Patent Abstract:
A multifunctional container opener for opening a plurality of different containers, including a body that supports a template defining one or more pockets and a pill splitting tool and one or more compartments or pockets for capturing pieces of the split pill or tablet. The body may also support a variety of tools adapted for opening a container or accessing a container&#39;s contents. Such tools include tools for piercing, scoring, cutting or prying portions of the actual container or safety seals associated with the container. The body also supports a gripping device for frictionally engaging the cap or top of a container.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE  
       [0001]    This application claim priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 60/356,595 filed on Feb. 14, 2002, and entitled Medicine Opener, and Provisional Patent Application No. 60/412,645 filed on Sep. 23, 2002, and entitled Container Opener. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a multifunctional device including various tools for performing many functions required for opening a variety of containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multifunctional hand-held device having tools for performing the functions required for opening containers that hold consumer directed products such as, but not limited to, over-the-counter medications, pharmaceuticals or medicants, food and potable beverages.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Often containers used to retain consumer directed products are purposefully designed to be difficult to open in order to prevent or deter tampering with the container&#39;s content. For example, cartons, such as, but not limited to, cardboard or corrugated paper food containers may be sealed using an FDA approved adhesive. Food containers may also include an inner foil pack that must be opened by breaking an adhesive or heat-sealed bond. Bottles containing beverages may include twist-off caps that require breaking a safety seal before the cap can be removed, and metal beverage containers may include a push or pull-tab of the type typically contained on soft drink cans. Medicant or pharmaceutical containers may include a safety cap that requires prying the cap off the container or the performance of several motions simultaneously, e.g., pushing down and twisting, in order to remove the cap. These containers may also include a safety seal that must be removed before the container&#39;s contents may be accessed. Further still, other forms of medicant or pharmaceutical containers may include adhesively bonded or heat-sealed foil backings bonded to a flexible plastic container. These types of containers include, but are not limited to, blister packs. While the described features, as well as and other similar features not mentioned, serve useful purposes, their presence may severely inhibit access to a container&#39;s contents.  
           [0004]    Therefore, there is needed a device that includes tools for assisting with the performance of the functions required for manually opening containers containing consumer directed products. More specifically, there is needed a device for assisting with the performance of the functions required for opening medicine or pharmaceutical containers.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    This invention relates to a multifunctional container opener for opening a plurality of different containers. The container opener may also be a hand-held device that includes a body that supports a template defining one or more pockets. The template may include a pill splitting tool and compartments or pockets for retaining pieces of the split pill or tablet.  
           [0006]    The body may also support a variety of tools adapted for opening a container or accessing a container&#39;s contents. Such tools may include tools for piercing, scoring, or cutting portions of the actual container or safety seals associated with the container. The body may also support a gripping device that facilitates opening various types and sizes of containers that are closed by a top or cap. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The features and inventive aspects of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description, claims, and drawings, of which the following is a brief description:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container opener formed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a section view showing the pockets of a template defined by the container opener shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a section showing view of a pill splitter supported by the container opener shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a top view showing the container opener of shown in FIG. 1 being used to remove a filler material from a container.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a section view illustrating one use of the container opener shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the container opener shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a detail view demonstrating one use of a piercing tool supported by the container opener shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is an elevation view demonstrating one use of the container opener shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is top view of illustrating additional features that may be supported by the container opener shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 is a section view showing a pill carrier that may be supported by the container opener shown in FIG. 9.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 11 is an exploded view illustrating one method for securing the pill carrier shown in FIG. 10 to the container opener shown in FIG. 9.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 12 is a section view illustrating a pill-crushing feature that may be included in the pill carrier shown in FIG. 10.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the container opener shown in FIG. 9. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]    A detailed description of the present invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing figures. Terms of reference such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” or “side” are used to facilitate an understanding of the present invention in view of the accompanying figures. The identified reference terms or other similar terms are not intended to be limiting, and one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the present invention may be practiced in a variety of spatial orientations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 shows a container opener  10  formed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The configuration shown in FIG. 1 may be used to open or facilitate access to the contents of a variety of containers. The container opener  10  shown in FIG. 1 includes a body  12  molded as a one-piece structure. Plastic materials such as ABS, polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, nylon, or other materials having similar strength and durability may be used to form the body  12 . It will also be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the body  12  could be molded as one or more separate elements that may be secured to or supported by the body using techniques known and used by those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0023]    The container opener  10  as shown in FIG. 1 shows the body  12  molded into the form of a cat. It will be appreciated, however, by those of ordinary skill in the art that the body  12  could be formed using any variety of shapes, including but not limited to common geometric shapes, various animal shapes, numerals, letters, etc.  
