US800737A - Can-opener. - Google Patents

Description

No. 800,737. PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905. J. J. GRAF.

CAN OPENER.

nruoumn FILED 11017.21, 1904.

2 snnntrs-snnm 1.

Wf/Euzass PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905.

J. J. GRAF.

CAN OPENER.

AVPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

Application filed November 21, 1904. Serial No. 233,561-

.To all who/1'1, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. GRAF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Crescent Springs, Kenton county, State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description thereof, attention being called to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, with the reference characters marked thereon, which form also a part of this specification.

This invention relates to means for removing caps or covers from the body of containing vessels when these former are held in place by a screw-threaded connection. Preserving, storing, .and shipping vessels like jars and cans are here in view when they are provided with a screw-thread around their fill or discharge openings, which openings are closed by a cap also threaded and fitted to the thread first mentioned.

The object of this invention is to provide an implement for removing more particularly the comparatively large caps from largersized vessels, like, for instance, from the cans in which powder and carbid are shipped, and more particularly the latter. The screwthread which receives such a cap is provided on a neck which surrounds the opening in the body of the can and projects therefrom, usually at one of the ends. In some forms of cans the engagement of the neck by the cap is one within the neck, so that when in place the cap is surrounded by the neck. This occurs more particularly in cans where the neck projects inwardlythat is, into the body of the can so that when the cap is in place it does not project above the body of the can. In other forms the cap engages the neck around the outside of the same, the neck in these forms usually projecting from the body outwardly.

The invention consists of an implement constructed in a particular manner to render it suitable for use with vessels of the kind and size mentioned and which construction is further so designed that with a slight modification of arrangement of its parts it may be used on either the internal or external caps mentioned.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims, is found a full description of the invention, together with its manner of use, parts, and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a top view of a can, its cap being held by being screwed into an inwardlyprojecting screw-threaded neck with my implement in engagement with said cap to unscrew the same. Fig. 2 is a side view of the preceding figure with parts broken away, the cap being shown in a section which passes through its center, while part of the tool is also shown in section. Fig. 3 shows a top view of .a can the cap of which is seated on an outwardly-projecting screw-threaded neck, my implement in engagement with the cap for the purpose of removing the same. Fig. i is a side elevation of the preceding figure.

Figs. 5 and 6 and Figs. 7 and 8 show in each of these two groups and in figures similar to Figs. 1 and 2 a modified construction of the implement for use in connection with a can constructed as shown in said Figs. 1 and 2 that is, with a can having an inwardly-projecting screw-threaded neck.

In the drawings, 10 indicates the flat side of a circular screw-cap provided on its edge with an annular side or flange 11, which contains the thread wherebyit engages the correspondingly-threaded neck 12, which projects from the inclosure of the can and surrounds an opening therein. Where these cans are cylindrical, the neck is usually formed on one of the ends or heads, as shown at 13, and to which heads the cylindrical shell 14: of the can connects. In Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8 this neck is shown as projecting inwardly from the inclosure which forms the can-body, while in Figs. 3 and i it projects outwardly therefrom. The can illustrated in the group of figures first mentioned is of a type frequently used for shipping and storing carbid of calcium. The caps of these cans are provided with a projecting ridge or bar 15, which is intended to aid in their manipulation, particularly their unscrewing. In practice this has proved, ho\ ever, insuflicient, because by reason of the comparatively large size of these caps, their diameter being from eight to nine inches, more or less, considerable frictional resistance has to be overcome toloosen and start them,which resistance is increased by the presence of an interposed washer 16. Since this bar does not project beyond the circumference of the caps, suffieient purchase and leverage for the purpose is not obtainable. To overcome these diffieulties is the object of my implement, which at once provides for a sufficient purchase by an extended engagement with the threaded side of the cap to which is added an i operating-lever of substantial length and the handles of which extend well beyond the cap, thereby permitting exertion of a leverage which easily overcomes the frictional resistance of the screw-engaged cap. \Vith my implement the cap is engaged at diametrically opposite portions of its threaded flange by one edge of each of two flat jaws 17, in shape substantially like the segment of a circle, and the outline or are of one of the edges in each jaw is fitted for such engagement to a circle which corresponds to the circle of the periphery of the particular cap on which the implement is to be used. This edge or surface is indicated by 18, and in Figs. 1, 5, and 7 it is shown as fitted against the inside of the side of the cap, while in Fig. 3 it is fitted against the outside thereof. The length of this par ticular edge or surface is such in each case to cover a substantial part of the circumferential length of the threaded side against which it is intended to operate. The shape of the other edge in each jaw is immaterial, since it does not perform any particular function. In the flat side of each jaw of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 4: there is a curved groove or slot 19, which is arranged to be nonparallel or eccentric to the cap-engaging surface 18, the disposition being such that from one of its ends which is closest to the center of the cap when the implement is in position this slot recedes from such center toward its other end. The arrangement is further such that in one jaw the end of its slot which is closest inwardly toward the center is opposite to that end of the slot in the other jaw which is farthest away from the center. Into each slot pins 21 are fitted, which project from the under side of a manipulating-lever 22, which is provided at each end with a handle 23. These handles form, preferably, integral extensions on said lever, and these, together with the pins, form a rigid frame structure of immovable parts. The arrangement is such, referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 only, that when the parts are so moved that the pins arenearest the end of the slots farthest from the center thejaws will be closest together and may be readily placed within the cap. W hen the lever is now moved, as shown by the arrow and with its handles in opposite directions, the pins by advancing at the same time and in each jaw in the inwardly-directed part of the slotsthat is. toward the center will also move the jaws apart, thus causing them to impinge against the side of the screwcap. The direction in which the lever is moved for so spreading the jaws is the same as is required for unscrewing the cap, so that as soon as the frictional impingement of the outwardlyforced. jaws is sufiicient to loosen the cap the same will commence to unscrew, and the two motions that is, the one for spreading the jaws to engage and start the cap and the one for unscrewing the same-merge now into one, which is continued until'the desired effect is obtained. The operation of the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4: is substantially the same, except that it is used on an externally-seated cap-that is, one which surrounds the neck on its outside. This requires that the jaws instead of moving outwardly to engage the cap must be moved toward each other, for which purpose it is merely necessary to reverse the direction of the slots.

