Metal container for holding food while cooking and method of making same

Abstract

A metal can for holding food during cooking is provided. The metal can includes a metal sidewall having an upper end, a lower end and a midpoint. The metal sidewall has an inner surface defining an interior cavity of the can configured to hold food during cooking. The metal can includes a metal can end coupled to the lower end of the sidewall and a metal insert located within the interior cavity of the can. The metal insert includes a planar disc and an upstanding insert sidewall extending from a peripheral edge of the disc portion, and a radially outward facing surface of the insert sidewall engages the inner surface of the metal sidewall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A metal can for holding food during cooking comprising:
 a metal sidewall including an upper end, a lower end and a midpoint, the metal sidewall having an inner surface defining an interior cavity of the can configured to hold food during cooking;   a metal can end coupled to the lower end of the sidewall;   a metal insert located within the interior cavity of the can, the metal insert comprising a planar disc and an upstanding insert sidewall extending from a peripheral edge of the disc portion, wherein a radially outward facing surface of the insert sidewall engages the inner surface of the metal sidewall; and   a circumferential bead formed in the metal sidewall, the circumferential bead located between the lower end and the midpoint of the metal sidewall, the circumferential bead extending radially inward defining a downward facing surface generally facing the lower end of the sidewall;   wherein the insert sidewall includes an upward facing surface generally facing the upper end of the metal sidewall and the upward facing surface of the insert sidewall engages the downward facing surface of the circumferential bead to hold the metal insert below the circumferential bead.   
     
     
         2 . The metal can of  claim 1  wherein the can end is coupled to the sidewall by a double seam formed from interlocked portions of the material of the sidewall and the can end. 
     
     
         3 . The metal can of  claim 2  wherein the metal insert is coupled to the inner surface of the sidewall via a friction fit. 
     
     
         4 . The metal can of  claim 1  wherein the metal insert extends across the interior cavity of the can to engage opposing portions of the inner surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . A metal can for holding coffee beans during roasting comprising:
 a metal sidewall including an upper end and a lower end, the metal sidewall having an inner surface defining an interior cavity of the can configured to hold raw coffee beans during roasting;   a can end coupled to the lower end of the sidewall;   wherein at least a portion of the sidewall is tapered between the upper end and lower end of the sidewall.   
     
     
         6 . The metal can of  claim 5 , wherein the can end is coupled to the sidewall by a double seam. 
     
     
         7 . The metal can of  claim 5 , wherein the can end and sidewall are integrally formed from a single piece of metal. 
     
     
         8 . The metal can of  claim 5 , wherein at least a section of the sidewall is polygonal. 
     
     
         9 . The metal can of  claim 5 , wherein the sidewall is round. 
     
     
         10 . The metal can of  claim 5 , wherein the sidewall includes a feature on the outer surface configured to engage with a corresponding structure within a cavity of a coffee roasting appliance. 
     
     
         11 . The metal can of  claim 10 , wherein the feature is at least one of a wave pattern, a saw-tooth pattern and a pattern of dimples formed in the outer surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . The metal can of  claim 5 , further comprising a cup-shaped insert supported within the interior cavity of the can. 
     
     
         13 . The metal can of  claim 5 , wherein the insert includes a body disc and an upstanding sidewall extending from the peripheral edge of the body disc, and further wherein a friction fit between the outer surface of the insert sidewall and the inner surface of the can sidewall supports the insert within the interior cavity of the can. 
     
     
         14 . The metal can of  claim 13 , wherein the insert includes an agitator finger extending from the body disc of the insert and further wherein the upper edge of the agitator finger is curved. 
     
     
         15 . The metal can of  claim 13 , wherein the insert sidewall is perpendicular to the body disc of the insert. 
     
     
         16 . The metal can of  claim 13 , wherein the insert sidewall is at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the body disc of the insert. 
     
     
         17 . The metal can of  claim 13 , wherein the can sidewall includes a bead formed in the sidewall, wherein the insert engages an inner surface of the bead to support the insert within the interior cavity of the can. 
     
     
         18 . The metal can of  claim 13 , wherein the insert includes a projection extending from the insert sidewall and the inner surface of the can sidewall includes a recess that receives the projection of the insert. 
     
     
         19 . The metal can of  claim 13 , wherein the inner surface of the can sidewall includes an upward facing surface and the insert is seated against the upward facing surface to support the insert within the interior cavity of the can. 
     
     
         20 . An stirring insert configured to be coupled to the inner surface of a sidewall of a metal can configured to hold raw coffee beans during roasting, comprising:
 a body disc;   a sidewall positioned at the periphery of the body disc and extending away from the body disc; and   a stirring finger extending from the body disc.   
     
     
         21 . The insert of  claim 20 , wherein the stirring finger is integral with the body disc and the sidewall, and further wherein an upper edge of the stirring finger is rounded. 
     
     
         22 . The insert of  claim 20 , wherein the outer surface of the sidewall is configured to form a friction fit engagement with the inner surface of a sidewall of a metal can such that the insert is supported within the interior of the can. 
     
     
         23 . The insert of  claim 20  further comprising a locking projection extending radially outward from the insert sidewall and configured to engage a recess located along the inner surface of the can sidewall. 
     
     
         24 . A method for producing a stirring insert for a coffee roasting can comprising:
 providing a metal blank;   forming a body disc and an upstanding sidewall from the metal blank, the upstanding sidewall positioned at the peripheral edge of the body disc;   cutting a slot through the body disc, the slot defining the peripheral edge of a stirring finger; and   pushing the stirring finger upward such that the stirring finger extends away from the body disc.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the slot is cut using a press. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the body disc is supported during cutting of the slot to resist downward deformation of the body disc during cutting. 
     
     
         27 . A method for producing a coffee roasting can comprising:
 providing a rectangular metal blank;   forming a cylinder from the metal blank;   shaping the cylinder to form a tapered can sidewall, the sidewall including an open upper end, an open lower end and an upward facing surface located along the inner surface of the sidewall;   coupling an end wall to the lower end of the sidewall; and   inserting a stirring insert through the open upper end of the sidewall such that the insert seats against the upward facing surface of the sidewall.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein shaping includes stretching the cylinder using an expanding mandrel. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein shaping includes radially stretching the cylinder to increase the diameter and decrease the length of the cylinder before stretching using the expanding mandrel.