Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D17/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions
  • B65D17/02—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions of curved cross-section, e.g. cans of circular or elliptical cross-section
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D17/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions
  • B65D17/28—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions at lines or points of weakness
  • B65D17/401—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions at lines or points of weakness characterised by having the line of weakness provided in an end wall
  • B65D17/4012—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions at lines or points of weakness characterised by having the line of weakness provided in an end wall for opening partially by means of a tearing tab
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2517/00—Containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting, piercing or tearing of wall portions, e.g. preserving cans or tins
  • B65D2517/0001—Details
  • B65D2517/0058—Other details of container end panel
  • B65D2517/0059—General cross-sectional shape of container end panel
  • B65D2517/0061—U-shaped
  • B65D2517/0062—U-shaped and provided with an additional U-shaped peripheral channel
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2517/00—Containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting, piercing or tearing of wall portions, e.g. preserving cans or tins
  • B65D2517/0001—Details
  • B65D2517/0058—Other details of container end panel
  • B65D2517/008—Materials of container end panel
  • B65D2517/0082—Coated or laminated metal

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to beverage container necks. More specifically, the present invention relates to beverage container necks with contoured neck features configured for increased buckling strength and alignment with a user's lips.
• Containers and more specifically metallic beverage containers, are typically manufactured by interconnecting a beverage container body with a beverage container end closure. It is generally known to provide beverage container necks which interconnect to beverage container end closures. The beverage container neck typically reduces and then expands the beverage container body diameter before engaging with the end closure.
• Conventional container necks include a shoulder portion, which reduces the body diameter to a waist diameter, and an upper portion that expands the neck portion to engage the end closure through a peripheral curl and chuck wall.
• Conventional beverage container necks disclose geometries of moderate contours, that is, moderate reductions in waist diameter and moderate expansions to an end closure. Conventional designs do not feature substantially parallel neck and chuck wall portions.
• these designs traditionally retain beverage product within a geometric gap between the chuck wall and the neck.
• these designs are of limited strength, for example limited in buckling strength when stacked upon one another.
• conventional cans provide a less satisfying drinking experience, as demonstrated by, for example, increased spillage caused by inadequate contact between a user's lips and the can's neck area.
• U.S. Patent No. 3,704,805 to Sheafe and U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0131255 to Blondeel Sheafe discloses a beverage container with a removable panel portion formed by a peripheral score line.
• the end panel has a concave portion extending into a score line and on both sides of a removable panel portion to enable an upper lip of a person drinking from the container to extend into the concave portion.
• the concave portion of the end panel is said to facilitate drinking from the container.
• Blondeel discloses a detachable element to engage a can's opening area.
• Sheafe and Blondeel fail to teach several novel features of the present invention, including an inclined shoulder wall extending inwardly and upwardly to a contoured neck portion, the contoured neck portion extending upwardly and outwardly to the upper end of the can.
• Sheafe and Blondeel are each incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes.
• Hwang discloses an opening device for a can, with distinct first and second opening portions so that the fluid may flow more consistently from the can.
• Maliszewski discloses a container end closure with a first score line defining a first displaceable panel portion and second score line defining a second displaceable panel portion.
• Hwang nor Maliszewski disclose several novel features of the present invention, including an inclined shoulder wall extending inwardly and upwardly to a contoured neck portion, the contoured neck portion extending upwardly and outwardly to the upper end of the can.
• Nguyen I features a metallic container end closure with an outwardly-oriented countersink which enables the container to withstand significant internal pressures yet save material costs.
• Nguyen II discloses a beverage container end closure that utilizes less material and has a chuck wall with improved buckle strength attributed to an inwardly oriented concave arch.
• Nguyen I and Nguyen II fail to teach several novel features of the present invention, including an inclined shoulder wail extending inwardly and upwardly to a contoured neck portion positioned at a radius at least 0.07 inches reduced from the can diameter, the contoured neck portion extending upwardly and outwardly to the upper end of the can.
• Nguyen I and Nguyen II are eac incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes.
