US1963007A - Key opener - Google Patents

Description

June 12, 1934. 0. WEEK KEY OPENER Filed Nov. 14. 1932 Ema/whoa O CAR WEEK Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in key openers, and is an improvement over that shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 592,149.

5 An important object of my invention is to provide a key for prying off the lids of friction top cans, andit is also adaptable, if desired, for use with rip-strip cans.

A further object is toprovide a key which is 4 designed to hang on a bail or the like, and one which may be used over and over again.

Another object is to provide a key opener having its bight portion flattened and curved for providing a prying point.

Another object is to provide a key with a rigid double shank and which will be found serviceable over a long period of use.

Still another object is to provide a reinforced double shank key for heavy duty work.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a pair of inturned spring tensioned hooks, which serve as a convenient finger gripping portion and also for allowing the key to be handily forced on or off a bail or the like.

A final object is to provide a simple and efficient key opener which is cheap to manufacture, a handy device for the kitchen and the home, and one which is adapted to serve numerous purposes.-

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, and which like parts are employed to designate like parts in all views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the key being applied to a friction top container,

Figure 2 is a view of an upper portion of a can showing the bail provided with a. key,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of my key opener,

Figure 4 is a side elevation thereof,

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a modification 4 showing a reinforcement in said key, and

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 5.

In the drawing the numeral 6 designates the key opener, which is preferably constructed of 45 but a single length of heavy wire bent .to form a U or doubled shank 7 and 7' to define a slot 8. The free ends of the shanks 7' and '7 converge outwardly as at 9 and 9' to form the inturned hooks 10 and 10', which normally contact with 50 each other. This arrangement provides a spring tension to the-hooks 10 and 10', allowing the hooks to open upon the application of pressure. The bight portion of the key is widened and horizontally flattened as at 11, and is provided 5 with a curved or dished portion 12, as clearly shown in Figure 4. This portion 12 extends above the plane of the shank and provides a prying point. By urging the-key in between a container 13 and a friction top 14, the easy removal of the lid is accomplished by merely pressing downwardly on the key. The underside of the curved portion 12 is ground off slightly and reduced as at 15 to form a knife-like blade portion for permitting the key to enter easily between the top and the can.

In Figure 2 is shown the key 6 as attached to a bail 16 of the can 13. The spring hooks 10 and 10' serve to retain the key to the bail. By means of the end portions 1-7 and 17' of the hooks a guideway 18 is formed, as shown in Figure 3, which permits the easy removal of the hook from the bail. The spring hooks are oppositely disposed, and associate with each other, and the loss of the key from the bail is impossible. 76

In Figures 5 and 6 a modification of my device is shown. This includes the provision of the reinforcement 19 which may be a spot weld or the like near the bight portion for providing added rigidity to the device for heavy duty work. 0 The reinforcement bridges the gap or slot defined by the doubled shank.

As will be apparent, I have devised an inexpensive key for opening friction top containers and one that is adapted to hang on a bail 5- or nail for handy use. It will take the place of a screw driver, heretofore necessary in opening, these cans, and is more convenient for this use. Its sharp andflattened point is useful in opening Mason jars, and is adaptable for many other purposes around the kitchen and home. The slot defining double shank permits the key to open rip-strip cans, and further, the strip can be easily removed from the key after being wound thereon, and the key can be re-used. Most key openers are adapted to be used but once whereas my key is to be used over and over again.

.Having thus described-my invention, what I claim is:

1. A key opener comprising a single wire bent to form a doubled shank, the free ends of said wire forming a pair of inturned hooks said hooks normally engaging each other to provide means for retaining said opener on a bail and the like, and the bight portion of said shank having a curved prying point.

' 2. A key opener consisting of a wire bent to form a doubled shank the bight portion of said shank being horizontally flattened and extended above the plane of said shank, and said shank having reinforcing means bridging the shank for providing rigidity to the key.

3. A key opener comprising a single wire bent to form a slot-defining doubled shank, the bight portion of said shank being widened and horizontally flattened and provided with an upwardly extending curved point, the free ends ofsaid wire converging outwardly and inturned to form a pair of oppositely disposed tensioned hooks, said hooks normally engaging eachother to provide means for retaining said opener on a bail and the like. 1

4. The structure of claim 8, and reiniorc gaging each other to provide means for retaining the hook to a bail and the like.

OSGAR WEEK.

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