US2599154A - Can-opening device - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1952 M. C. BELL CAN OPENING DEVICE Filed April 5, 1951 llllllll'l v INVENTOR. MICHAEL c. BELL ATTORNEK Patented June 3, 1952 i UNITED STATES {'ATNT orrice Michael C. Bell, Milwaukee, Wis. Application April 5, 1951, Serial No. 219,447

3 Claims. (Cl. 30-55) My invention relates to can openers, and more particularly to a can opener for cutting or shearing the top portion of a can.

An object of my invention is to provide a shearing blade that will cut or shear a semi-circular opening into the top of the can around the inner peripheral surface of its outer wall.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described that will permit a maximum amount of leverage during the cutting or shearing operation.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device that may be constructed in various sizes to fit the type of can to which it is to be applied.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described that is constructed with a separate handle that is adaptable for use with any size of shearing blade.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device that may be safely manipulated by the operator without the danger of slippage.

It is manifest to anyone familiar with the art, that the conventional blade-type can opener leaves a jagged edge which creates a hazard, while the revolving-blade type of opener requires the can or the device to be rotated during its manipulation. With the device illustrated, specilied and claimed herein, it is merely necessary for the operator to clamp the device into position on the can and apply only downward pressure on the handle while the can is held in a fixed position during the manipulation, thereby permitting the shearing of a smooth, clean, semi-circular cut through the cover around the inner edge of the can, and providing a large opening to permit accessibility to the contents of the can.

Other and further objects of my invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the handle and blade assembled, ready to apply to a can.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lever handle.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the semi-circular blade.

Figure 4 is a top or plan view of the blade and handle assembled.

Figure 5 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the device applied onto a can, ready for the shearing operation, and

Figure 6 is a view as shown in Figure 5 with the shearing blade inserted through the cover of the can.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and referring now to the same, the character I0 shows a blade of semi-circular contour, open at I I thereby providing two ends, each one equipped with an engaging hook shown as 12 and I2, the ends being offset at l3 and i3. Opposite from the engaging hooks I2 and I2 is shown a contact point l4 which is at the bottom of a wider portion 15 of the blade member. The lower edge of the blade member ID is tapered from the contact point l4 upward to a narrow point I6 and IS immediately adjacent the offset portions l3 and 13'.

The wide portion I5 of the blade member is provided with an elongated slot [1 which extends through the blade, and immediately below the slot l1 in the blade, is shown an indentation 18 which extends inwardly from the face of the blade.

There is a handle l9, which is a separate unit constructed of metal or the like, and which is 'shown provided with an embossed bead portion 20 to provide rigidity to the handle structure. The handle 19 is offset at 2| and terminates into a semi-radial section shown as 22. The handle is folded back onto itself providing an oppositely disposed semi-radial section 23 which terminates into a hook 24 at its extreme end.

In Figures 5 and 6, I show a conventional type of can 25 having side walls 26 and a cover 21. Obviously, the upper and lower peripheral edges of the can 25 are folded over into a bead shown as 28.

In operation, it is only necessary to place the circular blade 10 on top of the cover 21 of the can 26 in a manner whereby the engaging hooks i2 and I2 engage the bead 28 on the upper peripheral edge of the can 26. The contact point It rests on the top surface of the cover 21.

The radial section 23, with the hook member 24 of the handle 19, is next inserted from the inner face of the blade ID, through the slot 11 in the blade l0, and the hook member 24 is placed below the head 28 on the outer periphery on the top of the can 25. The hook 24 will be disposed opposite from the engaging hooks I2 and I2, and as the lever I9 is forced downward, the portion 29 on the lever will contact the upper edge of the blade-ill, thereby forcing the contact point 14 into and through the cover 21, allowing the tapered edge 30 of the blade in to cut a semi-circular path through the cover 21 of the can, and as the blade is forced downward to a position where the indentation of the blade 28 is below the edge of the cut portion of the can cover, it will contact the cut portion of the can cover 21 when the handle [9 is raised, and the blade I0 is removed from the can, thereby bringing the cut portion of the cover 21 out of the can and permitting ready access to the contents of the can.

In the chosen embodiments of my invention,

there aremanyfeatures that identify the in stant invention' frorn the prior art, andfalthough';

I have shown a specific 'constructiorL'I am fully cognizant of the fact that many changes may be made in the structure of the device without de-' parting from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent the,

United States is:

l. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a semi-circular shearing blade anda handle, said bladeopen at one point and provided with two separate ends, each of said-ends equipped with engaging hook members extending inwardlysaid blade provided with provided with an inwardly disposed hook member, said blade provided with a slot disposed therethrough to accommodate said hook member in said handle, said blade further provided with a pair of inwardly engaging hooks in opposite relation to the hook in said handle when said handle is disposed in said slot, said blade having a contact point immediately below said slot, delqwer hearine dg ta ered i mss tact point to said engaging: hooks; saidfhandle being "radially disposed at one" end to provide the contact of said handle with theupper edge of said blade when pressure is applied to said handle.

, 3a A can opening device of the character described co'mprising in combination, a semi-circular blade havingetwo open narrow ends, each end provided with engaging hooks extending inward,a contact point at the lower edge of said blade and tapering to said narrow open ends, said semi-'circularblade provided with'an-elongated slot extending therethrough "above said;

contact point, a lever handle folded against itself on one endfandprovidedwith an inwardly extending hook, said handle inserted through said slot fromthe inside voutward, thereby causingsaid lever handle to extend outwarvzlfrom the top edge of said. blade While thehook on said handle extends inward below. the top edge of said bladel MICHAEL C. BELL No, references ;,cited.:

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