above io said reference plane which is substantially less than a vertical distance of a radially outermost part of said centre panel above said reference plane.

38. A drawn and ironed container capable of receiving a beverage therein, including: a substantially cylindrical sidewall disposed about a vertical axis; and a bottom attached to said sidewall and including: an exteriorly convexly-shaped annular support including an annular supporting surface, wherein a reference plane substantially contains said annular supporting surface and wherein a radially innermost annular part of said annular support defines a first diameter; ,oooa 20 a generally concave centre panel; and a panel positioning portion positioned between said annular supporting S-surface and said centre panel and including first and second parts, said first part extending upwardly relative to said supporting surface, said second part being positioned above said first part and extending upwardly and outwardly relative to an upper portion of said first part and said vertical axis, respectively, wherein a radially outermost part of said panel positioning portion is an upper portion of said second part and wherein a vertical distance of a radially outermost part of said centre panel relative to said reference plane is ***significantly greater than a vertical distance of said upper portion of said second 30 part relative to said reference plane. C:\My Documents\DONOTDEL'5lO5973.doc\7/29I99

39. A container as claimed in claim 38, wherein a part of said annular support includes said first part, said first part further extending inwardly relative to said vertical axis. A container as claimed in claim 38, wherein said annular support further includes annular inner and outer convex portions, said supporting surface being positioned between said inner and outer convex portions, said inner convex portion being defined by a first radius and wherein said first part is positioned above said inner convex portion in an orientation which is different than an orientation of said inner convex portion defined by said first radius. 0io 41. A container as claimed in claim 38, wherein said first and second parts have different orientations relative to said vertical axis.

42. A container as claimed in claim 38, wherein said panel positioning portion further includes a third part positioned above said second part which slopes upwardly and inwardly relative to said upper portion of said second part and said axis, respectively.

43. A container as claimed in claim 42, wherein said centre panel is substantially defined by a panel radius, said third part being in an orientation which is different from an orientation of said centre panel provided by said panel radius, said third part being interconnected with an outer portion of said centre panel by an arcuate portion.

44. A container as claimed in claim 42, wherein an annular lower end of said third part defines a second diameter and an annular upper end of said third part defines a third diameter, said second diameter being greater than said first diameter of said radially innermost part of said annular support and said third diameter being less than said first diameter. A container as claimed in claim 42, wherein said third part further includes lower and upper end portions with an intermediate portion therebetween, wherein said lower end portion of said third part is defined by a first radius, said upper end portion of said third part is defined by a second 30 radius, and said intermediate portion is in an orientation other than that provided by either of said first and second radiuses. C:AMy Documents\DONOTDELS105973.doc\7/29/99 41

46. A container as claimed in claim 38, wherein a radially outermost annular part of said panel positioning portion includes said upper portion of said second part, said upper portion of said second part having a second diameter greater than said first diameter, and wherein a radially outermost annular part of said centre panel defines a third diameter less than said first diameter.

47. A container as claimed in claim 38, wherein a radially outermost annular part of said centre panel defines a second diameter less than said first diameter.

48. A container with improved bottom strength, said container having an io internal containment space, which includes: a substantially cylindrical wall disposed around a vertical axis; a bottom attached to said cylindrical wall and having a supporting surface, a sidewall connecting said cylindrical wall to said supporting surface, a centre panel disposed radially inwardly of said supporting surface, and a panel positioning portion connecting said supporting surface to said centre panel, wherein said centre panel has a concave portion forming a first radius interconnecting said centre panel to said panel positioning portion; said panel positioning portion including: a first panel positioning part disposed inwardly and upwardly relative to said supporting surface; a second panel positioning part positioned above said first panel positioning part, disposed outwardly and upwardly relative to said first panel positioning part, and; an upwardly extending outer portion having a top end and a lower end, 25 said top end being connected to said first radius; said first and second panel positioning parts forming a first sloping wall and said upwardly extending outer portion forming a second sloping wall, wherein the first and second sloping walls are joined at the upper end of the first and the lower end of the second of said sloping walls to form a second 30 radius therebetween, wherein said second radius is less than said first radius; C:VMy Documents\DONOTDEL5105973.doc\7129199 42 wherein said cylindrical wall, said side wall, said first panel positioning part, said second panel positioning part and said outer portion substantially define at least a portion of said internal containment space.

49. A container as claimed in claim 48, wherein at least a portion of said first and second parts of said panel positioning portion are disposed at different radial distances from said vertical axis. A container as claimed in claim 48, wherein said first panel positioning part of said panel positioning portion is substantially circumferential and is disposed at its uppermost point at a first radial distance from said vertical axis io and at a first distance from said supporting surface, and wherein said second panel positioning part of said panel positioning portion is substantially circumferential and is disposed at a greater distance from said supporting surface and at a greater radial distance at its uppermost point from said vertical axis than said first panel positioning part.

51. A container as claimed in claim 48, wherein said first panel positioning part of said panel positioning portion is disposed at a first distance from said supporting surface and at a first radial distance from said vertical axis, and wherein a plurality of said second panel positioning parts of said panel positioning portion are circumferentially spaced around said panel positioning *o *o 20 portion and are disposed at a greater distance from said supporting surface and at a greater distance, at the uppermost point of each said second part from said vertical axis than said first panel positioning part. i

52. A container as claimed in claim 48, wherein said first panel positioning part of said panel positioning portion is disposed at a first radial distance from 25 said vertical axis and at a first distance from said supporting surface, and wherein said second panel positioning part of said panel positioning portion is disposed at a greater distance from said supporting surface and at a greater radial distance, at its uppermost point, from said vertical axis than said first **panel positioning part. 30 53. In a container with an internal containment space and with increased resistance strength which includes a substantially cylindrical wall that is disposed around a vertical axis, a bottom that is attached to said cylindrical wall C:My DocumentsXDONOTDEL\5105973doc\7I299 9 and that provides a supporting surface, a sidewall connecting said cylindrical wall to said supporting surface, a central panel disposed radially inwardly of said supporting surface, and a panel positioning portion connecting said supporting surface to said central panel, the improvement which includes: said centre panel having a concave portion forming a first radius interconnecting said centre panel to said panel positioning portion; said panel positioning portion including a first panel positioning part that is disposed at a first vertical distance above said supporting surface and at a first radial distance from said vertical axis; said panel positioning portion including an adjacent panel positioning part that is disposed between said first panel positioning part and said centre panel, said adjacent panel positioning part having at least a first portion disposed at a greater radial distance from said vertical axis than said first panel positioning part; a first portion of said adjacent part joined to said first part of said panel positioning portion to form a second radius therebetween, wherein said second radius is less than said first radius; and wherein said cylindrical wall, said sidewall, said first panel positioning part and said adjacent panel positioning part substantially define at least a portion of said internal containment space.

54. A container as claimed in claim 53, wherein said first portion extends substantially about said vertical axis. 5. A container as claimed in claim 53, wherein said adjacent panel positioning part further includes at least a second portion disposed at a lesser 25 radial distance from said vertical axis than said first portion.

56. A container as claimed in claim 55, wherein a plurality of said first portions are circumferentially spaced about said vertical axis and said second portion is positioned between each adjacent said first portions.

57. A container with improved strength, said container having an internal 30 containment space, which includes: a container wall disposed around a vertical axis; C:My Documents'DONOTDEL\5105973.doc\729199 44 a bottom attached to said container wall, having a supporting surface, a sidewall connecting said container wall to said supporting surface, a centre panel disposed radially inwardly of said supporting surface, and a panel positioning portion connecting said supporting surface to said centre panel, said centre panel having a upwardly extending outer portion; said panel positioning portion including: a first panel positioning part, contiguous with said supporting surface, that slopes inwardly and upwardly relative to supporting surface; a second panel positioning part, interconnected with and above said first 0io panel positioning part, that slopes outwardly and upwardly relative to said first panel positioning part; a third panel positioning part, interconnected, at its lower edge with and above said second panel positioning part to define an inter-part radius therebetween and interconnected, at its upper edge with said outer portion of said centre panel, to define a wall radius therebetween, wherein said inter-part radius is less than said wall radius and wherein said third panel positioning part slopes inwardly and upwardly relative to said second panel positioning part; and wherein said outer wall, said sidewall, said first panel positioning part, said second panel positioning part, and said third panel positioning part substantially .eo define at least a portion of said internal containment space.

58. A container as claimed in claim 57, in which said second panel positioning part of said inner wall is substantially circumferential.

59. A container with improved strength, substantially as herein described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, 10, 11 and 13 of the accompanying drawings. 25 60. A container with improved strength substantially as herein described with reference to FIGS. 8, 9, 12 and 14 of the accompanying drawings. a DATED: 29 July 1999 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: BALL CORPORATION C:AMy Documents\DONOTDEL\5105973.doc\7/2999