Can-top cutter

Abstract

To provide a can-top cutter capable of cutting a top of a can with simple operation and preventing the cut top from falling into the can.SOLUTION: A can top cutter 100 that cuts a top 202 out of a can 200 by cutting a cylindrical rising part 205 in a top edge outer periphery of the can 200 comprises: a body part 10 including a circular recess part 11 formed into a circle for the rising part 205 to be housed; a blade body 20 disposed in the body part 10 and cutting the rising part 205; an operation part 30 that presses the blade body 20 against the rising part 205 in a state in which the body part 10 is attached to the can 200; and a pull-tab holding part 40 disposed inside the circular recess part 11 and holding a pull-tab 210 of the top 202 in a state in which the body part 10 is attached to the can 200.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a can end cutter. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are known can end cutting tools for cutting off the ends of cans. Patent Document 1 discloses a tool having a rotary blade for cutting off the inner surface of the rising edge wall at the upper end of the can and a rod-shaped hook for holding the pull top of the cut-off end. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-91874 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The can lid cutting tool of Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it requires complicated operations when used.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a can lid cutting tool that can cut off a can lid with a simple operation and can prevent the cut off lid from falling into the can. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The can lid cutting tool of the present invention, which solves the above-mentioned problems, is a can lid cutting tool that cuts a cylindrical raised portion on the outer periphery of the upper end of the can to cut off a lid from the can, and comprises: a main body having a recess that receives the raised portion; a blade provided on the main body for cutting the raised portion; an operating portion for pressing the blade toward the raised portion when the main body is attached to the can; and a pull tab holding portion provided inside the recess for holding the pull tab of the lid when the main body is attached to the can.

[0007] The pull tab holding portion may have a holding protrusion portion that is inserted into an opening of the pull tab to hold the pull tab, and a connection portion that extends from the main body portion toward the inside of the recess and connects the holding protrusion portion to the main body portion, and may be configured such that when the main body portion is attached to the can and rotates in a circumferential direction of the can, the pull tab held by the pull tab holding portion rotates together with the main body portion around a fixing pin that fixes the pull tab to the lid.

[0008] The pull tab holding portion may be configured so that the connection portion is rotatably supported on the main body portion, so that the holding protrusion is movable in a direction in which the holding protrusion is located inside the recess, and in a direction in which the holding protrusion is moved downwardly away from the recess.

[0009] The pull-tab holding portion may have a pair of pull-tab holding recesses for receiving the pull-tab, on either side of the holding protrusion in a circumferential direction of the recess.

[0010] The main body may have an annular shape having an opening that exposes at least a central portion of the lid when the main body is attached to the can.

[0011] The blade body may be adapted to cut the inner circumference of the raised portion, and the operating portion may be adapted to move relative to the main body portion in a direction approaching the recess and a direction away from the recess, and may be configured such that when the operating portion moves toward the main body portion, the blade body advances toward the outside of the recess.

[0012] The main body portion may further include a sliding member that is located on the opposite side of the blade body with the raised portion between them when the main body portion is attached to the can, and that presses the outer circumferential surface of the raised portion.

[0013] The cross-sectional shape of the sliding member may include a protrusion that comes into contact with a lower portion of the seaming portion of the rising portion when the blade is pressed against the rising portion.

[0014] The main body may have a protrusion that elastically abuts against a seamed portion of the rising portion of the can when the main body is attached to the can.

[0015] The main body may further include a cleaning member that comes into contact with a cut portion formed on the rising portion by the blade body and cleans the cut portion.

[0016] The main body portion has a ring-shaped opening that exposes at least the central portion of the lid when the main body portion is attached to the can, and the ring-shaped main body portion may have a shape that includes a guide portion region formed in an arc shape to follow part of the outer periphery of the raised portion, and an extension portion region formed to be connected to the guide portion region and to extend in a direction away from the raised portion.

[0017] The main body portion may have an adapter member that advances against the outer peripheral surface of the raised portion that is not guided by the guide portion region and presses the outer peripheral surface, and an elastic member that applies force in a direction pressing the adapter member against the outer peripheral surface.

[0018] The adapter member may include a lever portion located inside the extension region and operable by a user to move the adapter member away from the upstanding portion. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a can lid cutting tool that can cut off a can lid with a simple operation and can prevent the cut off lid from falling back into the can. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a can lid cutting tool according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above. FIG. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the can lid cutting tool as seen from the bottom side. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the can lid cutting tool as seen from the top side. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the can lid cutting tool as viewed from the underside. [Diagram 5] 1 is a perspective view of the can end cutting tool with the upper cover of the main body removed. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a plan view of the can end cutting tool with the upper cover of the main body removed. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a side view of the can end cutting tool. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the can lid cutting tool is attached to a can. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a can. [Figure 11] 4A and 4B are a perspective view and a front view of a pull tab holding portion. [Figure 12] 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a pull-tab holding portion and its surrounding structure. FIG. [Figure 13] 11A to 11C are schematic diagrams for explaining the movement of a pull-tab holding portion. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how the can lid cutting tool is attached to a can. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the can lid cutting tool attached to a can. [Figure 16] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing modified examples of the can lid cutting tool of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of another embodiment of a can lid cutting tool. [Figure 18] 18 is a perspective view of the can lid cutting tool of FIG. 17 as viewed from the bottom side. FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the can end cutting tool of FIG. 17. [Figure 20] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a can lid cutting tool according to one embodiment of the present invention is attached to a can. [Figure 21] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the can end cutting tool as seen from the top side. [Figure 22] FIG. [Diagram 23] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the can lid cutting tool as seen from the bottom side. [Figure 24] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a sliding member. [Diagram 25] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a sliding member and its surrounding structure. [Figure 26] FIG. 2 is a top view of the can lid cutting tool. [Figure 27] 13 is a perspective view showing an adapter member that holds down the raised portion of the can. FIG. [Figure 28] 13A and 13B are views showing an adapter member provided on a main body portion. [Figure 29] 13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining a further modified example of the can lid cutting tool. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a can lid cutting tool 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the top side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the can lid cutting tool 100 as viewed from the bottom side. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the can lid cutting tool 100 as viewed from the top side. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the can lid cutting tool 100 as viewed from the bottom side. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the can lid cutting tool 100 with the top cover 10-1 of the main body 10 removed. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the can lid cutting tool 100 with the top cover 10-1 of the main body 10 removed. FIG. 7 is a side view of the can lid cutting tool 100. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing only the operating unit 30. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the can lid cutting tool 100 attached to the can 200. FIG. 10 is a view showing the configuration of the can 200.

