Predetermined And Discrete Member Of Leverage Selections Patents (Class 81/344)
  • Patent number: 7726217
    Abstract: The self-adjusting locking pliers include a fixed assembly having a fixed jaw supported at one end. A moveable jaw is pivotably supported on the fixed assembly at a slidable pivot connection. The slidable pivot connection includes a pawl provided with teeth. A rack of teeth includes first and second sets of teeth offset from one another by 1/2 of the pitch that may each be engaged by the teeth formed on pawl. A lever is attached to the fixed assembly and a linkage transmits a force applied to the lever to the jaws and locks the jaws in the clamping position. The linkage allows the angle between the links to be preset to thereby control the clamping force applied to the work piece. The movable jaw is selectively attached to the linkage in one two positions such that the jaw span may be adjusted without affecting the geometry of the linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool Company
    Inventors: David P. Engvall, Thomas M. Chervenak
  • Patent number: 6142039
    Abstract: A bottle cap remover having a gripping head and an actuator. The gripping head has at least two pivotally mounted arms biased in a closed position, each arm having a respective gripping surface. Preferably the bottle cap remover has a neutral state, an insertion state, a bottle-gripping state, and a cap-removal state. The method for removing a bottle cap from a bottle using the bottle cap remover includes the first step of inserting a bottle and bottle cap between the gripping surfaces of the pivotally mounted arms by forcing the pivotally mounted arms into an at least partially open position. The next step is gripping the bottle cap between the gripping surfaces. The next step is to activate the actuator so that the actuator moves between a neutral position and an extreme position thereby pulling and removing the bottle cap from the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Inventor: Ralph E. Herring, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6035508
    Abstract: A vacuum releaser including a pair of pivotally attached, biasing pliers, the pliers normally being biased in a tip end closed position, the tip end of the first plier member terminating in a point, the tip of the second plier member terminating in a point shaped with a recess to receive the tip end of the first plier member when the pliers are in the closed position and the method of use including the steps of providing a vacuum seal in a lidded container, mating tip ends of the closed vacuum releaser, positioning the tip ends between the rim of the lid and the side of the container, spreading the tip ends, urging the lid away from the container and allowing air to enter the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Inventor: Gary Smith
  • Patent number: 6019018
    Abstract: A grind stone removing wrench for providing a means for simple and easy removal of grind stones from a profile grinder without damaging the profile grinder. The inventive device includes an arm member having a first flange projecting a finite portion from a first end thereof, a planar member pivotally attached to an end of the arm member mesial the first flange and the end opposite of the first end, the planar member including a second flange opposite of the pivoting point, and a handle secured to the arm member for allowing manual manipulation of the present invention so as to bring together the first flange and the second flange for grasping the grind stone from within a profile grinder. The handle preferably includes a first portion secured orthogonally to the arm member and an second portion substantially orthogonal to the first portion for avoiding safety shields of the profile grinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: Tim R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5943920
    Abstract: The device has a V-shaped wedge provided with a flexible belt which is adjustable to locate on either side of the inside surfaces of the wedge. The belt has frictional side surfaces. The lid of a jar may be either opened or closed by jamming against the convergent inside surfaces between one side of the wedge and the belt adjusted to abut the other side of the wedge. One end of the belt is mounted to the vertex of the wedge and its other end is mounted to a slider button sliderably mounted to an arcuate periphery of a supporting plate of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventors: Barbara Jane McGivern, Raymond A. DelCastilho
  • Patent number: 5862720
