US4369699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Can folding and flattening device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-03-09
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Granted: 1983-01-25
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Expires: 2001-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A rotating force vector is applied to the sidewall of a can at a sufficient distance removed from the end of that can to permit the easy distortion of that sidewall and the ready rotation of the can-end toward a plane which lies essentially parallel to the cylindrical axis of the can. Means are provided to further distort the can and, through the second application of a rotating force vector, to rotate the second end of the can into a plane essentially parallel with the cylindrical axis of the can. Flattening means applied to the can after each revolution of a can-end tends to bring the planes into which the can-ends lie into close juxtaposition so as to provide a relatively flat package requiring comparatively little storage space when compared to the amount of space required to store the original undistorted can.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold E. Dailey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:53
CPC Classifications
B; B30; B30B; B30B9/00; B30B9/32; B30B9/321; B30B9/325; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S100/00; Y10S100/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A can folding device for folding cans, said cans having first and second ends nominally lying in planes perpendicular to the cylindrical axis of said cans comprising: first and second rotary means having a common axis of rotation said first rotary means comprising: means for rotating a first end of a can to a first plane essentially parallel to the cylindrical axis of the can; and, coupled thereto said second rotary means comprising: means for rotating a second end of the can to a second plane essentially parallel to the cylindrical axis of the can.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A can folding device for folding cans, said cans having first and second ends nominally lying in planes perpendicular to the cylindrical axis of said cans comprising: first and second rotary means having a common axis of rotation said first rotary means comprising: means for rotating a first end of a can to a first plane essentially parallel to the cylindrical axis of the can; and, coupled thereto said second rotary means comprising: means for rotating a second end of the can to a second plane essentially parallel to the cylindrical axis of the can.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The can folding device of claim 1 further comprising: flattening means for bringing said first plane and said second plane into close juxtaposition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The can folding device of claim 1 wherein said means for rotating a first can-end comprises: first pressure means for directly applying a force vector to the cylindrical wall of a can at a point on that wall a sufficient distance removed from a first end of the can to easily distort said wall; and first thrust resistant means for maintaining the relative position of the can as said force vector is applied to the cylindrical wall thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The can folding device of claim 3 wherein said first pressure means further comprises means for rotating said force vector to further distort the cylindrical wall of the can and to rotate said first can-end toward a first plane essentially parallel to the cylindrical axis of the can.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
The can folding device of claim 4 wherein said means for rotating a second end of a can comprises second pressure means for applying a second force vector to a second end of a can whose cylindrical wall has been distorted by said first pressure means; and second thrust resistant means for maintaining the relative position of the can as said second force vector is applied to said second can-end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The can folding device of claim 5 wherein said second pressure means further comprises means for rotating said second force vector to further distort the cylindrical wall of the can and to rotate said second can-end toward a second plane essentially parallel to the cylindrical axis of the can.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The can folding device of claim 6 further comprising flattening means for bringing said first plane and said second plane into close juxtaposition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
The can folding device of claim 1 wherein said means for rotating a first end of a can comprises first rotating pressure means for applying a rotational force vector to the cylindrical wall of the can at a point on that wall a sufficient distance from said first can-end to easily distort said wall and rotate said first can-end toward a first plane essentially parallel with the cylindrical axis of the can.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The can folding device of claim 8 wherein said means for rotating a second end of the can comprises second rotating pressure means for applying a rotational force vector to the second end of the can to further distort the cylindrical wall of the can and rotate said second can-end toward a second plane essentially parallel with the cylindrical axis of the can.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The can folding device of claim 9 wherein said first rotating pressure means comprises a first pressure plate coupled to a first rotating cylindrical segment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The can folding device of claim 10 wherein said second rotating pressure means comprises a second pressure plate coupled to a second rotating cylindrical segment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The can folding device of claim 11 further comprising means for rotating said first and said second cylindrical segments about a common axis of rotation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The can folding device of claim 12 wherein said first and said second cylindrical segments further comprise flattening means for further distorting said cylindrical wall of the can and bringing said first plane and said second plane into close juxtaposition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
The can folding device of claim 13 wherein said first and said second cylindrical segments further comprise anti-slip means for maintaining the can in contact with said flattening means as said cylindrical segments are rotated about their axis of rotation permitting said cylindrical segments to apply a rolling compressive force to the can to flatten it and bring said first and said second planes into close juxtaposition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The can folding device of claim 14 wherein said anti-slip means comprises a raised nubbin atop each of said cylindrical segments.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
150 words
A can folding device for folding cans, said cans having first and second ends nominally lying in planes perpendicular to the cylindrical axis of said cans comprising: first rotating pressure means comprising a first pressure plate coupled to a first rotating cylindrical segment for directly applying a rotational force vector to the cylindrical wall of a can at a point on that wall a sufficient distance from said first can-end to easily distort said wall and rotate said first can-end toward a first plane essentially parallel with the cylindrical axis of the can; and second rotating pressure means comprising a second pressure plate coupled to a second rotating cylindrical segment for directly applying a rotational force vector to the second end of the can to further distort the cylindrical wall of the can and rotate second can-end toward a second plan essentially parallel with the cylindrical axis of the can.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
150 words
A can folding device for folding cans, said cans having first and second ends nominally lying in planes perpendicular to the cylindrical axis of said cans comprising: first rotating pressure means comprising a first pressure plate coupled to a first rotating cylindrical segment for directly applying a rotational force vector to the cylindrical wall of a can at a point on that wall a sufficient distance from said first can-end to easily distort said wall and rotate said first can-end toward a first plane essentially parallel with the cylindrical axis of the can; and second rotating pressure means comprising a second pressure plate coupled to a second rotating cylindrical segment for directly applying a rotational force vector to the second end of the can to further distort the cylindrical wall of the can and rotate second can-end toward a second plan essentially parallel with the cylindrical axis of the can.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The can folding device of claim 16 further comprising means for rotating said first and said second cylindrical segments about a common axis of rotation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The can folding device of claim 17 wherein said first and said second cylindrical segments further comprise flattening means for further distorting said cylindrical wall of the can and bringing said first plane and said second plane into close juxtaposition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
67 words
The can folding device of claim 18 wherein said first and said second cylindrical segments further comprise anti-slip means for maintaining the can in contact with said flattening means as said cylindrical segments are rotated about their axis of rotation permitting said cylindrical segments to apply a rolling compressive force to the can to flatten it and bring said first and said second planes into close juxtaposition.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The can folding device of claim 19 wherein said anti-slip means comprises a raised nubbin atop each of said cylindrical segments.
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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) | 1986-01-24 | 1986-07-26 | 1987-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-24 | 1990-07-26 | 1991-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-24 | 1994-07-26 | 1995-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |