Can opener

A can opener comprising:

• a body having a head and a handle extending from the head,
• a cutter blade mounted with the body on or adjacent the head,
• a traction wheel rotationally mounted with the head, and
• an operating element on one side of the can opener and supported by the body for rotating the traction wheel, wherein
• the cutter blade is rotatable about an axis and is movable, in a direction lateral to the 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 in which the traction wheel and the cutter blade engage a can for opening the can, and
• the cutter blade is biased toward the inoperative position and rotation of the traction wheel moves the cutter blade to the operative position.

A can opener comprising:

• a body having a head and a handle extending from the head,
• a cutter blade mounted with the body on or adjacent the head,
• a shaft located with the head,
• a traction wheel located at a first end of the shaft, wherein the shaft is rotatable about a rotational axis and is movable, in an arc lateral to the rotational 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, in which the traction wheel and the cutter blade engage a can for opening the can,
• an operating element on one side of the can opener and supported by the body, and
• drive means for coupling the operating element to the shaft for rotating the shaft by operation of the operating element, wherein
• the drive means comprises a first gear driven by the operating element and a second gear located on the shaft and engaged with the first gear for rotation of the shaft, an axis of the first gear being located at a centre of the arc, and
• the shaft is biased toward the inoperative position and rotation of the shaft moves the shaft to the operative position.

A can opener comprising:

• a body having a head and a handle extending from the head,
• a traction wheel rotationally mounted with the head,
• a cam rotational with the traction wheel,
• a cam-follower pivotally mounted with the body and engageable with the cam,
• a cutter blade mounted with the cam-follower, and
• an operating element on one side of the can opener and supported by the body for rotating the traction wheel, wherein the cutter blade rotates about an axis and is pivotable with the cam-follower, in a direction lateral to the 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 in which the traction wheel and the cutter blade engage a can for opening the can, wherein the cam-follower is biased toward the inoperative position and rotation of the traction wheel moves the cam-follower and the cutter blade to the operative position.

A can opener comprising:

• a body having a head and a handle extending from the head,
• a cutter blade mounted with the body on or adjacent the head,
• a traction wheel mounted with the body on or adjacent the cutter blade, one of the cutter blade and the traction wheel being movable with respect to the other 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 in which the traction wheel and the cutter blade engage a can for opening the can, and
• an operating element operable by a user of the can opener for turning the traction wheel, wherein operation of the operating element moves the cutter blade and the traction wheel from the inoperative position to the operative position.