US2446633A

US2446633A - Can opener

Info

Publication number: US2446633A
Application number: US587364A
Authority: US
Inventors: Chandler James Harvey; Zimmer Myron Jackson
Original assignee: Ekco Products Co
Current assignee: Ekco Products Co
Priority date: 1945-04-09
Filing date: 1945-04-09
Publication date: 1948-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 1965-08-10

Description

g- 1948- J. H. CHANDLER EI'AL 2,446,633

CAN OPENER Filed April 9, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l 53 2 1a 66 as [2 :1 6 23 25 M u 34 r-Zz 35 I 36 IN VENTORS JAMES HflRl E Y CHANOL El? MYQON J. Z1 MEI?- BY I 5 ATTORNEY.

Aug. 10, 1948. J. H. C'HANDLER ET AL CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1945 QHEIE Fly. 7.

Patented Aug. 10, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN OPENER ration of Illinois Application April 9, 1945, Serial No. 587,364

Claims.

This invention relates to can openers, and its general object is to provide a wall type can opener including wall fastening means for accommodating the placement of the device in selected angular positions relative to its support.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a can opener of this type, embodying features of construction, and design which increase its efficiency in service and operation.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a can opener, and mounting bracket therefor, constructed in accordance with this invention and shown in the position in which it is ready for operation.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof in the last named position.

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof in the same position.

Fig. 4 is an end view thereof in the position in which it is in operation for removing the top of a can.

Fig. 5 is a collective view, in side elevation, with a part in fragmentary side elevation, showing the relationship of the can opener frame and the wall support, before the frame is mounted on the support.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 5, when the frame is mounted on the support.

Fig. 7 is a detail front view partly in vertical section, taken on line |1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail front view of the wall plate shown as the most leftward part of the wall support in Fig. 5.

Reference being had more particularly to the accompanying drawings, numeral Ill indicates the frame or main supporting member of the device forming the subject of this invention, and is adapted to be attached to a wall or similar vertical surface. The frame I0 is of elongated channel-shaped construction, and is preferably formed of suitable light weight metal, as by die-casting. When attached to a wall, the frame l0 presents a horizontal top face I l with side walls i2 extending downwardly from the opposite longitudinal edges of the top face. One end of the frame [0 pre-- sents a flat face H! for abutment with a conforming surface of a wall bracket, referred to more particularly hereinafter. The opposite end of the frame 10 is curved outwardly and downwardly coincident with the outer surface of a cylindrical boss i4 having its axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the frame It.

A bore extending axially through the boss 14 from opposite faces H of the frame in provides a bearing for a rotatable shaft 15 having threaded ends it and i1 protruding from the axial limits of the bore. The threaded end I6 of the shaft I5 is fitted with a traction wheel ill for rotation in a plane parallel to the nearest face I2 of the frame Ill. A washer l9 may be interposed between the inner face of the traction wheel and the face of the frame to provide a suitable wearreslstant bearing for the inner face of the wheel I 8. The threaded end ll of the shaft I5 is fitted wlth' a handle crank 20 through which the shaft 15 may be operated to rotate the traction wheel.

A cylindrical spacing element 2| bridging the space between the side members 12 of the frame Ill in inwardly spaced parallel relation to the boss I4 is also recessed to provide a bearing for a shaft 22 having ends 23 projecting axially therefrom.

The reference numeral 25 denotes a plate adapted to be mounted on the frame In for swinging movement toward and away from the top face of the frame by means of ears 26 formed integrally with and extending downwardly from transversely aligned edge portions of the plate and attached to the ends 23 of the shaft 22. The frame It! is preferably recessed as at 21 so as to maintain the car 26, and the portion of the shaft 22 within planes substantially flush with the outer surface of the sides of the frame Ill and yet provide ample clearance for movement of the ears.

The swinging end of the plate 25 is urged to a position upwardly away from the top of the frame ill by means of a coil sprin so havin one end seated in an upwardly opening depression 3| formed in the top of the frame Ill and having its other end in engagement with the lower face of the plate 25. An opening 32 formed in the plate 25 is adapted to have its edges clear a lug or post 33 formed inte rally with and projecting upwardly from the top of the frame Ill in the path of the plate 25.

