CA2038817C - Beverage container with improved drop resistance - Google Patents

Abstract

A beverage container (10) with improved cumulative drop height resistance includes a generally cylindrical sidewall (12), an annular supporting portion (16) that is connected to the sidewall (12) by an outer connecting portion (28), a domed panel (38) that is disposed radially inwardly of said annular supporting portion (16), and an inner connecting portion (40) that connects the domed panel (38) to the annular supporting portion (16). By manufacturing the container (10) according to the method and dimensions of the present invention, an improvement in the cumulative drop height resistance is accomplished using the same material thickness, or material that is even thinner than that which was previously used.

Description

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BEVERAGE CONTAINER WITH IMPROVED DROP RESISTANCE

Bsckground of the Invention Field of the Invention 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 cumulative drop resistance.
,, Description of the Related Art --- There have been numerous container configurations produced by manufacturers. This has been especially true for the two-piece container manufacturer, that is, a container 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. Cont~ln~r manufacturers package beverages of various typcs in these containers formed of either steel or aluminum alloys.
The most ideal type of container bottom wall would be a flat wall whLch would allow for maximum capacity for a ~iven container with a minimum height.
However, such a container is not economically feasible because, in ordor to prevent deformation, the thickness of the bottom wall would have to be of such magnitude that the cost of the container would be prohibitive.
In order to negate these costs, drawing and ironlng processes have been installed and extensively used in recent years, especially for the alumlnum container industry. In the production of these containers that utilize drawing and ironing, it is important that the body wall and bottom wall of the ~; container be as thin as possible ~o that the con~A~n~r can be sold at a competitive price. Much work has been done on th~nn~n8 the body wall.
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20388i7 -Aside from seeking thin body wall structures, various bottom wall configurations have been investigated. In this regard, strength of the container has been a paramount factor in these investigations. An early attempt in seeking sufficient rigidity of the bottom wall was to form the same into a spherical dome configuration. This general configuration is shown in Dunn et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,760,751, September 25, 1973. The bottom wall is thereby provided with an inwardly concave dome or depression which includes substaneially all of the bottom wall of the container. In effect, this domed configuration provites 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 throu~l,vut the pressure range for which the container is designed.
Various modifications of the dome configuration have been manufactured.
In this regard, the dome structure itself has been integrally formet with other curvilinear or walled members, usually at different ~n~l~n~tt~n~ to that ,~ of the longitudinal axis of the cont~n~r, in order to further st~ han the -- ~ container structure. Although such modifications rendered i r~ad rigidlty and stability, it has been found that such characteristics can still be achieved, and in some aspects even improved, with a minimum of metal being required.
Although this domed configuration has allowed container manufacturers to somewhat reduce the metal thickness, container manufacturers are contln~ cly working on techniques that will allow for further reduction in metal thickness without sacrificing container strength. An optimized configuration haQ not - 25 been an easy task.
The prior art that teaches domed bottoms also includes P. G. Stephan, U.S. Patent No. 3,349;956, October 31, 1967; Kneusel et al., U.S. Patent No.
- 3,693,828, September 26, 1972; Dunn et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,730,383, May 1, . . .
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1973; Ton~r~n~An, U.S. Patent No. 3,904,069, September 9, 1975; Lyu et al., U.S.--Patent No. 3,942,673, March 9, 1976; Miller et al., U.S. Patent No.
4,294,373, October 13, 1981; McMillin, U.S. Patent No. 4,834,256, May 30, 1989; and Pulcianl et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,685,582, August 11, 1987, and No.
4,768,672, September 6, 1988.
Patents which teach apparatus for forming cont~nArs with domed bottoms and/or which teach containers having domed boteoms, include Maeder et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,289,014, September 15, 1981; Gombas, U.S. Patent No.
4,341,321, July 27, 1982 Elert et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,372,143, February 8, 1983; and Pulciano et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,620,434, November 4, 1986.
Stephan, in U.S. Patent No. 3,349,956, teaches using a reduced diameter annular supporting portion with an inwardly domed bottom disposed inte ~Ate 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 U.S. Patent No. 3,693,828, teach a steel contA~n~r having a bottom portion which is frustoconically shaped to provide a reduced ~-~ diameter annular supporting portion, and havlng an internally domed bottom that is ~sposed radially inwardly of the annular supporting portion. Various contours of the bottom are ad~usted to provite more unifor~ coating of the interior bottom surface, including a reduced radius of the domed bottom.
Pulclani et al., in U.S. Patenc Nos. 4,685,582 and 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 diameter annular supporting portion that includes a first annular arcuate portion that is convex with respect to the outside diameter of the coneA~n~r and a second annular arcuate portion that is convex with respect to the outside diameter of the conr~n~r.

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McMillin, in U.S. Patent No. 4,834,256, teaches a transitional portlon between the cylindrically shaped body of the container and the reducet diameeer 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 inslde the reduced diameter annular supporting portion; and containers with larger tops stack against this specially contoured transitional portion.
Various of the prior art patents, including Pulciano et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,620,434, teach contours which are designet to increase the pressure at which fluid inside the container reverses the dome at the bottom of the container. This pressure is called the static dome reversal pressure. In this patent, the contour of the transitional portion is given such great , 15 emphasis that the radius of the domed panel, though generally specified within - a range, is not specified for the preferred embodiment.
As mentioned earlier, one of the problems is obtaLning a maximum dome reversal pressure for a given metal thickness. However, another proble~ Is obtaining resistance to damage when a filled container is dropped onto a hard surface. More particularly, this other problem includes the resistance to - structural damage as caused by the combination of dropping the container onto a hard surface, together with the internal fluid pressure in the cont~n~r, - the internal fluid pressure being a function of the type of beverage ant of the temperature thereof.
When containers are shipped in cardboard cartons, damage to the cont~-n~rs may be obvlated by the resilience of the carton materlal. However, lf the material of the carton is made thinner, or if the containers ar- shrink wrappet in plastic film rather than bein8 shlpped in a cartboard cont~ r, !
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the drop resistance of the containers becomes as critical, or even more critical, than ehe dome reversal pressure.
Present industry testing for drop resistance is called the cumulative drop height. In this test, a filled container is dropped onto 8 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 which the bottom contour is damaged sufficiently to preclude standing firmly upright on a flat surface.
Further, in the cumulative drop height test, the internal fluid pressure of the beverage is closely controlled at an elevated pressure by controlling the temperature of the beverage. Thus, failure of the container is caused by the combination of the stresses induced by the internal fluid pressure and the impacts of repested drop tests with the inertial force of the fluid in the container.
- 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 - 20 characteristics.
- Because of the large quantities of containers manufactured, a small - reduction in metal thickness, even of one-half of one tho~nn~th of an inch, reduces manufacturing costs substantially.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, a drawn and ironed beverage container includes an annular supporting portion that is disposed radially inwardly from the sidewall of the container and that is disposed around and concel.tLlc to a ;: ~

