GB2103193A - Bottle opener - Google Patents

Abstract

Means to assist in the removal of covers from containers comprises a receptacle 14 or 16 of conical or frusto-conical shape the inner surface 22 or 24 of which is of a material providing good frictional resistance, whereby the base of a container can be inserted in the receptacle so as to engage the inner surface thereof. When downward pressure is applied to the container the resulting reaction between the container base and the receptacle is such as to secure the container against slippage in the receptacle when rotary force is applied to its cover. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Means to assist in the removal of covers from containers This invention relates to means to assist in the removal of covers from containers.

The common practice of manufacturers in securing screw-threaded covers to containers using substantial mechanical force and often under vacuum results in considerable difficulty of the purchaser of the container in subsequently removing the cover. This difficulty is experienced by persons of either sex and of all ages but it is particularly troublesome where the purchaser is infirm or otherwise does not have the necessary grip to grip securely both the cover and the container to effect removal of the former. The difficulty is compounded where the purchaser is a person who has the use of only one hand, and in such circumstances it can prove virtually impossible for him to remove the cover of the containers referred to above.

There is, therefore, a demand for a means to assist consumers in the removal of screwthreaded and other covers in the home.

The present invention provides means to assist in effecting the removal of covers from containers, which is simple, cheap and reliable.

In one form of the invention the means comprises a receptacle of inwardly tapering shape the inner surface of which is of a material providing good frictional resistance, whereby the base of a container can be inserted in the receptacle so as to engage the inner surface thereof, and when downward pressure is applied to the container the resulting reaction between the container base and the receptacle is such as to secure the container against slippage in the receptacle when rotary force is applied to its cover. Normaily the downward pressure need not be greater than that exerted by the weight of the user's hand.

Although the invention is described below with particular reference to receptacles having a symmetrical frusto-conical or conical shape, it will be appreciated that other shapes can also be suitable if they provide one or more surfaces against which the lower edge or other lower portion of the container can be wedged or gripped. For example, the receptacle does not need to have a continuous wall but can take the form of two or more separate surfaces or other support means provided that those means together are suitable frictionally to engage the lower portion of the container and resist relative rotary motion when said lower portion is pressed against them.

Referring now, by way of example, to the receptacles of the invention which have a continuous wall of frusto-conical shape, they can be of any suitable material but are very conveniently produced by moulding from plastics material.

Where the plastics material is suitable the necessary frictional resistance can be provided by the plastics material itself, or it can be provided by use of a suitable lining or other member disposed on the inner surface of the receptacle.

The lining may be moulded from a plastics material and may be provided with locating means co-operable with corresponding locating means provided on the receptacle.

In a preferred form of the invention the receptacle is formed in a housing moulded from a plastics material. Alternatively it may be formed in a kitchen worktop. The housing can, for example, take the form of a hollow box the lid of which supports one or more suitably sized receptacle or receptacles and the box being such that it can readily be prevented from moving on a work surface.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a housing means to assist in the removal of covers from containers.

Fig. 2 shows a similar view of a lining for receptacles in the housing.

A housing moulded from plastics material in the form of a hollow box comprises four upstanding sides 10 and a top 12, the sides 10 projecting above the upper surface of the top 12 such that they define a peripheral flange around the top 12. Extending downwardly from the top 12 are three frusto-conical receptacles 14, 16, 18 each having a different upper diameter and substantially the same cone angle, the upper diameter of the smaller receptacle 1 8 being slightly greater than the lower diameter of the intermediate receptacle 1 6. Similarly the upper diameter of the intermediate receptacle 1 6 is slightly greater than the lower diameter of the largest receptacle 14. With an arrangement of this nature a "continuous" taper is provided by all three receptacles.Each receptacle is provided with four equi-spaced location grooves 20 and five locating holes 22 are formed in the top 12.

A lining of a plastics material having a high coefficient of friction is shown in Fig. 2, the lining having a shape, formed by moulding, which corresponds to that of the top 1 2 and receptacles 14, 16, 18. The lining is provided with locating protuberances 26 on the outer surface of its receptacles, the inner surface of the receptacle being suitabiy roughened, for example by closely spaced longitudinally extending grooves.

Extending downwardly from the upper deck 28 of the lining are five locating pins 30. Friction pads (not shown) are provided on the base of the housing.

It will be realised that the lining can be interfitted with the housing with the receptacles in the lining located in the corresponding receptacles 14, 1 6, 1 8 of the housing, the locating protrusions 26 located in the locating grooves 20, and the locating pins 30 located in the locating holes 22. It will be further appreciated that the raised rim formed by the top end of the walls 10 will, together with the upper surface of the deck 28, provide a flush surface for the upper side of the assembly of housing and lining.

In operation, the user selects the appropriate receptacle in accordance with the diameter of dimensions of the base of the container to be opened and with one hand depresses the container down into the receptacle until its base, due to the tapering nature of the receptacle is wedged therein. While maintaining downward pressure the cap of the container is rotated to release it, the wedging action coupled with the high co-efficient of friction of the lining material restraining the container against rotation while the cap is removed.

It will be realised that to close the container the reverse procedure is employed.

Various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention for example the receptacles need not be incorporated in a housing but may be provided in suitably shaped receptacles formed into a work surface.

The housing described with reference to Fig. 1 is hollow to ensure that a minimum amount of material is employed. It could, however, be solid, being manufactured from plastics material or natural material such as wood. In a simple version the lining need not be moulded but can be fabricated from sheet material glued or otherwise fixed to the inside of each receptacle.

Receptacles of the invention can be of value in removing "snap-on" covers for containers so the receptacle is of a shape such that the container can be stably supported therein. The cover can then be prised off using only one hand.

Claims (14)

Claims

1. Means to assist in the removal of covers from containers including a receptacle of inwardly tapering shape the inner surface of which is of a material providing good frictional resistance, whereby the base of a container can be inserted in the receptacle so as to engage the inner surface thereof, and when downward pressure is applied to the container the resulting reaction between the container base and the receptacle is such as to secure the container against slippage in the receptacle when rotary force is applied to its cover.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1, in which a plurality of receptacles each of different dimension is provided.

3. Means as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the receptacles are conical or frustoconical.

4. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the or each receptacle has a discontinuous wall.

5. Means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the or each receptacle is formed in a housing moulded from a plastics material.

6. Means as claimed in claim 5, in which the housing is hollow and the or each receptacle is supported from the top of the box.

7. Means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the or each receptacle is lined with a friction material.

8. Means as claimed in claim 7, in which the lining is moulded from plastics material.

9. Means as claimed in claim 8 in which the moulding includes linings for all the receptacles of the housing the linings being interconnected by a desk portion adapted in use to rest on the top of the housing.

10. Means as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9, in which co-acting locating means are formed on the lining and housing.

11. Means as claimed in claim 10, in which the locating means are protrusions formed on the outer wall of the lining which extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lining and corresponding grooves in the receptacle.

12. Means as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, in which the locating means are pins formed from the deck portion of the lining and corresponding holes in the top of the housing.

13. Means as claimed in any one of the claims 5 to 12, in which friction pads are formed on the base of the housing.

14. Means as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 13, in which the lining has grooves formed in its outer surface.

1 5. Means to assist in the removal of covers from containers substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.