US2125002A - Can opener and dispenser - Google Patents

Description

July 26, 1938.

T. H. GERDES CAN OPENER AND DISPENSER Filed April 19, 1937 onleg Enventor Thead'or-a 79 GerZaS,

Patented July 26, 1938 UNITE STATES ATENT QFHQE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in can openers and dispensers, and it is an object of my improvements to supply a device of this class at once inexpensive, convenient in its uses and suitable for operation in garages, filling stations, or elsewhere where quick service is indispensable and required.

Another object of my improvements is to include in the elements coacting in the mechanism of my said contrivance, means for releasably resiliently locking the device when in use on cans, thus relieving the operative from the necessity of keeping manual control of this means when holding, transporting or using the device at the times mentioned.

Another object of my invention is to fashion the device for manual use and whereby a can to be treated may be openly encompassed from the front thereof by readily releasable means quickly operable.

Another object of my improvements is to include in the device means for permitting its use in inclo-sing and treating cans of differing dimensions conveniently, and obviating the necessity for the employment of a plurality of the devices for separate use thereon.

Another object of my improvements is to include in the mechanism means for adjusting a vent-tube and perforater therein to thus equip the invention suitably for use upon cans of different diameters, while releasably engaging them therewith.

These and other improvements to be described, are treated of in the specification, claims and drawing hereof, but it is to be understood that various changes may be effected in the device, in its structures and connections, without departing from this invention or the appended claims.

Fig. l is a side elevation of my improved can opener and dispenser, showing it extended in full lines, and with certain moving elements thereof displayed also in broken lines to show it in operating position and relation toa can to be opened used in dispensing or evacuating its oil or other liquid contents, parts being sectioned or broken away. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the resiliently controlled canting brake device, seen from the rear of the invention as in locked condition with the movable stem support of the combination can perforator and delivery spout.

The numeral I denotes a circular horizontal ring base upon which a can to be treated may be removably mounted, the ring having a radial projection or parallel pair of such projections 2 whose upper edge or edges may be indented at 3 to receive the lower head fiange of the can to prevent dislodgement while being operated upon. The projection or projections 2 terminate in a fiat ring 4 to receive the lower end part of an erect tubular or cupped standard 8, and a setscrew 5 may be used to adjustably secure said elements together to permit the ring base I to be raised or lowered as desired, but this ring base may be permanently fixed on the standard. A handle l2 may be fixed on at the rear to said standard. A coiled compression spring 1 is positioned in the lower part and hollow of the standard to extend upwardly therein a suitable distance, and a cylindrical stem 8 is in part movably inclosed in the standard, resting upon the upper end of said spring, and to project above the upper end of the standard a suitable distance, and this stem carries a forwardly directed planar horizontal arm 11% rigidly, the forward end of the arm having a vertical hollow body l9 rigid thereon, having preferably a delivery spout 2 5 on and communicating with its upper end. The lower depending portion of the body l9 has a fixed circular flange 20 therearound, and a rubber washer, downwardly concaved, at 2| is seated removably on the depending part of said body and stopped by the ring 20. A little below this washer the termination of body 19 is obliquely shaped and pointed at 23, and the body l9 has a notch forwardly at 22 just above said beveled edge or cutting point 23.

The arm l8 has a medial bearing hole 32 in which is seated movably a pin 25, headed at the top, threaded at its lower end to seat thereon a nut 28, and a short arm 2i is apertured to be loosely bracketed on said pin intermediate the bar It and said nut. A hollow depending punch 30 has its upper end fixed in said arm 2i, and has a beveled piercing termination 3!. The numerals 29 and 33 denote respectively a pair of vertical holes in the arm l8 disposed at equal distances oppositely from the pin 25, and to receive alternately the slightly upwardly directed end of the hollow punch 30, as shown in dotted lines, whereby this punch may be employed to punch air-vent holes in can tops of two different diameters, a pair of such cans being depicted in dotted lines in Fig. l. The arm 21 is lowered a sufficient distance when the pin 25 is pressed down, so that the arm may be rocked to either hole 29 or 33, and when the same is registered with either, the pin may be released, to allow the upper part of the punch 30 to enter and engage the wall of either hole 29 or 33.

Referring particularly to said Fig. 2, the numeral l3 denotes an upwardly directed eyed member or ring secured at its lower end to one side of the standard 8 near it stop and to slidably and rockably seat an otherwise free end of a laterally projecting arm including an annular part l4 which has an outwardly bent fingerpiece l5. The numeral l6 denotes an upwardly obliquely directed bent finger fixed on the opposite outer wall of the standard 8, and carries on its upper end a short coiled compression spring I! whose upper end engages beneath the annular part M tending to rock the latter up to cant upon the stem 8 above the standard, to lock therewith frictionally, but releasably.