Reference number 34 designates a. lever mounted for swinging movement on an axis parallel to the axis of movement of the plate 25 by means of a pivot 35 extending from opposite sides of the portion of the lug 33 disposed above the plate 25 to which forked ends 36 of the lever 34 are suitably fastened. Cam surfaces 31 on the ends 36 are adapted to bear against the upper surface of the plate 25 to depress the latter against resistance of the spring 3|! when the lever 34 moved to upright position as in Fig. 4, and to provide clearance for movement of the plate 25 from said depressed position to an elevated position under power exerted by the spring 30 when the lever is moved inwardly toward a recumbent position wherein the free end of the lever 34 rests against the top I of the frame ID, as in Figs. 1 and 3.

Extending upwardly from one edge of the plate 25 in overhanging relation to the traction wheel I8 is an inverted U-shaped

member providing arms

38 and 39, presenting spaced parallel inner faces in downwardly and inwardly inclined planes. A cutting member in the form of a disc 44 having a peripheral cutting edge 4| and a hub portion 42 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 43 interposed between and arranged at right angles to said inner faces of the

arms

33 and 39. Movement of the plate 25 from a raised position to a depressed position under control of the operating lever 34, as described hereinabove, will accordingly carry the disc cutter 40 in a downward path toward a position in which the lower portion of the cutting edge will overlap and pass into close proximity to the outer face of the traction wheel I8.

Rotation of the shaft by means of the handle and thus causing the traction wheel |8 to turn with the bead of a can 45 gripped between the cutter and the traction wheel it causes the can to turn relative to the frame Hi and the head 44 of the can to be completely severed from the side wall thereof. A projection 45 extending downwardly and outwardly from the lower limits of the frame I in underlying relation to the traction wheel presents a bearing edge 4! against which the side wall 48 of the can may ride and be maintained in position to avoid spilling of the can contents during the can opening operation. A flange 49 extending laterally from the plate 25 presents an under-surface against which the bead of the can may ride to avoid tipping about an axis parallel to the axis of the traction wheel.

Fig. illustrates a form of bracket through which the frame ill may be mounted in a horizontal position on a wall or other supporting surface. This bracket includes a base plate 50 fastened as at 5|, by screws, to the surfaceof a wall 52, and a cover member 53. A peripheral flange 54 on the member '53 extending angularly therefrom in the direction of the base plate 50 is adapted to fit and overlap the edge of the base plate 50 so that the latter is wholly concealed by the member 53. A boss 55 in the plate 5|! is threaded to receive a fastening screw 51 which extends through a counterbored opening 56 in the member 53, whereby the latter is rigidly secured to the base plate 50.

The cover member 53 is preferably formed to provide a. horizontal supporting ledge 6|! in downwardly offset relation to a top surface 5| in the direction of the wall to which it is attached, for supporting the frame iii in extended position with its upper surface flush with said top surface 6|. A back wall 62 extending upwardly from the inner limits of the ledge 50 is arranged to make a close joint with the end face l3 of the frame I0 when the latter is in mounted position on the ledge Gil. The side portions of the member 53 which extend downwardly from the edge of the top 6| are also preferably arranged to form a smooth continuation of the surfaces of the sides I! of the frame "I.

Rising centrally from the ledge 60 is a boss 54 forming a raised rim for a recess 55 of sufficient depth to intersect the counterbore 56 in the memher 53, which provides a seat for a post or spindle 56 extending below the lower edges of the sides I2 of the frame in. When the spindle 66 is seated in the well the flat end face I3 of the frame I0 engages the back wall 52 of the member 53, and the lower edges of the sides l2 of the frame rest on the ledge 6|]. At the same time, the spindle 56 conceals the head of the screw 51 at the inner limits of the counterbore 55. A shoulder 61 created by a downwardly and upwardly offset flange 68 at the lower edge of each of the sides I2 of the frame i0 is also adapted to engage the forward edge of the ledge 50 so as to more securely hold the frame ||l against movement to the member 53 about spindle 65 as an axis.

