Domed container with nitrogen well and closure mechanism

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to domed metal containers, and more specifically to pressurized metallic food containers with liquid nitrogen wells and various closure mechanisms. In some embodiments, the metallic food containers are thin-walled aluminum and are pressurized using liquid nitrogen to maintain strength and integrity. The container can have a nitrogen well to receive liquid nitrogen and keep the liquid nitrogen away from the food stuff packaged in the container. In various embodiments, the metallic food container comprises a domed bottom portion shaped and sized to nest with a food stuff packaged in the container. In some embodiments, the container is sealed with a tear away lid, a screw-on lid, or a metallic end closure double seamed to the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A metallic food container comprising:
 a cylindrical sidewall with an upper end and a lower end;   an opening proximate the upper end;   a bottom portion interconnected to the lower end of the cylindrical sidewall, wherein the bottom portion comprises:
 a dome-shaped portion; and 
 a well extending downward from the dome-shaped portion and extending around a circumference of the container, the well configured to receive a liquid. 
   
     
     
         2 . The metallic food container of  claim 1 , wherein the well is directly interconnected to the cylindrical sidewall such that cylindrical sidewall is substantially vertical and terminates in the well formed by a radius of curvature. 
     
     
         3 . The metallic food container of  claim 2 , wherein the well comprises an inner well wall extending inward toward a center of the container from the well radius of curvature, wherein the well inner wall interconnects to the dome-shaped portion. 
     
     
         4 . The metallic food container of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic food container is a thin-walled metallic food container and the cylindrical sidewall has a thickness between about 0.003 inches and about 0.005 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The metallic food container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a peripheral curl interconnected to the upper end of the sidewall; and   a tear away lid secured to a crown of the peripheral curl.   
     
     
         6 . The metallic food container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a neck extending from the upper end of the cylindrical sidewall and extending inwardly from the cylindrical sidewall;   a peripheral curl interconnected to the neck; and   a tear away lid secured to a crown of the peripheral curl.   
     
     
         7 . The metallic food container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a threaded portion positioned above the upper end of the sidewall, the threaded portion comprising a plurality of threads on an exterior surface of the threaded portion, wherein the threads are adapted to receive a threaded lid that is selectively removable; and   a peripheral curl interconnected to an upper end of the threaded portion.   
     
     
         8 . The metallic food container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a neck extending from the upper end of the cylindrical sidewall and extending inwardly from the cylindrical sidewall; and   an end closure double-seamed to the neck of the container, the end closure having a pull tab for selectively removing at least a portion of the end closure.   
     
     
         9 . The metallic food container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a neck extending from the upper end of the cylindrical sidewall and extending outwardly from the cylindrical sidewall;   a first peripheral curl interconnected to the neck; and   an upper portion comprising:
 a second peripheral curl on an upper end; 
 a threaded portion positioned below the second peripheral curl, the threaded portion comprising a plurality of threads on an exterior surface of the threaded portion, wherein the threads are adapted to receive a threaded lid that is selectively removable; 
 a countersink interconnected to a bottom end of the threaded portion; and 
 a third peripheral curl interconnected to an upper outer end of the countersink; 
   wherein the third peripheral curl of the upper portion is double seamed to the first peripheral curl.   
     
     
         10 . The metallic food container of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion is integrally interconnected to the lower end of the cylindrical sidewall such that the bottom portion is one piece with the cylindrical sidewall. 
     
     
         11 . The metallic food container of  claim 1 , wherein the dome-shaped portion has a hyperbolic paraboloid shape having a first curve with a first radius of curvature and a second curve with a second radius of curvature positioned substantially perpendicular to the first curve. 
     
     
         12 . A pressurized metallic food container comprising:
 a cylindrical, substantially vertical sidewall with an upper end and a lower end;   a neck interconnected to the upper end of the sidewall and extending upwardly from the sidewall;   an opening proximate the neck; and   a bottom portion integrally interconnected to the lower end of the cylindrical sidewall, wherein the bottom portion comprises:
 a substantially linear outer panel wall extending downwardly from the sidewall; 
 a U-shaped curved wall having a first radius of curvature and interconnected to a bottom portion of the outer panel wall; 
 an inner panel wall extending upwardly from an interior portion of the U-shaped curved wall; and 
 a dome-shaped portion with a first curve having a second radius of curvature, the domed portion interconnected to an uppermost portion of the inner panel wall at a third radius of curvature, 
 wherein the outer panel wall, U-shaped curved wall, and inner panel wall form a well positioned around and concentric with the dome-shaped portion, and 
 wherein the well is configured to receive a predetermined amount of liquid nitrogen. 
   