• Container end closures that employ other unique geometries are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,506,779; 5,685,189; 6,126,034; 6,460,723; 6,968,724 and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos.
• the present invention contemplates a novel system, device, and methods for providing a food and beverage container neck with contoured neck features configured to reduce retained product, increase container strength, and provide an enhanced drinking experience. More specifically, the contoured neck feature reduces retained product by minimizing the gap between the container neck and the chuck wall of an end closure, increases strength such as stacking, compressive strength or buckling strength, and enables a user to engage the contoured neck feature with minimal spill-over by presenting an improved alignment with a user's lips.
• a metallic container with a contoured neck comprising a body having an upper end, a lower end, a generally cylindrical cross-sectional shape with a first diameter and an axial centerline; a dome portion positioned on the lower end and providing a support surface for the metallic container; a shoulder portion positioned proximate to the upper end of the body and comprising a first radius; an inclined shoulder wall extending inwardly and upwardly and comprising a lower end interconnected to the first radius; a second radius interconnected to the upper end of the inclined shoulder wall and positioned inwardly at least about 0.07 inches from an outermost portion of the first radius to define a second diameter; and a neck portion interconnected to the second radius and extending upwardly and outwardly to a third diameter, the third diameter having a dimension less than the first diameter and greater than the second diameter.
• a metallic container with a contoured shoulder and inclined neck portion interconnected to an end closure comprising: a body having an upper end, a lower end, and a generally cylindrical cross-sectional shape with a first diameter and an axial centerline; a dome portion positioned on the lower end and providing a support surface for the metallic container; a shoulder portion positioned proximate to the upper end of the body and comprising a first radius; an inclined shoulder wall extending inwardly and upwardly and comprising a lower end interconnected to the first radius; a second radius interconnected to an upper end of the inclined shoulder wall and positioned inwardly at least about 0.07 inches from an outermost portion of the first radius to define a second diameter; a neck portion interconnected to the second radius and extending upwardly and outwardly to a third diameter, the third diameter having a dimension less than the first diameter and greater than the second diameter; the neck portion interconnected to a peripheral curl of an end closure, the end closure further comprising: a substantially linear
• a metallic container which has a non-concentric neck portion, and wherein the inclined shoulder wall at one portion is distinct from the inclined shoulder wall at another portion.
• a metallic container with a non-concentric contoured neck comprising: a body having an upper end, a lower end, a substantially cylindrical cross- sectional shape and an axial center-line oriented in a first plane; a dome portion positioned on said lower end of said body providing a support surface for said metallic container; a shoulder portion positioned on an upper portion of said container body and comprising a first radius; a first inclined shoulder wall extending inwardly and upwardly at a first angle to a second radius, and extending concentrically around said axial centerline between about 180-330 degrees; a second inclined shoulder wall extending inwardly and upwardly at a second angle to a third radius, and extending concentrically around said axial centerline between about 30-180 degrees, and wherein said first angle and said second radius are distinct from
• Fig. 1 A is top plan view of a beverage container with contoured neck according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a full contour;
• Fig. IB is a front elevation view of a beverage container with contoured neck according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a full contour
• Fig. 2A is a front elevation sectional view of a beverage container with contoured neck according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a full contour
• Fig. 2B is a front elevation sectional view detail of Area A of Fig. 2a of a beverage container with contoured neck according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a full contour;
• Fig. 3A is top plan view of a beverage container with contoured neck according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a full contour with large shoulder radius;
• Fig. 3B is a front elevation view of a beverage container with contoured neck according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a full contour with large shoulder radius ;
• Fig. 4A is top plan view of a beverage container with contoured neck according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a non-concentric partial contour;
• Fig. 4B is a front elevation view of a beverage container with contoured neck according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a non-concentric partial contour;
• Fig. 4C is a partial front elevation sectional view of cross-section A-A of Fig. 4a of a beverage container with contoured neck according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a non-concentric partial contour;
• Fig. 4D is a front elevation sectional view detail of Area B of Fig. 4c of a beverage container with contoured neck according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a non-concentric partial contour, the detail presenting the standard neck portion;
• Fig. 4E is a front elevation sectional view detail of Area A of Fig. 4c of a beverage container with contoured neck according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a non-concentric partial contour, the detail presenting the contoured neck portion;
• Fig. 5A is top plan view of a beverage container with contoured neck according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a full contour, the view depicting the container end closure and container body;
• Fig. 5B is a front elevation sectional view of a beverage container with contoured neck according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a full contour;
• Fig. 5C is a front elevation sectional view detail of Area A of Fig. 5b of a beverage container with contoured neck according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a full contour with an upper portion having a geometric profile similar to the end closure chuck wall; and Fig. 6 is a partial front elevation view of a beverage container with contoured neck according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a non-concentric partial contour.
