Abstract:
A method and apparatus for opening a container is provided. A container opener includes a handle portion and a container guide affixed to the handle portion. At least one puncturing structure is affixed to the container guide. The at least one puncturing structure may be positioned to puncture a seal affixed to a wall of the container.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/179,102 filed May 18, 2009, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure is generally related to opening containers and more particularly is related to opening containers having a puncturable seal between a lid and container wall. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    Containers are used to house many products, such as food products, tobacco products, chemicals and other products requiring a container for storage and/or transportation. Many of these containers require a seal placed proximate to the lid and the wall of the container to keep the lid affixed during transportation. Additionally, a seal may be used to keep air and other substances from penetrating the container and negatively affecting the product housed inside. To open containers of this variety, the seal may need to be punctured, torn or otherwise removed, and may require the use of a device that assists with convenient and efficient breaking of the seal to allow a user to access the contents within the container. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0004]    Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for opening a container. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the apparatus, among others, can be implemented as follows. A container opener includes a handle portion. A container guide is affixed to the handle portion. At least one puncturing structure is affixed to the container guide. 
         [0005]    Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a top-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a bottom-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a top-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a bottom-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a top-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a bottom-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with the third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a side-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with the third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a top-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a bottom-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a side-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a top-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is a bottom-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  is a side-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  is a top-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  is a bottom-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with the sixth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 18  is a side-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with the sixth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0025]      FIG. 19  is a top-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with a seventh exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0026]      FIG. 20  is a bottom-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with the seventh exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0027]      FIG. 21  is a side-view illustration of a container opener, in accordance with the seventh exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]      FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  are top-view, bottom-view and side-view illustrations, respectively, of a container opener  100  in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The container opener  100  includes a handle portion  110 , a container guide  114  and at least one puncturing structure  118 . The handle portion  110  may include any structure, such as a planar structure having at least two substantially planar sides and a convenient ergonomic design. Additionally, the handle portion  110  may include any shape, such as the general shape of a rectangular with opposing arced ends, as depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The container guide  114  may be affixed to the handle portion  110  in a variety of configurations. In the first exemplary embodiment, the container guide  114  is affixed to one of the planar sides and protrudes away from the planar surface of the handle portion  110 . The container guide  114  may include any shape, such as a curved or arced shape, as depicted in  FIG. 2 . The at least one puncturing structure  118  may be affixed to one or more sides of the container guide  114 . 
         [0029]    The container opener  100  also may include an attachment hole  122  for attaching a key ring or other structure to the container opener  100 , and/or an identifying mark  126  to identify a characteristic or origin of the container opener  100 . The identifying mark  126  may include any means of identifying the container opener  100 , including an inscribed, printed, embedded or otherwise affixed word, logo, design, texture or picture. In  FIG. 1 , the identifying mark  126  is located on a planar surface of the container opener  100 , but it may be located on any other part of the container opener  100  as well. 
         [0030]    The container opener  100 , and any combination of the parts thereof, may be constructed from a variety of materials, including plastics, metals ceramics and composite or organic materials. For example, the container opener  100  may include a handle portion  110  and container guide  114  that are constructed from extruded plastic and an at least one puncturing structure  118  constructed from a metallic composition. Additionally, the container opener  100  may be constructed with a variety of adhesives materials or manufacturing techniques, all of which are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The container opener  100  may also include other materials, such as paint or reflective coatings, or other devices, such as small LED lights or bottle openers. 
         [0031]    The container opener  100  may be used with a variety of containers, having a variety of shapes and sizes. In accordance with the first exemplary embodiment, the container may be cylindrical in shape and have a lid that is affixed to one of the two opposing ends of the container. The lid may be affixed to the container wall with a puncturable seal, such as adhesive paper or tape. In use, the container opener  100  may be placed proximate to the container, such that the handle portion  110  abuts the lid of the container, and the container guide  114  abuts a portion of the cylindrical wall of the container. The container opener  100  may be biased towards the center of the container to a position where the at least one puncturing structure  118  punctures a seal. As the seal is punctured, the at least one puncturing structure  118  will be located in a position proximate to the lid and container wall. The container opener  100  may then be rotated about the center of the container to separate the lid from the container wall by cutting the seal. After the container opener  100  has been rotated a substantial amount (approx. 270° or more), any remaining seal that is still affixed may be torn apart to fully release the lid from the container wall. A user may then have full access to the inside of the container and any contents thereof. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  are top-view, bottom-view and side-view illustrations, respectively, of a container opener  200  in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The container opener  200  includes a handle portion  210 , a container guide  214  and at least one puncturing structure  218 . The handle portion  210  may include any structure, such as a planar structure having at least two substantially planar sides and a convenient ergonomic design. Additionally, the handle portion  210  may include any shape, such as the general shape of a rectangular with opposing arced ends, as depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The container guide  214  may be affixed to the handle portion  210  in a variety of configurations. In the second exemplary embodiment, two container guides  214  are depicted on opposing ends of the handle portion  210 , and are affixed to one of the planar sides and protruding away from the planar surface of the handle portion  210 . The container guide  214  may include any shape, such as a curved or arced shape, as depicted in  FIG. 5 . The at least one puncturing structure  218  may be affixed to one or more sides of the container guide  214 . In the second exemplary embodiment, one puncturing structure  218  is affixed to each container guide  218 . 
