US2501817A - Adjustable container punch for vents and spout openings - Google Patents

Description

March 28, 1950 2,501,817

- C. E. JAEGER ADJUSTABLE CONTAINER PUNCH FOR VENTS AND SPOUT OPENINGS Filed March 30, 1949 1. a-z u- :0

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Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 ADJUSTABLE CONTAINER PUNCH FOR VENTS AND SPOUT OPENINGS v Charles EQJaegenBronx, N. Y.

Application March 30, 1949, Serial N0. 84,376

My-inventionrelates-to a device, more especially intended for domestic use, which is adapted to be used with liquid containing cans,- such as condensed milk and the like. More specifically stated, the invention relates to a new and improved adjustable can and container puncher for vents and triangular spout openings.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for making a pouring opening and a vent opening in a can such as a milk can, or in any other container or can for liquid or granular material. I

. A further object of the invention is toprovide a can piercing apparatus including a piercing member normally held spaced from thecan and movable to piercethe can after the piercing member has moved through a predetermined distance. Still another object of the present invention is the provisionof a device of the character described which is adjustable, so that it can be used for containers and cans of all sizes, shapes, and diameters, for cans and the like which are much smaller than the normal cans as well as for large oneor two-gallon cans and the like.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described which is simple and handy in operation, which is light in weight and can be manufactured and sold at a relatively small cost, but which is also durable, sturdy and well adaptedfor withstanding the rough usage to which devices of this type frequently are subjected.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character-described which will punch a pouring opening that has the shape of a triangular spout which per mits a complete draining or use of the can contents without permitting improper escape or leakage and the like.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

2 Claims. (01. 30-1-6) Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view;

- Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a can with holes;

Fig. 5 .a detailed fractional view of a puncher;

and, i

Fig. 6 is a detailed fractional side view of the puncher of Fig. 5.

Similarreference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing the numeral 2 denotes a longitudinal plate of metal or of any other suitable material, which is provided with a longitudinal stepped slot 4 and with a threaded aperture 6 in its non-slotted portion. A pair of pins 8 are extended from the lower side of the non-slotted end portion of said plate. A tubular base 10, which is provided with a collar portion I 2 and an externally threaded lower end portion I4, is attached to the plate 2 by screwing its portion l4 into the aperture 6. The bore of the base in has a wide lower portion l6 and a reduced up.- per portion l8. A piercing shaft 20 is slidably extended through the base I 0 and is non-rotatable therein. The shaft 20 preferably is provided with a partially flattened section 22, and a set screw 24, or a pin or the like, engages said section 22 for preventing a rotation of the shaft 20 relative to the base 10. A puncher 26, which may be made as a unit with the shaft 20 or which may be secured thereto by any suitable means, is slidable in the lower bore portion l6 of the base ID. The pointed section of the puncher 26 is cut in five triangular facets 28, 30', 32, and 34. There are two small facets 32, one of which is between the facets 30 and 34, and the other facet 32'is between the facets 28 and 34, as may be seen in Fig. 3. The facets 28, 30 and 34 are of equal size while the facets 32 are so small that the punch opening 38 in the can 40, produced by the punch 26, is substantially triangular (Fig. 4). The facets 28 and 30, which preferably are of the same dimensions are angularly joined to each other at the edge 36 which preferably is in alignmentwith the longitudinal axis of the plate 2 and which is directed toward the non-slotted extremity of the plate 2. The facet 34 preferably is right-angularly disposed to the edge 36 (in cross-section), so that a triangular spout opening 38 can be punched in a can 40. This spout opening 38 permits a clean pouring in substantially the same manner as if the can 40 were provided with a spout and will prevent an escape or leakage or a running down on the outer side of the can of the liquid poured out from the can. To the upper end of the shaft 20 there is secured punched I Letters Patent is:

a handle or knob 42, and a, spring 44 is interposed between the knob 42 and the upper end of the base [0. A block 45, which has the shape of an inverted T in cross-section (Fig. 2), is slidable in the stepped slot 4 of the plate 2, and has extending from its upper portion a tubular portion 48, whose lower section is provided with an external thread 48. A bore, whose lower portion 50 is wider than its upper portion 52, extends through the block 45 and the tubular portion 46, and a puncher 54 is slidable in the bore portion 50. A shaft 56 is made as a unit with, or secured to. the puncher 54 and is extended through the bore portion 52. A handle or a knob 58 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 55, and a washer member 60 as well as a spring 62 is interposed between the knob 58 and a nut member 64 that is screwed upon the externally threaded section 48 of the tubular portion 46. A pair of pins 58 are extended from the lower side of the block 45 beyond the plate 2.

The pins 8 and 66 are adapted for laterally engaging the upper end portion of a can, and said first puncher 26 is adapted for punching a triangular spout opening in the top of a can, while said puncher 54 is adapted for punching a vent hole 68 in the can, when the knobs 42 and 58 are depressed as is indicated in dash-and-dotted lines in Fig. 1. Since the block 45 is slidable on the plate 2, the device can be adjusted easily and quickly for containers and cans of all sizes, shapes,

and diameters, for cans and the like which are much smaller than the normal cans as well as for large oneor two-gallon cans and the like. After adjustment the nut member can be tightened, so that the block 45 can no'longer be moved relatively to the plate 2 and will remain in the properly adjusted position until the nut member 64 is loosened.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

vention which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by l. The combination, in an adjustable can puncher for a vent hole and a triangular spout opening, of a longitudinal plate provided with a longitudinal slot which extends over the major portion of said plate, with a pair of reciprocating piercing members each of which has a base with a stem thereon whose pointed lower end extends through said plate and one of said piercing members being stationary while the other is movable along the slot of said plate, and a nut member screwed upon the base of said movable piercing member and being adapted for retaining the movable piercing member in a predetermined position on said plate.

2. An adjustable can puncher for vents arid triangular spout openings comprising a long tudinal partially slotted plate whose non-slotted portion is provided with a threaded aperture, a first pair of pins being extended from the lower side of the non-slotted end portion of said plate, a tubular base extending from the upper side of said plate having its lower extremity screwed into the threaded aperture of said plate, a first reciprocating piercing member being non-rotatably extended through said tubular base and having a pointed lower end portion whose surface is cut in triangular facets, a perforated block being slidable in the slotted portion of said plate and having an externally threaded tubular portion which extends upwardly through the slotted portion of said plate, a second reciprocating piercing member being extended through said block, a nut member screwed upon that section of said tubular block portion which protrudes beyond the upper side of said plate, and a second pair of pins being extended from the lower side of said block through the slotted portion of said plate, said pairs of pins being adapted for laterally engaging the upper end portion of a can, and said first piercing member being adapted for punching a triangular spout opening in the top of a can, while said second piercing member is adapted for punching a vent hole in the top of a can.

CHARLES E. JAEGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Kershenstein July 15, 1941

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