Abstract:
A cap wrench is provided to enable a user to more easily and safely remove bottle caps from a bottle. The cap wrench includes a handle and a recess that engages the capped end of a bottle. When the capped end of a bottle is inserted into the recess, the cap wrench is capable of opening the bottle by either pulling up or pushing down on the handle. A fulcrum locus also is provided inside the recess to further ease the removal of the cap from a bottle by providing a pivot point about which the cap wrench may be turned. Additionally, a prying ridge is also provided inside the recess, whereby opening forces are applied to the bottle cap.

Description:
[0001]     This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design Application Serial No. 29/236,434, filed Aug. 16, 2005, the entire disclosure being incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to bottle openers, and more particularly to a bottle opener that utilizes the aesthetic appearance and mechanical advantages of a wrench.  
         [0003]     Bottle caps are applied to the open end of a bottle during the capping portion of the bottling process. Capping typically involves placing a bottle cap onto the open end of a bottle and crimping the cap onto the bottle, which seals the bottle and protects the contents of the bottle from contamination and spillage. Caps may be crimped so as to form either a twist-off cap or a standard pry-off cap. The pry-off type caps require the use of a tool to remove the cap from the bottle. While twist-off caps do not require a tool for removal, the crimping process can result in the formation of sharp metal edges on the cap. Accordingly, the safest manner to remove a bottle cap, whether twist-off or pry-off, is to use a bottle opener.  
         [0004]     Previously, bottle caps have been removed by a multiplicity of tools, some specifically designed for the task of opening bottles, such as conventional bottle openers. While any number of tools may be useful in opening a bottle, a common problem is that the torque and force necessary to remove the cap from the bottle often result in a jerking motion as the bottle cap is pried from the bottle. This jerking motion can result in spillage of the contents and creates the potential for the user to drop the bottle altogether.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     The present invention recognizes and addresses considerations of prior art constructions and methods and provides a cap wrench that allows a user to easily remove the cap from a bottle.  
         [0006]     In one embodiment of the present invention, the cap wrench has a handle, a head connected to one end of the handle, and a bore located at the end of the handle opposite the head. The head is comprised of an end wall and a sidewall. The end wall has a top surface and a bottom surface, and is generally oblong in shape. The sidewall has an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface of the sidewall generally follows the contour of the end wall&#39;s oblong shape, while the inner surface of the sidewall and the bottom surface of the end wall together define a generally cylindrical bottle recess. The bottom surface of the end wall further defines a fulcrum locus, which projects away from the bottom surface toward the center of the bottle recess. The inner sidewall surface further defines at least one prying ridge, which projects inward toward the center of the bottle recess. The end wall and the sidewall are sized appropriately to receivably accept the capped end of a bottle and withstand the forces exerted during the opening of a bottle.  
         [0007]     When the capped end of a bottle is inserted into the bottle recess, the prying ridge engages the bottle cap by sliding under the flange of the bottle cap. The fulcrum locus simultaneously engages the flat surface of the bottle cap. When the cap wrench engages a bottle cap in this manner, a force applied to the handle of the cap wrench in either an upward or downward direction will result in a moment about the pivot point. This moment will result in prying ridge imparting an upward force on the flange of the metal bottle cap. When the force imparted on the flange of the cap exceeds the mechanical strength of the bottle cap, the bottle cap will deform, and the cap wrench will pry the bottle cap off the bottle.  
         [0008]     In another embodiment, the cap wrench is capable of twisting a twist-off style bottle cap from a bottle. In this embodiment, the head has an end wall that is generally circular in shape. The head&#39;s sidewall defines prying ridges, which further define inner edges having multiple serrations. The inner edges are the portions of the prying ridges located closest to the center of the bottle recess. The head is sized appropriately so that when the capped end of a bottle is inserted into the bottle recess, both prying ridges engage the bottle cap flange, and the serrations on the prying ridge receivably accept the crimped edges on bottle cap flange that result from the crimping process. Thus, the cap wrench can be rotated about a central longitudinal axis of the bottle, thereby twisting the bottle cap off of the bottle, just as a wrench turns a workpiece.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment, the cap wrench is capable of easily opening a can with a pull-tap style opener. In this embodiment, the head sidewall further defines a tab slot. The tab slot is located on the portion of the sidewall distal from the cap wrench handle, along the central-longitudinal axis of the cap wrench handle. The tab slot is positioned at the intersection between the sidewall and the end wall bottom surface, and proceeds through the entire thickness of the sidewall. The tab slot is shaped so as to receivably accept the pull-tab from a metal can. Once the pull-tab is inserted into the tab slot, prying up on the cap wrench handle will lift the pull tab, thereby opening the can.  