Within the hollow of the standard 6 the stem 8 has a longitudinal slot 9 therethrough, loosely traversed by a cross pin [0, with bolt-head II and nut not shown on the opposite end, said pin also traversing the wall of the standard fixedly, and thus to limit the up and down play of the stem in the standard.

Operation-A closed can, filled with oil or other liquid, as shown in dotted lines in diameters of difierent length, may be seated on the ring base I. The air vent punch 30 may be if necessary adjusted to locate it in either arm hole 29 or 33, according to the special diameter of the can to be treated, as shown in full and dotted lines respectively. Then the operator manually presses downwardly upon the arm 18, thus causing the pointed cutting terminations 2-3 and 3| of the punches l9 and 30 to puncture and pass below the top wall of the can a sufficient distance to locate these parts within the can, including the notch 22 in the punch IS. The arm H5 in descending compresses the spring I in the hollow of the standard 6. The operator meanwhile also depresses the'bent arm l4 and [5 by his thumb, holding the ring I 4 released loosely from the stem 8. When he has punctured the top wall of the can as stated, he releases the bent arm is and I5, permitting the spring I1, then compressed, to recoil and push upwardly rockingly the ring part M to frictionally cant upon and with the wall of the stem 8 to hold the stem 8 and the punches l9 and 30 at rest in the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The operator then may tilt the can by using the handle I2 to evacuate the whole or a portion of its liquid contents from the can. When the can is emptied, the bent arm or lever l4 and I5 may be pushed downwardly to release the stem 8, the compressed spring I then recoiling upwardly to return the arm l8 and its punches to initial positions.

The downwardly concaved washer 2i serves to seal the can around the punch, and the notch 22 serves when the can is tilted sufiiciently to evacuate the contents, to drain out any portion of liquid which may coat the interior wall of the can. The device in its forwardly open state may thus conveniently receive a can or permit its removal forwardly, without interference with adjacent objects. It will be understood that the slot 9 in the stem 8 is long enough to permit the punches to be used with cans of difierent heights in the puncturing of their top walls.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described,

rigidly connected air-vent and spouted hollow punches, supporting means upon which they are resiliently mounted for to and fro movements relative to a can to be punctured and tapped by both, and the puncturing termination of the spouted punch having a lateral drainage aperture to open into the can flush with the lower face of its top wall for complete drainage of the inverted can when punctured thereby.

2. In a device of the character described, rigidly connected air-vent and spouted hollow punches, supporting means upon which they are mounted for punching a wall of a can to be discharged of liquid contents, the puncturing termination of the spouted punch having a drainage aperture opening into the can fiush with the inner lower face of its top wall when the can is inverted and an elastic washer for sealing the joint of the said punch and can.

3. In a device of the character described, a rigid supporting member, a terminal spouted punch thereon having a cutter end for penetrating a wall of a can to be discharged of its liquid contents, and an air-vent hollow punch on said member for simultaneously penetrating the can together with the spouted punch, said air-vent punch being loosely rockably, mounted on said member endwise, and the member having spaced seats therealong; with which the latter punch may be releasably engaged with either to permit said punches to be spaced from each other variably to operate upon cans of diifering diameters.

4. In a device of the character described, a rigid supporting member mounted for to and fro movements relative to a closed receptacle to be tapped, a terminal spouted punch on said member having a cutter .end for penetrating a can end, an air vent hollow punch mounted loosely on said member swingingly, the punch being adapted for releasable engagements with different parts of the member to adjust its position of spacing apart from the spouted punch releasably,

and being loosely resiliently mounted on the" member.

5. A device of the character described, comprising in combination, connected spout carrying and air-vent hollow punches, the spout carrying punch having a cutting termination and a wall aperture adjacent thereto for drainage of a can nearly discharged of its contents, the air-vent punch being horizontally rockably and adjustably associated with the spout carrying punch to space it in any of different distances therefrom simultaneously in use and for air venting the can punctured by and discharging through the spout carrying punch, and resilient supporting means for said punches, with means manually operable to brake and hold releasably said supporting means while the can is being discharged of its contents or while being engaged with the punches.

6. A device of the character described, comprising in combination, connected discharge and spout carrying and air-vent hollow punches, the air-vent punch being supported and positionally adjustable to and from the: spout-carrying punch,

means for releasably holding the punches re-,

siliently braked when in communication with a closed liquid containing can punctured thereby, and means for adjustably limiting the scope of movements of said punches.

THEODORE H. GERDES.

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