US2195253A - Can opener - Google Patents

Description

March 2,6, 1940. E. MEIR Er AL 2,195,253

GAN OPENER Filed oct. 29, i938 2 fill' `Paternal Mar. 2s, i940l UNITED STATT-:s

PATENT n. oI-FICE CAN OPENER Ernest Meier and Merle L. Grob, Peoria. lll. Application October 29, 1938, Serial No. 237,644 1 Claim (Cl. 30-16) This invention pertains to can openers or openers of that type particularly adapted for use in vproviding a pouring opening and a venting opening for containers within which beer or other liquid commodities are sealed.

An object of the invention is to furnish a single piece tool of simple form by means of which two perforations may be formed in a container by a single act, and wherein great leverage is present 0 in performing such act with no likelihood of overturning and spilling the contents of such container.

Another object is to so locate a fulcrum hook upon the tool that in applying said hook the 1everage upon such tool is transferred to the side of the containers bottom opposite that to which the said hook is applied in the perforating act while at the same time providing the needed two openings or vents in the containers top side. To the end that the invention may be clearly understood the appended drawing is provided forming part hereof.

Figure 1 shows our can perforating tool as viewed in perspective;

Figure 2 is a plan of the same showing what may be termed its underside, or that side applied to the container; and

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the tool showing its application to a container for the perforating 30 act.

As illustrated most clearly in Figure l a strip or body of metal l such as soft steel, for example, includes near one end a hook portion 2 which shall be termed a fulcrum-hook struckup there- 35 from, that portion of said body having said hook being preferably bent at a slight angle to balance thereof at the point 3. Said hook"2 extends in the general direction of the opposite end of the body, and spaced therefrom and located between 40 it and said opposite end a lug 4 is struck up, constituting a punch-point, which preferably lies at a slight angle to the plane of the'longest portion of the body.

Spaced from said punch-point 4, in turn, is Ya 45 lug 5 likewise struck up from the body and preferably at right angles to said plane of the latter as best shown in Figure 3.

In said Figure 3 the device is shown in its application to a container showing the mode of use thereon, it being observed that the point of the fulcrum-hook 2 is engaged beneath the bead a of the containers top.

It is also observed that the end oi' the device opposite that end having the fulcrum-hook overhangs the can so that pressure of the operator's hand can be directed downward toward the top of the container. As pressure is applied "to the device the lug or punch-point l rst perforates l the top forming a pouring opening adjacent the containers edge, and as the device is lowered the descent of the point 5 provides an air vent near the diametricaliy opposite side of such container.

Of importance is the fact that the fulcrum'- hook 2 faces in the direction of the end of the body to which leverage is applied, the force oi such leverage at said hook being transferred to the opposite side of the container to the lower corner of the latter at b and therefore there is no 20 danger of overturning said container with a consequent loss of its contents.

In order to thus provide the two required openings in the container in the easiest manner in a simple one piece body the orientation of the point of the hook 2 must be as shown and described with reference to the end of the device to which the hand pressure is applied.

We claim:

A can puncturing tool comprised in a single flat member having a relatively short portion thereof at one end lying at an angle to the handle portion of the balance thereof, said member having a pointed lug struck therefrom near the juncture of the short portion and said handle portion inward from the angle of both, said short portion having near its terminus a hook portion struck therefrom extending in the direction of said lug and spaced therefrom, the same adapted to engage beneath. the top iiange of a can to be punctured and extending from the same side of the tool as said lug, said handle portion having a lug struck therefrom distant from the iirst named lug and extending from the same side of the tool as said rst lug.

. ERNEST MEIER.

MERLE L. GROB.

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