US2535333A - Can puncturing device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 26, 1950 c. SWYERS CAN PUNCTURING DEVICE ventor Filed March 25, 1946 Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE 2,535,333 cAN PUNCTURING DEVICE can Swyers, st. Albans, w. Va. Application March 25, 1946, Serial No. 656,921

. '1 The present invention relates to so-called devices and tools which are adapted to hold and puncture venting andpouring holes in commodity cans; for example, evaporatedmilk cans, this is a manner to facilitate dispensing of the contents from the can.

As the opening and general statement of the in vention implies, the art to which the present invention relates is highly and actively developed and there are many and varied types of can puncturing devices known and patented". Usually, these devices are characterized by pointed penetrating prongs which "are pressed forcibly down against the top of the can, whereby tojpenetrate same and to provide diametrically opposite holes, the latter being used selectively for venting and pouring purposes. The present invention, like existing structures in the same category, possesses many elements which are basically similar to those found in said prior devices. carrying out the specific principles of the instant invention, I have evolved and produced a simpler and more practical structure which is possessed of a number of distinguishable and appreciable improvements.

In carrying out my aims, I provide a can holding shelf, the same being a part of a special fixture and said fixture including means at the upper end of a back plate thereof to accommodate a swingably mounted frame, said frame being provided with finger actuating means and can top puncturing prongs.

More specifically, novelty is predicated upon an upstanding back plate forming apart of the wall fixture, the upper end of said plate having portions bent to provide spaced bearings and also a portion, between said bearings bent to provide a resilient detent, the latter being releasably engageable with the can to assist in conveniently holding same in a puncturable position on said shelf. r

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views: I

Figure 1 is a front view of the complete assemblage forming the can holding and puncturing device.

Figure 2 is a side or edge elevationiof the same, this showing, in dotted lines, theQcan and the operation of the puncturing tool forming a part of the complete device.

However, in

2 Claims. (Cl. 30-10) Figure 3 is a top view which may be said to be taken approximately on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 1, this looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a bottom view occurring on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking upwardly in the direction of the arrows.

In using the expression device I have in mind the complete assemblage, that is, the overall structural means which is characterized by the socalled wall fixture or bracket A on the one hand, and compl'emental juncturing tool B on the other. The can, which is conventional, is indicated at C whereas the wall or other supporting surface is denoted at D.

'The bracket or fixture A comprises, as before indicated, a horizontal shelf 6, this of general rectangular form as shown in Figure 3. Attached to and rising from the inner end of the shelf is a vertical plate or wall I which is adaptedto bear againstand is designed to be secured to the support D. The longitudinal edges of the shelf are provided with upstanding lips 8 forming retaining flanges for the lower or bottom portion of said can 0. The numeral 9 designates a diagonal brace which is connected by a bend III to the front or outer end of the shelf. This brace is of general V-shaped form as shown in Figure 2 and the terminal end portion is provided with a laterally bent ear I l which is secured by a fastening 12 to the support 13. The length of the brace or leg 9 is such as to place the attaching ear H in vertical alignment with the upstanding wall I. This wall 1 as shown in Figure 1 is of rectangular fiat form and the upper end thereof is provided with struck-out tongues. There are three of such tongues. The outermost tongues l3 are shaped and bent to provide the attaching ears to accommodate the fastening screws M. The bent portions of said tongues are fashioned into bearings l5. The remaining tongue is located between the ears l3 and is bent as at is and again bent as at I l and flared up and outwardly as at l8 to provide a spring detent. This detent is engageable with the upper puncturable end of the can C as is brought out to advantage by the dotted line showing in Figure 2.

The tool, or can puncturing means B comprises a wire or similar frame l9 whose bent end portions zfl'form journals and these are mounted for rotation in the bearings I5. The central or bight portion of the frame is fashioned into a finger ring 2| and the adjacent portions 22 are brought together to forma shank which accommodates a sleeve or -collar 23 in the manner shown. The opposed side members of the frame proper carry a cross rod 24 which is in turn provided with laterally bent ends 25 (see Figure 2) and said ends terminate in pointed puncturing prongs 2B. The prongs are adapted to press down and force through the top of the can 0, for purposes of forming the holes (not shown) as usual.

In practice, the can is placed on the shelf 6 and the shelf is braced by the leg or brace '9 and the firmly attached vertical wall I. The lower portion of the can is held against side slipping and sliding by the confining and retaining flanges 8. The hinged frame or tool B is raised .to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2 and the prongs 26 are brought down against :the toppfithe can. By exerting a downwardpull on the finger ring 2! it is possible to force the prongs through the can top in an obvious manner. It might be added, as before indicated, that the can is held at zthe upper portion, this vagainst slipping by the aforementioned resilient detent formed by the features 11 and :IB.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combinavtion and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Iclaiin: LA can holding and puncturing device of the .classdescribed comprising a can :holder includ- ,inga v horizontally disposed shelf having an upstanding wall, said wall terminating at its upper end in. bearings and said bearings serving to accommodate a can puncturingtool, said bearings being spaced apart and said wall also having a laterally and downwardly bent .springy detent,

said detent being situated between said bearings 40 I and adapted to snap over and engage the upper end of the can, said shelf being provided with side lips forming can confining flanges to facilitate holding said can in place during the minefinger ring.

4 turing step, said shelf also including a depending diagonal bracing leg terminating in an attaching ear for securement to a fixed supporting surface, and a wire frame hingedly mounted in said bearings and provided with can puncturing elements.

2. A milk can basing, holding and top puncturing device of the type shown and described comprising a sheet material wall fixture, said fixture being of a single piece of material and embody- Eing arhorizontally disposed shelf provided at one end with an upstanding wall, said wall terminating at its upper end in spaced bearings and being provided, between said bearings with a lateral and downwardly bent detent, said detent overlying said shelf and being at right angles to said wall and having an upturned free end portion, the

iendof'thefshelf opposite to the end carrying said wall. being provided with a down bent diagonally disposed bracing leg terminating in an attaching ear, said ear being in an approximate plane with said upstanding-wall, opposed longitudinal edge portions of said shel'f having upstanding lips provi'ding'can confining flanges, said flanges serving i to embrace diametrically opposite portions of the base part of the milk can and said detent being adapted to rest resiliently upon the top of the "can, and a wire frame having journals hingedly mounted in said bearings and provided with can puncturing elements and further including a CARL SWYERS.

I REFERENCES'GITED The following references are of record in the file .of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number ,Name Date 919,675 Armstrong Apr. 27, 1909 1,331,437 Zlohanson Feb. 17, 1920 349,842 McKinley Aug. 17, 1920 1,529,214 Ro'os "Mar. '10, 1925 2,037,410 Ernst Apr. 14,1936

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