Coaster bottle cap remover

A coaster device for removing a cap from a bottle and method of doing the same. One coaster device may comprise a top side and a bottom side, and at least one aperture extending from the bottom side to the top side, the aperture having at least one edge configured to engage the fastened cap to remove the cap from the bottle. In some embodiments, the aperture may comprise at least part of a stylized design. Also a method of advertising using a bottle-opening coaster device that includes a bottle-opening edge forming at least part of a stylized design as part of a logo.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This present disclosure generally relates to bottle opening devices, and more particularly relates to coaster devices having bottle opening features as well as advertising methods using such devices.

BACKGROUND

A bottle opener uses a point on the bottle cap as a fulcrum on which to pivot, acting as a lever with an edge applying force under one side of the bottle cap to pry the bottle cap off the top portion of the bottle. One problem associated with bottle openers is, whether due to misplacement of a bottle opener, theft, or lack of forethought, a bottle opener is often not in close proximity when it is needed. Consequently, many people have resorted to a variety of less effective and potentially dangerous methods to remove a bottle cap from a bottle, including for example: using scissors to cut under the ridges of a bottle cap; pushing the cap against the recessed coin return part of a vending machine; wrapping a rubber band around the edges of the cap and twisting hard; or otherwise trying to pry under the bottle cap using various objects (such as a spoon, knife, fork, belt buckle, ice skates, car seat belt latches, metal nail clippers, a peeler, a hammer, a staple remover, a non-gold wedding ring, a screwdriver, or even the cap attached to another bottle). Such alternate devices for removing a cap from a bottle may have prompted the different forms that bottle openers have taken in recent years (probably beginning in the 1980s) such as a baseball cap with bottle opener in the visor, a sole of a flip flop, a surfboard shape, or shapes representing different sports, a guitar, or a cowboy boot.

Even when a bottle opener is available but not in close proximity, having to obtain the bottle opener may be inconvenient, especially when this requires interrupting an engaging conversation, watching an exciting game or movie, or other activity, which may require having to get up from a comfortable sedentary position. Perhaps for these reasons, some devices have been created to combine a bottle opener with other presumably-useful objects, such as insulated beverage containers and even some coasters.

Opportunities exist for improving bottle opening devices and methods that address these and other issues.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a coaster device and associated methods for removing a cap from a bottle. Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of advertising using bottle-opening coaster device embodiment. The coaster device may be for placement on a surface and for stably supporting a bottle thereon, the bottle having a top part with a removable cap fastened thereon. The device may comprise a top side and a bottom side, and in one embodiment comprise at least one aperture extending from the bottom side to the top side. The at least one aperture may have at least one edge configured to engage the fastened cap to remove the cap from the bottle. The at least one aperture may be sized to receive a sufficient portion of the top part of the bottle and the cap fastened thereon to engage the cap with the edge.

One device embodiment may further comprise finger grips formed along a perimeter edge of the device, the finger grips providing a grasping surface for a user. In one device embodiment, the at least one edge of the may comprise metal. In another embodiment, the at least one edge may also comprise a metal layer extending to the perimeter edge of the device. The device top side in one embodiment may comprise a material or structure that limits transfer of condensation from the bottle to the surface. Additionally, in some embodiments, the at least one aperture of the coaster device may comprise at least part of a stylized design, which design in some variations may comprise a logo. In such embodiments having an aperture comprising at least one bottle-opening edge forming at least a portion of a logo, the aperture may or may not extend from the bottom side through to the top side (or vice versa).

Also described herein is a method of using coaster device embodiments to remove a fastened bottle cap from a top part of a bottle. One method embodiment may comprise the steps of: (1) fitting at least a portion of top part of the bottle and the cap fastened thereon within the at least one aperture; (2) engaging the fastened cap with the edge of the at least one aperture; and (3) pivoting the coaster device relative to the bottle using a portion of the bottle cap as a fulcrum, thereby applying force under one side of the bottle cap to lift the one side of the cap relative to the top part of the bottle. In the case of a coaster device embodiment comprising finger grips positioned along a perimeter edge of the device, the method the step of pivoting the coaster device relative to the bottle using a portion of the bottle cap as a fulcrum may involve grasping the coaster device using the finger grips.