    Abstract: A hand tool for removing the stopper, foil and wire basket all together simultaneously from a bottle of champagne in a safe, quick and easy manner, the tool consisting of a first and a second half. Each half provides a handle means for grasping and manipulating the tool, an angled portion at which point the halves overlap and are pivotally secured together, and one of a pair of curved gripping heads designed to engage with the stopper. Each of the gripping heads has an in facing curved surface to accommodate the stopper therebetween and a pair of elongated pointed teeth extending inwardly therefrom. The teeth on each of the gripping heads are spaced apart a sufficient distance to straddle a wire rib of the wire basket. A concave groove is positioned between each set of teeth so as to allow the teeth to penetrate and firmly grip the stopper, penetrating to the full length of each of the teeth into a cork stopper, while accommodating the ribs within the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Jessie L. McNellis
    Inventor: Kenneth M. McNellis
  • Patent number: 5655806
    Abstract: A gripping tool of the pliers type for removing an inking plug from an ink container including a pair of pivotally connected handle members being connected by a pivot pin; and a pair of opposed semi-circular shaped jaws rigidly attached to the pair of handle members, respectively; such that each of the jaws forms an arc of between 90.degree. and 180.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventors: James J. Halladay, Gordon W. Halladay
  • Patent number: 5595094
    Abstract: An oil filter wrench dimensioned and constructed in a fashion which will accommodate a broad range of sizes of cylindrical oil filters. The handles and jaws of the oil filter wrench are substantially identical. One of the jaws, however, has a pin and the other jaw has a pair of openings to define first and second pivot axes for the pliers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: The Lisle Corporation
    Inventor: Joel A. Negus
  • Patent number: 5546831
    Abstract: Any one of several rotary objects of various diameters is gripped between a pair of joined jaws, without a need for manual adjustment of such jaws to any of the various diameters. To this end, the jaws are spaced at a taper to each other for all of the various diameters, and are pivoted, biased and rendered moveable relative to each other in diminution of that taper against the bias and conversely in self-restoration of the taper by the bias upon a release of the object from the jaws. Any one of the rotary objects may be wedged between the jaws at the taper, and one of the jaws is propelled with such wedged rotary object against the bias relative to the other jaw of the pair in diminution of the taper until the jaws exert optimum grip on the object. A loosening or other operation may then be performed on the wedged rotary object, and such wedged rotary object may be released from the jaws [for self-restoration of the taper by the bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Inventors: Katherine M. Grant, deceased, Frederic F. Grant
  • Patent number: 5528961
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Inventor: Sam Paramest
  • Patent number: 5347889
    Abstract: A device is described for removing either a cork or a mushroom-shape stopper from a bottle. It includes a support frame having a bottom ring member adapted to engage the neck of a wine bottle, a top cap member with a threaded hole extending therethrough and at least two circumferentially spaced longitudinal support members extending between the top cap and bottom ring. A threaded shaft having an upper end and a lower end is mounted in the top cap threaded hole, this shaft having a handle mounted on the upper end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Inventor: Andrew R. St. Denis
  • Patent number: 5275070
    Abstract: A device is described for removing a mushroom-shape stopper from a wine bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Inventor: Andrew R. St. Denis
  • Patent number: 5249488
    Abstract: A lever actuated oil filter remover is presented. At least two arcuate shell-like coupling elements are coupled together inside a casing by a spider arm. An interior cam on the casing can mate with an external cam on the arcuate elements so that the diameter of the arcuate elements increases or decreases as a function of whether or not the cams are mating. A lever coupled to the aft end of the spider arm and the aft end of the casing moves the spider arm fore and aft in relation to the casing, permitting the arcuate elements to selectively grasp and release a prior art oil filter more quickly and easily than with prior art oil filter removers. The preceding elements are coupled by appropriate coupling means such as pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Inventor: Alfonso Aguilar
  • Patent number: 5161435
    Abstract: A plurality of spring-biased legs mounted relative to one another defining an acute angle therebetween include respective prying and piercing legs pivotally mounted at a common junction relative to the first and second legs. The first and second legs include semi-cylindrical heads arranged whose axes are parallel relative to one another, and each including an abutment flange to engage a container seal subsequent to its piercing and prying relative to a neck portion of a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Inventor: Jean E. Brannon
