Bottle opener

• US 4,979,407 A
• Filed: 04/16/1990
• Issued: 12/25/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bengt A. Calais, William A. Rendace
• Original Assignee: Albert Hernandez, William Rendace
• Inventors: Hernandez, Albert, Rendace, William
• Primary Examiner(s): PARKER JR, ROSCOE
• Application Number:
  US07/509,204
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 81/3.07, 81/3.09, 81/3.4, 81/3.55, 81/3.57, 81/3.43, D 8/38, D 8/40, D 8/33, 7/151
• US Class Current: 81/3.09
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/44 Combination tools, e.g. comprising cork-screws, can piercers, crowncap removers combinations of opening devices with cutting tools B26; with devices serving other purposes, see appropriate subclasses, e.g. B25F; B43K29/00

Abstract

A bottle opener includes a handle having a substantially circular first bottle opener portion at one end thereof with a centrally disposed first opening extending through the first bottle opener portion to remove a twist-off screw cap from a bottle and can, and a substantially flat second bottle opener portion extending outwardly from the opposite end of the handle with a second opening extending through the second bottle opener portion to remove a pry-off cap from a bottle and can, the second bottle opener portion including an off-set tab at a free end thereof in order to lift a ring-like portion of a lift-off tab of a flip top can to open same. The first bottle opener portion and the handle are constructed in one piece, from a rubber-like material. Engagement members are provided on the walls of the first opening of the first bottle opener portion for gripping and turning the twist-off screw cap. A slot is provided in the first bottle opener portion extending from the first opening therein through the first bottle opener portion and into the handle in order to permit expansion of the first bottle opener portion when being inserted onto the screw cap. The handle includes finger portions on opposite sides of the slot to maintain the first bottle opener portion in contact with the screw cap when the screw cap is being twisted. Preferably, a metal reinforcing member is disposed within the handle.

Claims

1. A bottle opener comprising:

an elongated body member providing a handle for said bottle opener;

said handle having a substantially circular bottle opener portion at one end thereof;

said bottle opener portion being provided with a centrally disposed opening extending therethrough for receiving a twist-off screw cap of a bottle and can therein in a force-fit arrangement;

said handle and bottle opener portion being constructed in one piece being fabricated from a rubber-like material to permit said bottle opener portion to resiliently grip onto the screw cap when forced thereon without damaging the screw cap; and

a slot being provided in said bottle opener portion extending from said opening through said bottle opener portion and into said handle to permit said bottle opener portion to expand when being forced onto the screw cap.

2. A bottle opener according to claim 1, wherein walls of said opening are provided with inwardly protruding engagement members for gripping and turning the screw cap.

3. A bottle opener according to claim 1, wherein said handle includes finger portions on opposite sides of said slot facing toward said bottle opener portion for engaging said bottle opener portion to maintain said bottle opener portion in contact with the screw cap when the handle is being turned in a lever action.

4. A bottle opener according to claim 1, wherein said handle has a recess in a wall thereof, a magnet being secured in said recess.

5. A bottle opener according to claim 1, wherein said rubber-like material is a rubberized plastic.

6. A bottle opener comprising:

an elongated body member providing a handle for said bottle opener;

said handle having a substantially circular bottle opener portion at one end thereof;

said bottle opener portion being provided with a centrally disposed opening extending therethrough for receiving a twist-off screw cap of a bottle and can therein in a force-fit arrangement;

said handle and bottle opener portion being constructed in one piece and being fabricated from a rubber-like material to permit said bottle opener portion to resiliently grip onto the screw cap when forced thereon without damaging the screw cap; and

said handle including finger portions on opposite sides thereof facing toward said bottle opener portion for engaging said bottle opener portion to maintain said bottle opener portion in contact with the screw cap when the handle is being turned in a lever action.

