US3678578A

US3678578A - Aerosol can puncher

Info

Publication number: US3678578A
Application number: US25076A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank J Patton Jr; Danny J Gardner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-04-02
Filing date: 1970-04-02
Publication date: 1972-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-25

Abstract

A cradle frame supports a horizontally disposed aerosol can. A curved plate is hingedly mounted to the cradle frame and attaches a punch thereon. After an aerosol can is placed on the cradle frame the plate is moved downwardly thereby driving the punch through the wall of the aerosol can which results in relatively slow venting of the gas in the can.

Description

United States Patent Patton, Jr. et al.

14 1 July 25,1972

[54] AEROSOL CAN PUNCHER [72] Inventors: Frank J. Patton, Jr., Route 6 Box 104, Frankfort, lnd. 46041; Danny J. Gardner, 2121 Suffolt Lane, Indianapolis, Ind. 46260 [22] Filed:

[21] Appl.No.: 25,076

April 2, 1970 s21 U.S.Cl. 0/10,:50/16 51 mm B67b7/24 [58] Fieldofselrcll ..30/l0,l6,250,296,3l5,366;

[56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,296,696 1/1967 Kamla ..30/ l 6 Primary Examiner-Robert C. Riordan Assistant Examiner-Gary L. Smith Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT A cradle frame supports a horizontally disposed aerosol can. A curved plate is hingedly mounted to the cradle frame and attaches a punch thereon. After an aerosol can is placed on the cradle frame the plate is moved downwardly thereby driving the punch through the wall of the aerosol can which results in relatively slow venting of the gas in the can.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing figures PATENIEDJULZSIHR 3,678,578

Fran/r J. Pal/on, Jr. Danny J. Gardner ,8 m1 c.-. m' EMMA AEROSOL CAN PUNCHER The present invention relates to a manual aerosol can puncher.

Often, when an individual wishes to dispose of an unused or partly used aerosol can, he must manually expend the contents therein by depressing the actuator. This is necessary because partly or wholly filled aerosol cans should not be incinerated. Disposal becomes a significant inconvenience to industrial users who must dispose of a large number of partly filled aerosol cans.

The present invention offers a simply constructed, reliable and inexpensive means of piercing the wall of an aerosol can thereby causing the relatively slow release of the gas therein. The punch member in the present device is driven through the wall of the can by exerting foot pressure on a depressor plate which attaches the punch member. After the aerosol can is sufficiently vented, it may be safely disposed of by incineration.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the present device.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the component parts of the invention.

, FIG. 3 is an end elevational view depicting the application of foot pressure to the device and causing piercing of an aerosol can. I

Referring to the FIGS. and more particularly FIG. 2, a cradle frame or support is generally indicated by reference numeral that serves to horizontally support an aerosol can during-a can piercing operation. The cradle frame hingedly mounts a shield lid or depressor plate 12 having a punch member 14 attached thereto.

The cradle frame 10 has a cylindrical section 16 with outwardly turned parallel spaced

flanges

18 and 20 serving to stabilize the cradle frame, the flanges being substantially tangentially positioned with respect to the wall of the cylindrical section 16. A slot 22 is centrally formed along the edge common to the cylindrical section 16 and flange 20. A tabular projection 24 extends outwardly from a lateral edge of the shield lid 12 and is adapted to be positioned in the slot 22. A pin 26 is passed under the edge connecting cylindrical section 16 and flange 20. The pin becomes exposed along the length of slot 22 and therefore forms a means for pivotally mounting the tabular projection 24. Thus, pin 26 serves as a hinge pin for connecting the shield lid 12 and the cradle frame 10.

Considering the structure of shield lid 12, the central body of the lid is seen to be in the form of a cylindrical section 28 having a radius of curvature somewhat larger than that of the cylindrical section 16. By virtue of this dimensional dif ference, the lateral edge 30 of lid 12 becomes positioned in overlying relation with flange 18 of the cradle frame when the lid 12 is positioned downwardly over the cradle frame. Thus, edge 30 forms a handle for opening and closing the lid 12.

When the lid is in the closed position, a generally elliptical cross-section characterizes the device: as seen in FIG. 1.

In operation of the device, lid 12 is opened and aerosol can 32 is placed onto the cradle frame 10. The size of the present invention is designed to allow insertion of all aerosol cans of conventional size. After the can is positioned on the frame 10, the lid 12 is pivoted downwardly until the punch member 14 rests against the wall of the aerosol can. Then, foot pressure is brought to bear against the shield lid 12 thereby causing the driving piercing of the punch member 14 through the can wall. Inasmuch as the punch member 14 is preferably tapered, the rate of venting can be controlled depending upon the extent of piercing. Instead of a punch member, a knife blade could be used to slit the can wall.

After a period of time, all the gas within the can will be expelled and the lid 12 can be opened. Then, the can is simply removed and can be incinerated along with other industrial refuse.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An aerosol can puncher comprising cradle means for supporting a can and formed from a cylindrical section having integral outwardly turned flanges positioned in parallel substantially tangential relation to the cylindrical section for stabilizing the cylindrical section, shielding means connected to said cradle means to serve as a lid for :said cradle means, and punching means connected to the shielding means for piercing an aerosol can when the shielding means is displacing toward the can.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the shielding means comprises a cylindrical section hingedly mounted to said cradle means and further wherein said punching means connected to the shielding means is a punch member positioned in confronting relation to said cradle means.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the cylindrical section of said cradle means has a slot formed in one of the turned flanges, the cylindrical section of the shielding means having a tabular projection positioned in the slot, and a pin slidably received in the tabular projection for rotatably mounting the shielding means to said cradle means.

4. An aerosol can puncher, comprising, in combination:

a. cradle means for supporting an aerosol can and including means for receiving an aerosol can and extending longitudinally therewith, and means including parallel flanges extending from opposite sides of the receiving means for stabilizing same;

b. shielding means connected to said cradle means for serving as a lid for said cradle means; and

c. punching means connected to the shielding means for piercing an aerosol can when the shielding means is displaced toward the can.

Claims

1. An aerosol can puncher comprising cradle means for supporting a can and formed from a cylindrical section having integral outwardly turned flanges positioned in parallel substantially tangential relation to the cylindrical section for stabilizing the cylindrical section, shielding means connected to said cradle means to serve as a lid for said cradle means, and punching means connected to the shielding means for piercing an aerosol can when the shielding means is displacing toward the can.

4. An aerosol can puncher, comprising, in combination: a. cradle means for supporting an aerosol can and including means for receiving an aerosol can and extending longitudinally therewith, and means including parallel flanges extending from opposite sides of the receiving means for stabilizing same; b. shielding means connected to said cradle means for serving as a lid for said cradle means; and c. punching means connected to the shielding means for piercing an aerosol can when the shielding means is displaced toward the can.