WO2002008072A1

WO2002008072A1 - Can opener coupled to beverage can

Info

Publication number: WO2002008072A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/001028
Authority: WO
Inventors: Han-Jong Lee
Original assignee: Lee Han Jong
Priority date: 2000-07-20
Filing date: 2001-06-15
Publication date: 2002-01-31
Also published as: AU2001264386A1; KR200209059Y1

Abstract

A can opener mounted to a beverage can, designed to allow a user to easily open the can. This can opener (20) has two generally triangular small openings (27) longitudinally and symmetrically defined on the opposite sides of the tail portion of the opener (20) by cutting the opener at predetermined positions while leaving a bridge between them prior to cutting said bridge transversely at its leading portion having a shorter width into front and rear parts. A pushing portion (28) is formed by said rear part of the bridge at a position between the two small openings (27). A pushing supporter (29) is formed by said front part of the bridge. This supporter (29) is pressed down to have an L-shaped cross-section. Two semi-circular grooves (26) are symmetrically formed on a rim (25) of the opener (20) by cutting the rim at positions corresponding to the middle part of said pushing portion (28).

Description

CAN OPENER COUPLED TO BEVERAGE CAN

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to a beverage can typically made of aluminum, containing therein a variety of beverages such as soda pop, beer, etc., and, more particularly, to a can opener coupled to such a beverage can with which a user is allowed to open the can in an easy manner to thereby drink the beverage.

Background Art

As well known to those skilled in the art, so called "beverage cans" generally refer to aluminum cans containing therein such beverages as soda pop, beer, etc., whose top portions are sealed with lids so as to enable them to be sold to the consumers or users. The users are able to open the beverage cans by means of the can openers installed to the aluminum beverage cans, in order to drink the beverages. Since the beverage cans are originally constructed with their own can openers with which the users open the cans as desired, the users can drink the beverages in an easy and convenient manner, regardless of place.

However, the conventional can opener needs a large force to open the beverage can with the can opener installed thereto, thereby causing a user to feel difficulties or inconveniences while opening the can only with his fingertip.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a conventional can opener 10 is integrated to the top surface 1 of the can. That is, the opener 10 is fixed to the top surface 1 by a stationary rivet 12 such that its leading portion 11 comes into contact with the opening portion la of the top surface 1. Around the stationary rivet 12 is formed a U-shaped opening 13 so as to allow the leading portion 11 of the can opener 10 to be levered down around the rivet 12 during a can opening action. On the tail portion of the can opener 10 is formed a finger holder 14, with which the leading portion 11 is levered down around the stationary rivet 12 so as to push the opening portion la to break the portion la along a tearing line lb. In front of the finger holder 14 is formed an approximately oval-shaped opening 15 through which a user is allowed to insert his finger. The opening portion la is defined by the tearing line lb formed on the top surface 1.

The finger holder 14 is bent to be slightly raised from the top surface 1 of the can, so that a user's fingertip can be inserted into the gap between the finger holder 14 and the top surface 1 of the can body. The can opener 10 is folded downward along its outside edge to form a reinforcing rim 16 that enhances the overall bending strength of the can opener 10.

The distance between the stationary rivet 12 and the tail edge of the can opener 10 is longer than the distance between the stationary rivet 12 and the edge of the leading portion 11 of the opener 10, so that the opening portion la can be pushed by the leading portion 11 in response to a levering action of the opener 10 around the stationary rivet 12.

With this configuration, when a user attempts to open a beverage can having such a conventional can opener 10, he inserts his fingertip into the gap between the finger holder 14 and the top surface 1 prior to pulling upward on the finger holder 14. However, since the leading portion 11 of the can opener 10 is brought into contact with the top surface of the opening portion 1 a, a sufficient force must be applied to the opening portion la from the initial stage of the levering action so as to brake the opening portion la along the tearing line lb.

As described above, in order to open a conventional beverage can, the finger holder 14 is to be pulled upward from the initial stage of the levering action with a large force, and so it is somewhat difficult to open the can. In particular, it is further difficult for females, children and the aged who are physically weak to open the beverage can.

