Abstract:
A beverage can opener having a body that includes a tab engaging pawl, and an opposing punch opening assist pawl that is offset from the tab engaging pawl. The tab engaging pawl is inserted into the beverage can opening tab from the drinking hole side of the can, and functions to increase the leverage and thereby the opening action of the can opening tab.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    2. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present principles relate to can openers. More particularly, they relate to a beverage can opener. 
         [0003]    2. Description of related art 
         [0004]    There are many known devices for assisting in the opening of a beverage can. These devices are generally designed to assist the user in getting underneath the existing opening tab and providing an extension of the same in order to help the user open the can. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present principles provide a beverage can opener that provides increased leverage to a user attempting to open a beverage can, while at the same time making it simple and easy to use. 
         [0006]    According to one aspect, the beverage can opener includes a tab engaging pawl configured to engage a beverage can opening tab, and a punch assist pawl extending in an opposite direction from said tab engaging pawl, wherein said tab engaging pawl engages the beverage can opening tab from a drinking hole side of the beverage can. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment the tab engaging pawl engages the beverage can opening tab by passing through a hole in the beverage can opening tab. 
         [0008]    A handle is connected to the tab engaging pawl and the punch assist pawl. The tab engaging pawl and the punch assist pawl extending outward from a distal end of said handle, wherein the punch assist pawl is offset from said tab engaging pawl such that the punch assist pawl is disposed above said tab engaging pawl on said handle. 
         [0009]    Other aspects and features of the present principles will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the present principles, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    In the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote similar components throughout the views: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1   b  is perspective view of the beverage can opener according to an implementation of the present principles; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1   b  is a side view of the beverage can opener according to an implementation of the present principles; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2   a  is a plan view of the operation of the beverage can opener according to a first implementation of the present principles; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2   b  is a plan view of the operation of the beverage can opener according to a second implementation of the present principles; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3   a  is plan view of the operation of the beverage can opener according to the first implementation of the present principles; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3   b  is a plan view of the operation of the beverage can opener according to the second implementation of the present principles; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4   a  is a plan view of the operation of the beverage can opener according to the first implementation of the present principles; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 4   b  is a plan view of the operation of the beverage can opener according to the second implementation of the present principles. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 1   a  and  1   b , there is shown the beverage can opener  10  according to as aspect of the present principles. The opener  10  has a body  12  with a handle  14 , a tab engaging pawl  18  and a punch opening assist pawl  20  oppositely arranged from the tab engaging pawl  18  and offset  28  from the same. The tab engaging pawl  18  includes a tip  22  configured to be inserted under a punch opening tab  34 , a ramp lice flat surface  24  for assisting the insertion of the pawl  18  under the opening tab  34 , and a transition area  25  connecting the pawl  18  to the body  12  at a transition point  16 . The punch assist pawl  20  extends in the opposite direction (i.e., 180 degrees) than the tab engaging pawl  18 . The underside  26  of the tab engaging pawl  18  includes a slight curvature to assist in the proper insertion of the tip  22 , and thereby the orientation of the pawl  18  with respect to the tab  34 . 
         [0020]    In accordance with one implementation of the present principles, the opener  10  is designed to engage the can opening tab  34  and provide the user with increased ease and comfort in opening the same.  FIGS. 2   a ,  3   a  and  4   a  show this preferred implementation of the opener  10  according to the present principles.  FIG. 2   b ,  3   b  and  4   b  show the opener  10  in a secondary application, according to the present principles. 
         [0021]    According to the preferred implementation, and referring now to  FIGS. 2   a ,  3   a  and  4   a , the tip  22  is inserted into the hole  35  of the opening tab  34  such that the flat surface  24  passes through the hole  35  from the top and passes under the rim formed by the hole  35 . This action is shown by the direction arrow A 1  in  FIG. 2   a . As the tab engaging pawl  18  is passed through hole  35 , the underside curvature  26  of the pawl  18  causes the tab  34  to raise about its pivot point  36 . As this point (i.e., the end of the A 1  motion), the punch assist pawl  20  comes into contact with the tab end  38  which is adapted to press the during hole punch  40  into the drinking hole  32 . As the opener  10  is moved in the direction B 1 , the punch assist pawl  20 , in conjunction with the tab end  38 , applies pressure to the drinking hold punch  40  and once die seal is broken on the punch  40 , the handle  14  of the opener is moved in the direction C 1  to cause the pawl  20  with tab  34  to press the punch  40  into the can and open the drinking hole  32 . In this manner, the user can easily open the beverage can by utilizing the opener  10  with out fear of breaking the tab  34 , or otherwise hurting their finger (e.g., breaking a fingernail, etc.). 
         [0022]    In another contemplated implementation, the opener  10  can be used to “save” a beverage can where, for whatever reason, tie tab  34  failed to function properly and fully press the punch  40  into the can and open the drinking hole  32 . Often times, this results in the can being thrown away, or alternatively, the user attempts to use one of their fingers to assist in pressing punch  40  into the can, thereby increasing the risk for injury.  FIGS. 2   b ,  3   b  and  4   b  show an alternative use for the opener  10  where tie tip  22  of tab engaging pawl  18  is inserted into tie partial hole  37  where the pivot  36  connects the tab  34  to the can  30 . 
         [0023]    The tab  34  has been lifted at this point by the user, and has failed to function properly. As such, the insertion of tab engaging pawl  18  will be relatively simple. Once fully inserted, the punch assist tab  20  will extend beyond die punch engaging end  38  of tab  34  and will actually engage the punch  40  directly. By pivoting the handle  14  in die direction B 2 , C 2 , the punch assist tab  20  will forcefully press tie punch  40  into the can, and thereby open the drinking hole  32 . This allows the user to “save” an otherwise unopenable can, without requiring the dangerous use of a finger, or some other implement not configured for the same. 
         [0024]    While there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the present principles, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the same. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the present principles. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or implementation of the present principles may be incorporated in any other disclosed, described or suggested form or implementation as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of die claims appended hereto.