Patent US4248144A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4248144A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Can crusher having two movable jaws
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1979-06-27
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Granted: 1981-02-03
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Expires: 1999-06-27
Abstract
Abstract An improved can crusher has two movable jaws, a first jaw and a second jaw, both movably mounted in a support housing. The jaws are initially spaced apart one from the other a distance sufficient to allow a can to be inserted between them. A member capable of generating a mechanical force is mounted on the housing and is directly connected by a connecting member to the second of the movable jaws by a force transferring member and is indirectly connected by the same connecting member to the first jaw by a force modifying member. The force modifying member modifies the mechanical force so generated to achieve a mechanical advantage. When the member capable of generating the mechanical force is activated this force is first transferred to the first jaw, and because of the mechanical advantage achieved, the first jaw is able to initially overcome the structural resistance of the can and crimp it. After the can is once crimped its structural resistance to crushing is lessened and the second jaw can then finish crushing the can without the need of a mechanical advantage. After the can is completely crushed between the first and second jaw the member capable of generating the mechanical force is relaxed and the jaws move apart from each other allowing the crushed can to be expelled from the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Morgan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:34
CPC Classifications
B; B30; B30B; B30B9/00; B30B9/32; B30B9/321; B30B1/00; B30B1/007; B30B1/30; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S100/00; Y10S100/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
379 words
A can crusher comprising: a support housing; a first movable jaw means and a second movable jaw means both movably mounted in said support housing to move reciprocally between an initial position wherein said first and said second movable jaw means are spaced apart one from the other by a distance at least the length of a can to be crushed and a second position wherein said first and said second movable jaw means are spaced apart one from the other by a distance less than said initial distance so as to enable said first and said second movable jaw means to crush a can placed between said first and said second jaw means when said first and said second jaw means move from said initial position to said second position; means for generating a mechanical force mounted in said housing and capable of being activated to generate said mechanical force; a mechanical force transfer means operatively connected to said means for generating a mechanical force so as to transfer said generated mechanical force; a mechanical force modifying means operatively connected to both said first movable jaw means and said mechanical force transfer means, said mechanical force modifying means modifying said mechanical force transferred to it by said transfer means to achieve a mechanical advantage and transferring said mechanical advantage to said first movable jaw means advantageously moving said first movable jaw means from said initial position; said second movable jaw means operatively connected to said mechanical force transfer means and moving in response to a mechanical force transferred by said mechanical force transfer means; said advantageous movement of said first movable jaw means initiating crushing of said can as said first movable jaw means moves toward said second position, said movement of said second movable jaw means crushing said can as said second movable jaw means moves to said second position; said supporting housing having track means mounted thereon, said first movable jaw means and said second movable jaw means movably mounted in said track means; said track means including a stopping means positioned in said track means proximal to said first movable jaw means so as to stop the travel of said first movable jaw means in said track means after said can has been initially crushed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
379 words
A can crusher comprising: a support housing; a first movable jaw means and a second movable jaw means both movably mounted in said support housing to move reciprocally between an initial position wherein said first and said second movable jaw means are spaced apart one from the other by a distance at least the length of a can to be crushed and a second position wherein said first and said second movable jaw means are spaced apart one from the other by a distance less than said initial distance so as to enable said first and said second movable jaw means to crush a can placed between said first and said second jaw means when said first and said second jaw means move from said initial position to said second position; means for generating a mechanical force mounted in said housing and capable of being activated to generate said mechanical force; a mechanical force transfer means operatively connected to said means for generating a mechanical force so as to transfer said generated mechanical force; a mechanical force modifying means operatively connected to both said first movable jaw means and said mechanical force transfer means, said mechanical force modifying means modifying said mechanical force transferred to it by said transfer means to achieve a mechanical advantage and transferring said mechanical advantage to said first movable jaw means advantageously moving said first movable jaw means from said initial position; said second movable jaw means operatively connected to said mechanical force transfer means and moving in response to a mechanical force transferred by said mechanical force transfer means; said advantageous movement of said first movable jaw means initiating crushing of said can as said first movable jaw means moves toward said second position, said movement of said second movable jaw means crushing said can as said second movable jaw means moves to said second position; said supporting housing having track means mounted thereon, said first movable jaw means and said second movable jaw means movably mounted in said track means; said track means including a stopping means positioned in said track means proximal to said first movable jaw means so as to stop the travel of said first movable jaw means in said track means after said can has been initially crushed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The can crusher of claim 1 wherein: said mechanical force transfer means includes a cable having its ends attaching to said force generating means and said second movable jaw means; said cable operatively connected to said mechanical force modifying means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The can crusher of claim 2 wherein: said mechanical force modifying means includes a pulley means operatively connected to said first movable jaw means; said cable passing through said pulley means intermediate said ends of said cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