  • Patent number: 5083482
    Abstract: A lid wrench for removing lids from jars and other containers, which lid wrench is characterized in a first preferred embodiment by a smooth, elongated lug-receiving member slidably receiving a single sliding lug provided with inwardly-facing lug teeth. In a second preferred embodiment, the lug-receiving member is provided with spaced slots or teeth for selectively receiving an engaging shoulder or shoulders of the sliding lug. A fixed handle is attached to an offset end of the lug-receiving member opposite the sliding lug and an opening and/or ring maybe provided in the opposite end of the lug-receiving member for suspending the lid wrench from a nail or other support. A spring-biased, curved jaw, provided with multiple, spaced jaw teeth which face the lug teeth on the sliding lug, is pivotally secured to the offset end of the lug-receiving member spaced from the fixed handle, and receives a jaw handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Inventor: Fred D. Floyd
  • Patent number: 5065648
    Abstract: An oil fiter wrench includes two semi-circular, semi-rigid sections, each of which includes a plurality of shark tooth-shaped projections which engage an oil filter of an internal combustion engine so that the wrench can engage the oil filter in a non-slipping manner without substantially damaging or marring that oil filter. The sections are coupled together by a hinge and by a wing nut engaging aligned threaded bores which are defined in fastener projections on each section. A wrench handle is also included which can be coupled to a further projection on the top section to add leverage to any twisting action which may be required to manipulate an oil filter. The wrench is especially useful in certain engines, particularly, in a Harley-Davidson FXR frame of the 1985 and newer model type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Inventor: Gerald E. Hocfbaum, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5031485
    Abstract: An improved container lid opener comprises a lever arm, a support arm, a grasp arm and a grasp block. The support arm is pivotally connected with the lever arm. One end of the grasp arm is connected with one end of the lever arm. The grasp block is connected with the other end of the grasp arm. The rear portion of the lever arm and the rear portion of the support arm are connected by a spring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Inventor: Miin Y. Wu
  • Patent number: 5027678
    Abstract: This invention is a cam actuator means with connector assembly with one embodiment being a stud extractor and wrench apparatus operable to utilize a cam insert member mounted within an outer housing member being engagable with a damaged bolt head on a stud member using a cam actuator clamping action to grasp same for inserting and removing. A second embodiment is a main brake lock apparatus having a brake insert member mounted within an outer brake housing member being engagable with a rotating shaft to achieve a braking or clutching action therewith through a cam actuator clamping action. The brake actuator assembly uses a piston and cylinder actuator assembly selectively operable through fluid control means to contact and engage the shaft for the braking or clutching action. A third embodiment is a bolt and elliptical lock nut apparatus having an inner lock cam insert member mounted within a main lock nut assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Inventor: Robert M. McCollom
  • Patent number: 5000063
    Abstract: A stopper remover and piercing pin for champagne bottles, and the like, which has grasping jaws and a piercing pin on an operative shaft, wherein the operative shaft is moved by lever-driven gears inward toward the bottle to pierce the stopper and outward away from the bottle to remove the stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Inventor: George Federighi, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4995295
    Abstract: A lid wrench for removing lids from jars and other containers, which lid wrench is characterized in a first embodiment by an elongated channel member having parallel, downwardly-extending flanges and spaced openings for selectively receiving the engaging finger of a single pivoting lug provided with inwardly-facing lug teeth. In a second embodiment, an elongated plate is provided with spaced openings for selectively receiving the engaging finger of the sliding pivoting lug. A fixed handle is attached to one end of the channel and plate, respectively, opposite the pivoting lug and an opening may be provided at the opposite end of the channel member and plate, respectively, for hanging the lid wrench on a nail or other support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Inventor: Fred D. Floyd
  • Patent number: 4970917