         [0010]     The accompanying drawings, incorporated in and constituting part of this specification, illustrate one or more of the embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification and makes reference to the appended drawings, where:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a cap wrench in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the opposite side of the wrench shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a right side elevation view of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is an end-on view of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is an end-on view of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of a cap wrench in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a right side cut-away view of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a right side cut-away view of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0023]      FIGS. 12-15  are right side cut-away views of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 8 , depicting the cap wrench being used on a bottle cap;  
         [0024]      FIGS. 16-19  are right side cut-away views of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 8 , depicting the cap wrench being used on a bottle cap;  
         [0025]      FIG. 20  is a bottom perspective view of a cap wrench in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 21  is a close-up bottom perspective view of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 20 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 22  is a right side cut-away view of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 20 ;  
         [0028]      FIGS. 23-26  are right side cut-away views of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 20 , depicting the cap wrench being used on a bottle cap;  
         [0029]      FIGS. 27-29  are right side cut-away views of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 20 , depicting the cap wrench being used on a bottle cap;  
         [0030]      FIGS. 30-32  are bottom plan views of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 20 , depicting the cap wrench being used on a bottle cap;  
         [0031]      FIG. 33  is a bottom perspective view of a cap wrench in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 34  is an end-on view of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 33 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 35  is a is a right side cut-away view of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 33 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 36  is a is a right side cut-away view of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 33 ; and  
         [0035]      FIGS. 37-38  are perspective views of the cap wrench shown in  FIG. 33 , depicting the cap wrench being used on a can tab. 
     
    
       [0036]     Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0037]     Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.  
         [0038]     Referring to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1-4 , a cap wrench  10  has a body with a handle  12  and a head generally denoted  14 . The body may be formed from any suitable material, for example one or a combination of steel, alloy, ceramics, polymers, etc. A first end  18  defines head  14 , and a second end  20  defines handle  12 . Head  14  is integrally formed with handle  12  by a neck  22 . Second end  20  has a bore  24  formed therethrough that allows for easy storage of cap wrench  10  when not in use. Instead of bore  24 , other means of storing cap wrench  10  may be provided. Neck  22  tapers smoothly from the top and bottom of head  14  into handle  12  ( FIG. 6 ), so as to reduce the amount of material required to manufacture cap wrench  10  without reducing its strength.  
         [0039]     Head  14  has a sidewall  28  and an end wall  26 , which is bounded by a top surface  30  and a bottom surface  32 . Referring particularly to  FIG. 2 , an inner surface  27  of sidewall  28  and end wall bottom surface  32  define a generally cylindrical recess  34 . A prying ridge  36  projects radially inward from sidewall inner surface  27  toward the center of recess  34 . In one embodiment, two prying ridges  36  are located on opposite sides of the sidewall inner surface  27  and are aligned such that they are generally parallel to handle  12 . IT should be understood that prying ridges  36  may be slightly angled upward to better grasp the edge of the bottle cap.  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIGS. 5, 8 ,  10 , and  11 , a fulcrum locus  38  projects axially downward from bottom surface  32  toward the center of generally cylindrical recess  34 . In one embodiment, a cross-section of fulcrum locus  38 , along a longitudinal axis of handle  12 , has a profile  40  that is convex ( FIGS. 5 and 10 ). In this embodiment, fulcrum locus profile  40  may be understood to be simply convex, quasi-spherical, parabolic or otherwise similarly shaped. In another embodiment, fulcrum locus  38  may have a discontinuously convex profile  40  ( FIGS. 8, 9  and  11 ). In this embodiment, fulcrum locus profile  40  is defined by raised ridges  42 , the raised ridges  42  being separated from each other by channels  44  ( FIG. 8 ). Raised ridges  42  are preferably narrow in width transverse to the handle axis so that the point of contact between raised ridges  46  and bottle cap  52  ( FIG. 13 ) is generally limited to a location at the center of the circular flat surface  56  of bottle cap  52 . However, raised ridges  42  may have a larger width so that the point of contact is linear across the entire diameter of flat surface  56 . While, profile  40  is convex along the axis of handle  12 , it does not have to be curved along an axis transverse to the handle axis.  
