US3071286A

US3071286A - Can opener and sealer

Info

Publication number: US3071286A
Application number: US42721A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph A Valvano
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-07-13
Filing date: 1960-07-13
Publication date: 1963-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-01

Description

Jan. 1, 1963 R. A. VALVANO 3,071,286

CAN OPENER AND SEALER Filed July 13. 1960 I l l FIG.I

"I 42 44 1 24 Fibs-x: 44 l 26 30 2s 34 I2 1 H6. 3 FIG. 4

36 a F|G.8 FIG IO 36 54 so 50- 5s 44 i 4e FIG.6 FIG 5 FIG.'!' FIG.9

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RALPH A. VA/LVANO Lg/MW ATTORNEY United States Patent 01 3,071,286 Patented Jan. 1, 1963 :ice

3,071,286 CAN OPENER AND SEALER Ralph A. Valvano, 602 S.'Quaker, Tulsa, Okla. Filed July 13, 1960, Ser. No. 42,721 3 Claims. (Cl. 220-51) This invention relates to improvements in can opener and sealer devices; more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in the punch means of a can opener and sealer wherein the device is more easily removed from the can to which it is attached.

This application is a continuation-in-part of an application entitled Can Opener and Sealer filed October 20, 195 8, having Serial Number 768,489.

An object of this invention is to provide improvements in means for puncturing and sealing metal containers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for puncturing a fluid outlet and vent opening in a can and having means for sealing the can after the openings are punched.

Another object of this invention is to provide a punch blade having a tapered shoulder portion whereby said blade is easily aligned with the elongated hole punched by the blade in the can facilitating removal of the can opener and sealer.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved gasket means whereby the possibility ofleakage of fluid past the punching mechanism of the can opener and sealer is lessened.

Another object of this invention is to provide a can opener and sealer which is of more simple construction, more dependable in its function, and more inexpensively manufactured than other can opener and sealer means presently available.

These and other objects and a better understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a typical metal container or can with the apparatus of this invention affixed thereto as it would be situated after the can has been punched and while it is being sealed by the mechanism of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of a metal can having the mechanism of this invention positioned thereon.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 showing in greater detail the components constituting the assembled mechanism.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side view showing the top portion of a metal can with the mechanism of this invention attached but with the punch removed from the pouring hole and the opener tilted by hand pressure in an attitude wherein fluid contained within the can may be emptied.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the wedge shaped punch element of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is an end view of the wedge shaped punch element of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a top view of the aligning washer of this invention.

FIGURE 8 is a side view of the aligning washer of this invention.

FIGURE 9 is a top view of a sealing gasket used to seal the wedge shaped punch to prevent leakage.

FIGURE 10 is a cross sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIGURE 9 showing the configuration of the sealing gasket.

Referring now to the drawings, first to FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2, a typical metal container or can is indicated by the numeral 12. This is a can of the nature in which condensed milk, fruit juices, and other products are customarilypackaged for marketing to the general public. Positioned on top of can 12 is the can puncher and sealer mechanism of the invention indicated generally by the numeral 14 having an elongated, rather thin metallic main body portion 16 supporting a fixed punch element indicated generally by numeral 18 at one end and a movable punch element indicated generally by the numeral 20 at the opposite end. The

punch elements

18 and 20 are arranged so that fixed punch 18 and movable punch 20 will be positioned near the periphery of the top of can 12 and substantially on a diameter of the top of can 12.

The can opener and sealer 14 is used to provide appropriate openings in can 12 by placing it first across the top of can 12. A sharp blow, as with the heel of the hand, is then struck on movable punch knob 22 driving movable punch element 20 into the top of the can 12. Next a blow is struck, again as by the heel of the hand, on the fixed punch portion 18. This forms two holes in can 12. The hole formed by the movable punch element 20 serves two purposes. First, it provides means whereby air may enter can 12 as the liquid contents are emptied. Second, it provides a means whereby the can opener and sealer 14 is retained in position on top of the can 12. The hole formed by fixed punch portion 18 is utilized for discharging the contents of the can 12.

Referring to FIGURE 3 the details of construction and assembly of the elements of the invention are more clearly disclosed. An inwardly formed angular lip portion 24 extends substantially perpendicularly to body portion 16, and is disposed to engage the upper vertical edge 26 of can 12. A fixed punch 28 is permanently secured to body portion 16, as by welding, brazing or bradding. Fixed punch 28 has a slanting cutting surface 30 adaptable for piercing can 12 when pressure or a blow is applied to the upper surface of body portion 16 in the vicinity of fixed punch portion 18. Surrounding fixed punch portion 18 is a gasket element 32 composed of sponge rubber or some similar resilient matter which, when compressed around fixed punch element 28, serves to seal can 12, preventing the escape of any liquid contained therein in the event the can is inadvertently overturned. After fixed punch 28 has been forced through the top of can 12, forming a hole therein, it can be subsequently removed by applying manual pressure to lip portion 24 in an upward direction, raising fixed punch 28 from engagement with the hole in the can 12 and permitting liquid to be discharged through the hole.

