Bottle and jar cap opener

A device for removing caps from bottles, jars, etc. The device includes a pair of handles with a pivot therebetween and a gripping band connected to the handles for tightly gripping the cap to be removed. The handles include gripping portions to tightly grip the cap in combination with the gripping band. The device may be provided with an adjustable length gripping band in combination with a band locking retainer to accommodate various size caps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a device for removing caps from bottles, jars, 
etc. The device includes a pair of handles with a pivot means therebetween 
and a band, which together with the handles tightly grip the cap and 
effect removal upon rotation of the device. 
2. Prior Art 
Many types of bottle and jar openers have been designed and constructed 
over the past 100 years. Some of these openers are based around a 
plier-type design including a strap or ring for tightening about the 
circumference of a cap to effect removal upon turning of the device. 
Despite the vast number of bottle and jar openers of this type, they are 
rarely seen in stores and marketed by other methods in the United States. 
Thus, one could come to the conclusion that these prior art devices were 
ineffective, cumbersome to use and store, difficult to clean, too 
expensive to manufacture or failed to become successful for other reasons. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a bottle 
and jar opener of an improved type that is compact, easy to use, easy to 
clean, inexpensive to manufacture and is highly effective in gripping and 
removing a cap. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bottle and jar 
opener that comprises a pair of handles with a pivot means therebetween 
and a band connected to the handles, which together tightly grip the cap 
by the band and gripping portions of the handle upon gripping the handles 
together to effect removal of the cap upon rotation of the opener. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a bottle and jar 
opener having a pair of handles with a pivot means therebetween and an 
adjustable length band connected to the handles to accommodate different 
sizes of caps. 
These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by 
providing a cap opener comprising a pair of handles with a pivot means 
therebetween, and a band connected to the handles. The pivot means can 
take various forms such as a set of gear-like teeth on one handle meshing 
together with another set of teeth on the other handle. Alternatively, the 
pivot means can be defined by a pin retained within a set of holes in the 
handles. 
The band should be made of material or constructed in a manner to 
effectively grip the cap and preferably should have minor vertical 
serrations on the inside surface of the band to increase the friction 
gripping of the band. Further, the gripping portions of the handles should 
be made of material or constructed in a manner to effectively grip the 
cap. 
Further, the band can be of a fixed length and securely connected at its 
ends to each handle, or the band may be molded as an integral part of the 
handles. Alternatively, the opener can be made so that the band is 
adjustable in its effective length to accommodate different sizes of caps. 
The adjustable band may have spaced apart holes in the center, and one end 
permanently attached to one handle, with the other loose end secured at 
the desired length by providing projection pins or knobs on the exterior 
surface of the other handle. Also, the loose end of the band may be 
secured at the desired length by use of a separate locking retainer 
provided on one handle in lieu of the referenced projections or knobs. In 
addition, the band may be constructed without holes with one end 
permanently affixed to one handle and the other loose end secured at the 
desired length by a locking retainer located on the other handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
One embodiment of the bottle and jar opening device 10 according to the 
present invention is shown in FIG. 1 positioned about a cap C about to be 
removed from a bottle B. The device 10 includes a first handle 12 and a 
second handle 14, which can be described as a pair of handles. The handles 
can be identical in material and/or construction to simplify fabrication 
and cost of construction. However, the exact design and shape of each 
handle may vary to provide different leverage arrangements, comfort factor 
of the user's hand interfacing with the device and other ergonomic 
factors. For example, the handles 12,14 shown in FIG. 1 are curved in 
shape for comfort and for purposes relating to the pivot means to be 
described below. 
The handle 12 is provided with a cam lobe 16 and the handle 14 is provided 
with a cam lobe 18. The cam lobes 16,18 are provided with camming surfaces 
20,22, respectively, and can be defined as portions of the handles 12,14, 
or can be considered as separate projections extending from the handles 
12,14. In either event, the lobes must extend a distance outwardly from 
the lengthwise axis of each handle in order to provide a camming function 
wherein the distance between the camming surfaces 20,22 is increased as 
the handles 12,14 are gripped together, for example, by a user's hand. The 
significance of increasing the distance between the gripping surfaces 
20,22 with relation to the gripping action of the device will be described 
below. Further, the shape of the lobes and the angle of the lobes relative 
to the lengthwise axis of the handle can be varied to maximize the 
gripping force for a particular size cap. 
The device 10 is provided with a pivot means for providing a pivot point 
between the pair of handles 12,14. In this embodiment, the pivot means is 
defined by a set of gear teeth 24 on cam lobe 16 (or handle 12) meshing 
with a set of gear teeth 26 on the cam lobe 14 (or handle 14). This 
arrangement provides a pivot point that travels, from a left portion of 
the sets of gear teeth 24,26 to a right portion viewing FIG. 1, as the 
handles 12,14 are gripped together. Alternatively, the sets of gear teeth 
24,26 can be replaced with sets of serrations 24a,24b. In this embodiment, 
the opener 10 is shown in the open position prior to being gripped shut. 
