Abstract:
A tool and method for puncturing a lid of a vacuum sealed bottle to release the vacuum and allow easy opening. A point extends down from the tool, and force may be exerted against the tool by the palm or thumb of a user causing the point to penetrate the lid. The point preferably extends between 3/16 inches and 1/16 inches down from the handle, and more preferably about 3/16 inches. In some embodiments the tool is mushroom shaped having a wider round or oval upper portion for grasping and a narrower lower portion centered under the upper portion of the handle, the point extending down from the lower portion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a Continuation In Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/931,692 filed Aug. 31, 2004, which application is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to kitchen utensils, and specifically to tools for puncturing a lid of a vacuum sealed bottle to release the vacuum seal to allow easy removal of the lid. 
         [0003]    To avoid contamination and prevent tampering, many food and beverage, and medicine bottles available in the marketplace are equipped with vacuumed sealed lids, wherein the food or liquid is placed in the bottle while hot and allowed to cool after the lid is screwed or pressed onto the bottle to securely seal the bottle. The resultant vacuum forces are often quite large and require a disengagement force that is difficult to generate by normal human hand and wrist action. Even a hardy person must sometimes resort to extraordinary effort to remove the lid. The difficulty is exacerbated for the elderly and/or physically challenged. 
         [0004]    A number of tools have been offered or suggested to aid in removing such lids, to remove other strongly secured lids, such as paint can lids, or to otherwise open sealed bottles. Lid wrenches and other tools to provide mechanical leverage to help turn a lid against the force of a vacuum seal are illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,296 (Graver), U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,482 (Floyd), U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,468 (Fohrman et al.), D440,842 (Vandergaw), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,490,951 (Davidson). Such tools, while providing leverage still require substantial strength to use and are large and relatively expensive. Tools that have been designed for prying open paint cans and the like, and to also punch a hole in the paint can gutter to enable paint to drain back into the can, are illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,302 (Barth), U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,121 (Bossie), U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,665 (Fick), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,444 (Fluhr et al.). Such tools take advantage of a space between the edge of the paint can and the lid, where a gutter is formed, and are not useful for removing vacuum sealed lids, which generally do not have such a pry edge. Tools that have been designed to puncture can tops or to facilitate or replace the use of built-in tab openers are illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,753 (Wilkinson), U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,448 (Fournier et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,451 (Widman), U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,087 (Richard), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,848 (Totten). Such tools are large and relatively expensive, are not readily applied to vacuum sealed jar lids or the like. Moreover, the holes punched into the can tops are generally too large to be easily resealed if that is desired by the consumer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,802 (Jeffers) describes a puncture and seal apparatus that can be secured to a bottle, which straddles the bottle, a presser plate pushing the bottom of the can onto a piercing cone which creates a pierced opening and then seals the opening for subsequent use as a spout that can be opened and closed. Aside from its relatively high cost and great size, the tool is not useful to open vacuum sealed lids on jars and the like. Finally, of superficial relevance to the structure of the present invention, is a golf tee awl for making holes in the ground, to make it easier to insert golf tees, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,298 (Rushforth). There is no suggestion that such a tool could be used to release the vacuum of sealed jar lids and the like, nor could the elongate spike of that tool be easily used for that purpose. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a tool and method for puncturing a lid of a vacuum sealed bottle to release the vacuum and allow easy opening. A point extends down from the tool, and force may be exerted against the tool by the palm or thumb of a user causing the point to penetrate the lid. The point preferably extends between 3/16 inches and 1/16 inches down from the handle, and more preferably about 3/16 inches. In some embodiments the tool is mushroom shaped having a wider round or oval upper portion for grasping and a narrower lower portion centered under the upper portion of the handle, the point extending down from the lower portion. 
         [0006]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a puncturing tool which enables even a weak, disabled or very elderly person to make a tiny puncture through the lid of the bottle, releasing the vacuum to equalize the pressure to atmosphere so that the lid can then be removed with very little effort. If the product is to be reused, it can be placed in a refrigerator, the tiny hole providing little opportunity for spoilage. Alternatively, a small piece of tape, such as Scotch brand cellophane tape or “Magic” tape, or a small amount of wax, can be place over the tiny hole to reestablish the integrity of the lid. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a puncturing tool for puncturing the lid of a vacuum sealed bottle to release the vacuum, having a handle that can be held in the hand of a user and having a palm or thumb contacting top surface against which pressure may be exerted by the palm or thumb of the user. A point extends from the bottom surface of the handle, the point being formed to penetrate the lid when pressure is exerted against the top surface of the handle. The length of the point is such as to extend less than 3/16 inch from the bottom end of the handle, in preferred embodiments, less than ⅛ inch from the handle bottom end, and in still more preferred embodiments, less than 1/16 inch from the handle bottom end. 