[0022] In the following, terms indicating directions such as "upper", "lower", "right" and "left" are used according to the orientation of objects depicted in the drawings, but these terms are not intended to limit the present invention. The upper and lower directions correspond to the thickness direction of the can end cutter and the direction perpendicular to the can end.

[0023] [Outline of the can lid cutting tool 100] The can end cutting tool 100 is a tool for cutting off a can end, and as shown in Fig. 1, comprises a main body 10, a blade 20, an operating part 30, and a pull-tab holding part 40. The detailed structure of each part will be described later.

[0024] Can 200 is a can that contains, for example, a soft drink or an alcoholic drink, and includes can body 201 and lid 202 as shown in Fig. 10. Can body 201 is cylindrical, and lid 202 is provided on its upper portion. Lid 202 is disk-shaped, and is fixed to can body 201 via cylindrical rising portion 205 formed on the upper portion of can body 201. Seaming portion 205s is formed on the upper end portion of rising portion 205. Seaming portion 205s is an annular portion that protrudes slightly from the outer circumferential surface of can body 201 toward the outside in the radial direction of can 200.

[0025] The material of the can 200 from which the can lid cutting tool 100 can cut off the lid 202 is not particularly limited, and the can 200 may be an aluminum can or a steel can. In addition, the size of the can 200 (particularly the diameter of the lid 202) and the like are also arbitrary.

[0026] A pull tab 210 is provided on the top surface of the lid 202 (see also FIG. 9). The pull tab 210 is a member for opening a part of the lid 202, and is attached to the lid 202 by a fixed pin 220. The fixed pin 220 is located at the center of the lid 202, and the pull tab 210 is rotatable around the fixed pin 220.

[0027] 9, the can lid cutting tool 100 rotates in the circumferential direction of the can 200 with the main body 10 attached to the can 200, causing the blade 20 to cut the inner periphery of the rising portion 205 of the can 200 and separate the lid 202 from the can body 201. According to the configuration of this embodiment, the user can cut off the lid 202 with a simple operation of rotating the can lid cutting tool 100 relative to the can 200 while holding the can lid cutting tool 100 with, for example, one hand. In addition, since the pull tab 210 is held by the pull tab holding portion 40, the lid 202 does not fall into the can 200 even after it is separated.

[0028] [Components] (Regarding the main body 10) 1 and 2, the main body 10 is an annular member having an upper cover 10-1 and a lower cover 10-2, and an opening 10h formed in the center. As shown in Fig. 3, the main body 10 has a rectangular outline shape with each corner formed in an arc shape, which is close to an ellipse. The opening 10h is, for example, circular, and specifically, is formed to a size that exposes at least the vicinity of the center of the lid 202 when the main body 10 is attached to the can 200.

[0029] More specifically, the diameter of the opening 10h is 50% or more and 90% or less of the diameter of the lid 202 of the can 200. When the opening 10h is formed to such a size, there is an advantage that the user can easily check the state of the lid 202 being cut off and the state of the pull tab 210 being held through the opening 10h when using the can lid cutting tool 100. The shape of the opening 10h is not limited to a circle, and may be a rectangle, an ellipse, or a polygon.

[0030] 2 and 4, a circular recess 11 is provided on the underside of the main body 10, which is formed in a circular shape to receive the rising portion 205 of the can 200. The diameter of the circular recess 11 is formed to be slightly larger than the diameter of the rising portion 205. As shown in FIG. 4, the circular recess 11 is formed concentrically with the opening 10h of the main body 10, with the center point P as the center.

[0031] 2, the circular recess 11 is formed by an inner peripheral wall 11w and an upper surface 11u. The inner peripheral wall 11w is a cylindrical wall extending in the thickness direction of the main body 10. The inner peripheral wall 11w has a function of guiding the rising portion 205 of the can 200.

[0032] The upper surface 11u is an annular surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the main body 10. A plurality of ribs 11u' protruding from the upper surface 11u by a predetermined height are formed on the upper surface 11u. The ribs 11u' are structural parts that come into contact with the upper end of the rising portion 205 of the can 200 when the can lid cutting tool 100 is attached to the can 200.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the circular recess 11 is formed with a pair of protrusions 13 protruding from the inner peripheral wall 11w toward the radial inside of the circular recess 11. The protrusions 13 are provided on the center line Lx and at positions symmetrical to each other with respect to the center line Ly. The protrusions 13 are portions that elastically abut against the seaming portion 205s of the rising portion 205 of the can 200 when the main body 10 is attached to the can 200. The protrusions 13 have, for example, a substantially radially hemispherical shape. The function of the protrusions 13 will be described later with reference to other drawings. In this embodiment, a pair of protrusions 13 is provided, but the number of protrusions 13 is arbitrary, and for example, three or four or more protrusions 13 may be provided in the circular recess 11.