Portions of the cam lobes 16,18 can be defined as having gripping portions 
28,30, respectively. These gripping portions 28,30 can simply be a portion 
of the surface of the cam lobes 16,18, or can be special or discrete zones 
or components located on the cam lobes 16,18. For example, the gripping 
portions can be a small strip of resilient rubber adhered to the outer 
surfaces of the camming lobes 16,18 to enhance the gripping effect of the 
cam lobes 16,18 or can be defined by serrations on the surfaces of the cam 
lobes 16, 18 at the cap gripping position of the cam lobes 16,18. As an 
example, the sets of gear teeth 24,26 can be extended to the gripping 
surface regions of the cam lobes to increase the gripping power of the cam 
lobes, especially for use with caps having small gear-like projections 
around the outer circumference thereof. 
The sets of gear teeth 24,26 or sets of serrations also provide a 
mechanical advantage and act as a force multiplier with respect to the 
magnitude of gripping force that the gripping portions can exert on the 
cap during removal. More specifically, as the device is rotated and force 
by a user's hand is concentrated more on the handle being pushed by the 
palm, verses the one being gripped towards the pushing handle by the 
fingers, there is a tendency due to the gear effect of the teeth or 
serrations to further tighten the device due to the resistance force 
applied from the cap to the device causing an equal and opposite greater 
force being applied to the pushing handle. Thus, the device has a 
self-tightening effect during the removal operation. However, the 
self-tightening effect does not reach the stage where the device becomes 
strongly clamped to the cap and difficult to remove like a Vise-grip 
pliers. This is again due to the gear-type pivot wherein there exists a 
mechanical advantage by the gear sets in the opposite handle opening 
operation. 
The device 10 is provided with a strap or band 32 having ends 34,36 that 
are secured to the handles 12,14 (or cam lobes 16,18). For example, a 
mechanical fastener such as a screw and/or adhesive or other means can be 
utilized to secure these ends to the device. Alternatively, where the band 
is of a definite length and non-adjustable, it may be molded as an 
integral part of the handle. The band 32 is preferably made of a 
particular material and is of a sufficient cross section to have enough 
tensile strength so as not to break after a single or repeated use. 
Preferably, the band is also made of a material and/or of a particular 
design to increase or maximize the gripping force applied by the band 32 
on a cap to be removed such as the band 33 shown in FIG. 11 having 
serrations provided along its inner surface to facilitate gripping. 
Further, the band can be made of a plastic having a soft surface to 
increase the frictional resistance between the band and the cap, or can be 
provided with a soft gripping cover or sleeve. However, the band 32 can be 
made out of a low friction material with the device relying on the 
gripping ability of the gripping portions of the handles to effect cap 
removal. 
The device shown in FIG. 1 is preferably made of any of a number of 
conventional structural plastics to minimize cost of manufacture. However, 
other materials such as white metal or aluminum could be substitute for 
the handle portions, and possibly even the band section (e.g. thin spring 
steel band). 
In order to accommodate different sized and/or shaped caps with the same 
basic device, the device can be provided with various band length 
adjusting devices, as shown in FIGS. 2-5, to vary or adjust the effective 
length of the band 32. In FIGS. 2 and 6B, the handle 12 is provided with a 
lever type retainer 38 having a lever 39 pivotably mounted within the 
retainer. The lever 39 is provided with teeth or a friction pad to lock 
the free end 40 of the band 32 at a particular position after adjusting 
the length of the band 32 (See FIG. 6B). In operation, the lever 39 is 
lifted upwardly to allow insertion of the free end 40 of the band between 
the lever 39 and a base portion of the retainer 38 followed by rotating 
the lever 39 downwardly until it locks into place so that the teeth 
tightly grip the band after adjustment of the length of the band. The 
retainer 38 is provided with means (not shown) for releasably locking the 
lever 39 in the gripping position, for example, a set of protrusions on 
the side of the lever interacting with a set of detents provided on the 
inside surfaces of the retainer. 
Another version of an adjustable length band is shown in FIG. 3A and 12D. 
In this embodiment, the band 32 is constructed of two band sections 42,44 
each having a plurality of holes therethrough. The band sections are 
passed through a locking retainer 46 having a wing headed bolt 47 securing 
the sections through a set of holes after adjustment of the combined 
length of the sections 42,44 of the band 32. A cross-sectional view of the 
retainer 46 is shown in FIG. 12D with the wing headed bolt 47 passing 
through the holes in both band sections 42,44 and through threaded holes 
in the retainer 46. 
Other securement devices can be substituted for the one shown. For example, 
the band sections 42,44 may be provided without holes and the wing headed 
bolt 47 passes through a single threaded hole in the retainer 46, as shown 
in FIG. 12C, with clamping of the band sections occurring between a base 
portion of the retainer and the bottom of the wing headed bolt. 
Alternatively, a lever type retainer 48 having a lever 49 as shown in 
FIGS. 3B and 13 can be substituted for either of the above-described 
versions of the wing headed bolt type retainer. 