         [0041]     The term “fulcrum locus,” as used herein, is defined as the portion of the end wall bottom surface that engages the flat surface of the bottle cap and about which the cap wrench pivots when an opening force is applied to the cap wrench handle. It should be understood that the point of contact between the end wall bottom surface and the bottle cap may translate during the course of opening the bottle cap. That is, because the fulcrum locus may be a curved surface and is not limited to a single point, the point of contact between the bottle cap and the fulcrum locus translates along the curved surface as the cap wrench rotates to open the bottle, much like the point of contact between a car tire and the road translates along both the road and the outer circumference of the tire as the tire rolls.  
         [0042]     The operation of cap wrench  10  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 12-19 . Referring first to  FIG. 12 , cap wrench  10  is shown initially positioned over the capped end of a bottle  50 . Cap wrench  10  is then lowered so that recess  34  releasably receives bottle cap  52 . Referring to  FIG. 13 , once the capped end of the bottle is received in the recess, cap wrench  10  may be pushed forward to position prying ridge  36 , located proximate to handle first end  18 , under flange  54 . In this position, prying ridge  36 , located distal from handle first end  18 , will not make contact with bottle cap flange  54 , and fulcrum locus  38  contacts a flat surface  56  of bottle cap  52 .  
         [0043]     Referring to  FIG. 14 , second handle end  20  is rotated clockwise (with respect to  FIG. 14 ) about the point of contact between fulcrum locus  38  and bottle cap flat surface  56 , causing prying ridge  36  to exert an upward force on the underside of the bottle cap flange  54 . Accordingly, fulcrum locus  38  exerts a downward force in the center of bottle cap flat surface  56  causing an oil canning effect on the bottle cap. As a result, the bottle cap  52  will begin to bend at the point of contact and separate from bottle  50 . Referring to  FIG. 15 , once bottle cap  52  is completely separated from bottle  50 , bottle cap  52  will fall away from cap wrench  10 .  
         [0044]     Cap wrench  10  may also be used in a manner that differs slightly from the use described above. Referring first to  FIG. 16 , cap wrench  10  is shown initially positioned over the capped end of a bottle  50 . Cap wrench  10  is then lowered so that recess  34  releasably receives bottle cap  52 . Referring now to  FIG. 17 , once the capped end of the bottle is received in the recess, cap wrench  10  may be pulled backward to position prying ridge  36 , located distal from handle first end  18 , under flange  54 . In this position, prying ridge  36 , located proximate to handle first end  18 , will not make contact with bottle cap flange  54 , and fulcrum locus  38  contacts a flat surface  56  of bottle cap  52 .  
         [0045]     Referring to  FIG. 18 , second handle end  20  is rotated counterclockwise (with respect to  FIG. 18 ) about the point of contact between fulcrum locus  38  and bottle cap flat surface  56 , causing prying ridge  36  to exert an upward force on the underside of flange  54 . Accordingly, fulcrum locus  38  exerts a downward force in the center of bottle cap flat surface  56  causing an oil canning effect on the bottle cap. As a result, the bottle cap  52  will begin to bend at the point of contact and separate from bottle  50 . Referring to  FIG. 19 , once bottle cap  52  is completely separated from bottle  50 , bottle cap  52  will fall away from cap wrench  10 .  
         [0046]     The design of cap wrench  10  represents an improvement over the prior art because prior art embodiments simply rely on deforming the flange of the bottle cap by exacting a radially outward force on the bottle cap flange. Thus, as one side of the flange is pried radially outward, the cap is pulled up and away from the bottle. The cap wrench of the present invention offers three distinct advantages over the prior art.  