         [0024]    As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 , the body  12  includes a cup-shaped center portion  14  surrounding a hollow center  13 . As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, the cup-shaped center portion  14  also includes a flat bottom edge portion  16 . The cup-shaped portion  14  may be molded to include a template  18  that defines one or more variously sized pockets  20 . As best seen in FIG. 3, the pockets  20  may extend downwardly from the cup-shaped portion  14 , each terminating in a closed bottom surface  17  positioned just above the bottom edge surface  16 .  
         [0025]    As shown in FIG. 2, the pockets  20  may be configured in a variety of shapes. As shown in FIG. 2, a pocket  20  may be used by placing the back portion  3  of a pill container  4  such as a blister pack over the opening of the pocket  20 , ideally the foil backing of the container  4  will have been scored or pierced prior to placing the foil backing over the pocket  20 . As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the application of an appropriate pressure to the front surface of the pill container  4  causes a pill  5  to fall from the pill container  4  and into the pocket  20 .  
         [0026]    The template  18  may also include a pill splitter  22 , as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The pill splitter  22  may be integrally formed with the body  12  and may include a pocket  24  that is divided into two compartments by an upwardly extending wall  26 . The wall  26  defines a pointed upper edge portion  28 . As best seen in FIG. 3, when a pill  5  is pressed against the upper edge portion  28  and a downward force applied to the pill  5 , the pill  5  may break into two or more pieces. Ideally, the pill  5  breaks as shown in FIG. 3 and falls into the compartments of pocket  24 .  
         [0027]    Referring now to FIG. 8, the body  12  may be molded to include a flat surface  29 , which may be used as a finger rest or guide. Adjacent the flat surface  29 , the body  12  may support an integrally formed outwardly extending member  30 . Outwardly extending member  30  defines a prying tool  32  that may include a flat downwardly sloping surface  31  that terminates at a pointed edge  33 . The pointed edge  33  is contiguous with a flat bottom surface  35 , as best seen in FIG. 6.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 shows the prying tool  32  used to remove a cap  2  from a pill container  1 . Typically, containers of the type shown in FIG. 5 are configured to permit the cap  2  to be pried off the container  1  once mating arrows (not shown) on the cap  2  and container body have been aligned. For example, once the mating arrows (not shown) have been aligned, the pointed edge  33  may be inserted between the container  1  and cap  2  as shown in FIG. 5. The downwardly sloping surface  31  may then be used to apply an upward force against the cap  2 , thereby causing the cap  2  to pull away from the container body, as shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIGS. 1, 6 and  7 , the outwardly extending member  30  may also support a piercing tool  36 . The piercing tool  36  may include a flat body portion  37  that culminates in a pointed edge  39 . As illustrated in FIG. 7, the pointed edge  39  may be used to score or create an opening in the backing of containers such as but not limited to blister packs, foil packs, corrugated boxes or containers or to pierce materials such as packing tape or other similar materials.  
         [0030]    Turning again to FIG. 1, the body  12  may also support an integrally formed outwardly extending, elongated member  38 . As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 6, the elongated member  38  may include top and bottom surfaces  40 ,  42 . The elongated member  38  may also define a notch  44  a sidewall surface  43  positioned between the top and bottom surfaces  40 ,  42 . The elongated member may also include a distal end that forms a rounded pointed edge  46 .  
         [0031]    As best seen in FIG. 4, the elongated member  38  may be used to remove a filler material such as cotton from a medicine container  1 . For example, the elongated member  38  is inserted into the container and the pointed edge  46  or the notch  44  may be used to grab the filler material. FIG. 4 illustrates using the notch  44  to grab a portion of the filler material.  
