Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1886
Complete Left, 26th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 26th Aug., 1887.
We ROBERT HOLBROOK of No. 1 St. Johns Road South Norwood in the County of
Surrey, Engineer and EDWARD HOLBROOK of 148 Gloucester Road Croydon in
the County of Surrey, Whitesmith, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:--
The object of our invention is the construction of a tool for opening the hermetically
sealed tins which are used for meats, fish, condensed milk, chocolate, fruit, paint, and
various other articles, whereby the top of the tin can be more readily, safely, and
easily, removed than by any other appliance at present in use.
We construct our inproved tool as follows:-We take a metal ring having a small
internal flange on one edge, and on the inner side of the ring, or on a snug formed
thereon, we fix a knife or cutter, by a screw and nut or other equivalent device. This
knife or cutter is about half an inch long, & is preferably provided with a cutting
edge on each side, and its free end is made pointed. On the outer side of the ring
are two projections, one forming a lever for the two fingers of the operator to clasp,
and the other for his thumb to rest against to obtain a greater purchase to revolve
the ring, by which operation the top of the tin is cut open. To open a tin the metal
ring is placed over the top of the tin and pressed down which forces the point of the
cutter through the top of the can, the ring is then turned round by hand and the
cutter cuts the top of the tin out, with a perfectly round and clean edge.
It will be seen that the tool as hereinbefore described requires to be made of a size
to fit the sized tin to be opened, which necessitates the use of tools of various sizes
to fit the various sized tins now used; we can however modify the construction
of it so that it may be adjusted to tins of any size. The simplest way of doing this
is to use a disc instead of a ring, making the disc of a diameter slightly larger than
the largest tin to be opened. The knife or cutter is fixed near to a short projection
at the edge of the under side of the disc in close proximity to the projection forming
the lever for the operator to revolve the tool by. In two slots radiating from
the centre of the disc and equi-distant from each other, and from the fixed stop close
to the knife or cutter, are two adjustable stops which project on the under side of the

page_text: disc and may be fixed at any distance from the centre of the disc. By varying
the position of these two stops the tool may be adjusted to open any sized tin.
Instead of using a disc a light tripod frame may be used, one arm carrying the fixed
stop and knife, and the other two the adjustable stops.
Another convenient form is a light triangular frame with the three arms hinged
together to reduce or enlarge the size of the triangle and so embrace a tin of any
desired size.
Another convenient form of tool for use with tins of various sizes, is constructed in
a similar manner to the first hereinbefore described, but the ring is made large
enough to take the largest tin to be opened. Two or more setscrews are threaded
transversely through the ring so that the size of it may be virtually reduced as
desired.
For opening very large tins we find it convenient to use two cutters and to provide
two handles so that greater power may be exerted. We therefore modify the
construction of the tool as follows:-We take a telescopic bar and fit it with a handle
and thumb piece at each end, and with a locking device whereby the length of the
bar may be adjusted as required. On this bar are fixed two knives or cutters and
two stops or guides. The latter are immediately outside the knives or cutters, and
are in close proximity to the handles. A cross bar running at right angles to the
one carrying the handles and cutters, and provided with stops adjustable radially,
may be used if desired to guide the knives or cutters. Instead of making the bar
telescopic I sometimes make the one part adjustable with respect to the other,
by means of a series of perforations in one part, to engage with a pin or stud on
the other part, so that' the part carrying the knife or knives may be rotated round
the other part carrying the stops or guides.
Dated this 26th day of October 188s
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E..
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: We ROBERT HOLBROOK of No. 1 St. Johns Road South Norwood in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, and EDWARD HOLBROOK of 148 Gloucester Road Croydon
in the County of Surrey Whitesmith, do hereby declare the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:
:-
The object of our invention is the construction of a tool for opening the hermetically
sealed tins which are used for meats, fish, condensed milk, chocolate, fruit, paint and
various other articles, whereby the top of the tin can be more readily, safely, and easily
removed than by any other appliance at present in use.
