US3766849A

US3766849A - Can crusher

Info

Publication number: US3766849A
Application number: US00264311A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Maron
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-08-14
Filing date: 1972-08-14
Publication date: 1973-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-23

Abstract

A device for crushing metal cans and other objects comprises a rectangular base and two pairs of pivotal lever arms. The lever arms of each pair rotate toward each other about parallel axes located along opposite sides of the base. In operation, a can is placed on its side in the base, the lever arms of one pair are brought together to flatten a zone across the cylindrical wall of the can, and the lever arms of the other pair are then rotated against the ends of the can to complete the crushing operation.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Maren [4 1 Oct. 23, 1973 1 CAN CRUSHER [76] Inventor: Eugene A. Maron, 2791 Bainbridge Ave., Bronx, N.Y. 10458 [22] Filed: Aug. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.2 264,311

[52] 11.8. C1. 100/232, 100/233, ,l00/DIG. 2, 72/394 [51] lint. Cl A21d 2/00 {58] Field of Search 72/380, 381, 384,

72/394, 403; 113/120 BB; lOO/DIG. 2, 232, 233

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1949 Nadolny et al. 100 233 7 1952 Voigt et al. 100 010. 2 5 1953 Danielson IOU/DIG. 2

Wilson et a1 100/D1G. 2 Morrow 100/DIG. 2

Primary Examiner-Lowell A. Larson AttorneyGranville M. Brumbaugh et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A device for crushing metal cans and other objects comprises a rectangular base and two pairs of pivotal lever arms. The lever arms of each pair rotate toward each other about parallel axes located along opposite sides of the base. In operation, a can is placed on its side in the base, the lever arms of one pair are brought together to flatten a zone across the cylindrical wall of the can, and the lever arms of the other pair are then rotated against the ends of the can to complete the crushing operation.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures sum 30F 3 3.766.849

PATENTED BC! 23 I975 CAN causuaa HISTORY OF THE INVENTION In recent years the public has become increasingly concerned with the preservation of natural resources and the problem of environmental pollution. One area of particular interest is the disposal of consumer waste products since many presently used disposal methods contribute to pollution. A solution that has been proposed is the concept of recycling waste materials, one facet of which is the recovery of the metal from cans used to package food products, particularly beverages. Can manufacturers have made an effort to recover this metal by setting up reclamation centers and paying a refund or redemption fee for cans, based on weight. Profitable operation of the reclamation centers, however, necessitates limiting the refund on returned cans to a relatively small amount, generally in the neighborhood of only a few cents per pound. Thus, in order to make the trip to a reclamation center worthwhile, a considerable number of cans have to be collected by the average consumer. In their original shape, empty cans take up considerablespace, which presents a problem in storing cans and in transporting them to the reclamation center. If the cans could be easily crushed or otherwise compressed, it would eliminate their excessive bulk and-make it more convenient for the consumer to save and redeem the cans.

Previously developed can crushers generally rely on a unidirectional crushing system. The most-common basic design is a flat crushing surface with a single unidirectionally acting lever arm. On type of crusher using this design operates by applying force along the length of the cylindrical wall of the can in a direction generally parallel to the planes of the ends of the can. In order to crush the can, the lever arm has to overcome both the resistance to lateral force of the cylindrical wall and the directional stiffening effect of the ends of the can. To avoid the considerable force required with a simple lever system, intricate linkages have been devised to increase the mechanical advantage of this crusher. Another alternative is to combine a can crusherwith an end cutter, wherein the ends of the can are first forcibly cut from the cylindrical body and the body is then crushed using considerably less'force than would have been required otherwise. I

In a second type of can crusher, the can is crushed from end to end along the lenght of the cylindrical wall. Basically, in this type of crusher, the lever arm, rather than immediately engaging the entire wall of the can as it is brought downward, begins by engaging one end of the can and then progressively crushes the can along the length of its cylindrical wall. The advantage of this type of crusher is that it allows the user to concentrate all of his force to one end of the can rather than having to overcome the resistance of both the cylindrical wall and the ends in one action. A modification of this crusher utilizes a lever arm with a V-shape extension which crumples one edge of the end of the can and weakens its resistance, allowing the lever to more easily continue the crushing process. 1 t

