US55878A

US55878A - Improved can-opener

Info

Publication number: US55878A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1866-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 1883-06-26

Description

L UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

O. J. LIVERMORE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND CLARK, SAWYER &J CO., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVED CAN-OPENER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,878, dated June 26, 1866.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that l, O. J. LIVERMORE, of the city and county ot' Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ot' the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part ot' this specitication, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved can-opener, and Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal central section ot' the cau-opener when applied to use in opening or removing the cover from a can, the upper partot' the latter being shown in section to illustrate more fully my' invention.

[n the drawings, A represents my device, in which B is the handle, C the part which passes over the top of the can, having an inclined lip, D, projecting down from its lower side. A curved projectingpiece, E, extends from the center, and is provided with a sharp angular edge or lip, a, all as shown in the drawings.

ln Fig.2, F represents the upper part of one of Lymans patent calls, G the rubber or elastic ring or packing, which fits into the groove b, formed 011 the outer surface ot' the can, as indicated in the drawings.

H represents the cover, which is usually made ot tin.

One great objection to the use ot' the abovedescribed can, known as Lymans patentcam7 is that the cover H cannot be conveniently removed 5 and although a groove is made in such a manner that a pin or some sharp-pointed instrument can be inserted under the packingring G to admit air, in practice it is found that the cover H often adheres so closely, by reason of corrosion and other causes, that it cannot be removed without the use of considerable force, even after the air has been admittedv within the can, as above stated.

In trying to remove the -cover under such circumstances persons without proper conveniences at hand for the purpose often injure their fingers and nails. The dit'ticulty ot opening it is urged as a strong objection to the can, which otherwise is regarded as one ot' the best for preserving fruit from the air.

By myinvention all of the above objections are obviated, While it is not absolutely necessary to admit the air in order to remove the cover, though it can be removed more easily by lirst admitting the air.

The operation is as follows: Handle B is clasped by the hand and the device placed upon the cover H with the angular edge a under the edgeV of the cover upon" one side'ot' the can, while the inclined lip D rests upon the upper outer' edge of the cover, all as shown in the drawings in black and yellow lines, Fig. 2. Handle B is now raised, which causes the inclined lip D to force the cover down and toward the can on that side, while the angular lip a elevates the other side of the cover, as shown in red lines. l

lt will thus be seen that covers to this class otl cans can be easily and safely removed by the aid of my device.

Having described my improved device, what I claim therein as ot' my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent as a new article of manufacture, is-

A can-opener constructed substantially as above described.

O. J. LIVERMORE.

Witnesses THos. H. DODGE, H. L. FULLER.