Patent Publication Number: US-2023133159-A1

Title: Beverage Container

Description:
The present application is a continuation of and claims priority to the earlier filed U.S. non-provisional utility application Ser. No. 16/886,515 filed on May 28, 2020. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to the field of beverage containers, specifically, the structure and manufacturing process of aluminum cans. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Traditional beverage cans utilize a single aperture at the top lid of the can for dispensing the liquid contained in the can, usually a carbonated beverage. For the beverage contained in the can to flow outward, air must enter the container. Because the single opening cans need to both allow for outward flow of liquid and inward flow of air, the outward flow of the beverage is often inconsistent or restricted. Also, for the release of carbonated beverage, the limitations of the single opening often results in the creation of foam. Many consumers of such beverages seek a more rapid and smooth dispensation of the liquid from the can than the single aperture provides. 
     In the related art, numerous devices are disclosed which attempt to address this venting problem. Generally, these devices provide for two openings on the top of the can, one for pouring and one for venting. These devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,184, issued in the name of Noguchi et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,014, issued in the name of Aydt, U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,919, issued in the name of Recchia, U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,037, issued in the name of Moen et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,597, issued in the name of Hanafusa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,306, issued in the name of Kelsey et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,970,212, issued in the name of Brown, U.S. Pat. No. 3,662,914, issued in the name of Slade, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,168, issued in the name of Fraze. Other attempts to address this issue have included wider openings on the top of the can or openings designed with a channel allowing for increased air flow. 
     Despite these many attempts to improve beverage flow from cans, consumers still often times attempt to puncture the wall of the can with keys, screwdriver, knives, or other sharp objects to create a second opening in the can, thereby creating a second aperture to increase the air flow through the can and allowing the beverage to flow from the can more rapidly and with a consistent flow. However, consumers often fail in their attempt to create a second aperture in the wall of existing beverage containers. Common mishaps include injury from the sharp object slipping, creation of an aperture that is too small, or rupturing of the beverage container in an uncontrolled way resulting to the beverage exploding out of the container. This consumer behavior demonstrates a continued need in the art to improve beverage flow from containers by allowing consumers to create a second aperture in the wall of the beverage container in a controlled and safe way. 
     Others in the art have disclosed beverage containers that include a second scored aperture on the wall or bottom of the container. These devices include U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,060 issued in the name of Rightenour and Publication No. 2015/0183547 in the applicant name of Langheinrich. These devices, however, fail to account for the diminished structural integrity to the beverage can resulting from scoring the container wall, which is typically composed of an aluminum sheet thinner than the container lid. Further, these devices fail to consider the increased cost and difficulty to the manufacturing process for including a second scored aperture on the beverage container wall, including how to align the first and second apertures during the manufacturing process to optimize consumer convenience. 
     Accordingly, a beverage container that facilitates a more controlled, efficient, puncturing of the beverage container side wall without compromising the structural integrity of the container or materially increasing cost or complexity of the manufacturing process is desired. This is especially advantageous for the beverages that are carbonated or malt beverages, such as beer. Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an improved, beverage container that is novel in design, combining existing art with new, allowing for users to puncture a second aperture for venting with a novel, new beverage container wall design, thereby creating a new and unique combination of technology. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved beverage container that is novel in design, and which facilitates the quick, efficient and controlled rupturing of the side wall of the beverage container to allow a consumer to create a second aperture in the container wall for the rapid and smooth dispensing of carbonated and malt beverages in a novel, fun and festive manner. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the beverage container consists of an aluminum can of traditional cylindrical shape, with a traditional pouring aperture assembly on the top of the container, such as a scored section and a tab. Located along the side wall of the container are one or more indentations or dimples of a defined size and shape. The indentations or dimples allow the user to rupture the side wall of the container with a pointed object, such as keys with decreased risk of the pointed object sliding off the side of the wall or creating an undesirable or uncontrolled opening. In certain preferred embodiments, the indentations or dimples are spaced periodically in a row around the circumference of the can at a height slightly above the bottom of the can. The size and shape of the indentations or dimples may vary. For example, certain embodiments may include rounded or elliptical indentations or dimples. Other embodiments may include triangular or rectangular indentations or dimples. Other embodiments may include a variety of shapes and sizes. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the beverage container consists of an aluminum can of traditional cylindrical shape, with a traditional pouring aperture assembly on the top of the container, such as a scored section and a tab. Located along the side wall of the container are one or more embossed or stamped shapes, for example an asterisk, star or “x” shape. The embossed or stamped symbols allow the user to rupture the side wall of the container with a pointed object, such as keys with decreased risk of the pointed object sliding off the side of the wall or creating an undesirable or uncontrolled opening. In certain preferred embodiments, the embossed or stamped shapes are spaced periodically in a row around the circumference of the can at a height slightly above the bottom of the can. The size and shape of the embossed or stamped shapes may vary. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the beverage container consists of an aluminum can of traditional cylindrical shape, with a traditional pouring aperture assembly on the top of the container, such as a scored section and a tab. A portion of the side wall of the container defines an indented ring or trench around the circumference of the can. The indented ring or trench allows the user to rupture the side wall of the container with a pointed object, such as keys with decreased risk of the pointed object sliding off the side of the wall or creating an undesirable or uncontrolled opening. 
