Can crusher

A can crusher for axially crushing an empty can of the type having a recessed top and bottom and a pour hole in the top adjacent its periphery, the hole appearing when a closure tab is opened to empty the can, comprising:

• (a) means defining first and second members each having interconnecting hinge means at one end for connecting the members at their ends in a hinged fashion;
• (b) bottom protrusion means carried by one member and arranged to engage a can bottom by protruding into the recessed bottom of the can;
• (c) pour hole engaging means carried by the other member for engaging the top of a can by protruding into the pour hole;
• (d) rim-contacting means carried by the other member for engaging the inner surface of the can rim formed by the recessed can top so as to substantially prevent a can from rolling out of the can crusher during the crushing operation;
• (e) retaining tab means carried by at least one of the members for supportively engaging the outside of a can when the top and bottom surfaces of the can become substantially parallel as the can is crushed;
• and
• (f) the bottom protrusion means and the pour hole engaging means being positioned on the respective members so that a can may be retained between the two members as the can is axially crushed by moving the unhinged ends of the members toward one another.

A can crusher for axially crushing an empty can of the type having a recessed top and bottom and a pour hole in the top adjacent its periphery, a hole appearing when a closure tab is opened to empty the can, comprising:

• (a) means defining first and second members each having interconnecting hinge means at one end for connecting the members at their ends in a hinged fashion;
• the hinge means including one or more curved tabs carried at the end of one of the members and corresponding apertures carried at the adjacent ends of the other member for engaging the curved tab;
• (b) bottom protrusion means carried by one of the members and arranged to engage a can bottom by protruding into the recessed bottom of the can;
• (c) pour hole engaging means carried by the other member for engaging the top of a can by protruding into the pour hole;
• and
• (d) the bottom protrusion means and the pour hole engaging means being positioned on the respective members so that a can may be retained between the two members as the can is axially crushed by moving the unhinged ends of the members toward one another.

A method of axially crushing an empty can of the type having a recessed top and bottom and a pour hole in the top adjacent its periphery, the hole appearing when a closure tab is opened to empty the can, comprising:

• (a) providing a first member hingeably connected to a second member;
• (b) inserting a pour hole engaging means carried by the first member into the pour hole;
• (c) inserting a bottom protrusion carried by the second member into the recessed bottom of the can so that the can is retained between the two members;
• and
• (d) hingeably compressing the two members to axially crush the can.