Patent Application
20100043241
2. Technical Field
The present principles relate to can openers. More particularly, they relate to a beverage can opener.
2. Description of related art
There are many known devices for assisting in the opening of a beverage can. These devices are generally designed to assist the user in getting underneath the existing opening tab and providing an extension of the same in order to help the user open the can.
The present principles provide a beverage can opener that provides increased leverage to a user attempting to open a beverage can, while at the same time making it simple and easy to use.
According to one aspect, the beverage can opener includes a tab engaging pawl configured to engage a beverage can opening tab, and a punch assist pawl extending in an opposite direction from said tab engaging pawl, wherein said tab engaging pawl engages the beverage can opening tab from a drinking hole side of the beverage can.
In one embodiment the tab engaging pawl engages the beverage can opening tab by passing through a hole in the beverage can opening tab.
A handle is connected to the tab engaging pawl and the punch assist pawl. The tab engaging pawl and the punch assist pawl extending outward from a distal end of said handle, wherein the punch assist pawl is offset from said tab engaging pawl such that the punch assist pawl is disposed above said tab engaging pawl on said handle.
Other aspects and features of the present principles will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the present principles, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.
In the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote similar components throughout the views:
b is perspective view of the beverage can opener according to an implementation of the present principles;
b is a side view of the beverage can opener according to an implementation of the present principles;
a is a plan view of the operation of the beverage can opener according to a first implementation of the present principles;
b is a plan view of the operation of the beverage can opener according to a second implementation of the present principles;
a is plan view of the operation of the beverage can opener according to the first implementation of the present principles;
b is a plan view of the operation of the beverage can opener according to the second implementation of the present principles;
a is a plan view of the operation of the beverage can opener according to the first implementation of the present principles; and
b is a plan view of the operation of the beverage can opener according to the second implementation of the present principles.
Referring to
In accordance with one implementation of the present principles, the opener 10 is designed to engage the can opening tab 34 and provide the user with increased ease and comfort in opening the same.
According to the preferred implementation, and referring now to
In another contemplated implementation, the opener 10 can be used to “save” a beverage can where, for whatever reason, tie tab 34 failed to function properly and fully press the punch 40 into the can and open the drinking hole 32. Often times, this results in the can being thrown away, or alternatively, the user attempts to use one of their fingers to assist in pressing punch 40 into the can, thereby increasing the risk for injury.
The tab 34 has been lifted at this point by the user, and has failed to function properly. As such, the insertion of tab engaging pawl 18 will be relatively simple. Once fully inserted, the punch assist tab 20 will extend beyond die punch engaging end 38 of tab 34 and will actually engage the punch 40 directly. By pivoting the handle 14 in die direction B2, C2, the punch assist tab 20 will forcefully press tie punch 40 into the can, and thereby open the drinking hole 32. This allows the user to “save” an otherwise unopenable can, without requiring the dangerous use of a finger, or some other implement not configured for the same.
While there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the present principles, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the same. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the present principles. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or implementation of the present principles may be incorporated in any other disclosed, described or suggested form or implementation as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of die claims appended hereto.
