Abstract: A device for loosening threaded lids from correspondingly threaded containers, comprising a body carrying first and second flexible belts (20, 26) forming first and second loops which engage around the lid and the container respectively, the belts (20, 26) being arranged to be relatively displaceable such that the first and second loops grip the lid and the container respectively, the belts further being arranged to be displaceable by an actuating means such that the first and second loops apply oppositely directed torques to the lid and container respectively whereby the lid is rotated on the container in a loosening direction. Both the lid and the container are thus gripped by the device rather than by hand. The loosening of the lid may be achieved by the rotation of only one of the loops relative to the body, the other loop serving to prevent rotation of the lid or the container relative to the body. Alternatively, both of the loops may rotate relative to the body in opposite directions.

Abstract: A lightweight tool extending apparatus comprising an outer member having a lower end structured for interconnection with a drive ratchet, an inner member structured for insertion into the outer member in sliding relation thereto and having an upper end structured for interconnection with a drive head, a universal joint structured to rotate and pivot about its longitudinal axis so that the outer member may be angled relative to the inner member, a light mounted to the inner member structured to generate a focused light beam above the upper end of the inner member, and a depressible button in a side of the inner member structured to protrude through one of a plurality of holes in a corresponding side of the outer member, thereby securing the inner and outer members in place relative to one another.

Abstract: A corkscrew assembly contains the combination of a body, a corkscrew and a lever, in which the lever has a lever extension slidably nested within a recess therein, the extension being movable between a first and second position and the extension extends beyond the free end of the lever in the second position.

Abstract: A bottle opener especially devised for removing corks from champagne bottles includes two levers pivotally connected together at their proximal ends and having distal end portions for engagement respectively with the tapered neck of the bottle and under the shoulder on the cork. The lever engaging the neck of the bottle provides a fulcrum from which a significant mechanical advantage can be generated through the compound action of the levers to readily eject the cork from the bottle.

Abstract: The present invention is an opener for a package closure. The opener is designed to work with a push tab that has a depressable end which may pierce the package. The opener has a handle and a protrusion. The protrusion may be attached to the handle, or the protrusion may be attached to an angled portion which is attached to the handle. The protrusion is adapted to be positioned on the depressable end of the push tab. The opener may also include a prong which is adapted to fit in an air vent of the push tab. The prong may be attached to the handle, or the prong may be attached to an angled portion which is attached to the handle. The protrusion is spaced from the prong so that it is positioned on the depressable end of the push tab when the prong is positioned in the air vent. When the protrusion is positioned on the depressable end of the push tab, the user may apply sufficient downward force to the handle of the opener in order to cause the depressable end of the push tab to pierce and open the package.

Abstract: A can opener used with a can having an operating rim and an opening to be covered in an air-tight manner by a cover having an operating flange includes an operating medium for being operated against the operating flange to open the can covered in the air-tight manner by the cover, and an attaching medium secured to the can for always attaching thereto the operating medium in a position ready for opening the can.

Abstract: A new electrically powered corkscrew for aiding in the removal of corks from bottles, such as wine bottles. The inventive device includes a bottle holding unit which supports a bottle thereon and a corkscrew spiral mounted on the holding unit for both rotary motion and longitudinal movement. A first electric motor is coupled to the spiral for rotating the spiral, and a second electric motor is coupled to the spiral for longitudinally moving the spiral. Operation of the motors is controlled by a control unit for operating the spiral to at least partially removing the cork from the bottle.

Abstract: System for the automatic operation of reactions using several vessels which can be closed by individual closures using a device for automatically opening the closures.

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 lid removing device comprises a clamp consisting of a front leg, a rear leg and a central segment therebetween. A vertically positioned front leg is formed as a solid generally rectangular shaped block. A rear leg is formed as a solid generally rectangular shaped block. The lowermost extent of the rear leg includes a frontwardly extending horizontal member with a slanted end. A horizontally positioned central segment is formed as a solid generally rectangular shaped block. The central segment is positioned upon the uppermost extents of the front and rear segments. A handle is formed as a solid generally rectangular shaped block with an upper region and a lower region. The lower region is formed as a solid-generally rectangular shaped block with an angled end at its lowermost extent. The lowermost extent is affixed to the central segment in an angled orientation in a direction opposite from the legs.