The flange 68 may also be longitudinally tapered to provide a pleasing continuation of the exposed side edges of the ledge as shown in Fig. 1.

By lifting the frame I0 sufficiently to raise the lower edge of the frame above the upper limits of the back wall 62, the frame ||I may be swung to a position in either direction laterally of its forwardly extending position through an arc of 90 degrees and thereupon lowered to place the end face l2 against the back wall 62, whereupon the shoulders 51 engage a side edge of the ledge 50 and the frame 0 is again locked against turning movement about the spindle as an axis.

In operation the cam lever 34 is moved from a recumbent position along the top of the frame member H to an upright position as shown in Fig. 4 whereupon the cutting member 40 is lowered to a depth sufficient to penetrate the top 44 of a can 45 while the bead 49 of the can is confined between the upper edge of the traction wheel I8 and the underside of the flange 49. With the operating parts in this position, the side of the can 48 bears against the edge of the projection 46. The handle 20 is then engaged by the operator and actuated to rotate the shaft |5 and the traction wheel I8. Rotation of the traction wheel i8 causes the edge 4| of the cutting member 40 to turn the can 45 and as this is being done the cutting edge 4| of the cutting member 40 causes the head 44 of the can to be sheared from the side wall 48. At the same time the curved shoulder between the hub 42 and the cutting edge 4| of the cutting member acts upon the residual-y portion of the head 44 of the can still attached to the side wall 48 to be bent downwardly in a position resting flush against the inner face of the can wall. When the head 44 has been completely severed the can bead is still firmly secured between the traction wall l8 and the cutting member 40. When it is desired to remove the can therefrom the cam lever 34 is swung from an upright position to the recumbent position shown in Fig. 1 whereupon the plate 25 is raised by the pressure of the spring 35 to lift the cutting member 40 a distance sufficiently above the traction wheel I8 to permit easy withdrawal of the can 45.

It will be recognized from the foregoing description that the bore which extends through the boss l4 from opposite faces l2 of the frame ||l provides a bearing of a length exceeding the dimension of the frame measured in a vertical plane through the bore whereby the shaft l5 carrying the traction wheel I8 is accurately and securely supported to resist the bending forces applied on the shaft 5 through the traction wheel |B during operation of the can opener. It will also be understood that the particular manher in which the cam lever 34 is swung between operative and idle positions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the frame member i l is especially advantageous from the standpoint of confining the operating mechanism in a restricted area compatible with the disposal of the frame II with its long axis parallel to the wall 52 on which the bracket members 58 and 53 are secured.

What is claimed is:

1. In a can opener, the combination with an elongated frame adapted to be attached at one end thereof to a fixed support so as to dispose its opposite end in forwardly projecting relation to the attached end and provided with a bearing at the forward end thereof in transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of said frame, a shaft mounted in said bearing having its ends protruding from the ends of said bearing, a can bead engaging traction wheel fixed to one end of said shaft, means fixed to the opposite end of said shaft for driving the shaft and rotating said traction wheel, a plate positioned above and pivotally secured to the frame for swinging movement about an axis parallel to said bearing, means projecting from the outer swinging end of said plate presenting a pair of opposed legs spaced apart in a direction laterally of the path of movement of said plate in over-hanging relation to said traction wheel, a cutting wheel supported between said legs for rotation about a downwardly inclined axis and movable toward and away from a position in closely overlapping relation to the said traction wheel during swinging movement of said plate, a spring interposed between said plate and frame acting to resist swing ing movement of the plate in the direction of a position wherein the cutting wheel overlaps said traction wheel, and means for moving said plate in opposition to said spring including a cam lever mounted on said frame for movement in a path in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the frame.