• FIG. 1-6 a beverage container end closure and methods and devices for forming the same according to various embodiments of the present invention are shown. It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted from these drawings. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated in the drawings.
• Figs. 1A-B depict a beverage container 2 with contoured neck 4 wherein the contoured neck is a full contour.
• Fig. 1A is a top plan view and Fig. IB is a front elevation view.
• An end closure 10 of the container 2 comprises a tab 12 for selectively opening an opening area which is defined by a score line 30, a central panel 14, and peripheral curl 16.
• the container 2 further comprises a shoulder 6 and neck 4, the neck 4 generally rounded or contoured in various embodiments.
• the shoulder 6 transitions to an inclined shoulder wall 34 which extends upwards and inwards, and transitions to a contoured neck inclined shoulder radius R 6 .
• the contoured neck 4 provides, among other things, improved container strength such as improved resistance to buckling and reduced spill-over.
• the contoured neck 4 is defined by combinations of container 2 radii diameters and angles. Specifically, shoulder radius R ls container body diameter D ls waist diameter D 2 , neck or plug diameter D 3 , contoured neck angle Ai and expansion neck angle A 2 .
• shoulder radius Ri comprises a radius of between approximately 0.05 and 0.75 inches. More preferably, Ri comprises a radius of between approximately 0.10 and 0.50 inches. In a preferred embodiment, Ri comprises a radius of about 0.18 inches.
• a container body diameter Di comprises a diameter of between approximately 2.00 and 3.50 inches. More preferably, Di comprises a diameter of between approximately 2.06 and 3.20 inches. In a preferred embodiment, Di comprises a diameter of about 2.60 inches.
• a waist diameter D 2 comprises a diameter of between approximately 1.80 and 3.40 inches. More preferably, D 2 comprises a diameter of between approximately 1.80 and 3.00 inches. In a preferred embodiment, D 2 comprises a diameter of about 2.16 inches.
• a neck diameter D 3 comprises a diameter of between approximately 2.00 and 3.50 inches. More preferably, D 3 comprises a diameter of between approximately 2.00 and 3.00 inches. In a preferred embodiment, D 3 comprises a diameter of about 2.26 inches.
• R ⁇ comprises a radius of between approximately 0.050 and 1.00 inches. More preferably, R6 comprises a radius of between approximately 0.10 and 0.30 inches. In a preferred embodiment, R ⁇ is positioned to interconnect to the upper end of inclined shoulder wall 34 and positioned inwardly between approximately 0.15 and 0.45 inches from an outermost portion of shoulder radius Ri. More preferably, Re is positioned to interconnect to the upper end of inclined shoulder wall 34 and positioned inwardly at least about 0.07 inches from an outermost portion of shoulder radius Ri. In a preferred embodiment, R ⁇ 5 is positioned to interconnect to the upper end of inclined shoulder wall 34 and positioned inwardly at approximately 0.22 inches from an outermost portion of shoulder radius Ri.
• the ratio of waist diameter D 2 to body diameter Di is between about 0.51 and 0.97. More preferably, the ratio of waist diameter D 2 to body diameter Di is between about 0.56 and 0.93. In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of waist diameter D 2 to body diameter Di is about 0.83.
• a contoured neck angle Ai comprises an angle of between approximately 5.00 and 50.00 degrees. More preferably, Ai comprises an angle of between approximately 20.00 degrees and 40.00 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, Ai comprises an angle of 28 degrees. In another preferred embodiment, Ai comprises an angle of 48 degrees. Contoured neck angle Ai defines inclined shoulder wall 34.
