US 11,873,202 B2 · Opening tool for beverage cans

Abstract

The present invention discloses an opening tool for opening and/or removing a tab portion of a beverage can. The opening tool includes a hollow housing. The hollow housing includes a generally cylindrical housing body having a top end, a bottom end, an outer surface, an inner surface and an open cavity extending from a top end towards a bottom end of the housing body. The opening tool further includes one or more claws, having a claw body extending between a claw end portion and a claw tip such that the tip of each of the claws is adapted to be hangingly disposed within the open cavity of hollow housing. In operation, when a beverage can is passed through the hollow housing from the bottom end towards the top end, the claw tip of at least one of the claws engages and pulls-opens the tab portion while the beverage can moves out of the housing.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A vending machine for dispensing a beverage can, the vending machine comprising:

an elevator shaft having a top end portion and a bottom end portion;
a movement mechanism configured to drive an upward movement of the beverage can from the bottom end portion of the elevator shaft toward the top end portion of the elevator shaft;
and
an opening tool including:
a hollow housing defining an open cavity configured to allow the beverage can to pass therethrough;
and
an opening mechanism configured to create an opening in the beverage can, wherein the opening mechanism is configured to create the opening in the beverage can prior to the beverage can exiting the vending machine,
wherein the opening tool is at a spaced-apart distance from the top end portion of the elevator shaft;
and
wherein the beverage can is opened and then moved vertically along the elevator shaft toward the top end portion.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Opening tool for beverage cans

Life of this patent

Opening tool for beverage cans

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18