Abstract:
A variable-position can opener for opening cans with various-sized beads has a pair of handles on a pivot and is able to pierce a can&#39;s lid. The cutter is on the first handle of a handle pair, and a driver, on the second handle, grips the bead and moves along its periphery. When handles are gripped, the cutter and driver are brought together and apply a piercing force to the can and bead. A pair of gears, one on the cutter and one on the driver, engages cutter and driver when the handles are closed. A turner, which moves the driver and cutter along the bead, can move among a number of positions, and a cam limits the degree to which the handles can close and adjusts the cutter to a predetermined depth of lid penetration.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to can openers. More particularly, the present invention relates to adjustable can openers having squeeze-type action for latching onto, piercing and removing lids of several can types.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Disposable can containers of the type formed of aluminum, tin or a combination of metals typically have a cylindrical body or side, a top lid and bottom lid. The top lid has a stepped rim that forms an edge that is sealed by crimping and rolling. This stepped rim is commonly referred to as the edge or bead. Beads of most disposable can containers have a standard and consistent height.  
         [0005]     Can openers of the hand-held type typically have a pair of pivotally connected handles. The handle pair includes a first handle having a traction or driving means and a second handle having a rotatable cutting means. In operation, mechanical pressure is generally applied by squeezing the first and second handles of the handle pair towards each other to a closed or cutting position. This squeezing action causes the driving means to forcibly engage the underside of the can bead while the rotatable cutting means pierces the top lid of the can proximal and interior to the bead. The can is moved under the cutting means by rotation of the driving means until at least one 360-degree rotation of the can is completed, in the case of a circular can, or the entire periphery of the can and the can lid can be removed from the cylindrical body.  
         [0006]     Recent developments in disposable can technology have provided a can having a pull-tab means for lifting the lid from the cylindrical can body, thereby eliminating the need for a separate can opener. However, if a pull-tab means malfunctions, a can opener must be employed to remove the lid from the can.  
         [0007]     Manufacture of pull-tab type cans requires an increased bead height. Due to the increased dimensions of the bead, conventional can openers do not operate effectively with cans having pull-tab means. The increased bead height of a can having pull-tab means makes it impossible to properly and securely place the can bead between the traction wheel and the cutting means. This stems from the fact that the longer bead tends to ride up and between the traction wheel and the cutting means so that the cutting means cannot fully and effectively pierce the top of the can.  
         [0008]     Therefore, a need exists for a variable position can opener that successfully functions to open cans having varying bead heights such as a conventional can and a can having a pull-tab means.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a pre-calibrated, adjustable can opener.  
         [0010]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a can opener that may be adjusted to fit the bead of a conventional can.  
         [0011]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a can opener that may be adjusted to fit the bead of a pull-tab type can.  
         [0012]     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a can opener that may be adjusted to fit a plurality of cans having varying predetermined bead heights.  
         [0013]     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a can opener having a spacer means for manually and selectively adjusting the can opener between a plurality of can opening positions.  
         [0014]     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a can opener having a spacer means for selectively adjusting a cutting means to accommodate a plurality of predetermined bead heights.  
         [0015]     It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a can opener with a spacer means that has a lower cam surface and an upper cam surface, wherein the selective interaction of each cam surface with a cam edge of the traction support provides a means for selectively controlling the degree to which the traction assembly can interact with a cutting means assembly.  
