Apparatus and Method For Gripping a Container For Lid Opening

Abstract

An apparatus for securing a jar during lid opening includes a base that may be placed on a surface to support a container. The device also includes first and second container securement elements located on the base. The first securement element is stationary with respect to the base and is configured to grasp a base of the container. The second container securement element is moveably secured to the base. The second container securement element may move (1) in a first direction toward the first container securement element to engage the base of the container and (2) in a second direction away from the first container securement element to disengage the base of the container. A locking mechanism locks the second container securement element when in a locked position and unlocks the second container securement element when in an unlocked position.

Description

PRIORITY

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/317,837, filed Apr. 4, 2016, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Gripping a Container During Lid Opening,” assigned attorney docket number 3327/107, and naming Romek Figa as inventor, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein, in its entirety by reference.

This application also claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/341,884, filed May 26, 2016, entitled “Apparatus and Method For Gripping a Container For Lid Opening,” assigned attorney docket number 3327/108, and naming Romek Figa as inventor, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein, in its entirety by reference.

RELATED UNITED STATES APPLICATION

This patent application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Apparatus and Method For Gripping a Container During Lid Opening,” naming Romek Figa as inventor, filed on even date herewith, and assigned attorney docket number 3327/111, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to opening container lids, and more particularly to devices and methods that grasp a container during lid opening

BACKGROUND ART

Many food products are packaged, shipped and purchased in glass or plastic jars with a screw-on lid that needs to be removed in order to access the contents of the jar. In order to maintain the freshness and cleanliness of the product within the container, the lids are often times thoroughly tightened and sometimes vacuum sealed. This, in turn, makes the lids difficult to remove. The struggle to remove the lid is greater for those individuals suffering from arthritis or dexterity issues, and the task of holding the container in one hand and twisting off the very tight lid becomes very difficult if not nearly impossible

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for grasping a jar and aiding in lid opening includes a base configured to be placed on a surface and support the container/jar. The device also includes a first and second container securement element located on the base and configured to grasp the base of the container/jar. The first container securement element may be stationary with respect to the base. The second container securement element may be moveably secured to the base such that it may move in a first direction toward the first container securement element to engage the base of the container and in a second direction away from the first container securement element to disengage the base of the container. A locking mechanism may lock the second container securement element when in a locked position and unlock the second container securement element when in an unlocked position. The second container securement element may be able to move when the locking mechanism is unlocked and unable to move when the locking mechanism is locked.

In some embodiments, the base may include a support portion and a surface engagement portion. The support portion supports the container, and the first and second container securement elements are located on the support portion. The surface engagement portion may be moveably secured to the support portion, and may transition between a first position in which a top surface of the surface engagement portion is substantially parallel with a top surface of the support portion and a second position in which the top surface of the surface engagement portion is substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the support portion. The surface engagement portion may have a vertical portion with a first contact surface and a horizontal portion with a second contact surface when in the second position. The first contact surface may contact the edge of the surface and the second contact surface may contact the underside of the surface when in the second position. The first and second contact surfaces may include padding to prevent damage to the surface. The surface engagement portion may be secured to the support portion via a hinge such that the surface engagement portion may move relative to the support portion.

The first and second container securement elements may be v-shaped and/or include a gripping element located on an inner surface. The gripping element may grip the container when in contact with the container. The base may also include a channel extending along a length of the base. The second container securement element may have a protrusion extending downward from the second container securement element and into the channel. The protrusion may slide within the channel to allow the second container securement element to move in the first and second direction. The locking mechanism may be operably connected to the protrusion to prevent sliding of the protrusion within the channel when in the locked position.

In further embodiments, the device may include an auger screw extending through the base. The auger screw may be adjusted to secure the base to the surface. The auger screw may include a soft tip at a first end. The soft tip may engage the surface when the auger screw is adjusted to prevent damage to the surface. Additionally or alternatively, the base may include one or more feet members, and the auger screw may be operably coupled to the feet member(s) to adjust the feet members and secure the base to the surface. The base may include padding on an underside of the base. The padding may be located between the auger screw and the surface to prevent the auger screw from damaging the surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of embodiments will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a jar gripping device in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a bottom view of an alternative jar gripping device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention provide a jar gripping device that aids in the removal of a lid from the jar. The device has a stationary and a moveable securement element located on a base that, in turn, rests on a surface (e.g., a counter) and supports the jar/container. The securement elements grasp the jar/container and frees up both of the user's hands to open the lid.

