EP1087903B1

EP1087903B1 - Cap opener

Info

Publication number: EP1087903B1
Application number: EP99931299A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Seppo Jyrkinen; Ari Piispanen
Original assignee: Konetuote Piispanen Oy; Insinooritoimisto Jyrkinen
Current assignee: Konetuote Piispanen Oy; Insinooritoimisto Jyrkinen
Priority date: 1998-06-17
Filing date: 1999-06-16
Publication date: 2004-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-16
Also published as: FIU980310U0; WO1999065816A1; ATE279373T1; DE69921132T2; FI3657U1; EP1087903A1; AU4785399A; DE69921132D1

Abstract

Cap opener comprising a plate-like body (1) and a gripping element (2) fitted to grip a bottle cap. The body (1) comprises as a substantially fixed part of it a plate-like circular sector of over 180 DEG , designed to be used as a token (3) in a shopping cart or equivalent.

Description

The present invention relates to a cap opener as defined in the preamble of claim 1.

For advertising purposes, people are nowadays often given various small objects. One such object is a cap opener. In this case, the cap opener is provided with a clearly visible logo of the company or a picture or name of a given product or text relating to a product.

However, the efficiency of such small objects in advertising is relatively poor because, being gratuitous, they are often lost or thrown away or simply discarded.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks referred to above. A specific object of the invention is to disclose a new type of advertising medium for use as a cap opener which is versatile and useful, even so necessary that people will keep it carefully and use it for a long time, which improves its advertising efficiency.

As for the features characteristic of the invention, reference is made to the claims.

The cap opener of the invention comprises a plate-like body and a gripping element fitted to grip the cap of a bottle to be opened. According to the invention, the plate-like body comprises as a fixed part of it a plate-like circular sector of over 180°, which is designed to be used as a token in shopping carts, luggage carts and equivalent. In other words, the body or a part of the body of the cap opener of the invention consists of a plate-like and coin-shaped element which can be inserted instead of a coin into locking devices provided in shopping carts and equivalent so that the shopping cart or equivalent can be released from another cart or a rack and taken into use.

Thus, the cap opener/shopping cart token of the invention replaces a coin needed for the use of a shopping cart. Such coins are seldom found in the pocket because credit cards are nowadays so often used to pay for shopping. In addition, by adding to the cap opener of the invention a key chain function, a utility article is obtained which, being used as a key chain, cap opener and shopping cart token, is so versatile and so frequently needed that carrying it along in a pocket or bag is almost a necessity.

An embodiment of the invention has been produced as a result of the current intensive trend towards reducing and almost eliminating the use of cash. However, as the use of coin-operated shopping carts, luggage carts and equivalent is rapidly increasing, a conflict has arisen because, on the one hand, there is a tendency to reduce the use of cash and, on the other hand, the need for coins is being increased. For this reason, in an embodiment of the invention, the plate-like body of the cap opener is provided with a space or place in which is fitted a microcircuit as used in credit cards, i.e. a microcircuit known in itself and used for electronic payment. Thus, the microcircuit, which can be recharged with currency, replaces cash in all commerce and the token part of the key chain satisfies the need for a coin in shopping carts, luggage carts and equivalent.

In an embodiment of the invention, the cap opener comprises an individualising identifier, which can be used e.g. like a key or identity card in doors, gates, various machines and appliances etc. The individualising identifier may consist of a bar code, a two-dimensional grid, a code composed of various characters, numbers and/or letters, a magnetic stripe or even a microcircuit. Thus, the cap opener of the invention can be used in highly versatile ways, in addition to advertising, as a means of payment, cap opener, token, key and as a licence of access to and use of various facilities. This makes it a perfect necessity, an object that a person must always carry along with him/her, which means that its advertising value is also significant.

In the following, the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 presents a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 presents a second embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3 presents a third embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 4 presents a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 presents a cap opener according to the invention, which has been die cut from a steel plate, so the cap opener is a straight and rigid planar object having a plate-like and substantially continuous body 1 with a gripping element 2 at its one end. The gripping element 2 comprises a projection 5 at the edge of an opening 6 so that the gripping element can be fitted to the edge of a crown cap to open a bottle provided with a crown cap.