         [0047]     First, the elongated handle offers an extended moment arm, which requires the user to exert less force on the cap wrench to remove the bottle cap. This phenomenon, where a small force is applied to a tool, which thereby imparts a much larger force on a work piece, is generally known in the art as a “mechanical advantage.” The mechanical advantage of the cap wrench lessens the jerking effect typically associated with prying the cap free from the bottle, thereby reducing the likelihood of spillage or dropping the bottle.  
         [0048]     Secondly, when multiple prying ridges are employed, the cap wrench offers the user the choice of whether to open the bottle by exerting an upward or downward force on the handle of the cap wrench. In either case, the cap wrench uses the same pivot point and retains its mechanical advantage.  
         [0049]     The third and most significant advantage offered by the cap wrench&#39;s design is that the cap wrench promotes easy opening of a bottle by inducing an “oil-canning” effect on the bottle cap&#39;s flat surface. “Oil-canning” refers to the buckling of the bottle cap flat surface when a force is applied perpendicular to the center of the bottle cap&#39;s flat surface. The application of downward force to the center of the bottle cap creates tension on the bottle cap flat surface radially inward from the outer circumference of the bottle cap towards the center. When the applied force is large, the resulting tension causes the bottle cap flat surface to actually deform in a concave manner. Accordingly, the bottle cap flange rotates about the point of connection between the flat surface and the flange thereby expanding radially outward, and loosening.  
         [0050]     Another embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 20-32 . Referring to  FIGS. 20-22 , a cap wrench  110  has a body with a handle  112  and a head generally denoted  114  ( FIG. 21 ). A first end  118  defines head  114 , and a second end  120  defines handle  112 . Head  114  is integrally formed with handle  112  by a neck  122 , and second end  120  has a bore  124  formed therethrough.  
         [0051]     Head  114  has an end wall  126  having a bottom surface  132 , and a sidewall  128  that defines an inner surface  127 . End wall bottom surface  132  and sidewall inner surface  127  define a generally cylindrical recess  134 . Two prying ridges  136  are located on opposite sides of the sidewall inner surface  127  and have radially inwardly pointing edges  137  ( FIG. 20 ). A diameter between radially inwardly pointing edges  137  is substantially equal to a radius of bottle cap  52 . In one embodiment, prying ridges  136  are aligned such that they are generally parallel to handle  112 , but they may be angled slightly upward to better grasp the edge of the bottle cap. Additionally, prying ridges  136  define serrations  139  formed along edges  137  ( FIG. 21 ). Serrations  139  are spaced so as to receivably accept the crimped ridges  55  of bottle cap flange  54  ( FIG. 29 ).  
         [0052]     Referring to  FIG. 22 , a fulcrum locus  138  projects axially downward from end wall bottom surface  132  toward the center of generally cylindrical recess  134 . Fulcrum locus  138  may be formed similar to that described with respect to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 5, 8 ,  10  and  11 . However, in the current embodiment, the depth of fulcrum locus  138  is increased so that the cap wrench may be used in several configurations, as described in further detail below.  
         [0053]     One method of operation of cap wrench  110  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 23-26 . Referring first to  FIGS. 23 and 24 , cap wrench  110  is shown initially positioned over the capped end of bottle  50  and is lowered and angled with respect to bottle cap  52  such that recess  134  receives bottle cap  52 . Because the diameter between the prying ridges is substantially equal to the diameter of bottle cap  52 , only a portion of the bottle cap can fit into recess  134 . To accommodate this arrangement, the depth of fulcrum locus  138  is increased so that it contacts bottle cap flat surface  56  when only a portion of bottle cap  52  is received in the recess. Once in this position, cap wrench  110  is pushed forward to position prying ridge  136 , located proximate to handle first end  118 , into contact with the underside of bottle cap flange  54 .  
         [0054]     Referring to  FIG. 25 , an upward force is applied to second handle end  120  causing the handle to pivot clockwise about the point of contact between fulcrum locus  138  and bottle cap flat surface  56 . The downward force applied to bottle cap flat surface  56  by fulcrum locus  138  causes the oil canning effect on the bottle cap. Accordingly, bottle cap  52  loosens, and bottle cap  52  begins to separate from bottle  50 . Referring now to  FIG. 26 , once bottle cap  52  is completely separated from bottle  50 , bottle cap  52  will fall away from cap wrench  110 . It is important to note that as in prior embodiments, cap wrench  110  may be positioned such that prying ridge  136 , located distal from handle  112 , makes contact with bottle cap flange  54 . In this arrangement, bottle cap handle  112  is rotated counterclockwise, thereby removing bottle cap  52  from bottle  50 , as previously described above.  