         [0008]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a puncturing tool having a point defined by an axial shank connected at a proximal end to the handle and formed with the point at its distal end, the handle being formed with a hole for receiving the proximal end of the shank secured therein. A layer of compressible material can be disposed on the bottom surface of the handle, the point extending through the compressible material when the compressible material is compressed and extending less than ⅛ inch beyond the layer of compressible material when the compressible material is uncompressed. 
         [0009]    In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a puncturing tool having a handle formed of an upper portion defining a palm or thumb contacting surface, and an integral bottom portion of substantially cylindrical shape, sized to accommodate a user&#39;s index and middle fingers when the user&#39;s thumb contacts the top surface of the handle. The handle and point can be formed in one piece of metal, or they can be formed of different material. For example, the point can be formed of stainless steel and the handle formed of a ceramic, other metal, plastic, or of hardwood. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for puncturing a lid of a vacuum sealed bottle to allow easy removal of the lid. The method includes the steps of grasping a handle of a lid puncturing tool, holding the tool to position a point extending down from the tool against a lid of a vacuum sealed bottle, pressing the point against the lid with sufficient force to puncture the lid, releasing vacuum from the bottle, removing contents from the bottle, replacing the lid onto the bottle, and placing tape over the puncture in the lid. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0011]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a first embodiment of a tool constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a second embodiment of a tool constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a layer of compressible material attached to the bottom of the tool in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  with the layer of compressible material attached to the bottom of the tool in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the tool taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the tool taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the tool taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the tool taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13A  is a side view of a threaded point in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13B  is a side view of a stepped point in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 14A  shows the tool positioned to puncture a vacuum sealed lid of a bottle; 
           [0027]      FIG. 14B  shows the tool after puncturing a vacuum sealed lid of a bottle; 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  is a method for opening vacuum sealed bottles according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0029]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of a lid puncturing tool  10   a  of the present invention is shown, the tool  10   a  comprises a handle  20  and a point  14 . The tool  10   a  has an overall height (not including the point  14 ) H of about 1.1 inches, the handle  20  has a height H1 of about 0.6 inches, and the handle  20  is a height H2 of about 0.5 inches above the point  14 . The handle  20  is configured to be held in the hand of a user and has a smooth circular convex top surface  16  against which pressure may be exerted by the palm, fingers, or thumb of the user, and a smooth rounded bottom surface  12  to facilitate grasping. An integral bottom portion (or spacer)  22  preferably resides below the handle  20 . The spacer  22  preferably has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is sized to accommodate a user&#39;s index and middle fingers when the user holds the handle  20 . A flat disk-like section  23  may reside under the spacer  22  and extends the diameter of the spacer  22  by a small amount. 
         [0032]    The point  14  extends down a depth d below the bottom surface  18  of the section  23  and the point  14  is configured to penetrate a vacuum sealed lid when force is exerted against the top surface  16  of the handle  20 . The point  14  preferably extends the depth d between 1/16 and ¼ inches below the bottom surface  18 , and more preferably the point extends about 3/16 inch below the bottom surface  18 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , another embodiment comprising a tool  10   b  is shown, which is similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  but does not include the section  23 . Accordingly, for ease and consistency of description, when appropriate, the same element numbers will be used in  FIG. 2  as used in  FIG. 1 . The tool  10   b  also comprises a handle  20  and a point  14 . The point  14  extends from the bottom surface  28  of a spacer  30  replacing the spacer  22 . The point  14  of the tool  10   b  is the same length as the point  14  described above. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show top plan views of the tools  10   a  and  10   b  respectively. The handle  20  has a diameter D. The diameter D is preferably between 1.5 and 2.5 inches, and more preferably between 1.5 and two inches, and most preferably about 1.5 inches. The handle  20  may also be oval of about the same size. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  shows a bottom view of the tool  10   a . The section  23  has a diameter D1 of about 0.6 inches and is preferably a little greater than ⅓ the diameter of the handle  20 . The point  14  has a diameter D2 of about 0.15 inches. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  shows a bottom view of the tool  10   b . The spacer  30  has a diameter D3 of about 0.5 inches and is preferably about ⅓ the diameter of the handle  20 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , tools  10   c  and  10   d  are shown wherein the respective tools  10   a  and  10   b  are each fitted with a layer  32  of compressible material. The compressible material can be in the form of a rubber or rubber-like washer, or a disk of felt, or a disk of a loop material of a hook and loop material, or similar compressible material. The point  14  extends through the layer  32  about 1/16 inch beyond the layer  32  when the layer  32  is uncompressed, reducing the likelihood of scratching or puncturing the skin of a user, or of kitchen items. 