Movable punch assembly 20 is composed of a wedge shaped punch 34 integrally aifixed to a stem 36, a knob 22 secured to stem 36, a compression coiled spring 40 fitted in compression between knob 38 and body portion 16, a washer member 42 which serves to align and slideably support stem 36 and a gasket element 44 supported by washer member 42.

Stem 26 extends through an elongated slot 46 (best shown in FIGURE 2) in body member 36 in a manner such that the movablepunch element 28 may be slid back and forth along the length of body element 16 to adjust for various sizes of can 12 to which the can opener and sealer 14 is to be applied. The compressive tension of spring 48 will serve to maintain movable punch 20 in the position desired while it is being used until its position relative to body portion 16 has been manually altered.

Wedge shaped punch 34 is shown in greater detail in FIGURE 5 and FIGURE 6. The wedge shaped punch 34 is formed with a pointed end 48 to adapt it for extending through the upper surface of can 12. Shoulder surfaces 59, extending substantially vertically to the axis of stem 36, serve to maintain the Wedge shaped punch 34 within can 12 by bearing against the inside surfaces of can 12 after the wedge shaped punch 34 enters the can and is rotated approximately by manually turning knob 38.

(a FIGURE 8 is composed of a relatively thin flat upper portion 52, a relatively thin flat and smaller diameter portion 54 supported substantially parallel to the upper portion 52 and a tubular connecting portion 56. The upper portion 52, lower portion 54 and tubular connecting portion 56 are integrally formed into a single element. Tubular opening 58 has an internal diameter of a size to snugly but slideably receive stem 36 of wedge shaped punch 34.

Washer member 42 is of configuration to receive gasket element 44. Gasket element 44 has a cylindrical recessed area 60 adaptable for receiving lower portion 54 of washer member 42. A portion of washer member 44 extends beyond lower portion 54 of washer element 42 to engage the upper surface of can 12.

The method of using the can opener and sealer 14, and the function of the various elements is best disclosed in FIGURE 4. The can opener and sealer 14 is first positioned on top of can 12. A blow is struck with the heel of the hand on top of knob 22 driving wedge shaped punch 34 into the top of the can. After entering the top of can 12, knob 22 is manually forced downward, compressing spring 40. Knob 33 is then rotated approximately 90 from wedge shaped punch 34 to be rotated in either direction from the position in which it entered the top of can 12. With the wedge shaped punch 34 thus rotated and knob 22 released upper shoulder surfaces 50 encounter the top of the can, retaining wedge shaped punch 34 within the can. This exerts a downward pressure, by the compression of spring 40, onto body portion 16 and thereby to the upper portion 52 of washer member 42, compressing gasket member 44 against the top of can 12. This prevents liquid from leaking around wedge shaped punch 34. The close fit between the stem portion 36 of wedge shaped member 34 and hole 58 in washer member 42 prevents any liquid leakage at this point.

Lip portion 24 is aligned with edge 26 of can 12 diametrically opposite the point where wedge shaped punch 34 is driven into the can. A blow is then struck on fixed punch portion 18 driving fixed punch 28 into the top of can 12. When it is desired to remove liquid from the interior of can 12 punch 28 is removed from the engagement with the hole it has formed in the upper surface of can 12 by manually exerting pressure, as with the thumb, on lip portion 24, lifting punch 28 out of the hole and then sliding body portion 16 back toward movable punch Air can be admitted into the hole punched by wedge shaped punch 34 by pressing on the rearward portion of body member 16, as with the thumb 62, compressing one side of gasket element 44, and permitting air to flow under the elevated opposite side into can 12.

After sufficient liquid has been removed from can 12 punch 28 can be reinserted into the hole previously formed, so that gasket member 32 seals the hole. In this manner can 12 can be opened and resealed as many times as is required.

When the can 12 has been emptied of its contents the can opener and sealer 14 may be removed from the can as follows: First, punch 28 is removed from the hole formed by it by exerting upward pressure on lip portion 24. Next, knob 38 is turned, rotating wedge shaped punch 34, until a click is heard. This click sound indi- 'cates that wedge shaped punch 34 has aligned with the rectangular hole it has formed in the top of can 12 and 1's in a position to be removed. Upward pull on knob 38 removes wedge shaped punch 34 from Within the can 12. 'The can opener and sealer 14 is then ready for reuse on :another can.

The advantages and improvements of the wedge shaped punch 34, as used in conjunction with washer member 42 and gasket element 44, are numerous and may not be readily apparent from a casual observation of the con struction of these elements. One disadvantage which exists in previously known can punchers and sealers is that the wedge shaped punch 34, after entering the top of the can 12, is difiicult to remove because the operator is never aware of when it is accurately aligned with the rectangular shaped opening for removal. By providing the tapered sshoulder surfaces 50 on wedge shaped member 34, the wedge shaped punch 34 is guided into the rectangular shaped slot it has formed in the top of can 12 when it is properly aligned. As knob 38 is turned a decided click will be heard and felt by the operator when alignment of punch 34 is achieved with the opening it has formed. This eliminates the exasperating diificulties encountered in other mechanisms of this type wherein removing the wedge shaped punch is ditficult.

Another advantage of the present embodiment of the invention is the provision against leakage around the wedge shaped punch 34. The provision of circular stem 36 snugly but slidably engaging hole 58 in washer member 42 prevents any fluid leakage. The tubular opening 58 also provides an aligning means whereby stem 38 is accurately supported in relation to the body member 16. The configuration of gasket element 44, supported in washer member 42, provides improved sealing against possible leakage of the liquid contained in can 12 and also permits greater air flow into the can when it is being emptied of its contents.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity it manifests that many changes may be made to details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. A device adaptable for opening and sealing a can comprising; an elongated longitudinally slotted substantially inflexible body adapted to be placed diametrically across one end of said can; a first punch member affixed to said body adjacent one end of said body adaptable for punching a first hole in said can whereby contents of said can may be discharged; a wedge shaped second punch member adaptable for punching a rectangular shaped second hole in said can, said second punch member having an integrally formed cylindrical shank extending therefrom, the upper surfaces of said wedge shaped second punch member being of a tapered configuration; means of slideably and resiliently supporting said second punch member to said body wherein said shank extends through said longitudinal slot in said body; a knob afiixed to said shank adaptable for driving said second punch member through said can and for rotatably positioning said second punch member whereby the upper surfaces of said wedge shaped punch member are disposed to engage the inner surface of said can after said second punch has entered said can to support said device to said can and whereby said second punch member may be rotated to align said tapered upper surfaces with the said second hole formed by said second punch member for releasing said device from said can; a spring disposed around said shank and compressed between said body and said knob resiliently biasing said second punch towards said body; and flexible sealing pad means carried by said body adaptable to cover said first and second holes formed by said first and second punch members whereby said first punch member may be disengaged from contact with said can for the discharge of liquid from said can and whereby said body may be manually tilted with reference to said second punch member to partially uncover said second hole formed in said can by said second punch member to permit said can to receive air while liquid is being discharged falls into said rectangular second hole as said second punch member is rotated by said knob for releasing said device from said can.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said means of slideably and resiliently supporting said second punch member to said body includes a washer member, said washer member having a larger and a smaller circular flange portion positioned with respect to each other in parallel planes and supported to each other by an integrally formed tubular portion snugly but slideably receiving said shank of said second punch member, one portion of said larger flange member engaging said body whereby said shank of said second punch member is supported substantially perpendicularly to said body, and whereby said contents of said can is prevented from leaking at said second punch member by said snug fit of said shank with said opening of said'tubular portion, and wherein said sealing pad means carried by said body adaptable to cover said second hole formed by said second punch member includes a resilient gasket positioned around said tubular portion and between said larger and smaller flange portions, said gasket having a recessed portion receiving said smaller flange whereby said gasket extends beyond said smaller flange to resiliently engage the outer surface of said can around said rectangular second hole formed in said can by said second punch member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,082,850 Laney et a1. Dec. 30, 19 3 ,145,778 McCrystle July 6, 1915 1,230,344 Tweeddale June 19, 1917 1,773,019 Wickers Aug. 12, 1930 2,024,913 Dilley Dec. 17, 1935

Claims

1. A DEVICE ADAPTABLE FOR OPENING AND SEALING A CAN COMPRISING; AN ELONGATED LONGITUDIANALLY SLOTTED SUBSTANTIALLY INFLEXIBLE BODY ADAPTED TO BE PLACED DIAMETRICALLY ACROSS ONE END OF SAID CAN; A FIRST PUNCH MEMBER AFFIXED TO SAID BODY ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID BODY ADAPTABLE FOR PUNCHING A FIRST HOLE IN SAID CAN WHEREBY CONTENTS OF SAID CAN MAY BE DISCHARGED; A WEDGE SHAPED SECOND PUNCH MEMBER ADAPTABLE FOR PUNCHING A RECTANGULAR SHAPED SECOND HOLE IN SAID CAN, SAID SECOND PUNCH MEMBER HAVING AN INTEGRALLY FORMED CYLINDRICAL SHANK EXTENDING THEREFROM, THE UPPER SURFACES OF SAID WEDGE SHAPED SECOND PUNCH MEMBER BEING OF A TAPERED CONFIGURATION; MEANS OF SLIDEABLY AND RESILIENTLY SUPPORTING SAID SECOND PUNCH MEMBER TO SAID BODY WHEREIN SAID SHANK EXTENDS THROUGH SAID LONGITUDINAL SLOT IN SAID BODY; A KNOB AFFIXED TO SAID SHANK ADAPTABLE FOR DRIVING SAID SECOND PUNCH MEMBER THROUGH SAID CAN AND FOR ROTATABLY POSITIONING SAID SECOND PUNCH MEMBER WHEREBY THE UPPER SURFACES OF SAID WEDGE SHAPED PUNCH MEMBER ARE DISPOSED TO ENGAGE THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID CAN AFTER SECOND PUNCH HAS ENTERED SAID CAN TO SUPPORT SAID DEVICE TO SAID CAN AND WHEREBY SAID SECOND PUNCH MEMBER MAY BE ROTATED TO ALIGN SAID TAPERED UPPER SURFACES WITH THE SAID SECONDS HOLE FORMED