US2931259A - Device for removing covers from paint cans and the like - Google Patents

Description

R. E. NICOT April 5, 1960 DEVICE FOR REMOVING COVERS FROM PAINT CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 26, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ralph fiwd,

AT TORNEYS April 5, 1960 R. E. NlCOT 2,931,259

DEVICE FOR REMOVING COVERS FROM PAINT CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 26, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR.

Ralph E.N1c0f,

April 5, 1960 R. E NICOT 2,931,259

DEVICE FOR REMOVING COVERS FROM PAINT CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 26, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 23 E4- E? E INVEAZTOR KaJpb EJVJCOi,

ATTORNEYS.

Unite DEVICE FOR REMOVING COVERS FROM PAINT CANS AND THE LIKE This invention relates to a new and useful device for removing the covers from paint and other cans and for use as a stirring paddle and the like.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a combination cover removing device and stirring paddle, usable for these and other purposes, which is simple and relatively inexpensive in construction while being durable and dependable in operation.

I am aware that devices of this general nature are known, but believe that the device of my invention offers certain important advantages over the prior art in terms of ease of manufacture and assembly, facility of operation, and cheapness in cost. Indeed, it is contemplated that a device of my invention will find great demand as a give-away item for paint and hardware stores, and the like.

A cover removing device constructed in accord with my invention is characterized by the provision of a bandle member, and a lever attachment on one end of the handle member, the attachment completely encircling the handle'member in sung-fitting relation and having a main body portion, opposite side portions integral with the main body portion and extending laterally around the handle member, and a lip portion integral with the main body portion and extending beyond the end of the handle member for engaging beneath the cover, with the opposite side portions of the attachment lying in side-by-side relation lengthwise of the handle and having inturned extremities engaging the handle member and securing the attachment in place.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing features of a device constructed in accord with my invention will become clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description of two presently preferred embodiments thereof, which embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the various views and wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one embodiment of an assembled device constructed in accord with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lever attachment portion thereof, before the same is folded and applied to the handle member;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the attachment portion alone, as it appears after being applied to the handle member;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken about on line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. l but showing another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a view of the embodiment of Fig. 7 similar to the view of Fig. 6, but with the handle membe omitted for ease of illustration; 7 V "Fig. 9 is a view of the embodiment of Fig. 7 corresponding to the view of Fig. 4;

d tates Patent G Fig. 10 is a view of the embodiment of Fig. 7 corresponding to the view of Fig 5; and

Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are generally schematic, fragmentary, sectional views depicting illustrative types of cans and covers with which the device of my invention is adapted to be used.

Referring now to the embodiment of Figs. l-6, my invention comprises an elongated slat or paddle 1, forming a handle member, on one end of which is secured the lever attachment of my invention, generally designated 2. The handle member 1 preferably is made of wood, because of its low cost and relatively light weight, although other materials penetrable by the material of lever attachment 2 could be used.

The lever attachment 2 is most conveniently fabricated from a piece of sheet metal, being initially formed in flat condition as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. It will be observed that the attachment 2 comprises a main body portion 3 having side Wing portions 4 extending laterally from the opposite sides thereof and a lip portion 5 extending from one end thereof. The side portions 4 are in the form of isosceles triangles, inverted with respect to one another, each having one leg 6 defined by the side edge of main body portion 3, and another leg 7 compris ing a continuation of one of the opposite ends of the main body portion. The other side edge or leg 8 of each side portion 4 extends from the outer end of leg 7 to the opposite end of the main body portion 3.

The foregoing construction of side portions 4 is important, because when lever attachment 2 is assembled on handle member 1 the main body portion 3 lies against one face thereof, and the opposite side portions 4 are folded at right angles along legs 6 and lie against the opposite face thereof. The formation of the side portions enables them to lie flat against the handle member in side-by-side relation lengthwise thereof Without overlapping. The main body portion is bent at right angles along fold lines 9, to provide portions 10 which lie against the opposite side edges of handle member 1.

It will be observed from Fig. 1 that lever attachment 2 completely encircles handle member 1 in snug-fitting relation thereto, so that When assembled the two become as one, and the pointed extremities 11 of side portions 4 are inturned and penetrate the Wood material of handle member 1 to lock attachment 2 in place thereon with lip portion 5 extending or projecting beyond the end of handle member 1 for engaging beneath the covers of paint or grease cans, or the like. Because of the formation and arrangement of side portions 4, the anchoring extremities 11 extend beyond the mid-point of handle member 1, providing a strong anchorage.

Therefore, the handle member 1 and lever attachment 2 together provide a device which is readily manipulated to remove the covers of paint cans and the like, and which thereafter can be used to stir paint, ladle grease, or for other purposes, all in a device which is extremely inexpensive to produce and which can be thrown away after one use, if desired, while at the same time being durable enough so that it can be used again and again.

To facilitate the insertion of lip portion 5 beneath the edge of a cover, it is preferably bevelled, as illustrated at 12, to provide a chisel edge. Also, while the device is quite strong by virtue of the snug-fitting, encircling relation of lever attachment 2 to handle member 1, if desired reinforcing means can be added, comprising in the embodiment of Figs. 1-6 embossed corrugations 13 on the main body portion extending into lip portion 5. These corrugations are alined lengthwise of handle member 1 and function as reinforcing ribs imparting considerable added rigidity to the device when used for its intended purposes.