[0034] (Regarding the blade body 20 and the operating part 30) As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the blade body 20 is a circular rotary blade provided on the main body 10. Specifically, the blade body 20 is attached to a part of the operating unit 30 by a fixing screw 21. The blade body 20 rotates around the central axis of the fixing screw 21 extending in the thickness direction of the main body 10. A circular cutting edge is formed on the outer periphery of the blade body 20, which abuts horizontally against the inner periphery of the rising portion 205 of the can 200. The blade body 20 is a replaceable part, as described later.

[0035] The operating unit 30 is a member for moving the blade body 20, and more specifically, a member for moving the blade body 20 toward the rising portion 205 when the main body 10 is attached to the can 200. The operating unit 30 has a handle portion 31 and a main body member 32, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

[0036] The handle portion 31 is a portion that is pushed by the user toward the main body portion 10 when using the can lid cutting tool 100. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 6, the handle portion 31 is formed to have a length that is slightly shorter than the long side of the main body portion 10. By forming the handle portion 31 to such a length, the user can, for example, firmly push the operating part 30 toward the main body portion 10 with four fingers from the index finger to the little finger when holding the can lid cutting tool 100 in one hand.

[0037] As described below, the handle portion 31 is a member for pressing the blade body 20 toward the rising portion 205 by utilizing the principle of leverage, and the fact that the handle portion 31 is long is advantageous in that the user can cut off the rising portion 205 with less force. The handle portion 31 does not necessarily need to be shorter than the main body portion 10, and the handle portion 31 may be longer than the main body portion 10.

[0038] 7, the handle portion 31 is formed so that the length in the thickness direction of the main body portion 10 is shorter than the thickness of the main body portion 10. By configuring the handle portion 31 in this manner, the handle portion 31 is not bulky, and the can lid cutting tool 100 can be formed compact. However, such a configuration is not essential to the present invention, and the handle portion 31 may be the same thickness as the main body portion 10 or may be longer than the thickness of the main body portion 10.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 6, the main body member 32 is attached to the main body 10 so as to be rotatable about an axis S1. The axis S1 is an axis that extends in the thickness direction of the main body 10. A blade cover portion 32a in which the blade body 20 is housed and a holder for the blade body 20 are formed on the main body member 32 at a position closer to the axis S1. The blade cover portion 32a is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and covers the periphery of the blade body 20, as shown in Fig. 2. The blade cover portion 32a prevents the user's fingers from touching the blade body 20.

[0040] The blade cover portion 32a does not cover the underside of the blade body 20. This allows the user to access the fixing screw 21 that fixes the blade body 20. The user can remove the fixing screw 21 to remove the blade body 20 and replace the blade body 20 as necessary.

[0041] 6, the main body member 32 has an arc-shaped long hole 35. The long hole 35 is formed at the end of the main body member 32 away from the axis S1. The long hole 35 is a structural part for restricting the rotation range of the operating unit 30, and a boss B of the main body unit 10 passes through the inside of the long hole 35. The operating unit 30 rotates about the axis S1 so as to be in any direction between the direction in which the boss B abuts against one end 35a of the long hole 35 and the direction in which the boss B abuts against the other end 35b of the long hole 35.

[0042] With the above-mentioned configuration, the operating unit 30 is provided to move in a substantially radial direction of the circular recess 11 relative to the main body 10. When the user moves the handle portion 31 of the operating unit 30 toward the main body 10, the entire operating unit 30 rotates about the axis S1, and the blade body 20 advances toward the outside of the circular recess 11 so as to approach the inner peripheral wall 11w.

[0043] The operating unit 30 is biased in a direction away from the main body 10 by a biasing means (not shown) such as a torsion spring or a leaf spring. The biasing means may be provided near the axis S1. In one embodiment of the present invention, such a biasing means may not be provided.

[0044] In a configuration in which the operating part 30 is biased by the biasing means in a direction away from the main body 10, the operating part 30 protrudes from the main body 10, and the size of the can lid cutting tool 100 when stored increases. Therefore, in the configuration of this embodiment, a protrusion 35t is formed in the long hole 35. The protrusion 35t is formed on the inner periphery of the long hole 35, and the width of the long hole 35 is partially narrowed at the location where the protrusion 35t is formed. Specifically, the width of the long hole 35 is formed to be approximately the same as the diameter of the boss B but slightly shorter than that.

[0045] When the operating part 30 is stored in the main body 10 (see FIG. 6), a force is applied to the operating part 30 by a biasing force of a biasing means (not shown) in a direction in which the operating part 30 protrudes from the main body 10, but the boss B cannot pass through the protrusion 35t of the long hole 35, and the operating part 30 does not open any further. When the user pulls the operating part 30 out of the main body 10, the boss B passes through the protrusion 35t, and the operating part 30 protrudes from the main body 10. With this configuration, the operating part 30 is prevented from protruding from the main body 10 when the can lid cutting tool 100 is not in use, and the can lid cutting tool 100 can be stored compactly.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 8, the operating unit 30 has a tool holding unit 37. The tool holding unit 37 is a structural unit that holds a tool T for removing the fixing screw 21 that fixes the blade body 20 to the operating unit 30. The tool holding unit 37 may be provided at any position of the operating unit 30, but in this embodiment, it is formed on the lower surface side of the operating unit 30. The tool holding unit 37 is a groove that receives the tool T, and the tool T is, for example, a hexagonal wrench. Depending on the shape of the head of the fixing screw 21, the tool holding unit 37 may hold other types of tools T, such as a Phillips screwdriver, a flathead screwdriver, or a star screwdriver. According to the configuration of this embodiment, since the operating unit 30 is provided with the tool T, the user can use the tool T to replace the blade body 20.

