Patent ID: 7024965

Claim:
A semi-automatic opener for a jar closed by a threaded cover comprising: a first portion including a first body defining a base for receiving the jar thereon; a second portion including a second body mounted to said first body so as to be superimposed to said first body; one of said first and second portions having: a first turntable rotatably mounted to the respective body between said first and second portions via a rotatable shaft for rotating at least one of said jar and said cover; a first toothed rack mounted to said first turntable; said first toothed rack having a first central gear coaxially mounted to said rotatable shaft and a first pair of rack elements each interlocked to said first central gear for reciprocating movement towards and away each other upon rotation of said first central gear; and a first pair of immobilizing elements for immobilizing said at least one of said jar and said cover; each of said pair of immobilizing elements being secured to a respective rack element of said first toothed rack; and the other of said first and second portions being provided with second immobilizing elements mounted to the respective body for immobilizing the other of said at least one of said jar and said cover; whereby, in operation, the jar is positioned onto said base and its cover is immobilized by said second immobilizing elements; said rotatable shaft is then rotated causing said first pair of immobilizing elements to move towards each other until they grip said at least one of said jar and said cover; rotating said shaft then causes a torsional force between said jar and said cover so as to unlock the cover.