         [0033]    The container opener  200  also may include an attachment hole  222  for attaching a key ring  224  or other structure to the container opener  200 , and/or an identifying mark  226  to identify a characteristic or origin of the container opener  200 . The identifying mark  226  may include any means of identifying the container opener  200 , including an inscribed, printed, embedded or otherwise affixed word, logo, design, texture or picture. In  FIG. 4 , the identifying mark  226  is located on a planar surface of the container opener  200 , but it may be located on any other part of the container opener  200  as well. 
         [0034]    The container opener  200 , and any combination of the parts thereof, may be constructed from a variety of materials, including plastics, metals ceramics and composite or organic materials. For example, the container opener  200  may include a handle portion  210  and container guide  214  that are constructed from extruded plastic and an at least one puncturing structure  218  constructed from a metallic composition. Additionally, the container opener  200  may be constructed with a variety of adhesives materials or manufacturing techniques, all of which are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The container opener  200  may also include other materials, such as paint or reflective coatings, or other devices, such as small LED lights or bottle openers. 
         [0035]    The container opener  200  may be used with a variety of containers, having a variety of shapes and sizes. In accordance with the second exemplary embodiment, the container may be cylindrical in shape and have a lid that is affixed to one of the two opposing ends of the container. The lid may be affixed to the container wall with a puncturable seal, such as adhesive paper or tape. In use, the container opener  200  may be placed proximate to the container, such that the handle portion  210  abuts the lid of the container, and each of the container guides  214  abut opposing portions of the cylindrical wall of the container. The container opener  200  may be biased towards the center of the container to a position where the at least one puncturing structure  218  punctures a seal. As the seal is punctured, the at least one puncturing structure  218  will be located in a position proximate to the lid and container wall. The container opener  200  may then be rotated about the center of the container to separate the lid from the container wall by cutting the seal. After the container opener  200  has been rotated a substantial amount (approx. 270° or more), any remaining seal that is still affixed may be torn apart to fully release the lid from the container wall. A user may then have full access to the inside of the container and any contents thereof. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9  are top-view, bottom-view and side-view illustrations, respectively, of a container opener  300  in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The container opener  300  includes a handle portion  310 , a container guide  314  and at least one puncturing structure  318 . The handle portion  310  may include any structure, such as a planar structure having at least two substantially planar sides and a convenient ergonomic design. Additionally, the handle portion  310  may include any shape, such as the general shape of a rectangular with opposing arced ends, as depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The container guide  314  may be affixed to the handle portion  310  in a variety of configurations. In the third exemplary embodiment, two container guides  314  are depicted on opposing ends of the handle portion  310 , and are affixed to one of the planar sides and protruding away from the planar surface of the handle portion  310 . The container guide  314  may include any shape, such as a curved or arced shape, as depicted in  FIG. 8 . The third exemplary embodiment also contains a container guide  314  with an angled guiding surface  316  to assist with guiding the container opener  300  about the circumference of a container. The at least one puncturing structure  318  may be affixed to one or more sides of the container guide  314 . In the third exemplary embodiment, one puncturing structure  318  is affixed to each container guide  314 . 
         [0037]    The container opener  300  also may include an attachment hole  322  for attaching a key ring  324  or other structure to the container opener  300 , and/or an identifying mark  326  to identify a characteristic or origin of the container opener  300 . The identifying mark  326  may include any means of identifying the container opener  300 , including an inscribed, printed, embedded or otherwise affixed word, logo, design, texture or picture. In  FIG. 7 , the identifying mark  326  is located on a planar surface of the container opener  300 , but it may be located on any other part of the container opener  300  as well. 
