Patent Application
20090172888
This invention generally relates to an electric can opener and, more particularly, to an electric can opener having a removable jar grip and a removable hand held bottle and package opener tool.
Foodstuff comes in a variety of metallic and plastic containers and packages. In order to protect the foodstuff during shipping and to ensure that the food is fresh and has not been tampered with, the containers and packages are tightly closed and often difficult to open with bare hands alone. There has long been a myriad of tools and appliances known in the art for opening such containers and packages. Electric can openers are well known in the art for opening a metallic can. The can opener has a housing for protecting the electronics and for supporting the can opener on a surface such that the can is suspended and supported by the can opener during the process of cutting through the top. Jar grips, having a high friction coefficient, even when wet, are known in the art for assisting in the twisting of an otherwise slippery lid such as a metallic lid used on glass jars. Additionally, a variety of hand held bottle openers are used to assist in opening bottle caps and package openers, having a slot with a recessed blade are used to open clam shell packages.
Though the above tools enable a person to open an assortment of containers and packages, kitchens are often extremely cluttered with foodstuff items, cooking utensils and miscellaneous household items. The tools for opening containers and packages often become separated and are difficult to find. Even in the most organized kitchens, the electric appliances used on a daily basis, such as the electric can opener, are often left on the countertop, while the hand held opening tools are kept in a drawer containing other items. The hand held openers often become misplaced and are difficult to find defeating the time saving benefit of having such tools.
What is therefore needed, but not provided in the prior art, is an electric can opener that includes a removably mounted jar grip and a removably mounted hand held container and package opener. What is also desired, but not provided in the prior art, is a hand held container and package opener that combines a clam shell package opener, a pull tab opener, a pop-top bottle opener and a twist top bottle opener in a single hand held device.
Briefly stated, the present invention is directed to an electric can opener for opening a top of a metallic can. The can opener includes a housing that has a top end and a front side. A can cutting mechanism is on the front side of the housing proximate the top end of the housing. A hand held jar grip is removably mounted on the top end of the housing.
In another aspect, the invention is directed to an electric can opener for opening a top of a metallic can. The can opener includes a housing that has a top end, a bottom end and a front side. A can cutting mechanism is positioned on the front side of the housing. A hand held bottle and package opener tool is removably mounted to the housing.
In another aspect, the invention is directed to a hand held bottle and package opener tool for opening packaging and foodstuff containers. The opener tool includes a body that has first and second ends, a top side and a bottom side. A pop-top opener is positioned toward the first end of the body. The pop-top opener includes a pivot arm and a prying plate spaced from the pivot arm for prying open crown sealed bottles. A twist-top opener is positioned on the top side of the body. The twist top-opener is conically tapered. A pull-tab opener is positioned toward the first end of the body. A package opener is on the bottom side of the body and includes a recessed groove and an angled blade that extends at least partially across the groove. The blade is generally parallel to the prying plate.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment which is presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
In the drawings:
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of a can opener in accordance with the present invention, and designated parts thereof. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a”, “an” and “the” are not limited to one element but instead should be read as meaning “at least one”. The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown a preferred embodiment of an electric can opener having removable opening tools (“can opener”), generally designated 10. The can opener 10 is preferably a self supporting electric can opener for opening a top of a metal can (not shown).
Referring to
Referring to
Referring specifically to
In use, a user who is having difficulty opening ajar lid due to slippery conditions and/or a jar having a tight seal, utilizes the jar grip 26 in order to obtain a better grip (i.e. higher coefficient of friction between the user's hand and the jar lid). The user removes the jar grip 26 from the housing 12 and then places the jar grip 26 over the lid of the jar until the upper flange 30 contacts the lid. The user then squeezes the jar grip 26 thereby conforming the inner wall 28 to the diameter and shape of the lid. The user then twists the jar grip 26 (typically counterclockwise with respect to the jar) thereby twisting and opening the jar lid from the jar. The user then places the jar grip 26 back onto the housing 12.
Referring to
Referring specifically to
The opener tool 42 includes a pop-top opener 46 for removing the crown seal bottle cap of a crown cork bottle (not shown) and is positioned toward the first end 42a. The pop-top opener 46 preferably extends from the front side 12c of the housing 12 when received or contained within the housing 12. The pop top opener 46 includes an arched-shaped pivot arm 48 that extends from the body 44 toward the first end 42a. A prying plate 50 also extends from the body 44 toward the first end 42a. The pivot arm 48 extends further the body 44 than the prying plate 50 such that the pivot arm 48 is spaced from the prying plate 50. The prying plate 50 is preferably comprised of a rigid material such as aluminum or steel and is sandwiched between the halves 44a, 44b of the body 44 such that at least a portion 50a of the prying plate 50 extends from the body 44.
