Patent ID: 6279236
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: B67B

Abstract:
A can opener comprising:a motor housing;a can drive wheel rotatable with respect to said motor housing about an axis extending through said motor housing;an electric drive motor mounted in said motor housing and connected to said can drive wheel;a drive motor-control switch;a can-opening blade pivotally mounted on said motor housing for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said drive wheel from a first position in which said blade is remote from a can having a rim supported by the drive wheel to a second position in which said blade pierces the lid of a can supported by said drive wheel;a blade spring biasing said blade into said first position;an operating member movable alona a linear path between a first position and a second position, said operating member having a switch operating arm engageable with said drive motor control switch to energize the drive motor as said operating member is moved from its said first position to its said second position;a motion transmitting assembly connecting said operating member to said blade that causes said blade to move into engagement with the lid of a can supported by said drive wheel as said operating member moves from its said first position toward its said second position to energize said drive motor so that said blade is engaged with the lid of said can supported by said drive wheel and caused to Pierce said can lid due to the rotation of said can by said drive wheel;a manually operable control button connected to said operating member for substantially linear movement therewith which a user may depress to initiate operation of said drive motor;said blade spring reversely pivoting said blade when the cutting of said can is completed and driving said operating member toward its first position to thereby open said drive motor control switch;said blade and said drive wheel confining the rim of a can therebetween when the can opener is in operation; andmeans for interrupting return movement of said blade after a lid has been cut away from a can for the purpose of continuing to confine the can rim until the user of the can opener decides to remove the can.