• An expansion neck angle A 2 comprises an angle of between approximately 0.00 and 50.0 degrees. More preferably, A 2 comprises an angle of between approximately 10.00 and 18.00 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, A 2 comprises an angle of 14 degrees.
• Figs. 2A-B depict a beverage container 2 with contoured neck wherein the contoured neck is a full contour.
• Fig. 2A is a front elevation sectional view
• Fig. 2B is a front elevation sectional view detail of Area A of Fig. 2A.
• a beverage container 2 comprises an end closure 10 and dome 8.
• the end closure 10 comprises a central panel 14, a peripheral curl 16, countersink 18, and inner panel wall 20.
• the end closure 10 further comprises chuck wall 24, chuck wall lower end 26 and chuck wall upper end 28.
• the central panel 14 terminates in countersink 18, which is further connected to the peripheral curl 16 by the chuck wall 24. Also depicted in Fig.
• Countersink diameter D 4 comprises a diameter of between 1.75 and 3.50 inches. More preferably, D 4 comprises a diameter of between approximately 1.80 and 2.90 inches.
• neck 4 extends above countersink 18 so as to remain substantially parallel with chuck wall 24 during the portion defined by or spanning end closure height Hi.
• a gap exists between neck 4 and countersink 18 during the portion spanning end closure height Hi, the gap of dimension preferably no more than 0.10 inches.
• Figs. 3A-B depict a beverage container 2 with contoured neck 4 according to one embodiment wherein the contoured neck is a full contour extending around a 360° circle with a large shoulder radius.
• Fig. 3A is a top plan view and Fig. 3B is a front elevation view.
• An end closure 10 of the container 2 comprises a tab 12 for selectively opening an opening area which is defined by a score line 30, a central panel 14, and peripheral curl 16.
• the container 2 further comprises a shoulder 6.
• Figs. 4A-E depict a beverage container 2 with contoured neck 4 wherein the contoured neck is a partial contour, i.e., non-concentric.
• Fig. 4A is top plan view
• Fig. 4B is a front elevation view
• Fig. 4C is a partial front elevation view of cross-section A-A of Fig. 4A.
• Fig. 4D is a front elevation sectional view detail of Area B of Fig. 4C
• Fig. 4E is a front elevation sectional view detail of Area A of Fig. 4C.
• Figs. 4A-E depict a beverage container 2 with contoured neck 4 wherein the contoured neck is a partial contour, i.e., non-concentric.
• Fig. 4A is top plan view
• Fig. 4B is a front elevation view
• Fig. 4C is a partial front elevation view of cross-section A-A of Fig. 4A.
• Fig. 4D is
• a portion of the neck 4 of the container 2 is a contoured neck, while the remaining portion of the neck 4 is not contoured, i.e. is a standard neck, thus forming a non-concentric neck which does not have a consistent and uniform neck angle around the entire circumference of the neck of the container.
• the contoured neck has contoured neck profile radius R 2 while the standard neck portion has standard neck profile radius R 5 .
• a first neck portion has an inclined shoulder wall with radius Ri and extending inwardly and upwardly at a first neck angle A 3 to shoulder wall radius R 7 .
• the contoured neck has an inclined shoulder wall with shoulder radius Ri and extending inwardly and upwardly at contoured neck angle Ai which is distinct from the first neck angle A3.
• the inclined shoulder wall extends upwardly to shoulder wall radius R6.
• a contoured neck profile radius R 2 comprises a radius around the center axis of the container of between approximately 30 and 180 degrees, and has a distinct geometric profile when compared to a contoured neck profile on another portion of the container. More preferably, R 2 comprises a radius of between approximately 30 and 120 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, R 2 comprises a radius of 90 degrees. In various embodiments, standard neck profile radius R 5 comprises a radius of between approximately 180 and 330 degrees. More preferably, R 5 comprises a radius of between approximately 240 and 330 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, R 5 comprises a radius of 270 degrees.