Disclosure of the Invention

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a can opener coupled to a beverage can, of which the finger holder is easily pulled upward with a small force by a user's fingertip, thereby providing the user with convenience while opening the can.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by a provision of a can opener mounted to the top surface of a beverage can by means of a stationary rivet at a position around the center of said top surface such that the leading portion of the can opener comes into contact with an opening portion formed on the top surface of the can body by a tearing line, comprising a finger holder formed on the tail portion of the can opener, a U-shaped opening formed around the stationary rivet so as to allow the opener to be levered around the rivet during a levering action of the opener for opening the can, and a rim formed along the outside edge of the can opener by folding said edge in order to enhance the overall bending strength of the can opener, further comprising: two generally triangular small openings longitudinally and symmetrically defined on opposite sides of the tail portion of said can opener by cutting the opener at predetermined positions while leaving a bridge between them prior to cutting said bridge transversely at the leading portion of the bridge having a shorter width into front and rear parts; a pushing portion formed by said rear part of the cut bridge at a position between the two small openings; a pushing supporter formed by said front part of the cut bridge, said supporter being pressed down to have an L-shaped cross-section; and two semi-circular grooves symmetrically formed on said rim by cutting the rim at positions corresponding to the middle part of said pushing portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage can having a conventional can opener;

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view showing the structure of the can opener of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the structure of a can opener according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view showing the structure of the can opener according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the beverage can is opened by means of the can opener according to the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the beverage can is opened by means of the can opener according to the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the structure of a can opener according to the present invention, Fig. 4 is a side sectional view showing the structure of the can opener according to the present invention, Fig. 5 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the beverage can is opened by means of the can opener according to the present invention, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the beverage can is opened by means of the can opener according to the present invention. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, a can opener 20 of the present invention is fixed to the top surface 1 of a can body by means of a stationery rivet 22 around the center of the top surface 1 such that the leading portion 21 of the can opener 20 comes into contact with an opening portion la formed on the top surface 1. A finger holder 24 is formed on the tail portion of the can opener 20. A U-shaped opening 23 is formed on the opener 20 at a position around the stationary rivet 22, thus allowing the opener 20 to be levered around the rivet 22 to allow the leading portion 21 to push the opening portion la and break the portion la along a tearing line. In addition, the can opener 20 is folded downward along its outside edge to form a rim 26 capable of enhancing the overall bending strength of the leading portion 21.

The opening portion la of the top surface 1 is defined by a tearing line lb in a conventional manner.

The distance between the tail edge of the can opener 20 and the central portion of the stationary rivet 22 is longer than the distance between the edge of the leading portion 21 of the opener 20 and the central portion of the rivet 22, so as to allow the opener 20 to act as a lever around the stationary rivet 22.

The finger holder 24 of the can opener 20 is bent upwardly over the top surface 1 of the can, thus forming a gap between the holder 24 and the top surface 1 and allowing a user's fingertip to be inserted into the gap when necessary to open the can. Even if it has not been shown in the drawings, a front portion of the finger holder 24 formed on the tail portion of the can opener 20 may have a holder opening thereon in a conventional manner, so as to allow a user to more stably grip the finger holder in an easy and convenient manner when opening the can. The can opener 20 according to the present invention is comprised of two generally triangular small openings 27, which are longitudinally and symmetrically defined on opposite sides of the tail portion of the opener 20 by cutting the opener 20 at predetermined positions while leaving a bridge between them. The bridge is, thereafter, transversely cut at its leading portion having a shorter width into two parts: front and rear parts. A pushing portion 28 is formed by the rear part of the cut bridge. That is, the pushing portion 28 is formed between the two small openings 27 by cutting the bridge transversely at the leading portion of the bridge. A pushing supporter 29 is formed by the front part of the cut bridge. This supporter 29 is pressed down to have an L-shaped cross-section. Two semi- circular grooves 25 are symmetrically formed on the rim 26 by cutting the rim 26 at positions corresponding to the middle part of the pushing portion 28.

The rear corners of the two triangular small openings 27 are rounded to reinforce the strength of the openings 27.

