Beverage can opening device and method

Abstract

A device for opening a beverage can to allow a beverage to flow out while also restricting access of insects to the can's interior. The device comprises a collar, configured to receive the top or bottom of a beverage can, and a blade holder, that is moved relative to the collar to allow blades to penetrate the beverage can within the collar and form at least two slits in the can.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A beverage can opening device comprising: 
 a collar, having an upper and a lower orifice, wherein the lower orifice is capable of receiving a cylindrical beverage can,    a blade holder, having a top and a bottom surface, and pivotably attached to the collar;    two blades affixed to the bottom surface of the blade holder; said blades being affixed along the bottom surface of the holder in a manner that allows the blades to penetrate the upper orifice of the collar when the blade holder is pivoted with respect to the collar to thereby produce openings in the beverage can.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said blades are aligned so that the blades penetrate the upper orifice simultaneously when the blade holder is pivoted towards the upper orifice of the collar.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the lower collar orifice is cylindrical and has a diameter that is slightly greater then the diameter of a beverage can and the upper collar orifice is cylindrical and has a diameter that is slightly less than the diameter of a beverage can.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one blade is at least one eighth inch wide.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the blades each have a top cutting surface and an adjacent side cutting surface, the top cutting surface being downwardly angled towards the blade holder and away from the side cutting surface.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the blade holder and collar are attached by a hinge.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein each blade is formed from a single piece of metal.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the blades are integrally formed into the blade holder.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 2  wherein each blade is at least one eighth inch wide.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the blades are of identical configuration.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the blades are parallel to each other at a distance apart that is greater than the width of the tab of the beverage can.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the blades are parallel to each other at a to distance apart that is greater than five eighths of an inch and less than one and three quarter inches.  
     
     
         13 . The device of claim  111  wherein the center point between the two parallel blades is aligned with the center point of the upper orifice of the collar when the blade holder and collar are parallel and facing each other.  
     
     
         14 . A method of opening a cylindrical beverage can, having an upper surface, comprising the steps of: 
 a. securing the beverage can within a collar in a manner that allows access to the can's upper surface;    b. piercing the can's upper surface simultaneously with a set of blades;    c. applying pressure to the blades until slits are formed in the can's upper surface; and    d. removing the blades from the slits.    
     
     
         15  A beverage can opening device comprising: 
 a collar, having an upper and a lower orifice, wherein the lower orifice is capable of receiving a top or bottom portion of a cylindrical beverage can;  
 a blade holder, having a top and a bottom surface, and movable relative to the collar;  
 two blades affixed perpendicularly to the bottom surface of the blade holder;  
 said blades being affixed along the bottom surface of the holder in a manner that allows the blades to penetrate the upper orifice of the collar when the upper orifice of the collar and the bottom surface of the blade holder are parallel and facing each other; and said blades having edge configurations capable of piercing a beverage can.  
 
     
     
         16  The device of  claim 15  wherein said blades are aligned so that the blades penetrate the upper orifice simultaneously when the blade holder is moved towards the upper orifice of the collar.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the lower collar orifice is slightly greater then the diameter of a beverage can and the upper collar orifice is slightly less than the diameter of a beverage can.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the collar is a person's hand.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the blades have two adjacent cutting surfaces both being downwardly angled towards the blade holder and form a common point.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the blades is a spike.  
     
     
         21  The device of  claim 15  wherein at least one blade is curved.