Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 31st Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 31st Dec., 1894-Accepted, 9th Mar.. 1895
I, FREDERIC CHARLES BUSCH, c/o The Franco-American Can-opener Co.,
165 Duane Street, New York, County and State of New York, U.S.A. Mechanic,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention relates to a novel means or method of opening metal receptacles
such as cans, boxes, and the like, usually constructed of tin, and designed to contain
edibles of various kinds, as small fish, fruits, vegetables, &c., the cans being
hermetically sealed in order to effectually preserve the contents, whatever they
may be. There have been many and various contrivances and methods devised
for the purpose of providing ready and effectual means or methods of opening such
hermetically sealed receptacles, and in particular instances some of such methods
and means are effectual in their way. I have, however, invented or discovered a
inethod by which any such receptacle of whatever shape, whether rectangular,
circular or other shape, may be readily, conveniently, easily and effectually opened,
and too according to a predetermined plan; that is to say, the opening will be in
predetermined lines, and in the accompanying drawings I have illustrated
embodiments of my invention, in which-
Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a rectangular shaped box with rounded corners,
(or the cover thereof) as shown, such as are used for packing sardines.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the box shown in Fig. 1 taken through line-a of
tliat figure.
Fig. 3 is a view of the box or cover shown in Figs. 1 & 2 partially opened,
according to my invention.
Fig. 4 is a view of a round box or receptacle or the cover therefor.
Fig. 5 is a view of a box or cover like that shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 illustrating
a modification of my invention; and
Fig. 6 is a view of a box or cover like that shown in Fig. 4 illustrating a
modification of my invention as applied to round boxes or covers.
Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, it will be seen that the receptacle is
made up of a body piece A and a bottom piece B secured to the body or side
piece A, in the manner shown (see Fig. 2) the edges of the bottom piece B being
turned up against the side or body piece A, and secured thereto by solder or other
cement. In like manner the cover C is secured to the top of the box or receptacle
its edges being turned down upon the side or body piece A and fastened thereto by
solder or other suitable cement. The cover is constructed with the bead or raised
portion D, as is usual in such boxes.

page_text: In order to open the receptacle, or in other words, to provide a way by which
the receptacle may be opened, an opening line E is marked or cut on the cover C
extending entirely around or substantially or nearly entirely around, and preferably
close to the edge or edges of the box, and in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, another opening
line F is marked upon the surface of the cover commencing at any suitable or
convenient point thereof, connecting therewith or close to the other opening line as
shown at G in Figs. 1 and 3, and this opening line F may continue parallel with
the opening line E for a slight distance or preferably gradually diverging from that
point and running a desired distance as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in which figures the
opening line F diverges from the point G to a point past the middle of the box or
receptacle and terminates at a point between the middle and the opposite side. These
opening lines are marked upon the one side or the other of the cover by a cutting
tool, creaser or punch, and in the process of opening the box in the manner herein-
after explained the opening will be in or follow the lines of the cnt or creased
portions, as shown in Fig. 3.
It is preferred to leave a portion as H of the cover unmarked or uncut, so that
when the other portion of the cover is torn away, this portion H will remain an
act as a hinge upon which the cover can be lifted or turned up and down in covering
and uncovering the contents again, if desired.
The space between the opening lines F and E at their starting points is wholly
cut through at I, and a tongue or key J is passed through that opening fitting
accurately therein, and in the drawings this tongue or key or opening device
consists of a piece or strip of tin or similar sheet metal, one end of which a being
on the under side of the cover and the other end extending over the cover, solder
being used to securely fasten this strip to the cover on both the outside and the
inside and at the same time effectually close the slit in the cover to prevent acces
of air to the inside of the box. As will be understood the tongue J may be ma.le
continuous with the body of the box instead of a separate piece or strip. In the
drawings I have also shown a device or key K which is intended to be attached, if
desired, to the free end of the strip or tongue J, around which key the strip
be first wound in the cominencement of the operation to open the box. As of
course will be understood other constructions or character of keys or devices may
be attached or applied to the free end of the strip J than the construction of key
or device K, whatever device being used, the strip will be wound thereon in the first
cominencement of opening this box. Again instead of fitting into the slit I a strip.),
a key or other opening device may be fastened directly to the portion of the cover
between the opening lines E and F, by rivetting, soldering or other fastening means
at the point I, so as to securely close and seal that point, and the operation of
opening the box will be the same.
