US2583212A - Liquid container opener - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 22, 1952 J. P. GALLANT LIQUID CONTAINER OPENER 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed May 17, 1949 INVENTOR. ('Phlorome aZZam /mm M E Mm M .W Lr A, P

E6, a NAI Jan. 22, 1952 Filed May 17, 1949 J. P. GALLANT LIQUID CONTAINER OPENER 2 SI-IEETS-Sl'lEET 2 n INVENTOR. Zorome Ca. ZZan i @y mzwf@ Patented Jan. 22, `1952 LIQUID CONTAINER OPENER Joseph Philorome Gallant, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada Application May 17, 1949, Serial No. 93,795

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a can opener, and more particularly to a device for opening containers or cans having liquid therein.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for opening cans containing evaporated milk, juices, or other liquids, the device being provided with a means for severing the can end to provide a pouring opening in said end, and shaping a pouring spout adjacent the opening to facilitate the dispensing of the contents of the can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will form a pouring opening and spout in a can upon a simple manual pressure thereon whereby the entire contents of the con tainer can be dispensed with ease and accuracy.

A` further object of the invention is to provide a can opener which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig-ure 1 .is a side elevational view of the can opener, with parts broken away and in section, according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the can opener;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the can opener;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan View of the can opener;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the opener, showing the opener in position on a can during the formation of the pouring opening, the upper end cf the can being shown in section;

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5, but showing the position of the opener at the completion of the spout forming operation;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view, showing the opener being used for enlarging the pouring opening;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the slot in the punch in engagement with the edge of the can to prevent the opener from slipping during use;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the can, showing a pouring opening formed by the angular prong;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, but showing the shape of the pouring opening of Figure 9 after the punch has been inserted therein;

Figure 1l is a fragmentary side elevational view of the opener, showing the use of the angular member for forming a pouring openingin the top of a can, the can having a projecting lip or rim;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the opener, showing the use thereof in forming a pouring spout, the can having the same construction as the can of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, showing the use ofthe opener in forming a pouring spout, the can not having a projecting lip thereon;

Figure 14 is a top plan view of a can, showing the shape of the pouring opening and the spout formed by the operation of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a `fragmentary side elevational View, showing a further method of using the opener in forming a pouring opening;

Figure 1G is a fragmentary side elevational view of the opener and a can, the can having a projecting lip or ledge, and showing the opener in position on the can at vthe beginning of the opening operation; and

Figure 17 is a fragmentary side elevational view, showing the punch of the opener being used for enlarging the pouring opening.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the can opener comprises a handle which may be fabricated of any suitable material such as plastic, wood or metal. The handle 30 is provided with a cutout 3l to enable the user to comfortably and conveniently grip the handle in the hand, and the handle 30 is also provided with an opening 32 adjacent one of its ends for the projection there through of a nail orthe like, whereby the can opener can be suspended in an out of the way position when not in use.

Projecting from the other end of the handle 30 is a cylindrical pin or punch 33 which is i preferably fabricated of suitable metal such as steel. The outer end of the punch 33 is provided with a pointed end 34 which serves to pierce the top of a can upon application of a downwardly directed manual pressure on the handle 30. The punch 33 Yis securely seated in the handle 30' and arranged adjacent the punch 33 is a prong or angular member 35. The prong 35 is also fabricated of a suitable material, such as steel, and the prong includes a shank 3e that is securely seated in the endof the handle 35i. The prong 35 includes a pair of side portions or members 31 and 38 which are arranged angularly with respect to each other. The side member 31 is provided with a diagonally extending tapered edge 39, while the other sidevmember 33 also has a tapered -edge 4U. Each of the edges 39 and 40 of the side members of the prong 35 is bevelled to define a sharp cutting edge for a purpose to be later described. l

The lower or outer end of the prong 35 is bevelled as at 4l to define a sharp tip whereby the prong 35 can be used for piercing the top or end of a can as desired. The prong 35 is cut away, as at 42, to dene an opening for receiving a bottle cap, whereby the device of the pres- 3 ent invention can be used for removing a cap from a bottle. Further the opening 42 facilitates the cleaning or washing of the can opener.

The cylindrical punch 33 is providedV with a slot 43 which is adapted to receive therein a portion of a can, as shown in Figure 8, whereby slippage of the can opener will be prevented during the formation of the pouring spout.

Referring to Figure 5, there is shown a portion of a can or container 44 which has liquid therein, such as evaporated milk or fruit juice, or other liquids. The container 44 includes a cylindrical side wall 45 and an end Wall 45- secured thereto. To forni a pouring opening for dispensing the contents of the can, the can opener is arranged so that the pointed end 34 of the punch 33 is in engagement with the end 45 of the can 44. Then, upon application of a downwardly directed manual pressure on the handle of the can opener, the pointed end 34 will pierce the end 4E of the can and the punch 53 will move or assume the position shown in Figure 5. After the can opener has been removed from the can, the liquid contents thereof can be dispensed orpoured through the opening 4l in the end 45 of the can.

Further, a pouring spout can be formed in the can to facilitate the dispensing ofthe contents and to insurethat the contents will be accurately dispensed from the can. The pouring spout is' formed as shown in Figure 6 wherein the punch 33 is shown projecting through the opening 4l in the end 46 of the can and the seam 45 of the can is positioned in the slot 43 of the punch 33. Then, upon outward movement of the can opener from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 6, the prong will move into engagement with the side wall 45 of the can 44 and thereby bend the sidewall'lli inwardly thus forming a pouring spout or lip.

In the event that the liquid in the can 44 is of a high viscosity or is thick, the opening 4'! may be enlarged whereby the liquid can be quickly dispensed from thecan when the can is tilted. Thus, in Figure 7, the ,prong 35 is shown in use for enlarging thepouring opening in the end 4t of the can. In Figure 8, there is shown a fragmentary side elevational view of the prong 33 and this view illustrates the positioning of a portion of the seam 48 of the can 44 in the slot 43 f to prevent the punch 33 from slipping during the formation ofthe pouring spout. In Figure 9, there is shown, a portion of the end 46 of the can 44, such end being provided With apouring opening 45 of triangular shape. the opening 49 having been formed by the triangular shaped prong 35. In Figure 10, the opening 49 has been further enlargedas at 5B by means ofthe punch 33 and the opening, as shown in Figure l0, may be used for the dispensing therethrough of the contents of the can-44.V

Referring to Figure 1'1, the can opener is shown being used for forming a Pouring opening in the end of a can 5l. The construction of the can 5| is slightly different from the can 44 in that the can 5Il includes a cylindrical side wall 52, and end 53, and projecting from each end of the can 5l is a lip or rim 54. The end 53 of the can 5I can be pierced to form a pouring opening by arranging the bevelled tip of the prong 35 in engagement with the top or end 53 of the aan 5l and then unen @limitation 0f a manually directed ressensS 9.11 the; handle 39. the prime l, slot 43.

35 will pierce the end 53 of the can to form a pouring opening 55 for the egress therethrough of the liquid contents of the can. In Figure l2, the can opener is shown being used for forming a pouringspout in the can 5l. Thus, the end 53 of the can 5I is punctured by the prong 35 and the seam 56 of the can 5l is arranged in the Then, upon outward movement of the opener, the prong 35 will force the sidewall 52 inwardly, thus providing a pouring lip or spout for the accurate and facile discharge therethrough of the contents of the can.

In Figure 13, the can opener is shown being used for forming a pouring spout in a can 44. Referring to Figure 14, there is shown a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the end 4G of the can 44, the end 45 being provided with a pouring opening 5l and discharge spout, the opening and slots being formed according to the method shown in Figure 14. In Figure 15, the can opener is shown being used for forming a different shaped pouring opening in the end of the can 5I. Thus, the prong 35 is arranged in engagement with the end of the can and then pressure is applied to the handle whereby the prong 35 pierces the end of the container and moves to the position shown in Figure 15. After removal of the can opener from the can, the contents can be dispensed or discharged through the opening in the end of the can. The can opener is shown in position on the can 5|, in Figure 16, at the beginning or initial step for forming the pouring opening by means of the punch` 33. Figure 17 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the use of the can opener in enlarging the pouring opening in the end 46 of the can 44, the enlarged pouring opening being especially useful when the contents of the can 44' are viscous or thick.

What I claim:

l. In a device for forming a pouring opening and discharge spout in a can, a handle, a punch provided with a pointed end projecting from an end of said handle, said punch being provided with a slot for receiving a portion of said can, a prong arranged adjacent said punch and secured to said handle, said prong including a pair of side portions arranged angularly with respect to each other, the free ends of said side portions being tapered upwardly, and said side portions being each provided with a beveled cutting edge.

2. In a deviceor forming a pouring opening,r and discharge spout in a can, a handle, a. punch provided with a pointed end projecting from said handle, said punch being provided with a slot for receiving a portion of said can, a prong arranged adjacent said punch and secured to said handle, said prong including a pair of side portions arranged angularly with respect to each other, the free ends of said side portions being tapered, and said side portions being each provided with a cutting edge.

JOSEPH PHILOROME GALLANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 21,243,511 Sowers 1 May 27, 194]. 24.205492.

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