         [0038]    The container opener  300 , and any combination of the parts thereof, may be constructed from a variety of materials, including plastics, metals ceramics and composite or organic materials. For example, the container opener  300  may include a handle portion  310  and container guide  314  that are constructed from extruded plastic and an at least one puncturing structure  318  constructed from a metallic composition. Additionally, the container opener  300  may be constructed with a variety of adhesives materials or manufacturing techniques, all of which are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The container opener  300  may also include other materials, such as paint or reflective coatings, or other devices, such as small LED lights or bottle openers. 
         [0039]    The container opener  300  may be used with a variety of containers, having a variety of shapes and sizes. In accordance with the third exemplary embodiment, the container may be cylindrical in shape and have a lid that is affixed to one of the two opposing ends of the container. The lid may be affixed to the container wall with a puncturable seal, such as adhesive paper or tape. In use, the container opener  300  may be placed proximate to the container, such that the handle portion  310  abuts the lid of the container, and each of the container guides  314  abut opposing portions of the cylindrical wall of the container. The container opener  300  may be biased towards the center of the container to a position where the at least one puncturing structure  318  punctures a seal. As the seal is punctured, the at least one puncturing structure  318  will be located in a position proximate to the lid and container wall. The container opener  300  may be located in a position offset from the center of the container, with the angled guiding surface  316  abutting the container wall. The container opener  300  may then be rotated about the center of the container to separate the lid from the container wall by cutting the seal. After the container opener  300  has been rotated a substantial amount (approx. 270° or more), any remaining seal that is still affixed may be torn apart to fully release the lid from the container wall. A user may then have full access to the inside of the container and any contents thereof. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  12  are top-view, bottom-view and side-view illustrations, respectively, of a container opener  400  in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The container opener  400  includes a handle portion  410 , a container guide  414  and at least one puncturing structure  418 . The handle portion  410  may include any structure, such as a planar structure having at least two substantially planar sides and a convenient ergonomic design. Additionally, the handle portion  410  may include any shape, such as the general shape of a rectangular with opposing arced ends, as depicted in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The handle portion  410  may also include cutout portions  430  to enhance the ergonomic design of the container opener  400 . The container guide  414  may be affixed to the handle portion  410  in a variety of configurations. In the fourth exemplary embodiment, the container guide  414  is affixed to one of the planar sides and protrudes away from the planar surface of the handle portion  410 . The container guide  414  may include any shape, such as a curved or arced shape, as depicted in  FIG. 11 . The at least one puncturing structure  418  may be affixed to one or more sides of the container guide  414 . 
         [0041]    The container opener  400  also may include an attachment hole  422  for attaching a key ring  424  or other structure to the container opener  400 , and/or an identifying mark  426  to identify a characteristic or origin of the container opener  400 . The identifying mark  426  may include any means of identifying the container opener  400 , including an inscribed, printed, embedded or otherwise affixed word, logo, design, texture or picture. In  FIG. 10 , the identifying mark  426  is located on a planar surface of the container opener  400 , but it may be located on any other part of the container opener  400  as well. 
         [0042]    The container opener  400 , and any combination of the parts thereof, may be constructed from a variety of materials, including plastics, metals ceramics and composite or organic materials. For example, the container opener  400  may include a handle portion  410  and container guide  414  that are constructed from extruded plastic and an at least one puncturing structure  418  constructed from a metallic composition. Additionally, the container opener  400  may be constructed with a variety of adhesives materials or manufacturing techniques, all of which are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The container opener  400  may also include other materials, such as paint or reflective coatings, or other devices, such as small LED lights or bottle openers. 
         [0043]    The container opener  400  may be used with a variety of containers, having a variety of shapes and sizes. In accordance with the fourth exemplary embodiment, the container may be cylindrical in shape and have a lid that is affixed to one of the two opposing ends of the container. The lid may be affixed to the container wall with a puncturable seal, such as adhesive paper or tape. In use, the container opener  400  may be placed proximate to the container, such that the handle portion  410  abuts the lid of the container, and the container guide  414  abuts a portion of the cylindrical wall of the container. The container opener  400  may be biased towards the center of the container to a position where the at least one puncturing structure  418  punctures a seal. As the seal is punctured, the at least one puncturing structure  418  will be located in a position proximate to the lid and container wall. The container opener  400  may then be rotated about the center of the container to separate the lid from the container wall by cutting the seal. After the container opener  400  has been rotated a substantial amount (approx. 270° or more), any remaining seal that is still affixed may be torn apart to fully release the lid from the container wall. A user may then have full access to the inside of the container and any contents thereof. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 13 ,  14  and  15  are top-view, bottom-view and side-view illustrations, respectively, of a container opener  500  in accordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The container opener  500  includes a handle portion  510 , a container guide  514  and at least one puncturing structure  518 . The handle portion  510  may include any structure, such as a planar structure having at least two substantially planar sides and a convenient ergonomic design. Additionally, the handle portion  510  may include any shape, such as a substantially circular shape, as depicted in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . The container guide  514  may be affixed to the handle portion  510  in a variety of configurations. In the fifth exemplary embodiment, the container guide  514  is affixed to one of the planar sides and protrudes away from the planar surface of the handle portion  510 . The container guide  514  may include any shape, such as a curved or arced shape that is located along a portion of the circumference of the handle portion  510 , as depicted in  FIG. 14 . The at least one puncturing structure  518  may be affixed to one or more sides of the container guide  514 . 