In a third type of crusher, the rigidity of the ends is avoided by crushing the can against the lengthwise rigidity of the cylindrical wall. This longitudinal resistance is greater than'the lateral resistance of the wall and modifications have beendeveloped to avoid its full effect. In one such modification, crushing pressure is 2 applied first along one portion of the edge of the end of the can, thereby crushing one lengthwise zone of the cylindrical wall, and then progressively across the end of the can. in a second modification of this type of crusher a rectangular shaped frame is hinged at each corner so as to collapse while maintaining a parallelogram configuration. Thus, crushing force is applied simultaneously at diagonally opposite portions of the edges of the ends of the can.

Although each of these crushers has some advantages over the others, they all generally require either a con- .siderable amount of force, when constructed with a' simple lever, or an intricate and expensive lever linkage to increase the mechanical advantage of the lever.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a unique device for crushing objects, such as individual metal cans or groups of cans, which has no complicated, expensive lever linkages and requires only relatively small operating forces because it crushes in two sequentialmotions. The device comprises a base for supporting the object or objects to be crushed, having a major and a minor axis.At least onemernber of the base defines a supporting plane against which the object is crushed.

At least one first lever is mounted on the base generally adjacent to the center of the major axis of the base. The lever moves pivotally about an axis spaced laterally from and oriented generally parallel to the major axis,

and located above and generally parallel to the supporting plane of the baseQThere is an elongated handle on the lever and aportion of the lever is located and formed for engagement with a first portion of an object supported on the base. In addition, at least one second lever is mounted o the base generally adjacent the center of the minor axis of the base. This lever moves pivotally about an axis spaced laterally from and oriented generally parallel to the minor axis. As with the first lever, the pivotal axis is located aboveand oriented generally parallel to the supporting plane of the base. The lever has an elongated handle and a portion located and formed for engagement with a second portionof the object sup- I ported on the base.

In an exemplary'embodimenfl the base and le ver arms are formed and dimensioned to support and crush a cylindrical can. The pivotal axes of the first. and second levers are oriented generally perpendicular to each other and there are two first and two second lever arms. The lever arms of each'pair pivot about laterally spaced and parallel axes, one axis located. on each side of the major and minor axes of the base. At least one of. the

second lever arms may be mounted on the base for adjustment of its pivotal axis along a path generally paral-j lel to the pivotal axes of the first lever arms.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide for mounting the device on a heavy stationary base, for example, to secure it to a heavy work table or 'to the floor, and to provide only one lever acting in'each'of two mutuallycrossing axes. A rigid mounting of such a form of the device enables the forces exerted on the single acting levers to be reacted to by such .rigid mounting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to the following description of an exemplary embodiment, taken in conjunction with the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a can crusher constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a can crusher taken along view line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the first lever arms in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a can crusher taken laterally through the base, showing the first lever arms in a closed position; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a crusher taken longitudinally through the base, partly broken away to show the locking mechanism of a movable second lever arm.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT A crusher, according to one embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings comprises a base, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, for supporting a can 12, or other object or objects to be crushed. In the embodiment, the base is rectangular in plan and includes two end members 14, which are laterally spaced from each other. As best seen from FIGS. 2 and 4, the end members 14 are generally U- shaped and are oriented parallel to each other. The lower portions of the facing sides of the end members 14 have a plurality of laterally spaced-apart openings which extend only partially through the thickness of each end member 14. Each hole receives one end of a longitudinally extended support member 16, the plurality of support members 16 thus received defining a supporting plane against which the can 12 or other object may be crushed. This plane should be of sufficient width to support a can 12both prior to and'after crushing (when the can 12 will have an expanded lateral dimension as shown in FIG. 3). To assist in maintaining the can 12 in a stationary position while it is subjected to a crushing force, the support members 16 may be arranged relative to each other toform a depression or hollow in the supporting plane, which will closely fit the cylindrical wall of the can 12. This may be accomplished by verticallydisplacing a center support member 16 to a plane below that of the immediately adjacent support members 16, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The base 10 further includes a first and second pair of longitudinally extending mounting members 18, the first pair located vertically above the second. One end of each mounting member 18 is received in an appropriate opening in one of the two end members 14. The openings for the first pair of mounting members 18 are located adjacent to the tip of each leg 19 of the end members 14, while the openings for the second pair of members 18 are located near the base of each leg 19.

