Cap opener

Abstract

To provide a cap opener that can open screw caps of various sizes over a long period of time. [Solution] The cap opener 1 consists of a pair of opposing arm portions 2a and 2b, and a connecting portion 3 that elastically connects one end of the arm portions 2a and 2b. The pair of arm portions 2a and 2b are spread open, and the screw cap is placed on either the first clamping surface portion 5 or the second clamping surface portion 6. The gripping surfaces 9a and 9b are grasped from the outside with one hand H, and pressure is applied to the pair of arm portions 2a and 2b, bringing the arm portions 2a and 2b closer together. As a result, the outer surface of the screw cap is clamped by either the first clamping surface portion 5 or the second clamping surface portion 6. By rotating the cap opener 1, the screw cap can be loosened and removed from the PET bottle body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap opener that can easily open the screw cap of a PET bottle or the like.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a cap opener dedicated to a PET bottle, which has a concavo-convex portion for hooking on the outer surface of the screw cap of the PET bottle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the cap opener of this Patent Document 1 cannot cope with screw caps of various sizes. In addition, due to long-term use, the concavo-convex portion is deformed into a flat shape, making it difficult to hook on the outer surface of the screw cap. When this deformation becomes extreme, free rotation with respect to the screw cap occurs, and the cap cannot be opened.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a cap opener that has less deformation and can open screw caps of various sizes over a long period of time.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The cap opener according to the present invention, which solves the above problems, is composed of a pair of opposing arm portions and a connecting portion that connects these arm portions, and is a cap opener that brings the pair of arm portions, whose tips are spaced apart, closer together by applying pressure from the outside, and is characterized in that a circular first clamping surface portion is formed by the inner surfaces of the pair of arm portions near the connecting portion and the inner surface of the connecting portion that is continuous with the inner surfaces. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] Thus, with the cap opener according to the present invention, even if some deformation occurs on the gripping surface after many years of use, the user's gripping force on the gripping surface of the arm allows for a strong grip on the outer surface of the cap, making it possible to easily open the cap for a long period of time. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A perspective view of a bottle cap opener. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram showing how to hold a cap opener in your hand. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a cap opener 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This cap opener 1 is composed of a pair of opposing arm portions 2a and 2b, and a connecting portion 3 that elastically connects one end of these arm portions 2a and 2b. In the normal state, the tips 4a and 4b of the arm portions 2a and 2b are always separated from each other. However, depending on the usage mode described later, the tips 4a and 4b can be brought into contact with each other.

[0011] A circular first clamping surface 5, with a portion cut out, is formed by the inner surface of the connecting portion 3 and the inner surfaces of the arm portions 2a and 2b near the connecting portion 3. This first clamping surface 5 is sized to fit the outer diameter of a standard PET bottle screw cap. A slit 3a is formed on the inner surface of the connecting portion 3 to facilitate deformation of the first clamping surface 5.

[0012] Furthermore, the pair of arm portions 2a and 2b are provided with a first clamping surface portion 5 and a second clamping surface portion 6 that is continuous with the tip portions 4a and 4b. The second clamping surface portion 6 is arc-shaped and faces the inner side of the arm portions 2a and 2b, so as to accommodate screw caps with a smaller diameter than the screw caps of PET bottles, and is smaller in diameter than the first clamping surface portion 5. On the inner surfaces of these first and second clamping surface portions 5 and 6, an uneven surface 7 is formed that fits with the uneven surface of the outer surface of the screw cap.

[0013] The outer surfaces of the pair of arm portions 2a and 2b have arcuate surfaces 8a and 8b that conform to the shape of the first clamping surface, and gripping surfaces 9a and 9b that are continuous with these arcuate surfaces 8a and 8b. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, when the connecting portion 3 is positioned upward, the gripping surfaces 9a and 9b extend downward in a V-shape from the arcuate surfaces 8a and 8b.