The other end of the plate-like body 1 consists of a circular sector of over 180°, forming a token 3 for a shopping cart. The circular sector has a diameter corresponding e.g. to the size of a Finnish five-mark coin. As the circular sector, i.e. the angle α exceeds 180°, the token becomes narrower towards the middle region of the body 1, forming a waist 4. Thus, at the waist 4 between the token 3 and the body 1 a narrow portion is formed by which the locking device of a shopping cart or equivalent can engage the token and keep the token inside it until it is released in a known manner by means of a suitable counterpart only in a parking area for shopping carts.

In addition, this embodiment comprises a hole 7 made near one edge of the body 1 to allow the cap opener/shopping cart token to be used as a key chain as well. Of course it is also possible to utilise the opening 6 of the cap opener as a key chain by placing a key ring in it.

In the embodiment in Fig. 1, the surface of the body 1 is additionally provided with a space, recess or place where a microcircuit 10 applicable for electronic payment is fitted. Thus, the microcircuit and token 3 together form a perfect substitute for money.

Fig. 2 presents a second embodiment of the invention, which largely corresponds to the embodiment in Fig. 1. In this case, the gripping element 2 of the cap opener is formed by the edge 5 of the opening 6. As a difference from the embodiment in Fig. 1, this embodiment has an elongated hole 8 extending from the area of the body 1 into the area of the token 3, thus allowing easy use of the cap opener/shopping cart token as a key chain and cap opener and as a shopping cart token. When the cap opener is needed, the key ring can be drawn along the elongated hole 8 to its end in the token area, and on the other hand, when the shopping cart token is to be used, the key ring can be drawn along the hole 8 to its end in the cap opener area.

In the embodiment in Fig. 3, the cap opener is designed for yet another additional practical application. One end of the body 1 has a gripping element 2 with an opening 6, designed for use as a cap opener, while the other end is provided with a shopping cart token 3. The end of the body 1 in the cap opener portion is provided with a hole 11 for the key ring of a key chain. Moreover, the token is provided with a notch 9 formed at its tip in a somewhat oblique position, the two opposite sides of the notch being parallel to each other, in other words, the device has a nut-shaped notch which can be used e.g. to remove the aerial of a car before a quick-wash. Fitted in the body 1 is also a microcircuit 10 corresponding to Fig. 1.

Thus, the product illustrated in Fig. 3 is very versatile. As it is always carried in a pocket as a key chain, the user always has a cap opener at hand as well as a token for a shopping cart and money on a microchip to pay for shopping and also a means for easy removal of a car aerial before a wash.

In the embodiment in Fig. 4, the token 3 and waist 4 of the cap opener correspond to the preceding embodiments, whereas the gripping element of the cap opener consists of a circular opening 12 with four sharp protuberances 13 at its edge. This cap opener is designed for opening screw caps. When a screw cap to be opened is placed in the opening 12 and the opener is slightly turned vertically, the protuberances will engage the edges of the cap so that the cap can be easily unscrewed. Moreover, attached to one surface of the plate-like body 1 and token 3 is a bar code acting as an individualising identifier 14. The bar code may function e.g. as a key and licence of access or use in various applications.

In addition to all the above-described advantageous features, the products provided in all four embodiments presented are plate-like objects having relatively even and smooth surfaces allowing easy attachment of advertisements, logos, text or the like. Advertisements can be attached to or made directly on the surfaces by any known method, e.g. by painting, laminating, punching, printing or as stickers. Thus, functional and durable products that are effective in respect of advertising value are obtained.

Claims

Cap opener consisting of a plate-like, rigid and planar body (1) having at its one end a gripping element (2) adapted to grip a bottle cap, characterised in that the body (1) comprises at its other end, a plate-like circular sector greater than 180°, suitable for being used as a token (3) in a coin-operated shopping cart or equivalent to be released.
Cap opener as defined in claim 1, characterised in that the shopping cart token comprises a waist (4) that is narrower than the diameter of the circular sector (3), said waist connecting said plate-like circular sector to the body (1).
Cap opener as defined in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the gripping element is designed to open a crown cap.
Cap opener as defined in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the gripping element is designed to open a screw cap.
Cap opener as defined in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the tip of the token is provided with a substantially nut-shaped notch (9) open on two sides.
Cap opener as defined in any one of claims 1 - 5, characterised in that it comprises an even advertising surface to allow attachment of pictures and/or text to the cap opener.
Cap opener as defined in any one of claims 1 - 6, characterised in that the cap opener comprises a space or surface to which is fitted a microcircuit (10) applicable for electronic payment.
Cap opener as defined in any one of claims 1 - 6, characterised in that the cap opener comprises an individualising identifier (14), such as a bar code, two-dimensional grid or a letter/number/character code.