2. In a can opener, the combination with an elongated frame adapted to be attached at one end thereof to a fixed support so as to dispose its opposite end in forwardly projecting relation to the attached end and provided with a bearing at the forward end thereof in transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of said frame and of a length at least equal to the dimension of the frame measured on a vertical plane through said bearing, a shaft mounted in said bearing having its ends protruding from the ends of said bearing, a can bead engaging traction wheel fixed to one end of said shaft, means fixed to the opposite end of said shaft for driving the shaft and rotating said traction wheel, a plate positioned above and pivotally secured to the frame for swinging movement about an axis parallel to said bearing, means projecting from the outer swinging end of said plate presenting a pair of opposed legs spaced apart in a direction laterally of the path of movement of said plate in over-hanging relation to said traction wheel, a cutting wheel supported between said legs for rotation about a downwardly inclined axis and movable toward and away from a position in closely overlapping relation to the said traction wheel during swinging movement of said plate, a spring interposed between said plate and frame acting to resist swinging movement of the plate in the direction of a position wherein the cutting wheel overlaps said traction wheel, and means for moving said plate in opposition to said spring including a cam lever mounted on said frame for movement in a path 6 in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the frame.

3. In a can opener as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cam lever is movable from a recumbent position above the frame to an upright position.

4. In a can opener, the combination with an elongated frame adapted to be attached at one end thereof to a fixed support so as to dispose its opposite end in forwardly projecting relation to the attached and and provided with a hearing at the forward end thereof in transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of said frame, a shaft mounted in said bearing having its ends protruding from the ends of said bearing, a can bead engaging traction wheel fixed to one end of said shaft, means fixed to the opposite end of said shaft for driving the shaft and rotating said traction wheel, a plate positioned opposite the top face of said frame, a pair of ears formed integrally with and extending downwardly from transversely aligned edge portions of the plate, transversely aligned recesses formed in the side walls of said frame and intersecting the top face of the frame in which said ears of the plate are received with the outer faces of the ears substantially flush with the outer surface of the side walls of the frame, means for supporting said ears in said recesses for swinging movement about an axis parallel to said bearing, means projecting from the outer swinging end of said plate presenting a pair of opposed legs spaced apart in a direction laterally of the path of movement of said plate in over-hanging relation to said traction wheel, a cutting wheel supported between said legs for rotation about a downwardly inclined axis and movable toward and away from a position in closely overlapping relation to the said traction wheel during swinging movement of said plate, a spring interposed between said plate and frame acting to resist swinging movement of the plate in the direction of a position wherein the cutting wheel overlaps said traction wheel, and means for moving said plate in opposition to said spring including a cam lever mounted on said frame for movement in a path in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the frame.

5. In a can opener, the combination with an elongated frame adapted to be attached at one end thereof to a fixed support so as to dispose its opposite end in forwardly projecting relation to the attached end and provided with a bearing at the forward end thereof in transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of said frame, a shaft mounted in said bearing having its ends protruding from the ends of said bearing, a can bead engaging traction wheel fixed to one end of said shaft, means fixed to the opposite end of said shaft for driving the shaft and rotating said traction wheel. a plate positioned above and pivotally secured to the frame for swinging movement about an axis parallel to said bearing, means projecting from the outer swinging end of said plate presenting a pair of opposed legs spaced apart in a direction laterally of the path of movement of said plate in over-hanging relation to said traction wheel, a cutting wheel supported between said legs for rotation about a downwardly inclined axis and movable toward and away from a position in closely overlapping relation to the said traction wheel during swinging movement of said plate, an upwardly opening depression formed in the top of the frame, a spring seated in said depression and acting against the underside of said plate to resist swinging movement of 7 the plate in the direction of a. position wherein REFERENCES CITED the cutting wheel overlaps said traction Wheel The following references are of record in the and means for moving said plate in opposition to said spring including a. cam lever mounted on me of this patent said frame for movement in a. path in alignment 5 UNITED STATES A ENTS with the longitudinal axis of the frame. Number Name Date JAMES HARVEY CHANDLER 2,070,261 Dazey Feb 9, 1937 MYRON JACKSON ZIMMER- 2,351,531 McLean June 13, 1944