Patent Publication Number: US-2012024113-A1

Title: Bottle opening method and apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This disclosure describes systems and methods for disengaging a bottle cap from a bottle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A bottle cap can be affixed to the rim of the neck of a bottle. A bottle opener is a lever that grabs the bottle cap and uses a point on the bottle cap as a fulcrum on which to pivot. Bottle openers are typically pull-type, meaning that an upward motion on the lever is used along with a fulcrum that is often near the center of the bottle cap such that the cap is creased as the bottle opener pivots on the fulcrum. 
     Bottle openers are commonly used devices that have great potential for use in advertising and marketing. However, many bottle openers do not have large surfaces upon which logos, messages, and images can be printed, affixed, or embossed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure describes systems and methods for disengaging a bottle cap from a bottle. One aspect discloses a device for disengaging a bottle cap from a bottle. The device includes an elongated handle and a tooth embedded in the elongated handle. The elongated handle has a first half and a second half and a long axis. A pivot surface of the elongated handle contacts a first edge on a bottle cap at a pivot axis. The elongated handle pivots around the pivot axis. The pivot axis is preferably perpendicular to the long axis. The tooth has a first portion extending from, e.g., substantially perpendicular to, the pivot surface of the elongated handle. The tooth has a second portion angled in relation to the first portion. The second portion preferably has an arcuate end shaped to engage a neck of the bottle. The arcuate end engages the neck of the bottle and a bottom of the bottle cap. The elongated handle pivots around the pivot axis causing the tooth to force at least a portion of the bottle cap off of the bottle. 
     Another aspect discloses a method of disengaging a bottle cap from a bottle. The method includes a first engaging step, a second engaging step, and a pivoting step. The first engaging step involves engaging a neck of the bottle and a bottom of the bottle cap with a tooth of a bottle opening device. The second engaging step involves engaging a first edge of the bottle cap with a pivot surface of the bottle opening device. The pivoting step involves pivoting the bottle opening device about the first edge of the bottle until the tooth forces at least a portion of the bottle cap to disengage from the bottle. In one implementation, the first edge of the bottle, about which the opening device pivots, is substantially diametrically opposite the point where the tooth engages the bottle opening device. The step of pivoting preferably involves gripping a handle and moving the handle downwardly. Generally, the user may grip the bottle with one hand and the handle of the bottle opening device with the other hand, and then move the hands toward one another to open the bottle. It is believed that this may be an easier operation for certain people with limited mobility or strength. The order of the first and second engaging steps is reversible. 
     In a third aspect a tooth of a bottle opening device is disclosed. The tooth includes an attachment portion, a first portion, and a second portion. The attachment portion secures the tooth to the bottle opening device. The first portion is aligned with the attachment portion and protrudes from a pivot surface of the bottle opening device. The second portion is substantially perpendicular to the first portion and includes an arcuate end shaped to engage the neck of a bottle and a bottom surface of a bottle cap attached to the bottle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention and further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
         FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b , and  1   c  illustrate an embodiment of a bottle opening device in three stages of a process of disengaging a bottle cap from a bottle. 
         FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b , and  2   c  illustrate the device from a side view, overhead view, and head-on view, respectively. 
         FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b , and  3   c  illustrate the tooth comprising an attachment portion, a first portion, and a second portion. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a method of disengaging a bottle cap from a bottle using the above-described device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure describes a device for disengaging a bottle cap from a bottle.  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b , and  1   c  illustrate an embodiment of a bottle opening device in three stages of a process of disengaging a bottle cap from a bottle. The bottle  150  includes a neck  152  and a bottle cap  154 . The device  100  includes an elongated handle  110  and a tooth  120  attached to the elongated handle  110 . The tooth  120  can be embedded in the elongated handle  110  and secured there either via friction, a securing chemical composition, or a combination of the two. With the tooth  120  engaged with the bottle cap  156 , the elongated handle  110  can be pivoted (see  FIGS. 1   b  and  1   c ) about a pivot axis  160  to at least partially disengaged the bottle cap  154  from the bottle  150 . While many bottle openers use an upward or pulling force to remove bottle caps, the device  100  uses a downward or pushing motion. Furthermore, while conventional pulling bottle openers have a pivot point that is often near a center of the bottle cap, the device  100  has a pivot axis  160  that is at an edge of the bottle/bottle cap, specifically on the same side of the bottle as the elongated handle  110 . 
       FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b , and  2   c  illustrate the device  100  from a side view, overhead view, and head-on view, respectively. The elongated handle  110  has a first half  114  and a second half  116 . The elongated handle  110  has a long axis  112 , which is parallel with a length  166  of the elongated handle  110 . The long axis  112  passes through a center of the handle as illustrated in  FIG. 2   c . The elongated handle  110  includes a pivot surface  118 . The pivot surface  118  receives the tooth  120  and is configured to contact a first edge  156  of the bottle cap  154 . The elongated handle  110  is configured to pivot about the pivot axis  160 , which passes either through or adjacent to a point on the pivot surface  118  configured to contact the first edge  156  of the bottle cap  154 . As the exact location of the pivot axis  160  may vary from that illustrated in  FIG. 1   b , or even move during the pivoting of the elongated handle  110 , the pivot axis  160  may be said to be located adjacent to the first edge  156 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot axis  160  is perpendicular to the long axis  112 . The device  100  can be used to disengage a bottle cap  154  from any type of bottle  150  having a bottle cap  154  (e.g., soda bottles and beer bottles, to name two). 