FIG. 1 schematically shows one illustrative embodiment of a jar gripping and securing device 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the jar gripping device 100 includes a base 110 that, when the device 100 is in use, rests on a surface 120 (e.g., a kitchen countertop, table, desk, etc.) on which the user wishes to open the jar/container 200. The base 110 may include a number of features that stabilize the device 100 on the surface and prevent the device 100 from moving as the user operates the device 100 and/or removes the lid from the jar 200. For example, the base 110 may include a matt 130 or similar padding located on the underside of the base 110. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, the base 110 may include a number of feet 220 (e.g., two, three, four, five or more than five feet) located on the bottom/underside of the base 110. The matt 130 and/or the feet 220 may be rubber (or similar material) such that when the device 100 is resting on the surface 120, the matt 130 and/or feet 220 may grip the surface and prevent the device 100 from sliding/rotating and also prevent the device 100 from damaging the surface 120. Additionally or alternatively, the base 110 may include one or more vacuum or suction cups (not shown) that suction to the surface 120 to prevent the device 100 from moving during use.

As discussed in greater detail below, during use, the jar/container 200 to be opened may be placed on the top surface 114 of the base 110. The top surface 114 may be flat or may have a raised outer periphery (not shown). This raised outer periphery provides a surface by which the user may grab/manipulate the device 100 and also helps to prevent any jars/containers 200 sitting on the top surface 114 from sliding off the device 100 and onto the floor, countertop, table, etc.

In order to grasp the jar 200 and hold it in place, the device 100 may include container securement elements 140A/B located on the base 110. As shown in FIG. 1, one of the container securement elements (e.g., element 140A) may be stationary (e.g., it does not move with respect to the base 110) and the other securement element (e.g., element 140B) may be moveable with respect to the base 110. For example, the moveable securement element 140B may move toward and away from the stationary securement element 140A to grasp and release the jar/container 200. To facilitate the movement of the moveable securement element 140B, the base 110 may include a channel 112 that extends, at least partially, along the length of the base 110, and the securement element 140B may have a protrusion 142 (or similar structure) that extends downward from the securement element 140B and into the channel 112. The protrusion 142 may slide along (e.g., back and forth) within the channel 112 to allow the securement element 140B to move toward and away from the stationary securement member 140A in order to accommodate for various jar/container sizes.

Both the stationary securement member 140A and the moveable securement member 140B may have a body portion 141A/B that defines the overall structure of the securement member 140A/140B. The body portion 141A/B may be curved and/or V-shaped in order to better accommodate the cylindrical shape of the jar/container 200 and also allow the securement members 140A/B to accommodate differing sized jars/containers 200. On the inner surface of the securement members 140A/B (e.g., the surface facing the jar/container 200), the securement members 140A/B have an engagement face 144A/B that acts to contact/engage the jar/container 200 to hold the jar/container 200 in place. To increase the friction between the securement members 140A/140B and the jar/container 200, one or both of the engagement faces 144A/B may include a grip 146A/B (e.g., a resilient member). For example, the grip 146A/B may be secured to the engagement face 144A/B via adhesive or other securement method. As discussed in greater detail below, as the securement members 140A/B begin to make contact with the jar/container 200, the grips 146A/B will begin to deform to more securely hold the jar/container 200 in place.

It should be noted that, although FIG. 1 shows a device 100 having two securement members 140A/B, other embodiments may have more securement member 140A/B. For example, some embodiments may have three securement members 140A/B or more than three securement members 140A/B (e.g., four, five, six, etc.). Furthermore, the additional securement members may be stationary, moveable, or a combination of stationary and moveable (e.g., some may be stationary like securement member 140A and some may be moveable like securement member 140B).

To prevent the moveable securement member 140B from moving during jar opening, the device 100 may include a locking mechanism 150 that locks the moveable securement member 140B in place and prevents it from moving. The locking mechanism 150 includes a handle 152 that may be moved between a locked position (e.g., the handle 152 is up) in which the moveable securement member 140B cannot slide along the channel 112 and unlocked position (e.g., the handle 152 is down) in which the moveable securement member 140B is free to slide along the channel. For example, the handle 152 may be operably coupled to the protrusion 142 extending from the moveable securement member 140B and into the channel 112. In such embodiments, as the handle 152 is moved into the locked position, the protrusion 142 may be pressed against the bottom and/or sides of the channel 112 to prevent the moveable securement member 140B from moving. Additionally or alternatively, movement of the handle 152 into the locked positions may cause one or more projections (not shown) to extend out from the moveable securement member 140B and/or the protrusion 142. These projections may engage the base 110 and/or the channel 112 to prevent movement of the securement member 140B.

During use, to adjust the location of the moveable securement member 140B, the user may move the handle 152 to the unlock position to allow the moveable securement member 140B to slide within the channel 112. The user may then slide the moveable securement member 140B towards the stationary securement member 140 until the engagement face 144B and grip 146B of the moveable securement member 140B engage the jar/container 200. Once the moveable securement member 140B is in place and engaged with the jar/container 200, the user may move the handle 152 of the locking mechanism 150 to the locked position to lock the moveable securement member 140B in place against the jar/container 200.

