How long until someone is allowed to make a safety can opener with a long crank?
I assume they are two separate patents by two separate companies, but once those are both on the same can opener, there will be no reason to buy any other manual can opener. So when is the first one expiring?
The patent for the safety can opener, US5289638A, filed on February 19, 1993, expired on February 19, 2013, due to non-payment of maintenance fees. Google Patents
Regarding the long crank mechanism, US7574808B2, filed on August 10, 2005, is set to expire on December 12, 2025. Unified Patents
Therefore, a combined safety can opener with a long crank could be produced without infringing on these patents after December 12, 2025.
Thank you, hopefully it won't be a long wait after.
Like this
That doesn't look like a safety can opener, the ones that cut the side of the rim? Looks like the old style, like a swingline or something.
I forgot all about those!
My mother has one of these. She loves it.
Cans have been around for quite some time, with it, can openers. Given the proliferation of both, I suspect it's waiting for someone to invent it.
Disclaimer: I'm not a can opener expert, nor am I a patent lawyer, nor do I pretend to be either on the internet, so .. caveat emptor.
Attaching a different crank to a safety can opener yourself would probably do the trick.
Possibly, I'd have to see if they can be taken apart. From memory, I don't recall exactly what the handle fastener looked like, but it seemed like an unadjustable system.
Cut the existing handle off the shaft - most likely the shaft is knurled so the injection-molded plastic will grip it.
Either attach a handle with a clamping mechanism (see motorcycle brake and shifter levers), or simply weld a handle on.
Before I were to go to that much trouble, I'd weld a 1/4 hex shaft on it, so I could use a drill or impact driver.