[0047] (Regarding the pull tab holding portion 40) The pull tab holding portion 40 is a member that holds the pull tab 210 of the lid 202 when the main body 10 is attached to the can 200, as shown in Fig. 9. The pull tab holding portion 40 is provided inside the circular recess 11 of the main body 10, as shown in Fig. 6. The pull tab holding portion 40 is provided, for example, at a position opposite the blade body 20 across the center line Ly.

[0048] The detailed configuration of the pull-tab holding portion 40 will be described with reference to Figs. 11 to 14. Fig. 11 is a perspective view and a front view of the pull-tab holding portion 40. Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the pull-tab holding portion 40 and its surrounding structure. Fig. 13 is a schematic view for explaining the movement of the pull-tab holding portion 40.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 11, the pull-tab holding part 40 has a tip part 41, a connection part 43, and a rotating shaft part 45. The pull-tab holding part 40 is a member formed by bending, for example, a single wire. The wire is made of, for example, metal, and has a circular cross-sectional shape. Modified examples of the pull-tab holding part 40 will be described later.

[0050] The tip portion 41 includes a holding protrusion 41a that is inserted into the opening 210h (see FIG. 9) of the pull tab 210, and a pair of pull-tab holding recesses 41b formed on both sides of the holding protrusion 41a. As shown in FIG. 11(b), the tip portion 41 is provided in a symmetrical shape with respect to the center line CL.

[0051] The holding protrusion 41a extends upward from the bottom of the pull-tab holding recess 41b. The holding protrusion 41a is formed at a slight incline so that it can be easily inserted into the opening 210h of the pull-tab 210 when the can lid cutting tool 100 is used. Specifically, the holding protrusion 41a is inclined in a direction such that its tip side is closer to the center point P of the circular recess 11 than the lower end side. The holding protrusion 41a may be provided such that the inclination angle with respect to the thickness direction of the can lid cutting tool 100 is within a range of, for example, 5° to 45°.

[0052] As described below, the pull tab holding part 40 is a member that holds the pull tab 210 and rotates the pull tab 210 around the fixed pin 220 when the can lid cutting tool 100 is in use. To prevent the pull tab 210 from coming off the pull tab holding part 40 while the pull tab 210 is rotating, as shown in Fig. 11(b), side parts 41a' on both sides of the holding protrusion 41a are formed in a direction parallel to the thickness direction of the lid 202 (direction perpendicular to the width direction of the pull tab 210) when the can lid cutting tool 100 is attached to the can 200.

[0053] The pull-tab holding recess 41b is a portion that receives the pull-tab 210. The pull-tab holding recess 41b is formed to a sufficient depth so that it can stably receive the pull-tab 210. Like the holding protrusion 41a, the side portion 41b' of the pull-tab holding recess 41b is also formed in a direction parallel to the thickness direction of the lid 202 (direction perpendicular to the width direction of the pull-tab 210) when the can lid cutting tool 100 is attached to the can 200, so that the pull-tab 210 is unlikely to come off the pull-tab holding portion 40 while the pull-tab 210 is rotating.

[0054] The holding protrusion 41a and the pull-tab holding recess 41b are configured as described above, which has the effect that the pull-tab 210 is less likely to come off the pull-tab holding part 40 when the user rotates the can lid cutting tool 100. In addition, in the configuration of this embodiment, the tip part 41 is formed symmetrically in the circumferential direction of the circular recess 11 with respect to the center line CL. Therefore, whether the can lid cutting tool 100 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to the can 200, the pull-tab holding part 40 can hold the pull-tab 210 well.

[0055] In this embodiment, the tip portion 41 has a pair of pull-tab holding recesses 41b, but the tip portion 41 may have only the holding protrusions 41a.

[0056] 6, the connecting portion 43 extends from the main body portion 10 toward the inside of the circular recess 11. The connecting portion 43 is a structural portion that connects the tip portion 41 and the main body portion 10. In this embodiment, a rotating shaft portion 45 is formed at the end of the connecting portion 43.

[0057] 11, the rotating shaft portion 45 is formed on the end portion of the connection portion 43 opposite to the tip portion 41. The rotating shaft portion 45 is rotatably supported by the main body portion 10, so that the pull tab holding portion 40 is configured to be rotatable with respect to the main body portion 10.

[0058] 12, a groove 18 is formed in the main body 10 of the can end cutter 100. The groove 18 is a groove for regulating the movable range of the pull-tab holding part 40. Specifically, the pull-tab holding part 40 is provided so as to be movable in a direction in which the tip end 41 is located inside the circular recess 11 and in a direction in which the tip end 41 moves downward away from the circular recess 11.

[0059] The "direction in which the tip portion 41 is located inside the circular recess 11" refers to the direction in which the pull-tab holding portion 40 extends horizontally as shown in Figures 12 and 13(a), etc. The "direction in which the tip portion 41 moves downward away from the circular recess 11" refers to the direction in which the connection portion 43 extends downward from the main body portion 10 as shown in Figure 13(b).

[0060] As shown in Fig. 12, a pair of protrusions 18a are formed in the groove 18. The protrusions 18a are structural parts for restricting the rotation of the pull-tab holding part 40. At the places where the protrusions 18a are formed, the width of the groove 18 is formed narrower than the thickness of the wire of the pull-tab holding part 40. With this configuration, the can end cutter 100 can hold the pull-tab holding part 40 in an orientation in which the pull-tab holding part 40 extends horizontally. Meanwhile, for example, by a user pressing down on the pull-tab holding part 40 with a finger, the pull-tab holding part 40 can be moved from the orientation in Fig. 13(a) to the orientation in Fig. 13(b).

