Bottle opener

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6679138
  • Patent Number
    6,679,138
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, September 11, 2002
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 20, 2004
    21 years ago
Abstract
Bottle cap removal device with an opening therein to receive a bottle cap, including a top and a base which combine to provide an envelope for the bottle cap removal device and including an annular member and a surface opposed to the annular member operative to apply increased gripping forces on the bottle cap upon relative rotation between the annular member and bottle cap, thereby efficiently removing the bottle cap.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention provides a bottle cap removal device and process for opening bottle caps of the type particularly those having a threaded connection to a receptacle, as for example, plastic soda bottles.




It is well known that the release of twist-off caps is usually very difficult due to the fact that the cap is tightened in a factory so as to avoid the escape of liquids or gas. Frequently also a safety ring adds to the difficulty due to the fact that twisting of the cap is required to break the safety ring.




It is a particular objective of the present invention to provide an improved bottle cap removal device and process which will reduce the hand strength needed to open a screw cap by means of firmly gripping the cap and providing substantial leverage. In addition, it is an objective of the present invention to enable the user to easily grip the removal device and that the removal device may be conveniently and easily stored. It is a further objective of the present invention to provide an instrument as aforesaid which is simple and convenient to use and which effectively and readily enables removal of the bottle cap.




The following references teach various removal devices: U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,192,136; 2,499,032; 4,193,508; 4,967,622; 1,593,947; 2,524,434; 4,523,497; 4,970,917; 2,463,525; 3,066,559; and 4,643,053.




While prior art designs may be suitable for a particular purpose, they are not readily suitable for conveniently and easily opening bottle caps as aforesaid. Prior art devices may provide a substantial mechanical advantage by means of tangentially extending handles; however, they often place considerable emphasis on the mechanical advantage rather than the means for gripping the cap which is to be removed. In addition, many bottle opening devices require a downward gripping force to be applied to the cap while simultaneously applying a rotating or twisting force. This is clearly inconvenient, awkward and difficult to achieve without a concentrated effort. It is desirable to provide a bottle cap removal device and process which only requires rotational movement. Frequently, a problem in removing the cap is to provide sufficient gripping forces on the cap. It is an objective of the present invention to provide considerable gripping forces on the cap as for example by means of actively engaging means which compress the cap as well as providing an adequate mechanical advantage.




Accordingly, it is a principle objective of the present invention to provide an improved bottle cap removal device and process which achieves the foregoing objectives and is simple and convenient to utilize.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In accordance with the present invention, an improved bottle cap removal device and process is provided which achieves the goals set forth hereinabove. The bottle cap removal device of the present invention preferably includes a contoured top and a base which combine to provide an envelope for the bottle cap removal device while also providing a lever arm to produce the necessary mechanical advantage in order to reduce hand stress.




In accordance with the present invention, the bottle cap removal device comprises: a body having a portion with an opening therein for receiving the bottle cap, a first portion on one side of the open portion, and a second portion on the opposed side of the open portion; an annular member in at least one of said first and second portions for engagement with a bottle cap disposed in the open portion, and a second surface opposed to said annular member for engagement with said bottle cap in opposition to said annular member; and means for applying increased gripping force on said bottle cap by said annular member upon relative rotation between said annular member and bottle cap.




Further features and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The invention will be better understood by reference to a drawing in which:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of the present invention positioned on a bottle with the interior components exploded; and

FIG. 1



a


is a similar view of the bottle cap removal device.





FIG. 2

is a bottle view graphically representing the automatic cam motion as the handle is rotated;





FIG. 3

is an exploded perspective view of the present invention illustrating the interior components;





FIG. 4

is an exploded perspective view of the present invention illustrating the bottom components;





FIG. 5

is a perspective view illustrating the opener of the present invention on a twist-off cap of a plastic bottle;





FIG. 6

is a perspective view illustrating the opener of the present invention applied to a crimped-on bottle cap of a glass bottle; and





FIGS. 7-13

show alternate embodiments of the present invention.











DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The present invention will be discussed in connection with the enclosed drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like components.