    Abstract: This invention relates to a stud extractor and wrench apparatus using a cam action locking feature to grasp a stud member or bolt head member for removing same. The stud extractor and wrench apparatus includes a main cam lock assembly driven through a main drive assembly. The main drive assembly can utilize a conventional ratchet drive assembly or can take the form of a box end wrench drive assembly. The main cam lock assembly includes an outer housing member having mounted therewithin a cam insert member. The outer housing member has an elliptical cavity opening with an inner cam surface and a wrench head section. The wrench head section resembles a standard socket wrench member which is engagable with the ratchet drive assembly for rotating in selected opposite directions. The cam insert member can be releasably mounted within the outer housing member and includes an elliptical cam body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Inventor: Robert M. McCollom
  • Patent number: 4964330
    Abstract: An oil filter accessory is disclosed to facilitate installation and/or removal of an oil filter from an automobile engine or the like. The oil filter accessory includes a housing having at least one open adapted to fit over canister-type oil filter. The housing is capable of being locked relative to the oil filter to secure the housing against the rotation relative to the oil filter. The locking may be accomplished by a suitable circumferential clamp, pivoting locking lever(s), internal locking surfaces or other equivalent structure to prevent rotation of the housing relative to the oil filter. Suitably configured and dimensioned hand wrenching elements are operably associated with the housing to enable a user to physically grip and rotate the oil filter in either direction for tightening or loosening same relative to the automobile engine or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Inventors: Gary D. Swinney, Richard H. Chenot
  • Patent number: 4949576
    Abstract: A self-adjusting lid wrench for removing lids from jars and other containers, which lid wrench is characterized by an elongated channel member having parallel, downwardly-extending flanges for pivotally receiving multiple, spaced, gravity-operated pivoting lugs provided with inwardly-facing lug teeth. A fixed handle is attached to the end of the channel opposite the pivoting lugs and an opening may be provided at the opposite end of the channel adjacent to the lugs, for locating the lid wrench on a nail or other support. A jaw plate is rigidly attached to the channel and the fixed handle and a curved jaw, provided with multiple, spaced jaw teeth which face the lug teeth on the pivoting lugs, is pivotally secured to the jaw plate and receives a jaw handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Inventor: Fred D. Floyd
  • Patent number: 4932544
    Abstract: A bottle holder comprises a handle manually graspable by a user, a cap remover carried by the handle for receiving, gripping and removing the cap of the bottle, an attachment member fixed to the handle, open at one end, and having internal threads at the opposite end for threading onto the external threads of the bottle neck, a closure pivotally mounted to the attachment member either to a closed position closing its open end or to an open position, and an operator carried by the handle and mechanically coupled to the closure to enable the operator, when operated by the user, to move the closure to either its open position or to its closed position with respect to the open end of the attachment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Inventor: Gdalia Glazer
  • Patent number: 4919015
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a screw cap opener. The structure of the opener is mainly based on a firm cylindrical body (1) inside which there has been installed pressing parts (2) which functions as the gripping means of the screw cap. The device functions so that when it is pressed against the top of the screw cap to be opened the pressing parts start to close strongly squeezing the screw cap from its sides. When the device is twisted, the cap either opens or closes. Structurally the functioning of the device is based on pressing parts which have been installed against the inside surface of the body with an axle so that they can turn vertically at an angle of approx. 25.degree. in a downwardly slanting position close to a horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Inventor: Jukka K. Pohjola
  • Patent number: 4914985
    Abstract: A cap remover for removing engine radiators caps has expandable and contractible grippers to grip a cap for removal. The grippers are at the ends of the legs of a pair of tongs, and a handle having a hole allows both retraction and rotation of the grippers. Vertical movement of the handle down towards the grippers causes inward movement of the grippers, so that cap is gripped and depressed simultaneously. In this condition, the handle can be rotated to remove the cap. A shield can be mounted on the lower end of the handle above the grippers to protect the user from hot fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Inventor: Walter E. Proctor
  • Patent number: 4852431