         [0032]    Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and  6 , an elastomeric pad  48  may be supported within the hollow center  13  defined by body  12 . In one embodiment, the elastomeric pad  48  may be rubber or another material having similar properties. As shown in FIG. 3, the elastomeric pad  48  is positioned in the hollow center  13  so as to fit flush against the bottom surface of the pockets  20 . The elastomeric pad  48  may be secured in position by an adhesive applied to either the elastomeric pad  48 , the bottom portion of the mating pocket  20  surfaces or both. It will be appreciated that other techniques known and used in the industry may be used to secure the elastomeric pad  48  to the body  12 . For example, the elastomeric pad could be integrally molded with the body  12 .  
         [0033]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the elastomeric pad  48  may be used to facilitate removal of a cap  2  from a container  1 . As shown in FIGS.  1 - 2 , the opener  10  is brought into contact with a container  1  such that the top of the container cap  2  rests against the elastomeric pad  48 . When pressed against the cap  2 , as shown in FIG. 2, the elastomeric pad  48  remains wholly or substantially flat. As the opener  10  is twisted, as shown in FIG. 1, the cap  2  begins to turn. In some instances, both a downward and twisting motion must be applied to the cap  2  in order to remove the cap  2  from the container  1 .  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 8, a second prying tool  50  may be supported within the hollow center  13 . The second prying tool  50  may be molded as part of the template  18 . For example, as best seen in FIGS. 4, 6 and  8 , a pocket  20   a  defined by the template  18  may be molded so as to extend though the hollow center  13 , forming a rectangularly shaped body portion  52 . The rectangularly shaped body portion  52  includes a partially open top surface  54 . The rectangularly shaped body portion  52  may also include an endwall portion  56  that includes a tab  57  that extends outwardly from the endwall portion  56  so as to partially cover the open top surface  54 .  
         [0035]    As best seen in FIG. 8, the second prying tool  50  may be used, for example, to remove a safety seal from the opening of a container  1 . For example, the tab  57  may be used, for example, to lift one edge of the safety seal  8  from the container  1  or to lift the pull-tab of the type used on metal beverage containers.  
         [0036]    Referring back to FIGS. 6 and 8, the container opener  10  may also support an integrally formed raised pocket  58 . A magnet  59  may be received within and retained by the raised pocket  58 . The magnet  59  may be secured within the raised pocket  58  using an adhesive. For example, one method of securing the magnet  59  in place includes applying a double-sided adhesive backing a (not shown). One surface of the magnet may be secured to metal flanges (not shown) that are molded into the interior of the raised pocket  58 , and the other side of the magnet may be exposed as best seen in FIG. 8.  
         [0037]    The magnet  59  may be used, for example, to secure the container opener  10  to metallic surfaces or to assist with the opening of metal containers or for lifting metal objects. For instance, the magnet may be used to lift the lid portion of a metal container out of the container&#39;s central cavity once the lid has been cut away from the container using a conventional can opener.  
         [0038]    Another configuration of a container opener  100  formed in accordance with the teachings of this invention is shown in FIGS.  9 - 13 . It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that one or more of the features shown in FIGS.  9 - 13  could also be incorporated into container opener  10 . However, for purposes of clarity and to keep the drawings simple and easy to read, the features of container opener  100  are illustrated by reference to FIGS.  9 - 13 .  
         [0039]    Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 13, container opener  100  is virtually identical to container opener  10  with regard to construction and use. The container opener  100  is molded as a one-piece structure. As best seen in FIG. 9, the body  101  supports an outwardly projecting member  93  that includes an arcuate shaped surface  95 . At one end, the arcuate shaped  95  surface terminates in a blunt end  97 . At the opposite end, the arcuate shaped surface  95  supports a two-pronged member  99 . The combination of elements  95 ,  97  and  99  defines a tool that may be used, for example, to remove metal bottle tops from glass. For example, a bottle cap may be removed by placing the arcuate surface  95  against the top surface of the bottle cap such that the top prong of the 2-prong member  99  is positioned along the bottom edge of the bottle cap. By rotating the container opener  100  in an upward manner, the top prong of the 2-prong member  99  forces the bottle cap out of position.  
