Abstract:
A torquing device for assisting in the removal of a lid from a container. The device comprises a housing having a first engagement surface. Moveably mounted to the housing is an engagement member having a second engagement surface. The first and second engagement surfaces collectively define a slot which is sized and configured to accommodate at least a portion of the lid. Cooperatively engaged to the housing and to the engagement member is a biasing member for normally maintaining the engagement member in a release position. The engagement member is selectively moveable from the release position to a gripping position as a result of the rotation of the lid subsequent to the advancement thereof into the slot. The movement of the engagement member to the gripping position facilitates the rigid capture of the lid between the first and second engagement surfaces, thus allowing locking or unlocking torque to be applied thereto.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to container opening devices, and more particularly, to a lid torquing device having both stationary and pivoting engagement services adapted to collectively facilitate the application of torque to the lid of the container 
     Currently known in the prior art is a wide variety of differently configured containers, many of which are closeable via the removable engagement of the lid thereto. For those containers closeable with a lid, a threaded connection is frequently employed to facilitate the releasable engagement of the lid to the container. More particularly, the container is typically provided with external threads extending about a neck portion thereof, with the lid itself being provided with internal threads which are complimentary to the container threads. To rigidly engage the lid to the container, a sufficient amount of “locking torque” must be applied to the lid. Conversely, a sufficient amount of “unlocking torque” must be applied to the lid to facilitate the disengagement thereof from the container. 
     It is a relatively common occurrence for an individual to lack the necessary hand strength needed to apply a level of unlocking torque to a lid sufficient to effectively disengage the lid threads from the container threads. This problem is made worse in those situations where a portion of the contents of the container drips over the container threads prior to the engagement of the lid thereto, and subsequently dries or hardens subsequent to such engagement. By way of specific example, when a bottle of nail polish is used, it is relatively common for some of the nail polish to drip onto the threads of the bottle, the nail polish hardening subsequent to the lid being threadably engaged to the bottle. The drying or hardening of the nail polish substantially increases the level of unlocking torque which must be applied to the lid to remove the same from the bottle, the required level of unlocking torque exceeding that which is easily applicable by the hand of a user. Though various devices currently exist in the art which are adapted to assist in the lid removal function by applying unlocking torque to a lid threadably engaged to a container, such devices are typically large in size and cumbersome, and thus not well suited for portability, e.g., being carried in a purse. The present invention addresses this deficiency by providing a lid torquing device which is adapted to apply either locking or unlocking torque to a lid threadably engaged to the container, yet is compact and ergonomically contoured for maximum utility. These, and other features and advantages of the present invention, will be discussed in more detail below. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a lid torquing device which may be used to assist in the removal of a lid from a container (e.g., bottle) or alternatively, facilitate the tightening of the lid onto the container. The device comprises a housing having a first engagement surface. Moveably mounted to the housing is an engagement member having a second engagement surface. The first and second engagement surfaces collectively define a slot which is sized and configured to accommodate at least a portion of the lid. Cooperatively engaged to the housing and to the engagement member is a biasing member which normally maintains the engagement member in a release position. The engagement member is selectively moveable from the release position to a gripping position as a result of the rotation of the lid subsequent to the advancement thereof into the slot. The movement of the engagement member to the gripping position facilitates the rigid capture of the lid between the first and second engagement surfaces. 
     The slot collectively defined by the first and second engagement surfaces is arcuate, and defines opposed first and second ends. The slot is also of decreasing width from the first end to the second end thereof. The engagement member itself preferably comprises a cam which is pivotally or rotatably mounted to the housing, and defines the second engagement surface. The cam pivots about a cam axis, with the second engagement surface defined by the cam being spaced from the cam axis at a first mean radial distance. The first engagement surface defined by the housing is itself spaced from the cam axis at a second mean radial distance which exceeds the first mean radial distance. The biasing member itself preferably comprises a compression spring which extends between the cam and the housing. 
     The present invention is best understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These, as well as other features of the present invention, will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a lid torquing device constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the lid torquing device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the lid torquing device shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan, partial cross-sectional view of the lid torquing device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same,  FIG. 1  perspectively illustrates a lid torquing device  14  constructed in accordance with the present invention. The device  14  is specifically adapted for use in conjunction with a container  12  having a lid  10  threadably engaged thereto. In this regard, it is contemplated that the container  12  will include an externally threaded neck, with the lid  10  being internally threaded, the lid threads being complimentary to the container threads to allow the lid  10  to be threadably engaged to or removed from the container  12 . Though the lid threads and container threads of the lid  10  and container  12  will typically follow the right-hand rule, the device  14  constructed in accordance with the present invention may also be used in conjunction with complimentary lid and container threads which follow the left-hand rule. 