will
Heretofore in opening sheet metal receptacles, a strip has been cut out of the
surface of the cover near the outside edge or sides, and the interior portion of the
cover will thus be separated from this strip, but by my invention the whole surface
of the cover is torn or cut away in the one operation, and becomes wound upon the
opening device, as partially shown in Fig. 3.
The operation of opening the box according to my invention is as follows: The
key K being in the position as shown in Fig. 1 is taken by the hand and turned
in the direction from right to left, looking at the drawings, when the strip will
first become wound upon the shank of the key and as the operation is continue
and the key further turned, the solder or seal at I will be ruptured and then will
begin the process of tearing off the cover, and the cut-off portion as L will becom
wound upon the end of the key, and when the tearing has reached a point in the
opening line E near the edge of the box, nearly opposite the point M, which is
the ending of the opening line F, the portion L will be wound upon the end of the
key as shown in Fig. 3 and become a continuation of that key, and then as the
operation of turning is continued, the as yet unsevered portion N of the cover
will then be wound upon itself from side to side, or from the opening line F to the
opening line E at the other side of the box, and thus the entire cover will be

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A metal receptacle having an opening line running around the receptacle in
proximity with the edge or sides of the receptacle, and another opening line
commencing at any convenient point close to or connected with the other opening
line, and gradually diverging therefrom, for a suitable distance, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
2. A metal receptacle provided with a cover having an opening line running
around the receptacle in proximity with the edge or sides of the receptacle, and
another opening line commencing at any convenient point close to or connected
with the other opening line and gradually diverging therefrom and running in such
gradual divergence to a point past the middle of the cover and terminating at a
point between the middle and the edge of the receptacle or cover, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
3. A metal receptacle provided with a cover having an opening line extending
around the cover in proximity to its edge, and another opening line, commencing
at any convenient point close to or connected with the other line and gradually
diverging therefrom so that a gradually widening strip is included ¡between such
lines, said strip being of such length that its edges may be separated from the
remainder of the cover and may be wound around a suitable key or opening device
adapted to be attached to said strip at its narrow point or portion for a distance
approximating one-half of the periphery of the cover, substantially as set forth.
4. A metal receptacle provided with a cover having an opening line running
around the receptacle in proximity with the edge or sides of the receptacle, and
another opening line commencing at any convenient point close to or connected
with the other opening line and gradually diverging inwardly therefrom for a
suitable distance, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. A metal receptacle having an opening line running around the receptacle in
proximity with the edge or sides of the receptacle and another opening line
commencing at any convenient point close to or connected with the other opening
line and gradually diverging therefrom for a suitable distance, and a key or opening
device connected with said receptacle at the point where said opening lines converge
substantially as set forth.
6. A metal receptacle provided with a cover having an opening line running
around the receptacle in proximity with the edge or sides of the receptacle of
another opening line commencing at any convenient point close to or connected with
the opening line that runs in proximity with the edge or sides of the receptacle
and gradually diverging therefrom and running in such gradual divergence to a
point past the middle of the cover, and another opening line commencing at such
point and gradually diverging from the last mentioned opening line to a point
between said last mentioned opening line and the line which runs in proximity with
the edge, substantially as set forth.
7. A metal receptacle provided with a cover having an opening line running
around the receptacle in proximity to the edge or sides of the receptacle and two
other opening lines commencing at any suitable point on the surface of said cover
and gradually diverging from each other, one of said lines running from its starting
point close to or so as to connect with the opening line that runs around the surface
of the cover in proximity to the edge, to any convenient point thereof, and the
other of said opening lines running in such gradual divergence any desired distance
to a point past the middle of the cover and terminating at a point between the
middle and the edge or side of the receptacle, substantially as set forth.
