Abstract:
Apparatus for opening a can comprising a first handle and a second handle, the first and second handles being pivotally connected to one another at their distal ends; a first partial can enclosure element attached to the first handle and a second partial can enclosure element attached to the second handle, wherein when the first and second handles are brought together, the first and second partial can enclosure elements create a cavity sized to fully enclose a can; a can cutting mechanism having a first portion mounted to the first handle and a second portion mounted to the second handle, wherein the first portion of the cutting mechanism and the second portion of the cutting mechanism are configured so that when the first and second handles are brought together so as to enclose a can disposed in the cavity, the can cutting mechanism engages the can for cutting the can.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This patent application claims benefit of pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/474,358, filed Apr. 12, 2011 by Craig Souza for TUNA TERRIFIC™ (Attorney&#39;s Docket No. SOUZA-1 PROV), which patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to kitchen appliances in general, and more particularly to an appliance for opening a can. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Opening a can that contains liquids as well as solids, such as a can of tuna, can be a messy, cumbersome and potentially hazardous activity. Using a conventional electric or manual can opener to open a can and remove the lid of the can will often result in the spillage of some of the liquid from the can. Further, the initial puncture of the can by the cutting blade of a conventional can opener can sometimes result in the forcible ejection of some of the liquid from the can, as the contents of the can are sometimes under higher pressure relative to the ambient atmosphere. In either case, the liquid contents of the can might be spilled, splattered or splashed on the can opener, nearby objects and/or the user of the can opener. Such spillage often creates an undesirable and sometimes malodorous mess. 
         [0004]    In some cases, the liquid in the can is a wholly undesirable product that is present merely to preserve or otherwise protect the desirable solid product contained in the can. In cases where it is desirable to separate the liquid from the solid contents of the can, conventional can openers render little or no assistance. To separate the liquid from the solid contents of a can, a user of a conventional can opener must open the can in a conventional manner, use his or her bare hands to press the lid onto the solid portion of the canned product to strain and/or squeeze the liquid out of the solid and then pour off the liquid to dispose of it. This straining procedure has at least two undesirable effects: 1) the liquid that is strained out of the can will often run onto the hands of the person straining the liquid; and 2) after the straining procedure is complete, the lid will often remain partially “buried” in the remaining solid product in the can and will be below the top rim of the wall of the can. Removing the lid from the inside of the can often involves having to “dig” the lid out of the solid part of the product, which is a potentially dangerous proposition as the edges of the lid can be extremely sharp and can easily cut the fingers of the person seeking to remove the lid. Rinsing and properly disposing of the sharp-edged lid presents a similar laceration hazard to a user&#39;s fingers. 
         [0005]    The present invention provides a device that allows a user to open a can and dispose of unwanted liquid contained in a can in a convenient and controlled manner while also providing for a cleaner and safer way of handling and disposing of a can lid and an opened can. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides apparatus for opening a can in a convenient, and controlled manner. 
         [0007]    In one form of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for opening a can, the apparatus comprising: 
         [0008]    a first handle and a second handle, the first handle and the second handle being pivotally connected to one another at their distal ends;
       a first partial can enclosure element attached to the first handle and a second partial can enclosure element attached to the second handle, wherein when the first and second handles are brought together, the first and second partial can enclosure elements create a cavity sized to fully enclose a can;       
 
         [0010]    a can cutting mechanism having a first portion mounted to the first handle and a second portion mounted to the second handle, wherein the first portion of the cutting mechanism and the second portion of the cutting mechanism are configured so that when the first handle and the second handle are brought together so as to enclose a can disposed in the cavity, the can cutting mechanism engages the can for cutting the can. 
         [0011]    In another form of the invention, there is provided a method for opening a can and controlling liquid contained therein, comprising: 
         [0012]    providing a can opener comprising:
       a first handle and a second handle, the first handle and the second handle being pivotally connected to one another at their distal ends;   a first partial can enclosure element attached to the first handle and a second partial can enclosure element attached to the second handle,   wherein when the first and second handles are brought together, the first and second partial can enclosure elements create a cavity sized to fully enclose a can;   a can cutting mechanism having a first portion mounted to the first handle and a second portion mounted to the second handle, wherein the first portion of the cutting mechanism and the second portion of the cutting mechanism are configured so that when the first handle and the second handle are brought together so as to enclose a can disposed in the cavity, the can cutting mechanism engages the can for cutting the can;       
 
         [0017]    positioning a can in the second partial can enclosure element; 
         [0018]    bringing the first handle and the second handle together so as to enclose the can disposed in the cavity; and 
         [0019]    opening the can while it is fully enclosed within the can enclosure elements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    These and other objects and features of the present invention will be more fully disclosed or rendered obvious by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which is to be considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts, and further wherein: 
           [0021]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views showing a can opener, in a closed position, formed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the can opener of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , with the can opener being shown in an open position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the bottom portion of the can opener; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the top portion of the can opener; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are views of the top portion and bottom portion, respectively, of an alternative form of the can opener of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a view of the bottom portion of another alternative form of the can opener of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a view of the top portion of another alternative form of the can opener of the present invention; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a partially exploded view of the top portion of the can opener of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    The present invention provides apparatus for opening a can in a convenient and controlled manner. 
