Patent Application
20120248113
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pop-top cans and, more specifically, to a pop-top opener for a can having a curvilinear tab handle extending to divergent arms having a post fixed therebetween. Further provided is a tab hinge fixed to the tab plate having the hinge post mounted within the hinge knuckle. To open, the tab handle is raised causing the tab arms to break the tab plate from the can plate whereupon the tab handle is rotated moving the tab arms into the opening and rotating the tab handle until the tab arms are positioned under the can top. The tab handle is returned to its seated position thereby holding the tab plate in the open position. To close the tap plate, the tab handle is raised and rotated thereby moving the arms from under the can top and rotating the tab until the tab arms are positioned on the can top exterior wherethen the tab handle is returned to its seated position thereby holding the tab plate securely against the can opening therein sealing the can.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other opening devices designed for cans. While these opening devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they where designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
It is thus desirable to provide an opener having a curvilinear tab handle spaced partially from the can top providing leverage for opening said can.
It is further desirable to provide a tab having tab arms that can be used to keep the tab plate in an open or closed position.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a hinged opener for a sealed beverage can selectively providing access thereto.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinged opener for a sealed beverage container comprising a displaceable opener frame terminating in a pair of divergent arms.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hinged opener for a sealed beverage container further comprising a post extending between said divergent arms.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hinged cover further comprised of the hinge portion having a knuckled portion encompassing the tab post portion.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hinged cover wherein said hinge portion extends to a flange having an aperture therein for mounting said hinge portion to the can opening portion.
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a resealable pop-top type opener for a can having a curvilinear tab handle extending to divergent arms having a post fixed therebetween. A tab hinge is mounted to the tab plate with the hinge knuckle encompassing the hinge post so that the curvilinear tab handle can be pivoted from a substantially horizontal direction to a vertical direction whereupon the tab arms are used to manipulate the tab to either an open position or if open to a closed position.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Resealable Pop-Top Style Tab Opener for Containers of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.
