Beverage can end with outwardly extending reinforcing bead

Abstract

The present invention discloses a beverage can end having an outwardly concave reinforcing bead with an upper lip which extends outwardly beyond a substantially vertical plane defined by a downwardly extending chuck wall.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A metallic beverage can end comprising: 
 a peripheral cover hook adapted for interconnection to an upper end of a beverage can body;    a chuck wall dependent from an interior of the cover hook, and extending downwardly at a chuck wall angle θ 1 ;    an outwardly concave annular reinforcing bead extending radially inwards from a lower end of said chuck wall and having an upper lip which extends outwardly beyond a plane defined by said chuck wall angle θ 1 ; and    a lower lip extending upwardly from said outwardly concave annular reinforcing bead and interconnected to a central panel.    
     
     
         2 . The can end of  claim 1 , wherein said outwardly concave annular reinforcing bead has an arcuate shape extending substantially between said upper lip and said lower lip.  
     
     
         3 . The can end of  claim 1 , wherein said outwardly concave annular reinforcing bead has a radius of curvature of between about 0.005 inches and 0.030 inches.  
     
     
         4 . The can end of  claim 1 , wherein said upper lip extends outwardly from said linear plane defined by said chuck wall at least about 0.005 inches.  
     
     
         5 . The can end of  claim 1 , wherein said outwardly concave annular reinforcing bead has a length of between about 0.005 inches and 0.030 inches.  
     
     
         6 . The can end of  claim 1 , wherein said central panel is elevated above a lowermost portion of said lower lip at least about 0.030 inches.  
     
     
         7 . The can end of  claim 1 , wherein said central panel is positioned at a height substantially between said lower lip and said upper lip.  
     
     
         8 . The can end of  claim 1 , wherein said raised central panel has a circular shape.  
     
     
         9 . The can end of  claim 1 , wherein said raised central panel has an oval shape.  
     
     
         10 . The can end of  claim 1 , wherein said raised central panel has a non-concentric shape.  
     
     
         11 . The can end of  claim 1 , wherein said upper lip is driven into an opposing neck portion of the can body when a given internal pressure is present within said can body, wherein said can end is resistant to failure.  
     
     
         12 . The can end of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for opening said metallic beverage can end.  
     
     
         13 . The can end of  claim 1 , wherein said means for opening comprises a pull tab.  
     
     
         14 . The can end of  claim 1 , wherein said upper lip and said lower lip are substantially parallel.  
     
     
         15 . The can end of  claim 1 , wherein said upper lip and said lower lip define an upper portion and a lower portion of said reinforcing bead which are oriented in substantially opposite directions.  
     
     
         16 . A metallic beverage can end, comprising: 
 a peripheral cover hook adapted for interconnection to a beverage can body;    a chuck wall integrally interconnected to said peripheral cover hook and extending downward at a chuck wall angle θ 1  to define a chuck wall plane;    a reinforcing bead having an upper lip on an upper end and a lower lip on a lower end, said upper lip interconnected to a lower end of said chuck wall, wherein said reinforcing bead has at least a portion which extends outwardly beyond said chuck wall plane toward a side wall of the beverage can; and    a central panel interconnected to said lower lip of said annular reinforcing bead.    
     
     
         17 . The beverage can end of  claim 16 , wherein said reinforcing bead has an outwardly concave shape.  
     
     
         18 . The beverage can end of  claim 16 , wherein said reinforcing bead has a length of about 0.005 and 0.030 between said upper lip and said lower lip.  
     
     
         19 . The beverage can end of  claim 16 , wherein said central panel is vertically raised above said lower lip.  
     
     
         20 . The beverage can end of  claim 19 , wherein said central panel is raised above said lower lip at least about 0.030.  
     
     
         21 . The beverage can end of  claim 16 , wherein said reinforcing bead has an arcuate shape with a radius of curvature of about 0.015 inches.  
     
     
         22 . The beverage can end of  claim 16 , wherein said lower lip is positioned about 0.030 vertical distance from said upper lip.  
     
     
         23 . The beverage can end of  claim 16 , wherein said upper lip is adapted to engage an opposing interior surface of the beverage can body when there is internal pressure within the beverage can body.  
     
     
         24 . The beverage can of  claim 16 , further comprising a pull tab positioned within said central panel, wherein said metallic beverage can may be selectively opened.  
     
     
         25 . The beverage can of  claim 16 , wherein said upper lip and said lower lip define an upper portion and a lower portion of said reinforcing bead which are substantially parallel.  
     
     
         26 . A beverage can end, comprising: 
 a substantially circular end wall adapted for interconnection to a beverage can body;    a chuck wall integrally interconnected to said substantially circular end wall and extending downward at a chuck wall angle θ, as defined from a substantially vertical plane;    a reinforcing bead having an upper lip on an upper end and a lower lip on a lower end, said upper lip interconnected to a lower end of said chuck wall and having at least a portion which extends outwardly beyond said substantially vertical plane and toward a side wall of the beverage can;    a central panel interconnected to said lower lip of said reinforcing bead; and    an opening means interconnected to said central panel for selectively opening said beverage can end.    
     
     
         27 . The beverage can end of  claim 26 , wherein said reinforcing bead is outwardly concave with a radius of curvature of between about 0.005 inches and 0.030 inches.  
     
     
         28 . The beverage can end of  claim 26 , wherein said upper lip is positioned substantially below a double seam of said beverage can end and said beverage can body.  
     
     
         29 . The beverage can end of  claim 26 , wherein said reinforcing bead has a horizontal length between said upper lip and said lower lip of at least about 0.050 inches.  
     
     
         30 . The beverage can end of  claim 1 , wherein said opening means comprises a pull tab.