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US 10,314,437 B2Granted
Single-handled can opener with automatic can engagement
AssigneeUnion Lucky Industrial Limited
InventorShun So
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A can opener has a cutter blade mounted with a body and a traction wheel mounted with the body on or adjacent the cutter blade. One of the cutter blade or traction wheel is movable with respect to the other between an inoperative position and an operative position. In the inoperative position the traction wheel and the cutter blade are spaced apart so that a rim of a can to be opened may be located between the traction wheel and the cutter blade. In the operative position the traction wheel and the cutter blade engage a can for opening the can. The can opener has an operating element that is operable by a user of the can opener for turning the traction wheel. Operation of the operating element also moves the cutter blade and traction wheel from the inoperative position to the operative position.
Claims12
A can opener comprising:
- a body having a head and a handle extending from the head;
- a cutter blade mounted on the body, adjacent the head;
- a traction wheel mounted on the head and rotationally mounted on a traction wheel shaft and rotatable with respect to the head;
- an operating element located on one side of the can opener and supported by the body and, when rotated, rotating the traction wheel, wherein the cutter blade is rotatable about a cutter blade axis and is movable, relative to the head, in a lateral direction that is transverse to the cutter blade axis, between an inoperative position, in which the traction wheel and the cutter blade are spaced apart so that a rim of a can to be opened may be located between the traction wheel and the cutter blade, and an operative position for opening the can;
- an eccentric cam fixedly mounted on the traction wheel shaft and rotating with rotation of the traction wheel, wherein the eccentric cam includes a lobe extending farther from the traction wheel shaft than other parts of the eccentric cam;
- a cam-follower located internally in the head and engaging the eccentric cam and moving in response to rotation of the eccentric cam;
- a pivoting plate shaft that extends from a face of the head into and through the head, and that is mounted on the head;
- a pivoting plate located on the face of the head and fixedly mounted on the pivoting plate shaft, wherein
- the cam-follower is fixed to the pivoting plate shaft and thereby fixedly mounted with respect to the pivoting plate,
- the cam-follower pivots with pivoting of the pivoting plate,
- the cutter blade is rotationally mounted on the pivoting plate,
- the pivoting plate, upon pivoting, moves the cutter blade,
- rotation of the traction wheel, by rotation of the operating element, rotates the eccentric cam, and, via engagement of the eccentric cam and the cam-follower, converts rotation of the traction wheel into movement of the cutter blade along the lateral direction;
- and
- a torsion spring, wherein
- the torsion spring engages and biases the cam-follower and the pivoting plate, thereby rotationally biasing the cutter blade, about and with respect to the cutter blade axis, toward the inoperative position, and
- rotation of the traction wheel moves the cutter blade from the inoperative position to the operative position.
14 more elements
A can opener comprising:
- a body having a head and a handle extending from the head;
- a cutter blade mounted on the body, adjacent the head;
- a traction wheel mounted on the head and rotationally mounted on a traction wheel shaft and rotatable with respect to the head;
- an operating element located on one side of the can opener and supported by the body and, when rotated, rotating the traction wheel, wherein the cutter blade is rotatable about a cutter blade axis and is movable, relative to the head, in a lateral direction that is transverse to the cutter blade axis, between an inoperative position, in which the traction wheel and the cutter blade are spaced apart so that a rim of a can to be opened may be located between the traction wheel and the cutter blade, and an operative position for opening the can;
- an eccentric cam fixedly mounted on the traction wheel shaft and rotating with rotation of the traction wheel, wherein the eccentric cam includes a lobe extending farther from the traction wheel shaft than other parts of the eccentric cam;
- a cam-follower located internally in the head and engaging the eccentric cam and moving in response to rotation of the eccentric cam;
- a pivoting plate shaft that extends from a face of the head into and through the head, and that is mounted on the head;
- a pivoting plate located on the face of the head and fixedly mounted on the pivoting plate shaft, wherein
- the cam-follower is fixed to the pivoting plate shaft and thereby fixedly mounted with respect to the pivoting plate,
- the cam-follower pivots with pivoting of the pivoting plate,
- the cutter blade is rotationally mounted on the pivoting plate, and
- the pivoting plate, upon pivoting, moves the cutter blade;
- and
- a torsion spring, wherein
- the torsion spring engages and biases the cam-follower and the pivoting plate, thereby rotationally biasing the cutter blade, about and with respect to the cutter blade axis, toward the inoperative position, and
- rotation of the traction wheel moves the cutter blade from the inoperative position to the operative position.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.