Patent Abstract:
A manual can opener that can be operated with ease by both left-handed and right-handed users. The initial rotation of an operating handle in either direction moves readily a cutting blade toward a transport wheel to engage the lid of the can, and simultaneously rotates the transport wheel in a direction opposite to that of handle rotation so that the cutting blade is in proper condition to cut a lid from the can. Further rotation of the operating handle, in the direction of initial rotation, then forces the can against the blade to cut the lid of the can.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to can opener. Specifically, the present invention relates to a manually operated can opener that can be operated equally as well by left or right-handed users. The can opener of the present invention allows one to select direction in which the operating handle is tern. Such selection allows the user to operate readily the can opener with either hand. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     In general, manual can openers employ components inclusive of a rotary transport wheel and a cutting blade. Each component is arranged on separate elements of a hinged frame. In operation, the transport wheel engages the rim of a can. The frame elements are brought together to move cutting blade into the contact with the top end of the can with such pressure that the can top is pierced or pressured by cutting blade. A handle, which is attached to the rotary transport wheel, is then turned by the user&#39;s fingers supported by palm of the hand, and turn to rotate the can into the blade and, thus, cut the can top and thus form a cut lid. 
     With such can operators, an operating handle is provided only on one side of the transport wheel. Accordingly, when the transport wheel positions the can for cutting, the blade is capable of cutting only in one direction. Since the majority of people are right handled, such manually operated can openers have been configured so that the handle is turned readily with one&#39;s right hand. Obviously, such can openers are difficult to use with a left hand. Can openers can be made to be operated by a left hand or left-handed person. However, such left-handed operable can openers provide the same difficulty to a right-handed person that conventional can openers provide to a left-handed person. 
     Moreover, conventional can openers require users to turn the handle with their fingers. Such can openers are difficult or impassible to use for users who have limited motion in their fingers. These include elderly users, users with arthritis, or generally users with motor ailments that limit the use of their fingers and the palm of hand. 
     To overcame this problem, can openers can be operated with either hand and have been created, such as disclosed by commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,1119,352, the contents of which are incorporated herein, by users who lock the full dexterity of their fingers and the hand palm. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an improved can opener. There is also a need for a manually operated can opener that can be operated easily by either the left or right hand supported by the palm users who lack the full dexterity of fingers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a manually operated can opener that can be selectively operated with either the right or left hand of the users who lack the full dexterity of fingers and the hand palm. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide such a can opener in which the operating handle can be selected, as desired, to rotate in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. 
     It further object of the invention to provide such a can opener in which the rotation of the operating handle, in either direction, automatically moves the cutting blade and the transport wheel into proper position to cut the can top. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are provided by a manual left or right hand can opener with a tilt and rotating spherical joint. In one embodiment of the present invention, a can opener is provided to have a housing, a driver connected to the housing and having a transport wheel at one end, a handle, a shaft connected to the handle at one end and to the driver at another end, a blade holder connected to the selector at one end and to a cutting blade at another end, and a helical cam connected to the handle and mounted for rotation with the driver. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the can opener has a housing, a driver connected to said housing, said driver including a first sphere, a shaft connected via a second sphere to said driver and adapted to tilt and rotate with said driver, a transport wheel connected to said driver and rotatable with drive shaft, a cutting blade connected to a blade holder, and a selector operatively connecting a cam and said driver such that said driver rotates selectively in one of the first direction and a second direction to cut the lid from the can, wherein the blade holder has spherical surface adapted to be in spherical connection with spherical part of to said driver. 
     Initial rotation of the handle moves the transport wheel and the cutting blade into engagement with the can. Further rotation of the handle forces the can against the cutting blade to cut the end, such as a top or lid, from the can. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the can opener of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the can opener of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the can opener of  FIG. 1  shown in a right handed position in which a can has been inserted. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the can opener  FIG. 1 , but with the can removed to better show the position of the cutting blade and the transport wheel of the can opener. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of can opener of  FIG. 1  shown in the left handed position. 
         FIG. 6  is a anther front view of the can opener of  FIG. 5 , but with the can removed to better shown the position of the cutting blade and transport wheel of the cam. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of cam with right hand helical path of the cam. 
         FIG. 8  is sectional view of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a mirror view of  FIG. 7  to show left hand helical path of the cam. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the driver. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the blade holder. 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of the selector. 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the selector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be further understood with reference of the following description and related appended drawings. 
     Referring to the figure and  FIG. 1 , a manually operated can opener  1  is provided. Can opener  1  includes a housing  10  and a handle  20 . 