         [0055]     Referring now to  FIGS. 27-28 , cap wrench  110  is shown operating on a twist off type bottle cap. Initially, cap wrench  110  is positioned over the capped end of a bottle  50  such that end wall  126  is substantially parallel to bottle cap flat surface  56 . Cap wrench  110  is then lowered so that recess  134  may receivably accept bottle cap  52  between prying ridges  136 . Referring to  FIGS. 29-30 , prying ridges  136  engage the outer circumference of bottle cap flange  54  so that serrations  139  engage bottle cap flange crimped edges  55 . The cap wrench is positioned on the end of the bottle so that fulcrum locus  138  engages bottle cap flat surface  56 . Referring to  FIG. 31 , cap wrench  110  may be rotated clockwise with respect to a longitudinal axis of the bottle in  FIG. 31  while the user holds the bottle rotationally fixed. In this configuration, bottle cap  52  begins to twist off from bottle  50  (not shown) and once free from bottle  50  (not shown), bottle cap  52  will fall away from cap wrench  110  ( FIG. 32 ).  
         [0056]     Another embodiment of the cap wrench of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 33-38 . Referring to  FIG. 33 , a cap wrench  210  has a body with a handle  212  and a head generally denoted  214 . A first end  218  defines head  214 , and a second end  220  defines handle  212 . Head  214  is integrally formed with handle  212  by a neck  222 , and second end  220  has a bore  224  formed therethrough.  
         [0057]     Head  214  has an end wall  226  and a sidewall  228 . End wall  226  defines a top surface  230  ( FIG. 36 ) and a bottom surface  232 , and sidewall  228  defines inner surface  227  and an outer surface  229  ( FIG. 35 ). End wall bottom surface  232  and sidewall inner surface  227  together define bottle recess  234 . Referring to  FIGS. 34 and 35 , sidewall  228  defines a tab slot  231  that is preferably positioned at or near the intersection between sidewall  228  and end wall  226 . Tab slot  231  is generally rectangular in shape and extends through the end wall between sidewall outer surface  229  and sidewall inner surface  227 , and top and bottom slot walls are generally aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of handle  212 . However, it should be recognized that tab slot  231  may take on a shape other than rectangular and may be located anywhere on sidewall  228  or at handle second end  220 , replacing bore  224  as a means of storing cap wrench  210 .  
         [0058]     The operation of cap wrench  210  is described with reference to  FIGS. 36-38 .  FIG. 36  shows cap wrench  210  positioned so that bottle recess  234  is facing upward, and a pull tab  264 , represented by a dashed line, is receivably accepted by slot  231 .  FIG. 37  illustrates cap wrench  210  positioned so end wall  230  rests on a top edge of a can  260 . Referring to  FIG. 38 , rotating cap wrench handle  212  clockwise with respect to  FIG. 38  causes cap wrench  210  to pivot off the can&#39;s top edge and pry pull tab  264  about the pull tab connection point  265 . Thus, the engagement between tab slot  231  and pull tab  264  rotates pull tab  264 , thereby opening can  260 .  
         [0059]     While one or more preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should be understood that any and all equivalent realizations of the present invention are included within the scope and spirit thereof. The embodiments depicted are presented by way of example and are not intended as limitations upon the present invention. Thus, those of ordinary skill in this art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein since modifications can be made. Specifically, prying ridge  36  of cap wrench  10  ( FIG. 2 ) may define serrations  139  for receivably accepting crimped edges  55  from bottle cap flange  54 . Additionally, sidewall  28  may define tab slot  231  as a feature on cap wrench  10  ( FIG. 2 ), or, alternatively, sidewall  128  of cap wrench  110  may define tab slot  231  ( FIG. 20 ). Therefore, it is contemplated that any and all such embodiments fall within the scope and spirit thereof.