Abstract:
A can opening appliance is provided herein. The appliance includes a primary housing having a front surface including a can opening mechanism and a rearwardly facing locking surface. A base includes at least one upwardly extending projection for slidable engagement with the primary housing and at least one forwardly facing interlock structure for releasable engagement with the locking surface of the primary housing. A housing release button, which causes the forwardly facing interlock structure and the locking surface to enter into and out of engagement, allows the primary housing to attain a plurality of vertical positions relative to the base.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to an electric can opener appliance, and more specifically to an electric can opener that can be adjusted to a variety of heights in order to open cans of varying sizes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The domestic electric can opener is a popular and widely accepted kitchen appliance. Effective openers should able to open a variety of can sizes found in the home. This has resulted in many manufacturers constructing very large can openers in order to accommodate tall, large cans such as juice or coffee cans. These openers tend to require a large amount of space and yet are only occasionally required to open large cans. 
     This situation has also prompted manufacturers to construct hand-held electric can openers. These openers, however, have the disadvantage of requiring the user to simultaneously hold and guide the can opener and hold the can in a stationary position. To eliminate this problem, another approach has been to make the can opener under-cabinet or wall-mounted so that it can be placed at any desired height above a counter top surface. However, wall-mounted can openers may interfere with the user&#39;s workspace in the kitchen and cannot be easily moved out of the way. 
     An example of an electric can opener that can be adjusted in height is disclosed in a patent to Bast et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,735. The Bast et al. patent discloses an electric can opener that is supported by a counter top or other surface and is adjustable telescopically via a manually operated knob. However, this opener achieves only two extreme positions, a lower and a raised position. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To alleviate the disadvantages of the prior art, a can opening appliance is provided herein. The appliance includes a primary housing having a front surface including a can opening mechanism and a rearwardly facing locking surface. A base includes at least one upwardly extending projection for slidable engagement with the primary housing and at least one forwardly facing interlock structure for releasable engagement with the locking surface of the primary housing. A housing release button, which causes the forwardly facing interlock structure and the locking surface to enter into and out of engagement, allows the primary housing to attain a plurality of vertical positions relative to the base. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the primary housing includes a forwardly facing locking surface. The base includes at least one rearwardly facing interlock structure for releasable engagement with the locking surface of the primary housing. The release button causes the rearwardly facing interlock structure and the locking surface to enter into and out of engagement, allowing the primary housing to attain a plurality of vertical positions relative to the base. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the appliance includes a primary housing having a front surface including a can opening mechanism and a rearwardly facing surface including a plurality of aligned indentations. A base has an upwardly extending enclosure for slidable engagement with the primary housing and two forwardly facing interlock structures for releasable engagement with the indentations of the primary housing. A housing release button causes the forwardly facing structures and the indentations to enter into and out of engagement, allowing the primary housing to attain a plurality of vertical positions relative to the base. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the appliance includes a primary housing having a can opening mechanism. A stationary base has at least one upwardly extending projection for slidable engagement with the primary housing. A locking surface is located on either the primary housing or the base, and at least one corresponding interlock structure is located on the other of the primary housing or the base for releasable engagement with the locking surface. A housing release button causes the interlock structure to enter into and out of engagement with the locking surface, allowing the primary housing to attain a plurality of vertical positions relative to the base. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the appliance includes a stationary base and a primary housing having a can opener mechanism. The primary housing is mounted for vertical movement relative to the base. An integral flexible latch mechanism is located on either the base or the housing, and a latch-receiving structure is located on the other of the base or the housing. A latch-release actuator is in communication with and moves the latch mechanism for disengagement from the latch-receiving structure to allow vertical movement of the housing to a plurality of latching positions relative to the base. 
     The invention may also be embodied in a method of opening cans. The method includes the steps of providing a can opener having a locking housing release button and a can opening mechanism. A user operates the can opener to remove the lid from a first can. The user then depresses the release button and adjusts the can opener housing to raise or lower the height of the can opening mechanism. The release button is then released to lock the housing into this new position. The can opener is then operated to remove the lid from a second can having a height different than the first can. 
     The invention provides a can opener appliance that can be raised or lowered to achieve a plurality of height positions. This allows the user to raise or lower the can opening mechanism in order to more easily open cans of varying sizes. In the present configuration, the invented can opening appliance allows larger cans to rest on the same surface on which the appliance itself is resting, thereby lending more stability to the appliance and the can during the opening operation. 