     Alone or in combination with other embodiments disclosed herein, other embodiments of the present invention may include latitudinal or longitudinal ribbing along the side wall of the beverage container to improve the structural properties beverage container to allow for users to puncture a hole in the side wall. The ribbing may traverse the entire circumference or length of the container, or the ribbing may be shorter. 
     It is further an object of the present invention to provide a process for manufacturing embodiments of the beverage containers disclosed herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG.  1    shows an embodiment of a beverage container consistent with the invention disclosed herein. 
         FIG.  2    shows an embodiment of a beverage container consistent with the invention disclosed herein. 
         FIG.  3    shows an embodiment of a beverage container consistent with the invention disclosed herein. 
         FIG.  4    shows a diagram of the manufacturing process for a beverage container consistent with the invention disclosed herein. 
         FIG.  5    shows a diagram of the manufacturing process for a beverage container consistent with the invention disclosed herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIG.  1   , a dimpled-wall beverage container  10  is shown, according to the present invention, comprising a container  20  of traditional cylindrical configuration, constructed of aluminum or other metal, and used to hold beverages, particularly carbonated beverage. The container  20  consists of a container rim  30 , container body  40 , a container top or lid  50  and container bottom  60 , as found in traditional beverage containers of this sort. The body  40  of the can is commonly narrowed to form a neck  45  to accommodate a lid  50  having a smaller radius than the body  40  to reduce the amount of metal used in forming the container. The container bottom  60  commonly assumes a dome shape in order to resist internal pressure. The container top or lid  50  is commonly secured to the container body  40  through the flanged rim  30  formed by bending and seeming the lid  50  after filling of the body  40  with the beverage. Located along the container top or lid  50  is a traditional beverage pouring assembly, including a pouring scored portion  70  with a tab  80  attached to the container top  50  near the scored portion  70  such that the tab  80  acts as a fulcrum to open the pouring scored portion  70  to create a pouring aperture. The tab is commonly secured to the top  50  through a rivet  85 . 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, located on the container body  40  are one or more inward indentations  90  in a single row. The inward indentations  90  provide a target for which a user may use to apply force to the container body  40 , for example with keys or a screwdriver, to allow the rupturing of the container body  40  to form a second pouring aperture within the indentation  90  structure while the container  10  is sealed and pressurized. The structure of the indentations  90  facilitates the application of focused force to the container body  40  to form a controlled and defined second aperture. 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG.  1   , the indentations  90  are located near the container bottom  60  and are of a size sufficiently large to form a second aperture when punctured. In other embodiments, the indentations  90  may be located further from or closer to the container bottom  60 . The indentations  90  in  FIG.  1    are depicted as round indentations, but is understood that in other embodiments the indentations may be of other shapes, including for example triangular, rectangular, or elliptical shapes. It is also understood that in other embodiments the shapes of the indentations  90  may vary and need not be of a uniform shape throughout the container body  40 . 
     Certain embodiments may include a single indentation  90 , whereas other embodiments may include multiple indentations  90  spaced around the circumference of the container body  40 . One advantage of multiple indentations spaced around the circumference of the body  40  is to more easily ensure that at least one indentation  90  is substantially aligned with the scored portion  70  on the container top  50 . The embodiment in  FIG.  1    further includes longitudinal ribs  95  to provide additional structural reinforcement for the container body  40  both during manufacturing and when being punctured by a consumer. The ribs may also be provided latitudinally and may be of any length. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  2   , a beverage container  210  is shown having radial shapes  290  in the container body  240 , according to the present invention. The container  220  comprises the common elements of beverage containers discussed in connection with  FIG.  1   , including a container rim  230 , container body  240 , container bottom  260 , a neck  245 , a container top or lid  250  having a pouring scored portion  270  with a tab  280  secured to the top  250  through a rivet  285 . 
     The container body  240  includes radial shapes  290  that are either scored, embossed or stamped into the container body  240 . The radial shapes  290  provide a target for which a user may use to apply force to the container body  240 , for example with keys or a screwdriver, to allow the rupturing of the container body  240  to form a second pouring aperture when one of the radial shape  290  collapses internally into the container body  240 . The structure of the radial shapes  290  facilitates the application of focused force to the container body  240  to form a controlled and defined second aperture. 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG.  2   , the radial shapes  290  are located near the container bottom  260  and are of a size sufficiently large to form a second aperture when punctured. In other embodiments, the radial shapes  290  may be located further from or closer to the container bottom  260 . The radial shapes  290  in  FIG.  2    are depicted as star or asterisk shapes, but is understood that in other embodiments the radial shapes  290  may be of other shapes, forms or combined with other types of indentations. It is also understood that in other embodiments the form of the radial shapes  290  may vary and need not be of a uniform shape throughout the container body  240 . 