[0061] It should be noted that a single protrusion 18a may be formed instead of the pair of protrusions 18a. The shape of the protrusion 18a itself is not limited in any way, and the protrusion 18a may be formed in any shape.

[0062] (Explanation of operation) A method of using the can lid cutting tool 100 configured as described above will be described below. Fig. 14 is a diagram showing the state in which the can lid cutting tool 100 is attached to the can 200. Fig. 15 is a diagram showing the state in which the can lid cutting tool 100 is attached to the can 200. Note that the order of operations described below does not limit the present invention in any way, and the order of operations may be changed as appropriate.

[0063] First, the user prepares the can lid cutting tool 100 and the can 200, and pulls out the operating part 30 from the main body part 10 of the can lid cutting tool 100.

[0064] 14, the user pushes the pull-tab holding portion 40 downward from the main body portion 10. This causes the tip portion 41 of the pull-tab holding portion 40 to be positioned lower than the main body portion 10.

[0065] Next, the user inserts the holding protrusion 41a of the tip 41 of the pull-tab holding part 40 into the opening 210h of the pull-tab 210 from below the pull-tab 210. In the configuration of this embodiment, the holding protrusion 41a is formed at a slight incline, making it easy for the user to insert the holding protrusion 41a into the opening 210h of the pull-tab 210.

[0066] Next, the user attaches the can lid cutting tool 100 to the can 200 so that the rising portion 205 of the can 200 is inserted into the circular recess 11 of the main body 10. When the user attaches the can lid cutting tool 100 to the can 200, the pair of protrusions 13 in the circular recess 11 elastically abut against the seaming portion 205s of the rising portion 205. When the can lid cutting tool 100 is attached at a predetermined position, the pair of protrusions 13 ride over the seaming portion 205s and elastically abut against the outer peripheral surface of the can 200 below the seaming portion 205s. The pair of protrusions 13 create a clicking sensation when they ride over the seaming portion 205s.

[0067] With the configuration in which the pair of protrusions 13 elastically contact the seaming portion 205s, the user can feel that the can lid cutting tool 100 is attached to the correct attachment position. In addition, the action of the protrusions 13 makes it difficult for the can lid cutting tool 100 to come off the can 200, and as a result, the position of the can lid cutting tool 100 is maintained at the desired attachment position.

[0068] When the can lid cutting tool 100 is attached to the can 200, the cutting edge of the blade body 20 has not yet come into contact with the inner circumference of the rising portion 205. Therefore, the user moves the operating part 30 toward the main body 10. For example, the user holds the can lid cutting tool 100 with one hand and moves the operating part 30 toward the main body 10. As a result, the entire operating part 30 rotates around the axis S1 (see FIG. 6 ), and the cutting edge of the blade body 20 is pressed against the inner circumference of the rising portion 205.

[0069] According to the can end cutting tool 100 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 6, the handle portion 31 of the operating part 30 is formed relatively long so as to be aligned with the main body portion 10, while the blade body 20 is provided at a position relatively close to the axis S1. Specifically, the operating part 30 is formed so that the distance from the center of the axis S1 to a portion of the handle portion 31 away from the axis S1 (a portion that becomes one of the points of force when used) is longer than the distance from the center of the axis S1 to the center of the blade body 20. By forming the operating part 30 in this shape, the user can press the blade body 20 against the rising portion 205 with a force greater than the force applied to the handle portion 31, which is the point of force, due to the principle of leverage.

[0070] Next, with the can lid cutting tool 100 attached to the can 200, the user rotates the can lid cutting tool 100 relative to the can 200 while pushing the operating part 30 toward the main body part 10. When the can lid cutting tool 100 is rotated relative to the can 200, the cutting edge of the blade body 20 rolls while being pressed against the inner circumference of the rising part 205, whereby the inner circumference of the rising part 205 is gradually cut away.

[0071] While the can end cutter 100 is rotating, the pull tab 210 held by the pull tab holder 40 rotates about the fixed pin 220 .

[0072] In the can lid excision tool 100 of this embodiment, the can lid excision tool 100 rotates with the rib 11u' in the circular recess 11 abutting against the upper end of the rising portion 205 of the can 200. With this configuration, the contact area between the rib 11u' and the rising portion 205 is small, making it easier for the user to rotate the can lid excision tool 100. In addition, the configuration in which the rib 11u' abuts against the rising portion 205 has the advantage of making it easier to improve the dimensional accuracy of parts during manufacturing and the positional accuracy during installation.

[0073] The lid 202 is separated from the can 200 by rotating the can lid cutting tool 100 once or more times until the entire inner circumference of the rising portion 205 is cut off. After the lid 202 is cut off, the user lifts the can lid cutting tool 100 away from the can 200. This cuts off the lid 202, and the top of the can 200 is opened. When the user lifts the can lid cutting tool 100 away from the can 200, the pull tab holding part 40 may be rotated downward from the horizontal orientation, or the pull tab holding part 40 may be kept in the horizontal orientation.

[0074] (Effects of the can lid cutting tool 100) As described above, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the user can remove the lid 202 from the can 200 by a simple operation of attaching the can lid cutting tool 100 to the can 200 and rotating the can lid cutting tool 100 while pressing the operating part 30 toward the main body part 10. In addition, the separated lid 202 is held by the pull tab holding part 40, so it is prevented from falling into the can 200.

[0075] In addition, since the pull tab holding portion 40 is configured to be rotatable relative to the main body portion 10, the user can easily insert the holding protrusion portion 41a of the pull tab holding portion 40 into the opening 210h of the pull tab 210 when attaching the can lid cutting tool 100 to the can 200.