     To facilitate the rigid engagement of the lid  10  to the container  12 , a minimum level of locking torque must be applied to the exterior surface of the lid  10 . Conversely, a minimum level of unlocking torque is required to remove or unscrew the lid  10  from the container  12 . As indicated above, the entrapment of the contents of the container between the lid and container threads and subsequent drying or hardening thereof, often results in a level of unlocking torque having to be applied to the lid  10  to disengage the same from the container  12  which exceeds that easily applicable by a user&#39;s hand. This problem is addressed by the device  14  of the present invention which comprises a generally oval-shaped housing  16 . The housing  16  itself comprises an upper housing half  42  and a lower housing half  44  which are rigidly attached to each other. The attachment of the upper and lower housing halves  42 ,  44  to each other may be accomplished through various attachment methods, such as welding, adhesive bonding, or fastening with nuts, bolts or screws. 
     As is best seen in  FIG. 2 , the upper housing half  42  includes an enlarged opening  46  formed therein. In addition to the opening  46 , disposed within the upper housing half  42  is an aperture  52 . The lower housing half  44  itself includes an opening  45  formed therein. In addition to the opening  45 , formed within the lower housing half  44  is a recessed shelf  46  which extends to one edge of the opening  45 . Extending perpendicularly upward from the generally planar top surface of the shelf  46  is a cylindrically configured pin  48 . Additionally, formed in the side wall of the opening  45  is an aperture  74 , the use of which will be described in more detail below. 
     The device  14  of the present invention further comprises a cam or engagement member  18 . The engagement member  18  defines an arcuate, generally convex engagement surface  62 . The engagement surface  62  is defined by a flange portion of the engagement member  18  having a width exceeding that of the remainder of the engagement member  18 . Disposed within the engagement member  18  is an aperture  54 . Additionally, protruding from the peripheral side surface of the engagement member  18  in close proximity to the flange portion thereof is a cylindrically configured pin  72 , the use of which will also be described in more detail below. 
     The device  14  is assembled by advancing the pin  48  of the lower housing half  44  into the aperture  54  of the engagement member  18 . The length of the pin  48  exceeds the depth of the aperture  54  such that a portion of the pin  48  protrudes from the aperture  54  when the engagement member  18  is rested upon the shelf  46  defined by the lower housing half  44 . When the engagement member  18  is interfaced to the pin  48 , the flange portion of the engagement member  18  defining the engagement surface  62  thereof resides within the opening  45  of the lower housing half  44 . 
     Cooperatively engaged to both the engagement member  18  and the lower housing half  44  is a biasing member, and more particularly a compression spring  20 . As is seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 , one end of the compression spring  20  is advanced into the aperture  74  of the lower housing half  44 . The opposite end of the compression spring  20  is advanced over the pin  72  of the engagement member  18 . As a result, the compression spring  20  is maintained in a fixed position between the engagement member  18  and the lower housing half  44 . As will be discussed in more detail below, the compression spring  20  is operative to normally bias the engagement member to a release position. 
     Subsequent to the interface of the engagement member  18  to the lower housing half  44  in the above-described manner, the upper housing half  42  is attached to the lower housing half  44 . Such attachment is facilitated by the advancement of that portion of the pin  48  protruding from the aperture  54  of the engagement member  18  into the complimentary aperture  52  disposed within the upper housing half  42 . As indicated above, the upper and lower housing halves  42 ,  44  may be firmly secured to each other in any one of a number of different manners, with the attached upper and lower housing halves  42 ,  44  collectively defining the housing  16  of the device  14 . The housing  16 , as indicated above, has an oval shape and is ergonomically contoured to be easily graspable by the hand of a user. In this respect, the dimensions of the housing  16  are such that the fingers of the user may easily extend about the continuous peripheral edge  42  defined by the housing  16 . Though not shown, it is contemplated that the peripheral edge  42  of the housing  16  may be formed to include finger recesses or detents to further maximize the ability of the user to grip the same. 
     When the upper and lower housing halves  42 ,  44  are attached to each other in the above-described manner, the openings  46 ,  45  thereof collectively define a slot  24  of the housing  16 . A portion of the wall of the housing  16  forming the slot  24  defines an engagement surface  30  of the housing  16 . As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the width of the engagement surface  30  defined by the housing  16  is preferably equal to the width of the engagement surface  62  defined by the engagement member  18 , i.e., the opposed longitudinal edges of the flange portion of the engagement member  18  extend in generally co-planar relation to respective ones of the outer surfaces of the upper and lower housing halves  42 ,  44 . As is seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the slot  24  of the housing  16  has a first end  40  and an opposed second end  41 , the aperture  74  being located at the second end  41  of the slot  24 . The slot  24  is of gradually decreasing width, with the width at the first end  40  substantially exceeding the width at the second end  41 . As will be recognized, the width of the slot  24  at the first end  40  thereof dictates the maximum diameter or dimension of the lid  10  which is advanceable into the slot  24 . 