vertical axis, a domed panel, or concave panel, that is disposed inwardly of the annular supporting portion, and an outer connecting portion that connects the annular supporting portion to the sidewall.
The outer connecting portion includes a lower concave annular arcuate S por~ion and an upper convex annular arcuate portion that is connected to the lower concave annular supporeing portion and to the sidewall.
The annular supporting portion includes inner and outer convex annular portions which preferably are arcuate and are disposed about the same center of curvature The annular supporting portion, and the inner and outer convex annular portions thereof, provide an annular supporting surface for supporting the container on a flat and horiaontal surface, for providing means for nesting the containers when they are stacked.
,-~ The container includes an inner connecting portion that connects the ---~ domed panel, or concave panel, to the annular supporting portion. The inner connecting portion includes an inner concave annular portion that extends radially outward from the domed panel and that curves ~ b -'d toward the inner convex annular portion, and an inner wall that is dic?oset circumferentially around the vertical axis, that connects the inner concave annular portion to the inner convex annular portion, and that disposes the domed panel at a positional distance above the annular supporting surface.
It has been discovered that by careful selection of the dimensions for the various parameters, the strength of a container, as determined by the cumulative drop height test, is increased to an unexpected magnitude.
In stark contrast to the prior art in which decreasing of the radius of - 25 curvature of the domed panel was avoided because of a reduction in the static .....
dome reversal pressure of the coneainer, in the present invention the radius of curvature of the domed psnel is reduced into a range wherein the staeic : .
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9`'' 20388i7 dome reversal pressure is degraded to the point wherein the coneainer would not perform satisfactorily.
This rsdical reduction in the radius of curvature of the domed panel produces not only an entirely unacceptable reduction in the static dome reversal pressure, but also produces a dramatic, and an unexpected increase in the -_umulative drop height resistance. This increase in the cumulstive drop height resistance may be as much as, or even more than, six hundred.percent.
And this ~ riru~. nt in the cumulative drop height resistance is achieved with the same thickness of material.
As beneficial as this dramatically improved cumulative drop height resistance is, the benefits are of no commercial value without 9~C' . ~Ing means for obviating most, or nearly all, of the detrimental decrease in the static dome reversal pressure that Icc. .~n~es the required reduction in the radius of çurvature of the domed panel.
It has been by careful selection of various other parameters of the container, such as the positional distance from the supporting surface to the domed panel and the height of the inner wall of the inner connecting portion, all, or nearly all, of the reduction in the static dome reversal pressure can be obviated.
Moreover, if an ~ .rû~t--nt of less than a six hundred percent in -~ , cumulative ~drop height resistance is acceptable, by careful selection of parameters, it is even possible to increase the static dome reversal pressure of the container while obtaining an excellent impYo;~ --t in the cumulative drop height resistance.
In summary, the present invention provides a container with an excellent static do~e reversal pressure, an astoundingly increased cumulative drop height resistance, and makes it possible for not only pernitting the use of shrink wrap and other inexpensive means in the place of cardboard for p~ ng containers, but also the possibllity of using thinner metal stock materLal for the containers and achieving a reduction in material cost.
In the first three aspects of the present invention, a container includes a sidewall that is disposed around a vertical axis, an annular supporting portion that is disposed around the vertical axis, and that includes an annular supporting surface disposed around the vertical axis and orthogonal thereto; an outer connecting portion that interconnects the sidewall and the annular supporting portion, a concave panel that is disposed inwardly from the annular supporting portion, and an inner connecting portion that is connected to the annular supporting portion, that extends upwardly into the contalner, that is connected to the concave panel, and that disposes the concave panel at a positional distance above the supporting surface.
More particularly, in the first aspect of the present invention, the curvature of the concave panel is increased into a range wherein dome reversal pressure of the rontoln~r is decreased with an increase in pressure, for increasing the cumulative drop height resistance of the container.
In the second aspect of the present invention, the positional distance from the supporting surface to the curved portion is increased to increase the - . dome reversal pressure of the container.
ln the third aspect of the present invention, the curvature of the concave panel is reduced wherein the dome reversal pressure of the conts~n~r is decreased with increases in the curvature, for increasing the cumulative drop height resistance of the container, and the positional distance from the supporting surface to the concave panel is increased to at least partially prevent the increase in the curvature of the concave panel from decreasing the dome reversal pressure of the container.
In the fourth and fifth aspects of the invention, a conts~n~r includeQ a slde~-ll th-t 1- substaDti-lly cyllodrlc-l nd th-t Is dl~pos~d cont.bL.lc-lly .

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around a vertical axis, an annular supporting portion that includes an annular supporeing surface orthogonal to the vertical axis, and that includes a convex annular portion disposed around the vertical axis curving inwardly and upwardly from the supporting surface, an outer connecting portion thae interconnects the sidewall and the supporting portion, a concave panel thae includes a substantially spherical contour and that is disposed radially inwardly from the convex annular portlon, a concave annular portion ehat i~
disposed circumferentially around the concave panel, that is connected to the concave panel, and that curves do_....ardly toward the convex annular portion, a circumferential inner wall that is connected to the convex annular portLon, chat extends upwardly from the convex annular portion, and that is connected to the concave annular portion.
More particularly, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the radius of curvature of the concave panel is reduced into a range wherein the dome reversal pressure of the concave panel Is decreased with decreases in the radius of curvature, for Increasing the cumulative drop height resistance of the container.
- In the fifth aspect of the invention, the radius of curvature of the concave panel is reduced into a range wherein the dome reversal pressure of the concave panel is decreased with decreases in the radius of curvature, for increasing the cumulative drop height resistance of the container, and the - height of th,e inner wall is increased, for increasing the dome reversal pressure of the concave panel.
In the fifth, sixth, and seventh aspects of the present inventlon, a method is provided for increasLng the strength of a contalner, in which the contalner includes a sidewall that Is disposed around a vertical axls, a supporting portion that is disposed around the vertical axis and that includes an annular supporting surface disposed around the vertical axis, an outer :::

