Metal Shot Cup

Abstract

Various embodiments of a metal container, such as a shot cup are described. The metal shot cup includes a body with a tightly curled rim at the top end of the cup. The body includes multiple tapered sections such that the diameter of the cup may be different at different places along a height of the cup. In various embodiments, the metal shot cup includes a polymer coating on at least one of the interior and exterior surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A metal shot cup comprising:
 a first end of the shot cup;   a second end of the shot cup opposing the first end of the shot cup;   a circular rim extending between an outside edge and an inside edge centered on a longitudinal axis, the circular rim having a radius less than 0.05 inches;   a sidewall extending between the first end and second end of the shot cup and centered on the longitudinal axis, the sidewall comprising:
 an exterior surface; 
 an interior surface; and 
 a plurality of tapered sections, the tapered sections extending between the first end and the second end of the shot cup; 
   a bottom including a circular surface generally parallel to the circular rim and centered on the longitudinal axis, the circular surface connecting to a trough at an outside edge of the circular surface; and   a polymer coating on at least a portion of the sidewall.   
     
     
         2 . The metal shot cup of  claim 1 , wherein the metal shot cup is formed from a single, integral piece of metal. 
     
     
         3 . The metal shot cup of  claim 2 , wherein the metal shot cup is formed from aluminum. 
     
     
         4 . The metal shot cup of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer coating is on the interior surface and the exterior surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . The metal shot cup of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer coating on the interior surface has a first color and wherein the polymer coating on the exterior surface has a second color. 
     
     
         6 . The metal shot cup of  claim 5 , wherein the first color is different from the second color. 
     
     
         7 . The metal shot cup of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer coating is formed from polyphenylene ether. 
     
     
         8 . The metal shot cup of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tapered sections comprises:
 a first tapered section, the first tapered section extending generally upward from the bottom and having a first angle; and   a second tapered section having a second angle;   wherein the first tapered section is positioned between the bottom and the second tapered section.   
     
     
         9 . The metal shot cup of  claim 8 , further comprising an upper section, the upper section positioned between the second tapered section and the circular rim. 
     
     
         10 . The metal shot cup of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover couplable to the circular rim, the cover forming a tight seal that seals contents stored within the metal shot cup. 
     
     
         11 . A one-piece metal shot cup comprising:
 an open end of the shot cup including a bore;   a closed end of the shot cup opposing the open end of the shot cup;   a rim extending between an outside edge and an inside edge centered on a longitudinal, central axis;   a sidewall extending between the open end and closed end of the shot cup and centered on the longitudinal, central axis, the sidewall comprising:
 an exterior surface; 
 an interior surface; 
 a first tapered section, the first tapered section extending at a first angle relative to the longitudinal, central axis; 
 a second tapered section extending at a second angle relative to the longitudinal, central axis; 
 an upper section; 
   a bottom including a circular surface generally parallel to the rim and centered on the longitudinal, central axis, the circular surface connecting to a trough at an outside edge of the circular surface;   wherein the first tapered section is positioned between the bottom and the second tapered section; and   wherein the upper section is positioned between the second tapered section and the rim.   
     
     
         12 . The one-piece metal shot cup of  claim 11 , further comprising an upper boundary of the second tapered section, the upper boundary of the second tapered section positioned between the second tapered section and the upper section, wherein the upper boundary indicates a volume of 1 oz. 
     
     
         13 . The one-piece metal shot cup of  claim 11 , wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle. 
     
     
         14 . The one-piece metal shot cup of  claim 11 , wherein a thickness of the rim is defined between the outside edge of the rim and the inside edge of the rim, wherein the thickness of the rim is less than 0.1 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The one-piece metal shot cup of  claim 11 , further comprising a polyphenylene ether coating on the interior surface and the exterior surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         16 . The one-piece metal shot cup of  claim 15 , wherein the polyphenylene ether coating on the interior surface has a first color and wherein the polyphenylene ether coating on the exterior surface has a second color. 
     
     
         17 . A one-piece metal shot cup kit comprising:
 a plurality of one-piece metal shot cups, each one-piece metal shot cup comprising:
 an open end of the shot cup including a central bore; 
 a closed end of the shot cup opposing the open end of the shot cup; 
 a circular rim extending between an outside edge and an inside edge centered on a longitudinal axis, the circular rim having a radius less than 0.05 inches; 
 a sidewall extending between the open end and closed end of the shot cup and centered on the longitudinal axis, the sidewall comprising:
 an exterior surface; 
 an interior surface; and 
 a plurality of tapered sections extending between the open end and the closed end of the shot cup, the plurality of tapered sections each extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis; 
 
 a bottom including a circular surface generally parallel to the circular rim and centered on the longitudinal axis, the circular surface connecting to a trough at an outside edge of the circular surface; and 
   a container configured to hold the plurality of one-piece metal shot cups when the plurality of one-piece metal shot cups are stacked.   
     
     
         18 . The one-piece metal shot cup kit of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of one-piece metal shot cups includes a height defined between a top of the circular rim and a lower edge of the trough and wherein the height is less than 2 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The one-piece metal shot cup kit of  claim 17 , the container further comprising a cylindrical tube with a bore, wherein the plurality of one-piece metal shot cups are stacked within the bore of the cylindrical tube. 
     
     
         20 . The one-piece metal shot cup kit of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of covers, each cover couplable to the circular rim of the plurality of shot cups.