Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1899
I, ARTHUR PASS, of 345, Old Chester Road, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, in the
County of Chester, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to can openers and is also applicable generally to shears
for cutting sheet metal.
The can opener consists of a pair of shears of special construction and is provided
with an axe-like incision device to make the initial opening in the can lid to admit
the introduction of the shears proper, the construction of which latter is as
follows:-
The incision device is rigidly attached to one of the two levers by which the
shears are operated and the metal thereof is carried down, and a projecting por-
tion is bent at right angles to the cutting plane, which portion lies parallel to and
under the can lid when the shears are in position, and forms the lower cutting
piece. The upper cutting piece is carried from the other lever which is pivoted
to the piece just described.
In opening a can an incision in the lid is first made by the incision device,
through which incision the under projecting cutting piece is then inserted. The
two levers are worked in the usual way and the lid is cut out by shearing it round
the edge.
The upper cutting piece is kept up against the lower one by means of a rabbet
formed in the latter; or the latter may have a double cutting edge instead of a
single one as described, in which case the upper cutting piece works in the slot
so formed. In the latter construction an annular strip (in the case of a round can)
is cut out and the closeness of the cutting edges is ensured independently of the
pivot.
In some cases I prefer to joint the upper cutting piece to its lever instead of
rigidly attaching it as described, and I so guide its edge, by the rabbet mentioned,
as to preserve the edge at the appropriate cutting angle.
It will be seen that the device can be used as ordinary metal shears in which
case, of course, the incision device may be dispensed with.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, 26, Castle Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates chiefly to can openers, but is applicable generally to
shears for cutting sheet metal or the like. In the accompanying illustrations
Fig. I is a side elevation and Fig. II is a fragmentary side elevation as viewed from
the reverse side; Figs. III and IV are fragmentary sectional views, being taken
respectively on the lines A, A and B, B of Fig. I. Throughout the drawings the
same parts are indicated by the same reference figures.
1 is a flat central or main web with which the one lever 2 is preferably made
integral and to which the other lever 3 is pivoted by the pivot screw or rivet 4:
the projecting part 12 of the web 1 is sharpened so as to form an incision device.
The lower shearing edge 5 is on the side of the projecting piece or blade 6 which
is preferably integral with the web 1 and formed by laterally bending the metal of
the latter, so that its web will be substantially at right angles to the web 1 and
substantially parallel to the plane of the material being cut.
The lower edge 7 of the blade 8 forms the upper shearing edge and is appro-
priately bevelled to co-operate with the lower shearing edge 5. The blade 8 is
pivoted by the screw or rivet 9 between the jaws of the forked end of the lever 3
and it is guided by the abutting edge 10 of the web 1 against which it slides.
11 is a projecting tongue formed on the web 1 and bearing against the side of the
blade 8 and adapted to keep the latter in close contact with the lower shearing
edge 5 and so ensure an efficient shearing action; the same result can of course
be obtained by rabbetting the edge 10 and the abutting edge of the blade 8.
13 is a spring such as is usually fitted in appliances of this class to urge the
levers 2 and apart.
In opening a can, a radial incision is first made in the lid close to the edge
thereof by means of the incision device 12; the part 6 is then inserted and the
levers are worked in the usual way so that the lid is cut out by shearing it round
the edge.
It will be observed that from the way in which the lower blade 6 is arranged
in the form of a lateral projection, it can, unlike the blade of an ordinary pair of
shears be made sufficiently strong with very little projection below the level of
the material being cut, and further that the levers and the pivot 4 are kept well
These
above the said level, and that the upper blade 8 ends at the line 10.
features enable the implement to be used with much facility for curved work as
the blade 6 can be easily slid over the part which has been sheared down by the
blade 8, and it is obviously applicable not merely as a can opener, but for cutting
sheet metal or the like generally, and it is especially useful for cutting out holes
in such material.
In some cases, the upper blade 8 may be rigidly attached to the lever 3 instead
of being pivoted thereto as shown; in this case the edge 10 of the web 1 must
either be kept a little clear of the side of the blade 8, or it must be suitably
curved. I have found, however, that the pivotal arrangement shown in the draw-
ings is, on the whole, preferable.
my
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The improved metal shears and can opener comprising a lower cutting edge
whose web lies under and is approximately parallel to the plane of the material
which is being cut; a lever disposed above the said plane and connected by a
vertical web to the said edge; an upper cutting edge whose web is at right angles
to the said plane, and a second lever adapted to operate the upper cutting edge
and pivoted to the vertical web at a point above the line of the cutting edges;
substantially as described.
2. In combination:-a web such as 1 and a lever rigid therewith; a lower
cutting blade projecting laterally from the web; a second lever pivoted to the web

page_text: at a point clear of the line of the cutting edges; and an upper cutting blade pivoted
at the end of the latter lever and guided by an edge of the web; substantially
as described and illustrated.
3. In combination: -a web such as 1 and a lever rigid therewith; a lower cutting
blade projecting laterally from the web; a second lever pivoted to the web at
a point clear of the line of the cutting edges; and an upper cutting blade pivoted
to the end of the latter lever and guided by an edge of the web and provided
with means for keeping it in close contact with the lower cutting blade; sub-
stantially as described and illustrated.
4. In combination; the upper cutting blade 8; the laterally arranged lower
blade 6, the lever 2 and the incision device integral therewith; and the forked
lever 3 embracing the blade 8 and the web 1 and pivoted thereto; substantially
as described and illustrated.
5. The improved metal shears and can opener substantially as described and
illustrated.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1898
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
34, Castle Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.