     Certain embodiments may include a single radial shape  290 , whereas other embodiments may include multiple radial shapes  290  spaced around the circumference of the container body  240 . The embodiment in  FIG.  2    further includes a latitudinal rib  295  to provide additional structural reinforcement for the container body  240  both during manufacturing and when being punctured by a consumer. The ribs may also be provided longitudinally and may be of any length. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  3   , a beverage container  310  is shown having and indented ring  390  in the container body  340 , according to the present invention. The container  320  comprises the common elements of beverage containers discussed in connection with  FIG.  1   , including a rim  330 , container body  340 , container bottom  360 , a neck  345 , a container top or lid  350  having a pouring scored portion  370  with a tab  380  secured to the top  350  through a rivet  385 . 
     The container body  340  includes indented ring  290  or trench around the circumference of the container body  240 . The indented ring  290  may include vertical ribs  295  defining a series of ridges within the indented ring  290 . The indented ring  290  with the vertical ribs  295  provides multiple targets for which a user may use to apply force to the container body  340 , for example with keys or a screwdriver, to allow the rupturing of the container body  340  to form a second pouring aperture when one of the gaps between the vertical ribs  395  collapses internally into the container body  340 . The structure of the indented ring  390  with the vertical ribs  395  facilitates the application of focused force to the container body  340  to form a controlled and defined second aperture. 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG.  3   , the indented ring  390  is located near the container bottom  360  and is of a width sufficiently large to form a second aperture when punctured. In other embodiments, the indented ring  390  may be located further from or closer to the container bottom  360 . The vertical ribs  390  in  FIG.  3    are depicted as forming a series of squares within the indented ring  390 , but is understood that in other embodiments the ribs  390  may form other shapes and be angled. It is also understood that in other embodiments the form of the indented ring  390  may vary and need not be of a uniform shape throughout the container body  340 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , a common technique for manufacturing aluminum cans involves a process known as two-piece drawing and wall ironing. Aluminum sheets are made in rolling mills. Circular blanks  410  are cut from the aluminum sheet of approximately  5 . 5  inches in diameter. Next, a punch  420  strokes the blanks  410  into a mold  425  to form the cup shape for the container  430 . 
     In certain embodiments, the punch  420  and mold  425  may be configured to form indentations  90  such as those disclosed in  FIG.  1    by including the shapes of the desired indentations  90  at the end of the punch  420  and corresponding shapes in the mold. For example, the end of the punch  420  may include the female portion of one or more circular indentations to be formed in the cup shape  430 , while the mold  425  includes corresponding male portions for those indentations. When the punch  420  strokes the blanks  410  into the mold  425 , the desired indentations near the bottom of the cup shape  430  will be formed. 
     Then, a sequence of ironing operations thins and stretches the container walls so that the container body reaches a height of about five inches. A sleeve  440  holds the cup  460  in place as iron rings  450  stretch and thin the cup  460  wall. The bottom of the can body is then pressed against a metal dome, giving the bottom of the can its inward bulge. Machinery then trims a slice from the top of the body to ensure a flat top. The top portion of the body is “necked down” and flanged to accommodate the lid. As shown in  FIG.  1   , an integral rivet  85  is formed to connect the tab  80  to the lid  50 . The lid is scored  70  so that the can opens easily. 
     In certain embodiments, the indentations  90 ,  390  shown in  FIGS.  1  and  3    or shapes  290  shown in  FIG.  2    may be formed during the ironing process through embossing. The sleeve  440  surface may include patterns for forming the desired indentations  90 ,  390  or shapes  290 . When the iron rings  450  iron the cup  460  against the sleeve  440 , the desired indentations  90 ,  390  or shapes  290  will be formed according to the patterns on the sleeve  440 . In this way, the desired indentations  90 ,  390  or shapes  290  are then formed through an embossing or pressing process. 
     In other embodiments, an additional ironing step or steps may be added with a specialized ironing ring  450 , where the ironing ring  450  also includes patterns that correspond to the patterns on the sleeve  440 . The iron rings the traverse only the lower portion of the cup  460  to create the desired indentations  90 ,  390  or shapes  290  in the desired locations, for example near the bottom of the cup  460 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , in another embodiment for creating the structure for a beverage container consistent with the present invention, the container body  510  is held by a sleeve  540  in place as one or more punches  520  having the desired shape at the end  530  strike the container body  510  with a force sufficiently strong to form indentations or other shapes in the container body  710  without rupturing the container wall. The sleeve includes a female portion  550  corresponding to the shape or form to be stamped into the container body  510 . The female portion  550  of the sleeve  540  is aligned with each punch  520  so that the punch end  530  strikes the corresponding female portion  550  of the sleeve  540 . The punches around the circumference of the container body  510  may occur in sequence or simultaneously. The punching process may occur after the ironing process is completed, or may be integrated into the ironing process.