Reclosable metal bottle

Abstract

Disclosed is an unique reclosable metal bottle in which a trim portion of the neck can be reused and mounted on the neck as a collar, or a separate collar provided, that has the structural rigidity necessary to form threads or lugs for recloseability. Thin wall metal bottles, having thicknesses on the order of thin wall metal cans currently in use, can be made using this process with minimal material waste since the trim neck portion is reused as a threaded collar. Structural rigidity and strength can be added by using fillers to backfill the indentations of the threads in the collar. Threads or lugs can be used, including pressure release lugs, that add both safety and convenience. Since the reclosable metal bottle is an all-metal container, the bottle can be recycled without introducing contaminants.

1 . A method of making a reclosable metal bottle comprising: 
 necking a body portion of said reclosable metal bottle to form a neck portion that includes an extended neck portion;    trimming said extended neck portion from said neck portion to form a collar;    working said collar to form threads and increase the diameter of said collar;    backfilling indentations formed by said threads in the collar with a backfiller material;    placing said collar over said neck;    securing said collar to said neck.    
   
   
       2 . The method of making a reclosable metal bottle of  claim 1  wherein said step of securing said collar to said neck comprises mechanically securing said collar to said neck by forming a curl in the top portion of said neck that engages said collar.  
   
   
       3 . The method of making a reclosable metal bottle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said step of securing said collar to said neck further comprises bonding said collar to said neck using bonding agents that comprise said backfiller material that backfills indentations in said collar formed by said threads.  
   
   
       4 . The method of making a reclosable metal bottle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said step of necking a body portion to form a neck portion comprises a drawing and ironing process.  
   
   
       5 . A reclosable metal bottle comprising: 
 a thin wall metal body portion;    a neck portion that has been formed from said thin wall metal body portion;    a collar trimmed from said neck portion and secured to an outside surface of said neck portion;    threads formed in said collar;    filler material that is backfilled into openings formed by said threads on the inside surface of said collar, said filler material providing strength and rigidity to said threads.    
   
   
       6 . The reclosable metal bottle of  claim 5  wherein said filler material comprises a bonding adhesive.  
   
   
       7 . The reclosable metal bottle of  claim 5  further comprising a bonding adhesive disposed between said collar and said neck.  
   
   
       8 . A method of making a reclosable metal bottle comprising: 
 necking a body portion of said reclosable metal bottle to form a neck portion;    providing a metal collar;    working said collar to form threads and increase the diameter of said collar;    backfilling indentations formed by said threads in said collar with a backfiller material;    placing said collar over said neck;    securing said collar to said neck.    
   
   
       9 . The method of making a reclosable metal bottle of  claim 8  wherein said step of securing said collar to said neck comprises mechanically securing said collar to said neck by forming a curl in a top portion of said neck that engages said collar.  
   
   
       10 . The method of making a reclosable metal bottle as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said step of securing said collar to said neck further comprises bonding said collar to said neck using bonding agents that comprise said backfiller material that backfills indentations in said collar formed by said threads.  
   
   
       11 . A reclosable metal bottle comprising: 
 a thin wall metal body portion;    a neck portion that has been formed from said thin wall metal body portion;    a metal collar that is secured to an outside surface of said neck portion;    threads formed in said collar;    filler material that is backfilled into openings formed by said threads on the inside surface of said collar, said filler material providing strength and rigidity to said threads.    
   
   
       12 . The reclosable metal bottle of  claim 11  wherein said filler material comprises a bonding adhesive.  
   
   
       13 . The reclosable metal bottle of  claim 11  further comprising a bonding adhesive disposed between said collar and said neck.