         [0016]     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a variable position hand-held can opener adapted to open cylindrical can containers having beads of varying sizes comprising the following components: A pair of handle assemblies connected about a pivot point; a cutting means for piercing the lid of a can having a bead, this cutting means being coupled to a first handle of the handle assembly pair; a driving means for gripping the bead of said can and moving along a periphery of the can, this driving means being coupled to a second handle of the handle assembly pair such that when the pair of handle assemblies are gripped together said cutting means and the driving means are correspondingly brought together for applying a piercing force to said can proximate to the bead. The variable position hand-held can opener is further comprised of a gear pair, with a first gear coupled to said cutting means and a second gear coupled to said driving means. This gear pair is adapted to engage the cutting means and the driving means when the pair of handle assemblies are in the closed position. There is also a turning means coupled to the driving means for moving the driving means and the cutting means along the bead of said can; and a cam means selectively movable between a plurality of predetermined positions for limiting the degree to which the pair of handle assemblies can be moved towards each other, so that the cam means is adapted to adjust the cutting means to a pre-determined depth of penetration through a lid with respect to the container bead. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The foregoing and still other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the can opener of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the can opener of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a close-up side view of the traction support and spacer means of the can opener of the present invention illustrating the spacer means in a second position and in a first position shown in phantom;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a standard can and the can opener of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a pull-tab type can and the can opener of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the cutting means support of the can opener of the present invention showing the slider assembly opening, and  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the can opener of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     Referring to the drawings and, in particular, to  FIG. 1 , an adjustable can opener according to the present invention is illustrated, one generally represented by reference numeral  300 . Can opener  300  preferably has a pair of pivotally mounted handle assemblies  50  and  55 . Handle assembly  50  has a handle  18 , a cutting means support  1  and a cutting means assembly  70 . Handle assembly  55  has a handle  30 , a traction support  2  and a traction assembly  60 . Handle assembly  50  is preferably coupled to handle assembly  55  by a rivet  22  or any similar coupling means that allows for squeeze-type action of the handles. Can opener  300  preferably also has a rotatable turning means assembly  80 , and a slider assembly  90 .  
         [0026]     Handle assemblies  50  and  55  are pivotally connected at one end and adapted to be gripped by a user at an opposite end. Traction assembly  60  and cutting assembly  70  are preferably equidistantly spaced from the pivot point and are disposed in different planes so that when handle assemblies  50  and  55  are moved toward a closed position, traction assembly  60  and cutting assembly  70  can be brought into an overlapping configuration.  
         [0027]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , cutting means assembly  70  is coupled to cutting means support  1 . Cutting means assembly  70  preferably has a post  4 , a gear  6  of the conventional serrated periphery type, a spacer means  5 , and a cutting means  7 . In a preferred embodiment, the cutting means is a cutting wheel. However, any cutting means known in the art may be employed, such as a station cutting knife. The cutting means assembly  70  is coupled to the cutting means support  1  of handle assembly  50  by a screw  8  or any similar means for coupling gear  6 , spacer means  5 , and cutting means  7  to cutting means support  1 . Cutting means  7  is preferably freely mounted on post  4 , which is fixed to cutting means support  1  of handle assembly  50 .  
         [0028]     Traction assembly  60  is coupled to traction support  2 . Traction support  2  preferably has an opening  105  for receiving at least a portion of traction assembly  60 . Traction assembly  60  preferably has a driving means  14 , a spacer  13 , a gear  12  of the conventional serrated periphery type, and a collar  3 . Driving means  14  is preferably a wheel, but may be any means commonly employed in the art.  
         [0029]     Rotatable turning means assembly  80  is coupled to traction support  2  on a side opposite to traction assembly  60 . Rotatable turning means assembly  80  preferably has a turning means  19 , a spacer  10 , a spring  9 , and a post  11 . Turning means  19  may be a knob, a wheel, a latch or any other suitable means.  
         [0030]     Traction assembly  60  is coupled to rotating turning means assembly  80 . Driving wheel  14  and gear  12  of traction assembly  60  are coupled to post  11  of rotatable turning means assembly  80 , which is pivotally retained in an opening  105  of hand assembly  55  by collar  3 . Spacer  10  preferably positions driving means  14  relative to hand assembly  55 . As turning means  19  is rotated, post  11  turns driving means  14  together with gear  12  to propel the can opener  300  forward along a can bead.  
         [0031]     In a preferred embodiment, hand assembly  50  has, in addition, a decorative cap  17  disposed at the coupling of cutting means support  1  to handle  18 . Similarly, in this embodiment, hand assembly  55  also has a decorative cap  17  disposed at the coupling of traction support  2  to handle  30 .  
         [0032]     Squeezing or pivoting of handle assemblies  50  and  55  towards one another positions cutting means  7  in a cutting position adjacent to driving means  14  and provides considerable leverage to cutting means  7 . Thus, when handle assemblies  50  and  55  are positioned on opposite sides of a bead, piercing of a can lid by cutting means  7  is facilitated. Pivoting handle assemblies  50  and  55  towards one another further provides a gripping force for securing driving means  14  against the rim of the can. The bead is held fast between gears  6  and  12  and driving means  14 . The rotation of turning means  19  turns driving means  14 , thereby advancing driving means  14  and gear  12  along the bead. As gear  6  of the cutting means assembly  70  engages gear  12  of traction assembly  60 , the cutting means  7  is also advanced along the bead.  
