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US 10,125,000 B2Granted
Can opener
AssigneeProgressive International Corporation
InventorJoseph Kent
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A can opener includes a pair of handles attached for pivotal movement between an open position to receive a rim of a can and a closed position to trap the rim between a cutting blade and a traction wheel. A crank having a handle is positioned on one side of the pair of handles and includes a cavity formed in the crank for housing a ratchet assembly configured to drive a traction wheel located on the opposite side of the pair of pivoting handles.
Claims20
A can opener, comprising:
- a first handle having a distal end and a proximal end;
- a second handle having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal ends of the first handle and the second handle being pivotally attached to one another at a pivot location for rotational movement of the first handle with respect to the second handle about the pivot location;
- a crank handle attached to a crank case, the crank case being attached to the first handle and having interior sidewalls forming cylindrical interior cavity and terminating in a rim, the sidewalls having at least one rib positioned on the sidewalls and extending axially along the sidewall;
- a ratchet assembly received within the crank case cavity, the ratchet assembly comprising:
- a first gear having at least one slot configured to receive the at least one rib wherein the first gear is axially movable within the crank case cavity along the rib, the first gear having a first set of ratchet teeth;
- a second gear having a second set of ratchet teeth configured to engage the first set of ratchet teeth when the first gear is rotated in a first direction and to slide over the first set of ratchet teeth when the first gear is rotated in a second direction;
- a drive gear coupled to the second gear for rotation together with rotation of the second gear;
- a traction wheel coupled to the second gear for rotation together with rotation of the second gear;
- a driven gear attached to the second handle and positioned to be driven by the drive gear when the first handle and the second handle are pivoted toward one another in a closed position;
- and
- a blade attached to the second handled adjacent the driven gear.
8 more elements
A can opener, comprising:
- a first handle;
- a second handle pivotally attached to the first handle;
- a crank handle carried on a crank case and configured to drive a ratchet assembly, the crank case being positioned on a first side of the first handle;
- the crank case having an interior crank case cavity and terminating in a rim;
- the ratchet assembly being housed within the crank case cavity, the ratchet assembly comprising:
- a first gear having a first set of ratchet teeth, the first gear and the crank case cavity further having complementary mating surfaces wherein the first gear is seated for axial moment in a direction into and out of the crank case cavity while constrained against rotational movement within the crank case cavity;
- a second gear having a second set of ratchet teeth configured to engage the first set of ratchet teeth when the first gear is rotated together with the crank case in a first direction and to slide over the first set of ratchet teeth when the first gear is rotated in a second direction;
- a drive gear positioned on a second side of the first handle and coupled to the second gear for rotation together with rotation of the second gear;
- a traction wheel positioned on the second side of the first handle and coupled to the second gear for rotation together with rotation of the second gear;
- a driven gear attached to the second handle and positioned to be driven by the drive gear when the first handle and the second handle are pivoted toward one another in a closed position;
- and
- a blade attached to the second handled adjacent the driven gear.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.