Patent Publication Number: US-6220118-B1

Title: Beauty nail saver pop tab opener

Description:
SUMMARY 
     In accordance with present invention the Beauty Nail Saver™ pop tab opener, created by Victor and Marlinette Pachcco of New Haven, comprises a thin, metal device, comprising of a lever for rotating the tab. The can opener has a bend forming a scoop having a head at the end extending upwardly. The lever has a key ring, a tab-retracting arm, a chamfered edge and a tapered corner on both sides at the end portion. Additional embodiment is a thumb-size ring attachment. 
     Objects and Advantages 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are: 
     (a) to provide an easy way to open flip-top cans for people who have (1) Very short nails, (2) Long nails, (3) Arthritis or debilitating diseases, and (4) Senior Citizens; 
     (b) to provide an easy way to carry along with keys; 
     (c) to provide an easy way to open mail; 
     (d) to provide an easy way to open processed food packages; 
     (e) to provide an easy way to sanitize being that it is made of stainless steel; 
     (f) to provide an easy way to identify the can opener with beauty and health cosmetics as well as houseware products; 
     (g) to provide a multipurpose, highly reliable, convenient, lightweight, durable, safe, yet economical device that can be used by persons of all ages. 
     Further objects and advantages of the pop tab opener are a thumb-size ring attachment, which provides maximum control and mobility for the very busy person, for example, the airline flight attendant. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
    