     
     
         13 . The metallic food container of  claim 12 , wherein the inner panel wall is substantially linear, and wherein the well has a constant height and a constant width around a circumference of the container. 
     
     
         14 . The metallic food container of  claim 12 , wherein the first radius of curvature is smaller than the second radius of curvature. 
     
     
         15 . The metallic food container of  claim 12 , wherein the domed portion has a hyperbolic paraboloid shape having a second curve with a fourth radius of curvature positioned substantially perpendicular to the first curve of the domed portion. 
     
     
         16 . The metallic food container of  claim 12 , wherein the metallic food container is a thin-walled metallic food container and the cylindrical, substantially vertical sidewall has a thickness between about 0.003 inches and about 0.005 inches. 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing a metallic food container comprising:
 providing a metallic blank in a shape of a circular disc;   punching the metallic blank to form a continuous sidewall with an upper end and a lower end and an opening proximate the upper end; and   shaping a bottom portion interconnected to the lower end of the sidewall, wherein the bottom portion comprises a dome-shaped portion and a well positioned proximate to a lower portion of the dome-shaped portion to receive a liquid, and wherein the domed-shaped portion has a specific profile to match a profile of a food stuff.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising applying indicia to an exterior portion of the sidewall, wherein the indicia is provided for proper orientation of the metallic food container. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 providing a lid; and   securing the lid to the upper end of the continuous sidewall after the container is filled with food stuff to form a two-piece metallic food container.   
     
     
         20 . A method of filling a metallic food container to create a pressurized vessel, the method comprising:
 providing the metallic food container comprising:
 a cylindrical sidewall with an upper end and a lower end; 
 an opening proximate the upper end; 
 a bottom portion interconnected to the lower end of the cylindrical sidewall, wherein the bottom portion comprises:
 a dome-shaped portion with a geometric profile designed to nest with a food stuff; and 
 a well positioned on a lower peripheral portion of the dome-shaped portion to receive a predetermined amount of liquid nitrogen; 
 
   filling the metallic food container with the food stuff;   injecting a predetermined amount of liquid nitrogen into the well of the container; and   sealing the container with an end closure to pressurize the container above atmospheric pressure, wherein the liquid nitrogen becomes a gas as a result of a decrease in pressure or an increase in temperature.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the pressure above atmospheric pressure is about 10 psi. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the liquid nitrogen is injected down into the well directly using a long needle-shaped tube. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising forming a hyperbolic paraboloid shape in the dome-shaped portion. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the end closure is a metallic end closure double seamed to the upper end of the cylindrical sidewall, a paper or plastic tear away lid interconnected to the upper end of the cylindrical sidewall, or a screw-on lid interconnected to the upper end of the cylindrical sidewall. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising sealing the container with the end closure within about 15 seconds after the predetermined amount of liquid nitrogen is injected into the well of the container. 
     
     
         26 . A method of filling a thin-walled metallic food container to create a pressurized vessel, the method comprising:
 providing the thin-walled metallic food container comprising:
 a cylindrical sidewall with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the cylindrical sidewall has a thickness between about 0.003 inches and about 0.005 inches; 
 an opening proximate the upper end; 
 a bottom portion interconnected to the lower end of the cylindrical sidewall: 
   filling the metallic food container with a dry food;   injecting a predetermined amount of liquid nitrogen through the opening and into the bottom portion of the container; and   sealing the container with an end closure to pressurize the container above atmospheric pressure, wherein the liquid nitrogen becomes a gas as a result of a decrease in pressure and/or an increase in temperature, and wherein the container has an internal pressure that is at least about 10 psi above an ambient pressure.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising forming a dome-shaped portion with a geometric profile designed to nest with the dry food in the bottom portion of the thin-walled metallic food container. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising forming a well positioned on a lower peripheral portion of the dome-shaped portion, the well configured to receive the predetermined amount of liquid nitrogen. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the thin-walled metallic food container further comprises a well positioned on a peripheral portion of the bottom portion, the well configured to receive the predetermined amount of liquid nitrogen. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the end closure is a tear away lid secured to a top portion of the thin-walled metallic food container. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising providing the thin-walled metallic food container comprising a threaded portion proximate the upper end of the cylindrical side wall, wherein the end closure is a screw-on lid that is screwed onto the threaded portion of the thin-walled metallic food container. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 providing a separate upper portion comprising threads and a peripheral curl;   interconnecting the peripheral curl of the upper portion to the upper end of the cylindrical sidewall; and   wherein the end closure is a screw-on lid that is screwed onto the threads of the upper portion.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the predetermined amount of liquid nitrogen is determined based on an amount of time between injecting the liquid nitrogen and sealing the container, a size of the thin-walled metallic food container, and a desired final internal pressure.