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connecting portion that connects the sidewall to the supporting surface, and a concave panel that is disposed inwardly from the annular supporting portion, an inner connecting portion that is connected to the annular supporting portion, that extends upwardly into the container, and that disposes the - 5 concave panel at a positional distance above the supporting surface.
More particularly, in the fifth aspect of the inveneion, the . -l~ive drop resistance of the container is increased by increasing the curvature of the concave panel, and by limiting the increasing step to an allowable decrease in the dome reversal pressure.
In the sixth aspect of the invention, the dome reversal pressure of the container is increased by increasing the positional distance from the ~- .
supporting surface to the concave panel.
In the seventh aspect of the invention, the dooe reversal pressure and ~- the cumulative drop strength of a container are optimized by increasing th-curvature of the domed panel to a curvature in which the dome reversal pressure is reduced from that which is produced by a smaller curvature, thereby increasing the cumulative drop strength, and increasing the positional distance to at least partially ~m ---ate for the reduction in the dome reversal pressure.
-~ 20 In an eighth and ninth aspect of the invention, a container includes a generally cylindrical sidewall that has a first diameter and that is disposed ~ ^ ~ - circumferentially around a vertical axis, an annular support that is disposed circumferentially around the vertical axis, that is disposed radially inwardly from the sidewall, that includes an outer convex annular portion, and that includes an inner convex annular portion d~cposed radially inwardly from the -- outer convex annular portion and attached to the outer convex annular portion, ': :
for supporting the cone~n~r, an outer connecting portion that includes an -~ upper convex annular portion connected to the sidewall, that includes a : .
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recessed annular portion disposet radially inwardly of a line tangent to the outer convex annular portion and the upper convex annular portion, for connecting the sidewall to the outer convex annular portion of the annular supporting means, a domed panel that is generally spherically-shaped, that is disposed radially inwardly from the annular supporting means, and that curves upwardly with respect to the vertical axis, and an inner connecting portion that includes a circumferential inner wall extending generally upwardly with respect to the vertical axis for connecting the domed panel to the annular - supporting means, and the domed panel has a dome radius that is smaller than the mean diameter of the container.
" Finally, in the tenth aspect of the present invention, a container capable of substantially resisting dome reversal upon impact includes a structure with a seamless cylindrical sidewall and a bottom wall integrally formed with the sidewall at the lower extremity thereof, an outer connecting member that extents downwardly and inwardly from the sidewall eowart the -~ vertical axis of the container, the outer connecting member including an upper convex portion wlth an interior radius ant a lower concave portion with an exterior radius, the radii being substantially equal, an annular bottom member that is integrally connected with and that extends downwardly from the lower concave portion to provide a supporting means for the contsiner, a frustoconical surface that integrally connects with the annular bottom member and that extends upwardly and inwardly therefrom, said frustoconical surface forming a slight angle with respect to the vertical axis of the container, and , a downwardly~concave center panel that is integrally connectet with the frustoconical surface ant that extents upwardly and inwardly from the : frustoconical surface, and the radius of curvature of the de~ ~dly concave -~ center panel being substantially equai to or less than the diameter of tho annular supporting surface.
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, Brief Description of the DrawinEc FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of beverage containers that are bundled by shrink wrapping with plastic film;
FIGURE 2 is a top view of the bundled beverage containers of FIGURE 1 taken substantially as shown by view line 2-2 of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional elevation of the lower portion of one of the beverage containers of FIGURES l and 2, showing details that are generally common to two prior art designs;
FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional elevation of the lower portion of a :
beve,age container, showing details that are generally common to the preferred ts of the present invention;
FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional elevation, showing, at an enlarged scale, details that are generally common to both FIGURES 3 and 4:
- FIGURE 6 is a graph of cumulative drop heights vs. both the radius of : lS curvature of the domed panel, and the ratio of the radius of curvature dividet by the mean diameter of the annular supporting portion, with the distsnce from the supporting surface to the domed panel being constant;
FIGURE 7 is a graph o f cumulative drop heights vs. both ehe radius of curvature of the domed panel, and the ratio of the radius of curvature divided by the mean diameter of the annular supporting portion, and is different from the graph of FIGURE 6 in that parameters, such as the inner wall height have been selected to provide a constant static dome reversal pressure;
- FIGURE 8 is a graph of static dome reversal pressures vs. both the radius ~:. of curvature, and the ratio of the radius of curvature dLvided by the mean : 25 diameter of the annular supporting portion, with the dome height, that is, the -: .:
~ :~ distance fro- the supporting surface to the domed panel, being constant; and .~ .

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20388i7 -~ FIGURE 9 is a graph of static dome reversal pressure vs. both the radlus of curvature of the domed panel, and the ratio of the radius of curvature divided by the mean diameter of the annular supporting portion.