[0014] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the cap opener 1 being held in one hand. As shown in the figure, the outer surfaces of the arm portions 2a and 2b have a concave shape in the center, and the gripping surfaces 9a and 9b are designed to be rested on the thumb and index finger, respectively. Furthermore, tip portions 4a and 4b are positioned on the inner surfaces of the tips of the gripping surfaces 9a and 9b, and anti-slip portions 10a and 10b made of silicone resin or the like are formed on these tip portions 4a and 4b. The cap opener 1, excluding the anti-slip portions 10a and 10b, is made of a hard synthetic resin or the like with appropriate elasticity.

[0015] When using the cap opener 1, the user first expands the pair of arm portions 2a and 2b according to the diameter of the screw cap and places the screw cap on either the first clamping surface portion 5 or the second clamping surface portion 6.

[0016] Then, by gripping the gripping surfaces 9a and 9b from the outside with one hand H and applying pressure to the pair of arm parts 2a and 2b, the arm parts 2a and 2b are brought closer together. As a result, the outer surface of the screw cap is gripped by the first gripping surface 5 or the second gripping surface 6, and slippage is restricted by the uneven surfaces 7 formed on the inner surfaces of the first and second gripping surfaces 5 and 6. Then, by rotating the cap opener 1, the screw cap can be loosened and removed from the PET bottle body.

[0017] In this embodiment, the distance between the first and second clamping surfaces 5 and 6 is variable. Therefore, even if deformation occurs where the uneven surfaces 7 on the inner surfaces of the clamping surfaces 5 and 6 become flattened due to prolonged use, the pressure on the screw cap can be adjusted by the user's grip strength, thereby effectively preventing the screw cap from spinning freely.

[0018] Furthermore, by gripping and applying pressure to the anti-slip portions 10a and 10b of the tip portions 4a and 4b, it is possible to grip the edge of a sheet-like lid attached to the opening of a container, for example, with the anti-slip portions 10a and 10b which have a tweezers function, and peel the lid off the opening.

[0019] Furthermore, an insertion groove 11 can be formed in a part of the connecting portion 3, and a pull tab provided on the pull-tab lid of a canned beverage or canned food can be inserted into this insertion groove 11, allowing the pull tab to be easily pulled up and the lid opened using the principle of leverage.

[0020] Furthermore, since the cap opener 1 is equipped with first and second clamping surfaces 5 and 6 of different diameters, it can handle a wide range of cap sizes, from standard PET bottle screw caps with a diameter of about 30 mm to small-diameter screw caps on pouch bags containing jelly, etc., making it highly versatile.

[0021] Thus, according to the cap opener 1 of the present invention, even if the first and second clamping surfaces 5 and 6 are slightly deformed after long-term use, the outer surface of the screw cap can be strongly tightened by the gripping force of the user's arm portions 2a and 2b on the gripping surfaces 9a and 9b. Therefore, the screw cap can be easily opened over a long period of time.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0022] 1 Cap opener 2a, 2b Arm portions 3 Connecting portion 4a, 4b Tip portions 5 First clamping surface 6 Second clamping surface 7 Concavo-convex surface 8a, 8b Arc surfaces 9a, 9b Gripping surfaces 10a, 10b Anti-slip portions 11 Insertion groove

Claims

1. A cap opener comprising a pair of opposing arm portions and a connecting portion that connects these arm portions, wherein the pair of arm portions, whose tips are spaced apart, are brought closer together by applying pressure from the outside, A cap opener characterized in that a circular first clamping surface portion is formed by the inner surfaces of the pair of arm portions near the connecting portion and the inner surface of the connecting portion that is continuous with the inner surface portion, with a portion of it being cut out.

2. The cap opener according to claim 1, characterized in that the pair of arm portions are provided with a second arc-shaped clamping surface portion that is continuous with and opposite to the first clamping surface portion.

3. The cap opener according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tip portion has a non-slip portion that has a tweezers function.

4. The cap opener according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the connecting portion is positioned upward, the outer surfaces of the pair of arm portions have an arcuate surface portion that conforms to the shape of the first clamping surface portion and a gripping surface portion that is continuous with the arcuate surface portion and extends downward in a V-shape.

5. The cap opener according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting portion has an insertion groove into which a pull tab can be inserted.

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