JAR LID REMOVER

Abstract: A jar lid remover has a handle (11) with an enlarged rounded head (12). A closed loop (31) of strap is attached to the head. In use the loop is placed around the lid (35) and the handle (11) pivoted so as to tighten the loop, the loop being trapped between the lid (35) and a bearing surface (36) of the head (12). The loop (31) can be removed and replaced by a loop of a different size.

Description: Jar lid remover The present invention relates to a device for removing tight-fitting lids from containers such as jars. Attempts at manual removal of such lids often result in sore hands, and if one resorts to stronger mechanical methods the lid may be distorted or pierced so that it is no longer air-tight when replaced. Accordingly the present invention seeks to provide a compact device which permits the screw lids of containers, or other screw members to be simply and easily removed. According to the present invention there is provided a device device for removing screw lids from jars comprising a handle, and a band in the form of a closed loop arranged to extend around the periphery of a lid to be removed, the handle having means for attaching the band thereto and a bearing surface adjacent the attaching means and against which the band may be urged to tighten the band around the lid. From a different perspective, the invention provides a device suitable for applying torque to a screwed member comprising a andle portion and a flexible band formed in a loop atached towards one end thereof, such that in use the band is placed around the member and the handle is moved in an arc in the plane of the band so as to trap the band between the handle and the member, continued movement of the handle tightening the band around the member and allowing a torque to be applied thereto. The handle preferably has a circular head portion, the circumference of which constitutes said bearing surface. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to ' the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig.l shows a perspective view of the handle of a device in accordance with the present invention; Fig.2 shows a perspective view of a band for co¬ operation with the handle of Fig.l., and Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the device in use. Referring now to Fig.l, there is shown a handle 10 comprising a shaft 11 and a generally circular head portion 12. The handle is conveniently made of injection mo-ulded ABS material. Head portion 12 is hollow so as to define a ring shaped member and it has an outer circular surface 13 extending circumferentially. At one end of surface 13 there is provided means 20 for attaching the band shown in Figure 2 to the handle 10. The attachment means 20 comprises a slot 21 extending completely through the wall of the handle, and a tubular recess 22 defined by a circular wall within the ring of head portion 12. Referring now to Fig.2. there is shown a band 30 forming a closed loop with an exterior surface 31. The band is conveniently made of rubber terylene laminate material. A circular locking pin 32 is secured to the band, the pin being for example of rod section acrylic material fitted in a smaller loop 33. The pin 32 is smaller than the recess 22 by a little more than the thickness of the material of the band. In use pin 32, with band attached, is inserted into recess 22. (See Fig. 3) The band 30 is then placed around the edge of a lid 35 to be removed. The size of the loop is arranged to be slightly larger than the circumference of the lid 35. Handle 10 is then manually rotated in the direction of arrow A. The effect of this initially is to tighten the band 30 around the lid, during which operation a part 36 of the band adjacent to pin 32 become trapped between the bearing surface 13 of the head portion of the handle and the lid itself. When the band is tightly engaged around the lid, a further twist in direction A serves to remove the lid from the jar. Thus a tight-fitting lid may be quickly and easily - removed from a jar without requiring an undue amount of strength or handgrip on the part of the operator and without damage to the lid. It is thus especially suitable for household use. The band is readily removable from the handle when not in use, and can be put into the head the other way up so as to spread the wear applied to it. Moreover by reversing the device on the lid, it can be used to tighten the lid. The method of use permits a single band to be used to remove lids of a wide range of sizes, i.e. from lids only slightly smaller than band 30 to lids smaller than band 30 by an amount corresponding to twice the length of the circular bearing surface of head portion 12. It will be seen that by virtue of the fact that the material of the band is itself trapped between the head and the lid, the length of the loop is self adjusting. Various modifications can be made to the above- described device. For example the periphery of head portion 12 could be polygonal, or elliptical, instead of circular. Furthermore recess 22 could also be of non-circular shape; the shape of pin 32 would be correspondingly changed. The recess 22 may be open at both ends or open at one end and closed at the other. The interior surface of band 30 may be covered with frictional material to grip a lid, or may be moulded with ribbings. If desired a range of bands having differing lengths may be provided for use with a single handle. The device may be used to apply torque to any member, whether screw-threaded or not, which requires to be twisted to loosen and remove it, or to tighten it. C PI

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device suitable for removing screw lids from jars comprises a handle, and a band in the form of a closed loop arranged to extend around the periphery of a lid to be removed, the handlehaving means for attaching the band thereto and a bearing surface adjacent the attaching means and against which the band be urged to tighten the band round the lid. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing surface is convex. 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said bearing surface is at or near a head end of the handle. 4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the head end is enlarged. 5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the head end is circular. 6. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the head end is polygonal. 7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a keyhole -shaped aperture which receives an enlargment on the band . 8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said enlargement of the band comprises a solid member lodged in a secondary loop of said band. 9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner surface of the closed loop is friction enhanced. 10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said inner surface has a series of ribs . 11. A dev ice suitable for applying torque to a screwed member comprising a handle portion and a flexible band formed in a loop attached toward s one end thereof, such that in use the , band is placed around the member and the handle is mov ed in an arc in the plane of the band so as to trap the band between the handle and the member , continued movement of the handle tightening the band around the member and allowing a torque to be appl ied ther e to .

Inventors: CARR PATRICK, CARR, PATRICK
Applicants: CARR PATRICK, CARR, PATRICK
Application year: 1984
Main classification: B67B7
IPC codes: B67B7