Abstract: An ergonomic, electric can opener sits squarely on a kitchen counter and has working features such that the user need not turn the opener to see where to place the can. The housing and working features of the can opener are situated at about a 45 degree angle to the front of the kitchen counter, and a person using the can opener can easily see both an operating lever and a place to insert the can for opening. The can opener is advantageous to persons with arthritic conditions, requiring no orientation in a preferred direction by a user, a minimum of force to operate, and automatic stopping.

Abstract: A can opening appliance is provided herein. The appliance includes a primary housing having a front surface including a can opening mechanism and a rearwardly facing locking surface. A base includes at least one upwardly extending projection for slidable engagement with the primary housing and at least one forwardly facing interlock structure for releasable engagement with the locking surface of the primary housing. A housing release button, which causes the forwardly facing interlock structure and the locking surface to enter into and out of engagement, allows the primary housing to attain a plurality of vertical positions relative to the base.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a can opener appliance with a side cutting mechanism. The can opener appliance includes housing portions, which include a cutter support mounted therein. A cutter wheel is mounted at least partially within the cutter support and has a cutting edge for severing a can wall. A traction wheel is also positioned inside the housing portions of the can opener appliance. The traction wheel has a gripping surface to engage the can. The cutter wheel and the traction wheel are rotatable and the axes of rotation of the wheels are substantially perpendicular to each other. The wheels are positioned adjacent and spaced apart from each other to define a gap to accept a can to be opened. One of the wheels is moveable towards the other to engage and lock the can between the wheels. The cutter wheel then acts to sever the can wall and the traction wheel acts to move the can past the cutter wheel The cutter wheel is formed of a drawn tool steel with a Rockwell C hardness from about 53 to about 57.