Abstract:
A bottle and jar lid opener suitable for single hand operation. The opener includes a jar gripping assembly to restrain the jar which has a band tightened by lengthening or shortening the band to engage the band about the body to secure the jar to said band support and base. A wrench also includes a band of material forming a loop tightened about the lid. Rotation of the wrench tightens the band. Any movement of the jar in response to torque applied to the lid for opening thereof causes the jar to roll along a support leading surface to further tighten the band.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.  08 / 567 , 283  filed by Applicant herein on Dec. 5, 1995 and titled “Bottle and Jar Lid Opener.” 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to devices that facilitate opening of screw-type lids from bottles, jars, jugs and other containers. More specifically the present invention relates to a bottle and jar opener suitable for removing lids using one hand.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Various bottle and jar lid openers have been disclosed in the prior art. The prior art devices generally attempt to replicate the lid gripping and twisting motions involved in manual removal of a secured lid. Some devices known in the art also provide means to increase the torque by increasing the lever arm of the opener. Examples of openers are U.S. Pat. No. 715,226 issued Dec. 16, 1902 where a band is secured about the jar using a lever arrangement and a band wrench is disposed about the lid. The jar is placed on a platform secured by what appears to be fasteners, the platform supporting the jar banding mechanism. Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 951,203 issued Mar. 8, 1910 shows another jar opener where the jar is banded and an adjustable band wrench is disposed about the lid.  
           [0004]    Other exemplary bottle and jar lid openers that require the jar to be held by one hand while the lid is manipulated are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. No.: 2,698,549 to Campbell, U.S. Pat. No. 2,710,551 to Walters, U.S. Pat. No. 2,719,444 to Zeller, U.S. Pat. No. 2,749,748 to Hrebricek, U.S. Pat. No. 3,343,432 to Nagy, U.S. Pat. No. 3,453,911 to Carter, U.S. Pat. No. 3,604,289 to Steel, U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,296 to Craver, U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,614 to Kovacevic, U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,205 to Hoskins, U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,917 to Gee, U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,470 to Woloszyn, U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,207 to Yu, U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,544 to Glazer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,576 to Floyd, U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,295 to Floyd, U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,485 to Wu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,482 to Floyd and U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,552 to Brand et al.  
           [0005]    In Weisband, U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,857 a rather elaborate bottle and jar lid opener is disclosed which includes jar and lid gripping means. U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,142 to Dickson also recognizes the problem of securing the body of a bottle or jar for removal; of a lid by a disabled or weak-handed person. The Dickson invention discloses a bottle or jar gripping device, which retains the body of the bottle or jar in a stationary position by exerting body pressure against the device which, in turn, engages the bottle or jar. Thereby both hands are free to remove the lid from the bottle or jar.  
           [0006]    Persons who need or desire a tool to facilitate the opening of bottle or jar lids are generally persons who have arm, hand or wrist limitations. The structural and operational complexity of the prior art bottle or jar openers has limited their commercial acceptability. As previously mentioned, tightly secured lids tend to cause the body of the jar or bottle to rotate when an attempt is made to remove the lid. This problem, which has been generally overlooked by the prior art, it is particularly troublesome for disabled persons who cannot restrain the jar or bottle and simultaneously rotate the lid for removal, such as persons with a single, usable arm or hand. Many prior art devices, such as Weisband, assume that the persons can use one hand to restrain the bottle or jar and the other hand will be used to remove the lid. For other devices, it is assumed that the device will be permanently secured to a fixed substrate such as a wall or counter as suggested in Harrington discussed above.  
           [0007]    Thus, it should be understood that there is a need for a device and method which enables a disabled person to remove a screw lid from a bottle or jar, which enables a person with a single usable hand or arm to remove a lid, which does not require permanent mounting to a kitchen counter or wall, which is portable and which is simple and easy to use.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    There is, therefore, set forth according to the present invention a bottle and jar opener which is simple, easy to use, is portable and is usable by disabled persons, even those with a single usable arm or hand.  
