CA1200085A - Power pierce can opener - Google Patents
Power pierce can openerInfo
- Publication number
- CA1200085A CA1200085A CA000421970A CA421970A CA1200085A CA 1200085 A CA1200085 A CA 1200085A CA 000421970 A CA000421970 A CA 000421970A CA 421970 A CA421970 A CA 421970A CA 1200085 A CA1200085 A CA 1200085A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- lever
- rim
- cutter
- grip
- opener
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Devices For Opening Bottles Or Cans (AREA)
Abstract
POWER PIERCE CAN OPENER
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An electric powered can opener has a housing, a feed gear that is motor connected and rotatably mounted to drive and rotate a can while holding it by its rim. An operating lever is pivoted above the gear on the housing and carries a cutter mechanism to remove the can lid.
To this conventional arrangement an improvement is added to the cutter mechanism of a gripping structure connected to and movable by the lever with the gripper lying on a line between the lever pivot and the top of the feed gear and disposed to contact the can rim top ahead of or before the cutter contacts it so the gripper bites into the rim on lever rotation toward the can and then pulls the cutter into the can top providing a power pierce. The lever is preferably spring-biased for rotation toward the can at all times and has a slidable switch actuator that is linkage-connected to the lever for manual operation.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An electric powered can opener has a housing, a feed gear that is motor connected and rotatably mounted to drive and rotate a can while holding it by its rim. An operating lever is pivoted above the gear on the housing and carries a cutter mechanism to remove the can lid.
To this conventional arrangement an improvement is added to the cutter mechanism of a gripping structure connected to and movable by the lever with the gripper lying on a line between the lever pivot and the top of the feed gear and disposed to contact the can rim top ahead of or before the cutter contacts it so the gripper bites into the rim on lever rotation toward the can and then pulls the cutter into the can top providing a power pierce. The lever is preferably spring-biased for rotation toward the can at all times and has a slidable switch actuator that is linkage-connected to the lever for manual operation.
Description
1200~)8S
POWER PIE~RCE CAN OPENER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
; l. Field of the Invention The invention is directed to an electric can opener with a simple arrangement of a pivoting mechanism carrying a cutter wheel wherein a grip structure is provided to jam or bite against the can rim and pull 1 5 the cutter into contact providing a power pierce.
POWER PIE~RCE CAN OPENER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
; l. Field of the Invention The invention is directed to an electric can opener with a simple arrangement of a pivoting mechanism carrying a cutter wheel wherein a grip structure is provided to jam or bite against the can rim and pull 1 5 the cutter into contact providing a power pierce.
2. Description of the Prior Art Electric can openers have become a common household appliance designed to a high degree of usefulness, cleanability, cut lid holding, and various forms of ll 10 power pierce. The former plow, or pointed cutter i piercing the can like a can of motor oil is pierced ~¦ by its attaching spout, has been replaced by the rolling cutter wheel which generally reduces the metal slivers inevitably produced during a cutting operation and which may drop into the food. One of the dis-advantages of the rotating cutter wheel is difficulty of piercing the can top because of the large force Il ~ required over that of the old pointed plow cutter.
I Nevertheless, numerous arrangements have been provided 120 to provide a power piercer so that the energy of the driving motor is used to pierce the lid and avoid the large manual force by the user on the operating lever.
Numerous power pierce arrangements have been provided t ~ ` ~.~~n~,_. .
' ~ ."
'. .~ .
' ' ~ ,-, "
, . ' .
1~0008S
and a typical one is shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,121,285 to Freeman dated February 18, 1964, of common assignment which, in effect, gives the puncturing cutter a running start by rotating the can before puncturing the lid to power assist the actual puncturing. Another form of power pierce is shown in U.S. patent No. 3,~46,485 to McLean dated March 30, 1~76 which uses many parts in a different pivoting and lever arrangement whereby the piercing force is multiplied momentarily to pierce the can lid by cutter wheel. Thus, power pierce per se is not new.
It is a primary object of the invention to provide an improved power pierce for an electric can opener with a simple addition to presentconventional structure without the complexity of additional levers, pivoting arrangemen~s,or inducing delays in the actual piercing of the lid.
Another object is to improve the power pierce structure by providing a grip mean.s ahead of the cutter wheel that engages first and then automatically pulls the cutter wheel into piercing operation simply and easily.
It is a further object of the invention to linkage connect the automatic or pierce structure with a simple single sliding switch actuator for easy power pierce and start and stop operating with no additional structure.