Abstract: In a pocket corkscrew, a handle 1 is pivotally operated around two fulcra (4, 6)--around the first one (4) during a first run of the cork (14) and around the second one (6) during the second and definitive run of the same cork. Increase of the arm 2-4 into the arm 2-6 allows the cork (14) to run a further path d2, avoiding a second screwing of the extracting means 3.

Abstract: Corkscrew (10) with a fitting (16) to shear tinfoil, plastic or other caps (17) on the upper part of the neck (18) of bottles (14) possibly including a collar, the corkscrew (10) comprising an at least partly flat grip (11) having a possible zone to contain a drawing screw (12), an element to anchor the drawing screw (12) and a short supporting element (13), cutting fitting (16) being included and consisting of small shearing wheel (22) cooperating with recess (19), which are substantially coherent with the outer diameter of the neck (18) of the bottle (14) and are associated with positioning and guide members (19-20-30-23) cooperating with the upper part of the neck (18) of the bottle (14).

Abstract: A lid starter (20) is disclosed having a pair of belts (24, 26) to enclose respectively a lid (34) and a container (22) for starting an overtightened lid from the container. A first end of the lid belt is spring (66) biased to cooperate with a motor (76) coupled to pull the belt second end in applying torque to the lid. Rotatable arms (40, 124, 126) facilitate receiving the lid and container within the belts.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening lift tab containers. The apparatus comprises a lifting tongue and a side engaging positioner. The lifting tongue is adapted to engage and lift a lift tab on the container and the side engaging positioner is adapted to use the sides of the container to ensure the proper positioning of the container with respect to the lifting tongue. The opening apparatus can comprise a cavity having a drain for draining liquid from the cavity.

Abstract: A pull tab can opener apparatus has a base attachable to the underside of a cabinet and has a can guiding track formed on the base for guiding a can thereon. The guiding track has a pair of can side guides and a pair of can top guides for guiding a can along a predetermined path. A pull tab grab hook is movably attached to the base between the can guiding track pair of can side guides for grabbing and removing a pull tab on a can when the can is slid along the can guiding track so that a pull tab can opener can be used with one hand. The can guiding track pair of can top guides are curved in a manner to slide the tab of a can top into the pull tab grab hook. The pull grab hook is spring-loaded and has a backward stop.

Abstract: A tool for opening containers with a lid having an overlapping rim, engages the rim and levers the lid up. The tool avoids having to cut the lid and allows it to be removed without damage. The container has at least one peripheral rib extending around the wall below the lid and the tool comprises a lever arm having a handle at one end and a rim engaging lip at the other end, an anchor pivoted at a pivot position on the lever arm adjacent the rim engaging lip, the anchor having a top member adapted for engagement with the peripheral rib on the container wall, and a bottom stabilizing member adapted to rest against the container wall below the peripheral rib, such that when the tool is engaged with a container, the rim engaging lip positioned under the overlapping rim of the lid, and the top member of the anchor engaging the peripheral rim of the container wall, lever action of the tool raises the lid from the container.

Abstract: Improvements in a hand manipulable device with bifurcated jaws for removing mushroom shaped stoppers from sparkling beverage bottles wherein each jaw contains a recess enabling the device to be repositioned directly around the stopper's stem and on top of the bottle when the stopper has been partially removed, thereby providing a means for additional leverage and lift capability; pivotally interconnected upper and lower levels which are interlocked, thereby eliminating the likelihood that the pivot action might be either too tight or too loose, and enabling the insertion of a hidden spring which eliminates the need for an exposed and perhaps hazardous spring between the handles; and without an exposed spring, grip means is permitted beneath the handles that provides an alternate method of stopper removal; the addition of clips to the upper jaw to prevent the stopper from ricocheting out from under the retaining arm; and a retaining arm which is either flexible or movable thereby permitting a downwardly direct