The mounting members 18 may be permanently se- I cured to the end members 14 or, as shown in FIG. 4, they may be removable. If the mounting members 18 are removable, the openings in the end members 14 pass entirely through the thickness of the members and members 14 to receive the flanges 20 and nuts 22, as shown in FIG. 4.

Two pairs of crushing lever arms, generally designated 24, are mounted on the base 10 for pivotal movement about appropriate axes. As shown in FIG. 3, each lever arm 24 comprises an elongated handle portion 26 that receives a shaped handle 28 and an opening 29 adjacent one end for pivotal mounting on the base 10. At its pivot end, each arm 24 has an enlargement, generally designated 30, laterally extended and dimensioned to engage and flatten a portion of a can 12, or other object to be crushed. This enlargement 30 may be of any convenient dimensions, such as a sector of a circle of uniform thickness with the rest of the arm 24, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. It is also within the scope of this invention to increase the thickness of the object-engaging enlargement 30 such that it engages a greater area of the object to be'crushed. In an enlargement 30 dimensioned as a sector of a circle, the pivot opening 29 is located between the

radial surfaces

32 and 34, adjacent their intersection, and the handle portion 26 of the arm 24 extends from the intersection of one radial surface 32 and the arcuate surface 35. The relative angular orientation of the handle portion 26 and enlargement 30 may be selected as desired. As shown in FIG. 2, when enlargement 30 is positioned with its radial surface 34 generally vertical to permit an object to be placed on the base 10, the elongated handle portion 26 of arm 24 may be resting on the surface supporting the base 10. Each lever arm 24 of the first pair of arms is mounted on the base 10 by receiving one of the first pair of mounting members 18 in its pivot opening 29. To restrain movement of the arm 24 laterally along member 18, two annular stops or collars 36 encircle the mounting member 18, one on either side of the lever arm 24. Collars 36 are themselves retained in a fixed lateral position by set screws 38. The enlargements 30 of this first pair of arms 24 have their

radial surfaces

32 and 34 approximately one half the width of the base 10, in length, permitting the enlargements 30 to contact a can 12 lying on the base 10 at immediately adjacent points on the upper side of the cylindrical wall of the can 12. As the lever arm handles 28 are raised, the leading radial surfaces 34 of the enlargements 30 rotate in opposite directions, pressing their respective halves of the cans 12 down and toward the sides of the base 10, as shown in FIG. 3. The can 12 is thus subjected to downward crushing pressures which will effectively flatten the cylindrical wall without leaving an uncrushed hump in the center. These pressures will also tend to maintain the Y The second pair of lever arms 24 is mounted on the base 10 by means of two cross members 40, as shown in FIG. 1. Each arm 24 is mounted on a cross member 40 by receiving a portion of the member 40 in its pivot opening 29. Each cross member 40 extends across the width of the base 10 and receives one of the second pair of mounting members 18 in each end. The cross members 40 are thus spaced laterally apart substantially across the length of the base 10 in a horizontal plane vertically spaced between that of the support members 16 and the first pair of mounting members l8. The lever arms 24 are mounted on cross members 40 in any convenient manner. As shown in FIG. 2, each cross member 40 may consist of two sections, one having a nipple 42 which is received in a recess 44 in the other section. The nipple 42 is substantially smaller in diameter than cross member 40 and, at the point where it joins the first section of the member 40, the nipple 42 has an expanded base 46 which serves as the mounting seat for the lever arm 24. This base 46 is received in pivot opening 29 of the arm 24 and the arm 24 is held in place laterally by the ends of the two cross member sections. The sections are secured together by a tapered pin 48 passing through the first section nipple 42 and the second cross. member sectionrThis method of mounting the arm 24 on the cross member 40 is utilized because of the expanded ends 50 of the cross members 40 which receive the mounting members 18. It is within the scope of this invention, however, to eliminate these expanded ends and mount the arms 24 on the members 40 in a manner similar to that used to mount the arms 24 on the first pair of mounting members 18.

To permit adjustment of the second lever arms 24 for proper engagement with objects of varying sizes, the cross members 40 are releasably engageable with the mounting members 18 of the base 10. The openings 52 in the expanded ends 50 of the cross members 40. which receive the members 18 are formed as elongated circles or ovals, as shown in FIG. 3. Crescent shaped protrusions 54 in the lower interior surface of openings 52 are engageable with corresponding grooves or serrations 56 inthe mounting members 18, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the cross me'mbers'40 are freely movable along the members 18 when the lever arms 24 are in a relaxed position. Asthe handle 28 of each lever arm 24 is moved upward to permit its object-engaging enlargeinent. 30 to engage a can 12, the protrusions 54 in the openings 52 are lifted into engagement with the serrations 56 in the members 18 and thereby secure the cross member 40in a fixed position during the crushing operation.

In operation, a'can 12 isplaced in the base 10, as

shown in FIG. 1, and the adjustable second lever arms 24 are moved to appropriate'positions to conveniently. engage theends of the cans 12. The first lever arms 24 are then brought into engagement .with the can 12 and a portion of the can is flattened by raising handles '28 to a vertical position, as shown in- 3,.This produces a flattened "zone across the cylindrical wall of the can 12 and also inclines the ends of the can 12 at an angle toward the center, as shown in FIG. 4. Lastly, the second lever arms 24 are brought into engagement with the ends of the can 12 and gradually force them down on top of the cylindrical wall of the can 12.

It will be understood that the above embodiment is merely exemplary and those skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. Also such modifications and variations are intended to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1.A device for crushing objects, such as individual metal cans, comprising a base for supporting an object to be crushed, the base having a major and a minor axis and at least one member defining a-support plane of the base against which the object is to be crushed; at least one first levermounted on the base, generally adjacent the center of the major axis of the base, for pivotal movement about an axis spaced laterally from and oriented generally parallel to the major axis of the base and located above and oriented generally parallel to the support plane of the base, said lever having an elongated handle and a portion located and formed for engagement with a first portion of an object supported on the base upon pivoting of the lever about its axis toward said object, thereby to flatten said first portion of the object; and at least one second lever mounted on the base, generally adjacent the center of the minor axis of the base, for pivotal movement about an axis spaced longitudinally from and oriented generally parallel to the minor axis of the base and located above and oriented generally parallel to the support plane of said base, said second lever having an elongated handle and a portion located and formed for engagement with a second portion of an object supported on the base upon pivoting of the lever about its axis toward said object, thereby to flatten said second portion of the object.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the pivotal axes of the first and second levers are oriented generally perpendicular relative to one another.

3. A device according to claim ll wherein there are two first lever arms mounted on the base for pivotal movement about two laterally spaced and parallel axes, one on either side of the major axis of the base, said first lever arms being positioned and configured such that the object-engaging portions thereof coact to flatten the said first portion of the object.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein there are two second lever arms mounted on the base for pivotal movement about two laterally spaced and parallel axes, one on either side of the minor axis of the base, said second lever arms being positioned and configured such that the object-engaging portions thereof act to flatten two second portions of said object.