SU~AR~ OF T~IE IN~ENTION
In accordance with the invention, a conventional electric powered can opener has a housing with a feed gear rotatably mounted thereon to drivingly hold and rotate a can by its rim. An operating lever is pivoted above the feed gear on the housing and carries a cutter mechanism that is swung into position to cut and remove the can lid. To this standard structure, an :.
' improvement in the cutter mechanism includes a gripping means oriented to force against the moving can rim before the cutter contacts the lid and, by jamminy or biting into the rim, to pull the cutter into the can top for a power pierce. This grip means on the standard pivoted operating lever may be linked and connected through the le~er and through the housing to a slidable switch actuator that easily initiates start, running, power piercing, and removal of the can. Thus, the main object of the present invention is to provide an improved power pierce that uses the parts already present and, by orientation, bi~es into the cutter rim to power pull the cutter into the can top for power pierce.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a can opener showing the formed and oriented single operating lever of the invention.
FIGS. 2.~ are diagrammatic showings of the operation of the grip means approaching in FIG. 2, biti~ and power pierce in FIG. 3, and cutting in FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a typical electric powered can opener having a housing 10 enclosing an internal motor not shown and adapted to be plugged into house current to operate in conventional fashion.
The can opener may take any suitable form such as hanging under a kitchen cabinet by mounting in a suitable bracket or may stand on legs as shown in U.S. Patent 2,~79,300 to ~[owell et al dated April 11, 1961 of common assignment or merely operate at the edge of a counter top of the general type shown in said '285 U.S.
patent.
As such, the can opener is provided with a serrated feed gear 12 through suitable gearing not shown for counterclockwise rotation in the FIG. 1 embodiment.
...... .. . . . . . . .... ... . . . .
-- lZ~0~85 The feed gear holds and rotates a can by its rim while a cutter is rotated into position to pierce and cut the can lid in conventional fashion. While any suitable plow or wheel cutter may be used, the round cutter wheel 14 has replaced the blade or plow cutter as preferable because it is easily removed by screw 16 for replacement or cleaning and generally does a better job of cutting producing fewer slivers of metal than the old plow cutter. In order to bring the operating mechanism into cutting position, cutter 14 is mounted on an operating lever 18 of suitable shape with the lever pivoted at 20 on the housing generally substantially above feed gear 12. In operation, the operating lever 18 through suitable mechanism is rotated to carry the cutter wheel 14 into the can top and start the can opening operation as is well known.
Usually the force required for cutter 14 to pierce the can lid is enhanced by various means such as a larger mechanical advantage on the operating`lever so the user benefits from a lower actuating force than merely pushing cutter wheel 14 directly into the can top. With an electric powered can opener, it is possible to use the electric motor as an assist and a power pierce may also be obtained by a "running start" as described in said U.S. Patent No. 3,121,285 or equivalent as in said U.S.
Patent 3,946,485. Generally, power pierce requires additional structure and to avoid this, the present ; invention provides an improvement.
As shown in FIG. 1 and diagrammatically in FIGS.
2-4, the improvement of the present invention is in the cutter mechanism wherein a grip means 22 is provided on the operating lever. As will hecome apparent, grip means 22 at start lies substantially on a line 24 between the pivot 20 and the top 26 of the feed gear ~; 35 12 when against the can rim. This act~ally falls between the positions shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 when grip 22 first ~-:
~Z000~35 . - 5 -contacts the top or rim 28 of a conventional can. For convenience, grip means 22 is a bent-out ear substantially flat and is considerably wider than the rim as shown in FIG. 1.
In order to operate properly, and as shown dia-grammatically in FIGS. 2-4, grip means 22 is spaced and disposed to contact the top of rim 28, the orientation being such that grip 22 (FIG. 2~ is intended to approach and bite into the rim top slightly before cutter 14 contact and thus pull the lever 18 and-its carried cutter wheel 14 down and into the can top or lid (FIG. 3) so that the cutter 14 is pulled in to pierce the lid by the power applied through the motor. Rotation of feed gear 12 pulls the cutter directly into the lid on continued can rotation and the lid is cut in the normal fashion and grip 22 then passes out of the operative position and clear of the rim as shown in FIG. 4 having completed its power pierce by pulling the cutter into piercing and then cutting position.
While the amount of bite or gripping by grip 22 into rim 28 may vary, it is merely necessary for grip 22 to make a slight indentation in the rim 28 - enough for it to grab and pull the cutter 14 into position which pierces the lid (FIG. 3). This results in a slight dimpl~ng by grip 22 in the rim which is barely perceptible an~d not objectionable. Thus, it will be apparent that the distance between lever pivot 20 to the bottom of grip 22 is slightly greater than the distance from pivot 2~ to the top of can rim 28 ensuring 3CI that the grip bites into the rim as lever 24 is rotated toward the can to assume the position of FIG. 3.
