Contoured Neck for a Beverage Container

Abstract

An end closure for food and beverage containers is provided. The end closure comprises a contoured neck feature configured for increased strength and alignment with a user's lips. The contoured neck may further comprise features increasing container buckling strength and reducing user spillage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A metallic container with a contoured neck, comprising:
 a body having an upper end, a lower end, a generally cylindrical cross-sectional shape with a first diameter and an axial centerline;   a dome portion positioned on the lower end and providing a support surface for said metallic container;   a shoulder portion positioned proximate to the upper end of the body and comprising a first radius;   an inclined shoulder wall extending inwardly and upwardly and comprising a lower end interconnected to said first radius;   a second radius interconnected to an upper end of said inclined shoulder wall and positioned inwardly at least about 0.07 inches from an outermost portion of said first radius to define a second diameter; and   a neck portion interconnected to said second radius and extending upwardly and outwardly to a third diameter, the third diameter having a dimension less than said first diameter and greater than said second diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The metallic container of  claim 1 , wherein said first radius is between about 0.10 and 0.50 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The metallic container of  claim 1 , wherein said first radius is about 0.18 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The metallic container of  claim 1 , wherein said second radius is positioned inwardly about 0.22 inches from said outermost portion of said first radius. 
     
     
         5 . The metallic container of  claim 1 , wherein said inclined shoulder wall is oriented at an angle of between about 5 and 50 degrees from said plane defined by an axial centerline. 
     
     
         6 . The metallic container of  claim 1 , wherein said neck portion is oriented at an angle of between about 10 and 18 degrees from said axial centerline. 
     
     
         7 . The metallic container of  claim 2 , wherein said second diameter is between about 1.8 and 3.0 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The metallic container of  claim 3 , wherein said second diameter is about 2.16 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The metallic container of  claim 2 , wherein a ratio of said second diameter to said first diameter is between about 0.70 and 0.90. 
     
     
         10 . A metallic container with a contoured shoulder and inclined neck portion interconnected to an end closure, comprising:
 a body having an upper end, a lower end, and a substantially cylindrical cross-sectional shape with a first diameter and an axial centerline;   a dome portion positioned on the lower end and providing a support surface for said metallic container;   a shoulder portion positioned proximate to the upper end of the body and comprising a first radius;   an inclined shoulder wall extending inwardly and upwardly and comprising a lower end interconnected to said first radius; a second radius interconnected to an upper end of said inclined shoulder wall and positioned inwardly at least about 0.07 inches from an outermost portion of said first radius to define a second diameter;   a neck portion interconnected to said second radius and extending upwardly and outwardly to a third diameter, the third diameter having a dimension less than said first diameter and greater than said second diameter; said neck portion interconnected to a peripheral curl of an end closure, said end closure further comprising:   a substantially linear chuck wall extending therefrom to a countersink; and   a central panel interconnected to an inner panel wall of said countersink, said substantially linear chuck wall oriented substantially parallel to said neck portion from an upper end to said countersink.   
     
     
         11 . The metallic container of  claim 10 , wherein said neck portion is oriented substantially parallel to said chuck wall from an upper portion of said chuck wall to a lowermost portion of said countersink. 
     
     
         12 . The metallic container of  claim 11 , wherein a gap positioned between said neck portion extending above said countersink and said chuck wall is no more than 0.25 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The metallic container of  claim 10 , wherein said first radius is between about 0.10 and 0.50 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The metallic container of  claim 10 , wherein said first radius is about 0.18 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The metallic container of  claim 10 , wherein said second radius is positioned inwardly between about 0.07 and 0.40 inches from said outmost portion of said first radius. 
     
     
         16 . The metallic container of  claim 14 , wherein a ratio of said second diameter to said first diameter is between about 0.70 and 0.90. 
     
     
         17 . The metallic container of  claim 10 , wherein said inclined shoulder wall is oriented at an angle of between about 5 and 50 degrees from a plane defined by said axial centerline. 
     
     
         18 . The metallic container of  claim 10 , wherein said neck portion is oriented at an angle of between about 10 and 18 degrees from said axial centerline. 
     
     
         19 . The metallic container of  claim 10 , wherein said second diameter is about 2.16 inches. 
     
     
         20 . A metallic container with a non-concentric contoured neck, comprising:
 a body having an upper end, a lower end, a substantially cylindrical cross-sectional shape and an axial center-line oriented in a first plane;   a dome portion positioned on said lower end of said body providing a support surface for said metallic container;   a shoulder portion positioned on an upper portion of said container body and comprising a first radius;   a first inclined shoulder wall extending inwardly and upwardly at a first angle to a second radius, and extending concentrically around said axial centerline between about 180-330 degrees;   a second inclined shoulder wall extending inwardly and upwardly at a second angle to a third radius, and extending concentrically around said axial centerline between about 30-180 degrees, and wherein said first angle and said second radius are distinct from said second angle and said third radius; and   a neck portion extending upwardly from said second radius and said third radius to form a concentric opening, said concentric opening having a diameter less than a diameter of said body of said container.