     The housing  10  is at one end of can opener  1  and has an oval shape. The housing  10  includes a hood  11 , side walls  16  and, flange  17 , bearing  13 , segment of a spur gear  14 , and can guide  12 . 
     A handle  20  is positioned at the other end of can opener  1  and has at least a partially spherical shape. The handle  20  includes an inner handle surface  21  and outer handle surface  22 , with a guide selector  24  protruding inward from the center of inner handle surface  21  to engage with the selector  29 . The inner and outer handle surfaces  21 ,  22  are partial spherical surfaces. Handle  20  further includes a set of cam followers  27 ,  28  configured with to engage with a cam  40 . The handle  20  also includes partial spherical protrusions  23  on its outer handle surface  22 . The partial spherical protrusions  23  allow a better grip on the handle  20  with limited use of fingers and palm. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , the cam  40  has an inner cam surface  41 , and an outer cam surface  42 . The inner and outer cam surfaces  41 ,  42  are partial spherical surfaces. The cam  40  has a first helical cam path  44  (right-hand mode) and a second helical path  45  (left-hand mode). Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the cam  40  is mounted for rotation in groove  43  in the flange  17  of the housing  10 . The cam  40  is further mounted concentrically for rotation with a driver  50  and a blade holder  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 11 , the blade holder  30  has an inner blade holder surface  31  and an outer blade holder surface  32 . One end of the blade holder  30  is configured to attach a cutting blade  5 . The inner and outer blade holder surfaces  31 ,  32  are partial spherical surfaces. The same end has a spur gear  15  whose teeth mesh with teeth of a spur gear track  14 . The other end of the blade holder  30  is shaped as a guide  35  with slot  34 . Near the middle of blade holder  30  is a curved groove  19  to accommodate the follower  39 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 12-13 , the selector  29  has an inner selector surface  36  and an outer selector surface  37 . The inner and outer selector surfaces  36 ,  37  are partial spherical surfaces. One side has a set of pins  38  to be slid in the slot  34  of the blade holder  30 . The other side has a follower  39  to be slid in a curved groove  19 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 10 , the driver  50  is in the form of a shaft. One end of the driver  50  is configured for connection to the transport wheel  3 . The other end of driver  50  forms the inner driver surface  51  and the outer driver surface  52  to constitute, with the selector guide  24  and the pin  55 , the partial spherical joint  60 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a selector guide  24  is in the form of a shaft and protrudes from the handle  20 . The selector guide  24  forms near its midpoint a partial sphere  25  that is arranged between inner selector surfaces  36  of the selector  29 . The other end of the selector guide  24  has a partial spherical end  26  whose exterior surface has curvature that complements curvature of an inner driver surface  51  to form with the pin  55  the joint  60 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the inner blade holder surface  31  rests on an outer driver surface  52  of the driver  50 . The blade holder  30  thus tilts around the outer driver surface  52  such that the cutting blade  5  moves toward the transport wheel  3 . 
     The cutting blade  5  is shaped as a circular blade, with surfaces  7  and  8  tapering in an end joining at cutting teeth  9 . The cutting teeth  9  are equally spaced and arrayed in semi-circle. A middle tooth  9   a  is located at the center of the semi-circumference of cutting teeth  9 . The cutting blade  5  is configured to pierce the top of a lid  77  of a can  75  with middle tooth  9   a  and/or adjacent cutting teeth  9 . 
     The transport wheel  3  is in the form of circular blade with equally spaced teeth  2 , and surface  4  that tapers toward the edge. The transport wheel is configured to engage under a rim  76  of the can  75 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , a can guide  12  and a hood  11  positions can  75  to be pierced or cut by cutting blade  5  during the operation of can opener  1 . The hood  11  projects downward from above cutting blade  5  to a position above the lowest point of cutting blade  5 . The hood  11  houses a suction cup  65 , with a spring holder  66 , a spring  67  and a magnet  70 . The suction cup  65  is positioned to latch onto the lid  77  of the can  75  when the can is in position to be cut. 
     Upon insertion into the can opener  1 , the lid  77  is pressed against the suction cup  65  and the magnet  70 . The transport wheel  3  is also pressed against the bottom of the can rim  76 , thus securing the can  75  for operation. The cutting blade  5  is then operated with transport wheel  3  to cut the lid  77  from the can  75 . Suction cup  65  and/or magnet  70  holds lid  77  after the lid  77  is cut from the can  75 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the can opener  1 , in the right hand operation mode, and as the handle  20  tilts radially, the following occurs: 
     (a) the cam follower  27  slides in the groove of the inclined or helical path  44  and forms engagement of the handle  20  and the cam  40 ; 
     (b) the spur gear  15  rotates around the spur gear track  14 ; 
     (c) the selector guide  25 , resting upon the inner selector surface  26 , pushes up the selector  29 ; 
     (d) the selector follower  39  simultaneously slides in the curved groove  19  and tilts the blade holder  30  around the pin  55  of the partial spherical joint  60  in a direction downward to the can  75 ; and 
     (e) the blade cutter  5 , which is attached to the blade holder  30 , contacts the can lid  77 . 
