Bottles and jars – Closures – Substitute closure having means to remove original closure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-07
2001-01-30
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Bottles and jars
Closures
Substitute closure having means to remove original closure
C215S228000, C215S303000, C215S304000, C081S003150, C081S003420, C081S003550
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179138
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to combination utensils of the type usable on containers, such as bottles. The invention has particular application to utensils of the type used for stopping and for removing the caps of bottles.
Various types of bottles stoppers and bottle cap removers have heretofore been provided. Bottle openers have included openers for use with a variety of different types of bottle closures. Thus, cork screws are provided for removing corks from the necks of bottles, such as wine bottles. Lever-type tools are utilized for prying off bottle caps of the type used on many beer and soda bottles, wherein the cap has a depending flange with a fluted edge crimped over a bead at the end of the bottle neck, such caps being referred to hereinafter as “pop-top” caps. The cap-removing utensil typically has an aperture which receives a portion of the cap therethrough, with a lip or flange at one side of the aperture which engages beneath the bottle cap flange to pry it off. Wrench-type tools are provided for unscrewing twist-off bottle caps, which are similar to pop-top caps, except that they are internally threaded for engagement with an external thread on the bottle neck. The opening utensil typically has an internally ribbed, cup-shaped member which fits over the cap to frictionally engage it to provide a wrench-type increase in leverage for twisting the bottle cap off. Many cans, such as beverage cans, are provided with a ring-type of pull tab, and prying-type tools have been provided to facilitate lifting of the pull tab.
It is also known to combine features of certain types of opening and/or bottle stopping devices. For example, twist-off cap removers have been combined with pull tab lifting levers, such as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,455,894 to Roberts and 4,911,038 to Ferrin, while pop-top cap removers have been combined with bottle stoppers in devices such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 760,797 to Biersach and 959,220 to Hoeft. However, such combination utensils heretofore have typically been formed of metal or have had other types of hard exposed surfaces and have been uncomfortable to use, particularly for people whose hands may be impaired, such as by arthritis. Furthermore, heretofore there have not been provided any combination utensils which are usable for removing both pop-top and twist-off caps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved combination utensil which avoids the disadvantages of prior utensils while forwarding additional structural and operating advantages.
An important feature of the invention is the provision of a bottle cap remover which is usable with both pop-top and twist-off caps.
Another feature of the invention is the provision of a combination utensil which provides both a bottle cap remover and a bottle neck stopper.
Another feature of the invention is the provision of a combination utensil of the type set forth, which is of simple and economical construction.
Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of a combination utensil of the type set forth, which is comfortable and easy to use.
Certain ones of these and other features of said invention may be attained by providing a combination bottle cap-removing and bottle neck-closing utensil comprising a bottle-cap-engaging ring dimensioned to fit in a user's hand and having an opening therethrough dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a bottle cap therein, and a stopper extending laterally outwardly from the ring and dimensioned to fit in a user's hand and to be received in a bottle neck for closing same, whereby the ring and the stopper serve as handles for each other.
Other features of the invention may be obtained by providing a bottle cap remover comprising a ring-like body having an internal generally frustoconical wall defining an opening through the body and having large-diameter and small-diameter ends, and a rigid lip carried by the body and projecting into the opening adjacent to the small-diameter end.
The invention consists of certain novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.
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patent: 952085 (1910-03-01), Stephens
patent: 1653490 (1927-12-01), Ballou et al.
patent: 3300074 (1967-01-01), Heubl
patent: 4580303 (1986-04-01), Henshaw
patent: 4846360 (1989-07-01), Criste
Cronin Stephen K.
General Housewares Corp.
Shaw Seyfarth
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