[0076] Furthermore, the pull-tab holding portion 40 has not only the holding protrusion 41a but also a pair of pull-tab holding recesses 41b on both sides of the holding protrusion 41a for receiving the pull-tab 210, so that the pull-tab 210 can be held more stably.

[0077] Furthermore, since the main body 10 is formed with an opening 10h, when the can lid cutting tool 100 is in use, the user can check the cutting status of the lid 202 and the like through the opening 10h.

[0078] In addition, when the can lid cutting tool 100 is attached, the multiple protrusions 13 formed on the inside of the circular recess 11 elastically abut against the seaming portion 205s of the rising portion 205, allowing the user to check whether the can lid cutting tool 100 is correctly attached to the can 200, reducing the occurrence of mistakes in cutting the can lid.

[0079] In the can lid cutting tool 100 of this embodiment, the inner circumference of the rising portion 205 of the can 200 is cut off by the blade body 20, and the outer circumference of the can 205 remains. Therefore, the cut-off portion does not come into contact with the user's mouth when the user drinks a beverage, so it is safe.

[0080] <Variation 1> Although the can lid cutting tool 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the specific structure described above. Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a modified example of the can lid cutting tool according to the present invention. Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the blade 20 and the blade cover portion 32a of the can lid cutting tool as viewed from above.

[0081] (Cleaning materials) The can lid cutting tool 100 in Fig. 16 has a cleaning member 33. The cleaning member 33 is a member that sweeps away and cleans cutting chips from the cut portion on the inner circumference of the rising portion 205 when the can lid cutting tool 100 cuts the rising portion 205. The cleaning member 33 may be a brush-like member that contacts the rising portion 205, or may be an elastic member that contacts the rising portion 205. The rising portion 205 may be made of rubber, for example.

[0082] The cleaning member 33 may be attached to any position of the can lid cutting tool 100 as long as it is a position where it abuts against the cutting portion of the rising portion 205. In the example of Fig. 16, the cleaning member 33 is attached to the blade cover portion 32a. The cleaning member 33 may be provided, for example, to be replaceable.

[0083] In addition to the above, in the can lid cutting tool of the present invention, for example, the main body 10 does not have to have the opening 10h. The blade 20 may cut the outer periphery of the rising portion 205 of the can 200. The operating part 30 does not have to have the protrusion 35t formed in the long hole 35.

[0084] The pull-tab holding portion 40 does not have to rotate with respect to the main body portion 10. The shape of the pull-tab holding portion 40 can be changed as appropriate, and may be, for example, a shape that is simply a bent plate material. Specifically, the pull-tab holding portion may be a member having a connection portion that extends from the inside of the circular recess 11 toward the center, and a holding protrusion portion that is located at the tip of the connection portion and is inserted into the opening 210h of the pull-tab 210.

[0085] The pull-tab holding part 40 may be configured to hold another part of the pull-tab 210, instead of holding the opening 210h of the pull-tab 210. For example, in the case of the pull-tab 210 not having the opening 210h, as an example, a configuration may be adopted in which a part of the pull-tab holding part 40 is inserted into the opening of the pull-tab 210 located near the fixing pin 220. The material of the pull-tab holding part 40 is arbitrary and is not limited to metal, and may be made of, for example, resin. The pull-tab holding part 40 may be a member partly formed of metal and other partly formed of resin.

[0086] (Other configuration examples of the pull tab holding portion and the circular recess) Next, other configuration examples of the can lid excision tool will be described with reference to Figs. 17 to 19. Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing another configuration example of the can lid excision tool. Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the can lid excision tool 100A of Fig. 17, seen from the bottom side. Fig. 19 is a bottom view of the can lid excision tool 100A of Fig. 17. Note that the pull tab holding portion is omitted from Fig. 19.

[0087] The can lid excision tool 100A differs from the can lid excision tool 100 of the above-described embodiment in the following respects. Specifically, the can lid excision tool 100A has a main body 110 and a pull-tab holder 140 that are shaped differently from the main body 10 and the pull-tab holder 40 of the can lid excision tool 100. In addition, the can lid excision tool 100A has a different structure from the can lid excision tool 100 with respect to the structure of the circular recess 11 on the inside of the main body 110.

[0088] Although not an essential difference, the main body 110 of the can lid cutting tool 100A is formed to have a contour shape that is slightly rounder than the main body 10 in the above-described embodiment (see FIG. 19).

[0089] The pull-tab holding part 140 is a member made of, for example, resin or metal, and has a holding protrusion 141a and a pull-tab holding recess 141b as shown in Fig. 17. The pull-tab holding part 140 is configured to be rotatable between a horizontal orientation as shown in Fig. 17 and a downward orientation (not shown) relative to the main body part 110, similar to the above-described embodiment.

[0090] 18 and 19, an arc-shaped rib 11r protruding downward from the upper surface 11u is formed in the circular recess 11 of the main body 110. As shown in Fig. 19, in this example, the rib 11r is formed so as to extend along a reference circle C2 that is slightly smaller than a reference circle C1 along the inner peripheral wall 11w of the circular recess 11. The rib 11r is a structural part that serves as a guide when cutting a different type of can having a smaller diameter than the can 200 (Fig. 15).

[0091] When attempting to cut a can lid having a rising portion with a smaller diameter than the rising portion 205 of the can 200 using the can lid cutting tool 100 of the above embodiment, it is difficult to guide the rising portion well on the inner peripheral surface of the circular recess 11 because of the small diameter of the rising portion, and as a result, there is a possibility that the lid cannot be cut off successfully. Therefore, in the configuration of Figures 17 to 19, in the circular recess 11, a ring-shaped guide recess 12 is formed between the rib 11r and the inner peripheral wall 11w, and this guide recess 12 is configured to be able to receive the rising portions of cans of different sizes.

