Metal can crusher

Claim 1

A metal can crusher for deformably axially compressing a cylindrical metal can to a small fraction of its length comprising mounting means mounting the crusher and fixedly supporting an end of the cylindrical can and crushing means attached to the mounting means, said crushing means comprising a box assembly attached to the mounting means, a post assembly attached to the mounting means and box assembly, and movable handle means, the box assembly holding the metal can while the handle means exerts axial compressive force on the end of the can opposite the end of the can supported by the mounting means, anvil means for delivering said axial compressive force to the can, said handle means having a post pivot at one end thereof for pivotal connection to said post assembly, said post pivot being disposed above said anvil means, said handle further having a center post medially disposed between the ends of said handle, linking means comprising a substantially linear toggle pivotally connected at its upper end to said center post and pivotally connected at its lower end to said anvil means at an anvil pivot for converting manual rotational movement of said handle means to linear compressive movement of said anvil means, said center post describing a segment of a circular arc during axial compression of the cylindrical metal can, the arc being centered on the post pivot, said post pivot, center post, and anvil pivot forming an angle in a substantially vertical plane which includes said handle and said toggle defining the sides of an angle with the center post constituting the vertex of the angle, said angle increasing as said handle pivots downwardly about said post pivot and as said center post describes said arc during axial compression of the cylindrical metal can, said angle increasing to a straight angle upon maximum axial compression, whereby motion of the anvil means toward the mounting means axially compresses the can to said small fraction of its length and whereby maximum mechanical advantage is developable upon formation of said straight angle and whereby a snap is thence discernible in manual operation of the metal can crusher, said anvil means comprising a lug through which a pivot pin pivotally connects said lower end of said toggle to the anvil, said lug being removably attachable to said anvil and being characterised by a selectable distance from said anvil pivot to said anvil, whereby the position of the anvil when said straight angle is produced is selectable to permit control of said crushing fraction and to adapt the crusher to cans of a varying size.