         [0030]    In accordance with the present invention, and looking now at  FIGS. 1-5 , there is provided a novel can opener  5  for opening a can, separating the liquid and solid components of the can, disposing of any unwanted liquid contained in the can and disposing of the can lid. 
         [0031]    Can opener  5  is provided with a first (i.e., top) handle  10  and a second (i.e., bottom) handle  15 . First handle  10  is pivotally attached to second handle  15  at their distal ends by a bolt  16  and nut (s)  17 , or similar means known in the art. A first (i.e., top) partial can enclosure element  20  is mounted to first handle  10 . A second (i.e., bottom) partial can enclosure element  25  is mounted to second handle  15 . First partial can enclosure element  20  and second partial can enclosure element  25  are configured such that when first handle  10  and second handle  15  are brought together, first partial can enclosure element  20  and second partial can enclosure element  25  come together to form a cavity which fully encloses a can placed between the two partial can enclosure elements. 
         [0032]    A first partial can cutting mechanism  30  is mounted to first handle  10 . First partial can cutting mechanism  30  comprises a rotating gear  35 , a can cutting blade  40  and a rotating gear pin  45 . A second partial can cutting mechanism  50  is mounted to second handle  15 . Second partial can cutting mechanism  50  comprises a turning key knob  55 , a turning key  60 , and a top turning gear  65 . Second partial can cutting mechanism  50  may be partially covered by turning gear housing  67 . First partial can cutting mechanism  30  and second partial can cutting mechanism  50  are configured such that when a can is inserted in second partial can enclosure element  25  and first handle  10  and second handle  15  are brought together, can cutting blade  40  will puncture the lid of a can and top turning gear  65  will engage rotating gear  35 . 
         [0033]    Can stabilizer  70  is mounted to the inside of second partial can enclosure element  25  to “cradle” the can and prevent the can from migrating within second partial can enclosure element  25 . 
         [0034]    In one preferred method of using the invention, a user begins by placing second partial can enclosure element  25  on a flat surface, such as a kitchen countertop. A user may open can opener  5  by grasping handle grip  12  of first handle  10  and lifting first handle  10 . Lifting first handle  10  will raise first partial can enclosure element  20  and expose the inside of second partial can enclosure element  25 . The user may then place an unopened can inside the can opener  5  by placing the bottom of the can into second partial can enclosure element  25  so that the side of the can fits snugly against can stabilizer  70 . 
         [0035]    After the can is properly positioned in the second partial can enclosure element  25 , the user may close can opener  5  by moving first handle  10  toward second handle  15  until the handle grip  12  on first handle  10  is flush with handle grip  13  of second handle  15 . At this point, the can is now completely contained between first partial can enclosure element  20  and second partial can enclosure element  25 , and the user is protected from any splash or splatter and any liquid which may spill out of the can in an uncontrolled manner. In addition, by closing the device in this manner, cutting blade  40  will puncture the can lid and top turning gear  65  will engage rotating gear  35 . 
         [0036]    The user may then cause the can to be rotated within the can enclosure element (i.e., the cavity formed when first partial can enclosure element  20  and second partial can enclosure element  25  are brought together) by turning turning key knob  55 , which will cause turning key  60 , to turning gear  65  and rotating gear  35  to rotate. The rotation of the can subjects the circumference of the lid to cutting blade  40 , thereby cutting the can lid and separating it from the walls of the can. If desired, after can cutting blade  40  has separated the lid from the can, can opener  5  may be opened and the lid discarded. 
