Abstract:
A device including a body portion having proximal and distal end areas, and defining an internal cavity opening at the distal end area, and a channel that extends along a perimeter of the internal cavity in a spiral inclined planar configuration leading from the opening of the internal cavity and terminating at an apex region of the internal cavity. The distal end area of the body portion is configured and dimensioned to be placed upon a top portion of a beverage container and rotated thereon. Upon rotation of the body portion, the channel is configured so as to engage a lift-tab lever on a beverage container and progressively urge the lift-tab lever upwardly as the body portion of the present invention is rotated.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/423,532 filed 5 Nov. 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a device for opening a beverage container, and more specifically to a device arranged to utilize the mechanical characteristics of an inclined plane to lift a lift-tab lever on a conventional lift-tab beverage container. 
   2. Discussion of the Related Art 
   Lift-tab beverage containers are well known in the art. Typically, such containers are opened by lifting one end of a lift-tab lever to cause the other end thereof to open a door in the top of the can. By opening the door, the contents inside the can may be dispensed through the opening. 
   The modern lift-tab beverage container has become globally standardized for reasons of applicability, reliability, modes of distribution, storage, and sales. This conventionality results in little or no variation in the size and structures of the container in spite of a large variety of manufacturers. In addition, the typical lift-tab beverage container is round and has strong elements of concentricity. 
   A problem persists with such containers in that some persons have difficulty locating or operating the lift-tab lever on such containers due to physical challenges, and repetitive motion. The requisite manipulation of the lift-tab lever can also limit access to the contents of such containers for individuals with visual deficits, impaired fine motor skills or reduced dexterity in their hands and fingers caused by a variety of well known illnesses or injuries. In addition, some individuals with no impairment of their dexterity may choose not to operate the lift-tab lever in the prescribed way for personal reasons due to the size of their fingers, the quality and importance of their nails and fingers, or for reasons of increased risk of repetitive motion injury related to their occupation. 
   It is understood that persons recovering from certain injuries requiring rehabilitation to regain dexterity in their fingers are known to benefit from enlarged versions of ordinary devices. Larger than normal gripping areas on pens, pencils, and eating utensils are commonly employed during the early stages of rehabilitation to compensate for dexterous losses. As rehabilitation progresses and dexterity improves, gripping areas can be progressively reduced to normal sizes. For manual operations, however, where enlargement of a gripping surface is not practical or possible, a device that can provide a person with limited dexterity a method for performing a high dexterity operation is of great benefit. In the case of a beverage container, enlargement of the lift-tab lever is not practical, therefore some other means of lifting the lift-tab lever with a low dexterity motion is required. 
   While levers and wedges may be used as means to engage and lift lift-tab levers on beverage containers, such levers and wedges still require a level of dexterity and alignment that make them marginal solutions at best. In fact, these devices actually add to the complexity of opening the container as they are usually employed as the first part of a multi-step process to initiate the lifting of the lift-tab lever to a point where a finger can complete the process of opening of the container. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for a device that combines the features of self alignment, initial automatic engagement, and then complete lift of the lift-tab lever to open a beverage container. Furthermore, there is also a need for opening a beverage container with consistent and low dexterity motion. In this regard, the present invention substantially satisfies such needs. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the invention to provide a beverage container opener that provides a non-discriminatory alternative to opening a container with exceptional ease and simplicity. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a beverage container opener that exploits the basic mechanical characteristics of an inclined plane to lift a lift-tab lever of a container. 
   The objects of the present invention are achieved by an inventive device that includes a body portion having proximal and distal end areas, whereby the body portion preferably defines a hemispherical internal cavity about a central axis and opening at the distal end area, and a channel that extends along a perimeter of the internal cavity in a preferably spiral inclined planar configuration. The channel generally leads from the opening of the recess and terminates at an apex region of the cavity. The distal end area of the body portion is configured and dimensioned to be placed on a top portion of a beverage container so as to engage a lift-tab lever thereon. Upon rotation of the body portion, the channel engages the lift-tab lever on the beverage container so as to progressively urge an end of the lift-tab lever upwardly to create the aforementioned opening in the top portion of the beverage container. 
   By design this invention uses the circular shape of the top of a container for concentric alignment, and the top surface profile of the container for positioning the invention at the proper height to reliably engage the lift-tab lever for leverage. The unique characteristics of this invention, combined with the conventionality of the beverage container described herein, provide a simple, non-discriminatory solution to the opening of such containers by persons who have physical challenges, or preferences, that render an intended method of opening these containers impractical or unacceptable. 
   Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, the accompanying examples, drawings and the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing a direction of rotating the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional schematic view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional schematic view of the operation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention as applied to a lift-tab lever beverage container; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional schematic view showing another configuration of the hemispherical spiral channel in a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional schematic view showing another configuration of the hemispherical spiral channel in a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention having electro-mechanical features; and 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention having manual mechanical features. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a simple device designed to utilize the basic mechanical characteristics of an inclined plane to lift a lift-tab lever on a typical lift-tab-type beverage container and move the same in an intended manner to open the container. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the illustrated preferred embodiment is presented as a manual version of the present invention. In this embodiment, the invention comprises a puck shaped body portion  2  preferably having a single continuous hemispherical spiral inclined plane channel  4  formed in the body portion  2  and, rising from an opening B thereof to an apex region M of a hemispherical internal cavity A. The channel  4  is defined by a minimum radius r 1 , and a maximum radius r 2 . The difference in the radii constitutes the depth of the actuating hemispherical spiral inclined plane surface  6  and the non-actuating hemispherical spiral inclined plane surface  6   b . The depth of the actuating hemispherical inclined plane surface  6  is configured and dimensioned to sufficiently maintain and permit sliding engagement with a lift-tab lever. 
   The block material between successive spirals of the channel  4  may be a complementary hemispherical spiral web  10  having a projecting surface  10   a  adjacent to the hemispherical spiral inclined plane surfaces  6  and  6   b , defined by the minimum radius r 1 . The effective bottom of the channel  4  at its termination at the apex region AA is preferably an area  8  where the web  10  is removed to the level of the maximum radius r 2  and to a width W 2  that may be slightly wider than the width of a conventional lift-tab lever. A concentric groove  12  is provided to slidingly accommodate a circular crimped edge located on top of a beverage container to align the body portion  2  and to locate planar surface  16  in close apposition with the top surface of a beverage container. 
   The entry of the channel  4 , and in particular the actuating hemispherical spiral inclined plane surface  6 , progresses to a thin section  14  at the planar surface  16  and is configured and dimensioned to enhance the capture of the lift-tab lever of a beverage container. The non-actuating hemispherical spiral inclined plane surface  6   b  eventually merges into the planar surface  16  at which point they converge  6   a.    
   The body portion  2  may be constructed from any suitable material, including plastic, metal, glass, ceramic or any suitable combination thereof. 
     FIG. 2  depicts the successive spirals of the hemispherical web  10 . The successive spirals are defined by the minimum radius r 1  from its origin at the entry  14  of the channel  4  to its termination near the apex region AA of the hemispherical internal cavity A, and the convergence  6   a  of the non-actuating hemispherical spiral inclined plane surface  6   b  of the channel  4  and the planar surface  16 . The circular nature of the groove  12  preferably aligns and slidingly engages a circular crimped edge of a top of a beverage container. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the single continuous hemispherical spiral inclined plane channel  4  may be constructed in a mirror image fashion, and therefore may dictate a direction of rotation R for the operation of the invention. 
     FIG. 4  is a cross section view of the invention showing the angular relationship A 1  at centerline CL 2  of the single continuous hemispherical spiral inclined planar channel  4 , at an arbitrary point along its progression, and the plane surface  16 . The range of the angle A 1  of the single continuous hemispherical spiral inclined plane channel  4 , varies from approximately zero degrees at its convergence, as exemplified in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , with the planar surface  16 , to approximately 90 degrees at its termination at the apex region M. The angle A 1  progressively increases from approximately 0 to 90 degrees as a function of the position, in whole turns, T of the body portion  2 . The relationship between angle A 1  and the number of turns T constitutes the rate of incline of the continuous hemispherical spiral inclined plane channel  4  per unit of turns of the body portion  2 , and therefore describes the number of turns of the body portion  2  required to lift a lift-tab lever to operate the invention. This relationship can be expressed as:
   RI=A   1   /T   
Where:
 
   RI=Rate of incline 
   A 1 =angle of the continuous hemispherical spiral inclined plane groove 
   T=number of turns of the body portion 
   As the value of RI increases, the number of turns T of the body portion  2  required to effect the complete operation of the invention decreases. Conversely, as the value of RI decreases, the number of turns T of the body portion  2  required to effect the complete operation increases. In the embodiment shown, the value of RI is approximately 25, or 3½ turns. RI can vary according to application or operational preference. 
   The width W 1  of the single continuous hemispherical spiral inclined plane channel  4  is sufficiently larger than the effective thickness of a lift-tab lever to permit the lift-tab lever to slide freely at any location along the single continuous hemispherical spiral inclined plane channel  4 . 