[0092] The can end cutting tool 100A cuts off the rising portion of the can by pinching the rising portion between the inner circumferential wall 11w and the blade body 20, and the positions of the reference circles C1 and C2 are set based on the position where the blade body 20 contacts the inner circumferential wall 11w. Therefore, the reference circles C1 and C2 are not concentric, and the reference circle C2 is slightly eccentric toward the blade body 20.

[0093] According to the can lid cutting tool 100A configured as described above, the can lid cutting tool 100A can be used to effectively remove lids of a plurality of types of cans having lids of different sizes.

[0094] <Variation 2> The can lid cutting tool of the present invention may be as shown in Fig. 20 to Fig. 24. Fig. 20 is a perspective view showing a state in which a can lid cutting tool 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention is attached to a can 200. Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the can lid cutting tool 300 as viewed from the top side. Fig. 22 is a plan view of the can lid cutting tool 300. Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the can lid cutting tool 300 as viewed from the bottom side.

[0095] In the following description, each part of the can lid cutting tool 300 is designated by a reference number in the 300 series. The last two digits of the reference number correspond in principle to the reference numbers in the above-mentioned embodiments, and duplicated description will be omitted.

[0096] This can lid cutting tool 300 is similar to the above-mentioned embodiment in the principle of bringing the blade body 320 into contact with the rising portion 205 of the can 200 to cut the rising portion 205, but as an example, it is provided with a main body 310 and an operating part 330 that are different in shape from those of the above-mentioned embodiment. One of the features of the can lid cutting tool 300, which will be described in detail later, is that a sliding member is disposed near the blade body 320, and that it has an adapter member that holds the rising portion 205 of the can 200. Both the sliding member and the adapter member are not essential, and only one of them may be provided.

[0097] The main body 310 is formed in a slightly horizontally elongated ring shape as shown in Fig. 20 to Fig. 23. Specifically, in this example, the main body 310 is formed in a ring shape in which a circular arc that is part of a larger circle (not shown) and a circular arc that is part of a smaller circle (not shown) are connected to each other by two straight lines. More specifically, the main body 310 includes a guide portion region 311 and an extension portion region 312 as shown in Fig. 22.

[0098] Guide portion region 311 is an arc-shaped region that follows part of the outer periphery of rising portion 205 of can 200. Extension portion region 312 is a region formed to extend in a direction away from rising portion 205. Extension portion region 312 is formed integrally with guide portion region 311 so as to be continuous with guide portion region 311.

[0099] The operating part 330 is arranged to extend in substantially the same direction as the extending direction of the extension part region 312. As in the above-mentioned embodiment, the operating part 330 is pushed toward the main body part 310 by the user. In this example, the operating part 330 may have a shape such that substantially the entire operating part 330 fits inside the main body part 310. Specifically, the operating part 330 may be configured such that, for example, its side surface 330L (FIG. 22) is substantially in the same position as the side surface 310L (contour line) of the main body part 310 when stored. According to such a configuration, the outer shape of the can lid cutting tool 300 when stored is the same as the shape of the main body part 310 illustrated in FIG. 24(a), so that it is not bulky and the design is improved.

[0100] Note that a force may be applied to the operation unit 330 in a direction away from the main body unit 310 by a member such as a leaf spring or a torsion spring.

[0101] As shown in FIG. 23, the main body 310 is formed with a recess 310h. As in the above-described embodiment, the recess 310h is provided with a blade 320 and a pull-tab holder 340. The recess 310h is also provided with an adapter member 360. The details of the adapter member 360 will be described later with reference to other drawings.

[0102] (Sliding member) Fig. 24 is a diagram for explaining the sliding member 350. Fig. 24(a) shows a schematic diagram of the main body 310, the blade 320, and the sliding member 350, and Fig. 24(b) shows a schematic diagram of the cross section of the blade 320 and the sliding member 350. Fig. 25 is a perspective view showing the sliding member 350 and its surrounding structure.

[0103] The can lid cutting tool 300 may have a sliding member 350 so that the blade body 20 can smoothly cut the rising portion 205. The sliding member 350 is provided in the recess 310h. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 24, the sliding member 350 is provided at a position where it presses the outer circumferential surface of the rising portion 205 when the main body 310 is attached to the can 200. More specifically, the sliding member 350 is provided at a position opposite the blade body 320 with the rising portion 205 therebetween.

[0104] The sliding member 350 has a curved arc-shaped portion as shown in FIG. 25. When the blade 320 is pressed against the rising portion 205, the sliding member 350 comes into contact with the outer periphery of the rising portion 205. The sliding member 350 is formed of a material having higher slidability than other components constituting the main body 310. The sliding member 350 may be made of a resin such as PA (polyamide) or POM (polyacetal). As shown in FIG. 24(b), the sliding member 350 has a cross-sectional shape having a main body 351 and a protruding portion 351a protruding radially inward from the main body 351.

[0105] The protruding portion 351a protrudes from the inner peripheral surface 313 (FIG. 25) of the main body 310 and is adapted to come into contact with the lower portion of the seaming portion 205s (FIG. 15) of the rising portion 205. With this configuration, when the blade body 320 cuts the rising portion 205, the protruding portion 351a engages with the lower portion of the seaming portion 205s, preventing the can lid cutting tool 300 from floating up and allowing the blade body 320 to be maintained in a good position during cutting. In addition, since the outer peripheral surface of the rising portion 205 is pressed by the sliding member 350 during cutting, the rising portion 205 can be cut stably.

