US1815094A - Can opener - Google Patents

Description

July 21, 1931. BOLTON 1,815,094

CAN OPENER Filed March 7, 1930 Patented July 21, 1931 UNITED STATES JAMES D. BOLTON, 013 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA CAN OPENER Application filed March 7, 1930. Serial No. 434,139.

This invention aims to provide a can opener having a novel form of lifting tongue for raising the portion of a can which has been cut loose by the opener.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of handle for the cutting blade.

It is Within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the .10 utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

Vvith the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the de tails of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes may be made in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings 1- Figure 1 shows in top plan, a device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal. section wherein parts appear in elevation; and

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Figure 2.

The can opener forming the subject matter of this application is made of metal through out, and may be a one-piece structure. It comprises a curved blade 1, of approximately circular form in top plan, as shown in Figure 1, the blade 1 having free ends 2, and having downwardly converging cutting edges 5 defining an entering point 3. A lifting tongue 4 is struck inwardly from the blade 1 and is located directly above the point 3, the tongue 40 4 extending upwardly, and slanting inwardly. The tongue 4 preferably is of rectangular outline, and has an upper edge 6 of appreciable length, disposed at right angles to the axis of the tongue, the tongue being of common width from end to end.

Because the tongue 4 is of a common width from end to end, it is well adapted to withstand the hard use to which it is subjected, the tongue 4 being much more permanent and lasting than would be a pointed tongue. The

function of the tongue 4 will be made manifest hereinafter.

The handle of the can opener may be made in any desired way. Preferably, however, it includes a top strip 7 joined integrally at 8 to the upper edges of the blade 1, above the entering point 3. The top strip 7 is contracted at 9 and folded at 10 to form a grip 11 which is of inverted trough-shape, the side walls of the grip being brought into contact with each other as shown at 15 in Figure 3. The top strip 7 has laterally-prolonged, outwardly extended arms 12 which are bent upon themselves at 16 to form underlying, inwardly-extending fingers 14 which rest on the upper edge of the blade 1, near to the free ends 2. The general construction of the handle is such that it can be made at trifling expense, an exceedingly strong structure resulting.

In operation, the entering point 3 of the blade 1 is forced down into the top of the can and a piece is cut out from the top of the can, the space between the ends 2 of the blade 1 permitting a part of the can top to remain as a hinge, so that the cut-out portion can'be closed up again, if desired. After the entering point 3 has been forced down into the can top to the desired. extent, the grip 11 is swung down, the tool working like a lever,

and the tongue 4 engaging beneath the severed part of the can top, to swing the severed part of the can top open.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is A can opener fashioned from a single piece of metal, formed into a curved blade having free ends and supplied at its lower extremity with an entering point located diametrically opposite to its free ends, the blade being provided with means for lifting the portion of a can which is severed by the blade, there being an inwardly extended top strip connected at one end to the upper edge of the blade directly above the entering point, the top strip JAMES D. BOLTON.

Images