GB2186868A

GB2186868A - Device for assisting in the removal of closures for containers

Info

Publication number: GB2186868A
Application number: GB08703921A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Thomas Lowe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-02-22
Filing date: 1987-02-19
Publication date: 1987-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2007-02-19
Also published as: GB8703921D0; GB2186868B; GB8604441D0

Abstract

A device for assisting in the removal of a closure member such as bottle top and jam jar lids is described which comprises a hollow body (10) made of thermoplastic rubber in the form of an inverted cone, the walls (12) are deformable and define a central tapered bore (14) into which a screw-threaded bottle top secured to a bottle can be inserted. The interior surface of the bore has spaced axial ribs (16) and spaced circumferential ribs (18) to assist in gripping the bottle top. The exterior of the device is preferable provided with a plurality of gripping lugs (19) to enable the outer surface of the device to be securely gripped when a rotational force is applied thereto. The upper surface may have at least one flat (22) which is inwardly displaceable to accommodate a surface of less diameter than the smallest dimension of the central tapered bore. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for assisting in the removal of closures for bottles, jars or the like This invention relates to a device which can be used for assisting in the removal of closures for bottles, jars or the like.

It frequently happens that a screw-threaded top for a bottle or jar becomes over-tightened and it is difficult to remove it. If the top is tightly secured to the bottle, considerable manual pressure may have to be supplied in order to unscrew it and normally such bottle tops have a relatively smooth outer surface which prevents a user exercising a desired grip on the top.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device which will assist in the removal of a variety of closures from, for example, bottles. Although it is primarily designed for the removal of screw-threaded bottle tops, it will be appreciated that it is equally applicable to closures for other types of containers having removable closure members of a nature similar to screw-threaded bottle tops and which require reiative rotation between the top and the container in order to release the top.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for assisting in the removal of a closure member comprising, a hollow body of flexible resilient material, said body having a hollow bore adapted to receive the closure member to be released, and to surround said closure member closely, wall portions surrounding said bore which are deformable into sufficient frictional gripping engagement with the closure member so that a rotational force can be applied to the device in order to release the closure member.

Preferably, the device is of moulded rubber or similar material which is deformable and resilient and does not have the rigid nature of a hard synthetic plastics material.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part sectional side view of a bottle top removing device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof, and Figure 3 is a bottom plan view depicting the interior bottle gripping surface.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a bottle top removing device formed of deformable resilient rubber. Other materials having similar deformable properties can be utilised.

The device comprises a body 10 in the form of an inverted generally frusto-conical cone, the walls 12 of which are readily deformable and define therewithin a central tapered bore 14 into which a screw-threaded bottle top secured to a bottle (not shown) can be inserted.

The taper of the bore 14 allows a variety of sizes of bottle spaced top to be accommodated. The interior surface of the bore has spaced axial ribs 16 and spaced circumferential ribs 18 to assist in gripping the bottle top.

The exterior of the debice is preferable provided with a plurality of gripping lugs 19 to enable the outer surface of the device to be securely gripped when a rotational force is applied thereto.

The upper horizontal face 20 of the device is provided with a plurality of flaps 22 which can be displaced inwardly in order to provide a surface of less diameter than the smallest dimension of the central tapered bore. Alternatively, for this purpose ribbing can also be provided internally of face 20. This permits accommodation of tops of even less diameter than can be accommodated by the tapered dimensions of the internal bore 14 of the device.

The device is used to remove bottle tops which have been tightened to their associated bottle so tightly that they cannot be easily removed by hand in the ordinary manner. In order to remove the top, the device is merely placed over the top so that it is accommodated within the internal bore 14. The flexible deformable outer walls 12 of the device are then pressed so that the internal axial ribs 16 and circumferential ribs 18 come into engagement with the bottle top and a rotational force is applied to the device through the intermediary of the outer projecting lugs 18. The nature of the thermoplastic rubber from which the device is made together with the projecting lugs 18 allow sufficient frictional engagement between the device and the bottle top and between the device and the hand of the user to permit the top to be removed without serious difficulty.

Although the device as described above has particular application to bottle tops, it will be apparent that the device or a device similar thereto can be used for the removal of other type of closure members from containers. For example, the device can be used for the removal of tops of glass gars or the like or it can be used for the removal of a wing nut from a screw-threaded bolt. The device can have a different external shape and number of lugs and a different number, and shape of, internal ribs consistent with the function of providing sufficient frictional engagement between the device and the closure member to be unfastened. For example, only axial or circumferential ribs may be used.

The device in accordance with the present invention does not damage or distort the closure during removal and can be used to reseal or apply a closure such as a bottle top to a bottle containing carbonated liquid in order to retain any gas pressure in the liquid.