   The centerline CL 1  of the body portion  2  at the intersection of the plane surface  16  constitutes the origins of the minimum radius r 1 , and a maximum radius r 2 . 
     FIG. 5  illustrates a preferred mode of operation of the present invention and shows the body portion  2  applied to a typical lift-tab container  32  as it begins to affect the opening of the same. The concentric groove  12  of the invention is aligned and slidingly engaged with the circular crimped edge  18  of the top of the beverage container  32 . Rotation of the body portion  2 , shown by the arrow R, allows the engagement of the actuating hemispherical spiral inclined plane surface  6  of the single continuous hemispherical spiral inclined plane channel  4  with the longer portion of the lift-tab lever  20 . As the rotation of the body portion  2  begins, the lift-tab lever  20  engages and slides along the actuating hemispherical spiral inclined plane surface  6  and is forced upward in the direction of the arrow u. This in turn forces the shorter portion of the lift-tab lever  26  downward in the direction of the arrow d by virtue of the rivet  22 , a component of the common integrated lift-tab lever mechanism, which acts as a fulcrum. 
   The shorter portion of the lift-tab lever  26  is in contact with area  28  of the plane surface of the beverage container  24 . When sufficient downward force is applied by the shorter portion of the lift-tab lever  26 , the area  28  ruptures as intended at point  30 , thereby initiating the opening of the container. As the rotation of the invention  2  proceeds, the complete opening of the container  32  is accomplished by the continued upward movement u of the lift-tab lever  20 , as shown as  20 A,  20 B,  20 C, which produces a corresponding downward movement d of the shorter portion of the lift-tab lever  26   a ,  26   b ,  26   c  and also areas  28 A,  28 B,  28 C, as shown. 
   Because of the gently rising angle of the actuating hemispherical spiral inclined plane surface  6 , and the inherent friction of both the attachment of the rivet  22  and the contact of the shorter portion of the lift-tab lever  26  with the pre-scribed area  28 , the lift-tab lever  20  does not rotate with respect to the container  32  and thereby moves only in a hemispherical arc as intended. Once the lift-tab lever  20  reaches the end of the single continuous hemispherical spiral inclined plane channel  4  at its termination at the apex region AA of the hemispherical internal cavity A, created where the web  10  is removed, acts to limit any further upward movement u, or constraint of the lift-tab lever  20 , and any further rotation of the body portion  2  is of no consequence. 
   It should be pointed out that counter-rotation of the body portion  2  results in urging the lift-tab lever  20  downwardly towards the plane surface  24  of the beverage container due to the non-actuating hemispherical spiral inclined plane surface  6   b . Furthermore, it should be noted that due to the configuration of the apex region AA of the hemispherical internal cavity A, the invention has an inherent fail-safe design that prevents distortion of the lift-tab  20  if the body portion  2  is persistently rotated beyond its operating range and contains effervescent eruptions. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown each having a modification to the construction of the single continuous hemispherical spiral inclined plane channel  4 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the radius r 1 , progressively increases towards the apex region AA. Alternatively, in the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 7 , both r 1  and r 2  are configured and dimensioned so as not to define a hemispherical arc as they rise from the plane surface  16  to the apex region AA, thereby progressively reducing the contact of a lift-tab lever  20  on the actuating hemispherical spiral inclined plane surface  6  until there is no longer any engagement of the channel  4  and the lift-tab lever. 
     FIG. 8  shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention having an electromechanical configuration applied to the container  32 . A housing  34  with an alignment skirt SK encloses a motor  36  with a drive gear  38  that engages one or more planetary gears  40 , which in turn engage an integrated ring gear G in the body portion  2 . The motor is energized by a battery  42  when the switch  44  is closed by upward movement of the body portion  2  when it is applied to the container  32 , and affects an opening of the container  32  as described earlier. The retaining clip  46  contains the body portion  2  in the housing  34 . 
     FIG. 9  shows a manual-mechanical preferred embodiment of the present invention applied to the container  32 . A housing  48  preferably includes an alignment skirt SK and a plurality of internal helical grooves  50  that engage a complimentary plurality of pins  52  mounted in the body portion  2 . Upon application of a downward force D on the housing  48 , the body portion  2  moves in rotating movement in a relatively upwardly direction relative to the housing  48 , and is guided by the engagement with the helical grooves  50  thereby causing an opening to form along the top surface of the container  32 . A spring  54  returns the body portion  2  to a ready state when the downward force on the housing  48  is removed. 
   It will be understood that the above described embodiments of the invention are illustrative in nature, and that modifications thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, this invention is not to be regarded as limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, but is to be limited only as defined in the appended claims.