         [0045]    The container opener  500  also may include an attachment hole (not shown) for attaching a key ring or other structure to the container opener  500 , and/or an identifying mark  526  to identify a characteristic or origin of the container opener  500 . The identifying mark  526  may include any means of identifying the container opener  500 , including an inscribed, printed, embedded or otherwise affixed word, logo, design, texture or picture. In  FIG. 13 , the identifying mark  526  is located on a planar surface of the container opener  500 , but it may be located on any other part of the container opener  500  as well. 
         [0046]    The container opener  500 , and any combination of the parts thereof, may be constructed from a variety of materials, including plastics, metals ceramics and composite or organic materials. For example, the container opener  500  may include a handle portion  510  and container guide  514  that are constructed from extruded plastic and an at least one puncturing structure  518  constructed from a metallic composition. Additionally, the container opener  500  may be constructed with a variety of adhesives materials or manufacturing techniques, all of which are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The container opener  500  may also include other materials, such as paint or reflective coatings, or other devices, such as small LED lights or bottle openers. 
         [0047]    The container opener  500  may be used with a variety of containers, having a variety of shapes and sizes. In accordance with the fifth exemplary embodiment, the container may be cylindrical in shape and have a lid that is affixed to one of the two opposing ends of the container. The lid may be affixed to the container wall with a puncturable seal, such as adhesive paper or tape. In use, the container opener  500  may be placed proximate to the container, such that the handle portion  510  abuts the lid of the container, and the container guide  514  abuts a portion of the cylindrical wall of the container. The container opener  500  may be biased towards the center of the container to a position where the at least one puncturing structure  518  punctures a seal. As the seal is punctured, the at least one puncturing structure  518  will be located in a position proximate to the lid and container wall. The container opener  500  may then be rotated about the center of the container to separate the lid from the container wall by cutting the seal. After the container opener  500  has been rotated a substantial amount (approx. 270° or more), any remaining seal that is still affixed may be torn apart to fully release the lid from the container wall. A user may then have full access to the inside of the container and any contents thereof. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 16 ,  17  and  18  are top-view, bottom-view and side-view illustrations, respectively, of a container opener  600  in accordance with a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The container opener  600  includes a handle portion  610 , a container guide  614  and at least one puncturing structure  618 . The handle portion  610  may include any structure, such as a planar structure having at least two substantially planar sides and a convenient ergonomic design. Additionally, the handle portion  610  may include any shape, such as a semi-circular shape, as depicted in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . The container guide  614  may be affixed to the handle portion  610  in a variety of configurations. In the sixth exemplary embodiment, the container guide  614  is affixed to one of the planar sides and protrudes away from the planar surface of the handle portion  610 . The container guide  614  may include any shape, such as a curved or arced shape that is located along a portion of the circumference of the handle portion  610 , as depicted in  FIG. 17 . The at least one puncturing structure  618  may be affixed to one or more sides of the container guide  614 . 
         [0049]    The container opener  600  also may include an attachment hole  622  for attaching a key ring  624  or other structure to the container opener  600 , and/or an identifying mark  626  to identify a characteristic or origin of the container opener  600 . The identifying mark  626  may include any means of identifying the container opener  600 , including an inscribed, printed, embedded or otherwise affixed word, logo, design, texture or picture. In  FIG. 16 , the identifying mark  626  is located on a planar surface of the container opener  600 , but it may be located on any other part of the container opener  600  as well. 
         [0050]    The container opener  600 , and any combination of the parts thereof, may be constructed from a variety of materials, including plastics, metals ceramics and composite or organic materials. For example, the container opener  600  may include a handle portion  610  and container guide  614  that are constructed from extruded plastic and an at least one puncturing structure  618  constructed from a metallic composition. Additionally, the container opener  600  may be constructed with a variety of adhesives materials or manufacturing techniques, all of which are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The container opener  600  may also include other materials, such as paint or reflective coatings, or other devices, such as small LED lights or bottle openers. 
