Feb. 14, 1956
2,734,204
H. EPSTEIN
COMBINATION CAN OPENER AND BOTTLE OPENER
Filed Sept. 11 , 1953
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United States Patent
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2,734,204
Patented Feb. 14,2956
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member is angled ?rst upwardly and then downwardly,
the downwardly angled portion being tapered to a point
to form a triangular can opener blade 12 having a pene~
2,734,204
COMBINATION CAN OPENER AND BOTTLE
OPENER
Herman Epstein, Kansas City, Mo.
Application September 11, 1953, Serial No. 379,639
2 Claims. (Cl. 7-14.25) .
trating point 14 and cutting edges 16 diverging from said
point. The opposite end of the body member is angled
upwardly and then downwardly to form a bottle opener
lever arm 18.
The handle member 4 also comprises an elongated ?at
metal strap. Intermediate its end'it has a planar portion
8 disposed against portion 6 of the body member, and sub
stantially coextensive therewith. A rivet 10 extends cen
‘ trally through bearing portions 6 and 8, whereby the body
and handle members are secured together frictionally but
rotatably. One end portion of the handle member is
This invention relates to new and useful improvements 15 formed to present a claw member 20 which tapers to a thin
edge 22 extending transversely of the handle member. It
in can openers and bottle openers, and has particular ref
erence --to a device combining the functions of both can
and bottle openers. The can opener involved is of the
is apparent, that by turning handle member 4 on rivet 10,
said claw member may be positioned in operative relation
ship to can opener blade 12, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6,
type commonly known as a “beer can opener,” although
of course useful on many other products, and which in 20 or in operative relationship to bottle opener lever 18, as
shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 7. The end portion of handle
cludes a blade adapted to cut a triangular ?ap in the end
member 4 opposite claw 22 is angled downwardly to form
wall of a vacuum tin and to fold said ?ap inwardly. The
a handle extension 24. The central portion of said exten
bottle opener involved is of the common “lift” type
sion may be cut out as at 26 to conserve metal and reduce
adapted to remove the ordinary crown cap from soft drink
25 weight. At its extreme outer end the handle extension
bottles or the like.
has a hole 28 formed therein for receiving a chain 30, as
The principal object of the present invention is the pro
shown in Figs. 6 and 7, which may serve to hang the de
vision of a combined can and bottle opener including a
vice from a nail or other support, or which may carry keys
body member formed to present a can opener blade and a
or the like. The cut-out 26 and hole 28 are connected by
bottle opener lever arm, and a single claw member mov
ably connected to said body member and adapted to be 30 a narrow slit 32 lying in the longitudinal midline of the
handle extension. The handle extension is so disposed
moved selectively into operative relationship with either
that point 14 of the can opener blade projects slightly into
the blade or the lever arm, whereby to serve either as the
slit 32 when the device is positioned to serve as a bottle
fulcrum member of the can opener or the lifter member of
opener, whereby the body and handle members are se
the bottle opener.
Another object is the provision, in a device of the char 35 cured releasably in this position. The blade 12 and handle
extension 24 are suf?ciently ?exible to allow the point to
acter described, of a handle member ?xed to and movable
pass over the upper surface of the handle extension to
with the claw member, whereby said handle will always
enter the slit. The blade edges 16 being inclined, the
be disposed in proper operative relationship to the par
point thereof may be positioned in or released from the
ticular opener in use.
'
A further object is the provision, in a device of the char 40 slit simply ‘by exerting transverse pressure on the blade.
acter described, of a handle as above set forth which is
operable to shield the can opener blade while the ‘bottle
opener is in use, whereby the bottle opener may be used
With the handle member positioned to place claw 20
adjacent blade 12, the device is used as a can opener as
shown in Fig. 6, with the blade positioned against the end
or cover 38 of can 34, and claw 20 engaging'under the
device may be carried in the pocket without damage to the 45 rim 36 of the can. The handle member is then lifted and
the claw 20'serves as a fulcrum about which the device
clothing.
without danger of injury to the hands, and whereby the
Other objects are extreme simplicity and economy of
turns, forcing blade 12 through cover 38, thereby cutting
a triangular ?ap in the cover and folding said ?ap in
wardly. Can openers of this general type are well known.
the production of a device which is extremely durable and
With the handle member turned to position claw 20 adja
not likely to get out of order.
50
cent lever 18, the device is used as a bottle opener as
With these objects in view, as well as other objects
shown in Fig. 7, with the lever 18 engaging the top of the
which will appear in the course of the speci?cation, refer
bottle cap 42 of bottle 40, and claw 20 engaging under the
ence will be had to the drawing, wherein:
edge of the cap. When the handle is then lifted, the de
Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a combined can and
vice is fulcrumed about the lever 18 at its point of con
bottle opener embodying the present invention, with the
structure, efficiency and dependability of operation, and
parts positioned to serve as a can opener.
Fig. 2 is a bottom. plan view of the device as shown in
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the parts
positioned to serve as a bottle opener.
Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the device as shown in
Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line V—-V of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the device shown in
55 tact with the cap, and claw 20 serves as a lifter for prying
the cap upwardly to release it from the bottle. This gen~
eral type of bottle opener is also well known.
Thus a combined can and bottle opener having several
advantages has been produced. A single claw member
serves both as a fulcrum for the can opener and as a lifter
for the bottle opener. The handle, being movable, with
the claw member, is always disposed in a position for
most efficient and convenient operation with the opener
in use. When the bottle opener is in use, the point of the
operative relationship to a vacuum tin, shown fragmen 65
can opener blade is shielded so as to prevent possible in
jury to the hands of the user, and also as to permit the
Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the device shown in
device to be carried in the pocket without damage to the
operative relationship to a bottle to be opened.
clothing. The engagement of point 14 in slip 32 serves
Like reference numerals apply to similar parts through
out the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to a body 70 as a securing means holding the device releasably in the
carrying position.
member comprising an elongated metal strap having a
While I have shown and described a speci?c embodi
planar central portion 6. One end portion of said body
tarily.
amazes
3
.
4
,
v
ment of my invention, it is apparent that many minor
modi?cations of structure’ and operation could ‘b‘e'made'
without departing from the spirit of the invention as de
lever arm, said handle extension being of sufficient length
to‘ overlap and’ pass in substantially‘ wiping contact with
the point of said blade as said handle member is rotated,
?ned by the scope of the appended claims.
What I_ claim as new and desire to protect by Letters
Patent is:
‘l. A combination can opener and bottle opener com
whereby said blade is shielded when the device is adjusted
prising an elongated body member having one end thereof
tapered to a point to form a can opener’ blade and the
other end thereof forming the lever arm of a bottle opener,
and an elongated handle member pivotally secured inter
mediate its ends to an intermediate portion of said body
member, one end of said handle member forming a longi
tudinally projecting claw adapted by pivotal movement of
said‘ handle member to be positioned‘ selectively adjacent
said ‘blade or said lever arm, whereby to serve either as a
fulcrum member for said blade or as a lifter for use in
connection with said lever arm, said handle member being
extended from the pivotal axis thereof in a direction oppo
site fr'om said‘ claw, whereby to’ be positioned for con 2 O
venient use in connection either with said blade or said
to serve as a bottle opener.
2. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said ‘body and
handle members are formed of, resilient material, said
handle extension being so'posi'tioned that it must be ?exed
out of its normal plane of movement as said handle mem
ber is rotated to pass said blade, said handle extension
having a recess formed in the surface thereof adjacent said
blade and adapted to receive the point of said blade,
whereby the device is ‘secured releasably in the bottle
opener position.
References Cited in the ?le of this patent
UNITED STATES PATENTS