Can opener

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10125000-B2
Application number	US-201615013761-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2016
Priority date	Feb 4, 2015
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

A can opener includes a pair of handles attached for pivotal movement between an open position to receive a rim of a can and a closed position to trap the rim between a cutting blade and a traction wheel. A crank having a handle is positioned on one side of the pair of handles and includes a cavity formed in the crank for housing a ratchet assembly configured to drive a traction wheel located on the opposite side of the pair of pivoting handles.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A can opener, comprising:
a first handle having a distal end and a proximal end;
a second handle having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal ends of the first handle and the second handle being pivotally attached to one another at a pivot location for rotational movement of the first handle with respect to the second handle about the pivot location;
a crank handle attached to a crank case, the crank case being attached to the first handle and having interior sidewalls forming cylindrical interior cavity and terminating in a rim, the sidewalls having at least one rib positioned on the sidewalls and extending axially along the sidewall;
a ratchet assembly received within the crank case cavity, the ratchet assembly comprising:
a first gear having at least one slot configured to receive the at least one rib wherein the first gear is axially movable within the crank case cavity along the rib, the first gear having a first set of ratchet teeth;
a second gear having a second set of ratchet teeth configured to engage the first set of ratchet teeth when the first gear is rotated in a first direction and to slide over the first set of ratchet teeth when the first gear is rotated in a second direction;

a drive gear coupled to the second gear for rotation together with rotation of the second gear;
a traction wheel coupled to the second gear for rotation together with rotation of the second gear;
a driven gear attached to the second handle and positioned to be driven by the drive gear when the first handle and the second handle are pivoted toward one another in a closed position; and
a blade attached to the second handled adjacent the driven gear.

2. The can opener of claim 1 , wherein the crank case cavity further comprises an interior end wall, and the ratchet assembly further comprises a first spring trapped between the interior end wall and the first gear, whereby the first spring urges the first set of ratchet teeth lightly into engagement with the second set of ratchet teeth.

3. The can opener of claim 2 , further comprising an axle extending axially through the first gear, the second gear, and the first spring, and a screw securing the axle to the crank case.

4. The can opener of claim 2 , further comprising an end cap attached to the second gear for rotational movement together with the second gear, the end cap having a circular central portion sized to be received within and enclose the rim of the crank case cavity.

5. The can opener of claim 4 , further comprising a center pin having a first end carried on the end cap and a second end attached to the drive gear and the traction wheel, the second end of the center pin being configured to retain the drive gear and the traction wheel on the first handle.

6. The can opener of claim 5 , wherein the drive gear and traction wheel are mounted to the center pin for rotational movement together with the center pin.

7. The can opener of claim 5 , further comprising a second spring trapped between the end cap and the first handle.

8. The can opener of claim 7 , wherein the proximal end of the first handle further comprises a collar defining an opening for receiving a portion of the end cap and the center pin.

9. The can opener of claim 7 , further comprising a sleeve integrally formed with a plate, the sleeve being received within the collar formed on a first side of the first handle and the mounting plate being positioned on an opposing second side of the first handle.

10. The can opener of claim 9 , wherein the second gear further comprises a plurality of legs terminating in radially extending feet and the end cap further comprises a plurality of peripheral slots, a separate one of the legs being received within and retained by a separate one of the plurality of peripheral slots.

11. The can opener of claim 2 , wherein the at least one rib comprises a plurality of ribs distributed about the sidewalls and the at least one slot comprises a plurality of slots, each of the plurality of slots being positioned to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of ribs.

12. The can opener of claim 11 , wherein the crank handle is integrally formed with the crank case.

13. A can opener, comprising:
a first handle;
a second handle pivotally attached to the first handle;
a crank handle carried on a crank case and configured to drive a ratchet assembly, the crank case being positioned on a first side of the first handle;
the crank case having an interior crank case cavity and terminating in a rim;
the ratchet assembly being housed within the crank case cavity, the ratchet assembly comprising:
a first gear having a first set of ratchet teeth, the first gear and the crank case cavity further having complementary mating surfaces wherein the first gear is seated for axial moment in a direction into and out of the crank case cavity while constrained against rotational movement within the crank case cavity;
a second gear having a second set of ratchet teeth configured to engage the first set of ratchet teeth when the first gear is rotated together with the crank case in a first direction and to slide over the first set of ratchet teeth when the first gear is rotated in a second direction;

a drive gear positioned on a second side of the first handle and coupled to the second gear for rotation together with rotation of the second gear;
a traction wheel positioned on the second side of the first handle and coupled to the second gear for rotation together with rotation of the second gear;
a driven gear attached to the second handle and positioned to be driven by the drive gear when the first handle and the second handle are pivoted toward one another in a closed position; and
a blade attached to the second handled adjacent the driven gear.

14. The can opener of claim 13 , wherein the complementary mating surfaces comprise a plurality of ribs formed on the interior crank case cavity and a plurality of slots formed on a perimeter of the first gear, each of the plurality of slots being positioned to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of ribs.

15. The can opener of claim 14 , wherein the crank handle is integrally formed with the crank case.

16. The can opener of claim 15 , wherein the rim of the crank case abuts the first handle.

17. The can opener of claim 15 , wherein the crank case cavity further comprises an interior end wall, and the ratchet assembly further comprises a first spring trapped between the interior end wall and the first gear, whereby the first spring urges the first set of ratchet teeth lightly into engagement with the second set of ratchet teeth.

18. The can opener of claim 17 , further comprising an axle attached to the interior end wall, the axle extending axially through the first gear, the second gear, and the first spring.

19. The can opener of claim 18 , further comprising an end cap attached to the second gear for rotational movement together with the second gear, the end cap having a circular central portion sized to be received within and enclose the rim of the crank case cavity.

20. The can opener of claim 19 , further comprising a second spring trapped between the end cap and the first handle.

Assignees

• Progressive Int Corp

Inventors

• Kent Joseph

Classifications

• B67B7/34

  with rotatable cutters · CPC title

• B67B7/32 Primary

  propelled by rotary gears or wheels around periphery of container · CPC title