The opener tool 42 also includes a twist-top opener 52 for removing a twist polymeric or metallic bottle or container cap (not shown) and is positioned on the top side 42d of the body 44. The twist-top opener 52 preferably extends into the body 44 of the opener tool 42 such that the top of the twist-top opener 52 is flush with the body 44 and is preferably conically tapered. The twist-top opener 52 may extend radially further outwardly than the remainder of the body 44 or the body 44 may bulge outwardly in order to accommodate the twist-top opener 52. The twist-top opener 52 also preferably includes a plurality of axially extending and radially protruding ridges 54 that are circumferentially spaced around the inner periphery of the twist-top opener 52 for providing enhanced grip to the container cap. Though it is preferred that the twist-top opener 52 be formed directly from the molding process of the body 44, the twist-top opener 52 may be separately mounted and or constructed of a different material such as aluminum or steel.
The opener tool also includes a package opener 56 for opening clamshell thermoplastic packaging and is positioned on the bottom side 42c of the body 44. The package opener 56 includes an axially extending recessed groove 58 and an angled blade 60. The blade 60 is generally parallel to the prying plate 50 and extends at least partially across the groove 58 such that an object sliding within and along the groove 58 contacts the blade 60 and is cut open by the blade 60 but an object such as a finger or hand does not fit within the groove 58 and therefore does not contact the blade 60. The blade 60 is preferably mounted on a stand 68 and then is sandwiched between the halves 44a, 44b to prevent the blade 60 from moving. The groove 58 preferably flares outwardly toward each the first and second end 42a, 42b of the body 44 at grooves ends 58a, 58b such that an object is more easily received and removed from the groove 58, respectively.
The opener tool 42 further includes a pull-tab opener 62 positioned toward the first end 42a of the body 44 for opening a metallic container having a pull-tab lid (not shown). The pull-tab opener 62 is comprised of a pair of pry arms 62a extending outwardly from the pivot arm 48 of the pop-top opener 46. The pry arms 62a preferably extend generally orthogonally from the body 44. The pivot arm 48 preferably has an arcuate surface 64 extending between the pry arms 62a. The arcuate surface 64 allows for one of the pry arms 62a to be placed underneath the pull-tab and then act as a fulcrum as the opener tool 42 is pivoted away from the pull-tab.
In use, when the user desires to open a container or package, the opener tool 42 is slid out or otherwise removed from the housing 12 of the can opener 10. If the user is trying to open a crown sealed bottle such as is typically found on a beer bottle (not shown), the opener tool 42 is placed in the palm of a user's hand with the bottom side 42c facing the palm and the top side 42d facing away from the user's palm. The pivot arm 48 is then placed on top of the crown seal cap while the hand not holding the opener tool 42 grasps the bottle to be opened. The prying plate 50 is placed under the rim of the crown seal cap and then the user lifts the second end 42b of the body 44 upwardly such that the prying plate 50 bends the top of the metallic crown seal cap. Once the crown seal cap is sufficiently bent, the crown seal cap can be easily removed from the bottle.
If the user wishes to open a bottle with a twist seal or a beverage container with a polymeric twist-top such as is typically found on a soda bottle (not shown), the user grasps the opener tool 42 with the bottom side 42c facing the user's palm and the twist-top opener 52 facing away from the user's palm. The twist-top opener 52 is then placed over the top of the container (not shown) such that the ridges 54 engage with and grip the ridges of the twist-top. The user then twists the opener tool 42 in a direction perpendicular to the ridges 54 to thereby release the twist-top from the container.
If the user desires to open a metal lid having a pull-tab such as a soup or fruit can (not shown), the user grasps the opener tool 42 such that the second end 42b extends from the closed grip of the user by the thumb. The user then places the pry arm 62a underneath the pull-tab and then pivots the opener tool 42 by pulling back on the second end 42b until the lid of the can is sufficiently opened.
If the user wishes to open a clamshell packaging, envelope or any other package that can be opened by cutting off a generally thin edge of the package, the user grasps the opener tool 42 with the twist top opener 52 facing the user's palm and the package opener 56 facing away from the user's palm. The package is then slid into the groove 58 and into contact with the blade 60 to thereby cut off an edge of the package. Once the user is finished with the opener tool 42, the user then places the opener tool 42 back onto or into the housing 12.
Though the preferred containers and packages are opened in the manner set forth above, it is within the spirit and scope of the present invention that the opener tool 42 be used in any suitable manner for opening the desired container or package and additional packages and containers be opened with the present opening tools 48, 52, 56, 62 or that the opener tool 42 include additional opening devices (not shown).
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