     The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in a lowered position; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 in a raised position; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded, rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a right side view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 in the raised position; 
     FIG. 7 is a front plan view of the primary housing with the components and front portion removed; 
     FIG. 8 is a rear plan view of the primary housing, with the components and rear portion removed; 
     FIG. 9 is a rear plan view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 that shows the can opener in the raised position; 
     FIG. 10 is a front plan view of the base; 
     FIG. 11 is a rear, perspective view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 with the rear portion of the primary housing removed, and shows the can opener in the raised position; 
     FIG. 12 is a right side view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 13 is a front plan view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 in the raised position; 
     FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the base taken along line B—B of FIG.  10  and shows the base in resting and deflected positions; 
     FIG. 15 is a left side view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 16 is a left side view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 in the raised position; 
     FIG. 17 is a sectional side view of the preferred embodiment taken along line A—A of FIG.  4  and shows the can opener in the actuated position; 
     FIG. 18 is a sectional side view of the preferred embodiment taken along line A—A of FIG.  4  and shows the can opener in the fully engaged position; 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the can opener  2  includes a primary housing  4  and a base  6  with an upper end portion  8  (FIG.  3 ). The primary housing  4  preferably has a rear portion  10  and a front portion  12 , together defining a downwardly facing open area  14 . In the preferred embodiment, the front portion  12  and rear portion  10  are held together through connections  16  located on the rear portion  10  and front portion  12 . The connections  16  are preferably held together by screws  18 . As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a motor  20  and a gear assembly  22  are contained within the primary housing  4 . The gear assembly  22  includes an output shaft  24  that drives a feedwheel  26 . The feedwheel  26  includes serrations  28  defined around an annular portion of the feedwheel  26 . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a can opening mechanism  28  is associated with the primary housing  4  and preferably includes a pivotally-mounted lever  30 , a cutter  32 , a can guide  34 , a switch actuator  36 , and a lid-holding magnet  38 . 
     The can opening mechanism  28  is preferably conventional. To open a can, the lever  30  is pivoted upwardly, which in turn raises the cutter  32 . The can is then placed vertically against the can opener  2  so that the upper lip of the can lid is underlying the serrations  28  of the feedwheel  26 . The lever  30  is then pivoted downwardly to cause the cutter  32  to puncture the can lid and cause the switch actuator  36  to actuate a switch  40 . The switch  40  in turn energizes the motor  20  that drives the gear assembly  22  and output shaft  24 , thereby allowing the feedwheel  26  to rotate the can in engagement with the cutter  32 . The can guide  34  maintains the positioning of the can relative to the cutter  32 . The cutter  32  severs the lid completely from the can after complete rotation of the can. The magnet  38  preferably retains the severed lid to prevent it from falling into the can. 
     As shown in FIGS. 6 and 15, a conventional knife sharpener  42  may be incorporated into the primary housing  4 . The sharpener  42  contains a slot  44  so that a knife can be passed through the sharpener  42  in order to sharpen the blade of the knife. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a top wall  46 , side walls  48 , a front wall  50 , and a rear wall  52  preferably define the portions  12  and  10 , respectively, of the primary housing  4 . An inner side wall  54  and an outer side wall  56  define each side wall  48 , and an interior surface  58  and a front surface  60  define the front wall  50 . As shown in FIG. 7, the rear wall  52  includes an inner rear wall  62  and inner rear side walls  64 . Also preferably associated with the primary housing  4  is a plate  66 . Preferably, the plate  66  abuts the inner rear wall  62  and inner rear side walls  64  and provides structural stability to the front portion  12 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 8, a pair of coplanar shelves  68  preferably are associated within the primary housing  4 . Each shelf  68  includes a forward edge  70 , an outer side edge  72 , and a top  74 , which preferably faces upwardly. The outer side edge  72  of each shelf  68  preferably abuts the inner side wall  54  of each side wall  48  and the forward edge  70  of is each shelf  68  abuts the interior surface  58 . 
     Interlocks  76  are also preferably located on the interior surface  58 . There are preferably six interlocks  76  forming two columns of three interlocks each, including an uppermost interlock  78  and a lowermost interlock  80 . A release button  82  is preferably associated with the front wall  50 . The release button  82  is preferably a button-shaped insert protruding from a throughgoing opening  84  in the interior surface  58  and front surface  60 . 
     The base  6  preferably includes a front member  88 , a rear member  90 , and side members  92  which preferably form an upstanding enclosure  94 . The base  6  also has a bottom member  96  having a width sufficient to impart standing stability to the can opener  2 . A top surface  98  and a bottom surface  100  define the bottom member  96 . An opening  102  (not shown) is preferably defined within the bottom member  96 . The opening  102  allows an electrical cord  104  to be slidably passed from the primary housing  4  and through the opening  102 . After passing through the opening  102 , the electrical cord  104  passes through a hole  106  in order for a plug  108  on the end of the electrical cord  104  to be inserted into an electrical outlet (FIG.  9 ). The hole  106 , which is not part of the present invention, prevents the can opener  2  from resting on the electrical cord  104 . 
     The primary housing  4  can be raised or lowered with respect to the base  6 . The enclosure  94  and the primary housing  4  are preferably formed in a complimentary cross-section so that the primary housing  4  slidably engages the enclosure  94  of the base  6 . In the preferred embodiment, the enclosure  94  is snugly nested within the downwardly facing space  14  of the primary housing  4  when the primary housing  4  is in the lower-most position. Because of the nesting relationship between the primary housing  4  and the enclosure  94 , the primary housing  4  moves telescopically in a substantially vertical direction relative to the base  6  in a stable manner when the primary housing  4  is being raised or lowered. 