As the moveable securement member 140B engages the jar/container 200, the grip members 144A/B (e.g., the resilient members) will deform until the securement members 140A/B have a firm grasp on the jar 200. Additionally, in some embodiments, moving the handle 152 to the locked position may cause the moveable securement member 140B to apply some additional pressure on the jar/container 200 (e.g., it may cause the moveable securement member 140B to move slightly towards the jar/container 200) to ensure that the jar/container is grasped tightly and will not move during lid opening. At this point, the jar 200 is secured in place, the securement members 140A/V prevent the jar 200 from rotating, and the user is free to remove the lid to open the jar 200.

It should be noted that, because the device 100 securely grasps and holds the jar 200 and the device 100 remains stationary on the kitchen surface, the user is free to use one or both hands to remove the lid 210. This is particularly beneficial for individuals with arthritis and/or low dexterity as the user no longer needs to manipulate the jar 200 with one hand and turn the lid 210 with the other.

After removing the lid 210 from the jar 200, the user may simply reverse the process to remove the jar 200 from the device. For example, after the lid 210 is removed, the user may move the handle 152 of the locking mechanism 150 to the unlocked position to unlock the moveable securement member 140B. This, in turn, will allow the user to move/slide the moveable securement member 140B away from the jar/container 200. This will disengage the moveable securement member 140B from the jar 200. Once moveable securement member 140B is moved sufficiently far away, the user may then remove the jar 200 from the device 100 to access to contents of the jar 200.

In some embodiments, the device 100 may have additional structures to aid in stabilizing the device 100 on the surface 120 (e.g., the kitchen surface/counter) during use. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, the base may include a support portion 160 and a surface engagement portion 170 that is secured to the support portion 160 via a hinge 180 to allow the surface engagement portion 170 to move relative to the support portion 160. During use, the support portion 160 may rest on the surface 120 and support the jar/container 200. Additionally, to help secure the device 100 to the surface/counter 120, the surface engagement portion 170 may be rotated down so that it engages the edge 122 and bottom 124 of the surface/counter 120. To that end, when in the rotated down position, the engagement portion 170 may include a vertical member 172 with a vertical surface 173 that engages/contacts the edge 122 of the counter 120, and a horizontal member 174 with a horizontal surface 175 that engages the underside/bottom 124 of the counter 120. Both the vertical surface 173 and horizontal surface 175 may include padding (not shown) to prevent the surface engagement portion 170 from damaging the counter 120.

It should be noted that, by engaging the edge 122 and underside 124 of the surface/counter 120, the engagement portion 170 helps secure the device 100 to the counter 120 and prevent rotation of the device 100 as the lid 210 is removed. For example, in embodiments containing the engagement portion 170, when the user is twisting off the lid 210, the vertical member 172 will be forced against/engage the edge 122 of the countertop 120 to prevent the device 100 from rotating. Additionally, the horizontal member 174 will engage the bottom 124 of the countertop 120 to prevent the device from being accidentally lifted off of the countertop 120. It should be noted that, to further prevent the device 100 from rotating and/or being lifted off the surface/counter 120, the user may position their body against the vertical member 172 to hold the device 100 against the edge 122 of the surface/counter 120.

To further secure the device 100 to the surface/counter 120, some embodiments may also include an auger screw 185 that extends through the base 110 (e.g., the support portion 160 of the base 110). The auger screw 185 can be adjusted to (e.g., screwed into the base 110) to tighten the base 110 down on the surface/counter 120. For example, the auger screw 185 may be screwed further into the base 110 (e.g., using a tool 190) such that the bottom of the screw 185 extends out of the bottom of the base 110 (e.g., the bottom of the support portion 160) and contacts the surface/counter 120. This will secure the device 100 to the surface by sandwiching the surface/counter 120 between the auger screw 185 and the engagement portion 170 of the base 110 (e.g., horizontal member 174). To prevent damage to the surface/counter 120, the auger screw 185 may have a soft/resilient tip that contacts the surface/counter 120. Additionally or alternatively, instead of contacting the surface/counter 120 directly, the matt 130 may act as a barrier between the auger screw 185 and the surface/counter 120.

As briefly mentioned above, instead of the matt 130 discussed above, some embodiments of the device may have a number of feet 220 that stabilize the device 100 on the surface 120 and help prevent the device 100 from moving as the user operates the device 100 and/or removes the lid 210 from the jar 200. For example, as best shown in FIG. 2, the base 110 may include a number of feet 220 (e.g., two, three, four, five or more than five feet) located on the bottom of the base 110. The feet 220 may be rubber (or similar material) such that when the device 100 is resting on the surface 120, the feet 220 may grip the surface 120 and prevent the device 100 from sliding/rotating. In such embodiments, the auger screw 185 may be coupled to one or more of the feet 220 such that as the auger screw 185 is adjusted the height/vertical location of the feet 220 are similarly adjusted. In this manner, the auger screw 185 may be used to tighten the feet 220 onto surface/counter 120 and secure the surface/counter 120 between the feet 220 and the engagement portion 170 of the base 110 (e.g., horizontal member 174).

