US2571401A

US2571401A - Pry type jar cap remover

Info

Publication number: US2571401A
Application number: US704253A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond H Williams
Original assignee: White Cap Co
Current assignee: White Cap Co
Priority date: 1946-10-18
Filing date: 1946-10-18
Publication date: 1951-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 1968-10-16

Description

Oct. 16, 1951 R. H. wlLLlAMs 2,57L401 PRY TYPE JAR GAP REMovER Filed OC'. 18. 1946 Patentecl Oct. 16, 1951 PRY TYPE J AR CAP REMOVER Raymond H. Williams, Chicago, Ill., assignor to White Cap Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application October 18, 1946, Serial No..704,253

Claims.

My invention is concerned with improvements in an Opener or tool for use in removing the closure cap or lid from a receptacle.

Closure caps or lids of the pry-off type (as distinguished from the screw-ofi type) have long been used on receptacles such as glass bottles and jars for putting up various kinds of products, particularly foods. The most popular pryoif cap now in use is the type such as shown in Patent No. 2,339,82'7, issued January 25, 1944, to William P. White.

Practically all containers on which the pryofi type of cap is employed have an annular abutment shoulder which is located a short distance below the skirt of the cap, when the latter is in fully closed position on the container, which shoulder serves as a fulcrum for use in prying off the cap. The housewife generally resorts to the blade of a knife or the bowl or handle of a spoon to pry off the cap. Such a pry-off means has proven very unsatisfactory because the caps |4 of the cap 2, when the cap |2 is in fully are difiicult to get off and likely to mar the knife or spoon used.

It is an object of my invention to provide an Opener tool which is easy to use and which is especially effective for removing pry-off caps of the type referred to or of similar type.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a simple and effective tool for use in removing pry-off type container closures which comprises a blade-like projecting member adapted for insertion between the skirt of the closure and an abutment shoulder provided on the container and handle means for rotating the bladelike member to force the closure from the container without damage to the container or the closure.

These and other objects will be apparent from a description of the preferred form of my Opener tool which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view, partially in section, showing the top of a jar having a pry-off cap secured thereon, and an Opener tool embodying the principles of my invention, the tool being shown with the end of the Opener blade between the pry-off ledge of the jar and the skirt of the cap and with the Opener blade partially rotated into operative position preparatory to prying off the cap;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the Opener;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the Opener blade;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

closed position. The annular shoulder |3 serves as a fulcrum for use in prying off the cap IZ.

My Opener is characterized by a relatively wide flat blade-like member |6 and a handle member ll. The blade member IB is generally rectangular in cross section as shown in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive, having relatively wide fiat side faces IB and |9 and relatively narrow side edges 20 and 2|. The end edge 22 is curved on aconcave arc. Closely adjacent the end edge 22 the blade member |6 is relieved or grooved at 23 and 24. The

grooves

23 and 24 Aextend from the edges 2|] and 2| toward the center of the side faces |8 and |9 and are rounded or curved transversely on a concave arc. The handle member I'l is suificiently large to be comfortably gripped in one hand. It is joined to the blade member |6 at a sufficient distance from the Operating end of the same to provide adequate clearance for the fingers of the user.

In using my Opener the end of the blade member IB is inserted flatwise between the pry-off shoulder |3 of the jar IO and the skirt M of the cap |2. The concave end edge 22 of the blade member IB aids in properly locating the blade member IB between the pry-off shoulder I3 and the cap skirt |4. The handle member Il is then rotated in either direction until'the lower edge of the skirt |4 is engaged in interlocking rela- V tion with one of the

grooves

23 and 24. The engagement of the skirt |4 in the selected groove prevents the tool from slipping out of engagement With the cap 12 during the opening operation. Upon further rotation of the handle H the blade |6' forces the cap |2 upwardly until it is free of the jar mouth. All the engaging surfaces are rounded and there is no damage to the cap |2 so that it may be replaced on the jar mouth Il for resealing the jar, if desired.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a modified form of Opener 30 having an Operating blade 3| and a handle member 3'2. The Operating blade 3| is 3 identical with the blade [6 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. The handle member 32 extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the blade 32 and is of suflicient size and configuration to provide a. comfortable grip. The Opener 30 is used in the same manner as opener 15.

In Fig. 'I I have illustrated a further modified form of. Openerk 401 I'm this formthe blade 41. is identical with that shown in Figs. 1 to 5' inclusive. The handle member 42 extends along the longitudinal axis of the blade 4| and is of sufficient size to provide a comfortable grip. The opener 40 is operated in the same manner as opener |5, the blade 4| being rotated or turned by rotating or twisting thehandle 42.

