Abstract:
A cap remover for uncapping a bottle easily only by pushing down a pusher or a lever or by gripping a lever. The lever is pivotally mouted to a main body having an opening for receiving and holding the cap and mouth of the bottle. A vertically extending hooking member provided with a hook portion at its bottom end for engaging the undersurface of the rim of the cap is pivotally mounted at its top end to an end of the lever so that pivoting of the lever lifts the hooking member and prys the cap from the bottle. Uncapping can be effected by one hand, without tilting or tumbling the bottle and spilling contents.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a cap opener for uncapping easily a bottle of beer, soft drink or other liquid provisions or articles. 
     For removing a crown cap of a bottle filled with a soft drink, juice, beer or the like, a cap remover with a hole at one end, namely, a bottle opener of the lever type, is generally used. When uncapping with such a cap remover, a part of the hole of the cap remover is applied to a part of the under rim of a crown cap and then with a handle part of the cap remover as a dynamic point, prying force is applied to a crown cap. In this case, however, it is sometimes experienced that by the shock in uncapping, a bottle is tumbled, a bottle is tilted and contents are spilled, or the cap flies off. In addition, it is inconvenient to use both hands of uncapping, namely, holding a bottle with one hand and manipulating a cap remover with the other hand. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has for its object to eliminate the above disadvantages of a conventional cap remover and provides a novel cap remover with which a bottle can be uncapped easily either by pushing it down lightly from above or by gripping it lightly, using only one hand and without the danger of tumbling or tilting the bottle by the shock in uncapping. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The nature and advantages of the present invention will be understood more clearly from the following descriptions made with reference to several embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention of a cap remover of the outer casing pushing down type, comprising an outer casing and an inner casing; 
     FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the cap remover shown disassembled in FIG. 1 with the coil spring replaced by a leaf spring; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the invention to grasp the outer circumference of the mouth of a bottle; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, being a cap remover of the inner casing pushing down type; 
     FIG. 5B is a longitudinal sectional view of a cap remover similar to that shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a another embodiment of the cap remover of the invention having a lever which is movable in relation to the remover proper; 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded view of portions the cap remover shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are respectively front views of cap remover of three embodiments of the lever pushing down type in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a front view of a cap remover of the lever gripping type; and 
     FIG. 5A is a view of an embodiment similar to that shown in FIG. 5B in the state of uncapping a bottle. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Identical reference numerals in the drawings and referred to below identify similar or corresponding elements. 
     In the drawings, numeral 1 denotes a cap remover proper (main body) of rectangular casing type. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, a pusher 2 formed in the shape of a casing having a rectangular cross-section is vertically slidably mounted on the cap remover proper 1, a cap inserting groove of trapezoidal cutout shape 9 being formed at the lower rim of the cap remover proper 1 so that a cap to be removed can be inserted into this groove 9. The pusher 2 which is vertically slidably mounted on the outer circumference of the cap remover proper 1 is a slightly larger size than the cap remover proper 1 so that it can slide smoothly on the latter. A support axle 5 extends through opposing holes 1a in both side plates of the cap remover proper 1 and is fixed by welding so that it cannot slip out. A lever 3 inserted in the cap remover proper 1 is pivotally held by the support axle 5. The lever 3 is so designed that it has the desired leverage and the strength to stand the load applied in uncapping. Preferably, the lever 3 is a square bar having an engaging portion 3a of fork shape at one end thereof. The engaging portion 3a is pivotally secured to a hook member 4. In the engaging portion 3a is provided a pin hole 3b through which a pin 8 extends horizontally. A hole 3c through which the support axis 5 extends is formed in the lever 3 at such a position that the desired leverage is obtained. The hook member 4 which is pivotally secured to the lever 3 through the medium of the pin 8 is metal of square bar shape and carries an engaging portion 4b with a pin hole 4c through which the pin 8 is passed to secure it pivotally to the fork-shaped engaging portion 3a of the lever 3. A nail-like hook 4a which in use hooks the undersurface of the rim of a crown cap to be removed is formed at the lower end of the hook member 4. Since the hook 4a will wear due to repeated uncapping, it is desired that the hook 4a is made of steel or is subjected to tempering for improving abrasion-resistance. 
