Patent ID: 6220475
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
A metal can formed from a can blank (1) having at least a cylindrical side wall, the side wall of the can comprising a regular pattern (2) of individual polygonal pattern elements (10,20), in which:the pattern elements (10,20) are arranged in at least two circumferential rows (5,6,7) and at least two longitudinal columns; andeach polygon (10,20) comprises between 3 and 10 sides;characterised in that:at least some of the pattern elements (10,20) are formed by expanding the cylindrical side wall of the can blank so that the can side wall extends beyond its original radius, each such expanded pattern element having an externally concave radius (R.sub.F,R.sub.g) around its edges and an externally convex radius (R.sub.L,R.sub.h) adjacent the concave radius, towards the centre of the pattern element;in which the concave radius (R.sub.F,R.sub.g) is substantially constant around the element;the size of the convex radius (R.sub.L,R.sub.h) is directly proportional to its distance from the centre of the pattern element; andthe expansion of any point on an expanded pattern element is inversely proportional to its distance from the centre of the pattern element.