Container end closure with improved chuck wall and countersink

Abstract

The present invention describes a beverage can end which utilizes less material and has an improved internal buckle strength based on the geometric configuration of a chuck wall, inner panel wall and central panel, and which, in one embodiment utilizes an arcuate shaped chuck wall with a radius of curvature between about 0.150 inches and 0.250 inches with at least one transition zone positioned between an upper and lower end of the chuck wall.

1 . A container end closure adapted for interconnection to a container body, comprising: 
 a circular end wall adapted for interconnection to a side wall of the container body;    a chuck wall integrally interconnected to said circular end wall and extending downwardly at an angle θ as measured from a vertical plane, said chuck wall further comprising an outwardly extending arch having a radius of curvature of between about 0.015 and 0.080 inches with a center point positioned above said circular end wall;    a countersink interconnected to a lower portion of said chuck wall and having a radius of curvature of less than about 0.025 inches;    a non-linear transition zone positioned between a lower portion of said outwardly extending arch and said countersink having a length of at least about 0.0070 inches and an orientation which is distinct from said chuck wall;    an inner panel wall interconnected to said countersink and extending upwardly at an angle φ of between about 0 degrees and 15 degrees as measured from a substantially vertical plane; and    a central panel interconnected to an upper end of said inner panel wall and raised above a lowermost portion of said countersink.    
   
   
       2 . The container end closure of  claim 1 , wherein said central panel is positioned at least about 0.150 inches below an uppermost portion of said circular end wall.  
   
   
       3 . The container end closure of  claim 1 , wherein a lower portion of said chuck wall has a substantially arcuate shape.  
   
   
       4 . The container end closure of  claim 1 , wherein said radius of curvature of said outwardly extending arch is greater than about 0.010 inches.  
   
   
       5 . The container end closure of  claim 1 , further comprising a second transition zone positioned within said chuck wall, said second transition zone comprising a non-linear shape which is distinct from said chuck wall.  
   
   
       6 . The container end closure of  claim 1 , wherein the interconnection of said central panel and said inner panel wall has a radius of curvature no greater than about 0.040 inches.  
   
   
       7 . The container end closure of  claim 1 , wherein said upper portion of said chuck wall is oriented at an angle less than 15 degrees with respect to a vertical plane.  
   
   
       8 . The container end closure of  claim 1 , wherein said chuck wall is comprised of an upper chuck wall and a lower chuck wall which have two distinct radius of curvature.  
   
   
       9 . The container end closure of  claim 1 , wherein said chuck wall is oriented at an angle no greater than about 30 degrees.  
   
   
       10 . The container end closure of  claim 1 , wherein said inner panel wall is non-linear.  
   
   
       11 . The container end closure of  claim 10 , wherein said inner panel wall has at least one radius of curvature between about 0.030 inches and 0.070 inches.  
   
   
       12 . A container end closure, comprising: 
 a circular end wall adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container;    a non-linear chuck wall integrally interconnected to a lower end of said circular end wall and extending downwardly, said chuck wall comprising an inwardly oriented arch having a radius of curvature of at least about 0.140 inches;    a countersink interconnected to a lower portion of said chuck wall and a lower portion of an inner panel wall and having a radius of curvature less than about 0.015 inches; and    a central panel interconnected to an upper end of said inner panel wall and raised above a lowermost portion of said countersink no greater than about 0.090 inches; and    at least one transition zone positioned between an upper end and a lower end of said chuck wall and comprising a non-linear variation in the chuck wall geometry with a horizontal length and a vertical length no greater than about 0.010 inches.    
   
   
       13 . The container end closure of  claim 12 , wherein said chuck wall further comprises an outwardly extending non-linear upper chuck wall positioned above said outwardly oriented arch.  
   
   
       14 . The container end closure of  claim 13 , wherein said non-linear upper chuck wall has a radius of curvature of between about 0.015 inches and 0.20 inches.  
   
   
       15 . The container end closure of  claim 12 , wherein said inner panel wall is non-linear.  
   
   
       16 . The container end closure of  claim 12 , wherein said central panel has a diameter less than about 75 percent of the outer diameter of said circular end wall.  
   
   
       17 . A metallic container end closure adapted for interconnection to a container body, comprising: 
 a circular end wall adapted for interconnection to a side wall of the container body;    an outwardly extending upper chuck wall portion integrally interconnected to a lower end of said circular end wall and having a radius of curvature of at least about 0.015 inches;    an inwardly extending lower chuck wall portion integrally interconnected to a lower end of said upper chuck wall and having a radius of curvature of at least about 0.100 inches;    a countersink integrally interconnected to said lower chuck wall portion on a first end and a lower end of an inner panel wall on a second end, said inner panel wall extending upwardly at an angle φ of between about 0-4 degrees; and    a central panel interconnected to an upper end of said inner panel wall, said central panel positioned above a lowermost portion of said countersink a distance no greater than about 0.090 inches.    
   
   
       18 . The metallic container end closure of  claim 17 , wherein said inner panel wall and said outer panel wall of said countersink are separated by a distance of no greater than about 0.054 inches.  
   
   
       19 . The metallic container end closure of  claim 17 , wherein said upper portion of said lower chuck wall is elevated above a lower end of said upper chuck wall.  
   
   
       20 . An end closure adapted for interconnection to a container body, comprising: 
 a circular end wall;    an inwardly oriented arcuate chuck wall integrally interconnected to said circular end wall and extending downwardly therefrom;    an outwardly projecting arch positioned proximate to an upper end of said chuck wall, and having a radius of curvature of between about 0.015-0.030 inches; and    an annular countersink integrally interconnected to said lower end of said chuck wall on a first end and a central panel on a second end, said central panel having a central axis that is substantially parallel to the can body; and    a transition zone positioned within said inwardly oriented arcuate chuck wall which has a geometry which is distinct from said inwardly oriented arcuate chuck wall.    
   
   
       21 . The end closure of  claim 20 , wherein said countersink comprises an inner panel wall and an outer panel wall which are separated by a distance no greater than about 0.25 inches.  
   
   
       22 . The end closure of  claim 20 , wherein said central panel is raised no more than 0.090 inches above a lowermost portion of said countersink.