Patent Publication Number: US-7582350-B2

Title: Multi-opener device

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
   This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/664,439, filed Mar. 22, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to package opening devices, particularly including devices capable of opening a wide variety of packages, including bottles, cans, jars and bags. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Many bottles, cans, and bags are tightly sealed and can be difficult to open. A typical household includes a variety of different devices for opening, including can openers, bottle openers, scissors, and special gripping devices. While each such device can be useful for its particular purpose, it would be better if a single device could perform the function of many different devices, eliminating the need for several devices while providing improved opening functions at the same time. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A container opening tool includes first and second legs hingedly secured to one another. Each leg has proximal and distal portions each having an aperture wall including a gripping material. The aperture walls of the proximal portions of the first and second legs form a proximal aperture and the aperture walls of the distal portions of the first and second legs are positionable to form a distal aperture. The proximal and distal apertures may have differing sizes and shapes. In one embodiment, the aperture walls of the distal portions define an elongate aperture, such as an oval or ellipse, with the first and second legs contacting each other near the major axis of the elongate shape. A projection may secure to an arcuate outer surface formed on the first leg and extend substantially tangentially from the outer surface. The projection is engageable with pull tabs of containers in order to lift the pull tabs upon pivoting the container opening tool relative to the container. 
   Bottle opening flanges secure to the first and second legs and project into the proximal aperture. When the legs are pivoted together, the flanges are positioned adjacent one another and function as a single bottle opener. The bottle opening flanges secure to the legs at the edge of the aperture walls such that a lid can be positioned within the proximal aperture having the flanges resting on the lid to aid in positioning the opening tool on the lid. In a like manner, skirts secure to the edges of the aperture walls of the distal portions and provide a surface engaging the top of a lid being opened. 
   The first and second legs each include a junction positioned between the proximal and distal ends. The junctions join the proximal and distal portions and include a gripping surface. The gripping surfaces of the junctions are placed in contact with one another when the legs are pivoted together in order to grip items such as safety seals covering container openings. 
   A blade secures to the second leg near the distal end. The distal ends of the legs are pressed together around a bag and the bag moved relative to the blade in order to cut an opening in the bag. In one embodiment, the blade is positioned within a recess formed proximate the distal end of the second leg. A projection is formed on the distal end of the first leg and positionable proximate the blade to press a bag against the blade. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container opening tool, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2A  is a top plan view of a first leg of the container opening tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2B  is a top plan view of a second leg of the container opening tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a gripping surface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a distal end of the second leg having a blade secured thereto, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a distal end of the first leg having a projection secured thereto, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A, and  2 B, a container opening tool  10  includes a first leg  12   a  and a second leg  12   b  pivotally secured to one another by means of a pivot  14 . The legs  12   a ,  12   b  are formed of a rigid material such as plastic, aluminum, steel, or the like. The legs  12   a ,  12   b  may also have an outer cover made of natural or synthetic rubber that provides cushioning and gripability to the user. The pivot  14  may be embodied as a pin  16  positionable within apertures  18   a ,  18   b  formed in the legs  12   a ,  12   b . The aperture  18   a  in the leg  12   a  may be formed in two arms  20  positioned on either side of the portion of the leg  12   b  having the aperture  18   b  formed therein. The legs  12   a ,  12   b  include proximal and distal portions  22   a ,  22   b  each having an aperture wall  24   a ,  24   b . The apertures walls  24   a ,  24   b  of the legs  12   a ,  12   b  are positionable adjacent one another to form proximal and distal apertures  26   a ,  26   b.    