         [0040]    Referring back to FIGS. 9 and 13, the body  101  is shown as including a top surface  103  and a bottom surface  102 . The top surface  103  of the container opener  100  may support a magnifying glass  104 . As best seen in FIG. 9, the magnifying glass  104  may be coupled to the body  101  by placing an opening  106  defined by the housing supporting the magnifying glass over an outwardly extending post  107  integrally formed with the body  101 .  
         [0041]    The body  101  also supports an elongated member  108 . The elongated member  108  is virtually similar to the elongated member  38  previously described. However, elongated member  108  may include an elongated flat end  110  that intersects an arcuate notch  112 . This construction may permit the elongated member to be used to open containers or to pierce packages.  
         [0042]    The elongated member  108  may also support a cutting tool  114 . As shown in FIG. 8, the cutting tool may be positioned in a U-shaped area  117  formed by the elongated member  108 . The cutting tool  114  may be formed of metal, and may include an appropriately sharpened upper edge  116 . The cutting tool may be a device such as a razor blade that has been molded into the elongated member  108 . One use of the blade may be to open packages such as envelopes.  
         [0043]    Referring now to FIG. 10, the top surface  103  of the body  101  may support a removable pill carrier  118 . The removable pill carrier  118  includes a top surface  120  coupled to a bottom surface  122  by a hinge connection  124 . The top and bottom surfaces  120 ,  122  are coupled so that the top surface  120  pivots upward when a downward pressure is applied to the hinge  124 . As best seen in FIG. 10, when closed, the pill carrier  118  defines a pocket  126  between the top and bottom surfaces  120 ,  122 .  
         [0044]    The pill carrier  118  may be selectively removably coupled to the top surface  103  of the body  101  by a snap-fit. As best seen in FIG. 10, the pill carrier  118  may include a rear surface  128  that supports a raised arcuate member  130 . The arcuate member  130  may include a small indentation  132 . The small indentation  132  is designed to received a rounded pointed end of an elongated finger  134  supported by an elongated support  136  molded as part of the top surface  103  of the body  101 . Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, the pill carrier  118  may be secured to the body  101  by snap fitting the pill carrier into opening (not shown) defined by each of the L-shaped rectangular support members  113 .  
         [0045]    Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, the pill carrier  118  may also be used as a paper clip or similar device for supporting lightweight objects such as paper or cloth.  
         [0046]    As best seen in FIG. 12, the pill carrier  118  may be configured to include pill-crushing surfaces  138 ,  140 . As best seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, the pill-crushing surface  138  may include a concave shape, whereas the opposing crushing surface  140  may include a convex configuration.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 12 illustrates one method of using the pill crusher. For example, FIG. 12 illustrates placing a pill between the pill crushing surfaces  138 ,  140  and applying a downward force to the top surface  120 , causing the pill to be crushed between surfaces  138 ,  140 .  
         [0048]    Referring again to FIG. 13, the bottom surface  103  of the container opener  100  may include a closed-bottom opening  144  surrounded by a serrated sidewall surface  146 . One use of this particular tool may be to open containers such as, for example, jars or containers such as, for example, plastic soda bottles. FIG. 13 also shows a pill splitter  148  that is identical to the spill splitter  22  previously described.  
         [0049]    The bottom surface  102  of container opener  100  may support an elastomeric pad (not shown) within the opening  144 . The elastomeric pad may be identical to elastomeric pad  48 , and may be secured to the body  101  in the manner previously described for elastomeric pad  48 . Additionally, the elastomeric pad may include the template  18  and pockets  20  molded into at least a part of the elastomeric pad.  
         [0050]    Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 13, there is shown a tool  150  that includes an arcuate body portion  152 , a right side portion  154  and a left side portion  156  that defines a flat edge (not shown). The tool  150  may be used, for example, to break the vacuum seal on a vacuum-sealed jar, such as for example, a jar of jam. For instance, the tool  150  may be placed on the top of a vacuum-sealed cap such that flat edge portion of the edge  156  rests on the bottom of the cap and the top of the cap makes contact with the bottom surface  102  of the container opener  100 . The vacuum seal may be broken, for example, by rocking the tool  150  such that the flat edge portion of edge  156  lifts the cap away from the sides of the sides of the jar, wherein the lifting away is just enough to release the vacuum seal.  
         [0051]    Illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed. A person of ordinary skill in the art would realize, however, that certain modifications would come within the teachings of this invention. Therefore, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1