           [0009]    According there is set forth a one handed opener for removing the lid from a jar, which includes a base adapted to rest on a flat surface. A band support up stands from the base, the band support having a surface to engage the side of ajar. The surface may be arcuate. A flexible jar band has one end secured to the band support and extends around the body of the bottle or jar and has the other end passing though a slot defined through the band support. The jar bands other end is received through a slot in the jar band support. When jar band slides in the slot in jar band support, it causes the jar band to fit about the jar or bottle to secure jar or bottle to the base. Means are provided for imposing suction between the base and a flat surface, such as a counter top, to secure the base against movement.  
           [0010]    Also provided is a jar top wrench including a lid band adjustably disposed on the wrench to be wrapped about the lid. The wrench includes a nose disposed to trap the lid band against the lid to forcibly grip the same as the wrench is moved to unscrew the lid.  
           [0011]    Accordingly, the device and method of the present invention may be used by a handicapped person to remove the lid from a bottle or jar.  
           [0012]    Further the device may be used by anyone for the same purpose. The device is adjustable, of simple construction and use. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    These and other features and advantages will become appreciated, as the same becomes better understood with reference to the specification, claims and drawings wherein:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a three dimensional perspective view of the bottle and jar lid opener according to the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a top view of a jar being placed on the base within a jar band, formed as a loop of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a jar secured on the base by the jar band, formed as a loop to the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the assembled platform of FIG. 3 to the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is showing the rubber membrane with two metal inserts of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of one of the chambers, with one of the metal inserts exposed to present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a plan side view of the lid wrench;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the lid wrench with an exploded view of a lid band guide button;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a three dimensional breakdown of lid wrench;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is an end nose view of the wrench nose;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 is a view of the backside of the wrench nose; and  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 is a side view of metal insert and to left is a top view of metal insert. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]    In the following description of the invention, the term “jar” should be understood to include bottles or other containers having a lid or plug which is threadably secured to the jar to define a closure therefor. “Lid” should be understood to not only embrace a lid but threaded tops and plugs as well.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 illustrates a jar opener  1  according to the present invention shown coupled to a jar “A” having a removable, twist off lid “B”. Opener  1  provides means to sufficiently loosen the lid B so that the lid B can thereafter be easily removed by hand.  
         [0028]    The opener  1  includes a jar band support  29  and a gripping lid wrench  40  adapted to grip the lid B for rotation thereof. The support  29 , as shown in FIG. 1, is adapted to restrain the jar A to a fixed substrate such as counter top (not shown) so that the lid B may be loosened by one hand using the wrench  40  and, if desired, removed.  
         [0029]    To restrain the jar A to the assembly, a jar band support  29  has a flexible jar band  21  and a base platform  30 . The wrench  40  includes a rigid wrench arm  50  and a flexible lid band  60 .  
         [0030]    To secure jar A against jar band support  29 , the jar band  21  has a first end  21   a  formed as a loop about a post  300  secured to and upstanding from the base platform  30 . Opposite the first end  21   a , the jar band  21  has a free second end  21   b . The band  21  is formed into a loop  21  disposed above the platform  30  (FIGS. 2 and 3) and is adapted to go around the jar A. The loop  21  can be adjusted to fit the size of a jar A by pulling second end  21   b  to proper size. The second end passes through a slot  202  defined between the post  300  and band support  29  as shown in FIGS. 2-3. By pulling on the second end  21   b  the jar band loop  21  can be fitted about the jar A. The loop  21  should be left loose enough to rotate jar A along a leading edge  200  of the band support to center of base plate  30 . As shown, the leading edge tapers or diverges away from the jar A such that rotation of the jar A along the leading edge  200  in response to the imposition of torque, tightens the jar band. When this is accomplished, jar A rotates against the jar band support  29  which secures it against jar band support leading edge  200  (FIGS. 2-3). When this takes the band loop  21   c  is pulled against the jar band  21   e  and then pulled against jar band support  29 a and secures the jar band  21  from slipping around the jar A (FIGS. 2 and 3) and to secure the jar A to the band support  29 .  