   The aperture walls  24   a ,  24   b  may be formed of a grippable material such that the legs  12   a ,  12   b  can be positioned around a lid or other structure to facilitate twisting. The aperture walls  24   a ,  24   b  may be formed of a material different than the material covering other parts of the tool  10  such that the aperture walls  24   a ,  24   b  are better suited for gripping lids. In the illustrated embodiments, the apertures  26   a ,  26   b  are of different sizes to accommodate differently sized lids. The aperture  26   b  may be embodied as an arcuate, elongate shape, such as an oval or ellipse, in order that the same aperture can readily grip lids of different sizes. The aperture walls  24   b  are typically portions of the elongate shape formed by dividing the elongate shape along its major axis. In this manner, when the legs  12   a ,  12   b  are closed, the length of the minor axis of the elongate shape is small enough to allow the legs  12   a ,  12   b  to close around small lids. The legs  12   a ,  12   b  may be expanded such that lids closer in size to the length of the major axis may also be gripped. 
   The legs  12   a ,  12   b  may have one or more bottle opener flanges  28   a ,  28   b  secured thereto and projecting outwardly from the aperture walls  24   a . The flanges  28   a ,  28   b  of the legs  12   a ,  12   b  are positioned adjacent one another when the legs  12   a ,  12   b  are pivoted together to such that the combined flanges  28   a  and the combined flanges  28   b  each function as a conventional bottle opener flange suitable for opening bottles having crimped metal lids and the like. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, the flanges  28   a ,  28   b  are secured to the legs  12   a ,  12   b  near the edge of the aperture walls  24   a . In this manner, the flanges  28   a ,  28   b  serve as stops, contacting the top of lids positioned between the legs  12   a ,  12   b  for gripping with the aperture walls  24   a . A similar function may be provided by skirts  30  secured to the legs  12   b  along the edges of the aperture walls  24   b . The skirts  30  and flanges  28   a ,  28   b  facilitate positioning of the apertures  26   a ,  26   b  around lids by encouraging the apertures to align with the rim of the lid such that the area of the aperture walls  24   a ,  24   b  in contact with the lid is substantially at its greatest possible extent. 
   A projection  32  secures to one of the legs  12   a ,  12   b  and facilitates opening of pull tab containers, such as canned beverages. In the illustrated embodiment, the projection  32  is wedge shaped and secures at its wide end to the leg  12   a  such that it projects substantially tangentially from the outer surface  34  of the leg  12   a . The outer surface  34  of the leg  12   a  and an outer surface  34  of the leg  12   b  may together form a single arc. In use, the projection  32  can be positioned under a pull tab of a can with the legs  12   a ,  12   b  resting on the can proximate the pivot  14 . The legs  12   a ,  12   b  may then be pivoted on the outer surfaces  34  such the projection  32  lifts the pull tab. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , while still referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A, and  2 B, the proximal and distal portions  22   a ,  22   b  of the first and second legs  12   a ,  12   b  are joined together at a junction  36 . The junction  36  may include a gripping surface  38  such that the gripping surfaces of the legs  12   a ,  12   b  are in contact when the legs  12   a ,  12   b  are pivoted against one another. The gripping surface  38  may include texturing such as a series of parallel grooves and is typically formed of a gripping material such as a natural or synthetic rubber. The gripping surfaces  38  may be used to grip such things as safety seals secured to bottle openings in order to facilitate removal. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in one embodiment a blade  40  secures to the leg  12   b , such as near a distal end  42  of the leg  12   a , in order to cut open bags. In use, a bag is positioned between the distal end  42  of the leg  12   a  and a distal end  42  of the leg  12   b . The distal ends  42  are pushed together and the bag is moved relative to the distal ends  42  such that the blade  40  cuts an opening in the bag. 
   In some embodiments, the blade  40  is positioned within a recess  44  formed near the distal end  42  of the leg  12   b . The cutting edge of the blade  40  in such embodiments may be flush with, or below, the surface of the leg  12   b . In such embodiments, a projection  46  may secure to the distal end  42  of the leg  12   a  and serve to press the bag against the blade  40 . Recessed positioning of the blade  40  reduces the likelihood of injury through accidental contact and also hinders dulling of the blade  40  through contact with other cooking utensils in a storage drawer or dishwasher. 
   While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.