Patent ID: 7185560

Claim:
A jar opener for opening a jar having a screw-on lid comprising: (a) a base having a jar supporting surface; (b) a generally vertically extending guide connected to said base; (c) a carriage assembly operably associated with said guide for movement relative to said guide between an elevated position and a lowered position, said carriage assembly comprising a carriage; (d) a lid-engaging assembly operably associated with said carriage assembly for engaging the screw-on lid when said carriage is in said lowered position, said lid-engaging assembly including a lid-engaging member; (e) rotating means operably associated with said lid-engaging member for rotating said lid-engaging member, said rotating means comprising a drive screw connected to said carriage and a driven member connected to said lid-engaging member, said drive screw comprising a helical drive screw and said driven member comprising a disk operably associated with said helical drive screw, said disk having a central aperture provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, driven teeth engageable with said helical drive screw; and (f) operating means operably associated with said carriage assembly for moving said carriage assembly between said lowered position and a lid compressing position to cause rotation of said lid by said rotating means.