Abstract: An electric bottle or jar lid opener which loosens threaded lids from jars or similar containers having screw-type lids. A base member supports a vertical support which supports a travel arm, which in turn supports an electric motor. The motor 38 is positioned over the base such that a bottle may be manually positioned below the motor, which is provided with a direct drive mechanism which transfers torque through a shaft to a gripping member affixed thereon. The gripping member, made of a non-slip material, such as rubber, is placed onto the lid of a bottle. The travel arm has height adjustment knobs allowing the user to position the opener on various sized bottles. The motor is controlled by a variable power button which torques the gripping member in turn loosening the lid.

Abstract: A surgical instrument locking handle for securing the position of a first member with respect to a second member. The locking handle includes first and second members and has a locking slide attached to the first member. A locking wiper is attached at one end to the second member and has a free end that is in substantially continuous communication with the locking slide. Movement of the second member with respect to the first member is resisted by a frictional force created between the locking wiper and the locking slide. When a trigger is activated, however, that frictional force is reduced or eliminated, thereby allowing the previously locked members to move freely with respect to one another. The locking handle pursuant to the present invention provides a precise instrument that is easy to manufacture and efficient to use, and which eliminates the need for ridges or ribs on arm or handle members, or for latching mechanisms.

Abstract: A device for removing a cork from a stoppered bottle utilizes a lever and a cam to drive a helical corkscrew into a cork, to withdraw the cork, and then to strip the cork from the corkscrew. The device comprises a housing having a bell-shaped opening to be placed over the mouth of the bottle. A lever has a semi-circular gear at one end which is pivotally joined to the housing. The gear engages a reciprocating, and preferably a rotatable gear rack whereby pivotal movement of the lever causes the gear rack to move linearly up and down through the housing. The lower end of the gear rack is joined to the corkscrew the free end of which extends through a cam collar and engages a cam follower therein. The cam collar is movable vertically within the housing from a lower position to a raised position, but is restricted against rotation relative to the housing. Two or more flexible fingers have notches therein which engage and disengage corresponding projections on the cam collar.

Abstract: An ink cartridge opener for use in connection with a flat support surface is provided. The opener includes a cartridge holder adapted to hold a first portion of an ink cartridge. Opening means with the cartridge holder is provided for applying force to a second portion of the ink cartridge. The cartridge holder is formed of separable first and second cartridge holder components. The opening means is a handle arm captured at a pivot point by the first and second cartridge holder components.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a threaded cap from a container includes an upper body and a lower body configured to receive a threaded cap and a bottle, respectively, of a small container. The upper and lower bodies include integral coupling elements for coupling the bodies together when not in use. The upper body receives the cap in a conical aperture that is lined with a reinforcing insert and the lower body receives the bottle in an aperture that includes a number of steps having decreasing sizes to accommodate a variety of bottles. The apertures are configured such that the respective bodies can be compressed around the cap and bottle to facilitate removal of the cap from the bottle. The gripping strength and size of the apparatus enables the user to impart an increased amount of torque to the cap during removal.

Abstract: A fully automatic jar opener for loosening a threaded cap includes a bottom jar retainer including substantially horizontal clamps automatically movable along a horizontal plane between an open position and a jar clamping position. The clamps, while in the jar clamping position, hold a jar substantially without slippage and a top jar retainer holds the cap substantially without slippage when the cap is subjected to a twisting force. A vertical drive automatically adjusts the relative vertical positions between the bottom and top retainers to apply a holding force on the cap. The automatic jar opener includes at least one motor for applying the twisting force to the top retainer, for moving the clamps along the horizontal plane, and for adjusting the relative vertical position between the retainers. A controller automatically controls the motor and enables loosening of the cap with one single, discrete user command.

Abstract: An ink cartridge opener is used connection with a flat support surface. The ink cartridge opener includes a base stand adapted to hold a first portion of a ink cartridge. An opening mechanism with the base stand applies sideways force to another portion of the ink cartridge in order to open the cartridge.

Abstract: An ice bucket champagne opener apparatus, comprises: A cylinder ice bucket structure base to contain ice and a bottle of champagne. A lid attached and secured on the top of the ice bucket as an elevated base. The lid has a center round hole opening for the upper part of the champagne bottle to be set above the lid. A post support base is connected to the top of the lid to support an adjustable lever post. An elongated lever bar with a rear handle is connected pivotally across the top of the lever post. A cork container, which has the grasping means connected, is hung by a flexible connector with the front end of the lever bar. The cork container is floated above the lid and can be adjusted to slide to cover the champagne cork. The grasping means has a pair of cork grip flanges, which can be set to grasp and lock on the champagne cork. Whereby one can press the bottle down with one hand and press the lever bar with the other hand to tilt the cork container in pulling the cork off.

Abstract: A device to securely hold a container, (produced from any currently known material) utilizing the user's body weight for pressure, exerted by leaning against the device. This action enables a disabled or weakened person to twist, puncture or pry off the top, or portion thereof, with either one good hand or two crippled hands.

Abstract: A new, novel device for holding a container while applying torque specifically to the closure in the direction of opening. This device is readily adaptable for use with an electric motor or ratchet to provide hands free operation The device may be made small enough to serve as a counter-top appliance for home use. In addition, the device is self sizing to serve a wide array of container closures.

Abstract: A gripping tool, acting as both a pair of pliers and a wrench, self locks and self releases upon application or removal of clamping torque on the handles of the tool, respectively. The locking and releasing mechanism is based on reversible wedging action.

Abstract: A corked bottle opener comprising a stationary shaft and a rotatable stem extending longitudinally from the shaft and mounted for axial movement relative thereto. An adjustably mounted retainer extends from the shaft and engages the neck of the bottle. A jaw member extends from the stem, but is held against rotation, engages the stopper. An actuator rotates the stem to move it axially and thereby raise the jaw member so as to remove the cork.

Abstract: An apparatus for loosening threaded caps assembled to upper ends of containers is disclosed as including a de-capping assembly for circumferentially engaging and loosening a threaded cap from an associated container. The de-capping assembly is capable of being automatically adjustably pre-positioned relative to threaded caps of different diameter assembled to associated containers. In conjunction with the de-capping assembly, an elevator assembly may also be used for vertically and horizontally aligning a threaded cap mounted container relative to the de-capping assembly. A method is also disclosed for adjustably and circumferentially gripping threaded caps of different diameter assembled to associated containers and imparting circumferential loosening forces to such threaded caps assembled to associated containers while retaining the circumferential gripping force.

Abstract: An improved bottle opening machine for smoothly removing crown caps from bottle necks of empty bottles contained in bottle cases which are being conveyed on a conveyance system in a single file, in which the cap removing is carried out by the steps of engaging of cap removing sections on rotary discs with the crown caps on the bottle necks in an area where the circular movement path of the cap removing sections and the linear movement path of the bottle necks mutually converge in the tangential direction, removing of the crown caps from the bottle necks under the influence of a moment which is produced as the former is separated from the latter as the rotary discs are rotated, and releasing of the removed crown caps from the cap removing sections with the aid of cap releasing mechanisms. To ensure that the cap removing sections are positioned correctly with corresponding bottle necks, at least a synchronizing means is rotatably mounted on the frame structure.

Abstract: A holder and opener having a planar member with at least one side and an upper and lower face, a transverse shoulder connected to the side of the planar member, and a plurality of shaped indentations in the upper face for sliding fit engagement with an expresso coffeemaker.