8. A metal receptacle provided with a cover having an opening line running
around the receptacle in proximity to the edge or sides of the receptacle and two
other opening lines commencing at any suitable point on the surface of said cover
and gradually diverging from each other, one of said lines running from its starting

page_text: wrapped or rolled up and torn from the body of the box, except the portion H
which has not at all been marked, and as before stated, will then operate as a hinge
to enable the cover to be unrolled and laid over again in place upon the box to
partially cover the contents or the interior. This operation as described with
reference to Fig. 3 will be substantially the same if employed to open the round
box shown in Fig. 4, and will be the same no matter what kind of a key is used
attached to the narrow portion intervening between the opening lines F and E at
the point I, as will be readily understood." It is a great advantage that the portion
first to be severed is narrow, as shown in the drawings, because the narrower the
portion between the opening lines, the greater will be the ease by which the
tearing can be started and where the entire body of a cover is wound or wrapped
up, forming really a part of the opening device, greater leverage is obtained in
tearing off the portion of the cover intended to be torn off.
Besides in my invention a short key or opening device is only required
ecause the material as stated becomes wound upon itself and upon the shank
of the key, and after the tearing has reached a point in the opening line.E,
nearly opposite the point M and the tearing is continued, the cover will only
have to be severed from this point on, along the remaining portion of the opening
line E, which is very easily accomplished, especially as there will be a great
bulk of metal wrapped on the key which will give great leverage as before
referred to.
The foregoing description has related more particularly to the constructions
shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, but the same advantages heretofore stated as
ensuing from the use of the means or method shown in those figures for opening
metal receptacles, are attained in the use of the analogous means or methods
employed now to be described in connection with Figs. 5 & 6, in which the opening
line E runs around or substantially around the box in proximity with the edge as
before described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4, and there is another opening
line which commences at any convenient point close to or connected with the
opening line E, and which gradually diverges inwardly therefrom, and runs in
such gradual divergence to a point as N slightly past the middle of the cover,
thence there is another opening line F¹ which commencing at such point gradually
diverges from the opening line F to a point between the opening line F and the
opening line E; or to state it differently the two opening lines F and F may
commence at any suitable point as N, on the surface of the cover, and gradually
diverging from each other, one of said opening lines F runs from its starting
point N to or so as to connect with the opening line E, and the other of said opening
lines F runs in gradual divergence any desired distance and in any desired direction
to a point past the middle of the cover, terminating at a point between the middle
and the edge or side of the receptacle.
As will be seen in Figs. 5 & 6, the two opening lines F and F do not meet at
the point N, but there is a slight space between them, which space is weakened,
and at this point N is secured by solder or other means an opening ring or other
opening device P, the ring P being secured to the space between the opening
lines and F and to open the receptacle it is only necessary to lift the ring from
the surface of the cover, place the finger or other device through the ring and
pull the ring upward, whereby the weakened portion between the opening lives F
and F will be severed and the cover drawn or lifted out along the opening lines
marked upon the face of the cover, as will be fully understood from Fig. 3.
As just stated, other opening devices than the ring I may be attached to the
cover at the point N, within the spirit of this invention, and the whole or any
predetermined portion of the cover may be easily and effectually removed on
the lines marked upon the cover as hereinabove described in connection with
Figs. 1 to 4.
Of course the invention herein described and claimed may be applied to the
sides of the can or receptacle instead of to the cover and the sides torn out just as
readily and effectually as when the cover is operated upon.

page_text: point close to or so as to connect with the opening line that runs around the surface
of the cover in proximity to the edge, to any convenient point thereof, and the
other of said opening lines running in such gradual divergence any desired distance
to a point past the middle of the cover and terminating at.a point between the
middle and the edge or side of the receptacle, and a key or opening device con!-
nected with said cover at the meeting point of the said two opening lines,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 31st day of December 1894.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.