         [0038]    Cross-sectional views of the tools  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c , and  10   d  taken along lines  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12  of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7 , and  8  are shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12  respectively. The point  14  is defined by an exposed conical portion  15   a  and an attached cylindrical portion  15   b  (see  FIG. 13A ). The handle  20  is formed with a hole  40  for receiving the cylindrical portion  15   b , which is secured therein. The hole  40  and shank  36  may include respective mating female and male screw threads so that the shank can be screwed into the handle (and easily replaced if needed). 
         [0039]    Details of a point  14   a  are shown in  FIG. 13A . The point  14   a  has an overall length L of about 0.5 inch from its base  38  to a tip  39 , a length L1 of about ⅛ inches of a conical portion  15   a , and a length L2 of about ⅜ inches of the cylindrical portion. The conical portion  15   a  forms an angle A of preferably between 20 and 40 degrees and more preferably about 30 degrees from a centerline CL of the point  14 . The cylindrical portion  15   b  includes male threads for cooperating with female threads in the hole  40 . Using a threaded point  14   a  provides an advantage of being able to adjust the extent of protrusion of the point  14   a  from the handle  20 . 
         [0040]    A second point  14   b  shown in  FIG. 13B  provides an interference fit with the hole  40 . A smaller diameter stepped end  17  allows the point  14  to be easily started in the hole  40 , and then mechanically pressed into a final position. 
         [0041]    The point  14  may also be secured by use of an adhesive, such as Locktite B (Eastman 9-10), secured by plastic injection molding, or the like. The handle  20  may be formed by plastic injection molding and the point  14  may include a medium knurl for retention. 
         [0042]    The handle and shank can be formed of the same or different materials. For example, the handle can be formed of ceramic material, or other material, or both the shank and handle can be formed of stainless steel or other metal. Preferably the handle is formed of a ceramic material, or of hardwood or plastic, and the shank is formed of stainless or other steel, preferably heat-treated. In an alternative embodiment, the handle and point are formed in one piece from plastic or steel, or other metal. 
         [0043]    The tool  10  is shown above a vacuum sealed bottle  52  and lid  50  in  FIG. 14A , and after puncturing the lid in  FIG. 14B . The length and pitch of the point  14  were selected after significant experimentation to puncture the lid  50  with little effort and to minimally puncture the lid  50  which is sufficient to release pressure vacuum in the bottle  52  allowing easy removal of the lid  50  from the bottle  52 . Providing a minimal puncture allows the lid  50  to be reattached and provide a useful sealing of the bottle  52  after initial opening. 
         [0044]    A method for puncturing a lid of a vacuum sealed bottle to allow easy removal of the lid is shown in  FIG. 15 . The method includes the steps of grasping a handle of a lid puncturing tool at step  100 , holding the tool to position a point extending down from the tool against a lid of a vacuum sealed bottle at step  102 , pressing the point against the lid with sufficient force to puncture the lid at step  104 , releasing vacuum from the bottle at step  106 , removing the lid from the bottle at step  108 , removing contents from the bottle at step  110 , replacing the lid onto the bottle at step  112 , and placing tape over the puncture in the lid at step  114 . When the entire contents of the bottle are removed, there is no need to perform steps  112  and  114 . 
         [0045]    The tool  10  may further find application in scoring fruit skins to facilitate peeling, tearing tamper proof seals to facilitate removal, tearing packaging tape to open packages, perforating frozen food covering before microwave cooking, perforating a canned drink lid to allow the lid to relax to expose a pull tab. 
         [0046]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.