         [0033]     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , slider assembly  90  has a slider  20  and a tab  23 . Slider  20  further has a first cam surface  111  and a spacer means  110 . Spacer means  110  provides a second cam surface  112  to slider  20 . Cam surfaces  111  and  112  engage an upper cam edge  115  of traction support  2 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , slider  20  is movable between a first position (shown in phantom), where first cam surface  111  interacts with upper cam edge  115  of traction support  2  and a second position, where second cam surface  112  interacts with upper cam edge  115  of traction support  2 . Thus, when slider  20  is moved to the second position, spacer  110  provides an abutment that limits the degree to which the handle assemblies  50  and  55  may be moved toward a closed position. This degree is represented by a space n. In this manner, the degree to which cutting means assembly  70  may interact with traction assembly  60  is controlled.  
         [0034]     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , pre-calibration of the can opener  300  is accomplished by spacer means  110  of slider  20 . Spacer means  110  provides at least a first cutting position and a second cutting position to can opener  300  by adjusting the distance between handle assemblies  50  and  55  when in the closed or cutting position, thereby adjusting the degree to which traction assembly  60  and cutting assembly  70  can be brought in to overlapping configuration. In this manner, the relative depth of cutting means  7  in relation to a can bead may be adjusted. The depth of a can bead controls the extent to which traction assembly  60  and cutting assembly  70  must be brought in to overlapping configuration, to enable piercing and cutting. Accordingly, can opener  300  is pre-calibrated to be adjustable to fit a bead of a traditional can as illustrated in  FIG. 4  as well as the longer bead of a pull-tab type can as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The spacer means  110  may be a tab means, cam means, tooth means, varying width means or any other suitable means for providing multiple positions to can opener  300 .  
         [0035]     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , cutting means support  1  preferably has a slider opening  107  for receiving slider assembly  90 . Slider opening  107  may further have one or more notches  126  adapted to interact with slider assembly  90 . Notches  126  guide slider assembly  90  to one of several pre-calibrated positions in slider opening  107 , which correspond to the pre-calibrated heights of cutting means  7 . Notches  126  guide slider assembly  90  by means of a friction fit wherein slider assembly  90  may be forced through a first and a second position.  
         [0036]     In operation, tab  23  moves slider  20  between at least a first position and a second position in slider opening  107 , thereby engaging either of cam surfaces  111  or  112  and upper cam edge  115  of traction support  2 . In the first position, spacer  110  of slider  20  does not interfere with the closure of handle assemblies  50  and  55 , thereby allowing handle assemblies  50  and  55  to achieve a fully closed position for cutting. In the first position, cutting means  7  has a depth in relation to a can bead sufficient to fit and cut a conventional can bead. When tab  23  is moved to the second position, spacer  110  of slider  20  is moved to the space between handle assemblies  50  and  55 , thereby providing an abutment, which interferes with handle assemblies  50  and  55  and prevents closure to the same extent as achieved when tab  23  is in the first position. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 7 , spacer  110  introduces a gap or space n between handle assemblies  50  and  55 . Gap n should correspond to the selected differences in the heights of can beads so that appropriate penetration of a can is achieved in each case. Gap n assumes a first value when first cam surface  111  abuts cam edge  115  of traction support  2 . This first value can approach zero. Gap n assumes a second, larger value when second cam edge  112  abuts cam edge  115  of traction support  2 . Gap n ensures that cutting means  7  is elevated a prescribed distance, thereby providing a cutting means depth in relation to a can bead sufficient to fit and cut a bead of a pull-tab type can. Accordingly, can opener  300  may be adjusted to penetrate cans having at least two different bead depths by moving tab  23  between a first position and a second position.  
         [0037]     The present invention has been described with reference to a hand-held type can opener. It should be understood that slider assembly  90  may also be adapted for use with a powered stationary can opener. In this embodiment, a lever functions to move a drive wheel outside and under a can bead, while a cutting means is moved into and around a can lid. It would be evident to those skilled in the art to incorporate slider assembly  90  in a motorized can opener.  
         [0038]     The present invention has been described with particular reference to the preferred embodiments. It should be understood that the foregoing descriptions and examples are only illustrative of the present invention. Various alternatives and modifications thereof can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.