WO1991018822A1

WO1991018822A1 - Opener

Info

Publication number: WO1991018822A1
Application number: PCT/AU1991/000245
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Caione; Campbell Alan Rose; Philip Thomas Rose
Original assignee: Triquip Pty Ltd.
Priority date: 1990-06-08
Filing date: 1991-06-07
Publication date: 1991-12-12

Abstract

An opener device (1) including a handle (2) and a cap engaging means (8), the cap engaging means defining an opening to receive a cap and comprising at least one protrusion adapted to engage serrations or screw threads formed in the cap, the protrusion having at least one ridge (10) which extends in both a radial and axial direction about the periphery of the opening. A device for lifting or removing a ring pull or tab from a container including a means, for pivotal attachment to a handle, and comprising a base and a pair of arms configured to define a cavity to receive the ring pull or tab is also disclosed. Further disclosed is a combination tool that includes both the above devices together with a cork screw, a piercing opener, a cutter and a crown cap remover.

Description

Opener

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to devices to open normally sealed products such as bottles, cans and other containers .

Background of the Invention

Conventionally, fluid products are sealed in containers so that the contents of the containers cannot leak to the outside atmosphere. Likewise such seals prevent ingress of contaminants into the container which may cause spoilage of the product.

Basically, the containers are usually sealed in four ways. The first is to provide the neck of the container with a cap. These caps may be screw-threaded or friction -fitted such as crown-sealed. The second type of seal forms an integral part of the container. For example, an aluminium can which has a line of weakness formed into its upper end and a ring-pull or tab both of which by movement cause the upper end to open about the line of weakness . The third type is for glass bottles In which corks are used as an alternative to caps. The fourth is the vacuum-sealed type steel can in which it is necessary to physically pierce or cut an outer surface to gain access to the contents .

Whilst it is recognised by the public that drinks need to be sealed tightly in vessels, many people have difficulty opening the container which contains the drinks . In particular, seals often need to be tightly secured to or integral with the containers to maintain carbonation or prevent contamination, making them difficult to open. Many persons, including handicapped persons (such as arthritis sufferers or the blind), have neither the strength nor the dexterity to open the seal (e. g. ring-pull or tab) and can cut themselves or break finger nails .

There have been many attempts to provide either seals which are more easily opened or devices to simplify the removal of the seal. One such device is disclosed in Australian patent No. 580,466. This opener

SUBSTITUTE SHEET contains an opening having a bore tapering from a large diameter to a smaller diameter. The bore has a plurality of longitudinal flutes of constant cross-section adapted to mesh into corrugations formed in the periphery of twist tops and to bite into peripheral surfaces of caps . The opener needs to be pushed firmly down over the cap. This opener is only useful if the cap fits snugly into one of the flutes. Further, if the flutes do not adequately grip the bottle cap, then the opener will not function without the operator exerting additional downwards pressure upon the cap. A similar device is also disclosed in patent AU-A-81283/82.

Another opener device is disclosed in international patent application no. PCT/AU88/00503. The opener relies on serrations to grip the cap. Australian patent No. 527, 230 also discloses a device for opening a screw cap. However, the opening is defined by resilient material which can grip -ⁿ- elastically hold the screw cap.

Yet another device is disclosed in petty patent AU-B- 12736/88 to assist in opening a can. The device has a handle from which a hollow U-shaped arm extends. The U-shaped arm is placed around the lifting tab and the device pivoted about the free end of the U-shaped arm. The ring-pull or tab may disengage from the U-shaped arm if the device is inadvertently moved sideways. Further, if a ring-pull is present, the device does not permit the ring-pull to be positively engaged for removal of the ring and weakened metal area away from the container.

Another similar opener device is disclosed in patent AU 17087/83. A flattened tool is disclosed having an opening adapted to receive a tab on a container. Pivoting of the tool about the opening causes the tab to press down upon a weakened area of the container top.

Description of the Invention

In one embodiment of the invention, an opener device is provided which includes a handle, and a cap engaging means defining an opening. The cap engaging means is adapted to engage a twist or screw cap. The

SUBSTITUTE SHEET cap is loosened from the container by placing the cap engaging means about the cap and rotating the handle.

The cap engaging means comprises at least one protrusion adapted to engage either serrations about a cap or the screw thread formed in the cap. The protrusion is at least one ridge which extends in both radial and axial direction about the periphery of the opening. Preferably the ridge is continuous. In a further preferred embodiment, the ridge has a decreasing radius of curvature, more preferable the radius of curvature decreases axially along the periphery of the opening.

In a separate preferred embodiment of the invention, the opener device includes a cutter. Preferably, the cutter is located on the handle of the opener device adjacent the cap engaging means. More preferably, the cutter protrudes from a concave surface of the handle. In use the concave surface approximates the curvature of a bottle to enable the protruding cutter to engage firmly into any protective or decorative packaging placed around the neck of the bottle .

In another separate embodiment of the invention, the opener device includes a means to lift and preferably remove a ring-pull or tab from a container. The means comprises a base and a pair of arms extending therefrom. Each of the arms has Its free end preferably orientated towards the other free end. In use the base can be easily slipped between the ring-pull or tab and the upper surface of the container. The arms are also adapted to pass through and engage a ring-pull to facilitate the removal of the ring-pull should this be required. This means may be pivotally attached to the handle and, when not in use, fit snugly against the handle . However, in its operative position it extends the length of the handle, allowing increased leverage if other opening means are positioned at or adjacent the other end of the handle.

In use the base can be easily positioned between the ring-pull or tab and the body of the container and pivoted about its end to raise the ring-pull or tab to break the seal with the surface of the can.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET Each of the above embodiments of the invention is separate from the other. However, combinations of the separate embodiments may be utilised in a single opener according to the invention.

