GB2174062A

GB2174062A - Tin opener

Info

Publication number: GB2174062A
Application number: GB08609302A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Brian Elliott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-04-25
Filing date: 1986-04-16
Publication date: 1986-10-29
Also published as: GB8510569D0; GB8609302D0

Abstract

A tin opener consists of a rod part 10, one end of which forms a handle 11, and a rotatable wheel element 12 mounted on the rod part, the rod part being provided with a spike 14 at the end remote from the handle which can be driven into the centre of a disc-shaped end of a tin-can, the rod part then being turned through a right angle to bring a slot 16 of the wheel element into engagement with the raised edge of the can such that the sharp peripheral edge 18 of the wheel can cut through the can end adjacent the raised edge. The wheel can move freely along the rod part. The spike 14 is axially offset from the remainder of the rod part. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tin opener The invention relates to a tin opener.

Tin openers for opening sealed cans of foodstuffs and preserves have been known for many years but most are either fairly complex and therefore expensive to produce and/or are prone to jamming or other malfunction and/or are difficult to keep clean.

The object of the invention is to provide a tin opener which will be simple and cheap to make, will be unlikely to malfunction, and which will be able to be kept clean very easily.

According to the invention, there is provided a tin opener comprising only two main parts, that is to say a rod part one end of which forms a handle, and a rotatable wheel element mounted on the rod part, the peripheral edge of said wheel element constituting a cutter, the rod part being provided opposite its end which forms the handle with a spike which can be driven into the centre of substantially the centre of a disc-shaped end of a tincan which is to be removed and the rotatable wheel element being provided with a circumferential slot which can be engaged with the usual raised edge of the tin-can, the arrangement being such that when the spike has been driven into the end of a can, the rod part can be turned through substantially a right angle to bring the rotatable wheel element into engagement with the raised edge of the can, the wheel element then being able to be traversed around the can end so that its sharpened peripheral edge cuts through the tinplate of which the can is made. The spike will preferably be provided with a slight offset from the axis of the remainder of the rod part, the offset being sufficient to facilitate the rod part being turned through substantially a right angle, after the spike has been driven through the centre or substantially the centre of a disc-shaped end of a tin, to bring the rotatable wheel element into engagement with the peripheral edge of the can. The rod part will preferably be provided, at its end which forms the handle, with a bulbous moulding for facilitating the application of hand pressure for driving the spike into the tin.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a semi-diagrammatic view of a tin opener embodying the invention in use.

Referring now to the drawing, the tin opener there illustrated comprises only two main parts, that is to say a rod part 10 one end of which forms a handle (being provided at that end with a bulbous plastics moulding 11) and a rotatable wheel element 12 mounted on the rod part. As shown, the rod part is provided, opposite its end which forms the handle, with a spike 14 which can be driven into the centre or substantially the centre of a disc-shaped end of a tin-can when in an upstanding condition as shown in chain-dotted lines. In this condition, hand pressure can be applied against the bulbous plastics moulding to drive the spike through the disc-shaped end which is to be removed.The spike is provided with a slight offset from the axis of the remainder of the rod part, the offset being sufficient to facilitate the rod part being turned through substantially a right angle, after the spike has been driven through the disc of the tin-can, to bring the rotatable wheel element into engagement with the peripheral edge of the can. The rod part will preferably be provided, at its end which forms the handle, with a bulbous moulding for facilitating the application of hand pressure for driving the spike into the tin.

Referring now to the drawing, the tin opener there illustrated comprises only two main parts, that is to say a rod part 10 one end of which forms a handle (being provided at that end with a bulbous plastics moulding 11) and a rotatable wheel element 12 mounted on the rod part. As shown, the rod part is provided, opposite its end which forms the handle, with a spike 14 which can be driven into the centre or substantially the centre of a disc-shaped end of a tin-can when in an upstanding condition as shown in chain-dotted lines. In this condition, hand pressure can be applied against the bulbous plastics moulding to drive the spike through the disc-shaped end which is to be removed.The spike is provided with a slight offset from the axis of the remainder of the rod part, the offset being sufficient to facilitate the rod part being turned through substantially a right angle, after the spike has been driven through the disc of the tin-can, to bring the rotatably wheel element into engagement with the peripheral edge of the can as shown in full lines.

The rotatable wheel element is provided with a circumferential slot 16 which can be engaged, as shown, with the usual raised edge of the tin-can, the arrangement being such that when the spike has been driven into the end of a can, as shown, and the rod part turned through substantially a right angle to bring the wheel element into engagement with the raised edge, the wheel element is able to be traversed around the can end so that its sharpened peripheral edge 18 cuts through the tin-plate of which the can is made. It will be understood that, since the rotatable wheel element can move freely along the rod part, the spiked end of the latter does not need to be driven in exactly at the centre of the disc of the tin-can because the wheel element is able to adjust its position on the rod part as it is traversed around the can end in engagement with the raised edge of the latter.

Thus there is provided a tin opener which is very simple and cheap to make and which is unlikely to malfunction. In addition, it is thought that the opener will be very easy to keep clean. However, various modifications may be made. For example, relatively simple means could be devised for forcing the spiked end of the rod part through substantially the centre of the can end instead of it having to be driven through the end of the can by hand pressure. On the other hand, instead of being provided with the plastics moulding 11 to minimise pressure against the palm of the user's hand, the rod part could be provided with an integral T-piece or triangular shaped end this again being to produce a confortable surface against which hand pressure may be applied.

Claims

1 A tin opener comprising only two main parts, tha- is to say a rod part one end of which forms a handle, and a rotatable wheel element mounted on the rod part, the peripheral edge of said wheel eiement constituting a cutter, the rod part being provided opposite its end which forms the handle with a spike which can be driven into the centre or substantially the centre of a disc-shaped end of a tin can which is to be removed and the rotatable wheel element being provided with a circumferential slot which can be engaged with the usual raised edge of the tin-can, the arrangement being such that when the spike has been driven into the end of a can, the rod part can be turned through substantially a right angle to bring the rotatable wheel element into engagement with the raised edge of the can, the wheel element then being able to be traversed around the can end so that its sharpened edge cuts through the tin-plate of which the can is made.

2. A tin opener according to claim 1, in which the spike is provided with a slight offset from the axis of the remainder of the rod part, the offset being sufficient to facilitate the rod part being turned through substantially a right angle, after the spike has been driven through the centre or substantially the centre of a disc-shaped end of a tin, to bring the rotatable wheel element into engagement with the peripheral edge of the can.

3. A tin opener according to either one of the preceding claims, in which the rod part is provided, at its end which forms the handle, with a bulbous moulding for facilitating the application of hand pressure for driving the spike into the tin.

4. A tin opener constructed, arranged and adapted to be used substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.