초록 ▼

A seamless aluminum container of the type used for beer, soft drinks, edible goods or the like is provided which container is adapted to be manually axially collapsed to a smaller size when its contents are exhausted, the container collapse being accomplished without the need of any apparatus for gu

A seamless aluminum container of the type used for beer, soft drinks, edible goods or the like is provided which container is adapted to be manually axially collapsed to a smaller size when its contents are exhausted, the container collapse being accomplished without the need of any apparatus for guiding the container sidewall collapse and without the aid of any mechanical or fluid pressure device. The container sidewall is shaped to provide a number of similar annuli each of concave axial cross section, adjacent annuli being separated by a peripheral, outwardly angled ridge. Manual axial forces collapse adjacent about an interposed ridge to form a collapsed container approximately one-fifth the size of the original container. The device encourages consumers to recycle aluminum, facilitates the storage and transport of aluminum cans to a recycling station, strengthens aluminum cans in a transverse direction permitting thinner aluminum stock to be used, and conserves aluminum and the energy needed to produce aluminum.

대표청구항 ▼

A metal container adapted to be axially collapsed when exhausted of its contents, comprising: an endless peripheral metal sidewall generally of right circular cylindrical shape and having open opposite end portions each provided with a closure member to afford an inner chamber for the contents of th

A metal container adapted to be axially collapsed when exhausted of its contents, comprising: an endless peripheral metal sidewall generally of right circular cylindrical shape and having open opposite end portions each provided with a closure member to afford an inner chamber for the contents of the container, access to the chamber being provided through one of the closure members, the sidewall being provided with a plurality of similar adjacent annuli each positioned substantially perpendicular to the axis of the container and each of continuous inwardly concave axial cross section and of substantially circular transverse cross section, the annuli extending peripherally of the sidewall between the opposite end portions, adjacent pairs of annuli affording therebetween a continuous outwardly extending substantially circular ridge positioned in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the container, collapsing of the sidewall of the container being effected by manual axial pressure applied endwise of the container to fold each annulus centrally inwardly of its axial cross section as adjacent annuli fold peripherally about an interposed outwardly extending peripheral ridge to form in each annulus a series of inwardly folded segments and spaced apex portions, each segment of the series extending between adjacent apex portions of the series.