    
     DRAWING FIGURES 
     In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes. 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the pop tab opener with a key ring. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B show various aspects of the pop tab opener. 
     FIG. 3A shows the pop tab opener with a thumb-size ring attachment. 
     FIG. 3B is a view in detail of the portion indicated in FIG.  3 A. 
     Reference Numerals In Drawings 
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     DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1 thru  2 B—Primary Embodiment 
     A primary embodiment of the pop tab opener of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 (a perspective view), FIG. 2A (top view) and FIG. 2B (side view). The can opener device perferably is made of stainless steel. The device is a lever  10  of about 3.5 inch (9 cm) long and having a cross section of approximately {fraction (9/16)} inch (1.4 cm) wide at the aft section. The aft section comprises of a key ring  34  interlocking through a hole  12  (FIG.  1 ). Hole  12  is approximately {fraction (3/16)} inch (5 mm) diameter and drilled near the aft edge and centered as shown in FIG. 2A. A knurled corner  14  and a knurled edge  16  are formed along the aft section outer edge. Lever  10  has a thickness of about {fraction (1/16)} inch (1.6 mm). A bend  18  of lever  10  slopes downwardly along the longitudinal axis beginning at about ¾ inch (2 cm) from the aft edge. Bend  18  converges with a bend  20  that slopes upwardly and leads to a bend forming a scoop  22 . Bend forming a scoop  22  having an inclination beginning at the end of the lever has a cross section of at least ⅜ inch (1 cm). 
     The can opener device at the end has a head  30  having a taper terminus of approximately {fraction (3/16)} inch (5 mm) wide extending upwardly (FIGS.  2 A and  2 B). Head  30  is the end portion of bend forming a scoop  22 . The head converges rearward with a tapered corner  28  on the left and right side. Tapered corner  28  curves outwardly to a cross section of at least ⅜ inch (1 cm) as shown in FIG.  2 A. Where bend  20  and bend forming a scoop  22  converge a chamfered edge  26  having a dip  24  is formed (FIGS.  2 A and  2 B). 
     A tab-retracting arm  32  having two oblique angles of about 45 degrees is attached to the lever. Tab-retracting arm  32  extends over about halfway of bend forming a scoop  22  and substantially spaced and facing the end. The base of the tab-retracting arm is centered on top of the lever just before the bend forming a scoop by bend  20  (FIG.  2 A). 
     FIGS.  3 A- 3 B—Additional Embodiment 
     Additional embodiment of the pop tab opener is a thumb-size ring attachment  36  as shown is FIG.  3 A. Thumb-size ring attachment  36  is specially adapted with a hinge screw post  38  into the body of the ring as shown in FIG.  3 B. Hinge screw post  38  fits through hole  12 . 
     Advantages 
     From the description above, a number of advantages of our pop tab opener become evident: 
     (a) The stainless steel construction of our can opener assembly, preferred material, will provide a superior surface thus making it very appealing, dependable, and safer to use by persons of all ages. 
     (b) The dimensions of our can opener will provide a highly visible but fashionable too, and superior performance. 
     (c) The use of a thumb-size ring attachment will provide an easier grip when handled with wet or greasy fingers. Also, when handling you can still serve drinks without releasing tool by rotating the can opener inward toward the palm of the hand. And, rotate outward to open a flip-top can when necessary. Various sized of a thumb-size ring attachment will provide a proper fit for females and males. Therefore, a thumb-size ring attachment will provide an efficient customer base service, particularly, to airline flight attendants, etc. 
     (d) Although a thumb-size ring attachment is optional you can install it permanently then our can opener can be utilized as necessary in the kitchen room thus becoming a kitchen utensil. 
     (e) The presence of a tab-retracting arm will permit the lowering of the tab after opening the can without having to touch the tab with your finger. 
     (f) The presence of a chamfered edge will provide the opening of mail conveniently, and is safer than a typical letter opener. 
     (g) Our can opener will provide both cosmetic and household service needs. 
     Operation—FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3   
     The manner in which to use the pop tab opener of the present invention is to hold the device so that the longitudinal axis of lever  10  is generally in the direction of the index finger, and the thumb in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, for example, like holding a spoon. The can opener is positioned underneath the can tab outer edge and moved through the arcuate slot until it joins at the base of the tab. The can opener is then moved upwardly to rotate the tab. The presence of head  30  extending upwardly from bend forming a scoop  22  allows the lever to slide under the can tab, enter the arcuate slot and over or past the rivet of the tab with ease. The presence of bend forming a scoop  22  having an inclination beginning at the end serves for interlocking the lever to the tab. The presence of bend forming a scoop  22  having a cross section of at least ⅜ inch (1 cm) is for limiting insertion of the lever through the arcuate slot of the tab. Whereby, the end of the lever will join at the base of the tab. The presence of head  30  having a taper terminus of approximately {fraction (3/16)} inch (5 mm) wide provides an adequate fit for the lever at the base of the tab for pivoting whereby the base of the tab serves as a fulcrum for the lever. Next, the urging action of the lever in an upwardly direction will open the flip-top can. 
     It is recommended that lever  10  be not less than 3.5 inch (9 cm) long, anything less will reduce performance. 
     After opening the can, the presence of tab retracting arm  32  engages the standing tab upon lowering the lever thus lowers the tab. 
     The presence of chamfered edge  26  facilitates opening of letter envelopes by a sawing motion of the lever. One on each side is provided for left and right handed people (FIG.  2 A). The presence of dip  24  that is also chamfered acts as a starter facilitates this process of cutting. 
     The presence of hole  12  interlocks key ring  34  for convenience; however, there will be times when the demand for extra control and mobility are strongly desired. For this, the presence of thumb-size ring attachment  36  will be needed. 
     The manner in which the can opener is held will this attachment is identical to the above description in the first paragraph except the user&#39;s thumb is placed into the ring. The presence of hinge screw post  38  of thumb-size ring attachment  36  facilitates installation of ring to the lever through hole  12 . Whereby, hinge screw post  38  allows rotation of the can opener in any direction. The rotation is controlled by the index finger by using knurled corner  14  and knurled edge  16  for steering the lever (FIG.  3 A). The presence of knurled corner  14  and knurled edge  16  provides better grip for the index finger to rotate the can opener. 
     Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope 
     Accordingly, the reader will see that the pop tab opener of this invention can be used to open any flip-top cans easily and conveniently, can be adapted just as easily from a key ring accessory to a household kitchen utensil. Furthermore, the can opener has the additional advantages in that many other applications and variations are possible. For example they are 
     a bottle opener using a modified ring attachment to fit on caps with the lever providing a cantilever beam for leverage; 
     a utility and utensil tool attachment for handicap persons; 
     a nail file manicure tool; 
     a vegetable peeler using a modified singe wire centered on lever; 
     a orange peeler starter; 
     a nut picker; and 
     a utility tool attachment for NASA space-suit glove. 
     Although the description above contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrates of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the tab-retracting arm can be formed during the metal stamping process instead of being attached and have a notch for locking any special attachments to the lever, thus further enhancing the multipurpose use of our can opener. 
     Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.