Beverage can end with reduced countersink

Abstract

The present invention describes an improved beverage can end which utilizes less material and has an improved internal buckle strength based on the geometric configuration of the chuck wall, inner panel wall, central panel and reduced depth between the countersink and crown of a circular end wall.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A metallic beverage can end having a reduced countersink, comprising: 
 a substantially circular end wall adapted for interconnection to a can body and having a crown defined by an uppermost edge;    a chuck wall integrally interconnected to said substantially circular end wall on an upper end and extending downwardly therefrom at a chuck wall angle θ;    a substantially concave countersink interconnected to a lower end of said chuck wall, wherein a lowermost portion of said countersink is no greater than 0.270 inches from said crown;    an inner panel wall interconnected to said countersink and extending upwardly therefrom;    a central panel supported by said inner panel wall; and    an opening means in operable engagement with said central panel, wherein the metallic beverage can end can be selectively opened.    
     
     
         2 . The metallic beverage can of  claim 1 , wherein said central panel is raised above said crown of said substantially circular end wall.  
     
     
         3 . The metallic beverage can of  claim 2 , wherein said opening means is positioned below an uppermost edge of said central panel.  
     
     
         4 . The metallic beverage can of  claim 1 , wherein said central panel is elevated between about 0.030 and 0.130 inches above said lowermost portion of said countersink.  
     
     
         5 . The metallic beverage can end of  claim 1 , wherein said chuck wall angle θ is between about 0 degrees and 20 degrees as measured from an imaginary vertical plane.  
     
     
         6 . The metallic beverage can end of  claim 1 , wherein said beverage can end is comprised of a metal material having a gage thickness of between about 0.0050 and 0.0140.  
     
     
         7 . The metallic beverage can end of  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of said central panel is reduced in size as a lowermost portion of said countersink increases in distance from said crown.  
     
     
         8 . The metallic beverage can end of  claim 1 , wherein said central panel has a diameter no greater than about 1.936 inches when said lowermost portion of said countersink is no greater than 0.130 inches from said crown.  
     
     
         9 . The metallic beverage can end of  claim 1 , wherein said countersink has a radius of curvature no greater than about 0.020 inches.  
     
     
         10 . The metallic beverage can end of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said central panel has an arcuate, non-linear cross-sectional shape.  
     
     
         11 . The metallic beverage can end of  claim 1 , wherein said point of interconnection between said central panel and said inner panel wall has a radius of curvature no greater than about 0.020 inches.  
     
     
         12 . A metallic beverage can end adapted for interconnection to a beverage can body, comprising: 
 a circular end wall having a crown defined by an uppermost edge of said circular end wall;    a chuck wall integrally interconnected to said end wall and extending downwardly at a chuck wall angle θ of between about 0-20 degrees;    a substantially concave countersink integrally interconnected to a lower end of said chuck wall, said countersink having a lowermost portion which is no greater than about 0.270 inches in a vertical direction from said crown;    an inner panel wall integrally interconnected to said countersink and extending upwardly therefrom;    a central panel integrally interconnected to said inner panel wall and having a height at least about the same elevation as said crown of said circular end wall; and    an opening tab operably engaged to said central panel, wherein said beverage can end can be selectively opened.    
     
     
         13 . The metallic beverage can end of  claim 12 , wherein said opening tab is positioned below an uppermost edge of said central panel.  
     
     
         14 . The metallic beverage can end of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of said central panel has an arcuate, non-linear cross-sectional shape.  
     
     
         15 . The metallic beverage can end of  claim 12 , wherein said beverage can is comprised of a material having a thickness no greater than 0.0090 inch gage.  
     
     
         16 . The metallic beverage can end of  claim 12 , wherein said countersink has a radius of curvature no greater than about 0.030 inches.  
     
     
         17 . The metallic beverage can end of  claim 12 , wherein said inner panel wall extends upwardly at an angle φ of between about 0 and 10 degrees.  
     
     
         18 . The metallic beverage can end of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of said central panel is raised above said crown and a portion is positioned at an elevation no greater than the elevation of said crown.  
     
     
         19 . The metallic beverage can end of  claim 12 , wherein when said beverage can end is double-seamed to a beverage can body a head-space is created of at least about ______ inches.  
     
     
         20 . A beverage can end adapted for interconnection to a beverage can body, comprising: 
 a circular end wall adapted for interconnection to a beverage can body, said circular end wall having a crown on an upper most edge;    a chuck wall integrally interconnected to said circular end wall and extending downwardly therefrom at a chuck wall angel θ of between about 0 and 20 degrees;    a countersink integrally interconnected to said chuck wall and extending downwardly therefrom;    a central panel integrally interconnected to said countersink and extending upwardly therefrom to an elevation at least about the elevation of said crown; and    an opening means positioned on said central panel which is positioned at an elevation no greater than said uppermost edge of said central panel, wherein the beverage can may be selectively opened.    
     
     
         21 . The beverage can end of  claim 20 , wherein said opening means comprises a pull tab.  
     
     
         22 . The beverage can end of  claim 20 , wherein a lowermost portion of said countersink is no greater than about 0.270 inches from said crown.  
     
     
         23 . The beverage can end of  claim 20 , wherein at least a portion of said central panel has a non-linear, arcuate shape.