Patent Abstract:
A can opener for opening cans of various sizes having an operating handle, which when rotated in a first direction functions to bring a sharpened cutting wheel of the can opener from an elevated position into piercing engagement with the top of the can with the butting wheel n piercing engagement with the top of the can, continued rotation of the handle will cause rotation of the can and will cause the cutter wheel to cleanly cut the top of the can so that the top can be easily removed. Reverse rotation of the handle will cause the cutting wheel to disengage from the top of the can and to return to its elevated, starting position.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to can openers. More particularly the invention concerns a hand operated, mechanical can opener.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Invention  
           [0004]    A number of different designs of mechanically operated can openers have been suggested in the past. As a general rule, the prior art can openers comprise a traction wheel and a cooperating cutting wheel. The traction wheel is typically adapted to frictionally engage an annular abutment formed about the top periphery of the can and functions to drive the can opener around the top of the can while the sharpened cutting wheel cuts through the top wall of the can.  
           [0005]    A major problem of prior art can openers of the aforementioned character resides in the fact that if the cutting wheel does not operate properly it can form small shavings that can undesirably contaminate the contents of the can.  
           [0006]    Additionally, in the operation of certain prior art can openers, the cutting wheel fails to cleanly and effectively penetrate the top of the can as the traction wheel is moved into engagement with the annular abutment thereby making opening of the can unduly difficult. Another problem found in some prior art, manually operated can openers is a difficulty in keeping the opener in proper position on the can during the can opening process. Still another drawback of certain of the prior art manually operated can openers resides in the fact that in many cases a high degree of dexterity on the part of the user is required to properly use the can opener.  
           [0007]    A quite popular type of prior art can opener is a hand operated can opener that includes a lever handle integrating a cutter at the end thereof to make a circumferential cut on a sealed cover of a can adjacent to a projecting edge joint formed between the sealed cover and a cylindrical wall of the can. A disadvantage of this type of can opener is that a substantial force is required to first pierce the sealed cover of the can and to then sever the cover from the body of the can. A can opener construction that somewhat alleviates the disadvantages of this latter type of can opener is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,354,467 issued to Lubetsky. The Lubetsky can opener includes a spindle, a crank for turning the spindle and a drive member fixed on the spindle for rotation therewith. The drive member is adapted to rotate around upon a peripheral margin formed proximate the upper end of the can. A blade that is also carried by the spindle is adapted to pierce the can end and cut the latter as the drive member travels around the margin of the can. A movable guide depends from the spindle and is adapted to engage an annular abutment on the can. A novel feature of the Lubetsky device resides in the provision of camming means that are adapted to move the movable guide into engagement with the abutment. The device also includes means provided on a crank for actuating the camming means.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    An object of the invention is to provide an improved can opener of a simplified design which is easily operated and effectively overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art can openers.  
           [0009]    Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener of the aforementioned character that is readily adjustable so that it can be used to open generally cylindrically shaped cans of various sizes.  
           [0010]    Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener of the type described in the preceding paragraphs in which the operating handle, when rotated in a first direction to a first position, functions to bring the sharpened cutting wheel of the apparatus into piercing engagement with the top of the can. Continued rotation of the handle will cause rotation of the can and will cause the cutter wheel to cleanly cut the top of the can so that it can be easily removed.  
           [0011]    Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener of the type described in the preceding paragraphs in which the operating handle, when rotated in a second, opposite direction, functions to move the sharpened cutting wheel of the apparatus out of piercing engagement with the top of the can so that the opened can may be expeditiously removed from the can opener.  
           [0012]    Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener of the character described which includes a novel clutch arrangement comprising a wrap spring that circumscribes the cutter wheel spindle for controlling the movement of the cutter wheel into and out of cutting engagement with the can.  