\Vhilc I show two pins in each slot, such number is not absolutely necessary, and one would be suiiicient for the purpose, but two operate better, the lever being suiiiciently spread in shape of a frame to provide space for their attachment; nor is it necessary that they be exactly in shape of pins, and any form of projection from the lever sufficient to engage and move the jaws would answer. In order to keep the members of this implement on each other, the free end of each pin is provided with a head 24, which maybe held by a rivet and which projects on each side over each edge of the slot on the under side of the jaws; but for this desire to hold the parts together these slots might be merely grooves sufliciently deep to receive the pins.

The modified constructions (one illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 and the other in Figs. 7 and 8, both on the second sheet) are applicable for use in connection with a cap as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2that is, one held within its neck so that the engagement of the threaded side of the cap is obtained by moving jaws 17 apart. This movement is, however, not obtained here by a rotary motion of lever 22, but by downward pressure on its handles 23. In the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 this pressure acts on the jaws by means of links 25, which shove them apart and against the side of the cap. These links also hold these jaws to their lever, they being pivotally connected to each of the members so connected. In Figs. 7 and 8 this pressure is transmitted by inclined planes formed as to one part by lateral projections 26 on the lever and as to the other by lugs 27, two rising from each jaw and between which the lever is arranged. The inclined projections 26 when bearing against the inclined edges of lugs 27 shove these, together with the jaws, outwardly. The parts are held to each other in this case by a nose 28 on each lug, which projects over the corresponding projection 26 in front of it, and by pins 29 passing through all these parts. By reason of these pins occupying slots 31 in IIO one of the connected parts no interference is caused with the movement of the inclined surfaces on each other. When by downward pressure in each of these two forms the jaws are fully pressed against the side of the cap, the lever-handle while so held and without relaxing the pressure on it is now turned the same as before.

This implement in neither of its forms shown requires the assistance of a ridge 15 on the cap for the purpose of disengaging it.

The frictional engagement of edge 18 of the jaws may be aided by roughening this surface or by covering it with strips 32 of leather or rubber. These strips may be held in position in any suitable manner, as by an adhesive substance or by slots 33 at the ends of the jaws into which the ends of these strips are inserted and stretched from one to the other over the surface to be covered.

It is not necessary that the jaws in approaching the side of the cap move simultaneously or each an equal extent, which, were it necessary, would require careful adjustment of the jaws before engagement in view of the loose connection of each to the lever. This is, however, immaterial, because should one jaw be closer to the side of the cap and move less by engaging the cap sooner the other jaw would simply compensate for this by moving a little more, the action being in all cases the same and starts as soon as both jaws are in engagement with the side of the cap. For this reason it is also feasible that one of the jaws might be rigidly connected to the operating-lever and one only movable. This would require, however, a correspondingly more eX- tended movement for the other jaw, the engagement of the cap would,not be as quick, and no better results would be obtained.

The slots shown in the forms illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4: need not necessarily be curved, and they might also be straight, but must be non-parallel to the direction in which the pins on the operating-lever are moved. As to the form shown in Figs. 8 and 4, the same elfect might be obtained by retaining the form of jaws shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and by extending the cap-engaging edges 18 downwardly therefrom. The flat part of each jaw would then rest on top of the cap the same as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with said engaging edges extending down over the side of the cap. The rubber strips 32 would be on the inside of this depending part of edge 18.

Having described my invention, I claim as new i 1. In an implement for removing screwcaps, the combination of two jaws in shape of circular segments adapted each with one of their edges to engage, diametrically opposite each other, the side of the cap to be removed, such edge in each jaw being curved on a circle which corresponds to the circle of the cap periphery, thus fitting such edge against the side of the cap, a lever-frame arranged across these two jaws and provided with integral handles, one at each end, which handles project in diametrically opposite directions beyond said jaws and beyond the side of the cap when in position thereon, and means which operatively connect each jaw to the lever-frame, one at each end thereof whereby proper manipulation of this latter by its handles causes the jaws to engage the side of the cap.

2. In an implement for removing screwcaps, the combination of a lever-frame of a length sufiicient to extend, when in position, diametrically across the cap to be removed, the same being provided with pins projecting from its under side near each end and with handles, all permanently and immovably connected so as to form a rigid frame structure from which the handles, one at each end, project in diametrically opposite directions with reference to the cap to be removed when in position thereon, and two jaws in shape of circular segments, each adapted with one of their edges to engage, diametrically opposite each other, the side of the cap to be removed, such edge in each jaw being curved on a circle which corresponds to the circle of the cap periphery. the flat side of each jaw having a curved slot, arranged eccentrically with reference to its circular cap-engaging edge and adapted to be occupied by the'pins on the lever-frame at each end of the same.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. GRAF.

Witnesses:

(J. SPENGEL, ARTHUR KLINE.

Images