US4049122A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nestable non-corrosive container for pressurized beverages and processes for manufacture and handling thereof
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-10-21
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Granted: 1977-09-20
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Expires: 1994-10-21
Abstract
Abstract The invention comprises a returnable, non-corrosive metal container that can be cleaned and sterilized for re-filling with a pressurized beverage, the container having a tapering side wall with an integral bottom wall end and an open top end having a beaded rim to receive and sealably hold a removable closure, and ledge means extending from the side wall in predetermined spaced relation with one of the top and bottom ends for nestably receiving another similar container with the tapering side wall thereof being spaced away from the first container side wall in a non-locking relationship. The invention also comprises the process of manufacturing returnable, tapered and nestable non-corrosive metal containers including forming a basic container configuration from sheet metal by blanking in scroll pattern and making a first draw, making a second draw, making a third draw and tapering the side wall of the container while starting a rim curl, optionally making a further draw and taper or reshape while maintaining the rim curl, trimming the top rim and shaping the start curl, applying seal compound to the rim curl and forming a beaded rim, reshaping and cleaning excess compound, forming ledge means in the tapered container side wall, and final cleaning and stacking and packaging for shipment. The invention further comprises the process of handling tapered, non-corrosive metal containers for reuse including receiving stacked, used, empty containers in nested, non-locking relationship; inspecting pre-cleaned and de-labeled containers and reshaping and buffing damaged containers to a restored and reusable condition, palletizing columns of stacked, nested containers in multiple rows, sequentially transferring separate columns of containers and sequentially separating individual containers for refilling with a pressurized beverage product.
Inventors
- 👤 Earl G. Maxwell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:05
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D51/00; B21D51/16; B21D51/26; B21D51/2646; B65; B65D; B65D1/00; B65D1/22; B65D1/26; B65D1/265; B65D17/00; B65D17/28; B65D17/401; B65D17/4012; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A returnable and refillable metal container for pressurized beverages or the like, comprising a one-piece seamless container body having a frusto-conical side wall and an integral bottom end wall forming an interior cavity to be filled with pressurized beverage, said container body also having an open top end with means adapted to receive and sealably hold a rupturable closure seal thereon against pressures exerted by the beverage within the container, means projecting radially from said side wall between the top and bottom ends and forming an abutment ledge in predetermined spaced relation with one of said top and bottom ends, said container body being adapted to nestably receive a similar container body in any relative circumferential position thereof in non-wedging contact with said abutment ledge means to maintain the side and bottom end walls of the first and similar nested containers in a spaced-apart and non-locking condition for subsequent unrestricted separation for use, said interior cavity being defined by a permanently non-corrosive metal surface which, upon sterilization, is chemically inert to the pressurized beverage, said container body being of predetermined strength and rigidity, and said container being adapted to be used and repeatedly returned for immediate reuse in substantially the original manufactured condition of the container after sterilization of the container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A returnable and refillable metal container for pressurized beverages or the like, comprising a one-piece seamless container body having a frusto-conical side wall and an integral bottom end wall forming an interior cavity to be filled with pressurized beverage, said container body also having an open top end with means adapted to receive and sealably hold a rupturable closure seal thereon against pressures exerted by the beverage within the container, means projecting radially from said side wall between the top and bottom ends and forming an abutment ledge in predetermined spaced relation with one of said top and bottom ends, said container body being adapted to nestably receive a similar container body in any relative circumferential position thereof in non-wedging contact with said abutment ledge means to maintain the side and bottom end walls of the first and similar nested containers in a spaced-apart and non-locking condition for subsequent unrestricted separation for use, said interior cavity being defined by a permanently non-corrosive metal surface which, upon sterilization, is chemically inert to the pressurized beverage, said container body being of predetermined strength and rigidity, and said container being adapted to be used and repeatedly returned for immediate reuse in substantially the original manufactured condition of the container after sterilization of the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The container according to claim 1, in which said abutment ledge means is formed in said side wall and projects radially inwardly therefrom adjacent to said bottom end wall and in predetermined spaced relation therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The container according to claim 2, in which said abutment ledge means comprises a continuous annular protrusion extending inwardly into said interior cavity from the interior surface of said frusto-conical side wall, said annular protrusion having a diametral dimension smaller than the external dimension of said bottom end wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The container according to claim 3, in which said bottom end wall is concave and defines a rounded annular exterior seating surface at its juncture with said side wall for non-wedging contact upon the inwardly extending abutment ledge means of another similar container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The container according to claim 1, in which said means on the open top end of the container body side wall comprises an annular, closely turned, outwardly and downwardly beaded rim.