     Referring now to FIG. 10, a flex-plate  110  and upwardly facing flexible latching fingers  112  preferably extend from the front member  88  of the base  6  and are preferably molded from a polymeric material integrally with the base  6 . In the preferred embodiment there are two fingers  112  located on opposite sides of the flex-plate  110 . The fingers  112  are pivotally bendable along with the front member  88  and are defined by main bodies  114  and free ends  116 . The main bodies  114  are substantially vertical, and an end  118  of each main body  114  is fixed to the front member  88 . As shown in FIG. 3, the free ends  116  of the fingers  112  protrude forwardly from the main bodies  114 . 
     In other embodiments of the invention, the fingers  112  can be attached to the enclosure  94  in a different location depending on the configuration of the housing  4 . Additionally, a different number of fingers  112  can be used. 
     As shown in FIG. 11, the free ends  116  of the fingers  112  interface with the interlocks  76  so that the primary housing  4  remains in a raised or lowered position with respect to the base  6  when the fingers  112  are engaged with the interlocks  76 , which form a receiving structure for the fingers  112 . In the preferred embodiment, the interlocks  76  are made up of indentations and the free ends  116  are defined by corresponding protrusions. However, other frictional and latching engagement configurations are possible. For example, abrasive patches that allow for frictional engagement can define the interlocks  76  and free ends  116 . In the alternative, the interlocks  76  may comprise protrusions extending rearwardly from the interior surface  58  for engagement with the fingers  112 . 
     Preferably, two upwardly oriented stops  120  are attached on opposite ends of the front member  88 . Free portions  122  are associated with the stops  120 . In the preferred embodiment, each free portion  122  forms a substantial right angle relative to the rest of the stop  120 . The free portions  122  preferably oppose each other. In the preferred embodiment, the stops  120  are co-planar with the flex-plate  110  and the main bodies  114  of the fingers  112 . 
     The operation of the height-adjusting feature of the can opener  2  is described below. As shown in FIG. 12, the primary housing  4  is adjacent to the top surface  98  when the can opener  2  is in the lowermost position. The free ends  116  of the fingers  112  are engaged with the uppermost interlocks  78  on the interior surface  58 . The stops  120  are positioned above the shelves  68  so that the stops  120  do not contact the shelves  68 . The front member  88  of the base  6  is vertical and in a resting position. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 13, to raise the can opener  2 , the release button  82  may be actuated to release the latching action of the fingers  112  and the interlocks  76 . In particular, the release button  82  is first depressed so that it comes into contact with and depresses the flex-plate  110  inwardly (FIGS.  14  &amp;  17 ). The front member  88  of the base  6  will pivotally deflect towards the rear member  90  of the base  6 . The free ends  116  of the fingers  112  will move inwardly along with the front member  88 , and will no longer be engaged with the interlocks  76  (not shown). The primary housing  4  can then be moved in an upwardly vertical direction relative to the base  6  until the desired height for the can opener  2  is achieved (FIGS. 2,  6 ,  11 , and  13 ). The release button  82  is then released so that the front member  88  of the base  6  will return to its resting position. The primary housing  4  can then be manipulated so that the free ends  116  of the fingers  112  enter into engagement with the interlock  76  corresponding to the desired height. Upon engagement, the primary housing  4  will remain in this height-adjusted position. The can opening mechanism  28  previously described (FIGS. 4 and 5) can then open the can. The can opener  2  can be further raised or lowered utilizing the method just described to accommodate a can of a different size. 
     The stops  120  are utilized to prevent the primary housing  4  from being raised past the upper-most position and separating from the base  6 . When the lowermost interlocks  80  become substantially co-planar with the free ends  116  of the fingers  112 , the highest position the can opener  2  can attain has been achieved. When the free ends  116  enter engagement with the lowermost interlocks  80 , the free portions  122  of the stops  120  come into contact with the top  74  of the shelves  68 , preventing the primary housing  4  from rising any further. 
     To lower the can opener  2  the steps are substantially the same as when the can opener  2  is being raised. The release button  82  is depressed so that it comes into contact with and depresses the flex-plate  110  inwardly. The front member  88  of the base  6  will deflect towards the rear member  90 . The free ends  116  of the fingers  112  will pivot accordingly and will no longer be engaged with the interlocks  76  (not shown). The primary housing  4  can then be moved in a downwardly, vertical direction until the desired height for the can opener  2  is achieved (FIGS. 1,  4 , and  12 ). The release button  82  is then released so that the front member  88  will return to its resting position (FIG.  18 ). The primary housing  4  can be manipulated so that the free ends  116  of the fingers  112  enter into engagement with the interlocks  76  corresponding to the desired height. As shown in FIG. 16, if the lower-most position is desired, the primary housing  4  can be moved in a downwardly vertical direction until it comes into contact with the top surface  98  before releasing the release button  82 . The can opening mechanism  28  previously described can then open the can. 
     While the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are presently considered to be preferred, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the interior surface  58  of the primary housing  4  can include a different number of interlocks  76 , and configurations other than two columns of interlocks  76  are also possible. Additionally, the interlocks  76  themselves can also be located on a surface other than the interior surface  58  such as the inner rear wall  62 . The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.