A further version of an adjustable length band is shown in FIG. 4. In this 
embodiment, the band 32 is connected at one end to handle 14 (See FIG. 
1A), and is provided with a plurality of holes at an opposite free end 50. 
The handle 12, in this embodiment, is provided with one or more pins 51 
for engaging one or more holes in the band 32. The pins 51 can be slightly 
force fitted into the holes so that the band 32 is securely retained on 
the handle 12, however, this may not be necessary since the user's hand 
tends to maintain the band 32 in close contact with the handle 12 during 
operation. Alternatively, the pins 51 can be replaced with one or more 
hooks (e.g. L-shaped) for securing the band 32. 
A still further version of an adjustable length band is shown in FIGS. 5 
and 12A. In this embodiment, a retainer 52 having a wing headed bolt 54 is 
provided on the handle 12. The bolt can pass through a threaded hole in 
the retainer 52 and grip the band against a base portion of the retainer. 
Alternatively, the band can be provided with a plurality of holes and the 
wing headed bolt can pass through a hole and a pair of threaded holes in 
the retainer as shown in FIG. 12B. 
Another embodiment of the opening device 100 (shown in the open position) 
according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 6A. The device 100 
comprises a first handle 102 and a second handle 104, which together can 
be defined as a pair of handles. The handle 102 includes a bent end 
section 106, and handle 104 includes a bent end section 108. These bent 
end sections 106,108 are set at a predetermined angle relative the 
lengthwise axis of each handle 102,104. 
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A, the bent end sections are provided with 
channels 110 (hidden on bent end section 106) leaving a remaining portion 
of the bent end at the channel of approximately one-half (1/2) the 
thickness of the main portions 114,116 of the handles 102,104. The channel 
of one bent end section accepts the remaining portion of the other bent 
end section to form a plier-type handle of substantially constant 
thickness despite the pivot connection to be described below. 
The handles 102,104 are pivotably connected together by a pin 116, which is 
retained within holes 118 passing through the bent end sections 106,108. 
The pin can be solid with crimped ends so that it is retained within the 
holes or can be two pieces (e.g. a pin and retainer). Alternatively, the 
pin may be incorporated as an integral part of the handle. 
The bent end portions 106,108 are provided with gripping portions 120,122. 
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A, the gripping portions 120,122 are the 
full thickness of the main portions 112,114 of the handles 102,104, and 
define a side of the channels 110. However, the gripping portions can be 
constructed so as to be only a portion of this thickness. Further, the 
gripping portions 102,104 can be provided with friction pads 124,126, for 
example, made of rubber adhered within slight recesses in the gripping 
portions 102,104. 
A band 128 is connected at one end 130 to handle 104 and includes a free 
end 132 passing through a lever type retainer 133 having a lever 134. The 
lever type retainer 133 is the same or similar to the retainer 38 shown in 
FIGS. 2 and 6B. Other versions of this embodiment are shown in FIGS. 7-9 
to provide an adjustable length band. 
In FIGS. 7A and 12D, a retainer 134 having a wing headed bolt 135 the same 
or similar to the retainer 46 shown in FIG. 3A, is provided for securing 
the band sections 138,140. The opposite ends of the band sections are 
attached to the handles 102,104. Alternatively, a lever type retainer 136 
having a lever 137, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 13, can be substituted for 
the retainer 134 shown in FIGS. 7A and 12D. 
In FIG. 8, the band 128 includes a free end 142 having a plurality of holes 
for cooperating with one or more pins 144 extending from the handle 102 
similar to the arrangement shown in FIG. 4. 
In FIGS. 9 and 12A, the handle 102 is provided with a retainer 146 having a 
wing headed bolt 148, which grips the free end 142 of the band 128. 
Any of the above-described adjustable length band arrangements and 
retaining devices can be utilizes with either of the basic embodiments of 
the devices shown in FIGS. 1A and 6A. 
During operation with the embodiment of the cap opening device shown in 
FIG. 1A, the handles 12,14 are initially spread apart to provide 
sufficient slack in the band 32 to allow the device to be positioned 
around the cap C. More specifically, once the handles 12,14 are spread 
apart, the user places the band over the cap C and on one side thereof 
with the gripping portions 28,30 of the cam lobes 16,18 positioned on the 
opposite side. The user then grips the handles with one hand between the 
fingers and palm and squeezes the handles 12,14 together until an adequate 
gripping force is exerted on the cap C. The user then rotates the device, 
usually in the counter-clockwise direction, to effect loosening followed 
by removal of the cap. 
In the versions of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-5, the effective length 
of the band 32 is adjusted by the various retainers until the band is 
somewhat tight about the cap. Then the above step to effect gripping, 
loosening and removal is performed. 
During operation with the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the handles 102,104 
are spread apart to allow the band 128 to be slip over and around the cap 
C so that the cap is positioned between the band 128 and the gripping 
portions 120,122. The user then grips the handles together to tightly grip 
the cap to effect removal. The length of the band is adjusted in the 
versions of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-9 the same as that described 
above with respect to the versions of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-5.