DescriDtion of the Preferred Embodiments Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4, and 5, these configurations are generally common to Pulciani et al. in U.S. Patents 4,68S,582 and 4,768,672 and 4,620,434, to a design manufactured by the assignee of the present invention, and to embodiments of the present invention. More particularly, FIGURE 3 is common to the aforesaid prior art, FIGURE 4 is common to two embodiments of the prior art, and FIGURE 5 shows some details of FIGURES 3 and 4 in an enlarged scale.
Since the present invention differs from the prior art primarLly by selection of some of the parameters shown in FIGURES 3-5, the forthr. ~ne description refers to all of these drawings, except as stated otherwise; and some dimensions pertaining to FIGURES 3 and 4 are placed only on FIGURE 5 in order to avoid crowding.
Continuing to refer to FIGURES 3-5, a drawn and ironed beverage container 10 includes a generally cylindrical sidewall 12 that includes a first diameter D1, and that is disposed circumferentially around a vertical axis 14; and an annular supporting portion, or annular supporting means, 16 that is disposed circumferencially 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 porcion 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 chat is connected to the outer convex annular - portion 20. The outer and inner convex annular portions, 20 and 22, have radii Rl and R2 whose centers of curvaeure are common. More particularly, ehe radii R1 and R2 both have centers of curvature of a po$nt 24, and of a circle of revolution 26 of the point 24. The circle of revolution 26 has a second diameter D2.
An outer connecting portion, or outer connecting means, 28 includes an .- upper convex annular portion 30 that is preferably arcuste, that includes a --~ radius of R3, and that is connected to the sidewall 12. The outer connecting portion 28 also includes a recessed annular portion 32 that is disposed radially inwardly of a line 34, or a frustoconical surface of revolution 36, that is tangent to the outer convex annular portion 20 and the upper convex annular portion 30. Thus, the outer connecting means 28 connects the sidewall 12 to the outer convex annular portion 20.
A domed panel, or concave panel, 38 is preferably spherically-shaped, but may be of any suitable curved shape, has a radius of curvature, or dome radius, R~, is disposet radially inwardly from the annular supporting portion 16, and curves upwardly into the container 10. That is, the domed panel 38 curves upwardly proxLmal to the vertical axis 14 when the con~A~r 10 is in an upright position.
- 20 The contaLner 10 further includes an inner connecting portion, or inner connecting means, 40 having a circumferential inner wall, or cylindrical inner wall, 42 with a height Ll that extends upwardly with respect to the vertical axis 14 that may be cylindrical, or that may be frustoconical and slope inwardl~ toward said vertical axis 14 at an angle 1. The inner connecting portion 40 also includes an inner concave annular portion 44 that has a radius Rs, and that interconnects the inner wall 42 and the domed panel 38. Thus, the inner connecting portion 40 connects the domed panel 38 to the annular supporting portion 16.
The inner connecting portion 40 positions a periphery 45 of the domed panel 38 at a positional distance L2 above the base line 19. As can be seen S by inspection of FIGURE 5, the positional distance L2 is approximately equalto, but is somewhat less than, the sum of the height L1 of the inner wall 42, the radius of curvature RS of the inner concave annular portion 44, the radlus R2 of the inner convex annular portion 22, ant the thickness of the material at the inner convex annular portion 22.
`~ 10 As seen by inspection and as can be calculated by trigonometry, the positional distance L2 is less than the aforementioned sum by a function of the angle ~1, and as a function of an angle ~3 at which the periphery 45 of the domed panel 38 is connected to the inner concave annular portion 44.
For example, if the radius R5 of the inner concave annular portion 44 is 15 0.050 inches, if the ratius R2 of the inner convex annular portion 22 is 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 L2 is about, but somewhat less than, 0.102 inches more than the height Ll of the inner wall 42.
Thus, with radii and metal thickness as noted above, when the height L1 of the inner wall 42 is 0.060 inches, the positional distance L2 is about, but a little less than, 0.162 inches.
The annular supporting portion 16 has an arithmetical mean diameter D3 that occurs at the ~unction of the outer convex annular portion 20 and the inner co~vex annular portion 22. Thus, the mean diameter D3 and the diameter 2~38817 D2 of the circle 26 are the same diameter. The dome radius R4 is 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 said vertical axis by an angle o2, and includes a lower concave annular portion 48 with a radius R6. Further, the recessed annular portion 32 may, according to the selected magnitudes of the angle ~2, the radius R3, and the radius R6, include a lower part of the upper convex annular portion 30.
Finally, the container 10 includes a dome height, or panel height, Ht as measured from the supporting surface 18 to the domed panel 38, and a post diameter, or smaller diameter, D4, of the inner wall 42. The upper convex annular portion 30 is tangent to the sidewall 12, and has a center 50. The center 50 is at a height H2 above the supporting surface 18. A center 52 of the lower concave annular portion 48 is on a diameter D5. The center 52 is below the supporting surface 18. More specifically, the supporting surface 18 is at a distance H3 above the center 52.
Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 5, in the prior art embodiment of the three aforesaid patents, the following dimensions were used: D1 - 2.597 inches; D2, D3 - 2.000 inches; D5 - 2.365 inches; Rl, R2 - 0.040 inches; R3 -0.200 inches; R4 - 2.375 inches; R5 - 0.050 inches; R6 - 0.100 inches; and ~1 -less than 5'. It should be noted that although R4 is 2.375 inches, the sctual tooling radius therefor was 2.12 inches.

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Referring again eO FIGURES 3 and 5, in the prior art embodiment of the assignee to the present invention, the following dimensions were used: D1 -2.598 inches; D2, D3 - 2.000 inches; D4 - 1.882 inches; D5 - 2,509 inches; R1, R2 - 0.040 inches; R3 - 0.200 inches; R4 - 2.375 inches; R5 - 0.050 inches; R6 - 5 - 0.200 inches; H1 - 0.385 inches; H2 - 0.370 inches; H3 - 0.008 inches; ~1 -5~ 9'; and ~2 - 30~. It should be noted that although R4 is 2.375 inches, the actual tooling radius therefor was 2.12 inches.
Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5, in tests run in conjunction with the present invention, the following dimensions were used: D1 - 2.598 inches; D2, D3 - 2.000 inches; D5 - 2.509 inches; R1, R2 - 0.040 inches; R3 - 0.200 inches;
Rs - 0.050 inches; R6 - 0.200 inches; H2 - 0.370 inches; H3 - 0.008 inches; ant ~2 - 30.
The other dimensions, such as R4, D4, H1, ~1, L1, and the thickness of material which were uset in the tests, are as specifiet in the tables which are includet herein, together with the test results thereof.
In each of the tables, the static tome reversal pressure (S.D.R.) is in pounts per square inch, the cumulative trop height (C.D.H.) is in inches, and the internal pressure (I.P.) at which the cumulative trop height test~ were run is in pounds per square inch.
Referring now to Tables l-lO, the radius of curvature R4 of the domed panel 38, as specifiet in the tables, is the actual ratius of curvature of the ~03~817 container, as measured, not the radius of curvature of the domer tooling. For instance, a radius of curvature R4 of 2.375 inches, is made with a tool that _ has a radius of 2.120 inches. This difference in radius of curvature for the - actual container and the tooling is true for both the three aforementioned patents and the prior art embodiments of ehe assignee of the sub~ect in~ention.
More particularly, in Tables 1-10 the following Table A comparison between toolin~ radius and the actual dome radius R4 of the containers.