[0106] (Adapter parts) The can lid cutting tool 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention may have an adapter member 360 as shown in Fig. 26 to Fig. 28. Fig. 26 is a top view of the can lid cutting tool 300. Fig. 27 is a perspective view of the adapter member 360 that holds the rising portion 205 of the can 200. Fig. 28 is a view showing the adapter member 360 provided on the main body 310. Fig. 28 shows the main body 310 as viewed from the top with a portion of the main body 310 omitted.

[0107] Adapter member 360 is a member that presses the outer peripheral surface of rising portion 205 of can 200. As shown in Fig. 26, adapter member 360 is provided on main body 310, and configured to be movable so as to advance toward and retreat from the outer peripheral surface of rising portion 205.

[0108] As shown in FIG. 27, the adapter member 360 has a main body portion 361, a guide portion 361a, and a lever portion 363. The guide portion 361a is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the rising portion 205 of the can 200. Specifically, as can be seen from FIG. 26, the guide portion 361a holds the outer peripheral surface of the rising portion 205 that is not guided by the guide portion region 311. The guide portion 361a may abut against the seaming portion of the rising portion 205, but in this example, the guide portion 361a abuts against a region below the seaming portion of the rising portion 205. With this configuration, the can end cutting tool 300 is prevented from floating upward during use, and the rising portion 205 can be cut well.

[0109] As shown in Fig. 28, an elastic member 367 is disposed near adapter member 360. Elastic member 367 is a member that applies force in a direction that presses adapter member 360 against the outer circumferential surface side of rising portion 205 of can 200. Elastic member 367 may be, for example, a coil spring or a rubber tube. In Fig. 28, elastic member 367 is disposed in a compressed state, and thus elastic member 367 biases adapter member 360 toward approximately the center side of recess 310h.

[0110] Lever portion 363 is a protruding portion operated by a user. As shown in Fig. 26, lever portion 363 is disposed, for example, inside extension region 312 of main body portion 310. In this example, lever portion 363 is provided on the side away from operation portion 330 (the lower side in Fig. 26). With this configuration, the user can, for example, hold operation portion 330 with four fingers from index finger to little finger and operate lever portion 363 with the thumb.

[0111] When the user presses lever portion 363 in a direction in which adapter member 360 moves away from can 200, the entire adapter member 360 moves away from rising portion 205. In this state, the user attaches can lid cutting tool 300 to can 200. When the user releases his / her finger from lever portion 363, elastic member 367 presses adapter member 360 toward rising portion 205, and guide portion 361a presses rising portion 205. With this configuration, can lid cutting tool 300 is stably attached to can 200.

[0112] Fig. 29 is a diagram for explaining a further modified example of the can lid cutting tool. The can lid cutting tool of one embodiment of the present invention may have an adapter member 380 on the opposite side (i.e., the operating section 330 side) to the adapter member 360 illustrated in Fig. 26. In the configuration of Fig. 29, the adapter member 360 and the adapter member 380 are illustrated, but only the adapter member 380 may be provided.

[0113] In this example, similar to the adapter member 360, the adapter member 380 has a main body portion 381, a guide portion 381a, and a lever portion 383. The adapter member 380 may be provided on the main body portion 310 or on the operation portion 330. As an example, similar to the adapter member 360, the adapter member 380 may be configured to be pressed against the rising portion 205 by an elastic member (not shown).

[0114] Instead of using an elastic member, adapter member 380 may be configured so that adapter member 380 is pressed against rising portion 205 in conjunction with the action of closing operation portion 330.

[0115] A leaf spring, a coil spring, or the like may be provided between the operation unit 330 and the main body 310, and a force from the spring may be applied to the operation unit 330 in a direction to open the operation unit 330. Although not limited thereto, in such a configuration, a means for positioning the operation unit 330 in the closed position may be provided.

[0116] Specifically, the following configuration may be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 28, an end 335 of the operation unit 330 is provided with a protrusion (not shown) that moves along the guide groove 315 of the main body 310. When the operation unit 330 moves to the closed position, the protrusion moves along the portion of the guide groove 315. The protrusion further fits into an engagement recess 315a formed in a part of the guide groove 315, thereby positioning the operation unit 330 at a predetermined closed position. The operation unit 330 may be configured to generate a clicking sensation when the protrusion fits into the engagement recess 315a, thereby allowing the user to confirm that the operation unit 330 is securely set in the predetermined closed position.

[0117] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by distributing or integrating functionally or physically in any unit. In addition, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effect of the new embodiment resulting from the combination combines the effect of the original embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] 10 Main body 10-1 Top cover 10-2 Lower cover 10h opening 11 Circular recess 11u top 11u' Rib 11w inner wall 12 Guide recess 13 Protrusion 18 Groove 18a protrusion 20 Blade 21 Fixing screw 30 Control section 31 Handle section 32 Main body parts 32a Blade cover 33 Cleaning materials 35 long hole 35a end 35b end 35t protrusion 37 Tool holding part 40 Pull tab holder 41 Tip 41a Holding protrusion 41a' Side 41b Pull tab holding recess 41b' Side 43 Connection 45 Rotating shaft 100, 100A Can Lid Cutter 140 Pull tab holder 200 cans 201 Can body 202 Lid 205 Rising part 205s Winding section 210 Pull Tab 210h opening 220 Fixing pin 300 Can lid removal instrument 310 Main body 310h Recess 310L side 311 Guide area 312 Extension area 313 Inner surface 315 Guide groove 315a Engagement recess 320 Blade 330 Operation section 330L side 335 End 340 Pull tab holder 350 Sliding member 351 Main body 351a Protrusion 360 Adapter parts 361 Main body 361a Guide part 363 Lever part 367 Elastic Members 380 Adapter parts 381 Main body 381a Guide part 383 Lever part B Boss C1, C2 Reference circle P center point S1 axis T-tool

Claims

[Claim 1] The invention described herein.

Images