Abstract:
A combination can opener and organizer includes a container with at least front and two side surfaces, a can opener assembly disposed at or near the front surface of the container and adapted to open a can, and a utensil holder disposed on one of the side surfaces and adapted to hold a utensil. The combination can opener and organizer also can include a cavity disposed within the container and open at the top for defining a storage compartment for one or more tools.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/836,626, filed Apr. 17, 2001. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to kitchen appliances and, more particularly, to a combination electric can opener and organizer designed for ease of use and to provide the user with a number of advantageous features set forth below.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Separately, can openers and so-called organizers for kitchen utensils and gadgets are well known. Can openers may be manually operated or automatic (for example, electric driven). Can openers also have been previously designed in a number of shapes and sizes.  
           [0004]    Kitchen organizers also have been designed in a multitude of shapes and sizes. Kitchen organizers seek to organize and store typical kitchen utensils such as spatulas, wooden spoons, etc., in an efficient manner.  
           [0005]    Both electric can openers and kitchen organizers are used in countless homes throughout the world. Unfortunately, these devices require critical countertop space. Thus, there is a need to provide devices that carry out the functions of can openers and kitchen organizers that, at the minimum, require substantially less space than would otherwise be needed.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a combined electric can opener and organizer that overcomes the shortcomings of existing can openers and kitchen organizers.  
           [0007]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a can opener/organizer that utilizes less space than required by current devices.  
           [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a can opener/organizer that has various other advantageous features not currently provided.  
           [0009]    Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    In accordance with the present invention, a combination can opener and organizer is provided with a container that has at least front and two side surfaces, a can opener assembly disposed at or near the front surface of the container and adapted to open a can, and a utensil holder disposed on one of the side surfaces and adapted to hold a utensil.  
           [0011]    As an aspect of the invention, a second utensil holder is disposed on the other side surface and is adapted to hold a second utensil.  
           [0012]    As another aspect of the invention, a second utensil holder is disposed on the same side as the first utensil holder and is adapted to hold a second utensil.  
           [0013]    As a further aspect of the invention, the side surface on which the utensil holder is disposed is adjacent to and extends from the front surface of the container at an angle substantially between 30 and 60 degrees.  
           [0014]    As yet another aspect of the invention, the container includes a top surface that extends above the utensil holder.  
           [0015]    As yet a further aspect of the invention, the side surfaces extend from the front surface of the container at angles substantially between 30 and 60 degrees.  
           [0016]    As yet still another aspect of the invention, a cavity is disposed within the container and is open at the top for defining a storage compartment for tools.  
           [0017]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a combination can opener and organizer is provided with a container having front and side surfaces, a can opener assembly disposed at or near the front surface of the container and adapted to open a can, and a cavity disposed within the container and open at the top for defining a storage compartment for one or more tools.  
           [0018]    As an aspect of this embodiment, the cavity is disposed at the rear portion of the container behind the can opener assembly.  
           [0019]    As another aspect , the container includes a base, the cavity has a height that extends from the top of the container to the base of the container, and the can opener assembly is adapted to accommodate and open a can with a height substantially equal to or smaller than the height of the cavity.  
           [0020]    As a further aspect, the container includes a substantially rounded top surface, and the cavity has a curved shaped that matches the contour of the rounded top surface.  
           [0021]    As an additional aspect, the container includes a substantially oval top, and the can opener assembly includes a cutting lever that extends alongside the front surface of the container and is shaped to have a contour that follows the shape of the top of the container.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best be appreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and parts, in which:  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the combined can opener/organizer of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is another schematic illustration of the can opener/organizer from a rear perspective and;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is a further schematic illustration of the can opener/organizer from a top perspective. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]    Referring now to the drawings, FIGS.  1 - 3  show various views of the can opener/organizer combination of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the can opener/organizer, hereinafter “opener-organizer,” “opener-organizer combination,” “device” or the like, includes various features and elements pertinent to the device&#39;s electric can opener function and various features and elements pertinent to the organizer function. Elements pertaining to the can opener (for convenience, reference to can opener is intended to mean an electric can opener) function include at least a cutting lever  10 , a handle  11  for the cutting lever, a magnet  12 , a can guide  14 , a geared wheel  16  and a bump  18 . Elements pertaining to the organizer function include at least hooks  20 , indentations or gadget areas  22 , a storage compartment  24 , and a divider  26 , which is disposed within the storage compartment The can opener/organizer further includes a cord storage/lock  28 , a top portion or component  29  and a base  30 .  
         [0027]    Although not shown, the opener-organizer of the present invention further includes various internal components necessary to operate the can opener function, including a motor and appropriate gearing for collectively driving the geared wheel. The opener-organizer includes a power cord (not shown) that extends from within the opener-organizer through the opening in the rear represented by cord storage/lock  28 . Various particular internal designs and components used to operate an electric can opener are well known in the art and are not considered pertinent to the present invention. Thus, the internal structure and design of components internal to the opener-organizer of the present invention are not described herein except where necessary for an understanding of the present invention.  
         [0028]    Referring again to FIG. 1, the opener-organizer is designed specifically to provide a single convenient and compact product that serves the functions of both an electric can opener and a kitchen organizer. As shown in FIG. 1, hooks  20  are provided along side surfaces (or walls)  21  disposed within the two gadget areas  22 , which are disposed adjacent to the front surface  19  of the opener-organizer at about  45  degree angles thereof. The front surface  19  of the opener-organizer is utilized for opening a can which is placed adjacent to the front surface and the top of the can is urged upwards so that the can&#39;s rim is placed under geared wheel  16  in a manner well known in the art. The can then is opened in a manner well known in the art, that is, the cutting lever&#39;s handle  11  is depressed which causes the internal motor to turn geared wheel  16  thus cutting the can&#39;s lid. Magnet  12  swivels and operates to hold the lid once cut from the can.  