Table A

Tooling Dimension Can Dimension 2.12 inches 2.375 inches 2.05 inches 2.288 inches 1.95 inches 2.163 inches 1.85 inches - 2.038 inches 1.75 inches 1.913 inches 1.65 inches 1.750 inches ~,.
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Therefore, in the tables, a radius of curvature R4 of 2.375 compares to the prior art of FIGURES 3 and 4, in which the radius of the domer tooling was 2.120 inches; and the improvements of the present invention, at other radii of curvature, can be seen as a comparison to an a4 of 2.375 inches.
The tests of Tables 1-10 were run with two thickness of metal, as 15 specified. The 0.0118 inch thickness is the standard gauge for use in the United States; and the 0.0127 inch thickness is used for special orders, particularly for use outside the Unitet States All of the test materlal was aluminum alloy which is desi~nated as 3104 H19, and the test msterial was taken from production stock.

., 2~38817 The cumulative drop heights in the tables represent the average of eighteen tests, and the static dome reversal pressures represent the average of ten tests. The internal fluid pressures in each container prior to dropping is shown in the table for each drop test.
The purpose for the cumulative drop height is to determine the cumulative drop height at whLch a filled can exhibits partial or total reversal of 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 drop 10 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 fLnger; 4) allow the container to free-fall and strike the steel base; 4) repeat the test at heights that successively increase by 3 inch increments; S) feel the domed panel to check for lS any bulging or ~reversal~ of the domed panel before testing at the next height;
6) record the height at which dome reversal occurs; 7) calculate the cumulative drop height, that i9, add each height at which a given container has been dropped, including the height at which dome reversal occurs; and 8) average the results from 10 containers.
One beverage producer has proposed that containers supplied to that company have a minimum cumulative drop height resistance of 60 inches. Heretofore, container manufacturers have been unable to achieve this cumulative drop height resistance. Therefore, it is unknown whether an industry standard of 60 inches, 30 inches, or merely 20 inches, will be adopted. Further, it is not certain 25 that any industry standard will be adopted.
However, the present invention provides a container with a cumulative drop - height resistance that greatly exceeds that of prior art containers; and containers manufactured according to the present invention are able to meet a 2~3881~

cumulative drop heighe requirement of 20, 30, 40, or even 60 inches without any increas- in the gauge of the material, and without any increase in coSe.

Table 1 - Metal Thkns: 0.0118 0.0127 0.0118 0.0127 R4 2.375 2.375 2.375 2.375 D4 1. 8820 1.8820 1.8820 1.8820 Hl 0.3861 0.3832 0.3861 0.3832 Ll 0.110 0.090 0.110 0.090 S.D.R. 95.8 110.9 95.8 110.9 C.D.H. 5.0 17.5 5.0 17.5 I.P. 62.4 61.0 62.4 61.0 R4/D2 1.188 1.188 1.188 1.188 R4/D1 b . 914 0.914 0.914 0.914 Hl/D2 0.193 0.192 0.193 0.192 H1/D1 0.149 0.147 0.149 0.147 Ll/D2 0.05S 0.045 0.055 0.045 Ll/D1 0. 042 0.035 0.042 0.035 Table 2 Meeal Thkns: 0.0118 0.0127 0.0118 0.0127 R4 2.288 2.288 2.288 2.288 D4 1. 8870 1.8870 1.8870 1.8870 H1 0. 3855 0.3864 0.3855 0.3864 ~1 2 1.5 2 1.5 Ll 0.095 0.090 0.095 0.090 S.D.R. 95.9 113.1 95.9 113.1 C.D.H. 9.0 23.6 9.0 23.6 I.P. 63.6 60.0 63.6 60.0 R4/D2 1.144 1.144 1.144 1.144 R4/D1 0. 881 0.881 0.881 0.881 Hl/D2 0.193 0.193 0.193 0.193 Hl/D1 0.148 0.149 0.148 0.149 Ll/D2 0. 048 0.045 0.048 0.045 Ll/D1 0.037 0.035 0.037 0.035 ,, 2~3~8~'~

Table 3 Metal Thkns: 0.0118 0.0127 0.0118 0.0127 R4 2.288 2.288 2.288 2.288 D4 1. 8820 1.8820 1.8820 1.8820 Hl 0. 3851 0.3851 0.3928 0.3851 ~1 2 2 1.5 2 Ll 0.080 0.085 0. O9S 0.085 S.D.R. 94.3 109.7 9S.S 109.7 C.D.H. 8.7 22.0 8.3 22.0 I.P. 63.2 62.2 64.7 62.2 R4/D2 l.144 1.144 1.144 1.144 R4/Dl 0. 881 0.881 0.881 0.881 Hl/D2 0.193 0.193 0.196 0.193 Hl/Dl 0.148 0.148 0.151 0.148 Ll/D2 O. 040 0.043 0.048 0.043 Ll/Dl 0. 031 0.033 0.037 0.033 Table 4 Metal Thkns: 0.0118 0.0127 0.0118 0.0127 R4 2.163 2.163 2.163 2.163 D4 1. 8870 1.8870 1.8810 1.8870 H1 0.3863 0.3856 0.4021 0.3971 ~1 1.5 1 1.5 1.5 Ll 0.075 0.075 0.085 0.090 S.D.R. 92.9 106.0 96.9 111.7 C.D.H. 18.0 37.7 ` 13.5 37.7 I.P. 62.6 62.5 64.8 62.8 R4/D2 1.081 1.081 1.081 1.081 R4/Dl 0. 833 0.833 0.833 0.833 Hl/D2 0.193 0.193 0.201 0.199 Hl/Dl O.149 0.148 0.155 0.153 Ll/D2 O. 038 0.038 0.043 0.045 Ll/D1 0.029 0.029 0.033 0.035 2~38817 " "
.
Table 5 , .
Metal Thkns: 0.0118 0.0127 0.0118 0.0127 R4 2.163 2.163 2.163 2.163 D4 1.8820 1.8820 1.8820 1.8820 Hl 0.3839 0.3839 0.4101 0.4057 ~t 2 2.75 2.5 1.25 Ll 0.060 0.070 0.100 0.090 S.D.R. 89.2 104.7 97.6 112.7 C.D.H. 17.5 36.7 16.5 29.8 I.P. 63.0 61.2 63.3 63.3 R4/D2 1.081 1.081 1.081 1.081 R4/D1 0.833 0.833 0.833 0.833 Hl/D2 0.192 0.192 0.205 0.203 Hl/Dl 0.148 0.148 0.158 0.156 L1/D2 0.030 0.035 0.050 0.045 Ll/Dl 0.023 0.027 0.038 0.035 .
, ,.. ,_, _ _, . .. ... .