Also claimed and described herein is a method of advertising using coaster device embodiments with at least one aperture comprising at least part of a stylized design. The advertising method may comprise the step of engaging the bottle cap with the at least one bottle opening edge with the coaster device arranged so that the at least a portion of the logo is visible, as well as pivoting the coaster device relative to the bottle using the bottle cap as a fulcrum to apply a lifting force under one side of the bottle cap to remove the bottle cap from the bottle. In the case of coaster device embodiments comprising at least one aperture extending from the bottom side through to the top side and comprising the at least one bottle opening edge, the method may further comprise the step of fitting at least a portion of a top part of the bottle and the bottle cap fastened thereon within the at least one aperture, prior to engaging the bottle cap with the at least one bottle opening edge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the figures, a device10is disclosed herein having in combination features of both a coaster and a bottle opener for removing a cap15from a bottle top16(seeFIGS. 1-9). More specifically, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 6, the device10may comprise a flat bottom side11for placement on a flat surface12to protect the surface12, and a top side13configured for placing a bottle14thereon. The device10may further comprise an aperture17passing through both the bottom side11and the top side13. The aperture17includes at least one edge18(a first edge) configured to engage with the cap15for removal of the cap15from the bottle14(e.g., in the manner shown inFIGS. 7-9). The aperture17may have a size such that a sufficient portion of the bottle top16(or top part) and the cap15fastened thereon may fit within the aperture17, to allow the cap15to engage with the edge18so that it15is removed/unfastened from the bottle top16.

The aperture17may comprise a length L greater than the cap's diameter D (seeFIG. 1). Moreover, the aperture17may be defined by at least a first side21and a second side22(regardless of shape of those sides—i.e., whether the sides are curved or straight, or otherwise styled). At least one portion of the first side21may be opposite from at least one portion of the second side22. Those opposite portions of the first21side and the second side22may be separated by a width W greater than the cap's height H. The aperture17may further comprise at least the first edge18and a second edge19, each on opposite portions of first side21and the second side22, respectively. As shown inFIG. 7, the first edge18may be configured to pivot the coaster device10relative to the bottle14using the bottle cap15as a fulcrum. The second edge19may be configured for contacting and applying a lifting force to a bottom ridge23of the cap15to remove the bottle cap15.

In some embodiments, the edges18and19may comprise metal or other material with sufficient strength and durability for repeated use in removing a bottle case. In some embodiments, the edges18and19may comprise part of a metal layer20of the device10. The metal layer20may comprise the bulk if not the entire device10(i.e., the base), and in one embodiment. The metal material of device10may comprise, for example, stainless steel.

The edges18and19may have a contoured or curved shape, or include a contoured or curved portion along their lengths. In other embodiments, at least a portion of one or both of the edges18and19may have a linear or straight shape. A single device10may have a plurality of edges18and/or19, wherein each of the edges18and/or19may have a contoured or linear portion.

Certain embodiments of the device10may incorporate other features for removing the cap15from a bottle14. For example, in one embodiment, the device10may incorporate finger-grips24and25along perimeter edges26and27of the device10(or elsewhere) for greater control when using the device10to open a bottle14.

The device10, and other embodiment thereof, may include several beneficial features as compared to at least some prior art devices. For example, the device10may assist in solving the aforementioned problem of not having a bottle opener when needed because coasters are so commonly used when serving beverages. More specifically, coasters are generally located in areas where drinking is intended to take place, in particular drinking of beverages contained in bottles having removable caps. Thus, a person in such an area wanting to open a bottle14need not have to move to a different area for the purpose of obtaining a bottle opener. In fact, a person already using the coaster need not even use a separate bottle opening device.

The bottle opener feature of certain device embodiments comprising an aperture17passing through both top side13and bottom side11may also present certain benefits over other hybrid coaster/bottle openers. For instance, the device embodiment10comprising a metal layer or layer of other relatively hard material to assist in repeatedly removing bottle caps may be simpler and less expensive to manufacture since the aperture(s)17may simply be punched or cut (e.g., by laser) out of a metal sheet, as opposed to other prior art devices having several different parts needed opening a bottle14. In addition, an embodiment of device10having a single metal layer20may be sturdier and less prone to breaking. In addition, the device10comprising an aperture17may be easier to clean than other bottle opening devices that require cleaning of nooks and crannies of a recess, and may be less prone to rust as moisture is more prone to reside on features of aperture17.

Providing an aperture (e.g., aperture17) passing through both top and bottom sides of a coaster is typically not desirable. Specifically, when a bottle (or a cup, glass, bottle, mug, etc.) is filled with a cool beverage, moisture may condense along the perimeter of the bottle. Such condensation can conglomerate and drip from the sides of the bottle and onto the surface upon which the bottle is placed (e.g., a table surface, etc.), possibly damaging or staining the surface. Coasters are typically designed to have a top surface that is continuous and without openings in order to avoid condensation escaping from the top surface of the coaster and onto the supporting surface (e.g., table top).