• contoured neck angle Ai comprises an angle of 38 degrees and expansion neck angle A 2 comprises an angle of 14 degrees.
• the contoured neck with end closure 10 portion is generally positioned opposite the primary opening area 32 and score 30.
• the standard neck of container 2 is shown as Fig. 4D generally comprising peripheral curl 16, countersink 18, inner panel wall 20, standard neck angle A 3 and chuck wall 24 with chuck wall upper end 28 and chuck wall lower end 26. Note that in the portion of the container 2 configured with a standard neck as depicted in detail in Fig. 4D, the portion of the container neck 4 that is opposite the chuck wall 24 is not parallel, and distinct from the embodiment shown in Fig. 4E.
• a novel contoured neck of container 2 is shown as Fig. 4E, generally comprising a peripheral curl 16, a countersink 18, an inner panel wall 20, a contoured neck angle Ai and chuck wall 24 with chuck wall upper end 28 and chuck wall lower end 26.
• Inclined shoulder wall 34 extends upward and inwardly, and transitions to an inclined shoulder radius R6.
• the portion of the container neck 4 that is opposite the chuck wall 24 is substantially parallel from the uppermost portion of the chuck wall to substantially a lowermost portion of the countersink.
• variations of the distance between the chuck wall and container neck opposite the chuck wall may be common based on design parameters.
• FIG. 5A-C depict a beverage container 2 with contoured neck 4 wherein the contoured neck is a full contour and contoured to the end closure shape.
• Fig. 5 A is a top plan view of container 2 and depicts end closure 10 which generally comprises a tab 12, central panel 14 and peripheral curl 16.
• Fig. 5B is a front elevation view of container 2 with identified detail area A.
• Fig. 5C is a detail area A of Fig. 5B and generally depicting a unique and novel cross-sectional upper neck region which is substantially a mirror image of the profile of the end closure extending from the peripheral curl to the countersink.
• contoured neck lower radius R 3 comprises a radius of between approximately 0.04 and 0.30 inches.
• R 3 comprises a radius of between approximately 0.04 and 0.10 inches. In a preferred embodiment, R 3 comprises a radius of 0.052 inches. In various embodiments, contoured neck lower radius R 4 comprises a radius of between approximately 0.04 and 0.30 inches. More preferably, R 4 comprises a radius of between approximately 0.04 and 0.10 inches. In a preferred embodiment, R4 comprises a radius of 0.043 inches. In the embodiment of Figs. 5A-C, the portion of the container neck 4 that is opposite the chuck wall 24 is substantially parallel and substantially in contact with the chuck wall 24.
• Fig. 6 depicts a partial front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a beverage container 2 comprising end closure 10 and a non-concentric shoulder and neck portion, wherein one portion of the inclined shoulder wall is oriented at a different angle than the inclined shoulder wall at another portion of the container.
• a first neck portion 4 has an inclined shoulder wall with radius Ri and extending inwardly and upwardly at a first neck angle A3 to standard neck inclined shoulder wall radius R 7 .
• the shoulder 6 transitions to an inclined shoulder wall 34 which extends upwards and inwards, and transitions to the standard neck inclined shoulder wall radius R 7 .
• the contoured neck On an opposing side, the contoured neck has an inclined shoulder wall with shoulder radius Ri and extending inwardly and upwardly at contoured neck angle Ai which is distinct from the first neck angle A3.
• the inclined shoulder wall extends upwardly to contoured neck inclined shoulder wall radius Re.
• the shoulder 6 transitions to an inclined shoulder wall 34 which extends upwards and inwards, and transitions to the contoured neck inclined shoulder wall radius R 6 .

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=50628152

Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (1)

Citations (19)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2013
  • 2013-11-05 MX MX2015005599A patent/MX2015005599A/es unknown
  • 2013-11-05 WO PCT/US2013/068408 patent/WO2014071345A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2013-11-05 EP EP13851478.1A patent/EP2791032A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2013-11-05 BR BR112014017978A patent/BR112014017978A8/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2013-11-05 CA CA2890017A patent/CA2890017C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (19)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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