           [0013]    In summary, the present invention comprises a novel can opener for cutting the lid of a can having a generally cylindrically shaped body portion, a top wall connected to the body portion and a peripheral, outwardly projecting edge joint between the body portion and the top wall that includes a support assembly, a housing connected to the support, the housing having a longitudinal bore therethrough, a spindle housing rotatably carried within the longitudinal bore of the housing for rotation between first and second positions, the spindle housing having an axial centerline and a longitudinally extending bore having an axial centerline radially offset from the axial centerline of the spindle housing, a spindle disposed within the longitudinally extending bore of the spindle housing and operating means connected to the spindle for rotating the spindle between first and second positions to move the cutter wheel, which is connected to the spindle, into and out of engagement with the top of the can. For this purpose, a novel wrap spring circumscribes the spindle and is so constructed and arranged so that rotation of the spindle in a first direction to a first position will causes the wrap spring to drivably grip the spindle so that continued rotation of the spindle will cause rotation of spindle housing to the second position wherein the cutter wheel is moved into cutting engagement with the top of the can. Continued rotation of the spindle in the first direction to a second position will cause the wrap spring to release the spindle and enable rotation of the spindle and the cutter wheel independently of the spindle housing. As the spindle housing moves into the second position, a traction wheel connected to the housing will drivably engage the peripheral, outwardly projecting edge joint of the can to cause smooth rotation of the can. After the top of the can has been cut, rotation of the spindle in a second, opposite direction will causes the wrap spring to once again drivably grip the spindle and rotate the spindle housing to its starting position wherein the cutting wheel is withdrawn from cutting engagement with the top of the can. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 side elevational view of one form of the can opener apparatus of the invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a view taken along lines  2 - 2  of FIG. 1.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a view taken along lines  3 - 3  of FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  of FIG. 2.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  5 - 5  of FIG. 4  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  6 - 6  of FIG. 4.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is an enlarged, generally perspective view of one form of the wrap spring and spindle of the apparatus of the invention shown in a first starting position.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional positioned view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the crank handle of the apparatus moved from a first to a second intermediate position and showing the travel of the front tang of the wrap spring.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional position view similar to FIG. 8, but illustrating the travel of the rear tang of the wrap spring.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is a side-elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the crank handle of the apparatus moved from a first to a second position.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  11 - 11  of FIG. 10.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  12 - 12  of FIG. 10.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  13 - 13  of FIG. 11.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  14 - 14  of FIG. 13.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  15 - 15  of FIG. 13.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 16 is an enlarged, generally perspective view of the wrap spring and spindle of the apparatus of the invention shown in a second position different from that shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the cutting wheel of the apparatus of the invention shown in a can cutting configuration.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 18 is a view taken along lines  18 - 18  of FIG. 17.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 19 is a plan view of one form of the traction wheel and spindle of the apparatus of the invention.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 20 is an enlarged, generally perspective, exploded view of the various cooperating components of the apparatus of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0034]    Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 7, one form of the can opener of the present invention is there shown. The can opener of the invention is specially designed for cutting a can having a body portion “B”, a top wall “W” connected to the body portion and a peripheral, outwardly projecting edge joint “J” formed between the body portion “B” and the top wall “T” (FIGS. 1 and 11).  
         [0035]    In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, the can opener comprises a support assembly  14  that includes an elongated, vertically extending rigid support member  14   a  and clamping means for adjustably affixing the support member to a supporting panel “SP” such as a counter or tabletop or the like. The clamping means here comprises a mounting assembly  16  that includes a body portion  18  having an opening  20  for telescopically receiving support member  14   a.  Mounting assembly  16  also includes a panel engaging, generally yoke shaped arm  22  that extends from body portion  18  for engagement with the upper surface of supporting panel “SP”. Yoke shaped arm  22  also functions to center the can body relative to support member  14  and a manner depicted in FIGS. 1 and 8. Spaced apart from arm  22  and extending outwardly from body portion  18  is a second arm  24  that is provided with a threaded bore  26 . Threadably received within threaded bore  26  is a threaded shaft  28  having at one end a clamping head  30  and having at the other end a transversally extending, finger engaging rod  32  for rotating threaded shaft  28 .  
         [0036]    Connected to the upper portion of support assembly  14  is a housing assembly  36  that includes a housing  36   a  having a longitudinal bore  38  therethrough (FIGS. 4 and 18). As best seen in FIG. 4, a spindle housing assembly  40  is mounted within longitudinal bore  38 . Spindle housing assembly  40 , which includes a first end portion  40   a  and a second portion  40   b  that are interconnected by a threaded connector  40   c,  is rotatable within bore  38  between a first position shown in FIG. 4 and a second position shown in FIG. 11. Spindle housing assembly  40  has an axial centerline “C” (FIG. 5) and a longitudinally extending bore  42  having an axial centerline “C- 1 ” that is radially offset from the centerline “C” of spindle housing assembly  40  (see FIGS. 5 and 12). Rotatably carried within bore  42  is a spindle  44  that has first and second ends  44   a  and  44   b  respectively. First end  44   a  of spindle  44  extends outwardly from body  36  and, as best seen in FIG. 3, is generally square and cross-section. Connected to first end  44   a  for rotation therewith and is a cutter wheel  46  having a sharpened cutting edge  46   a  for cutting the top wall “W” of the can. Also connected to first end  44   a  of spindle  44  for rotation therewith is a traction wheel  48  that is adapted to engage the peripheral, outwardly projecting edge joint “J” of the can after cutter wheel  44  is moved into cutting engagement with the top wall of the can in a manner presently to be described. As shown in FIG. 17, traction wheel  48  is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart engaging teeth  48   a  to provide positive traction between the traction wheel and edge joint “J”.  
         [0037]    Operating means is connected to end  44   b  of spindle  44  for controllably rotating spindle  44  and also for controllably rotating spindle housing  40  between the first and second positions. In the present form of the invention, the operating means comprises an elongated handle or crank like assembly  50  that is connected to spindle  44  in the manner shown in the drawings.  