In all the forms illustrated the opener members may be made of any; desiredmaterial combination of materials. Preferably, the opener is stamped of metal to provide a fiat one-piece` device which may be economically manufactured.

While I have' illustratedispecific details of' construction, it will be understood that other details of. construction mayv be resorted to within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. Atool forvusein removingcaps of the pry-off type from a:.receptacle having an annular abutment shoulder'locatedibelow the skirt of the pryoff cap, said tool comprisin'g a blade having a relativelywideflat end portion terminating in a concave end; ed'gersaidz end portion being provided'with tapered concave grooves spaced from said end.. edge a distance substantially equal to the' distance-ofth'e'lower'edge of the skirt of the cap from.the-receptaclel and extending from the side edges' of'said blade toward the center on each side face thereof, and a handle member on said blade whereby when said end portion of said blade is inserted' between the skirt of the pryolf cap and the annular abutment shoulder of the recepta'cle'and-said handle is rotatedto twist said blade .one of said grooves will index with the skirt of said cap-and said cap Willbe forced from said receptacle.

2. Atool for use in' removing caps.. of the pryoif type from' a receptacle having an annular abutment shoulder'locatedibelow the skirt of the cap, said tooll comprising a forwardly extending portion characterized by spaced generally parallel side edges 1 and a front edge connecting saidside edges in generally right-angular relation to the'latter, saidforwardlyextending portion being provided adjacent its front end inits'upper and lower faces with laterally extending grooves, which grooves intersect said side edges and areA spaced rearwardly from said: front edge a distancesubstantially' equal to the distance of the lower edge. of the skirt of the cap fromthe receptacle,.and a handle characterized by Wing portions which extend laterally in opposite directionsfrom the-base'of said forwardly extend- -ing' portion, whereby when said front edge of saidfforwardly extending portion is inserted between the skirt of the cap and the annular abutment shoulder ofithe receptacle and said han-v dle isrotatedfito twist said forwardly extending portionone of. said grooves will index with the skirtiof the cap and the capwill be forced upwardly fromthe receptacle.

3. An opener for caps of the pry-off' type mounted on Vjars having ledges-spaced beneath the caps, comprising a relatively wide, thin, fiat forwardly extending member adapted for insertion inthe. annularspace between the rim of` the 4 cap and the ledge on the jar, and a handle for imparting a twisting movement to said forwardly extending member, said forwardly extending member having a front edge which is curved to conform generally to the periphery of the jar between the rim of the cap and the ledge, and said forwardly extending member having side edgesiwhich extend rearwardly from the ends of the front edge and which are adapted to bear respectively against the under surface of the rim and the upper surface of the ledge at points spaced circumferentially of the jar, said forwardly extending member being provided with recesses-in the flat faces thereof at points spaced rearwardly: from said front edge a distance substantially equal to the distance of the lower edge of the rimofz'the cap from the jar and extendinginwardly of the side edges thereof, one of'said recesses being adapted to engage in interlooking relation with the rim irrespective of the direction in which the blade is twistedl by the handle.

4. A tool for removing caps of the pry-oif type from' a container having an annular abutment f shoulder located below the skirt of the cap, said tool comprising a blade-like portion having a front edgeV and laterally spaced. side edges extending rearwardly from the ends of the front edge, said blade-like portion being provided at its sidev edges with inwardly extending groove formations which are spaced from the'front edge adistance substantially equal to the distance of the lower edge of the skirt of 'the cap from the container and a handle extending laterally of the rear of said) blade-like portion whereby whenlsaid blade-like portionfisinserted between the skirt of the' cap andthe annular abutment shoulder of the container andv said handle is rotated to twist said blade-like portion the skirt of the cap is engaged in oneof said grooves and thecalp is forced away fromthe container.

51 A cap lifter for removing a vacuum seal cap, having a downwardly extending skirt, from a container having an annular shoulder of given radial width spaced slightly-'below the skirt, comprising the combination of a curved rib having a concave longitudinal edge, the ends of the rib being rounded, a neck of: biconvex longitudinal cross section fixedly supporting the rib and extending transversely from the side of the rib opposite the concave edge, the length of the ne'ck being'substa'ntially lessthan the length of the rib, and a handle fixedly supporting the neck for inserting theconcave edge of 'the rib between the skrt and the shoulder and against the container and'for twist'ing the neck so as to force one end of the rib against the shoulder and the other end against an inside portion of the edge' of the skirt.

RAYMOND H. WILIAMS.

REFERENCES oI'rED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 1,568,312 Becker Jan. 5, 1926 2,166,972 Sheldon July v25, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 311,889 Germany Apr. 26, 1919 116,,925 Germany U g.,., Oct. 1, 1926