GB2421021A

GB2421021A - Container opening tool

Info

Publication number: GB2421021A
Application number: GB0426976A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Debacker; Pierre Wayemberg; Jean Pierre Audain
Original assignee: Dow Corning SA
Current assignee: Dow Silicones Belgium SPRL
Priority date: 2004-12-09
Filing date: 2004-12-09
Publication date: 2006-06-14
Also published as: GB0426976D0

Abstract

A tool (10) for breaking a vacuum, opening and removing a lid from a container, comprising an elongate handle (11) having at one end a jaw (12) comprising a first member (13) adapted to engage the upper surface of the lid and a second member (14) adapted to engage under the periphery of the lid, characterised in that the jaw (12) has a substantially R-shaped mouth (15) which contains said second member, (14) which enables the jaw (12) upon engagement of the first and second members (13, 14) with the lid, to releasably grip said lid between said first and second members (13, 14) enabling the release of vacuum and the opening and removal of the lid.

Description

I

CONTAINER OPEMNG TOOL

TECHNICAL FIELD

100011 The present invention relates to a container opening tool designed to non- destructively pry open a lid of a drum and in particular to a tool that can also be adapted to remove, carry and/or replace the lid after the drum has been opened.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

[00021 Containers such as drums or jars, which are designed to receive and store hot viscous materials such as polymers or preserves introduced into the containers at elevated temperatures and which then have a lid fitted to form an airtight seal prior to the material cooling to room temperature generally have a vacuum formed in the head space i.e. the gap between the material and the lid. The presence of a vacuum in the headspace causes difficulties in the removal of the lid when the contents are to be used after storage. In the case of industrial sized drums, operators may use anything available to hand to prise the lid off the container; examples include scissors, spatulas, screwdrivers and the like. The use of such apparatus can lead to injury to the operator opening the lid, can damage the lid or container to the extent that it cannot be reused and will lead to breakages of apparatus not designed as openers but which are being used for that purpose.

100031 A wide variety of tools have been designed to break the vacuum formed in the headsp ace of such containers.

4] WO93/1 7953 describes a tool for solely breaking a vacuum in a preserving jar closed with a screw cap. The tool has ajaw designed to grip and effect an elastic deformation to the lid sufficient for breaking the vacuum in the jar. However, this tool is not designed to releasably engage the lid and a flange or the like on the inner rim of the lid still needs to be rotated to disengage it from the screw thread on the jar. US2675721 describes a pry type jar cap lifter which comprises a handle with a tooth at one end that is designed to engage the interior surface of a cap sealing a container to raise the cap the slight distance necessary to permit the sharp hook point to pierce or break the vacuum seal. This process appears to be destructive, i.e. would lead to the cap not being reusable for the same purpose and does not describe any means for the tool to hold the removed cap. US 2624220 describes a further vacuum cap remover.

[00051 Bottle openers for removing fluted metal caps from, for example, carbonated drinks bottles are also known to work in a similar fashion. US 1934594 describes a bottle opener which is designed to remove metal caps from bottles which has at the end of an upper jaw pressure member designed to rest on the top of the cap and has a tooth designed to engage the inner surface of the cap such that when both are engaged with the cap an upward lift of the opener will remove the cap from the bottle. Alternative bottle openers are described in US 1728418 and U5807380.

6] None of the lid removers discussed in the above prior art is designed to both break a vacuum, non-destructively release the lid and subsequently be used as means of carrying the lid to a safe place for disposal or storage. The inventors have designed a tool that can easily be utilised for all three of the above activities in particular for an industrial sized container drum lid.

[0007J In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method for breaking a vacuum, opening and removing a lid from a container, comprising the steps of:- (i) gripping the lid with a tool comprising an elongate handle having ajaw at one end thereof, which jaw has an R-shaped recess and comprises a first member adapted to engage the upper surface of the lid and a second member adapted to engage under the periphery of the lid, (ii) lifting the handle a short distance whilst said first and second members are engaging the respective parts of the lid to cause an elastic deformation of the rim of the lid to release the vacuum; and (iii) removing the lid subsequent to the release of the vacuum by maintaining the grip of the tool on the lid.

100081 In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention there is provided a tool for breaking a vacuum, opening and removing a lid from a container in accordance with the method as herein before described, said tool comprising an elongate handle having at one end ajaw member comprising a first member adapted to engage the upper surface of the lid and a second member adapted to engage under the periphery of the lid, characterised in that the jaw has a substantially R-shaped mouth which contains said second member, which enables the jaw upon engagement of the first and second members with the lid, to releasably grip said lid between said first and second members enabling the release of vacuum, opening of the lid and removal of the lid by means of said tool.

100091 A tool and method in accordance with the present invention are particular designed for use with drum lids having a substantially "n" shaped peripheral rim.

100101 In one embodiment of the present invention the jaw and/or first member may be of adjustable length so as to be usable with a variety of shaped lids.