Reference should be had to

FIGS. 1-3

and particularly to

FIG. 3

, which show the preferred embodiment of the opener. The embodiment shown therein includes the following components: an opener


1


which includes an ergonomically contoured top


10


and base


12


; insert for crimped type bottle cap removal


14


; flat head screws


16


; cams


18


; bushings


20


; and torsion springs


22


. The base


12


and top


10


combine to provide the envelope for the opener


1


while also providing a lever arm to produce the necessary mechanical advantage to reduce hand stress. Base


12


and top


10


are desirably separable for repair or adjustment. Gripping the bottle cap is accomplished by means of the two cams


18


. Opener


1


includes an open portion


24


with opening


26


therein, a first portion


28


on one side of the opening and a second portion


30


on the opposed side of the opening. The open portion is desirably centrally located in the opener, although it may be located off-center. When a bottle cap


32


is placed in the open portion


24


of the opener as shown in

FIG. 1

the cams


18


engage the surface of the bottle cap


32


. The distance between the tangent edges


34


between the cams


18


reduce as the opener is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction


36


as shown in

FIG. 2

, which also shows the initial cam position and the direction of handle rotation


38


. Cams


18


move closer together as the opener is rotated as clearly shown in phantom in

FIG. 2

, and thus, apply an increasing gripping force on the bottle cap


32


as the opener


1


is rotated. Screws


16


, as the two screws shown in

FIGS. 1 and 3

, will provide a means to fasten the base


12


to the top


10


as well as a support for the cams


18


, bushings


20


, and the torsion springs


22


. The torsion springs


22


allow for controlled motion of the cams


18


in both directions while also providing a consistent reference position for the cams


18


. The distance between the tangent edges


34


of the two cams


18


is smaller than the outside diameter of the cap


32


. This provides an initial preload on the torsion springs


22


when a bottle cap


32


is placed in the opening


26


of the opener. A bearing surface for the cams is provided by the bushings


20


. The bushings


20


provide a mandrel for the torsion springs


22


and prevent the base


12


and top


10


interface from compressing the cams


18


and restricting their movement.





FIG. 4

shows an exploded, perspective view of opener


1


, clearly showing top


10


and base


12


, as well as insert


14


and screw


16


.

FIGS. 5-6

are perspective views, showing opener


1


, with top and base portions assembled, with

FIG. 5

showing opener


1


positioned on the cap of a plastic bottle


40


for cap removal, and

FIG. 6

showing opener


1


for removal of a crimped on cap


32


of a glass bottle


42


.




Specifically, referring to

FIGS. 7-8

, these describe an alternative to the preferred embodiment shown in

FIGS. 1-3

which allows for the accommodation of a larger range of differing bottle cap sizes. The cap


50


is acted on by two opposing cams


52


,


54


which pivot about bosses


56


in the upper


58


and lower


60


handle or opener housings. The cams


52


,


54


are spring biased by torsion springs


62


,


64


which are supported on bushings


66


,


68


. The biasing force is such that the cams


52


,


54


are forced to swing in a direction that decreases the distance between tangent surfaces. An engagement lever


70


is provided, which when rotated about pivot pin


72


, encounters the primary cam


52


and causes a rotation in opposition to the spring force generated by the torsion spring


64


, effecting contact between the cam


52


and the bottle cap


50


. Once the cams have contacted the bottle cap


50


and a rotational motion of the device in the direction of loosening of the bottle cap is initiated, the friction between the cams


52


,


54


and the bottle cap


50


causes both cams to continue to rotate in opposition to the torsion springs


62


,


64


, reducing the tangential distance between opposing cam surfaces and thereby firmly gripping the bottle cap


50


. As rotation of the opener or handle is continued, the motion is translated to the efficient and expeditious loosening of the aforementioned cap


50


.





FIGS. 9-11

show a modified opener


78


and describe a further alternative embodiment of the present invention which allows for the accommodation of a range of differing bottle cap sizes. This however can be accomplished with a single cam, as opposed to the two-cam configurations described above. Referring to

FIG. 9

, leaf spring


80


acts on the single cam


82


biasing it towards the median aperture


84


of the device such that the distance from the tangent line of the cam


82


and the opposing stationary gripping surface


86


, which is desirably of annular configuration, is slightly less than the diameter of the smallest bottle cap the opener is designed to accommodate. An extended or elongated pivot hole


88


in cam


82


allows for this cam motion relative to fixed pivot pin


90


. As a bottle cap


92


is inserted into aperture or opening


84


, cam


82


is displaced while continuing to be biased against bottle cap


92


by the deformation of the leaf spring


80


. The bottle cap


92


is then maintained in contact with both the cam


82


and the stationary gripping surface


86


at points


94


and


96


. As the opener


78


is rotated in a direction in accordance with the direction of the loosening of bottle cap


92


, the friction acting on cam


82


causes the cam to be rotated about the pivot pin


90


and the apex of the contact surface between the now fully deflected leaf spring


80


and the cam


82


. This rotation decreases the tangential distance between the cam surface and the stationary gripping surface, thereby firmly gripping the bottle cap


92


. As rotation of the handle in the opening direction is continued, the motion is translated to the efficient and expeditious loosening of the aforementioned cap


92


.





