Patent Application
20080307659
This invention relates to a device for opening cans that contain solids and liquid and for removing the liquid from the can. In particular, it relates to a device that cuts the lid off a can and presses the lid against the solid contents in the can to squeeze liquid out of the can.
A number of solid products are sold in cans along with a liquid, which usually is present to protect the quality of the product. Tuna fish, for example, is commonly sold in cylindrical cans with water, vegetable oil, or olive oil to preserve the product and its taste. Consuming the tuna fish requires opening the can and separating and discarding the liquid. This may be accomplished by using a conventional can opener then pressing the lid down upon the tuna fish, thereby forcing the liquid out. However, considerable force is required to remove most of the liquid and if the hands slip they may be cut on the edge of the can.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,640 removing the liquid is accomplished by means of a strainer that is pressed against the tuna fish, thereby keeping the fingers out of the can. However, the can must still be opened with a separate can opener. Also, tuna fish can be pressed through the strainer and lost or it may be difficult to remove bits of tuna fish that become trapped on the strainer.
The device of this invention performs two functions, both opening the can and squeezing liquid out of the can. This is accomplished by turning a handle that causes cutters to revolve around the inside of the lid of the can then, when the lid is detached from the can, turning the handle presses the lid down against the solids in the can, thereby forcing liquid out from under the lid. The device may be equipped with a magnet to hold the lip once it is detached so that it is not necessary to touch the lid while opening the can or squeezing liquid out of it. The device may also be equipped with grips so that the can does not turn while it is being opened and with stops so that the cutters do not cut into the bottom of the can.
In
In
Handle 9, to which can holder 7 is fixed, enables a person to pick up can opener 6 with one hand. Arm 10 is rotatably attached to handle 9 by means of bolt 11, so that arm 10 can rotate about bolt 11 from the position shown in
Screw 14 passes through threaded aperture 15 in arm 10, so that the threads of screw 14 engage the threads of aperture 15. The longitudinal axes 16 of screw 14 and can 1 coincide. Lever 17, fixed to the top of screw 14, enables the user to rotate screw 14, which moves screw 14 up and down.
To the lower end of screw 14 is fixed circular head 18. The diameter of head 18 is slightly less than the diameter of lid 4. To opposing sides of head 18 are rotatably attached disc-shaped cutters 19, each of which has sharp edge 20 at its periphery. Cutters 19 are preferably about ¾ to about 13/16 inches in diameter, but may have other dimensions if desired. Each cutter 19 is positioned with its axis of rotation approximately parallel to lid 4 and so that sharp edge 20 extends below head 18, preferably about 3/16 to about ¼ inches below, and is near the periphery of lid 4. Screw 14 has a stop 21 (the end of the threads) that prevents cutters 19 from moving downward enough to contact and cut bottom 3 of can 1. Cutters 19 preferably move up and down about 1 1/16 to about 1⅛ inches.
For a 6 oz can of tuna fish, for example, cutters 19 should be about 3 3/32 to about 3⅛ inches apart. If desired, the distance between cutters 19 can be made adjustable, for example by threadedly mounting them on a screw that is perpendicular to axis 16, the screw having left-handed threads on one side and right-handed threads on the other, so that rotating the screw moves the cutters an equal amount towards or away from axes 16. While two cutters are preferred, one or more than two cutters may be used if desired. In addition to disc-shaped cutters, cutters that are blades or have other forms may also be used, though disc-shaped cutters are preferred as they have been found to work well. To the bottom of head 18 are attached two magnets 22 (
While in FIGS. 1 to 4, can holder 7 completely encircles can 1 so that opening 8 is circular, it is also contemplated that can 1 may be held by other means. For example, can holder 7 may have a slot of greater width than the diameter of sides 2, so that can 1 can be inserted into position for opening by sliding it through the slot instead of dropping it into an opening. For that embodiment, it would not necessary for arm 10 to be rotatably attached to handle 9 and cans could be opened that have an outwardly-extended rim at bottom as well as at the top.
The can opener may be made from a variety of materials, including plastics and metals, but aluminum and stainless steel are preferred for their durability and rust resistance.
The following example further illustrates this invention.
A can opener as illustrated in the drawings was made by cutting the various flat parts shown in the drawings from a ½ inch thick plate of aluminum and then milling as needed. The screw was made by cutting a piece of ¾ inch aluminum rod and machining threads onto it. All the nuts and bolts were stainless steel. The cutter wheels were replacement wheels for a pipe cutter, made of high carbon steel into which were inserted ball bearings.
The can opener was successfully used to open 25 cans of tuna fish. After the cans were opened, the can opener was tilted to pour out the water.