Lip portion 5' is distinguished from the generally convex lip formation of Figs. l-6 by comprising a projecting blade of generally rectangular configuration in plan view,

7 terminating preferably in a beveled chisel type edge 12'.

Also,'instead of being corrugated, reinforcing ribs are provided in the form of embossments 13 running lengthwise of the handle, member on opposite sides of a centrally disposed, much wider and deeper embossment 13".

The embossment 13" has a width several times that of embossments 13', and extends into lip portion 5' substantially to the edge 12", for reinforcing the same in use.

It is contemplated that the embodiment of Figs. 1-6 will find particular utility in removing the covers of cans of one gallon size or smaller, whereas the embodiment of Figs. 7-10 will be particularly useful with larger cans having covers overlapping the can, although neither embodiment is necessarily so limited in utility. Also the device of my invention is useful for purposes other than those herein specifically referred to, such as for example loosening hardened paint pigment on the bottom of the can.

By way of example, Figs. 11 through 14 illustrate various conventional types of cans, the covers of which are adapted to be removed by the device of my invention. In Fig. 11, the can body 20 supports a grooved rim 21, with which a cover 22 has a pressure fit, the cover being resaid handle member in snug-fitting relation thereto and having a main body portion, opposite side portions inte- I gral with said main body portion and extending laterally thereof around said handle member, and a lip portion integral with said main body portion and extending therefrom beyond said one end of said handle member, said opposite side portions lying in side-by-side relation lengthwise of said handle member and having inturned moved by inserting the lip 5 or 5 of my device between the outer edge 23 of the cover and the outer edge portbn 24 of the rim. In Fig. 12, the dished cover 25 has a pressure fit with the can body 25, and is removed by inserting the lip 5 or 5' between the adjacent edge formations 2'7 and 28 of the cover and body, respectively. In Fig. 13, the can body 29 supports a neck 30, the upper edge 31 of which carries a gasket 32. A cover 33 seats on gasket 32 and is held in place by a rim 34. The can is opened by inserting the lip 5 or 5' first between the depending flange formation 35 of rim 34 and the upper edge 36 of body 29, and then between the depending flange formation 37 of cover 33 and the can body edge 36. In Fig. 14, a gasket 38 seats on the upper edge 39 of the can body 40, and the cover 41 seats thereon and has depending lugs 42 engaging beneath the rolled edge 39. The lugs 42 are apertured at 43. The lip 5' can be inserted between the lugs 42 and the can body 40, to remove the cover, but preferably it will be inserted in the apertures 43, with the handle generally upright, using the cover edge as a fulcrum. Thus, cans or containers of the type illustrated in Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are readily opened by the embodiment of Figs. 7 through 10, and containers of the type illustrated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are readily opened by the embodiment of Figs. 1 through 6, it being understood that these are standard types of containers forming per se no part of my invention, and that the device of my I invention is useful for opening still other types of con tainers as well as for other purposes.

Accordingly, it is seen that my invention fully accomplishes its intended objects, and while only two presently preferred embodiments have been illustrated and de-' scribed in detail herein, it will be appreciated that my invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Variations thereof and modifications therein will occur to those skilled in the art, all without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully disclosed and completely described my invention, and its mode of operation, what I claim as new is:

1. A device of the class described comprising, a handle member, and a lever attachment on said handle member at one end thereof, said attachment completely encircling extremities engaging said handle member and securing said attachment in place thereon.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, together with reinforcing rib means alinedgenerally lengthwise'of said handle member and extending along said main body portion into said lip portion.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main body portion has embossed corrugations spaced thereacross and alined generally lengthwise of said handle member to provide reinforcing rib means. 1

r 4. A device as set forth in claim 1, together with mul' tiple elongated embossments on said mainbody portion to comprise reinforcing rib means, said embossments being alined generally lengthwise of said handle member and spaced apart widthwise thereof with at least one of said embossments extending into said lip portion.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the width of said one of said embossments is severaltimes that of the others thereof.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lip portion has a bevelled forward edge. 7

7. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lip portion has a generally convex forward edge formation extending substantially the width of said main body portion.

8. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lip portion comprises a projecting blade of substantially less width than said main body portion.

9. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle member is made of wood, said lever attachment is made of metal, and said inturned extremities are pointed and extend into the wood ofsaid handle member.

10. A lever attachment for a wooden paddle or like handle member comprising, a metal member having a main body portion, side portions of substantially isosceles triangular form extending from opposite sides of said main body portion in inverted relation to each other, and a lip portion on said main body portion, the corresponding sides of said side portions being generally parallel to each other, one side of one of said side portions being generally alined with one end of said main body portion and said lip portion projecting from the other end of said main body portion beyond' the corresponding side of the other of said side portions. I

11. A device of the class described comprising, a handle member, and a lever attachment on said handle memportions integral with said main body portion and extending laterally thereof around said handle member, and a lip portion integral with said main body portion and extending therefrom beyond said one end of said handle member, said opposite side portions lying in side-b'y-side relation lengthwise of said handle member and having inturned anchoring portions engaging said handle membet and securing said attachment in place thereon.

References Cited-in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Oct. 8, 1951

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