For convenient operation by the user, it is de-sirable to bias lever 18 for rotation toward the can by a suitable spring 30 shown diagrammatically in FIGS.
2-4. Further, to provide driving contact at all times between the can rim and feed gear 12 the lever 18 has a 12()0085 6H~-5722 suitable horizontal guide spring plate 32 that helps to align the can and bias it against the feed gear 12 when in cutting position as shown in FIG. 4.
For convenient external operation, a slidable switch actuator 34 is provided at a convenient location in the housing to slide in slot 36 and, through suitable con--nected linkage 38 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, the operating lever 18 can be manually actuated against the bias of spring 30 by operation of button 34 in the housing and the button can also be connected to start the motor.
In operation, button 34 is pulled to the right of FIG. 2 position, a can 40 is inserted with its rim resting on the feed gear 12 and, through suitable guides and rests known in the art, positioned for cutting. The actuator button 34 is released whereupon the bias of spring 30 drops the lever. A continuation of movement of actuator button 34 will not farther move the lever, but may turn on the power and start rotation of feed gear 12 in any suitable manner. Various known gui.des and locating members orient the can. Also, clockwise rotation of lever 24 under the bias of spring 30 permits grip 22 to contact the can rim between the FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 positions and bite or jam into rim 28 where it is then pulled further clockwise by the d.riven feed gear 12 until cutter 14 is pulled into and pierces the can lid where continued rotation frees grip 22 from the rim and lld is severed at FIG. 4. When severed, the operation may be stopped by any of several well known automatic stops not forming part of the instant invention and the can may be removed by slightly turning it and tilting it or by moving button 34 back into FIG. 2 posit;on against the bias of spring 30 when the can opener is then free for removal.
Generally, known structure may be used to releasably attach the cutter to the can opener for removal and cleaning. Also, the usual magnet structure holds the severed lid and both are well known in the art and form no . .
' ~
`` lZ~0085 part of the present invention.
Thus, the present invention provides a simple means on the usual operating lever requiring no extra parts but a slight bend in the lever to act as a grip or heel to bite into the can rim and power pull cutter 14 into piercing and cutting operation all without addition of any complexity or extra parts.
While there has been described a preferred form of the invention, obvious equivalent variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described, and the claims are intended to cover such equivalent variations.
,: , :,
I Nevertheless, numerous arrangements have been provided 120 to provide a power piercer so that the energy of the driving motor is used to pierce the lid and avoid the large manual force by the user on the operating lever.
Numerous power pierce arrangements have been provided t ~ ` ~.~~n~,_. .
' ~ ."
'. .~ .
' ' ~ ,-, "
, . ' .
1~0008S
and a typical one is shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,121,285 to Freeman dated February 18, 1964, of common assignment which, in effect, gives the puncturing cutter a running start by rotating the can before puncturing the lid to power assist the actual puncturing. Another form of power pierce is shown in U.S. patent No. 3,~46,485 to McLean dated March 30, 1~76 which uses many parts in a different pivoting and lever arrangement whereby the piercing force is multiplied momentarily to pierce the can lid by cutter wheel. Thus, power pierce per se is not new.
It is a primary object of the invention to provide an improved power pierce for an electric can opener with a simple addition to presentconventional structure without the complexity of additional levers, pivoting arrangemen~s,or inducing delays in the actual piercing of the lid.
Another object is to improve the power pierce structure by providing a grip mean.s ahead of the cutter wheel that engages first and then automatically pulls the cutter wheel into piercing operation simply and easily.
It is a further object of the invention to linkage connect the automatic or pierce structure with a simple single sliding switch actuator for easy power pierce and start and stop operating with no additional structure.
SU~AR~ OF T~IE IN~ENTION
In accordance with the invention, a conventional electric powered can opener has a housing with a feed gear rotatably mounted thereon to drivingly hold and rotate a can by its rim. An operating lever is pivoted above the feed gear on the housing and carries a cutter mechanism that is swung into position to cut and remove the can lid. To this standard structure, an :.
' improvement in the cutter mechanism includes a gripping means oriented to force against the moving can rim before the cutter contacts the lid and, by jamminy or biting into the rim, to pull the cutter into the can top for a power pierce. This grip means on the standard pivoted operating lever may be linked and connected through the le~er and through the housing to a slidable switch actuator that easily initiates start, running, power piercing, and removal of the can. Thus, the main object of the present invention is to provide an improved power pierce that uses the parts already present and, by orientation, bi~es into the cutter rim to power pull the cutter into the can top for power pierce.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a can opener showing the formed and oriented single operating lever of the invention.