Table 6 Metal Thkns: 0.0118 0.0127 0.0118 0.0127 R4 2.038 2.038 2.038 2.038 D4 1.8870 1.8870 1.8870 1.8870 Hl 0.3863 0.3851 0.4178 0.4137 ~1 1.5 1 1 1.5 Ll 0.055 0.055 0.090 0.090 S.D.R. 87.9 102.4 97.2 112.8 C.D.H. 31.7 65.5 26.0 57.0 I.P. 63.0 60.3 62.5 61.3 R4/D2 1.019 1.019 1.019 1.019 R4/D1 0.784 0.784 0.784 0.784 Hl/D2 0.193 0.193 0.209 0.207 H1/D1 0.149 0.148 0.161 0.159 L1/D2 0.028 0.028 0.045 0.045 L1/D1 0.021 0.021 0.035 0.035 - 2~38817 "~ Table 7 Me tal Thkns: 0.0118 0.0127 0.0118 0.0127 R4 2. 038 2.038 2.038 2.038 D4 1. 8820 1.8820 1.8820 1.8820 Hl 0.3855 0.3865 0.4246 0.4222 4.5 2 2.S 1.5 Ll 0. 065 0.060 0. lO0 0.105 S.D.R. 86.1 101.8 98.4 113.4 C.D.H. 40.0 59.0 - 25.9 53.0 I.P. 60.5 63.2 62.4 64.2 R4/D2 1.019 1.019 l. 019 1.019 R4/Dl 0. 784 0.784 0.784 0.784 Hl/D2 0.193 0.193 0.212 0.211 Hl/Dl O.148 0.149 0.163 0.163 Ll/D2 O. 033 0.030 0.050 0.053 Lt/Dl 0. 025 0.023 0.038 0.040 Table 8 Me tal Thkns: 0.0118 0.0127 0.0118 0.0127 R4 1. 913 1.913 1.913 1.913 D4 1. 8870 1.8870 1.8870 1.8870 H1 0.3868 0.3852 0.4250 0.4216 Q1 3 2.5 1.5 2 L1 O. 050 0.045 0.085 0.090 S.D.R. 85.5 101.7 96.0 111.0 C.D.H. 59.7 112.2 44.2 89.1 I.P. 60.663.5 61.3 60.0 R4/D2 O. 956 0.956 0.956 0.956 R4/D1 O. 736 0.736 0.736 0.736 H1/D2 0.193 0.193 0.213 0.211 H1/D1 0.149 0.148 0.164 0.162 L1/D2 0.025 0.023 0.043 0.045 L1/D1 0.019 0.017 0.033 0.035 2~388~ ~

Tsble 9 Metal Thkns: 0.0118 0.0127 0.0118 0.0127 R4 1. 913 1.913 1.913 1.913 D4 1. 8820 1.8820 1.8820 1.8820 Hl 0.3868 0.3843 0.4273 0.4265 ~ S 5 3.5 2.5 Lt 0.045 0.045 0.085 0.090 S.D.R. 84.3 99.5 93.2 108.9 C.D.H. 54.5 114.7 51.0 92.0 I.P. 62.7 60.2 61.2 63.3 R4/D2 O. 956 0.956 0.956 0.956 R4/Dl 0. 736 0.736 0.736 0.736 H1/D2 0.193 0.192 0.214 0.213 Ht/Dl 0.149 0.148 0.164 0.164 Ll/D2 O. 023 0.023 0.043 0.045 Ll/Dl 0.017 0.017 0.033 0.035 Table 10 Metal Thkns 0.0118 0.0127 0.0118 0.012?
R4 1. 750 1.750 1.750 1.750 D4 1. 8870 1.8870 1.8870 1.8870 Hl 0.3850 0.3850 0.4289 0.4275 ~1 4 5 2.5 2 Ll 0.035 0.035 0.080 0.075 S.D.R. 83.3 98.6 91.4 106.9 C.D.H. 73.5 137.7 70.0 136.0 I.P. 63.6 60.4 64.8 62.7 R4/D2 O. 875 0.875 0.875 0.875 R4/Dl 0. 674 0.674 0.674 0.674 Hl/D2 0.193 0.193 0.214 0.214 Hl/D1 0.148 0.148 0.165 0.165 Ll/D2 O. 018 0.018 0.040 0.038 Ll/Dl 0.013 0.013 0.031 0.029 203~7 Table 11 Constant Dome Depth Test R4 D4 R4/D2 SDR SDR CDH CDH
.0118 .0127 .0118 .0127 B6A 2.375 1.882 1.18895.8110.9 5.0 17.5 X0133 2.288 1.887 1.14495.9 113.1 9.0 23.6 X0132 2.288 1.882 1.14494.3 109.7 8.7 22.0 X0131 2.163 1.887 1.08192.9 106.0 18.0 3t.7 X0130 2.163 1.882 1.08189.2 104.7 17.5 36.7 X0129 2.038 1.887 1.01987.9 102.4 31.7 65.5 X0123 2.038 1.882 1.01986.1 101.8 40.0 59.0 X0128 1.913 1.887 0.95685.5 101.7 59.7 112.2 X0113 1.913 1.882 0.95684.3 99.5 54.5 114.7 X0135 1.7S0 1.887 0.87583.3 98.6 73.5 137.7 Table 12 Constant SDR