Abstract: A device which not only removes the stopper from a test tube or vacutainer without any human contact, but one which also stores and retains the removed stoppers is disclosed. The device has a container for receiving and retaining the removed stoppers which communicates with a stopper extractor. The stopper extractor has one extractor lip which bears against a first side of the vacutainer and a second extractor lip which engages an opposite side of the stopper such that relative pivoting movement between them exerts a force on the stopper to urge it out of the vacutainer. A spring device is attached to the stopper extractor and has a leaf spring which contacts one side of the vacutainer after it has been inserted into the stopper extractor. During pivoting movement between the stopper extractor and the test tube or vacutainer, the leaf spring is further displaced from its normal, at-rest position.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing corks from bottles is adapted to allow for automatic ejection of the cork from the apparatus, after the cork has been withdrawn from the bottle, by reverse rotation of the corkscrew. The apparatus comprises a corkscrew having a first helical section with a first outer diameter and a second helical section disposed below the first section and with a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter so that an upwardly directed screw shoulder is formed between the sections. A handle is fixed to the upper end of the corkscrew. The corkscrew is longitudinally movable with respect to a guide frame therefor. The guideframe includes stops for abutting the top of a bottle and spacers extending upwardly from the stops and defining a cork receiving space for receipt of a cork as it is withdrawn from a bottle by the apparatus. Catches are connected to the spacers, and disposed in the cork receiving space, the catches being engageable with a cork to prevent rotation thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a stopper from a bottle comprising a threaded shaft member, a bottle-gripping member slidably and rotatably coupled to the shaft member, and a stopper-gripping member threadedly engaged to the shaft member. The bottle-gripping and stopper-gripping members are lightly constructed and relatively flexible, but are buttressed and made rigid and operative by their cooperation with a slidable collar which encircles them and may selectively be positioned for stopper removal or for application of the apparatus to a bottle for stopper removal.

Abstract: A safety stopper engager for use with test tubes to grip and retain a test tube stopper and prevent contamination of the user as the stopper is removed. The safety stopper engager has a resilient outer body with a contoured, concave recess portion and a safety absorbent ring. The safety stopper engager retains the stopper and absorbs test tube content's residue avoiding contamination of the test tube and the user.

Abstract: A formed, or molded, wall mounted bracket which extends horizontally from a mounting surface and serves to "one-handedly" raise a lift-tab on beverage cans and others, so equipped, by placing the upper surface of the above mentioned cans beneath a downward projecting nose at the individual's end of said bracket and pushing the container in one smooth motion toward the bracket, thus causing the downward facing projection to wedge the lift-tab upward and through an arc of nearly 100.degree. and, further causing the lift-tab to break the container's seal which, in turn allows the individual access to the contents within.

Abstract: A case preferably for a lighter (3), especially of the disposable type, is tubular and at its lower end it comprises a recess (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b), which partly is provided with a gripping part (8) projecting radially inwards and gripping under the free rim (11) of a cap (10) so as to loosen said cap from a bottleneck (12), and partly comprises a counter-holding part (5a, 5b) opposing the gripping part (8) and abutting and pressing on the top side of a cap (10). The case is made of a single sheet member (1) of metal, especially steel. The case (1) is bent substantially symmetrically from the longitudinal central line of the sheet member (1) so as to form two opposing side walls (26, 27), of which the first side wall is continued, whereas the second side wall (27) formed by the outer portion of the sheet member (1) is broken. The rims of the outer portions maintain a narrow slot therebetween, whereby the lighter (3) is retained by the resilience of the metal.

Abstract: An opening mechanism for bottles having closure elements including a brace positionable against the bottle with leverage structure operatively associated with the brace and being movable oppositely against the brace. A grasping clevis is movable in response to the leverage structure. A control having an actuation portion is connected to the brace and positioned so that the grasping clevis abuts the actuation portion of the control at least when the grasping clevis is grasping the closure member of the bottle, the actuation portion being associated with the position of the closure element which causes the grasping clevis to close when the grasping clevis is moved to a grasping position.

Abstract: A corkscrew having a lever of the second order that is rotatably connected to each of a support to engage a bottle and a screw. The corkscrew is so configured that one can vary the distance between a pivot of the screw and a rotatable connection pin between the lever and the support.

Abstract: A lockable plier-type tool having the lockable features selectively engageable and including handle flexibility and locking element positioning that enhances its gripping capabilities. The locking elements are also arranged and constructed so that the plier may conveniently be used in the conventional manner (i.e. without the locking feature) and may exhibit any desired jaw configuration.