     When the engagement member  18  is cooperatively engaged to the housing  16  in the above-described manner, the pin  48  and apertures  52 ,  54  are coaxially aligned along a common engagement axis  50 . It is contemplated that the engagement surface  62  of the engagement member  18  will be radially spaced or separated from the engagement axis  50  by a constant distance. One such preferred distance is 1.75 inches. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the engagement member  18  may be formed such that different sections or segments of the engagement surface  62  have different radial spacings from the engagement axis  50 . Due to the shape of the slot  24 , the radial spacing between the engagement surface  30  of the housing  16  and the engagement axis  50  is not constant. Rather, as is most easily seen in  FIG. 4 , the radial spacing between the engagement surface  30  and the engagement axis  50  increases as the engagement surface  30  moves from the second end  41  of the slot  24  to the first end  40  thereof. It is contemplated that the mean radial distance separating the engagement surface  30  from the engagement axis  50  will be about 2.75 inches. 
     It is further contemplated that both the engagement surface  30  of the housing  16  and the engagement surface  62  of the engagement member  18  will have a layer of tactile material applied thereto. Such tactile material may comprise, for example, a material having sand or grit embedded therein to increase the frictional resistance between the engagement surfaces  30 ,  62  and the exterior of the lid  10  when the device  14  is used in the manner which will be described below. The material applied to the engagement surfaces  30 ,  62  need not necessarily be tactile, but may alternatively have a level of resiliency sufficient to firmly grip or engage the lid  10  when the device  14  is used in its intended manner. Still further, it is contemplated that both the housing  16  and engagement member  18  may be fabricated, in their entirety, from a material having the requisite tactile or gripping characteristics as needed to facilitate the proper functionality of the device  14 . 
     When the device  14  is not being used to apply locking or unlocking torque to the lid  10 , the compression spring  20  normally biases the engagement member  18  to a release position which is shown by the solid line depiction of the engagement member  18  in  FIG. 4 . The device  14  is used by advancing the lid  10  into the slot  24  such that portions of the exterior surfaces of the lid  10  are in contact with both the engagement surface  30  of the housing  16  and the engagement surface  62  of the engagement member  18 . As will be recognized, that portion of the slot  24  into which the lid  10  is advanced is dependent upon the size or diameter of the lid  10 . In this regard, the smaller the diameter of the lid  10 , the closer the same will initially be inserted into the slot  24  toward the smaller second end  41  thereof. 
     Subsequent to the advancement of the lid  10  into the aperture  24 , the housing  16  of the device  14  is rotated. When viewed from the perspective shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the rotation of the housing  16  in a clockwise direction will facilitate the pivotal or rotational movement of the engagement member  18  toward the second end  41  of the slot  24 . In this respect, the biasing force normally exerted against the engagement member  18  by the compression spring  20  is overcome, thus effectively compressing the compression spring and allowing the engagement member  18  to assume the orientation shown by, for example, the phantom lines in  FIG. 4 . This movement of the engagement member  18  to its gripping position effectively facilitates the rigid clamping or compression of the lid  10  between the engagement surfaces  30 ,  62 . As a result of such clamping or compression, the continued rotation of the housing  16  facilitates the effective application of torque to the lid  10 . Whether the applied torque constitutes a locking torque or unlocking torque is dependent upon whether the mating container and lid threads are right-handed or left-handed, and the direction in which the lid  10  is advanced into the slot  24 . For example, if the lid  10  is advanced into the slot  24  in the orientation dictated by the position of the container  12  in  FIG. 1 , the rotation of the housing  16  in the clockwise direction would facilitate the application of locking torque to the lid  10 , assuming the container and lid threads are right-handed. Conversely, if the container  12  shown in  FIG. 1  and hence the lid  12  thereof were to be flipped over from the orientation shown in  FIG. 1 , the rotation of the housing  16  in a clockwise direction would facilitate the application of unlocking torque to the lid  10 , again assuming that the container and lid threads are right-handed. 
     Additional modifications and improvements of the present invention may also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the particular combination of parts described and illustrated herein is intended to represent only one embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to serve as limitations of alternative devices within the spirit and scope of the invention.