Thin-Walled Metal Cup

Abstract

Various embodiments of a metal container, such as a metal tumbler are described. The metal tumbler 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 tumbler. In various embodiments, the metal tumbler includes one or more volume indicators. In various embodiments, the tightly curled rim includes a flat portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A metal tumbler comprising:
 a first end of the tumbler, the first end comprising a bore;   a second end of the tumbler opposing the first end of the tumbler;   a rim extending between an outer edge and an inner edge, the rim centered on a longitudinal axis;   a sidewall extending between the first end and second end of the tumbler and extending along the longitudinal axis, the sidewall comprising:
 an exterior surface; 
 an interior surface; and 
 a plurality of tapered sections, the plurality of tapered sections extending between the first end and the second end of the tumbler; and 
   a bottom including a circular surface generally parallel to the rim and centered on the longitudinal axis, the circular surface connecting to a trough at an outside edge of the circular surface; and   wherein an upper edge of one of the plurality of tapered sections indicates a volume of 6 ounces.   
     
     
         2 . The metal tumbler of  claim 1 , wherein the metal tumbler is formed from a single, integral piece of metal. 
     
     
         3 . The metal tumbler of  claim 2 , wherein the metal tumbler is formed from steel. 
     
     
         4 . The metal tumbler 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 upper edge;   a second tapered section having a second upper edge; and   a third tapered section coupled to the rim.   
     
     
         5 . The metal tumbler of  claim 4 , wherein the second tapered section is positioned between the first tapered section and the third tapered section. 
     
     
         6 . The metal tumbler of  claim 4 , wherein the first upper edge indicates a volume of 6 ounces. 
     
     
         7 . The metal tumbler of  claim 6 , wherein the second upper edge indicates a volume of 9 ounces. 
     
     
         8 . The metal tumbler of  claim 1 , wherein the bore is configured to contain 12.5 ounces of liquid. 
     
     
         9 . The metal tumbler of  claim 1 , wherein the outer edge of the rim defines a first diameter, and wherein the inner edge of the rim defines a second diameter. 
     
     
         10 . The metal tumbler of  claim 9 , wherein the second diameter is between 94% and 97% of the first diameter. 
     
     
         11 . A one-piece metal tumbler comprising:
 an open end of the tumbler including a bore;   a closed end of the tumbler opposing the open end of the tumbler;   a rim extending between an outside edge and an inside edge, the rim centered on a longitudinal axis;   a sidewall extending between the open end and closed end of the tumbler, the sidewall comprising:
 a first tapered section comprising a first upper edge; 
 a second tapered section comprising a second upper edge; and 
 a third tapered section coupled to the rim; 
   a bottom including a circular surface generally parallel to the rim and centered on the longitudinal 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 first upper edge indicates a first volume and the second upper edge indicates a second volume.   
     
     
         12 . The one-piece metal tumbler of  claim 11 , wherein the first volume is 6 ounces and the second volume is 9 ounces. 
     
     
         13 . The one-piece metal tumbler of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first transition section extending between and connecting the first tapered section and the second tapered section; and   a second transition section extending between and connecting the second tapered section and the third tapered section.   
     
     
         14 . The one-piece metal tumbler of  claim 11 , wherein a height of the tumbler is defined between a top of the rim and a bottom edge of the trough, and wherein the height is between 3.1 and 3.4 inches. 
     
     
         15 . A one-piece metal cup comprising:
 a first end of the cup, the first end comprising a bore;   a second end of the cup opposing the first end of the cup;   a rim defining a first width between an outer edge and an inner edge, the rim comprising a flat portion positioned between the outer edge and the inner edge, the flat portion having a second width;   a sidewall extending between the first end and second end of the cup and extending along a longitudinal axis, the sidewall comprising:
 an exterior surface; 
 an interior surface; and 
 a plurality of tapered sections, the plurality of tapered sections extending between the first end and the second end of the cup; and 
 a bottom including a circular surface generally parallel to the rim and centered on the longitudinal axis, the circular surface connecting to a trough at an outside edge of the circular surface. 
   
     
     
         16 . The one-piece metal cup of  claim 15 , wherein the second width is between 35% and 45% of the first width. 
     
     
         17 . The one-piece metal cup of  claim 15 , wherein the outside edge of the rim defines a first diameter, and wherein the inside edge of the rim defines a second diameter. 
     
     
         18 . The one-piece metal cup of  claim 17 , wherein the second diameter is between 88% and 92% of the first diameter. 
     
     
         19 . The one-piece metal cup of  claim 15 , wherein a thickness of the rim is defined between a top of the rim and a bottom of the rim. 
     
     
         20 . The one-piece metal cup of  claim 19 , wherein the thickness of the rim is less than 0.1 inches.