     The hook member 4 is fitted in a vertical groove formed at the inner surface of one side of the cap remover proper 1 hook 4a is projected partially or entirely from the lower end of the cap remover proper 1. The length of the hook member 4 is so determined that whenever a crown cap at the mouth of a bottle is inserted in crown inserting groove 9, the hook 4a engages with a part of the undersurface of the rim of the crown cap, as illustrated in FIG. 3. A pushing leaf spring 7 is interposed between the inner surface of the vertical groove in cap remover proper 1 and the confronting side of the hook member 4 so that the hook 4a is forced to project toward the crown cap as is illustrated in FIG. 2. 
     The crown inserting groove 9 comprises internal surfaces therein including an inner end face 9a which inclines in such a fashion that it narrows upwardly, a bottle mouth contacting face 9b which opposes the inner end face 9a and an inner end edge (inner face) 9c connecting the both faces 9a and 9b. The inner end edge 9c is inclined in such a fashion that the contacting face side is greater in height. The bottle mouth contacting face 9b may be made of a different material of arcuate shape and may be welded to the lower front and rear sides of the cap remover proper 1, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, or, as shown in FIG. 4 and the following figures it may be formed by making the lower end of one side of the cap remover proper 1 project a little inwardly. A device for assuring that the pusher 2 slides smoothly in a vertical direction is provided in the cap remover proper 1, namely, a pushing down pin P which extends and is fixed to an end portion of the front and rear side plates of the pusher 2 extends through slits 1b which extend vertically in both the front and rear side plates of the cap remover proper 1. With this construction, the pusher 2 can slide relative to the cap remover proper 1 but is prevented from slipping out of the cap remover proper 1, and also the pushing down pin P depresses an end portion of the lever 3. 
     Wound around the support axle 5 is a kick spring 6 by which the depressed lever 3 is restored automatically to its original state upon releasing the pusher 2 from pressing thereon. Restoration of the pusher 2 can be effected by the kick spring 6 or by or in combination with a coil spring S which is interposed between the top part of the cap remover proper 1 and the inner surface of the pusher 2 as shown in FIG. 2. 
     When uncapping a bottle B with the cap remover embodied in FIG. 1-FIG. 3, firstly cap remover proper 1 is put on the top of a crown cap as shown in FIG. 3 so that the crown cap is inserted into the crown inserting groove 9. At this time, the outer circumferential surface of the bottle mouth is pressed partly against the bottle contacting surface 9b and the outer circumference of the crown cap on the opposite side and thus the crown cap and the bottle are held in the groove 9. This is effected easily and accurately because the inner end face 9a is inclined in such a fashion that the groove 9 narrows in an upward direction. At the same time, the hook 4a at the lower end of the crown hooking member 4 is pushed toward the undersurface of rim of the crown cap by means of the leaf spring 7 and hooks the crown cap. Then, upon pushing down the pusher 2 by the palm of the hand, the spring S is compressed and as a result, the pushing down pin P is depressed and the lever 3 pivots with the support axle 5 as a fulcrum, whereupon the hooking member 4 pivotally secured to the other end of the lever 3 is lifted up and the hook 4a engaging with the under rim of the crown cap pries open the crown cap. At this time, as the bottle B is held by both the inner end face 9a of the cap remover proper 1 and the bottle engaging surface 9b of arcuate shape at the lower end of the cap remover proper 1, the bottle remains stationary and accurate uncapping is ensured. 
     After uncapping, upon releasing the pusher 2 the lever 3 is urged toward its original state by the spring 6, the pusher 2 is lifted up by the spring S and the hooking member 4 is restored to its original state. 