Description of the drawings

The invention will now be illustrated in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent an opener device incorporating all of the separate preferred embodiments of the invention as described above .

With reference to the accompanying drawings :

Figure 1 is a plan view of the opener device according to one preferred form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of a fully opened form of the opener device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the base component part of the opener device of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side view of the component of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross -sectional view along A - A of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is plan view of a ring-pull or tab component of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a side view of the component of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an end view of the component of Figure 6;

Figure 9 Is a partial plan view of a portion of the handle of Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a side view of the partial view of Figure 9;

B TITUT SHEET Figure 11 is a partial plan view of a portion of the handle of Figure 2;

Figure 12 is a side view of the partial view of Figure 11.

As can be seen primarily from Figures 1 and 2, the opener device 1 comprises a handle 2. Handle 2 has an approximately U-shaped cross-section to define an opening which can house a cork screw 3. Cork screw 3 has a screw end 4 and a plain shaft 5. Plain shaft 5 is rotatably mounted upon pivot 6 so that the screw end 4 can be located out of sight within the U-shaped opening when not in use. In use the cork screw 3 is rotated about pivot 6 and handle 2 is used in conjunction with opener 13 to assist the insertion of screw end 4 into a cork and removal of the cork from a container.

The opener device 1 has a cap engaging means 8. The cap engaging means 8 comprises a ring 9 which is integrally formed with handle 2. On the inner periphery of ring 9 are three ridges 10. Each ridge 10 has a radius which decreases with the axial depth of the ring 9. Accordingly, each ridge describes a helical or spiral path. In use, the opener device 1 is inverted and ring 9 placed over a cap (not shown) . The ridges 10 may engage into the screw threads of the cap. If the cap is a twist top cap rather than a screw top cap, the leading edges 11 of the ridges 10 will engage the serrations of the twist top cap or deform the cap to permit removal. Twisting force is applied to the cap by use of handle 2 and optionally opener 13 when in the fully extended position.

At end 12 of handle 2 is opener 1^3. Opener 13 is U-shaped comprising a flat base 14 and arms 15. Opener 13 is more particularly shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. Pivot pin 16 connects opener 13 to handle 2. When not in use opener 13 is rotated about pin 16 so that arms 15 are located within handle 2. Opener 13 is specifically designed to raise either a ring-pull or tab from its normal approximately flat position upon the upper end of a container (not shown) to a more prone position. If flat base 14 is moved under the ring-pull or tab, the tab is located entirely within opening 17. Alternatively, the ring-pull rides up and over arms 15. When flat base 14 is in place it is rotated about its free end 18 6. to lever the ring-pull or tab away from the upper surface of the container. Arms 15, being displaced inwardly towards one another, provide a surface over which a ring-pull may be engaged. In this arrangement the opener device 1 may be moved so that a pulling force is applied to the ring-pull to remove it from the container. The opener 13 may also be rotated normal to handle 2 and in that position cooperate with cork screw 3 and handle 2 as a fulcrum for the withdrawal of corks from bottles .

At end 19 of handle 2, three other devices are provided. The first is a piercing opener 20 which comprises two generally parallel arms 21 and 22 which are adapted to co-operate with the rim of a container (not shown) , and by a lever action arm 21 is forced through the upper surface of the container. Alternatively, arms 21 and 22 cooperate to allow the removal of crown seals from containers.

The second device is a cutter 23 located on a concave surface 24. This is more particularly shown in Figures 9 and 10. Cutter 23 is adapted to be used to remove protective or decorative packaging placed around the neck of a bottle. The concave surface approximates the curvature of the neck of the bottle to enable the cutter to be held firmly about the neck of the bottle.

The third device is an opener 25 of conventional shape. The opener 25 has a cutting edge 26 (detailed in Figure 11) and a complementary member 27. These are formed as integral parts of handle 2. Cutting edge 26 and member 27 may be used either to remove crown seals or alternatively to cut out ends of a metal can.

According to the invention it is possible to provide a multi-functional opener in a compact shape. The opener is adapted to open seals which heretofore have required either complicated devices or separate utensils . In its preferred forms it is adapted to be essentially manufactured from a single material with attached rotating parts to achieve a compact result.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows .

1. An opener device including a handle and a cap engaging means, the cap engaging means defining an opening to receive a cap and comprising at least one protrusion adapted to engage serrations or screw threads formed in the cap, the protrusion having at least one ridge which extends in both a radial and axial direction about the periphery of the opening.

2. An opener device according to claim 1 wherein the ridge extends about a portion of the opening.

- An opener device according to either claims 1 or 2 wherein the ridge is continuous.

4. An opener device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the ridge has a decreasing radius of curvature.

5. An opener device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the ridge has a radius of curvature which decreases axially along the periphery of the opening.

6. An opener device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 further including cutter means.

7. An opener device according to claim 6 wherein the cutter means is located on the handle .

8. An opener device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 further including means to lift and/or remove a ring pull or tab from a container comprising a base and a pair of arms extending therefrom, the arms and the base defining a cavity to receive the ring pull or tab.

9. An opener device according to claim 8 wherein the means further comprises a second pair of arms extending from the base and forming projections to receive a ring pull.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

10. An opener device including means to lift and/or remove a ring pull or tab from a container and a handle, the means and the handle pivotally attached to one another, the means comprising a base and a pair of arms extending therefrom, the arms and the base defining a cavity to receive the ring pull or tab.

11. An opener device according to claim 10 wherein the means further comprises a second pair of arms extending from the base and forming projections to receive a ring pull.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET