Improvements in Can Openers.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Can Openers.
We GEORGE HENRY KING, of 21, Pevear Building, Lynn, in the State of
Massachusetts, Manufacturer, and JAMES STEVENSON, of Atlanta, in the State of
Georgia, Electrician, both in the United States of America, 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:-
This invention relates to an improvement in can openers, the object of the
invention being to construct a can opener in such manner that it can be employed
for opening either a round or an angular can.
A further object is to so construct the device that, when in operation to open a
can, it will not be liable to become accidentally displaced.
A further object is to produce a can opening which shall be simple in
construction, easy to operate and which shall be effectual in the performance of its
functions.
With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of
construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter set forth
and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
--
Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the improvements.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view.
Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views.
A represents a bar having an elongated slot a, said bar being provided at one end
with a head or circular disk B and at the other end said bar is extended to produce
a handle C having a slot therein. At the junction of the bar A and handle C, a
shoulder c is formed and made with a perforation d' through which a screw rod d
freely passes, the upper end of said screw rod being adapted to enter the slot 6 in
the handle C. The bar A is provided, preferably in close proximity to the
shoulder c, with a recess c³, into which a nut e on the screw rod d projects and by
which said nut will be prevented from moving on the screw rod, thus causing said
rod to move longitudinally when the nut is turned. At its forward end, the screw
rod d has a knife D secured thereto. The blade of the knife is preferably made
V-shaped so as to produce two cutting edges, and the shank of said knife is made
with notches f, f, for the accommodation of the rods g, formed by slotting the
bar A. The knife D when thus mounted on the bar A will be very strong and will
have a free and easy movement when the nut e on the screw rod d is turned.
pointed tooth h projects first laterally and then forwardly and obliquely from the
head or disk B, said pointed tooth being preferably made triangular in cross section
and adapted to be made to enter the head of the can to be opened. The tooth
having been made to enter the head of the can, the knife D will be properly
adjusted at or near the periphery of the can, and the instrument turned on the
tooth, the knife being thus made to cut the head of the can at or near the
periphery thereof. By making the knife with two cutting edges, the instrument
can be turned in either direction when operated, thus adapting it either to the right
or the left hand of the operator. By projecting the tooth h, obliquely, instead of
parallel with the longitudinal axis of the instrument, more resistance will be offered
and the tendency of said tooth to pull or tear out of the can will be entirely
avoided.
A
It will be seen that the devices above described are for opening a can having a
round top, but as it frequently occurs that it is desired to remove the cover or top
of an angular can, we prefer to provide means whereby to make a straight cut so

page_text: that such a can can be readily opened.
On one face of the disk or head A, an
offset or enlargement i is formed and made with a recess i¹, which coustitutes a seat
for the shank j of a knife E, which knife is secured to said seat by means of a
screw k, thus making said knife removable. The knife E is made with two cutting
edges and is adapted to project beyond the head or disk B. The lower end 1 of the
offset or enlargement i is preferably made curved and from this curved end, flat
faces m, m, diverge. To operate the stationary knife E, the top of the can will be
penetrated by the same in close proximity to the edge of the can, allowing curved
flange o of the disk or head B to drop beside the can, and then the instrument will
be vibrated on the offset or enlargement i as a fulcrum, advancing the knife as it
cuts its way along the edge of the can.
By the provision of the double knife E arranged as above described, the device
will be adapted either to the right or the left hand of the operator, or if only used
in one direction, when one edge becomes dull, the knife can be readily reversed by
simply removing the screw which holds it in place, turning the knife over and
replacing the screw. The flange o being curved, permits the cutting in either
direction by always affording the same resisting surface as the knife is rocked
downward on the offset between the knife E and the curved flange o. By making
the offset or enlargement with a rounded end, from which flat faces diverge, the
point of the knife will be kept properly within the can when either of said faces is
resting on the can.
The improvements are very simple in construction, cheap to manufacture and
effectual in the performance of their functions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is.
1. In a can opener, the combination with a bar having a head at one end thereof,
of a reversible knife secured to said head, substantially as set forth.
2. In a can opener, the combination with a bar, of a removable cutter and a rigid
reversible cutter attached thereto, substantially as set forth.
3. In a can opener, the combination with a bar, of a circular head at one end of
said bar, an offset on said head, and a knife secured to said offset and projecting
beyond the head or disk, substantially as set forth.
4. In a can opener, the combination with a bar, of a head or disk at one end
thereof, an offset on said head or disk terminating at one end above the edge of the
head or disk and a reversible knife secured to said offset and projecting beyond the
head or disk, substantially as set forth.
5. In a can opener, the combination with a bar, of a head or disk at one end
thereof, an offset on said head or disk, said offset terminating above the end of the
head or disk in a curved end and having flat faces diverging from said curved end,
and a knife secured to said offset and projecting beyond the head or disk,
substantially as set forth.
6. In a can opener, the combination with a bar, of a head or disk at one end
thereof, an offset on said head or disk terminating above the end thereof, said
offset having a recess therein, a knife having its shank in said recess and projecting
beyond said head or disk, and a fastening device for securing said knife in place in
said recess, substantially as set forth.
7. In a can opener, the combination with a bar and a head at one end thereof,
of a movable cutter connected to said bar and a tooth projecting forwardly and
obliquely from said head, substantially as set forth.
8. In a can opener, the combination with a bar having an elongated slot therein
and a tooth projecting from one end of said bar, of a knife adapted to be moved in
said slot, said knife having notches to receive the rods produced by the slot in said
bar, substantially as set forth.
9. In a can opener, the combination with a bar having an elongated slot and a
tooth at one end of said bar, of a knife adapted to move in said elongated slot in the

page_text: bar, said knife being notched to receive the rods produced by said slot in the bar,
a screw connected to said knife and a nut adapted to move said screw to adjust the
knife, substantially as set forth.
10. In a can opener, the combination with a bar and a knife carried thereby, of
a pointed tooth projecting from said bar and made triangular in cross section,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th dox of T-101
R. HADDAN,
Of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.