FIG. 12

describes a further alternative of the present invention which allows for the reduction in the number of component pieces as well as introducing an alternate direction of engagement between the opener and the bottle cap. Thus,

FIG. 12

shows opener


100


which includes a single cam


102


and a spring loaded actuation as shown in

FIG. 7

, wherein cam


102


pivots about an integral boss


104


and is biased by a torsion spring


106


. The opener engages the bottle cap


108


that is to be removed by approaching from the side against the top down approach described in the previous embodiments. Thus, as the bottle cap


108


approaches from the side (moving from bottom to top in FIG.


12


), the bottle cap


108


encounters both the stationary gripping surface


110


and the cam


102


surface


112


. As the bottle cap


108


is inserted further, the cam


102


is rotationally deflected, increasing the contact loading between the cam


102


and the bottle cap


108


, as well as between the bottle cap


108


and the stationary gripping surface


110


. As the opener


100


is rotated with respect to the bottle cap


108


in the same direction as for loosening said bottle cap, the relative motion causes a rotational movement of the cam


102


in a direction such that the pressure exerted upon the bottle cap


108


is increased. As the rotational motion is continued, the bottle cap


108


becomes tightly held, and further rotation of the device translates to a loosening rotation of the bottle cap.





FIG. 13

describes a further alternative of the present invention which encompasses a simplification to the spring biased cam based mechanism described above. Thus, referring to

FIG. 13

, opener


120


replaces the cam system with a roughened cylinder or sphere


122


entrapped between the upper and lower housings, with

FIG. 12

showing only the lower housing


124


. Sphere


122


is free to roll up an inclined slope


126


which is fixed in the device housings. Opposing the aforesaid sphere


122


is a stationary, annular gripping surface


128


as in previous embodiments. As the opener


120


is engaged with a bottle cap


130


the roughened sphere


122


contacts the cap


130


and a load is applied perpendicular to the tangent line of contact. As the bottle cap


130


is rotated within the device, the sphere


122


, which is free to roll up the inclined surface


126


transfers an increasing load to the cap


130


, whereby the cap is efficiently and expeditiously caused to rotate and loosen.




If desired, more than one or two annular members may be readily provided circumferentially limited about the opening. Thus, for example, 2, 3 or more annular members may readily be provided in order to firmly engage the bottle cap and efficiently and expeditiously open same.




It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts and details of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined by the claims.



Claims
  • 1. Bottle cap removal device, which comprises:a body having a portion with an opening therein for receiving the bottle cap, a first portion on one side of the open portion, and a second portion on the opposed side of the portion; an annular member in at least one of said first and second portions for engagement with a bottle cap disposed in said open portion, and a surface opposed to said annular member for engagement with said bottle cap in opposition to said annular member; and means for applying increased gripping forces on said bottle cap by said annular member and opposed surface upon relative rotation between said annular member and bottle cap, wherein said annular member and said surface include at least one cam pivotably mounted around a fixed point of rotation and biased toward a reference position.
  • 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said body is an elongate body.
  • 3. Device according to claim 1, including rotatable annular members in said first and second portions.
  • 4. Device according to claim 3, wherein said annular members in said first and second portions are cams.
  • 5. Device according to claim 4, wherein said cams pivot about bosses and are spring biased by torsion springs.
  • 6. Device according to claim 5, including an engagement lever which encounters one cam and causes rotation thereof in opposition to spring forces generated by one of said springs.
  • 7. Device according to claim 1, including a rotatable annular member in said first portion and a fixed annular body in said second portion.
  • 8. Device according to claim 7, including a single rotatable annular member comprising a cam which pivots about a boss and is biased by a torsion spring.
  • 9. Device according to claim 7, wherein said annular member is a cylinder or sphere.
  • 10. Device according to claim 9, including an inclined slope adjacent said annular member, wherein said annular member is operative to roll up the inclined slope to firmly engage the bottle cap.
  • 11. Device according to claim 1, wherein said body includes a base and top separable from each other, with said annular member and opposed surface situated therein.
  • 12. Device according to claim 1, including a torsion spring operatively connected to said annular member to permit controlled motion of the annular member.
  • 13. Device according to claim 1, including a leaf spring acting on the annular member and biasing said annular member towards the open portion.
  • 14. Device according to claim 1, wherein said open portion is centrally located in said body.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/325,951, filed Sep. 28, 2001.

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Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/325951 Sep 2001 US