Improvements in Can Openers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
Improvements in Can Openers.
:
I, CHARLES STERLING HOPPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at
No. 131 West Walnut Lane, Germantown, in the County of Philadelphia, and
State of Pennsylvania, Mechanical Engineer, 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 can opener in which a disk or ring provided with
handles and having a central pin or stud is provided with a cutting blade disposed
radially with respect to the pin or spur, and in such connection it relates particularly
to the general construction and arrangement of such a device.
The principal objects of my invention are first, to provide in a can opener, a disk
or ring having handles and a pin or spur adapted to enter the face of a can, the
disk or ring being radially slotted for the reception of a cutting blade which is
adjustable in said slot; and second, to provide in a can opener, a slotted disk or
ring provided with handle bars and a blade adapted to be adjusted in the slot and
to be secured by means of a thumb-nut.
My invention stated in general terms, consists of a can opener constructed and
arranged in substantially the manner hereinafter described and claimed.
The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the
following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming
part. hereof, and in which
Figure 1, is a top or plan view of a can opener embodying main features of my
invention.
Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section on the line -, of Fig. 1, illustrating the
can opener in operative position upon a can; and
Figs. 3 and 4, are respectively a side elevation and an enlarged underneath
plan view of the adjustable blade of the device.
Referring to the drawings a, represents a perforated disk or ring of metal, wood
cr other firm material having handles a¹ and a³, one of which is partially
sletted as at a'. At or about the centre of the disk or ring on the underside
is provided a pin or spur b, which projects downward from the same for
entering a can in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. In the disk or ring is
formed a radial slot or guide-way d, which merges into the slot as, of the handle a',
beyond the periphery of the disk or ring a, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. In
this slot the stem e, of a cutting blade f, is adapted to be guided and secured. The
steme, is screw threaded and projects through the slot above the top surface of
the disk or ring a, and is adapted to receive a thumb-nut g: This blade f, has a
point f, and is ground so that the surface, nearest the pin or spur b, is flat,
while the outer surface, is curved or beveled, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, of
the drawings. The blade f, is also provided with a shoulder f', which rests on the
under surface of the disk or ring a, when the thumb-nut g, is advanced on the stem e,
and through the clamping action of the shoulder f, and the nut g, the blade f, is
secured or fixed in its required position in the slot d, of the disc or ring or the
extension a thereof in the handle a¹.
In operation, the blade f, is first secured in the slot d, of the disk or ring a, or
the extension a³, of the same in the handle a', in its required position, which will
depend upon the size of the circular opening to be provided or formed in the can

page_text: and of course upon the diameter or size of the head h¹, of the can. The disk or
ring is then pressed firmly onto the head , of the can, the pin or spur b, and
blade, penetrating the head h', as indicated in Fig. 2, of the drawings. The
disk or ring a, is now turned by means of the handles a¹ and a³, to cause the blade f,
engaging the metal of the head 1, to shear or cut the head of the can. The
peculiar form of the blade f, permitting the metal to be cut with a straight edge
along the part to be cut out and forming a downwardly projecting curl or flange h³,
on the part of the head ', remaining on the can.
It will be manifestly obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention
appertains that as to minor details, modifications may be made without departing
from the spirit or scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to be understood
as limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of all the parts as
hereinbefore explained; but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects of my
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A can opener provided with a disk or ring having a central projecting pin or
spur, said disk or ring having an oblong slot therein, a cutting blade provided with
a stem detachably engaging the slot of said disk or ring, said blade having a flat
surface on one side and a curved or beveled surface on the opposite side thereof
and means adapted to be advanced on said stem, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
2. A can opener provided with a disk or ring having handles, whereof one has a
slot which extends into the body of said disk or ring, a pin or spur projecting
downward from said disk or ring, a cutting blade provided with a shouldered and
threaded stem, said blade having a flat surface on one side and a curved or beveled
surface on the opposite side and a thumb-nut adapted to be advanced on the
threaded portion of the stem of said blade, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Dated at Philadelabin this Thind den of Decombe AD 1906
CHAS. STERLING HOPPER,
Per J. G. Lorrain,
Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.