     The elongated handle  110  can take a variety of shapes. For instance, as illustrated, the elongated handle  110  can be rectangular. In other words, neither the length  166 , width  168 , nor height  164  are equal. In other embodiments, two or more of the length  166 , width  168 , and height  164  can be equal. In another embodiment, the elongated handle  110  can be cylindrical. Thus, when viewed head-on the elongated handle  110  would have a circular profile rather than the rectangular one illustrated in  FIG. 2   c . In another embodiment, the elongated handle  110  can have an elliptical profile when viewed head-on. Other profiles such as triangles, pentagons, hexagons, trapezoids, parallelograms, and many others can also be implemented without going beyond the intent of this disclosure. 
     The illustrated handle  110  has a length shown by arrows  166 . The length  166  is preferably between five and ten inches. In one embodiment, the elongated handle  110  has a length  166  of about eight inches. The illustrated handle  110  further has a width indicated by arrows  168 ; the width  168  is preferably between one half-inch and three inches. The elongated handle  110  also has a height indicated by arrows  164 . In one embodiment, the height  164  is between three fourths of an inch and three inches. 
     The device  100  can be made from a variety of materials. For instance, in one embodiment, the elongated handle  110  can be wood. In an embodiment, the tooth  120  can be metal. In another embodiment, either or both of the elongated handle  110  and the tooth  120  can be a polymer. The polymer may be a rigid polymer. Either or both of the elongated handle  110  and the tooth  120  can be a glass or ceramic although such materials, if prone to cracking may not be preferable. In an embodiment, the elongated handle  110  can be made from two or more materials. For instance, a bulk of the elongated handle  110  including the pivot surface  118  can be made of wood, while a small portion of the elongated handle  110  near where a user would grasp the elongated handle  110  might have a polymer coating. As another example, the elongated handle  110  could be primarily wood, but may be partially or wholly painted or covered with some other material used to display a logo or message. The elongated handle  110  and the tooth  120  can be made from a variety of other rigid materials without going beyond the intent of this disclosure. 
     In one embodiment, the elongated handle  110  can be used to display one or more logos, messages, or images. For instance, a company logo could be painted or engraved onto a side of the elongated handle  110 . In an embodiment, a metal plaque can be attached to a side of the elongated handle  110  where the plaque has a message, logo, or image embossed in the metal. Various other means of displaying a logo, message, or image on the side of the elongated handle  110  can also be implemented without going beyond the intent of this disclosure. 
     The illustrated tooth  120  includes a first portion  124  and a second portion  122 . The first portion  124  can be substantially perpendicular to the pivot surface  118  and is attached to the elongated handle  110 . The second portion  122  is preferably angled substantially perpendicular to the first portion  124 . Substantially perpendicular includes the angles 80° to 95°. In a particular embodiment, the angle between the first portion  124  and the second portion  122  is 90°. While the first portion  124  is preferably perpendicular to the pivot surface  118 , the first portion  124  can also be angled relative to the pivot surface  118 . The second portion  122  is preferably substantially parallel to the axis  112 . 
     The first and second portions  124 ,  122  are joined by an angled portion  130 . The angled portion  130  can be angled (i.e., comprising a sharp angle) or curved or beveled. While the illustrations show the angled portion  130  as being curved and as having a particular curvature, one skilled in the art will recognize that various angles and various curvatures can be implemented without deviating from the intent of this disclosure. 
     The second portion  122  includes an arcuate end  126  shaped to engage the bottle neck  152 . The arcuate end  126  engages the bottle neck  152  and a bottom  158  of the bottle cap  154 . Once the pivot surface  118  is in contact with the first edge  156  of the bottle cap  154  and the tooth  120  is engaged with the bottle neck  152  and the bottom  158  of the bottle cap  154 , the elongated handle  110  can pivot about the pivot axis  160  causing the tooth  120  to force at least a portion of the bottle cap  154  off of the bottle  150 . 
     The tooth  120  is attached to the first half  114  of the elongated handle  110 . In particular, the tooth  120  can be positioned closer to an end  115  of the first half  114  than to a middle point on the pivot surface  118 . The tooth  120  can be a distance  162  from the end  115  of the first half  114 . In an embodiment, the distance  162  is one to two inches. 
       FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b , and  3   c  illustrate the tooth  120  comprising an attachment portion  128 , a first portion  124 , and a second portion  122 . In  FIG. 3   b  the arcuate end  126  is convex. In an embodiment, the arcuate end  126  has an elliptical shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the arcuate end  126  has a circular shape. In an embodiment where the arcuate end  126  has a circular shape, the arcuate end can have about a one-half inch radius to substantially match the curvature of a typical bottle neck. Other curvatures may be used for other bottles. In embodiments where the arcuate end  126  has an elliptical shape, the minor axis of the elliptical shape can have a radius of one-half inch. It should be understood that many other radii can also be implemented with either the circular or elliptical embodiments of the arcuate end  126 . 
     The second portion  122  is illustrated as having a square shape with an arcuate end  126 . However, in other embodiments, the second portion  122  can have other shapes. For instance, the second portion  122  could be tapered from the arcuate end  126  towards the first portion  124  (i.e., wider near the arcuate end  126 ). 
     The tooth  120  can be embedded in the elongated handle  110  as illustrated in  FIG. 3   c . As illustrated, the first portion  124  is tapered from the second portion  122  towards the elongated handle  110  (i.e., widest near the second portion  122 ). However, this tapering is not required, and the first portion  124  can also be rectangular or square-shaped rather than tapered. The attachment portion  128  is configured to secure the tooth  120  to the elongated handle  110 . As illustrated, the attachment portion  128  is completely embedded within the elongated handle  110 . However, no portion of the first portion  124  is embedded within the elongated handle  110 . In practice however, there may be some leniency such that the attachment portion  128  is not completely embedded within the elongated handle  110  or the first portion  124  may be partially embedded in the elongated handle  110 . 
     In an embodiment, the attachment portion  128  can be shaped like an arrow or a triangle, in other words, it can be arrow-shaped. Such a shape facilitates embedding of the tooth  120  into the elongated handle  110 . The arrow shape along with a causeway  132  connecting the arrow-shaped portion to the first portion  124 , also has the same effect as a real life arrow or barb in that the arrow or barb or, in this case, the attachment portion  128 , easily moves into the elongated handle  110 , but is difficult to remove. 
     As illustrated, the bottom of the first portion  124  is wider than the attachment portion  128 . This may ease manufacturing by making it easy to embed the attachment portion  128  in the elongated handle  110 , but difficult to embed the first portion  124 . As such, if the amount of force used to embed the tooth  120  is kept constant for all teeth, then each tooth can be embedded into an elongated handle  110  such that only the attachment portion  128  is inside the elongated handle  110 . In other words, since the attachment portion  128  can be embedded using less force than embedding the first portion  124 , using a force that is greater than that required to embed the attachment portion  128 , but less than that required to embed the first portion  124  will make it highly likely that only the attachment portion  128  will be embedded. Put another way, while the attachment portion  128  may with ease be embedded within the elongated handle  110 , the hole or slot in the elongated handle  110  formed by the attachment portion  128  being driven into the elongated handle  110  will not be wide enough to accept the first portion  124 . As such, the first portion  124  will not be driven into or embedded in the elongated handle  110  unless additional force is applied. As such, embedding the tooth  120  into the elongated handle  110  to a specified depth can be performed repeatedly with minimal effort, skill, or accuracy on the part of a human or automated fabricator. The shape of the attachment portion  128  can facilitate manufacturing where the elongated handle  110  is made from wood, by avoiding splitting the wood. For instance, shapes of the attachment portion  128  other than the one illustrated in  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b , and  3   c  can cause a wooden elongated handle  110  to split or fracture. The arrow or triangular shape as illustrated avoids this problem. 
     The tooth  120  can have width  176  where the first portion  124  meets the elongated handle  110 . In an embodiment, the width  176  is one eighth of an inch. The tooth  120  can have a width  174  of the second portion  122 . In an embodiment, the width  174  is seven sixteenths of an inch. The tooth  120  can have a distance  172  defined as the distance between an end of the second portion  122  and the start of the angled portion  130 . In an embodiment, this distance  172  is three eighths of an inch. The tooth  120  can have a height  170  spanning from the second portion  122  to the attachment portion  128 . In an embodiment, the height  170  is three eighths of an inch. In an embodiment, the tooth  120  can be made from a single material that is bent such that the first and second portions  124 ,  122  are substantially perpendicular to each other. In an embodiment, this length of material is between one inch and one and a quarter inches in length. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a method of disengaging a bottle cap from a bottle using the above-described device  100 . The method  400  can be carried out in at least three operations  402 ,  404 ,  406 . The tooth of a bottle opening device can be engaged with a bottle neck and a bottom of the bottle cap in an engage operation  402 . A pivot surface of the bottle opening device can be caused to come into contact with an edge of the bottle cap opposite from where the tooth engages the bottle in a cause operation  404 . The order of these two operations is interchangeable. Once both the engaging and the causing operations have been carried out, the bottle opening device is pivoted about the edge of the bottle cap in contact with the pivot surface of the bottle opening device until the tooth forces at least a portion of the bottle cap to disengage from the bottle in a pivot operation  406 . 
     The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain best modes known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such or other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.