Tools – Receptacle closure remover – Levering or prying type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-15
2001-03-13
Eley, Timothy V. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Receptacle closure remover
Levering or prying type
C081S003360
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199452
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a pail opener and resealer device. Particularly, this invention relates to a light weight tool device for opening and resealing from pails containing various products such as foods, paints, oils, and the like. More particularly, the device of this invention is used to remove and reseal plastic lids from plastic pails and suited for use by homeowners, restaurants, supermarkets, printers, schools, and by contractors for use with driveway, painting, drywall materials, and the like.
Often users may try to remove large pail lids by hand, with a cutting device, or with other tools that are not suited for pail opening. When removed by hand or using unsuited tools, the pail lid or the tool may injure a person's hand or other part of the body, due to the rigid and/or sharp pail or lid material. A user may also utilize a cutting device to remove the lid, however, this process may destroy the lid making it impossible to properly reseal the remaining product inside of the pail. Furthermore, the cutting device itself could injure the user during use.
The device of this invention overcomes the shortcomings of other lid removal tools and methods by allowing the easy removal of a pliable plastic lid from a pail while preventing injury to the user and destruction of the lid. The device further allows the lid to be easily resealed to the pail, thus resealing and protecting the remaining contents inside the pail. The device of this invention is rigid, light-weight and unitary in structure, and is comprised of an elongated body structure having a handle portion, a lid opening structure, and a lid closing structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present device comprises a light-weight tool that is constructed and arranged to open and reseal pail lids. The device is preferably used to open and reseal 2-5 gallon plastic pails, however, the device may also be used with pails constructed in other sizes and constructed of other materials. The tool device of this invention may be used for purposes such as opening and resealing plastic pails containing foods, paints, oils, and other contents.
The pail opener and resealer device of this invention is generally comprised of a unitary, rigid body structure having a handle member, a lid opening structure and a lid closing structure.
The device of this invention is constructed and arranged to remove a pliable plastic lid from a plastic pail by using the lid opening structure. The lid opening structure is comprised of a hook and fulcrum structure. The body structure is constructed of an elongated body having a center, a tip end, and preferably has two hooks, the first hook being utilized to pry the rim of the lid while the second hook acts as a fulcrum, thereby allowing the handle to be utilized as a lever to provide the force necessary to pry the lid. The device preferably has an upper hook that extends from the tip end of the body structure with the hook curving back toward the center of the body structure and a lower hook that extends generally from the center of the body structure and curves upward toward the tip end of the body structure, thereby arranged so that the hooks face each other. The device can be utilized to remove a lid in two ways, in one method the upper hook is used as the prying hook and in the other method, the lower hook is used as the prying hook.
The first method used to remove a lid illustrates that a user may grasp the handle portion and place the upper hook under the bottom of the rim of the lid, utilizing it as a prying hook. The lower hook is then rested on the top of the lid, thereby using the lower hook as a fulcrum and enabling the handle to be used as a lever. Next, the user pushes downward on the handle portion which prys the lid, separating it from the pail or bucket.
Alternatively, a lid may be removed by placing the lower hook under the rim of the lid, utilizing it as a prying hook, and having the upper hook resting on the top of the lid, thereby using the upper hook as a fulcrum. The handle is then pulled upward to separate the lid from the bucket. These process steps may be repeated at different points around the circumference of the lid which results in the total separation of the lid from the rim of the pail.
The device is also constructed and arranged to reseal a lid to a pail by using the lid closing structure. The lid closing structure is comprised of a hammer portion extending from the top side of the tip end of the body structure. To reseal the lid, a user places the lid on top of the open pail. The user then grasps the handle portion of the tool with the hammer portion facing downward towards the top of the lid and strikes or pounds the lid onto the rim of the pail with the hammer portion, so that the lid rim is resealed to the pail rim.
The pail opener and resealer device is preferably constructed of a light-weight, rigid and strong material. For example, cast aluminum, other metallic alloys and molded plastic compositions, with or without reinforcing materials, may be utilized in forming the body structure of the device.
These and other benefits of this invention will become clear from the following description by reference to the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 192721 (1962-05-01), Mills
patent: D. 240497 (1976-07-01), Riba
patent: D. 244575 (1977-06-01), Endres et al.
patent: D. 252907 (1979-09-01), Poll
patent: D. 271275 (1983-11-01), Richilano
patent: D. 276304 (1984-11-01), DiFede
patent: D. 276585 (1984-12-01), DiFede
patent: D. 304992 (1989-12-01), Matthies
patent: D. 319954 (1991-09-01), Able et al.
patent: D. 359220 (1995-06-01), Vinar
patent: 3954030 (1976-05-01), Newton
patent: 4492132 (1985-01-01), Obey
patent: 4586404 (1986-05-01), Ginther
patent: 4747173 (1988-05-01), Marceau
patent: 4829619 (1989-05-01), Edgerton
patent: 4967436 (1990-11-01), Russell
patent: 5069090 (1991-12-01), Clark
patent: 5222265 (1993-06-01), Hermansson
patent: 5476023 (1995-12-01), Calandro
Silesia Quick and Easy 3 in 1 bucket opener, product brochure, 1 page.
Eggink Anthony G.
Eley Timothy V.
Nguyen Dung Van
LandOfFree
Pail opener and resealer device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Pail opener and resealer device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pail opener and resealer device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2486725