7. A bottle opener according to claim 6, wherein said handle includes a metal reinforcing member therein.

8. A bottle opener comprising;

an elongated body member providing a handle for said bottle opener;

said handle having a substantially circular bottle opener portion at one end thereof;

said bottle opener portion being provided with a centrally disposed opening extending therethrough for receiving a twist-off screw cap of a bottle and can therein in a force-fit arrangement;

said handle and bottle opener portion being constructed in one piece and being fabricated from a rubber-like material to permit said bottle opener portion to resilient grip onto the screw cap when forced thereon without damaging the screw cap;

said handle including a metal reinforcing member therein;

a substantially flat portion of said reinforcing member extending out of an opposite end of said handle to provide a second bottle opener portion; and

said second bottle opener portion having a second opening extending therethrough for receiving a pry-off cap of a bottle and can therein.

9. A bottle opener according to claim 8, wherein a first transverse wall of said second opening of said bottle opener portion is straight, and an opposite second transverse wall of said second opening is acuately shaped and extends inwardly towards said first transverse wall.

10. A bottle opener according to claim 8, wherein said substantially flat portion of said reinforcing member includes an off-set tab at a free end thereof to lift a ring-like portion of a lift-off tab of a flip top can to open same.

11. A bottle opener according to claim 8, wherein said handle has a recess in a wall thereof, a magnet being secured in said recess.

12. A bottle opener according to claim 11, wherein said reinforcing member includes spaced apart flanges disposed on opposite sides of said recess.

13. A bottle opener comprising:

an elongated body member providing a handle for said bottle opener;

said handle having a substantially circular bottle opener portion at one end thereof;

said bottle opener portion being provided with a centrally disposed opening extending therethrough for receiving a twist-off screw cap of a bottle and can therein in a force-fit arrangement;

said handle and bottle opener portion being constructed in one piece and being fabricated from a rubber-like material to permit said bottle opener portion to resiliently grip onto the screw cap when forced thereon without damaging the screw cap;

said handle including a metal reinforcing member therein;

said handle having a recess in a wall thereof, a magnet being secured in said recess;

said reinforcing member including spaced apart flanges disposed on opposite sides of said recess;

said flanges include finger-like ends extending into finger portions; and

said finger portions being provided on opposite sides of said handle and facing toward said bottle opener portion for engaging said bottle opener portion to maintain said bottle opener portion in contact with the screw cap when the handle is being turned in a lever action.

14. A bottle opener according to claim 13, wherein a substantially flat portion of said reinforcing member extends out of an opposite end of said handle to provide a second bottle opener portion, said second bottle opener portion having a second opening extending therethrough for receiving a pry-off cap of a bottle and can.

15. A bottle opener according to claim 14, wherein a first transverse wall of said second opening of said second bottle opener portion is straight, and an opposite second transverse wall of said second opening is arcuately shaped and extends inwardly towards said first transverse wall.

16. A bottle opener according to claim 14, wherein said substantially flat portion of said reinforcing member includes an off-set tab at a free end thereof to lift a ring-like portion of a lift-off tab of a flip top can to open same.

17. A bottle opener according to claim 13, wherein a slot is provided in said bottle opener portion extending from said opening through said bottle opener portion and into said handle between said finger portions to permit said bottle opener portion to expand when being forced onto the screw cap.

18. A bottle opener according to claim 17, wherein walls of said opening are provided with inwardly protruding engagement members for gripping and turning the screw cap.

19. A bottle opener comprising:

an elongated body member providing a handle for said bottle opener;

said handle having a subtantially circular bottle opener portion at one end thereof;

said bottle opener portion being provided with a centrally disposed opening extending therethrough for receiving a twist-off screw cap of a bottle and can therein in a force-fit arrangement;

said handle and bottle opener portion being constructed in one piece and being fabricated from a rubber-like material to permit said bottle opener portion to resiliently grip onto the screw cap when forced thereon without damaging the screw cap;

said handle including a metal reinforcing member therein; and

a substantially flat portion of said reinforcing member extending out of an opposite end of said handle to provide an off-set tab at a free end thereof to lift a ring-like portion of a lift-off tab of a flip top can to open same.