         [0037]    In one preferred form of the invention, and looking now at  FIG. 5 , first partial can enclosure element  20  further comprises a straining element  80  for separating the liquid and solid components of a can after the can has been opened. Straining element  80  comprises a press housing  85 , a press bottom  90 , a magnet  95 , press springs  100 , a press top  105 , a lid eject tension spring  110  and a lid eject pin  115 . First partial can enclosure element  20  is also formed with an arc-shaped slit  122  so as to allow liquid to escape from within the can enclosure element when the user positions the can opener  5  such that slit  122  is at or near the lowest point of the can enclosure element (e.g., by tipping the can opener at an angle). 
         [0038]    Straining element  80  may be used to separate the liquid from the solid product contained in the can in the following manner. After can cutting blade  40  has separated the lid of the can from the rest of the can in the manner described above, the user may then press down on press top  105 , which will cause press bottom  90  to exert force on the severed lid that is still inside the can. The force exerted on the lid of the can will press the lid against the solid product in the can, thereby separating the liquid from the solid in the can. The lid itself, which is only slightly smaller than the opening in the top of the can will prevent most of the solid product from escaping the can. The user may now position (e.g., tilt) can opener  5  so that slit  122  is located at or near the lowest point of the can enclosure element. The liquid that is squeezed out of the can will run out of the can and into the can enclosure element, and may subsequently be poured out of slit  122  into a desired disposal receptacle. 
         [0039]    After straining out the unwanted liquid from a can, the user may prepare to remove the solid contents of the can. To open can opener  5 , the user should place can opener  5  on a flat surface such that second partial can enclosure element  25  is resting on the fiat surface. The user may then lift first handle  10  and pivot it about bolt  16  and nut (s)  17  until first handle  10  is at approximately a one hundred eighty degree angle to second handle  15 . The lid will still be stuck to press bottom  90  because of the force exerted by magnet  95 , so the user will, have unfettered access to the solid contents of the can, which will still be in the can in second partial can enclosure element  25 . 
         [0040]    Once the solid contents of the can (e.g., tuna) have been removed from the can, the top lid of the can, and the can itself, are ready for disposal. 
         [0041]    As previously described, the lid of the can will remain stuck to the bottom surface of press bottom  90  because of the force exerted by magnet  95 . To dispose of the lid without risk of being cut by its sharp edges, the user may invert or tilt can opener  5  over a desired disposal receptacle and press lid eject pin  115 . Pressing lid eject pin  115  exerts a force on the lid sufficient to overcome the force exerted by magnet  95 , which causes the lid to “fall off” of press bottom  90  and into a disposal receptacle. The can may be disposed of by manually lilting the can out of second partial can enclosure element  25 , and disposing of it in a disposal receptacle. 
         [0042]    In one preferred form of the invention, and looking now at  FIG. 4 , second partial can enclosure element  25  may be formed with a hole  130  in its bottom portion such that a can placed in second can enclosure mechanism  25  may be manually pushed out from underneath second partial can enclosure element  25 . In this form of the invention, the user may elect the can out of second partial can enclosure element  25  into the disposal receptacle by inverting or tipping can opener  5  over the disposal receptacle and by passing a finger through hole  130  so as to push a can out of second partial can enclosure element  25 . 
         [0043]    In another form of the present invention, and looking now at  FIGS. 6-10 , a can opener  5  having removable partial can enclosure elements is provided. In this embodiment, first partial can enclosure element  20  is detachably mounted to first handle  10  by snap tabs  130  and  135  and second partial can enclosure element  25  is detachably mounted to second handle  15  by snap tabs  140  and  145 . By pushing snap tabs  130  and  135 , first partial can enclosure element  20  can be detached from first handle  10 . By pushing snap tabs  140  and  145 , second partial can enclosure element  25  can be detached from second handle  15 . By detaching both partial can enclosure elements, the user may use can opener  5  in a manner similar to that of a conventional can opener. 
         [0044]    In another form of the present invention, and looking now at  FIG. 8 , can stabilizer  70  may be detachably mounted to second partial can enclosure element  25 , so as to allow can stabilizer to be removed for cleaning or other purposes. 
         [0045]    In yet another form of the present invention, and looking now at  FIGS. 9 and 10 , first partial can enclosure element  20  may be formed with a spout  150  to better control liquid that may be poured out of the can enclosure element. In this form of the invention, a user may position can opener  5  so that spout  150  is located at or near the lowest point of the can enclosure element (e.g., by tipping can opener  5 ), so as to pour any unwanted liquid out of the can enclosure element and into a disposal receptacle. 
         [0046]    Preferably, both first handle  10  and second handle  15  are formed from a rigid material, such as metal. 
       Further Modifications 
       [0047]    It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art while remaining within the principles and scope of the present invention.