     The embodiments shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are cap removers of such a type that a pusher 21 is inserted in the cap remover proper 1. In order to prevent the pusher 21 from being pushed entirely into the cap remover proper 1 entirely, a flange 21a is formed at the top of the pusher 21. A pushing down member 21b for pushing down the lever 3 protrudes at a lower end of the pusher 21. This pusher 21 can be of flat square tubular shape as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5A or can be formed by a guide piece 21c and a pushing down member 21b which are provided oppositely at both sides of the lower end of the flange 21a. In the embodiments of this type, since the restoration of the pusher to its original state is effected simultaneously with the restoration of the lever 3 by means of the spring 6 provided at the support axle 5 of the lever 3, the spring S shown in FIG. 2 is not required. As is illustrated in FIG. 5A, cap C is held against the intersection of faces 9a and 9c which intersection acts as a fulcrum when the cap C is pried off the bottle B. 
     The embodiments shown in FIG. 6-FIG. 11 are of such a type that a lever is secured pivotally and directly to the cap remover proper, without using a pusher. However, the principle of uncapping in these embodiments are the same as that in the embodiments shown in FIG. 1-FIG. 5B. 
     Referring to FIG. 6-FIG. 9, a cap remover proper 11 has a vertically extending crown cap inserting groove 9 at the lower end portion thereof, similar to the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, but a lever 31 is partly inserted in a lever inserting groove 11a formed at top of cap remover proper 11 and is secured pivotally to the horizontal support axle 5. One end of the lever 31 is adapted to protrude above the cap remover proper 11 and the other end is pivotally connected to hooking member 4 by horizontal pin 8 fixed at opposite ends to cap remover proper 11. The spring 6 for restoring the lever 31 to its original state is supported by the support axle 5. Opposited ends of the spring 6 respectively press against the inner surface of the lever 31 and a spring stop pin horizontally mounted to the front and rear walls of cap remover 11. By the force of this spring 6 the lever 31 is held in such a state as shown in FIG. 6, so long as it is not subjected to external force or when such external force is removed. 
     FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show embodiments in which the shapes of the lever and the cap remover proper are somewhat different from those shown in FIG. 6 but are the same in their operation and result. The embodiment shown in FIG. 11 has a lever bent in L-shape. By squeezing together both the lever 35 and the cap remover proper 11, the lever 35 pivots so as to lift hooking member 4. 
     The embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is of simpler construction than those shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, but in respect of the principle of uncapping it is the same as those shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. 
     In FIG. 10, numeral 12 denotes a cap remover proper which is arranged on the diametrical line passing the center of a bottle mouth. It is made of metal thick enough to hold a crown cap tightly or of synthetic resin. The crown cap inserting groove of trapezoidal cutout shape 9 for holding a bottle mouth and a crown cap is formed at the lower side of the cap remover proper 12. This groove 9 is the same in shape as that shown in FIG. 1. At a bend 9d of groove 9 the top corner of the crown cap C is pressed and a projection 9e which presses against the mouth of the bottle B is provided at the inner surface of the opposite side of groove 9. When the crown cap C is inserted in the groove 9, the crown cap and the bottle mouth are respectively held by the bent 9d and the projection 9e. At this time, a lever 34 carrying at its top end a pawl 34a pivotally secured to the cap opener proper 12 by the support axle 5 is pivoted to such state as shown by a solid line in FIG. 10 so that the pawl 34a opposes the undersurface of the rim of the crown cap. Then, if the lever 34 is pushed down, the pawl 34a urges upwardly the undersurface of the rim of the crown cap whose top corner part is pressed and fixed by the bent 9d of the crown cap inserting groove 9, whereupon the crown cap is pried open by the pawl 34. At this time, since the bottle B is pressed by the pressing down force of the cap opener proper 12, the bottle is free from tilting and tumbling and there is no danger that the crown cap could fly off upon uncapping. The cap remover proper and the pusher in the above embodiments can also be of cylindrical shape. 
     Since the cap opener according to the present invention is of such construction as mentioned above, pressing down force from above a bottle is applied only to the top part of the bottle and therefore when a crown cap is being removed the bottle cannot be tilted or tumbled and the crown cap cannot fly off. Moreover, it has the advantage that uncapping can be effected easily with one hand.