However, this apparent problem of having moisture passing through an aperture of a coaster may be overcome by several material or structural features disclosed herein. By way of example and not limitation, as shown inFIG. 3, device100includes a condensation absorbent material114positioned on the top side113, and/or a bottom side platform115configured to suspend the bottom side111off the surface12. The coaster device100may include a metal base112that separates the condensation absorbent material114on the top side113from the platform115on the bottom side. Moreover, the metal base112may comprise the edges118,119located on opposite sides121,122of the aperture110.

In addition to the foregoing, the coaster device100may include one or more of the following features: (1) a top side surface of the coaster device may be larger than the bottom circumference28of the bottle, so that the bottle14may be placed in an area of the top side surface that does not overlap with the at least one aperture17; (2) a rim surrounding the at least one aperture and extending above the top side; (3) a recess formed in the top surface to direct condensation away from the at least one aperture or other structure for funneling condensation away from the aperture(s); and/or (4) a cap configured to cover the at least one aperture.

Another reason it may be counterintuitive to include apertures in a coaster is to limit heat damage to supporting the surface (e.g., table top). Specifically, when containers are filled with hot liquid (as opposed to cold or non-hot), heat can emanate from the container and more easily through apertures formed in the coaster, which can also damage the surface. However, for coasters having bottle opening features, this is not as large of a concern because bottles (e.g., bottle14) having caps (e.g., cap15) fastened thereon are not normally used for storing hot liquids.

Referring now toFIGS. 6-9, a method of removing a cap15from a bottle14using coaster device embodiments is described in further detail. As shown inFIG. 7, a user39may grasp the coaster device10, placing fingers40,41in the finger grips24,25formed along a perimeter edge26,27of the device10. Next, at least a portion of top part16of the bottle14and the cap15fastened thereon may be fitted within the at least one aperture17of the coaster device10(e.g., so that the cap diameter D is within the aperture length L and the cap height H within the aperture width W). The first edge18may be placed touching the top42of the bottle cap15, and the second edge19may be placed touching beneath the bottom ridge23of the cap15.

Next, as shown inFIG. 8, the user39may to pivot the coaster device10relative to the bottle14so that the first edge18uses the top42of the bottle cap15as a fulcrum, thereby applying force through the second edge19under the bottom ridge23of the cap15to lift the one side of the cap15relative to the top part16of the bottle14. As shown inFIG. 9, as the user39continues the motion of pivoting the coaster device10relative to the bottle14, the cap15is removed from the top part16of the bottle14, allowing the user39to enjoy the refreshing beverage37in bottle14, and again placing the coaster device10beneath the bottle14to protect the surface12(FIG. 6).

The device10may comprise at least one aperture17, edges18and19, and sides21,22thereof that define a shape comprising a design29. The device10with design29may be referred to as a “novelty bottle opener” comprising a coaster. In some embodiments, the design29may camouflage to the casual observer the functionality of the aperture17and edge(s)18,19to remove the cap15from the bottle14, and potentially making the device10more aesthetically appealing. Appearance, shape, and materials of the device may vary according to preference and embodiment, and are not limited to those shapes and designs29,30,31,32,33,34shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 6. Nevertheless, one embodiment may comprise a modern industrial looking beverage coaster bearing a customized logo or design, where the bottle opener portion of the logo/design is discreet.

For example, as shown inFIG. 2, one coaster device36may have an aperture shape and design29comprising a logo35. The device36may be advantageous for advertising purposes because, although a company may create a variety of promotional items such as coasters to advertise and market its services and increase its goodwill with consumers, often the objects may be used with little thought or recognition of the company name emblazoned thereon. However, a device36comprising bottle opening features with an edge38for removing the cap15from the bottle14as an integral part of a company's logo35, may cause immediate and inescapable attention to be drawn to the logo35each time a bottle14is opened. Such a feature and process may not only constitute more effective advertising as explained, but may also connect in the mind of the consumer the company logo35with the pleasure of enjoying a refreshing beverage37(e.g., shown inFIG. 1) without the inconvenience of having to find a separate bottle opener. In addition, in embodiments where the design or logo may have particular significance to the user (e.g., in the case of customized designs or logos), the experience may be even more satisfying. Thus, the steps described above for opening a bottle using coaster device embodiment are likely to draw the attention of the user's39to the design of which the aperture17may form at least a part. Accordingly, described herein is not only a method of removing a cap15from a bottle14using coaster device embodiments, but also a novel method of advertising using device embodiments having at least one aperture comprising a logo. Thus, for device36where the design comprises a logo35, the method may be used for more effective promotional purposes.

Various inventions have been described herein with reference to certain specific embodiments and examples. However, they will be recognized by those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without departing from the scope and sprit of the inventions disclosed herein, in that those inventions set forth in the claims below are intended to cover all variations and modifications of the inventions disclosed without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The terms “including” and “having” come as used in the specification and claims shall have the same meaning as the term “comprising.”