US1259574A - Can-opener. - Google Patents

Description

P'. E. WILUAMS.

Batentefi Mar. 19, 1918.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY PAUL n. WILLIAMS, or TEXARKANA, TEXAS.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

Application fil ed May 29, 1917. Serial No. 171,729.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL E. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Texarkana, in the county of Bowie and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for itspriinary object to provide a can opener which is of a simple and durable construction, and which is easy to operate, the mode of operation being such that the operator is not liable to cut his hands while opening a can with the implement.

A further object of my invention is to provide a can opener which may be formed of a single'fiat piece of metal.

With these and other objects in view which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which: a

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a can opener embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a View in oblique perspective of a can which is in the process of being opened by the can opener.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the various views.

In the drawings 1 designates generally a can opener which is preferably formed of a single piece of fiat metal. The can opener comprises a handle 2 which has an extension 3 on one side thereof, said extension comprising the can engaging elements of the device. This extension 3 extends in the plane of the handle for some distance and forms a shank 4. The shank 4 has a lateral projection 5 thereon bent about the main portion of the shank to form a rounded fulcrum surface 6. Beyond the shank 4, the extension 3 is bent downwardly substantially at a right angle to the shank, as designated at 7 Beyond the bend 7 the extension is arcuate in shape and forms a cutting blade 8 having a cutting edge 9 formed upon the inner edge of the same. The cutting blade 8 curves around and terminates in an upturned sharpened point 10. The arcuate cutting blade 8 is formed helically and has the sharpened point 10 disposed beyond the main portion of the cutting blade. One end of the handle 2 is formed with a point 11 which is adapted to puncture a can prior to inserting the cutting blade therein.

In opening a can the point 11 of the handle is first engaged with the can to puncture the same. The cutting blade 8 is then introduced. into the hole formed in the can, and is then turned in such a direction that the cutting blade tends to engage itself deeper into the hole just made. The turning motion is continued and as the cutting blade 8 engages almost its entire length into the hole of the can the fulcrum surface 6 engages the surface of the can adjacent the hole therein. The turning motion is continued and the device fulcrums upon the surface 6.

This further turning action brings the sharpened point- 10 in contact with the under-surface of the wall of the can some distance in advance of the hole which has been formed therein. Upon a further turning motion being imparted to the implement the sharpened point 10 again punctures the can. The device is then turned further until that portion of the wall of the can, which intervenes between the two holes is severed by the cutting edge 9 of the blade 8. The implement is then turned until the cutting blade 8 widens the opening just made so that it may be freely moved through the same. At this point the device is turned in an opposite direction until the sharpened point 10 is again below the undersurface of the wall of the can. While in this position the implement is moved along the hole in the can so that the sharpened point 10 is again positioned under the wall of the can in advance of the hole formed therein, when the implement is again turned in the direc tion in which it was first turned to cut another section of the can. This action is repeated again and again until the can is opened sufficiently to remove the contents thereof.

In opening cans having thin tops it will often be found advantageous to open the can by linear motion of the can opener in the position illustrated in Fig. 3. It will be noted that in performing this operation the fulcrum surface 6 forms a shoe which rides on the edge of the can and takes the downward pressure, while the adjacent portion of the handle 2 bears against the outside of the .can to resist inward movement. The handle 2 is held at such an angle that the point 10 will not come in contact with the top of the can. It will be seen that the helical shape of the blade 8 is especially useful in this connection as it tends to draw the blade inward toward the center of the can to the degree limited by engagement of the handle against the outside of the can. This is desirable as the cut thereby occurs .a sufiicient distance from the edge to prevent contact of the blade with the solder which often accumulates in the corners of the can in the process of manufacture.

It will be noted that in the use of this device there is no chance of the implement slipping and the operator cutting his hand upon the sharpened edges of the can, for thecutting action of the implement requires that a vertical stress be applied to the cutting portions thereof. As will be noted from the above description, this stress is imparted by turning the implement upon the fulcrum surface 6, and by reason of this novel construction there is no need to hold the can firmly down upon any fiat surface upon which the can might slip and injury result. therefrom to the operator.

Having thus fully described my inVention, I claim:

I 1. In a device for openlng cans and the i like, the combination with the handle and the shank on the handle, of the substantially Copies of this patent may be obtained for ring-shaped cutting blade on the shank, said blade having a helical form whereby in a linear cutting movement the handle will be drawn against the edge of the can.

2. In a device for opening cans and the like, the combination with the handle and the shank'on the handle, of the hook-shaped cutting blade on the shank, said blade having a helical form whereby in a linear cutting movement the handle Will be drawn against the edge of the can, and the lateral extension on the shank, said extension doubled back under the shank to constitute a fulcrum adapted to bear against. the can when the blade is rotated in such direction that the cutting action starts at the point of the blade.

3. A device of the class described comprising a flat handle, a flat shank projectfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0.

whereof I afiix my signature. I

Images