In carrying our invention into practical effect we proceed as follows:-We take
a metal ring A (Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing) having a narrow
internal flange A¹ on the inner edge to rest on the top of the tin to be opened,
the ring itself forming the guide for the knife by fitting close to the side of the tin.
On a snug formed on the ring we fix a knife or cutter B by a screw b and nut 6', or
by any other equivalent device. The knife or cutter B is about half an inch long, and
is preferably provided with a cutting edge on each side, and pointed at its free end.
On the outer side of the ring is a projection a¹ forming a lever to afford the operator
greater leverage for revolving the ring, by which operation the top of the tin is cut
open. To open a tin the metal ring A is fitted over the top of the tin, and pressed
down, which forces the point of the knife or cutter B through the top of the tin.
The ring A is then turned round by means of the lever a¹ and the cutter B cuts the
top of the tin out with a perfectly round and clean edge.
It will be seen that this tool will only only fit tins of one given size, which
necessitates the use of tools of various sizes to fit the various sized tins now used.
We can however modify the construction of our tool as shown by Figs. 3 and 4
of the accompanying drawing so that it may be adapted to open tins of any size.
Instead of using a ring we use a circular or tripod frame A¹ having three radiating
slots or grooves a², a², etc. formed therein. The knife or cutter B is fixed in one
of the slots a² by a screw b, and nut 61, and is bent over to form a guide A. On the
arm of the frame A¹ carrying the knife or cutter B, is formed a projection a¹ forming
the lever for the operator to revolve the tool by. In the other two slots radiating
from the centre of the tool, and equidistant from each other, are two adjustable guides
or stops A, A, which project on the under side of the frame A', and may be fixed at
any distance from the centre thereof by suitable screws and nuts. By varying
the positions of the knife or cutter B, and the stops A, A, etc., the tool may be
adjusted to open any sized tin.
Another convenient tool for use with tins of various sizes, is constructed in a
similar manner to that shown by Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing, but the
ring, instead of being made to fit the tin, is made large enough to take the largest

page_text: tin to be opened. Two or more set screws are then screwed transversely through the
ring, to bear against the side of the tin, thus reducing the size of the tool to any
desired size.
For opening very large tins we find it convenient to use two cutters and to provide
two handles so that greater power may be exerted. We therefore modify the
construction of the tool as illustrated by Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawing. We
take a bar A', made in two pieces, so that its length may be varied, and form a handle
or thumb piece a¹ at each end, and with a locking screw a³ and fly nut at, or
equivalent device, whereby the length of the bar may be adjusted as required. On
the bar are fixed two knives or cutters B B and two stops or guides A A. These
latter are immediately outside the knives or cutters, and are in close proximity to the
handles. A cross bar running at right angles to the bar A¹ and provided with stops A
may be used if desired to form an additional guide to the knives or cutters B, B, as
illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1. A tool for opening hermetically sealed tins constructed as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.
2. The modified form of tool for opening hermetically sealed tins of any size
constructed as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4 of the
accompanying drawing.
3. The modified form of tool for opening hermetically sealed tins of any size,
constructed as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Fig. 5 of the accompanying
drawing.
4. A tool for opening hermetically sealed tins, consisting essentially of a frame
having depending stops or guides to hear against the side or sides of the tin, one, or
more depending knives carried by the said frame, and one or more projecting pieces
forming levers whereby purchase can be obtained to move the frame round the tin,
all arranged and operating as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
5. In a tool for opening hermetically sealed tins, the combination with one or more
knives or cutters B, of the ring or guides A for guiding and controlling the knife or
knives, so that it or they move in a circular path about the centre of the tin to
be opened, as hereinbefore set forth.
6. In a tool for opening hermetically sealed goods, the means hereinbefore described
and shown for altering and adjusting the relative positions of the knife or knives and
cutters, for the purpose described.
E
1000
1887.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71, & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.