US2714468A - Tear strip can opener - Google Patents

Description

2, 1955 B. D. STUVEL 2,714,468

TEAR STRIP CAN OPENER Filed June 21, 1954 INVENTOR BERNARD D. ST UVEL, :lBY Mammal, mus! United States Patent OfiFice 2,714,458 Patented Aug. 2, 1955 TEAR STRIP CAN OPENER Bernard D. Stuvel, Indianapolis, Ind. Application June 21, 1954, Serial No. 438,108 Claims. (Cl. 220-52) This invention relates to a structure for engaging the key supplied with tear strip cans as a means for revolving the key to wind the tear strip up therearound.

The device consists essentially of a loop of metal from the ends of which extend out laterally oppositely one from the other feet to rest on top of the can, whereby the head of the key may be engaged within the loop.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple structure which may be held by hand without the use of gears, cranks and the like, and yet which will firmly engage a key so that the key may be revolved entirely around the can taking the strip therewith, in a uniform manner.

A further primary object of the invention is to provide a device of the above indicated nature which will form a guide so that the key is spaced a proper distance vertically along the can in order to have the tear strip wind up uniformly around the key without tending to wind in a helix.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of one particular form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the structure embodying the invention with a can key engaged thereby;

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the device carrying a key and applied to a can;

Fig. 3 is a view in top plan of the device on a can;

Fig. 4 is a view in end elevation of a slightly modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

An integral piece of metal is formed to have a loop 10, from which extend the legs 11 and 12 downwardly therefrom, the legs 11 and 12 terminating respectively in outturned feet 13 and 14. Each of these feet 13 and 14 is substantially semi-circular in shape.

The legs 11 and 12 at their lower ends are preferably spaced apart that distance which will require them to be spread farther upon the insertion of a key 16 therebetween to some such position as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. That is, the legs 11 and 12 will bear compressibly against the key 16 tending to retain in position after insertion between those legs. In the form of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, one of the legs, and preferably both of the legs 11 and 12 will be struck from the outside to form the indentations 17 and 18 above the legs 13 and 14 whereby the head 20 of the key 16 may be forced past those indentations on the inside sides of the legs 11 and 12 to be carried thereabove, as means for preventing the unwarranted pulling out of the key 16 from between the legs. These outer indentations 17 and 18 on each of the legs 11 and 12 form bosses 21 and 22 on the insides of the legs, Fig. 2 to produce the obstructions against unwarranted withdrawal of the key. However, the loop is of suflicient elasticity to permit the key 16 to be pulled out from between the legs when desired.

r the key about its shank axis with In using the device, the key 16 is inserted by its head 20 up between the legs 11 and 12 as above described to have the lower end of the key carrying the strip slot 23 at the right distance below the feet 13 and 14 to receive the tongue 24 of the strip 25 therein so that the key may be started in its winding operation. As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the feet 13 and 14 will rest upon the top of the can 26 so that they may support the key 16 as it is turned through the device. It is to be noted that by reason of making each of the feet 13 and 14 semicircular in shape, there will always be substantially an equal bearing area of those feet, either both or confined to one foot over the top of the can 26 as the device is revolved. This is due to the fact that the shank 27 of the key is centrally disposed of the device and extending downwardly therefrom.

In the form of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the material out of which it is made may be somewhat light in weight, in which case the edges of one leg, herein shown as leg 12, may have overturned flanges 30 and 31 directed toward the other leg 11. These flanges serve to stiffen the leg 12 so that it will not twist or warp out of shape as the device is revolved around the can and pulling off the strip 25 by the key 16. The other leg 11 may be left without the flanges so as to retain the bending and elasticity therein to permit that side to be pulled up snugly against the key. That is, the major area of the leg 11 may be bent inwardly toward the key between the flanges 3t) and 31 if such a tight grip is necessary to revolve the key 16.

Preferably, as indicated in Figs. 2 and] 4, the major horizontal width of the loop 10 exceeds in dimension the dimension across the legs 11 and 12 as viewed in Figs. 2 and 4, so that the loop will form a good means for 1 gripping by the fingers of the operator.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural variations may be employed without departing from the spirit of of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to that form beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. For holding and guiding a can key tear strip hav ing a shank with an upper head laterally extending from the shank and having a slot extending longitudinally of and through a lower portion of the shank receiving a free end of the tear strip of the can therethrough for winding about the stem, a holder for the key comprising a pair of approximately semi-circular feet disposed in a common plane with diametrical sides adjacent one another; a leg extending upwardly and approximately normal to said plane from each of the opposing diametrical sides of said feet; said legs at their upper portions integrally uniting one with the other through an inverted U bend in the nature of a loop; said bend through said legs spacing apart said feet a distance normally less than the thickness of said key head; said key head being received between said legs upwardly from said feet and compressibly gripped therebetween as a means for rotating said slotted end portion of the key shank extending below said feet approximately normal to said plane thereof.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which there are key head underside abutments located on at least one of said legs and spaced to receive said shank therebetween, and said bend is elastic permitting insertion and removal of said key head between said legs past said abutments.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said legs have widths at least equal to the width of said key head, and said feet diametrical edges are approximately as long as said width.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said legs have length permitting said key head to be shifted normally of said plane between those legs for variable length of extension of said shank below said plane for location of key head limiting the outward travel of the key shank below said plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fellows Mar. 10, 1896 Wilson Feb. 21, 1911 Noerteman June 20, 1916

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