FIGS. 2.~ are diagrammatic showings of the operation of the grip means approaching in FIG. 2, biti~ and power pierce in FIG. 3, and cutting in FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a typical electric powered can opener having a housing 10 enclosing an internal motor not shown and adapted to be plugged into house current to operate in conventional fashion.
The can opener may take any suitable form such as hanging under a kitchen cabinet by mounting in a suitable bracket or may stand on legs as shown in U.S. Patent 2,~79,300 to ~[owell et al dated April 11, 1961 of common assignment or merely operate at the edge of a counter top of the general type shown in said '285 U.S.
patent.
As such, the can opener is provided with a serrated feed gear 12 through suitable gearing not shown for counterclockwise rotation in the FIG. 1 embodiment.
...... .. . . . . . . .... ... . . . .
-- lZ~0~85 The feed gear holds and rotates a can by its rim while a cutter is rotated into position to pierce and cut the can lid in conventional fashion. While any suitable plow or wheel cutter may be used, the round cutter wheel 14 has replaced the blade or plow cutter as preferable because it is easily removed by screw 16 for replacement or cleaning and generally does a better job of cutting producing fewer slivers of metal than the old plow cutter. In order to bring the operating mechanism into cutting position, cutter 14 is mounted on an operating lever 18 of suitable shape with the lever pivoted at 20 on the housing generally substantially above feed gear 12. In operation, the operating lever 18 through suitable mechanism is rotated to carry the cutter wheel 14 into the can top and start the can opening operation as is well known.
Usually the force required for cutter 14 to pierce the can lid is enhanced by various means such as a larger mechanical advantage on the operating`lever so the user benefits from a lower actuating force than merely pushing cutter wheel 14 directly into the can top. With an electric powered can opener, it is possible to use the electric motor as an assist and a power pierce may also be obtained by a "running start" as described in said U.S. Patent No. 3,121,285 or equivalent as in said U.S.
Patent 3,946,485. Generally, power pierce requires additional structure and to avoid this, the present ; invention provides an improvement.
As shown in FIG. 1 and diagrammatically in FIGS.
2-4, the improvement of the present invention is in the cutter mechanism wherein a grip means 22 is provided on the operating lever. As will hecome apparent, grip means 22 at start lies substantially on a line 24 between the pivot 20 and the top 26 of the feed gear ~; 35 12 when against the can rim. This act~ally falls between the positions shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 when grip 22 first ~-:
~Z000~35 . - 5 -contacts the top or rim 28 of a conventional can. For convenience, grip means 22 is a bent-out ear substantially flat and is considerably wider than the rim as shown in FIG. 1.
In order to operate properly, and as shown dia-grammatically in FIGS. 2-4, grip means 22 is spaced and disposed to contact the top of rim 28, the orientation being such that grip 22 (FIG. 2~ is intended to approach and bite into the rim top slightly before cutter 14 contact and thus pull the lever 18 and-its carried cutter wheel 14 down and into the can top or lid (FIG. 3) so that the cutter 14 is pulled in to pierce the lid by the power applied through the motor. Rotation of feed gear 12 pulls the cutter directly into the lid on continued can rotation and the lid is cut in the normal fashion and grip 22 then passes out of the operative position and clear of the rim as shown in FIG. 4 having completed its power pierce by pulling the cutter into piercing and then cutting position.
While the amount of bite or gripping by grip 22 into rim 28 may vary, it is merely necessary for grip 22 to make a slight indentation in the rim 28 - enough for it to grab and pull the cutter 14 into position which pierces the lid (FIG. 3). This results in a slight dimpl~ng by grip 22 in the rim which is barely perceptible an~d not objectionable. Thus, it will be apparent that the distance between lever pivot 20 to the bottom of grip 22 is slightly greater than the distance from pivot 2~ to the top of can rim 28 ensuring 3CI that the grip bites into the rim as lever 24 is rotated toward the can to assume the position of FIG. 3.
For convenient operation by the user, it is de-sirable to bias lever 18 for rotation toward the can by a suitable spring 30 shown diagrammatically in FIGS.
2-4. Further, to provide driving contact at all times between the can rim and feed gear 12 the lever 18 has a 12()0085 6H~-5722 suitable horizontal guide spring plate 32 that helps to align the can and bias it against the feed gear 12 when in cutting position as shown in FIG. 4.
For convenient external operation, a slidable switch actuator 34 is provided at a convenient location in the housing to slide in slot 36 and, through suitable con--nected linkage 38 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, the operating lever 18 can be manually actuated against the bias of spring 30 by operation of button 34 in the housing and the button can also be connected to start the motor.
In operation, button 34 is pulled to the right of FIG. 2 position, a can 40 is inserted with its rim resting on the feed gear 12 and, through suitable guides and rests known in the art, positioned for cutting. The actuator button 34 is released whereupon the bias of spring 30 drops the lever. A continuation of movement of actuator button 34 will not farther move the lever, but may turn on the power and start rotation of feed gear 12 in any suitable manner. Various known gui.des and locating members orient the can. Also, clockwise rotation of lever 24 under the bias of spring 30 permits grip 22 to contact the can rim between the FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 positions and bite or jam into rim 28 where it is then pulled further clockwise by the d.riven feed gear 12 until cutter 14 is pulled into and pierces the can lid where continued rotation frees grip 22 from the rim and lld is severed at FIG. 4. When severed, the operation may be stopped by any of several well known automatic stops not forming part of the instant invention and the can may be removed by slightly turning it and tilting it or by moving button 34 back into FIG. 2 posit;on against the bias of spring 30 when the can opener is then free for removal.
Generally, known structure may be used to releasably attach the cutter to the can opener for removal and cleaning. Also, the usual magnet structure holds the severed lid and both are well known in the art and form no . .
' ~
`` lZ~0085 part of the present invention.
Thus, the present invention provides a simple means on the usual operating lever requiring no extra parts but a slight bend in the lever to act as a grip or heel to bite into the can rim and power pull cutter 14 into piercing and cutting operation all without addition of any complexity or extra parts.
While there has been described a preferred form of the invention, obvious equivalent variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described, and the claims are intended to cover such equivalent variations.
,: , :,
Claims (7)
1. An electric powered can opener having a housing, a feed gear rotatably mounted to drivingly hold and rotate a can by its rim, an operating lever pivoted above said gear on the housing and carrying a cutter mechanism to remove the can lid, an improvement in said mechanism comprising, grip means connected to, and moveable by said lever and oriented to force against the moving can rim top before cutter contact and pull the cutter into the can top for a power pierce.
2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said grip means lies substantially on a line between said lever pivot and top of said feed gear when against the rim.
3. Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said grip means is substantially flat and wider than said rim.
4. Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein in said grip means the lever pivot-to-grip bottom distance is greater than the pivot-to-rim top distance, so that said grip bites into the rim on rotation of the lever toward the can.
5. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said lever is spring-biased for rotation toward the can.
6. Apparatus as described in claim S wherein said lever has horizontal guide means thereon for an alignment and biasing against the feed gear.
7. Apparatus as described in claim 6 having slidable switch actuator means on said housing that is linkage-connected to said lever for manual operation thereof.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US35956282A | 1982-03-18 | 1982-03-18 | |
| US359,562 | 1982-03-18 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1200085A true CA1200085A (en) | 1986-02-04 |
Family
ID=23414349
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000421970A Expired CA1200085A (en) | 1982-03-18 | 1983-02-18 | Power pierce can opener |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| BR (1) | BR8301406A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1200085A (en) |
-
1983
- 1983-02-18 CA CA000421970A patent/CA1200085A/en not_active Expired
- 1983-03-17 BR BR8301406A patent/BR8301406A/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| BR8301406A (en) | 1983-11-29 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US2555931A (en) | Motor operated can opener | |
| US2979815A (en) | Electric can opener | |
| US4362277A (en) | Domestic electrical food processing appliance | |
| US5313708A (en) | Can opener | |
| US3254406A (en) | Can opener | |
| US2883745A (en) | Can opener | |
| US3765085A (en) | Can opener | |
| JPS6328757B2 (en) | ||
| US4053981A (en) | Power operated can opener having automatic shutoff means, a removable hand lever assembly, and a manual crank | |
| US4563818A (en) | Can openers | |
| US3689997A (en) | Electric can opener with removable hand lever and frame engaging pin assembly | |
| US3002274A (en) | Can opener | |
| US3307255A (en) | Control means to energize a combination can opener and knife sharpener | |
| US4520567A (en) | Power pierce can opener | |
| CA1200085A (en) | Power pierce can opener | |
| CA1275566C (en) | Adjustable height can opener | |
| US4334332A (en) | Motor-driven cap-gripper and can-opener | |
| US3736659A (en) | Power operated can opener with unique thrust link | |
| US2952073A (en) | Automatic electric can opener | |
| US3423825A (en) | Can opener | |
| US2789345A (en) | Electrically operated can opener | |
| US2803057A (en) | Kitchen appliance | |
| US3550271A (en) | Automatic can opener | |
| US3798764A (en) | Electrically powered can opener | |
| US2011170A (en) | Power driven can opening machine |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |