Abstract: A can opener that automatically opens a can and then signals when the can has been opened, upon the insertion of a can into the can opener and pressing a start button. The automatic can opener is useful for physically challenged individuals and/or individuals who are sight challenged.

Abstract: A can opener is provided including a housing and an elevator mounted on the housing. Next provided is a blade assembly having a rotating blade. The blade assembly is coupled to the elevator for being moved downwardly upon a can such that the blade engages a lid of the can for removal purposes.

Abstract: An under-the-cabinet kitchen appliance functions as an automatic electric can opener and an automatic night light. The appliance includes a housing for the automatic electric can opener integral with a night light bulb housing. The electric circuit for the night light and the can opener are integrated and may include light responsive device so that the light bulb is energized during periods of low room illumination and deenergized during periods of high room illumination.

Abstract: An automatic can opener is described which is operable using a single hand to complete the opening of a can merely by positioning the can in an opening position. Particularly, the can opener senses when a can has been placed in a position to be opened, and automatically retains the can in this position and begins cutting the top thereof. Subsequently, when the cutting is completed, the can opener automatically terminates the cutting operation while retaining the can in position. Thereafter, when a user begins to remove the can, such action is automatically sensed, and the can is automatically released for removal.

Abstract: A battery powered can opener includes a cutter assembly that is pivotally mounted at the front of a housing for a motor, batteries for powering same, a speed reducing gear train and a switch for controlling energization of the motor. The clutch assembly is movable to a position for retaining the opener on the bead of a can whose top is to be severed. After mounting of the opener on a can, a manually operated switch control remote from the cutter is operated to start the motor which acts through the gear train to drive the opener around the bead. As the motor starts, a wedging action between the can cover and the blade of the cutter assembly causes the latter to pierce the can top, and continued energization of the motor results in the blade cutting the top along the bead. Cutting results in the production of a reaction force that acts through the cutter assembly and a latch to hold the motor energizing switch closed after the switch control is released.

Abstract: An electric motor-driven can opener having a push button-operated switch to close the energization circuit for the motor is disclosed. The can-opening mechanism includes a cutter blade and can-turning gear combination, a vertically reciprocatable slide member supporting the cutter blade and a cam follower, and a power gear and box cam combination driven by the motor for vertically displacing the cam follower. In operation, after a can to be opened has been loaded into the cutting mechanism without the lid being penetrated by the cutter blade, the motor is started by depression of the push button to effect rotation of the gear, the switch being held in its "closed" position by a latch even after the button is released. The cam initially forces the cam follower and therewith the slide member downwardly slightly, so that the cutter blade is forced through the lid of the can at the beginning of the cycle and is then held there while the can turns to sever the lid from the body of the can.