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AssigneeRival Manufacturing Company
InventorJames B. Aberer
Estimating the term…
A motor driven can opener includes a pivotal hand lever assembly which may be removed from the can opener frame. A latch on the frame engages an edge portion of the hand lever to retain the lever on the frame throughout its normal operating range. A plate on which a can cutting element is carried is mounted to slide on the forward surface of the lever. A tab projects from the plate and catches on a hardened steel pin of the frame to hold the hand lever against the actuator of a rotary switch which maintains the motor in its energized condition during shearing of a can lid. When the can shearing is completed, the tab releases from the pin to automatically deenergize the motor. A manual crank may be employed as an alternative to electrical power. The motor is removed from the drive train when the crank is employed and brought back into the drive train when the crank is removed.
In a can opener having an upright frame, a can feed wheel supported for rotation on said frame, and power means for rotating said feed wheel, the combination therewith of:
In a can opener having an upright frame presenting an aperture therein, a can feed wheel supported for rotation on said frame at a location forwardly thereof, and means for rotating said feed wheel, the combination therewith of:
A can opener comprising:
A can opener comprising:
A can opener comprising:
A can opener comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Term ended 18 Oct 1994 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
This invention relates generally to can openers and more specifically to power operated can openers of the type which remain on during shearing of a can lid and which shut off automatically on completion of the can shearing.
This type of can opener has proven to have significant practical advantages, particularly in reducing the inconvenience to the user. However, for the most part, existing can openers of this type are complex and expensive to construct, and the shut off mechanisms do not operate reliably, especially after prolonged usage. In addition, the switches employed in the prior art can openers are not altogether effective in achieving power pierce of the can lid as easily as possible.
The present invention is also concerned with an improved latching mechanism which pivotally mounts the hand lever on the frame while at the same time permitting easy removal of the lever for cleaning and other purposes. A can opener with a latching mechanism that releases upon movement of the hand lever to a position beyond its normal pivot arc is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,688,400. This type of latch has proven relatively successful on the whole, although problems sometimes develop due to lever wobble as it is pivoted. This wobble occurs because the latch plate is located rearwardly of the hand lever in a plane offset from that of the lever, thereby enabling the latch plate to move relative to the lever.
In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of a can opener constructed according to the invention, with a portion of the hand lever broken away to illustrate the plunger switch and the broken lines indicating movement of the lever to a position permitting its removal from the frame;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but with the hand lever assembly removed from the frame;
Referring now to the drawings in detail, the upright front panel or frame of the can opener is designated by reference numeral 10. Frame 10 cooperates with a box-like casing 11 to support and house the operating components of the can opener.
A hand lever 12 is mounted for pivotal movement on the forward surface of frame 10. Cylindrical pin 13 (FIG. 3) extends rearwardly from lever 12, same being affixed thereto by threading a nut 14 onto pin 13 and against lever 12. Pin 13 is inserted in a bore 15 (FIG. 2) formed in frame 10 to pivotally mount lever 12 on the frame. An annular boss 16 is circumscribed around bore 15 on frame 10 to space lever 12 slightly forwardly of the frame. Another boss 17 on the frame cooperates with boss 16 to maintain the spacing of lever 12 and to facilitate the pivotal movement thereof.
Serrated can feed wheel 18 is mounted on a shaft 19 in order to be rotatively driven on the forward surface of the frame. Can rest 20 (FIGS. 1 and 5) projects forwardly from frame 10 at a location below feed wheel 18 and serves to maintain the side wall of a can at the proper angle relative to the feed wheel.