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The container according to claim 5, in which said abutment ledge means is formed in said side wall and projects radially outwardly therefrom adjacent to said open top end and in predetermined spaced relation therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The container according to claim 5, in which said abutment ledge means comprises a continuous annular convex protrusion extending outwardly from the exterior of said side wall and having a diametral dimension greater than that of the open top end and being adapted to seat the beaded rim of another similar container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
The container according to claim 5, including closure means sealably engaged with said beaded rim for maintaining beverage under pressure within said container, said closure means comprising a closure plate having a fracture line of reduced strength having a terminal end and a non-detachable end, and means for rupturing said closure means along said fracture line to fully remove said closure plate from said container without damaging the open top end and beaded rim thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The container according to claim 5, in which said side wall has an outwardly flaring portion extending to said beaded rim at said open top end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
the container according to claim 4, in which said non-corrosive metal comprises stainless steel of the grade range designated as Type 304 to Type 316.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The container according to claim 10, in which said stainless steel has a minimum thickness gauge in the range of about 0.005 to 0.008 inch and a maximum thickness gauge of about 0.015 inch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
231 words
A returnable and repeatedly refillable metal container for pressurized beverages or like food products packaged under pressure for distribution and consumption, comprising a seamless container body formed from a one-piece blank and having a tapered side wall and an integral bottom end wall forming an interior cavity to be filled with pressurized beverage, said container body also having an open top end with an annular outwardly and downwardly closely-turned beaded rim adapted to releasably receive and sealably hold a fully removable closure seal thereon against pressures exerted by the beverage within the container, an annular abutment ledge projecting radially from said side wall between the top and bottom ends and in predetermined spaced relation with one of said top and bottom ends, said container body being adapted to nestably receive a similar container body in any relative circumferential position thereof in non-wedging contact upon said abutment ledge to maintain the side and bottom end walls of the nested containers in spaced-apart and non-locking condition for storage in an empty condition and for subsequent unrestricted separation for use, said metal container being comprised of a permanently non-corrosive metal which, upon sterilization, is chemically inert to the pressurized beverage, said container being of predetermined strength and rigidity, and said container being adapted to be used and repeatedly returned for immediate reuse in substantially the original manufactured condition of the container after sterilization thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
231 words
A returnable and repeatedly refillable metal container for pressurized beverages or like food products packaged under pressure for distribution and consumption, comprising a seamless container body formed from a one-piece blank and having a tapered side wall and an integral bottom end wall forming an interior cavity to be filled with pressurized beverage, said container body also having an open top end with an annular outwardly and downwardly closely-turned beaded rim adapted to releasably receive and sealably hold a fully removable closure seal thereon against pressures exerted by the beverage within the container, an annular abutment ledge projecting radially from said side wall between the top and bottom ends and in predetermined spaced relation with one of said top and bottom ends, said container body being adapted to nestably receive a similar container body in any relative circumferential position thereof in non-wedging contact upon said abutment ledge to maintain the side and bottom end walls of the nested containers in spaced-apart and non-locking condition for storage in an empty condition and for subsequent unrestricted separation for use, said metal container being comprised of a permanently non-corrosive metal which, upon sterilization, is chemically inert to the pressurized beverage, said container being of predetermined strength and rigidity, and said container being adapted to be used and repeatedly returned for immediate reuse in substantially the original manufactured condition of the container after sterilization thereof.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-09-19 | 1981-03-21 | 1981-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-19 | 1985-03-21 | 1985-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-19 | 1989-03-21 | 1989-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |