US1338643A - Can-opener - Google Patents

Description

E. O. MURMANN.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1919.

1,338,643. Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

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EUGENE O. MURMANN, OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA.

CAN-OPENER.

Application filed March 10, 1919.

To (4Z6 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE 0. Mon- MANN, a citizen of Russia, residing at Glendale, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a can opener which cuts downwardly through the top of a can..

Heretofore, can openers which operate with a shearing reciprocating movement have been constructed to cut upwardly through the cap top, thereby tearing the top and leaving a ragged edge projecting upwardly. It is the principal object of my invention to provide a can opener which will cut downwardly, thereby forcing the out edge inwardly. It is a further object of this invention to provide a can opener which will cut close to the edge of a can, and will operate on cans of any contour.

I accomplish these objects by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the can opener with the knife and fulcrum handles separated; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary bottom view as seen on the line 2.2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view showing the knife and fulcrum member closed and applied to a can shown in section; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the opener in its initial position being applied to a can.

More specifically a can is indicated by A and the opener by B. The can is of the type having a cylindrical wall 5 and a top 6. The top is secured to the wall 5 by crimping the edge forming a lip 7.

Referring to the can opener, it comprises a knife handle 8, preferably formed of metal and having a knife blade 9 thereon. The knife blade has a point 10 and a cutting edge 11. The blade is warped so that the rear is offset from the handle as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. The point 10 is also offset. A hook 12 is formed on the blade to serve as means for removing crown seal caps.

Pivotally secured to the knife and handle by means of a pivot pin 13 is a fulcrum member having a handle 14 and an extension 15. The end of extension 15 is bent inwardly as indicated by 16 in Fig. 3. Formed on the inner face of the extension 15 and above the offset portion 16 is a fulcrum lug 17, which is designed to engage the under Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2'7, 1920.

Serial No. 281,759.

side of the lip 7 of the can when cutting the top. When the cutting is being performed, handles 8 and 14 are brought together so that blade 9 and the extension 15 are in j 11X- taposition. In this position it would be difficult to apply the opener to the can, and for this reason the fulcrum member and knife member are made movable with respect to one another. By opening the handles, the blade'lO is swung away from in front of pivot lug 17. Thus the point of the knife blade can be forced into the top of the can as shown in Fig. 4 without being hindered or obstructed by the fulcrum member. The handles 8 and 14 are then closed with the "pivot lug resting underneath the lip of the can. as shown. in Fig. 3. The operator grasps the two handles as if they were one and then presses downwardly. The downward movement of the handles causes the knife blade to cut through the top of the can, and at the same time it flattens the ragged edge against the side of the can. The handle is lifted. and the opener is pulled. toward the operator until the cutting edge comes in contact with the end of the slit just made in the top of the can. The operation is repeated and in this manner the top of the can is opened. WVhen the last stroke has been made, the handles 8 and 14 are spread apart, thus permitting easy removal of the opener.

The offsetting of the end of the fulcrum member permits the latter to be disposed under the lip of the can when the can opener is in cutting position and prevents wabbling of the opener. The warped knife blade provides for cutting the rounded corners on cans of general rectangular shape.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A can opener comprising a handle having a knife thereon for cutting downwardly, and a fulcrum member having a fulcrum at its forward end for disposal beneath the lip of a can, said fulcrum member and knife ward edge for disposal beneath the lip of a can so that it may be swung into position to be covered by the penetrating tip of said knife in cutting position said fulcrum memher having means disposed along side of said handle whereby to maintain said knife and fulcrum in cutting position.

3. A can opener comprising a handle having a knife thereon for cutting downwardly, and a fulcrum member having a fulcrum at its forward end for disposal beneath the lip of a can, said fulcrum being a projection so that said member may rock upon said lip,

said fulcrum member and said knife being movably secured in spaced parallel relation so that the penetrating tip of said knife may be moved into cutting position to cover said fulcrum, said fulcrum member having means disposed along side of saidhandle whereby to maintain said knife and fulcrum in cutting position.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 1st day of March, 1919.

EUGENE O. MURMANN.

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