Test R4 D4 R4/DZ Hl H1 CDH CDH
.0118 .0127 .0118 .0127 B6A 2.375 1.882 1.188 .386 .383 5.0 17.5 X0133 2.288 1.887 1.144 .386 .386 9.0 23.6 X0132 2.288 1.882 1.144 .393 .385 8.3 22.0 X0131 2.163 1.887 1.081 .402 .397 13.5 37.7 X0130 2.163 1.882 1.081 .410 .406 16.5 29.8 X0129 2.038 1.887 1.019 .418 .414 26.0 57.0 X0123 2.038 1.882 1.019 .425 .422 25.9 53.0 X0128 1.913 1.887 0.956 .425 .422 44.2 89.1 - X0113 1.913 1.882 0.956 .427 .427 51.0 92.0 X0135 1.750 1.887 0.875 .429 .428 70.0 136.0 - 2~38817 ., Referring now to Table 1, it will be noticed that the numbers in columns three and four correspond exacely to the numbers in columns one and two. The reason for this is thae the object in the tests for columns three and four was to vary the dome depths to match the static dome reversal of the prior art of FIGURE 4. Since the parameters of Table 1 are the same as that of the prLor art of FIGURE 4, the numbers in columns three and four are identical to those in columns one and two.
Continuing to refer to Table 1, and test results for the prior art configuratLon of FIGURE 4, the cumulative drop heights were 5.0 inches and 17.5 inches, for metal thicknesses of 0.0118 inches and 0.0127 inches, respectively, and with internal pressures of 62.4 pounds per square inch and 61.0 pounds per square inch, respectively. Notice that the static dome reversal pressures were 95.8 and 110.9 pounds per square inch for the two metal thicknesses.
It i important to remember that the radius of curvature of the domed panel for Table 1, as listed~ is 2.375 inches, and that this is the actual radius of curvature for prior art in which the domer eooling radius is 2.120 inches.
,,-- Referring now to Table 10, in stark contrast to test results on the prior art embodiment of Table 1, with a dome radius R4 of 1.750 inches of the container, and with a post diameter D4 of 1.887 inches for the same two metal thicknesses, 0.118 inches and .0127 inches, and for internal pressures of 63.6 psi and 60.4 psi, respectively, the cumulative drop heights of the present invention were 73.5 inches and 137.7 inches, respectively, as shown in columns one and ewo. Noeice that the static dome reversal pressures were 83.3 psi and 98.6 psi, respectively.

:

203~81~

That is, the present invention increased the cumulative drop height by more than fourteen times, from 5.0 inches to 73.5 inches for the thlnner stock, and by nearly eight times, from 17.5 inches to 137.7 inches for the thicker stock.
However, referring to Tables 1 and 10, this dramatic increase in the cumulative drop height was accompanied by an undesirably large decrease in the static dome reversal pressures. The dome reversal pressures reduced from 95.8 psi and 110.9 psi, respectively, for the thinner and the thicker stock in Table 1, to 83.3 psi and 98.6 psi, respectively, for the thinner and the thicker stock of Table 10.
The present invention provides means for obviating, or at least ameliorating, thls decrease in the static dome reversal pressure that accompanies the dramatic increase in the cumulative drop height.
Referring now to Table 1 and to columns three and four of Table 10, the present invention increased the cumulative drop height from S.0 inches and 17 5 inches, respectively, to 70.0 inches and 136.0 inches, respectively for the thinner and the thicker stock. Therefore, the present invention increased the cumulative drop height by fourteen times for the thinner stock and by almost eight times for the thicker stock.
20 At the same time, by increasing the height L1 of the inner wall 42, from - 0.035 inches to 0.080 inches for the thinner stock and 0.075 inches for the thicker stock, the containers had a static dome reversal pressure of 91.4 psi and 106.9 psi respectively.
Therefore, increasing the height L1 of the inner wall 42 limited the reduction in the static dome reversal pressure to less than 5 percent for the thinner stock, and by 4 percent for the thicker stock, while achievi~g . ~ increases in the cumulative drop height by about eight to fourteen times, ~ depending upon the meeal thlckness.

: ~

2~338~7 Referring now to FIGURE 9, cumulative drop heights and static dome reversal pressures are shown for various radii of curvature R4 of the domed panel 38, and for various ratios of radii of curvature R4 to the mean diameter D3 of the annular supporting portion 16.

- 5 Notice that in FIGURE 9, with increased heights Ll of the inner wall 42, it is possible to obtain phenomenal, but not maximum, increases in the cumulative drop heights without decreasing the staeic dome reversal pressure below that which was achieved by the prior art.
Or, referring now to Tables 1 and 8, notice that the prior art static dome reversal pressures of 9S.8 and 110.9 of Table 1, are eYcee~d by the static dome reversal pressures of 96.0 and 111.0 of Table 1, and thae increases in cumulative drop heights from 5.0 inches to 44.2 inches, and from 17.5 inches to 89.1 inches, respectively, are achieved.
Therefore, in the present invention, highly significsnt increases in the cumulative drop heights can be achieved without any reduction in static dome reversal pressures.
Furthermore, it is believed that further ~ ro~ t is possible by varying such parameters as the angle ~1 of the inner wall 42, and the height Lt of the inner wall; because the test results submitted herein indicate ehat increasing ehe height Ll increases the static dome reversal pressure, and decreasing the angle Ql of ehe inner wall 42 increases ehe static dome reversal pressures.
Referring now to FIGURE 6 and Table 11, the test data of Tables 1-10 has been rearranged in Table 11 to show variations in test results when the dome height Hl is kept constant; and in FIGURE 6, the data of Table 11 is plotted to show the cumulative drop heights vs. the radius of curvature R4 for tests ~3~817 wherein the dome height Hl is kept constant at 0.385 inches.
It should be noted ehat in Tables 11 and 12, the designation ~6A denotes a container made in accordance with the dimensions presently given for the prior art container of the assignee of the sub~ect invention. the other container designations te.g., X0133~ refer to experimental drawing numbers of various experimental tools.
In like manner, referring now to FIGURE 7 and Table 12, the test data of Tables 1-lO has been rearranged in Table 12 to show variations in test results when the dome height H1 is varied to maintain a constant, or nearly constant, static dome reversal pressure of 96 psi for the 0.0118 inches stock thickness and 111 psi for the 0.0127 inches stock thickness. In FIGURE 7, the data of Table 12 is plotted to show the cumulative drop heights vs. the radius of curvature R4 for tests whereLn the static dome reversal pressure is kept constant, or nearly constant, as noted for Table 12.
Referring now to FIGURE 8, the static dome reversal pressures are plotted for various radii of curvature R4 of the domed panel 38, and for various ratios of radii of curvature R~ to the mean diameter D~ of the annular supporting portion 16. In the curves of FIGURE 8, the dome height Hl, that is, the distance from the supporting surface 18 to the domed panel 38 along the axis 14, is kept constant at 0.385 inches.
In summary, the present invention yields unexpected results. It is believed that one skilled in the art would not have anticipated that a decrease in the dome radius R4 would achieve such a remarkable increase in cumulative drop strengths. Moreover, it is believed that there is no hint in the prior art that any increase in cumulative drop strength can be achieved by ~38~'7 a reduceion in the dome radius R4 as disclosed and claimed herein.
In addition, being able to reduce, or to obviate, the reduction in static dome reversal pressures that accompanies this pher.---r-l increase in cumulative drop heights, or even being able to increase the static dome reversal pressure, by lncreasing the height Ll of the inner wall 42 constitutes unexpected results.
-- In order to better understand the claims, it should be recognized tha~
~. .. _ , increasing the height Ll of the inner wall 42, for a given radius of curvature R4 of the domed panel 38, increases the dome height Hl.
Therefore, reciting an increase in the dome height Hl, or a limit thereof, is one way of reciting an increase in, or a limit of, the height Ll of the inner wall 42.
Further, it should be recognized that increasing the height Ll of the inner wall 42 increases the positional distance L2.
Therefore, reciting an increase in the positional distance L2, or a limit thereof, is one way of reciting an increase in, or a limit of, the height Ll of the inner wall 42.
Further, it should be understood that reciting the positional distance L2 -~ distinctly defines dimensions, or limits, of the present invention without regard to the size or shape of the inner convex annular portion 22, the size or shape of the inner concave annular portion 44, the shape or inclination of the inner wall 42, or the thickness of the metal.
Finally, the present invention provides these remarkable and unexpected improvements by means and method as recited in the aspects of the invention which are included herein.