     As the blade holder  30  is tilted further: 
     (f) the blade cutter  5  moves in a downward direction to pierce the top of the lid  77 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the can opener  1 , in the right hand operation mode and as an assembly, which is constituted by the handle  20 , cam  40 , selector  29 , and driver  50 , rotates: 
     (a) the cam  40  rotates in the outer blade holder surface  32  of the blade holder  30 ; 
     (b) the cam  40  rotates in the groove  43  in the flange  17  of the housing  10 ; 
     (c) the cam follower  27  slides on the side surface of the inclined or helical path  44  and creates the dragging force in the cam  40 ; 
     (d) the driver  50 , as part of the partial spherical joint  60 , rotates in the inner blade holder surface  31  and in the bearing  13  of the housing  10 ; 
     (e) the selector guide  25  rotates in the inner selector surface  36  of the selector  29 ; 
     (f) the follower  39  of the selector  29  slides in the curved groove  19  of the blade holder  30 ; 
     (g) the pins  38  slide in the slot  34  of the blade holder  30 ; 
     (h) the transport wheel  3 , which is attached to driver  50 , rotates around under the rim  76  of the can  75 ; 
     (i) the cutting blade  5  cuts the lid  65  until completing a full circle. 
     During the cutting process of the can  75 , the position of the cutting blade  5  is maintained by the constant dragging force from the cam  40  that is exerted on the curved bulge  25  by rotation in the inner selector surface  36  of the selector  29 . Upon completion of the cutting the cutting blade  5  disengages from the top of the can  75  and the cut lid  77  disengages from the transport wheel  3  by rotating the handle  20  in a direction opposite to the cutting direction. The cut lid  77  is lifted by the suction cup  65  and the magnet  70 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the can opener  1  in the left-hand operation mode and as the handle  20  tilts radially, the following occurs: 
     (a) the cam follower  28  slides in the groove of the inclined or helical path  45  and forms engagement of the handle  20  and the cam  40 ; 
     (b) the spur gear  15  rotates around the spur gear track  14 ; 
     (c) the selector guide  25 , resting upon the inner selector surface  26 , pushes up the selector  29 ; 
     (d) the selector follower  39  simultaneously slides in the curved groove  19  and tilts the blade holder  30  around the pin  55  of the partial spherical joint  60  in a direction downward to the can  75 ; and 
     (e) the blade cutter  5 , which is attached to the blade holder  30 , contacts the can lid  77 . 
     As the blade holder  30  is tilted further: 
     (f) the blade cutter  5  moves in a downward direction to pierce the top of the lid  77 ; and 
     (g) the pins  38  slide in the slot  34  of the blade holder  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the can opener  1 , in the left hand operation mode and as the assembly, which is constituted by the handle  20 , cam  40 , selector  29 , and driver  50 , rotates: 
     (a) the cam  40  rotates in the outer blade holder surface  32  of the blade holder  30 ; 
     (b) the cam  40  rotates in the groove  43  in the flange  17  of the housing  10 ; 
     (c) the cam follower  27  slides on the side surface of the inclined or helical path  45  and creates the dragging force in the cam  40 ; 
     (d) the driver  50 , as part of the partial spherical joint  60 , rotates in the inner blade holder surface  31  and in the bearing  13  of the housing  10 ; 
     (e) the selector guide  25  rotates in the inner selector surface  36  of the selector  29 ; 
     (f) the follower  39  of the selector  29  slides in the curved groove  19  of the blade holder  30 ; 
     (g) the transport wheel  3 , which is attached to driver  50 , rotates around under the rim  76  of the can  75 ; 
     (h) the cutting blade  5  cuts the lid  65  until completing a full circle. 
     During the cutting process of the can  75 , the position of the cutting blade  5  is maintained by the constant dragging force from the cam  40  that is exerted on the curved bulge  25  by rotation in the inner selector surface  36  of the selector  29 . Upon completion of the cutting the cutting blade  5  disengages from the top of the can  75  and the cut lid  77  disengages from the transport wheel  3  by rotating the handle  20  in a direction opposite to the cutting direction. The cut lid  77  is lifted by the suction cup  65  and the magnet  70 . 
     It should be understood that foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to encompass all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1