         [0038]    In starting the can opening process, the housing assemblage  36  along with the crank assembly is first lifted so that the can can be positioned on the supporting panel “SP”. This done, the assemblage is lowered to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 where the can rim is disposed between the cutter wheel and the idler wheel  55   a  of idler wheel assembly  55 . Idler wheel  55   a,  is of the general configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and is rotatably mounted on a shaft  55   b  that is carried by a threaded member  55   c  that is threadably connected to housing  36   a  in the manner shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.  
         [0039]    To begin the can opening process, the handle  50   a  of the operating means is rotated in a clockwise direction causing concomitant rotation of spindle  44  in a clockwise direction.  
         [0040]    Forming an important aspect of the apparatus of the present invention is clutch means for controlling the rotation of the spindle housing assembly  40  within bore  38  of housing  36   a.  This novel clutch means is here provided in the form of a conventional wrap spring  58  that circumscribes a portion of spindle  44 . As best seen in FIG. 7 wrap spring  58  includes first and second tangs  60  and  62 , the purpose of which will presently be described. FIG. 7 illustrates the position of the wrap spring and spindle when the handle  50   a  has been rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and into the can opening starting position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this position, second tang  62  is in engagement with the inboard end  64   a  of a transversely extending stop pin  64  that is threadably connected to housing  36   a  (FIG. 7). Second tang  62  is also in engagement with the end wall  66   a  of a groove  66  formed in spindle housing portion  40   b  (see also FIG. 20). Groove  66  comprises a part of the guide means of the invention for guiding travel of the first and second tangs. Rotation of handle  50   a  and spindle  44  in a counter-clockwise direction will cause tang  62  of the wrap spring  58  to engage stop pin  64  and will cause it to tend to unwind or disengage spindle  44  allowing it to freely rotate within the wrap spring. However, rotation of handle  50   a  and spindle  44  in the opposite, clockwise direction will permit the wrap spring to return to its normal at rest position and to drivably engage the spindle causing the spindle and wrap spring to rotate as a unit. This clockwise rotation of the handle will also cause tang  62  to exert a force on channel end portion  66   a  and to thereby impart rotation to spindle housing assembly  40  in a manner to rotate the assembly to the intermediate position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.  
         [0041]    Continued rotation of the handle assembly past the intermediate position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 will cause the cooperating components to next move into the position shown in FIGS. 10, 11,  13  and  14 . More particularly, since the spindle and wrap spring are mounted eccentrically within spindle housing assembly  40 , rotation of the spindle housing assembly from the starting position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to the position shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 will cause the spindle and the cutter wheel that is attached thereto to move into the can cutting position shown in FIGS. 11, 13 and  14 . At the same time, the supporting assembly  14  will move upwardly in the direction of the arrow  15  of FIG. 10 bringing the idler wheel  55   a  into engagement with the edge join “J” in the manner shown in FIG. 10.  
         [0042]    When the assemblage made up of spindle  44  and wrap spring  58  reaches the can cutting position shown in FIGS. 11, 13 and  14 , tang  60  will move into engagement with the inboard end  68   a  of a second transversely extending stop pin  68  (see FIGS. 14 and 16). Continued rotation of the spindle in a clockwise direction will cause the wrap spring to “unwind” and disengage the spindle thereby permitting the spindle to freely rotate within the wrap spring and within spindle housing assembly  40 .  
         [0043]    As best seen by referring to FIG. 20, assembly portion  40   b,  spindle housing is also provided with a second guide channel or groove  70  which receives and guides the travel of tang  60  as spindle  44  is rotated between the starting and can cutting positions. Guide channel  70 , which also forms a part of the guide means of the invention, has an end portion  70   a  that engages tang  60  in the manner shown in FIG. 7. With the wrap spring of the clutch means disengaged from the spindle, further rotation of the handle assembly in a clockwise direction, will cause rotation only of spindle  44  which, in turn, will cause the traction wheel  48  to engage the peripheral joint “J” of the can in a manner to controllably rotate the can and cause the cutter wheel to cleanly cut the top of the can at a location proximate the peripheral joint.  
         [0044]    After the top of the can has been cut, the handle assembly  50  is rotated in a counter-clockwise position causing tang  60  to move away from stop pin  68  and causing the wrap spring to once again return to its normal at rest position and to drivably engage the spindle. Continued rotation of the spindle in the counter-clockwise direction will cause the spindle and the spindle housing assembly  40 , which is now driven as a result of tang  62  engaging shoulder  70   a  (FIG. 16) to move into the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As indicated in FIG. 12, the axis “X” of the housing assembly is skewed at an angle so as to make the can lid or top rise at the end of the cut. In the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, tang  62  will once again engage stop pin  64  in the manner shown in FIG. 7 “unwinding” the wrap spring and permitting the spindle to rotate freely within the wrap spring. With the spindle housing assembly  40  in this starting position, another can can be opened in the same manner as described in the preceding paragraphs.  
         [0045]    Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this are will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1