Abstract: A safety device for preventing premature expulsion of a stopper in the ridged neck of a container for beverages under pressure, such as a champagne bottle. A body has a top and downwardly extending opposed leg portions attached to the top, each leg portion having upper and lower inner ledge portions, the upper ledge portion being positioned for engagement with the lower rim surface of the stopper, the lower edge portion being positioned to provide a limit stop with the lower surface of the neck ridge upon upward motion of the device. The leg portions can be bent outwardly at the bottom to enable attachment of the device over the stopper and the upper portion of the neck, and a collar slidably disposed on the periphery of the body retains the lower ends of the leg portions during stopper removal to ensure engagement between the lower inner edge portions and the neck ridge.An alternate embodiment incorporates the stopper into the top as a downwardly depending centrally arranged cylinder.

Abstract: A gripping tool has first and second displaceably connected members having respective associated jaws. The jaw of the first member is dimensioned to engage the upstanding flange under the peripheral lip of a tin lid such as is found on a tin of paint and for this purpose the jaw is preferably of thin flat strip-like form. The jaw associated with the second member is L-shaped and dimensioned so as to project beyond the end of the first member's jaw and downwardly so as to engage over the peripheral lip of the tin lid and down over an adjacent upstanding flange of the lid. The arrangement is such that when the handles are moved in a gripping action, the jaws clamp the upstanding flange of the tin lid to permit the lid to be removed from the tin without distortion of the lid.

Abstract: A device for controllably removing a bottle stopper from a bottle containing a liquid and natural high pressure gas, such as a sparkling wine, in which the stopper is conventionally held in place, at least in part, by a wire hood. There is a clamp for gripping the bottle adjacent the pouring lip, but free of the wire hood. There is also a clamp for gripping the stopper, which clamp will permit a loosening of the wire hood. There is a handle for applying an axial turning movement to the gripping device to torsionally remove the stopper from the bottle opening, which removal is under control and at no time will permit an uncontrolled discharge of the stopper.

Abstract: A prying device, most useful as a plastic cork lifter, comprises an elongated member (10) having a handle section (12) at one end and a prying section (14) at the other end. The prying section comprises a fork with separated dual tines (16/18) having narrowed inner edges which fit into the groove between the cork (20) and bottle (22), below the head of the cork above the neckband of the bottle. A wire hoop (24) extends out from the prying section. The wire hoop is looped around the top of the bottle, just below the cork. The hoop is springably retracted toward the prying section for storage and for aiding in positioning the dual tines in the groove between the bottle and the cork. The hoop is vertically pivotable at the prying section and is bent by about 90 degrees to form an upright "V" (34) at approximately midway out from the prying section.

Abstract: A gripping tool has first and second displaceably connected members having respective associated jaws. The jaw of the first member is dimensioned to engage under the peripheral lip of a tin lid such as is found on a tin of paint and for this purpose the jaw is preferably of thin flat strip-like form. The jaw associated with the second member is dimensioned so as to project beyond the end of the first member's jaw and downwardly so as to engage over the peripheral lip of the tin lid and down over an adjacent upstanding flange of the lid. The arrangement is such that when the handles are moved in a gripping action, the jaws clamp over the tin lid to permit the tin lid to be loosened for removal from the tin.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an apparatus for extracting a cork from a bottle comprising a cork-engaging member, including a corkscrew, and a holder for aligning and guiding the corkscrew, via its own diameter, with respect to the bottle. The cork-engaging member is completely removable from the holder for independent use, and to permit the corkscrew point to be used to sever the metal foil, which covers the bottle top, and both the holder and cork engaging member to be more easily cleaned. The holder includes a plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced, radially deflectable gripping elements connected to and spaced downwardly from a guide which receives the corkscrew, and are all approximately equally resiliently biased to a normal unflexed radial position. One embodiment is capable of two alternative modes of operation. The corkscrew itself is improved by the provision of an outer layer of friction reducing material.

Abstract: A lid lifter arranged for releasing and removing the lid from a self-sealing reclosable container, such as a NORPAK bucket, is comprised of an elongate arcuate bar which is configured for tightly fitting between the paired parallel flanges which encircle such buckets near their upper ends. An elastic fastener interconnects the ends of the bar and fits around the container to secure the bar thereto. An L-shaped fulcrum plate extending outwardly and upwardly from joinder to the bar has a medial opening arranged for loosely receiving a lever which has a rectangular pad attached to its inner end. The opening is located so that the pad fits under the rim of the bucket lid in a manner to lift a portion of it simultaneously outwardly and upwardly when the lever is pivoted in the opening, thereby releasing the lid from the container and lifting it so that it wil not become reclosed when the lifter is removed.