When the pushing supporter 29 is subjected to a press process of making the L-shaped cross-section of the supporter 29, the length of the supporter 29 is somewhat increased, and therefore, the rear edge thereof is positioned more rearwardly than the front edge of the pushing portion 28, which is positioned over and somewhat overlaps it.

The pushing portion 28 has a longitudinal reinforcement part 28a. This reinforcement part 28a has a convex top, and reinforces the bending strength of the pushing portion 28 so as to allow the pushing portion 28 to maintain its stiffness during a levering action of the opener 20. A single reinforcement part 28a is illustrated in the drawings, but it should be understood that two or more reinforcement parts may be formed on the pushing portion 28 without affecting the functioning of this invention. The semi-circular grooves 25 serve to partially remove the rim 26 and form two notches on the rim 26. Of course, it should be understood that the grooves 25 may have another shape, different from the above-mentioned semicircular shape, without affecting the functioning of this invention. In addition, it is possible to form another structure in place of the grooves 25 on the rim 26 if the structure accomplishes a desired operational function expected from the grooves 25.

The can opener 20 according to the present invention is preferably produced through a pressing process, including a cutting process, a bending process, and etc. The opener 20 is mounted to the top surface 1 of the can by a riveting process.

To open the beverage can, the can opener 20 will be operated as follows: A user inserts his fingertip into the gap between the finger holder 24 and the top surface 1 of the can body, and pulls upward the finger holder 24 with a small force. The can opener 20 is thus primarily bent along a first virtual line extending between the two semi-circular grooves 25 formed on the rim 26 of the opener 20, except for the pushing portion 28, and at a second virtual line extending between the rear corners of the two small openings 27 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Since the rim 26 is partially removed by the two semi-circular grooves 25, the structure of the opener 20 is very weak in bending strength along the first virtual line extending between the two semi-circular grooves 26. The opener 20 is also weak along the second virtual line extending between the rear corners of the two small openings 27 since no reinforcing means is provided along the second virtual line. The can opener 20 is thus easily bent along the first and second virtual lines at the initial stage of the levering action of the opener 20.

Fig. 5 shows that the primary levering action of the opener 20 is stopped at a time the front edge of the pushing portion 28 is jammed by the corner of the L- shaped pushing supporter 29.

When the finger holder 24 is raised from the top surface 1 of the can by the primary levering action of the opener 20 as described above, the finger holder 24 can be easily held and strongly pulled upward with two fingers. Since the can opener 20 serves to act as a lever around the stationary rivet 22, the leading portion 21 of the can opener 20 pushes the opening portion la of the top surface 1 to break the opening portion la along the tearing line lb, thus opening the can.

Industrial Applicability

As apparent from the above description, in the can opener of a beverage can according to the present invention, a finger holder is at first pulled up by a user's finger with a small force and then strongly pulled up by two fingers holding it, thereby easily and effectively opening the can, in comparison with a can opener according to the prior art.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. A can opener mounted to a top surface of a beverage can by means of a stationary rivet at a position around the center of said top surface such that a leading portion of the can opener comes into contact with an opening portion formed on the top surface of the can body by a tearing line, comprising a finger holder formed on a tail portion of the can opener, a U-shaped opening formed around the stationary rivet so as to allow the opener to be levered around the rivet during a levering action of the opener for opening the can, and a rim formed along an outside edge of the can opener by folding said edge in order to enhance the overall bending strength of the can opener, further comprising: two generally triangular small openings longitudinally and symmetrically defined on opposite sides of the tail portion of said can opener by cutting the opener at predetermined positions while leaving a bridge between them prior to cutting said bridge transversely at a leading portion of the bridge having a shorter width into front and rear parts; a pushing portion formed by said rear part of the cut bridge at a position between the two small openings; a pushing supporter formed by said front part of the cut bridge, said supporter being pressed down to have an L-shaped cross-section; and two semi-circular grooves symmetrically formed on said rim by cutting the rim at positions corresponding to a middle part of said pushing portion.

2. The can opener according to claim 1, wherein said pushing portion has a longitudinal reinforcement part, said reinforcement part having a convex top and reinforcing the bending strength of said pushing portion.