An Improved Tin-oan Opener.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 26th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 181
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Tin-oan Opener.
We, ALFRED FENTON and JOHN BARNES both of 6 New Street, London, S.W.
Wholesale Ironmongers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The opener consists of a suitable handle having a spike end which is turned down
and takes a curve being brought again into a line with the handle; attached to the
handle is a projecting blade which may be made adjustable on the handle, this blade
is for cutting the tin as follows:-The spike is driven through the centre of the tin
when the curve enables the handle to be bent down to bring the blade upon the tin
through which the point is forced, the handle is then turned round the knife cutting
out a round circle, the curve of the spike securing the handle to the centre of the
tin like a universal joint, the spike enabling the cut portion to be turned back.
Dated this 28th day of August 1891.
FREDERIC PRINCE,
Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Tin-can Opener.
We, ALFRED FENTON and JOHN BARNES both of 6 New Street London, S.W.
Wholesale Ironmongers do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
mauner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention will be better understood by describing the same with aid of the
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Tin-can Opener.
We, ALFRED FENTON and JOHN BARNES both of 6 New Street London, S. W.
Wholesale Ironmongers do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
mauner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention will be better understood by describing the same with aid of the
accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal view of the opener complete.
Figures 2 and 3 detached portions of Figure 1.
Figure 4 a perspective view of the opener in operation.
A the handle holding a metal rod having a portion of its length rounded near the
handle as at B, and square for the remaining portion of its length as at C, on a side
of the end is a spike D the stem of which is bent round where it is attached to the
rod C to form a bend. On the square part is a sliding knife preferably carried on
sleeve E, this knife has two blades F, G the latter being turned at right angles to
the other. H. a tin can.
The use and mode of operating our invention are as follows:-
The spike D is first stabbed through the tin in the centre of the top or bottom
and the knife F set upon the rod C at the requisite distance from the spike
according to the size piece to be cut out, the point of the blade F is then pressed
through the tin and the handle forced round, the blade thereby cutting out a
round portion, the spike D holding the end of the opener to the centre of the tin
like a universal joint. If the piece is desired not to be cut clean out the spike D
enables the cut portion to be readily turned back.
It will be understood that during the cutting the can must be held by the hand
sufficiently firm to allow the cutting to take place. The operation above described
is illustrated at Figure 4. If it is desired to cut the top off the can completely,
the sleeve E is dropped down to the round part B, and turned round to bring the

page_text: kuife G to the side of the rod to be in a line with the spike D, which is then stabbed
through the centre of top and the point of the knife & pressed through the side of
the can and the opener turned round as has been described.
It is found in practice that the knife is better carried upon a sleeve such as E.and
that this does not require any set screw or other means to secure it while the knife
is cutting.
Having now described our invention what we claim is.
1. A tin-can opener, consisting of a rod having a spike at end with bend in
shank and a blade or blades adjustable upon the rod as to distance from spike
substantially as set forth.
2. In a tin can opener having a square rod with a rounded portion at handle end
and a spike at other end, of a sliding knife on rod having two blades, one being at
right angles to the other for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 26th day of September 1891.
FREDERIC PRINCE,
1, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for Applicants.