1. A device for assisting in the removal of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Device for assisting in the removal of closures for bottles, jars or the like This invention relates to a device which can be used for assisting in the removal of closures for bottles, jars or the like. It frequently happens that a screw-threaded top for a bottle or jar becomes over-tightened and it is difficult to remove it. If the top is tightly secured to the bottle, considerable manual pressure may have to be supplied in order to unscrew it and normally such bottle tops have a relatively smooth outer surface which prevents a user exercising a desired grip on the top. An object of the present invention is to provide a device which will assist in the removal of a variety of closures from, for example, bottles. Although it is primarily designed for the removal of screw-threaded bottle tops, it will be appreciated that it is equally applicable to closures for other types of containers having removable closure members of a nature similar to screw-threaded bottle tops and which require reiative rotation between the top and the container in order to release the top. According to the present invention there is provided a device for assisting in the removal of a closure member comprising, a hollow body of flexible resilient material, said body having a hollow bore adapted to receive the closure member to be released, and to surround said closure member closely, wall portions surrounding said bore which are deformable into sufficient frictional gripping engagement with the closure member so that a rotational force can be applied to the device in order to release the closure member. Preferably, the device is of moulded rubber or similar material which is deformable and resilient and does not have the rigid nature of a hard synthetic plastics material. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part sectional side view of a bottle top removing device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof, and Figure 3 is a bottom plan view depicting the interior bottle gripping surface. Referring to the drawings, there is shown a bottle top removing device formed of deformable resilient rubber. Other materials having similar deformable properties can be utilised. The device comprises a body 10 in the form of an inverted generally frusto-conical cone, the walls 12 of which are readily deformable and define therewithin a central tapered bore 14 into which a screw-threaded bottle top secured to a bottle (not shown) can be inserted. The taper of the bore 14 allows a variety of sizes of bottle spaced top to be accommodated. The interior surface of the bore has spaced axial ribs 16 and spaced circumferential ribs 18 to assist in gripping the bottle top. The exterior of the debice is preferable provided with a plurality of gripping lugs 19 to enable the outer surface of the device to be securely gripped when a rotational force is applied thereto. The upper horizontal face 20 of the device is provided with a plurality of flaps 22 which can be displaced inwardly in order to provide a surface of less diameter than the smallest dimension of the central tapered bore. Alternatively, for this purpose ribbing can also be provided internally of face 20. This permits accommodation of tops of even less diameter than can be accommodated by the tapered dimensions of the internal bore 14 of the device. The device is used to remove bottle tops which have been tightened to their associated bottle so tightly that they cannot be easily removed by hand in the ordinary manner. In order to remove the top, the device is merely placed over the top so that it is accommodated within the internal bore 14. The flexible deformable outer walls 12 of the device are then pressed so that the internal axial ribs 16 and circumferential ribs 18 come into engagement with the bottle top and a rotational force is applied to the device through the intermediary of the outer projecting lugs 18. The nature of the thermoplastic rubber from which the device is made together with the projecting lugs 18 allow sufficient frictional engagement between the device and the bottle top and between the device and the hand of the user to permit the top to be removed without serious difficulty. Although the device as described above has particular application to bottle tops, it will be apparent that the device or a device similar thereto can be used for the removal of other type of closure members from containers. For example, the device can be used for the removal of tops of glass gars or the like or it can be used for the removal of a wing nut from a screw-threaded bolt. The device can have a different external shape and number of lugs and a different number, and shape of, internal ribs consistent with the function of providing sufficient frictional engagement between the device and the closure member to be unfastened. For example, only axial or circumferential ribs may be used. The device in accordance with the present invention does not damage or distort the closure during removal and can be used to reseal or apply a closure such as a bottle top to a bottle containing carbonated liquid in order to retain any gas pressure in the liquid. CLAIMS

1. A device for assisting in the removal of a closure member comprising, a hollow body of flexible resilient material, said body having a hollow bore adapted to receive the closure member to be released, and to surround said closure member closely, wall portions surrounding said bore which are deformable into sufficient frictional gripping engagement with the closure member so that a rotational force can be applied to the device in order to release the closure member.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is of moulded rubber or similar material which is deformable and resilient and does not have the rigid nature of a hard synthetic plastics material.

3 A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said interior bore is provided with a plurality of circumferential ribs to assist gripping engagement with said closure member.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein axial ribs are also provided to assist gripping engagement with said closure member.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein axial ribs are also provided to assist gripping engagement with said closure member.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said axial and circumferential ribs are non-integral with said bore.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said closure member has an upper surface having at least one flap which is inwardly displacable to accommodate a surface of less diameter than the smallest dimension of the central tapered bore.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein a plurality of flaps are provided in said upper surface.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said flap or flaps are provided with an internally ribbed surface.

10. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.