         [0031]    As can be seen in FIG. 2, to fix the platform  30  of the FIG. 1 to a substrate such as a counter top, a plurality of platform suction cups  91  are disposed on the bottom surface  30   a  of the base platform  30 . To secure the base platform  30  to a flat surface, suction cups  91  are preferably wetted before pressing the base platform  30  onto the flat surface.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 6 and 4 illustrate a second embodiment of a base platform  30  for the FIG. 1. Base platform  30  has a polygonal shape and generally includes a platform support portion  80 , a platform suction portion  90  and a suction lever assembly  100 . Platform support portion  80  is substantially a cover for the base platform  30  that is receivable in the platform suction portion  90 . A vacuum is formed between the platform support portion  80  and the platform suction portion  90 .  
         [0033]    As can best be seen in FIG. 4, platform support  80  includes a flat top wall  80   a , and a downwardly extending central wall  80   c . Suction lever assembly  100  rotatably engages opposing orifices  81  formed in the peripheral edge  80   b  and a central orifice  82  formed in the central wall  80   c  of platform support portion  80 . Suction lever assembly  100  interacts with the platform suction portion  90  as hereinafter described to secure the base platform  30  to a flat substrate surface such as a counter top.  
         [0034]    As shown in FIGS. 6 and 4 platform suction portion  90  includes a peripheral slotted arm  91  and a central slotted arm  92  which respectfully receive the peripheral edge  80   b  and central wall  80   c  of platform support portion  80  (FIG. 4). When platform support portion  80  and platform suction portion  90  are engaged the central wall  80   c  of the platform support portion  80  divided the interior of the second base platform  30  into respective first and second vacuum chambers  71 ,  72 . Platform suction portion  90  is preferably formed from molded rubber or other elastic material. First and second flexible bearing plates  93 ,  94  are centrally disposed on a top portion of the platform. suction portion  90  in the respective first and second vacuum chambers  71 ,  72 . The vacuum formed in the respective vacuum chambers  71 ,  72  of the base platform  30  causes the platform suction portion  90  to have an upwardly curving contour.  
         [0035]    Operation of the suction lever assembly  100  selectively depresses and releases first and second bearing plates  93 ,  94  to thereby adhere platform suction portion  90  to a flat surface such as a counter top. Suction lever assembly  100  includes an extended rod  101  having a crank handle  101   a  formed at one end of rod  101  and disposed to an outward side of the base platform  81 . Suction lever assembly  100  further includes respective first and second lever support dogs  101   b ,  101   c  which align with the respective bearing plates  93 ,  94  of the platform suction portion  90 . First and second bearing arms  102 ,  103  are attached to the respective first and second lever support dogs  101   b ,  101   c  or the rod  101 . First and second bearing arms  102 ,  103  include respective first and second pressure plates  102   a ,  103   a  and first and second pressure plate lever supports  102   b ,  103   b  that extend vertically upward from the respective first and second pressure plates  102   a  and  103   a . First and second lever supports  102   b ,  103   b  include respective first and second elongated slots  104 ,  105  (FIGS. 4-12) for receipt of the first and second lever support dogs  10 l b ,  101   c . Crank handle portion  101   a  is rotated in a first direction to move the respective pressure plates  102   a ,  103   a  upwardly to engage the flexible bearing plates  93 ,  94  of the platform suction  90  and thereby secure base platform  30  to the flat surface. Crank handle portion  101   a  is rotated in the opposite direction to release the bearing plates  93 ,  94  and thereby release the platform suction portion  90  to return to its normal position. Utilizing the suction lever assembly  100 , the base platform  30  can be readily secured to a flat surface by a single hand with little physical effort. Thereby, in combination with the jar band support  29  and jar band  21 , the jar A can be restrained against rotation.  