100111 Preferably the tool in accordance with the present invention is made from a metallic material. The tool may be made from a magnetic material. When the tool is made from a magnetic material the magnetic attraction between the tool and a suitable lid may assist in the ability for the tool to be used to carry the lid. Although the tool is designed to carry a lid, the lid may additionally be at least held on another means typically by the hand of the operative.

100121 Preferably the handle of the tool comprises a means for defining an opening of any suitable shape, which is preferably circular. Said opening may be used in order to hang the tool on a hook or the like when not in use or may have string or the like threaded through for a similar purpose.

3] Additional advantages of the method and tool of the present invention will be appreciated by reference to the following description and Figures. It is to be understood however that the drawings are provided merely for illustration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

4] The present invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a tool for use in the method of the present invention; Figure 2 depicts drum having a tool as seen in Fig. 1 in position to break a vacuum and lift the lid; Figure 3 depicts a drum with the lid removed and being carried by means of the tool.

100151 Referring to Fig. 1, a tool 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention comprises an elongate handle 11 sized so as to be easily gripped by a users hand, having at one end thereof ajaw 12. Jaw 12 has an "R" shaped mouth 15 which is designed to receive the edge of a lid of a container. Jaw 12 comprises a first member 13, which is adapted to engage the upper surface of a lid of a container. Jaw 12 also comprises a second member 14 in the form of a tooth positioned at the elbow of "R" shaped mouth 15.

Second member 14 is adapted to engage under the periphery of a lid of a container with face 16 of the "R" shaped mouth resting on the side of the container to be opened.

100161 Fig.2 depicts a tool positioned immediately prior to use for opening and removing a container lid 20 from a container 22 in accordance with the method of the present invention. First member 13 is in contact with the upper part of lid 20 and second member 14 is engaged under the peripheral rim of the lid with face 16 resting on the outer surface of the container.

100171 In use handle 11 is gripped by the hand 24 of a user and the end of tool 10 comprising jaw 12 is transported towards the lid 20 of container 22. The user guides the edge of lid 20 into mouth 15 and then said first and second members 13, 14 into position so that they are engaging lid 22. Handle 11 is then lifted or pivoted about line of contact between the upper side of lid 22 and first member 13. This movement results in jaw 12 gripping lid 20 by means of engagement with said first and second members 13, 14. This initial slight movement is designed to release a vacuum should there be one in the container. The initial slight movement is designed to give the lid an elastic deformation sufficient to break the vacuum but insufficient to cause lasting damage to the lid 20, in order to ensure the re- usability of the lid 20. The vacuum is broken by generating a small gap between lid 20 and the upper edge of container 22, through which, once open, air surrounding the container is able to enter the headspace and equalise the pressure between the headspace in the container and the atmospheric pressure surrounding the container.

100181 Once the vacuum has been broken lid 20 can be lifted using tool 10 as shown in Fig.3 and indeed lid 20 may be carried using tool 10 by maintaining the grip of first and second members 13 and 14 on said lid 20. Maintenance of the grip may be assisted when the tool or at least the jaw region thereof is made from a magnetic material and lid 20 is made from a material which is magnetically attracted thereto.

100191 A tool in accordance with the present invention is particularly designed for the removal of lids from drums containing viscous materials such as polymers such as high viscosity silicones and silicone gums which because of their viscous nature are generally deposited into the drum at temperatures above room temperature (about 20 C) and have a lid tightly placed on top of the drum at said elevated temperature such that a vacuum is formed in the head space between the top of the polymer in the drum and the drum lid as the polymer cools. The drum may have a gasket between the rim of the container and the periphery of the lid and a tool in accordance with the present invention will not only permit the reuse of the lid but also re-use of the gasket when utilised in the drum closing process.

Claims

A method for breaking a vacuum, opening and removing a lid from a container, comprising the steps of:- (i) gripping the lid with a tool comprising an elongate handle having a jaw at one end thereof, which jaw has an R-shaped recess and comprises a first member adapted to engage the upper surface of the lid and a second member adapted to engage under the periphery of the lid, (ii) lifting the handle a short distance whilst said first and second members are engaging the respective parts of the lid to cause an elastic deformation of the rim of the lid to release the vacuum; and (iii) removing the lid subsequent to the release of the vacuum by maintaining the grip of the tool on the lid.
2. A tool for breaking a vacuum, opening and removing a lid from a container in accordance with the method in claim 1, said tool comprising an elongate handle having at one end ajaw member comprising a first member adapted to engage the upper surface of the lid and a second member adapted to engage under the periphery of the lid, characterised in that the jaw has a substantially R-shaped mouth which contains said second member, which enables the jaw upon engagement of the first and second members with the lid, to releasably grip said lid between said first and second members enabling the release of vacuum, opening of the lid and removal of the lid by means of said tool.
3. A tool in accordance with claim 2 which is made from a metal.
4. A tool in accordance with claim 2 or 3 wherein the tool is made from a magnetic material.
5. A tool in accordance with claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the handle of the tool comprises a means for defining an opening.
6. A tool in accordance with claim 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein the jaw and/or first member may be of adjustable length.
7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the container is a drum containing a silicone polymer.
8. A tool as hereinbefore described with reference to the figures.