`"`.~ 2~8gi7 Alehough aluminum containers have been investigated, it is believed that the same principles, namely decreasing the dome radius R4, increasing the height Ll o,f the inner wall 42, increasing the dome height Hl, increasing the positional distance L2 from the supporting surface 18 to the domed panel 38, and selecting, and/or minimizing the angle Ql of the inner wall 42, 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 FIGURES 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 ad~acently disposed and vertically stacked containers 10 are bundled into a package 58 by the use of a shrink-wrap plastic 60.
While this method of p~ee~ne is more economical than the previous method of boxing, possible damage due to rough handling becomes a probleo, 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 the art. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the - 25 appended claims.

2n3~sl7 Industrial ADplicability - The present invention is applicable to containers made of aluminu~ and various other materials. ~ore particularly, the present invention is applicable,to beverage containers of the type having a seamless, drawn and ironed, cylindrically-shaped body, and an integral bottom with an annular supporting portion.

Claims (13)

1. A container having increased cumulative drop height resistance and a desired static dome reversal pressure which container comprises:
a sidewall being disposed around a central axis;
an annular supporting portion being disposed around said central axis and having an annular supporting surface with an arithmetical mean diameter;
an outer connecting portion interconnecting said sidewall and said annular supporting portion;
a concave panel being disposed inwardly from said annular supporting portion and having a radius of curvature and panel height as measured along said central axis from said supporting surface to said concave panel; and an inner connecting portion interconnecting said annular supporting portion and said concave panel, said inner connecting portion extending upwardly and toward said central axis at an angle;
said angle, panel height, radius of curvature and arithmetical mean diameter being jointly selected to provide said cumulative drop height resistance and said desired static dome reversal pressure, whereby the ratio of said selected radius of curvature to said selected arithmetical mean diameter is less than about 1.05, the ratio of said selected panel height to said selected arithmetical mean diameter is greater than about 0.2, and said selected angle is less than about 5° from vertical.

2. A container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said outer connecting portion is concave.

3. A container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said outer connecting portion comprises first and second ends adjacent said sidewall and said annular supporting portion, respectively, at least a portion of said outer connecting portion between said first and second ends being inwardly displaced, relative to said central axis from a plane extending through said first and second ends.

4. A container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the ratio of said selected radius of curvature to said selected arithmetical mean diameter is less than about 1.02.

5. A container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the ratio of said selected radius of curvature to said selected arithmetical mean diameter is within the range of about 0.875 to about 1.02.

6. A container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said selected angle is less than about 3° from vertical.

7. A container having increased cumulative drop height resistance and a desired static dome reversal pressure, which container comprises:

a substantially cylindrical sidewall being disposed around a central axis and having a diameter;
an annular supporting portion being disposed around said central axis and having an annular supporting surface;
an outer connecting portion interconnecting said sidewall and said annular supporting portion;
a concave panel being disposed inwardly from said annular supporting portion and having a radius of curvature and panel height as measured along said central axis from said supporting surface to said concave panel; and an inner connecting portion interconnecting said annular supporting portion and said concave panel, said inner connecting portion extending upwardly and toward said central axis at an angle;
said angle, panel height, radius of curvature and diameter being jointly selected to provide said cumulative drop height resistance and said desired static dome reversal pressure, whereby the ratio of said selected radius of curvature to said selected meter is less than about 0.8, the ratio of said selected panel height to said selected diameter is greater than about 0.15, and said selected angle is less than about 5° from vertical.

8. A container as claimed in Claim 7, wherein at least a portion of said outer connecting portion is concave.

9. A container as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said outer connecting portion comprises first and second ends adjacent said sidewall and said annular supporting portion, respectively, at least a portion of said outer connecting portion between said first and second ends being inwardly displaced, relative to said central axis, from a plane extending through said first and second ends.

10. A container as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said annular supporting surface has an arithmetical mean diameter, said radius of curvature and said arithmetical mean diameter being jointly selected to further provide said cumulative drop height resistance, whereby the ratio of said selected radius of curvature to said selected arithmetical mean diameter is no more than about 1.02.

11. A container as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the ratio of said selected radius of curvature to said selected mean diameter is within the range of about 0.875 to about 1.02.

12. A container as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said selected angle is less than about 3° from vertical.

13. A container having increased cumulative drop height resistance and a desired static dome reversal pressure, which container comprises:

a sidewall being disposed around a central axis;

Claim 13 cont'd. . .

an annular supporting portion being disposed around said central axis and having an annular supporting surface with an arithmetical mean diameter;
an outer connecting portion interconnecting said sidewall and said annular supporting portion;
a concave panel being disposed inwardly from said annular supporting portion, having a radius of curvature and having a panel height as measured along said central axis from said supporting surface to said concave panel; and an inner connecting portion interconnecting said annular supporting portion and said concave panel, said inner connecting portion extending upwardly and toward said central axis at an angle;
said angle, panel height, radius of curvature and arithmetical mean diameter being jointly selected to provide said cumulative drop height resistance and said desired static dome reversal pressure, whereby the ratio of said selected radius of curvature to said selected arithmetical mean diameter is within the range of about 0.875 to about 1.02, the ratio of said selected panel height to said selected arithmetical mean diameter is greater than about 0.2, and said selected angle is less than about 3° from vertical.