         [0036]    To loosen the lid B that is moderately secured to ajar A, the base platform  30  is first secured to a flat surface such as a counter top. The jar A is placed on the platform  30  and the jar band  21  is extended about the jar A and its end  21   b  is threaded through the band support  29  slot  202 . Thus, a person with a single arm or hand may secure and restrain the jar A to the substrate such as a counter top for loosening the lid B. With a single hand the lid B may be loosened. However, where the lid B is tightly secured to jar A, the lever wrench  40  may be used to loosen the lid B for removal.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 1 illustrates a lever wrench according to the present invention. The lever wrench  40  includes a wrench arm  50  and a flexible lid band  60 . Wrench  50  includes an elongated wrench handle  51  having an arcuate nose  52  disposed at one end. The inner wall  52   a  of the wrench nose  52  is concave and extends from a distal end of the wrench nose  52  to wrench handle  51   a . A lid band slot  53  extends longitudinally along the handle  51  from the end of the handle  51  and through the rise  51   a . Lid band slot  53  receives the lid band  60  in sliding engagement as hereinafter described.  
         [0038]    A lid band guide  54  is receivable within the lid band slot  53  to extend over the lid band  60 . Lid band guide  54  is substantially a two-pronged fork having paired, parallel prongs  55   a ,  55   b  formed at the proximal end of the lid band guide  54  and lid band head  56  formed at the distal end of the band guide  54 . a guide slot  55   c  is formed between the respective parallel prongs  55   a ,  55   b  and extends through the lid band head  56 . Lid band head  56  is formed having a rearwardly angled head extension  56   a . Lid band  61  is fixedly attached at one end thereof the head extension  56   a . The width of the guide slot  55   c  is slightly larger than the width of the lid band  61  to retain the lid band within the handle  51  (FIG.9). Handle  51  includes a plurality of finger recesses  51   c  formed in an outer wall  51   b  of the handle  51  to facilitate manual grasping. Handle  51  further includes a stem  57  having a stem orifice  57   a  formed therein for hanging storage of the lever wrench  40 . Lever wrench  40  may alternatively be stored by inserting the stem  57  in a wrench storage slot  83  formed in the platform support portion  80  of the platform  30  (FIG.1).  
         [0039]    Referring again to FIG. 1 it can be seen that the lid band  60  is substantially a flexible strip of material  61  that extends from the head extension  56   a  through the guide  53  form a closed loop. A lid band guide button  62  is disposed at the free end of the strip of material  61  to facilitate adjustment of the size of the closed loop formed by the strip of material  61 . A plurality of raised band protrusions  63  are disposed along the strip of material  61  to facilitate the adjustment of the lid band  60  using a single hand. By using the thumb to engage the button  62  or protrusions  63  the lid band material  61  may be slid though the slot  53  to expand and contract the loop.  
         [0040]    Reference is now made to FIG. 1 which illustrates the engagement and operation of lever wrench  40  on the lid B. The closed loop formed by the strip of material  61  is first disposed about the lid B. The loop is tightened about the lid B as described above. As shown by the phantom line, the handle  51  is manipulated in a counterclockwise direction first causing the nose  52  to engage the side of the jar A and band  61 . Further rotation of the handle  51  causes the nose  52  to pivot against the side of the jar A and taking up any remaining looseness in the band to further tighten the band  61  about the lid B. Continued rotation the handle imparts torque to the lid B for loosening thereof. It should be noted that the imparted torque may tend to rotate the jar A instead of loosening the lid B. Such torque, if the jar A is not completely restrained, causes the jar A to roll along the band support leading edge  200  further tightening the jar band  21  about the jar A.  
         [0041]    After the lid B has been loosened the handle  51  is reversely rotated in a clockwise motion. Then the lid may be removed by a single hand. The jar A may also be released in the manner described above.  
         [0042]    While I have shown and described certain embodiments in the present invention, it should be understood that the invention is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example the leading surface  200  and/or nose  52  need not be arcuate but can be flat.