Although FIG. 1 shows the auger screw 185 extending through the base 110 of the device, other embodiments may have different configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the auger screw 185 may extend through the horizontal member 174 of the engagement portion 170. In such embodiments, after the engagement portion 170 has been lowered and the horizontal member 174 is located under the surface/counter 120 (e.g., in the position shown in FIG. 1), the auger screw 185 may be adjusted (e.g., from the underside of the horizontal member 174) such that the tip of the auger screw 185 moves upward and contacts the underside 124 of the surface/counter 120. This, in turn, will secure the device 100 to the surface 120 by sandwiching the surface/counter 120 between the auger screw 185 and the base 110 (e.g., the support portion 160). Like the auger screw 185 mentioned above, the auger screw that extends through the horizontal member 174 may have a soft/resilient tip that contacts the underside 124 of the surface/counter 120. Additionally or alternatively, instead of contacting the underside 124 of the surface/counter 120 directly, the padding on the horizontal member 174 may act as a barrier between the auger screw 185 and the underside 124 of the surface/counter 120 and/or the auger screw 185 may adjust the location of feet that contact the underside 124 of the surface/counter 120.

It is important to note that the overall size of the device 100 should be balanced against the range of jar 200 sizes that the device 100 is most likely to encounter and the counter space that the device 100 will take up. For example, the device 100 should be large enough to accommodate most typical jar sizes (e.g., 1.5″ diameter to 5″ diameter jars) but not so large as to take up a large amount of counter space and/or not be able to fit into a drawer. Additionally or alternatively, when not being used to open jars 200, the device 100 may be used to hold other objects such as, but not limited to, vases, fruit bowls, decorative dishes, etc. In this manner, even when the device 100 remains on the countertop, the space occupied by the device 100 is not wasted.

The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be merely exemplary; numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in any appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a base configured to be placed on a surface and support a container;

a first container securement element located on the base and stationary with respect to the base, the first container securement element configured to grasp a base of the container;

a second container securement element located on and moveably secured to the base, the second container securement element configured to move in a first direction toward the first container securement element and engage the base of the container and in a second direction away from the first container securement element to disengage the base of the container; and

a locking mechanism configured to lock the second container securement element when in a locked position and unlock the second container securement element when in a unlocked position, the second container securement element able to move when the locking mechanism is unlocked and unable to move when the locking mechanism is locked.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base includes:

a support portion for supporting the container, the first and second container securement elements located on the support portion; and

a surface engagement portion moveably secured to the support portion, the surface engagement surface configured to transition between a first position in which a top surface of the surface engagement portion is substantially parallel with a top surface of the support portion and a second position in which the top surface of the surface engagement portion is substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the support portion.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the surface engagement portion has a vertical portion with a first contact surface and a horizontal portion with a second contact surface when in the second position, the first contact surface contacting the edge of the surface and the second contact surface contacting the underside of the surface when in the second position.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first and second contact surfaces include padding to prevent damage to the surface.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising at least one auger screw extending through the horizontal portion, the auger screw configured to be adjusted to secure the base to the surface.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the auger screw includes a soft tip at a first end of the auger screw, the soft tip engaging the underside of the surface when the auger screw is adjusted, thereby preventing damage to the underside of the surface.

7. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the surface engagement portion is secured to the support portion via a hinge such that the surface engagement portion may move relative to the support portion.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second container securement elements are v-shaped.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first container securement element and the second container securement element includes a gripping element located on an inner surface, the gripping element configured to grip the container when in contact with the container.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base includes a channel extending at least partially along a length of the base, the second container securement element having a protrusion extending downward from the second container securement element and into the channel, the protrusion configured to slide within the channel thereby allowing the second container securement element to move in the first and second direction.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism is operably connected to the protrusion, the locking mechanism preventing sliding of the protrusion within the channel when in the locked position.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one auger screw extending through the base, the auger screw configured to be adjusted to secure the base to the surface.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the auger screw includes a soft tip at a first end of the auger screw, the soft tip engaging the surface when the auger screw is adjusted, thereby preventing damage to the surface.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the base includes one or more feet members, the auger screw operably coupled to the one or feet members to adjust the feet members and secure the base to the surface.

15. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the base includes padding on an underside of the base, the padding located between the auger screw and the surface to prevent the auger screw from damaging the surface.