Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
OPENING DEVICE FOX TIN CANS
D E_S C R I P T I O N
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
This invention refers to a device for opening tin cans,
of the type which are commonly called "easy-to-op~n", and whose
lid~ have a weakening so that true opening is performed by
"tearin~'` by means of simple manual traction, and no~ by means of
cutting with an auxillary tool, that is, with a can opener.
ANTECEDE~TS OF THE INVENTION
As is known, one of the most recent solutions for
opening tln cans consists of providing the lid of the said cans
with a weakened line which is perimetrical and close to the edge
o~ the lid, fixing a coplanal ring close to the edge, to ~he
actual lid's central sector, which is the lar~est part of the
said lid and can be removed. The actual movement of swinging the
ring towards a perpendicular position, in order to grip it
~an~ally, provokes an initial cut in the said lid along its
weakened line, in such a way that subsequent manual traction on
tlle said ring, by introducing a finger in the same, provokes the
progressive tearing of the lid with respect to the body of the
can.
This solution, which at first sight is extraordinarily
quick and simple, in practice presen-ts two important problems: on
one hand it requires significant physical effort because the
tearin8 Of the lid occurs simultaneously at two considerably
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distant points which are permanently main-tained by a creased line
on tllat lid, which is considerably long and ~iaries along its
len~tll, whic~l de~lands significant mec~lanical effort, and on the
o~her hand, the can has a small space of manual suction, handllng
of the grlp is complicated and this leads to a high risk of
Gutting by the actual edge of the lid on removal.
~CRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The device for opening tin cans as proposed by the
~nvention, completely and satisfactorily solves the different
aspects of this problem, enabling really easy opening, because
minimal effort is needed and the risk of accident by cutting
practically d1sappears due to the small amount of force that
opening requires, and better conditions for gripping the can
manually.
Therefore, and more speciflcally, the devi~e envisa~ed
takes tlle classical idea of weakening the can lid, and focuses
~ts characterlstics in the presence of two weakened linesl very
close together, which run around the periphery of the lid,
situated with maximum closeness to the edgel defining a narrow
tearable strip. At one of the ends of both of these there is the
classical ring of manual action. This enables the said strip to
be torn well by direct traction on the said ringl by turning the
same, as the tearable strip rolls progressively around the arm of
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the rin$ to which it is fixed.
In any case, given the narrowness of the said tearable
strip, and appropriately weakened lines, the force which is
needed to tear the same is minimal. In addition, during this
manoe~vre, it is not the whole of the lid that is subjected to
strain on openin~, but only t~le ~aid narrow marginal strip, which
ylald~ under minimal effort. The main central sector of the lid
m~lntains its initial position, coplanally with the top of the
~an~ The can is consequently definitively opened when the strip
1~ r~moved. This is specifically achieved by depressing the said
main central sector of the lid on the marginal zone of the same
which provides the joining link or neck with the body. This
manoeuvre does not need an appreciable force either, nor does it
imply the slightest risk.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ~IAGRAMS
To complement this description and with the ob;ect of
~nabling a better understanding of the characteristics of the
inv~ntion, this descriptive report is accompanied by one page of
dia~rams. This forms an integral part of the description, is of
an illustrative and not limitative character and represents the
~ollowing:
Figure 1.- This shows a perspective view of a tin can
~hich has the opening device which forms the object of this
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invention. The device is shown in sltu at an intermediary stage
~f openin~ The two possibilities of action on the corresponding
tearable strip are shown.
Figure ~.- This shows a -top view of the same can as in
the foregoing figure, in a closed position.
Fl~ure 3.- Lastly, thls shows a cross-sectlon of the
lid of the can as represented in the foregoin~ figures, with the
~aid opening de~ice in situ.
PREFERENTIAL METHOD OF USING THE INVENTION
By lookin~ at these figures i~ can be seen how the
~nvisaged opening device is applied to tin cans 1 which may be
shaped as in the figures, i.e., with an oval sole, but they could
Al~o equally have a circular, square or rectangular sole, witb
round vertices~ The said device is fixe~d on the lid or upper base
~ There is a pair of weakened lines 3 which are very close
togetller and are also very close to the edge of the lid 2, as can
ba seen particularly in figures 2 and 3. The weakened lines can
be made exclusively at the expense of the exterior side of the
lid 2, or at the expense of both its exterior side and its
interior side, as shown in figure 3. In any case, the lines form
a narrow tearable strip 4 between them, which runs around the
ma;ority of the perimeter of the lid 2 from an initlal point 6 to
a end point 5 where the said strip 4 is attached, by means of a
rivet 7 or by any other conventional means, to a ring 8 of manual
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~ctio~.
In ac~ordan~e with t}l1s structurlng, ln order to
perform the opening of the can, traction is s1mply placed on the
said ring 8, as shown in figure 1, a turn is made in accordance
with that shown in 8~ of the said figure, so that, with minimal
ef~ort, the tearable strip 4 comes away from the rest of the lid
orming a narrow perimetrical window which affects the
ority of the perimeter of the lid 2, with the exception of a
s}lort stretch 10, by which the main central sector can be
depressed, ln the direction of the opening, after removing the
t~arable strip 4, achieving the true opening of the can.
As was said before, and can be seen clearly in figure
1, the envisaged openlng device enables the tearable strip 4 to
b~ removed by simple traction on the rin8 8, or removing it by
turning the said ring, progressively rolling the strip 4 around
the arm 11 of the same, in which case the effort needed is even
l~ss, if this is possible.
As was also said before, the can may have the classic
oval shape as in the figure, a cylindrical, prismatical,
rectangular, or aily other shape, without this havin~ any affect
~t all on the opening device on which the object of this
invention is focused.
It is not considered to be necessary to make this
description any more extensive in order that any expert on this
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sub;ect sllould understand the significance of the invention and
the advanta~es which are derived thereof.
The materials, form, shape and position of the elements
are susceptible to variation, provided that this does not alter
the fun~amental nature of the invention.
The terms in wllich this report has been wrltten should
~lway~ be considered in a broad and no~ limited sense.
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