The can crusher of claim 3 including a first return means and a second return means, said first return means operatively attaching to said first movable jaw means and capable of moving said first movable jaw means from said second position to said initial position; said second return means operatively connected to said second movable jaw means and capable of moving said second movable jaw means from said second position to said initial position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The can crusher of claim 4 wherein: said means for generating a mechanical force includes a lever means pivotally mounted on said support housing; said cable connecting to said lever means such that when said lever means is pivoted in said support housing the movement of said lever is transferred to said cable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
167 words
The can crusher which comprises: a housing; a first and second movable jaw slidably mounted within said housing to reciprocally move toward and away from each other so as to crush a can between said first and said second jaws as said jaws move toward each other; a lever rotatably mounted in said housing and including means for transmitting movement attaching to said lever; at least one cable having one of its ends operatively connected to said means for transferring movement such that movement of said lever is transferred to said cable; said cable having its other end operatively connected to said second jaw; a pulley means capable of achieving a mechanical advantage rotatably mounted to said first jaw and including said cable operatively passing over said pulley means intermediate said ends of said cable; said pulley means moving said first jaw under a mechanical advantage in response to the movement of said cable and said second jaw moving in direct response to movement of said cable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
The can crusher which comprises: a housing; a first and second movable jaw slidably mounted within said housing to reciprocally move toward and away from each other so as to crush a can between said first and said second jaws as said jaws move toward each other; a lever rotatably mounted in said housing and including means for transmitting movement attaching to said lever; at least one cable having one of its ends operatively connected to said means for transferring movement such that movement of said lever is transferred to said cable; said cable having its other end operatively connected to said second jaw; a pulley means capable of achieving a mechanical advantage rotatably mounted to said first jaw and including said cable operatively passing over said pulley means intermediate said ends of said cable; said pulley means moving said first jaw under a mechanical advantage in response to the movement of said cable and said second jaw moving in direct response to movement of said cable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The can crusher of claim 6 wherein: said pulley means comprises at least one movable pulley rotatably mounted to said first jaw such that a force applied to said pulley by said cable is mechanically transferred to said first jaw.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The can crusher of claim 7 wherein: said means for transmitting movement comprises at least one semicircular member having an arcuate surface operatively attaching to said lever and including said cable attaching to said semicircular member such that as said lever is moved said cable is pulled across the arcuate surface of said semicircular member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The can crusher of claim 8 wherein: said semicircular member comprises a quarter-round section having a groove along its arcuate surface to receive said cable and to maintain said cable on said arcuate surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The can crusher of claim 6 including: a track means mounted in said housing having said first and second jaws slidably mounted in said track means so as to slidably move within said track means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The can crusher of claim 10 wherein: said track means including a first jaw stopping means capable of limiting the amount of travel of said first jaw in said track means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The can crusher of claim 10 wherein: said pulley means comprises at least one movable pulley rotatably mounted to said first jaw such that a force applied to said pulley by said cable is mechanically transferred to said first jaw.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The can crusher of claim 12 wherein: said means for transmitting movement comprises at least one semicircular member having an arcuate surface operatively attaching to said lever and including said cable attaching to said semicircular member such that as said lever is moved said cable is pulled across the arcuate surface of said semicircular member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The can crusher of claim 6 including: a spacer means attaching to one of said first or second jaws reducing the distance between said first and second jaws.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-02-03 | 1984-08-04 | 1985-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-03 | 1988-08-04 | 1989-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-03 | 1992-08-04 | 1993-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |