초록 ▼

A drawn and ironed can having a generally cylindrical side wall and an integral bottom including two annular rims is provided. The bottom of the can has a reduced volume configuration, wherein the upright can rests on an outer annular rim known as the heel, and an expanded volume configuration, wher

A drawn and ironed can having a generally cylindrical side wall and an integral bottom including two annular rims is provided. The bottom of the can has a reduced volume configuration, wherein the upright can rests on an outer annular rim known as the heel, and an expanded volume configuration, wherein the upright can rests on an inner annular rim known as the nose. When a can in the reduced volume configuration is subject to an elevated internal pressure substantially less than the maximum working pressure, a portion of the can bottom comprising the nose moves axially downwardly relative to the rest of the can to serve as a new base, thus transitioning the can into the expanded volume configuration.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A method of storing beer, carbonated beverage, or gas-charged product, comprising the steps:a) forming a can body comprising:i) a generally cylindrical side wall having upper and lower end portions and a longitudinal central axis; andii) a bottom made integral with the lower end po

[ We claim:] [1.] A method of storing beer, carbonated beverage, or gas-charged product, comprising the steps:a) forming a can body comprising:i) a generally cylindrical side wall having upper and lower end portions and a longitudinal central axis; andii) a bottom made integral with the lower end portion of said side wall, said bottom including:an annular heel section including an annular heel transition section and an annular inner heel wall, an outer periphery of said heel transition section joined to said lower end portion of said side wall and an inner periphery of said heel transition section joined to an outer periphery of said inner heel wall;a heel angle being formed by the intersection of a first line constituting a downwardly directed extension of said side wall and a second line constituting an outwardly directed extension of said inner heel wall, both of said first and second lines being in a first plane containing the central axis;an annular hinge section including an annular outer hinge wall, an annular hinge transition section, and an annular inner hinge wall, an outer periphery of said outer hinge wall being joined to an inner periphery of said inner heel wall, an inner periphery of said outer hinge wall being joined to an outer periphery of said hinge transition section, and an inner periphery of said hinge transition section being joined to an outer periphery of said inner hinge wall;a hinge angle being formed by the intersection of a third line constituting an inwardly directed extension of said outer hinge wall and a fourth line constituting an outwardly directed extension of said inner hinge wall, both of said third and fourth lines being in a second plane containing the central axis;an annular nose section including an annular outer nose wall, an annular nose transition section, and an annular inner nose wall, an outer periphery of said outer nose wall being joined to an inner periphery of said inner hinge wall, an inner periphery of said outer nose wall being joined to an outer periphery of said nose transition section, and an inner periphery of said nose transition section being joined to an outer periphery of said inner nose wall;a nose angle being formed by the intersection of a fifth line constituting an inwardly directed extension of said outer nose wall and a sixth line constituting an outwardly directed extension of said inner nose wall, both of said fifth and sixth lines being in a third plane containing the central axis; andan inwardly projecting dome section, an outer periphery of said dome section being joined to an inner periphery of said inner nose wall; andb) filling said can body with beer, carbonated beverage, or like product, which product being capable of generating a gas when subject to environmental conditions;c) seaming a lid to the upper end portion of said side wall of said can body with a pressure-tight seal, thereby forming a sealed can having a pressurizable interior cavity containing said product and an exterior surface; andd) changing the configuration of said sealed can from a reduced volume configuration having a reduced volume value for said heel angle, a reduced volume value for said hinge angle, and a reduced volume value for said nose angle, into an expanded volume configuration having a predetermined expanded volume value for said heel angle, a predetermined expanded volume value for said hinge angle, and a predetermined expanded volume value for said nose angle by exposing said product within said interior cavity to environmental conditions, thereby generating a gas within said interior cavity such that a pressure difference between said interior cavity of said sealed can and said exterior surface of said sealed can at said bottom exceeds a predetermined value.