         [0029]    In accordance with the present invention, the particular size and dimensions of the various components of the can opener function of the device are appreciated to be relatively small to allow nearby space and surfaces to be utilized for storage of kitchen utensils and other gadgets. The utilization of such space is quite different and not contemplated in prior art devices, whereby spaces and surfaces adjacent to and alongside the front surface of a can opener is unutilized. The present invention however maximizes such space by providing two appropriately sized gadget areas  22 , as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Two hooks  20  are disposed near the top of each of the gadget areas  22  and operate to hold typical kitchen gadgets and utensils, such as a peeler, a measuring spoon, etc. Moreover, the opener-organizer is of sufficient height to accommodate typical cans to be opened and such height of the device allows for gadget areas  22  likewise to be of sufficient height to accommodate many typical kitchen utensils. Still further, while the drawings show an opener-organizer having four hooks, two in each gadget area, any appropriate number of hooks (e.g., three) may be provided in each gadget area and the positions of those hooks within the gadget areas may differ from that shown. Also, the shapes of the hooks may be different. For example, some or all of the hooks may be looped in shape so that utensils and gadgets being held do not fall of the hooks in the event the opener-organizer is moved. Still further, looped hooks allow for the storage of more delicate items in the storage areas, such as tea cups and the like.  
         [0030]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, which best show the rear of the opener-organizer of the present invention, a storage compartment  24  is disposed in the rear of the device and may be used to store a variety of kitchen tools, utensils or appliances. For example, long wooden spoons, spatulas or other such items may be stored in compartment  24 . In accordance with the present invention, storage compartment  24  is disposed within an electric device at a position that generally is not utilized in prior art designs (i.e., existing electric can openers). In the present invention, the various internal mechanisms, including the motor, are installed near the front of the opener-organizer. The rear of the opener-organizer, otherwise un-utilized, is provided to include storage compartment  24  thus maximizing the utilization of space for storage of kitchen items. Moreover, storage compartment  24  is relatively deep and extends from the top surface  29  almost to base  30 , leaving a small amount of space in the base for the power cord.  
         [0031]    In accordance with the present invention, the height of the opener-organizer is designed relatively tall to accommodate relatively tall cans to be opened and, likewise, storage compartment  24  is provided equally tall (i.e., deep) to accommodate relatively long utensils. Further, storage compartment  24  is provided with a divider  26  which functions to keep tools and utensils within the compartment erect. Additional dividers can be included as appropriate.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2 shows cord storage/lock  28 , which is an aperture disposed near the bottom of the rear surface  32  of the opener-organizer. A storage space (not shown) is disposed within the opener-organizer and immediately in front of cord storage/lock  28  for stowing away the device&#39;s electrical power cord (also not shown). Cord storage/lock  28  is shaped to include a generally round portion through which the can slide and a relatively narrow, flat portion that functions as the lock when the power cord is forced into this flat portion of cord storage/lock  28 .  
         [0033]    As previously discussed, the can opener feature of the present invention opens a can by using the various components shown in FIG. 1. Such a can be opened without holding the can in place and without the need to hold down cutting lever  10 , or its handle  11 , while the can is being cut. As previously mentioned, magnet  12  is designed to hold up the lid upon completion of cutting. Moreover, magnet  12  also is designed to flip up to enable the user to check the positioning of the can within the device, can guide  14  assists the user to correctly position the can, and bump  18  maintains the can in an upright position for easy cutting.  
         [0034]    As best shown in FIG. 3, both top  29  and base  30  of the opener-organizer are oval in shape, and top  29  has a rounded top surface. Top  20  and base  30  extend past side walls  21  thus defining the two gadget areas  22 . Preferably, all of the hooks  20  extending from the side walls  21  do not extend beyond the top and base. Rear surface  32  is curved and follows the contour of the oval-shape of the top and base. The two side walls  21  extend from the front surface  19  (see FIG. 1) at an angle within the range of 30 to 60 degrees, or perhaps even beyond this range, to provide suitably sized gadget areas  22  and, at the same time, to allow sufficient space between the side walls at the rear of the opener-organizer to provide a sufficiently sized storage compartment  24 . With the design shown, an oval-shaped device is provided that includes a can opener on its front surface, two gadget areas  22  along the two sides sufficient to store utensils and gadgets, and a deep storage area  24  sufficiently sized to store long utensils, all within a single device.  
         [0035]    As also shown in FIG. 3, handle  11  of the cutting lever  10  is designed to have a large format for ease of use and designed to follow the contour of the oval shape of top  29 , and further follows the contour of the curved top surface of top  29 . Thus, even with various elements that carry out the can opener function of the invention, the opener-organizer of the present invention is reasonably sized and oval in shape, in accordance with the present embodiment. Of course, other sizes and shapes are possible, including round, rectangular, square, triangular, hexagonal, etc. Finally, base  30  includes four feet to provide stability to the opener-organizer, with silicon rubber pads or the like disposed on the feet for anti-slip performance.  
         [0036]    While the present invention has been particularly shown and described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although only two gadget areas  22  and a single storage compartment  24  have been shown, the present invention is not limited to this design and may include additional gadget areas and storage compartments.  
         [0037]    As another example, although the present discussion is directed to a can opener/organizer generally for kitchen use, the present invention is not limited solely for use in the kitchen and may be widely applied to other areas of use where cans need to be opened.  
         [0038]    Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as including the embodiments described herein, the alternatives mentioned above, and all equivalents thereto.