5. A device for crushing objects, such as individual the majciraxis of the base, spaced laterally from each other and said axis, one being on either side thereof, and located above and generally parallel to the support plane of the. base, said first lever arms'each having an elongated handle and a portion located and formed for engagement with a first portion of an object supported on the base upon pivoting of the lever arm about its axis toward said object, both first lever arms thereby coacting to flatten said first portion of the object; and two I second lever'arms mounted on the base, generally adjacent the center oftheminor axis of the base, for pivotal movement about two axes oriented generally parallel to the minor axis of the base and perpendicular to the pivotal axes of the first lever arms, spaced laterally from a each other and said minor axis, one being on either side second lever arms thereby acting to flatten said second 1 portions of the object.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the base and the lever arms are formed and dimensioned to support and crush cylindrical cans and wherein the two first lever arms are located in corresponding positions generally adjacent opposite portions of the cylindrical walls of a can supported on the base, the lever arms being positioned and configured such that the objectengaging portions thereof coact to flatten a center portion of the can.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the two second lever arms are located in corresponding positions generally adjacent the opposite ends of a can, supported on the base, each second lever arm being positioned and configured such that the object-engaging 10 justment of its pivotal axis along a path generally parallel to the pivotal axes of the first lever arms.

Claims

1. A device for crushing objects, such as individual metal cans, comprising a base for supporting an object to be crushed, the base having a major and a minor axis and at least one member defining a support plane of the base against which the object is to be crushed; at least one first lever mounted on the base, generally adjacent the center of the major axis of the base, for pivotal movement about an axis spaced laterally from and oriented generally parallel to the major axis of the base and located above and oriented generally parallel to the support plane of the base, said lever having an elongated handle and a portion located and formed for engagement with a first portion of an object supported on the base upon pivoting of the lever about its axis toward said object, thereby to flatten said first portion of the object; and at least one second lever mounted on the base, generally adjacent the center of the minor axis of the base, for pivotal movement about an axis spaced longitudinally from and oriented generally parallel to the minor axis of the base and located above and oriented generally parallel to the support plane of said base, said second lever having an elongated handle and a portion located and formed for engagement with a second portion of an object supported on the base upon pivoting of the lever about its axis toward said object, thereby to flatten said second portion of the object.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein there are two first lever arms mounted on the base for pivotal movement about two laterally spaced and parallel axes, one on either side of the major axis of the base, said first lever arms being positioned and configured such that the object-engaging portions thereof coact to flatten the said first portion of the object.

5. A device for crushing objects, such as individual metal cans, comprising a base for supporting an object to be crushed, the base having a major and a minor axis and at least one member defining a support plane of the base against which the object is to be crushed; two first lever arms mounted on the base, generally adjacent to the center of the major axis of the base, for pivotal movement about two axes oriented generally parallel to the major axis of the base, spaced laterally from each other and said axis, one being on either side thereof, and located above and generally parallel to the support plane of the base, said first lever arms each having an elongated handle and a portion located and formed for engagement with a first portion of an object supported on the base upon pivoting of the lever arm about its axis toward said object, both first lever arms thereby coacting to flatten said first portion of the object; and two second lever arms mounted on the base, generally adjacent the center of the minor axis of the base, for pivotal movement about two axes oriented generally parallel to the minor axis of the base and perpendicular to the pivotal axes of the first lever arms, spaced laterally from each other and said minor axis, one being on either side thereof, and located above and generally parallel to the support plane of the base, said second lever arms each having an elongated handle and a portion located and formed for engagement with one of two second portions of an object supported on the base upon pivoting of the lever arm about its axis toward said object, said second lever arms thereby acting to flatten said second portions of the object.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the base and the lever arms are formed and dimensioned to support and crush cylindrical cans and wherein the two first lever arms are located in corresponding positions generally adjacent opposite portions of the cylindrical walls of a can supported on the base, the lever arms being positioned and configured such that the object-engaging portions thereof coact to flatten a center portion of the can.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the two second lever arms are located in corresponding positions generally adjacent the opposite ends of a can, supported on the base, each second lever arm being positioned and configured such that the object-engaging portion thereof engages and flattens the end wall of the can immediately adjacent to the said second lever arm.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the support plane of the base is configured to support the cylindrical wall of a metal can by engagement with at least two spaced-apart lengthwise zones thereof.

9. A device according to claim 7 wherein at least one of the second lever arms is mounted on the base for adjustment of its pivotal axis along a path generally parallel to the pivotal axes of the first lever arms.