         [0051]    The container opener  600  may be used with a variety of containers, having a variety of shapes and sizes. In accordance with the sixth exemplary embodiment, the container may be cylindrical in shape and have a lid that is affixed to one of the two opposing ends of the container. The lid may be affixed to the container wall with a puncturable seal, such as adhesive paper or tape. In use, the container opener  600  may be placed proximate to the container, such that the handle portion  610  abuts the lid of the container, and the container guide  614  abuts a portion of the cylindrical wall of the container. The container opener  600  may be biased towards the center of the container to a position where the at least one puncturing structure  618  punctures a seal. As the seal is punctured, the at least one puncturing structure  618  will be located in a position proximate to the lid and container wall. The container opener  600  may then be rotated about the center of the container to separate the lid from the container wall by cutting the seal. After the container opener  600  has been rotated a substantial amount (approx. 270° or more), any remaining seal that is still affixed may be torn apart to fully release the lid from the container wall. A user may then have full access to the inside of the container and any contents thereof. 
         [0052]      FIGS. 19 ,  20  and  21  are top-view, bottom-view and side-view illustrations, respectively, of a container opener  700  in accordance with a seventh exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The container opener  700  includes a handle portion  710 , a container guide  714  and at least one puncturing structure  718 . The handle portion  710  may include any structure, such as a planar structure having at least two substantially planar sides and a convenient ergonomic design. Additionally, the handle portion  710  may include any shape, such as a substantially circular shape, as depicted in  FIGS. 19 and 20 . The container guide  714  may be affixed to the handle portion  710  in a variety of configurations. In the seventh exemplary embodiment, the container guide  714  is affixed to one of the planar sides and protrudes away from the planar surface of the handle portion  710 . The container guide  714  may include any shape, such as a curved or arced shape that is located along the entire circumference of the handle portion  710 , as depicted in  FIG. 20 . The at least one puncturing structure  718  may be affixed to one or more sides of the container guide  714 . In the seventh exemplary embodiment, the at least one puncturing structure  718  is affixed with a depressible structure  720 , capable of being depressed towards an interior portion of the container opener  700 . 
         [0053]    The container opener  700  also may include an attachment hole (not shown) for attaching a key ring or other structure to the container opener  700 , and/or an identifying mark  726  to identify a characteristic or origin of the container opener  700 . The identifying mark  726  may include any means of identifying the container opener  700 , including an inscribed, printed, embedded or otherwise affixed word, logo, design, texture or picture. In  FIG. 19 , the identifying mark  726  is located on a planar surface of the container opener  700 , but it may be located on any other part of the container opener  700  as well. 
         [0054]    The container opener  700 , and any combination of the parts thereof, may be constructed from a variety of materials, including plastics, metals ceramics and composite or organic materials. For example, the container opener  700  may include a handle portion  710 , container guide  714  and depressible structure  720  that are constructed from extruded plastic and an at least one puncturing structure  718  constructed from a metallic composition. Additionally, the container opener  700  may be constructed with a variety of adhesives materials or manufacturing techniques, all of which are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The container opener  700  may also include other materials, such as paint or reflective coatings, or other devices, such as small LED lights or bottle openers. 
         [0055]    The container opener  700  may be used with a variety of containers, having a variety of shapes and sizes. In accordance with the seventh exemplary embodiment, the container may be cylindrical in shape and have a lid that is affixed to one of the two opposing ends of the container. The lid may be affixed to the container wall with a puncturable seal, such as adhesive paper or tape. In use, the container opener  700  may be placed proximate to the container, such that the handle portion  710  abuts the lid of the container, and the container guide  714  abuts the entire circumference of the cylindrical wall of the container. In this position, the depressible structure  720  may be depressed towards the center of the container to a position where the at least one puncturing structure  718  punctures a seal. As the seal is punctured, the at least one puncturing structure  718  will be located in a position proximate to the lid and container wall. The container opener  700  may then be rotated about the center of the container to separate the lid from the container wall by cutting the seal. After the container opener  700  has been rotated a substantial amount (approx. 270° or more), any remaining seal that is still affixed may be torn apart to fully release the lid from the container wall. A user may then have full access to the inside of the container and any contents thereof. 
         [0056]    It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the disclosure without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present disclosure and protected by the following claims.