Patent Application
20170008744
The presently disclosed subject matter is directed a tool for removing bottle caps from bottles. More particularly, it is directed to a self-adjusting, self-tightening bottle cap opener that assists removing bottle caps from plastic bottles.
Years ago most beverages such as beer and soda as well as other liquids were sold in glass bottles sealed by pressed-on metal caps. Removing a pressed-on metal cap was performed either by using a bottle cap opener or, later, by twisting. While pressed-on metal glass bottles are still used in some applications the disadvantages of glass bottles are readily apparent. They are heavy, take a long time to cool, are relatively expensive, and they break.
Because of the disadvantages of glass bottles distributors turned to metal cans to distribute liquids. While metal cans had been used for decades to store edibles such as beans and fruit modern advances in the packaging arts enabled them to be used with beverages. Initially, metal cans were tin plated steel cans. Such cans are very rugged and are still used in some applications. However, over time tin plated steel cans generally gave way to aluminum cans. Metal cans initially were “opened” by puncturing their tops with a “church key.” Later, pull tabs, pop tops and push-in openings became common. Metal cans have the advantages that they are rugged, save weight, and increase the rates of cooling. They are however relatively expensive and being metal are not clear.
The limitations of both glass bottles and metal cans lead to the development of plastic bottles. Plastic bottles are suitable for many liquids and are just about the only packaging used for distributing water bottles. Plastic bottles can be clear to enable visual inspection of their stored content. Plastic bottles are very light weight, low cost, easily handled, fairly rugged, and enable rapid cooling of their contest. While plastic bottles have some limitations, such as the need to recycle, they have developed a significant niche in packaging technology.
Decades ago it was discovered that total strangers could be poisoned for profit (extortion) or for other reasons (terrorist attack) by contaminating food and beverage items while on display in stores. After several incidents tamper-resistant packaging became mandatory.
Virtually all plastic bottles are sealed using tamper-resistant twist-off bottle caps that are threaded onto the tops of the plastic bottles and “locked” by a visually inspectable plastic ring. When a tamper-resistant twist-off bottle cap is twisted off it leaves behind a “damaged” break-away plastic ring on the bottle. Visual inspection of the integrity of the bottle cap and ring provides positive proof that the plastic bottle has not been previously tampered with. Tamper-resistant twist-off bottle caps not only protect against contamination but they also enable a consumer to remove some of the liquid and to then reseal the plastic bottle.
While highly effective in sealing and protecting against contamination, tamper-resistant twist-off bottle caps can be difficult to remove, especially for the young, the elderly, and others having physical limitations or that lack the necessary hand strength. Even for healthy adults removing twist-off bottle caps can be a chore. The difficulty of removing tamper-resistant twist-off bottle caps is partially because they are usually made a tough, hard plastic such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP). Such materials require a user to break a rather strong lock between the bottle cap and its safety ring. Another cause of the difficulty of removing tamper-resistant twist-off bottle caps is that they are designed to prevent the escape of liquids or gas. Thus they are installed tight enough to provide a gas and liquid seal. As pressure differentials between the interior and exterior of a bottle develop an even stronger “locking force” is created that must be overcome to remove the bottle cap.
In view of the foregoing a bottle cap opener that makes it easier for a user to remove a bottle cap would be beneficial. Even more beneficially would be a bottle cap opener that is fast and easy to use. Preferably such a bottle cap opener would provide a mechanical advantage that reduces the hand strength needed to unscrew a bottle cap. In addition, it would be beneficial if the bottle cap opener provided a secure grip on bottle caps of many different sizes, ensured a positive engagement with the bottle cap, and provided a strong gripping force between the bottle cap and the bottle cap opener. Ideally such a bottle cap opener would be self-adjusting to fit the size of the bottle cap being opened and self-tightening to enable almost everyone to remove a bottle cap from almost any bottle.
The principles of the present invention provide for a wrap-around, self-adjusting bottle cap opener which makes it easy for a user to remove a twisted-on bottle cap. The wrap-around bottle cap opener provides a mechanical advantage that reduces the hand strength needed to unscrew the bottle cap. The inventive wrap-around bottle cap opener also provides a positive engagement with twist-on bottle caps of many different sizes and provides a positive grip on the bottle cap using a self-tightening grip which mates with the outer perimeter of the bottle cap. The wrap-around bottle cap opener is also easy and convenient to use.
A bottle cap opener that is in accord with the present invention includes a handle having a generally “U” shaped outer perimeter, a flexible arm that extends from the handle and which is biased to form a generally circular wrap adjacent the handle “U”, and a grip at the end of the flexible arm and which is located within the wrap.
The grip is preferably located within the wrap and may be comprised of a low durometer material. The bottle cap opener beneficially includes a finger recess and/or a cap opener for beer or soda bottle tabs on a side opposite the side from which the flexible arm extends. The bottle cap opener may also include a ring aperture through the handle. Preferably the handle is comprised of a hard plastic material such as Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polyethylene, or Polypropylene. The bottle cap opener can include a direction indicator, preferably on the handle.
The grip should be made from a low durometer material such as is Silicone or a thermoplastic elastomer. The grip includes a tubular body that fits over the end of the flexible arm. The grip also may include a flat face that extends above the tubular body.
The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
The preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted in
The terms “a” and “an” as used herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. In addition, unless otherwise denoted all directional signals such as in, out, up, down, left, and right are taken with reference to
Referring now primarily to
Referring now primarily to
Except for the tab opener/finger recess 14, which may be a metal insert, the handle 12 is preferably made from a hard plastic material such as Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polyethylene (PE), or Polypropylene (PP). Neglecting the tab opener/finger recess 14, the handle 12 generally has a “U” shaped outer perimeter. Toward the bottom of the handle 12 is a ring aperture 18. The ring aperture 18 is useful for storing the wrap-around bottle cap opener 10 on a peg such as a nail (not shown) or for receiving a ring, chain, or lanyard, (also not shown) so that the wrap-around bottle cap opener 10 can be used as a keychain or for attachment to an external structure.
At the top of the handle 12 on the side opposite the tab opener/finger recess 14 is an integral flexible arm 28 that is internally biased to form a generally circular wrap 26 when external force is not applied to the flexible arm 28. The end of the flexible arm 28 terminates in a grip 30, which is also shown in
Referring now to
To remove a bottle cap 100 the flexible arm 28 is opened to fit around a bottle cap 100. Then, the handle 12 is rotated in the direction of the direction indicator 32. This causes the grip 30 to contact the outer perimeter of the bottle cap 100. Most bottle caps 100 have ridges that extend parallel to the central axis of the bottle. As the grip 30 is made of a compliant (low durometer) material the grip 30 tends to “grab” the ridges. Additional rotation of the handle 12 in the direction of the direction indicator 32 forces the flexible arm 28 to contact the “U” portion of the handle 12. This forces the grip 30 toward the bottle cap 100 and causes the grip to partially flow into the bottle cap ridges and thus providing an improved grip. Continued rotation of the handle 12 forces the flexible arm 28 and the grip 30 to twist the bottle cap 100, thus tending to remove it from a bottle.
To assist removing a tab the end of the tab opener/finger recess 14 is fit under the end of the tab and then the tab opener/finger recess 14 is rotated against the lid to pry the tab upwards.
The foregoing description of a specific embodiment of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form that is disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