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Inventor: William L. Frangel
  • Patent number: 4848191
    Abstract: A stopper removal apparatus for safely and easily removing a cork and other plastic types of stoppers from a glass bottle containing a beverage under pressure. The apparatus comprises two molded curved members coupled together at a fulcrum point between their ends and operated in a scissor-like manner. Each molded member has an integral jaw adjacent to its lower end for substantially encircling the stopper. The jaws include a plurality of integral evenly spaced, sharply pointed prongs or tines that deeply penetrate the stopper and thus provide a secure, non-slip grip so that the stopper may be easily and safely removed without breaking or becoming a projectile capable of causing injury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Inventor: Stuart E. Forrest
  • Patent number: 4813414
    Abstract: A device is formed with two hinged half-collars for opening and closing around the breast, which half-collars have specifically contoured inside surfaces which surfaces correlate to orthogonally projected curves which intersect at an angle slightly less than 180.degree. but not less than about 160.degree. over the useful clamping of the half-collars, to effectively clamp the breast while avoiding pinching during clamping of the half-collars on the breast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Walton Medical
    Inventor: Michel Costagliola
  • Patent number: 4805493
    Abstract: A tool for the release of pressure in a hot automobile radiator comprises elongated tongs having jaws at one end for gripping the radiator cap and handgrips at the other end. The tool may be manipulated to loosen the cap from a position removed from the radiator so as to reduce the risk of personal injury due to a sudden release of pressure when the cap is loosened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Inventor: Locke M. Stein
  • Patent number: 4768403
    Abstract: A combination of a bottle screw-threaded twist-off cap opener and a handle which facilitates the holding of the bottle when it is held for pouring its contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: M. M. Mutzar Matara Ltd.
    Inventor: Gideon Bar-Noy
  • Patent number: 4732073
    Abstract: A primer pocket swaging device for use in cartridge reloading equipment, which is characterized by a cylindrically-shaped collet cover having a hollow, threaded interior for receiving a threaded nipple to enclose an expandable collet. The collet includes four shaped collet segments fitted together in expandable relationship by means of an O-ring and one end of a punch rod projects through the collet and the opposite end seats on the plunger of the reloading equipment by operation of a rod lock nut and an adaptor. The upper end of the collet cover is bevelled and fitted with an opening to receive the base end of an empty shell casing, wherein the base of the shell casing is inserted in the opening and is momentarily seated and held in the collet, while the punch rod extends upwardly and swages the empty primer pocket in the casing base responsive to operation of the reloading apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Inventor: Douglas C. Semon
  • Patent number: 4708033
    Abstract: A tool for removing headed stoppers from bottles such as champagne bottles, includes a base having a two fingered yoke and a side support, sized and shaped to engage the upper lip and the side of the neck of the bottle respectively, so that when a handle, pivotally attached to the base, is lowered toward the bottle, a pair of inwardly biased jaws slide down over the head of the stopper to engage its undersurface between the fingers of the yoke. Thereafter, the handle is lifted extracting the stopper while inwardly facing extensions positioned above the stopper on the jaws restrict upward motion of the stopper to prevent uncontrolled motion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Inventor: Lester E. Eash
  • Patent number: 4653355
    Abstract: A device having a pair of hollow, shell-like members pivotally coupled to each other for movement into and out of positions adjacent to each other. When the members are adjacent to each other, they form a hollow space for receiving the cork in the neck of a champagne bottle, the members having flanges for defining an opening for receiving and surrounding the neck and underlying the annular lower extremity of the cork. A pair of resilient tabs are secured to the opposite ends of the members for releasably holding the same in their closed positions. A handle on one of the members is provided to allow for an outward force to be exerted on the members away from the bottle to move the cork out of the bottle when the cork is in the closed space formed by the members. The device can be formed of metal or plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Mt. Diablo Tool and Die, Inc.
    Inventors: Nolan Brewton, Gerhard J. Weiner, Helmut Resch
  • Patent number: 4643054
    Abstract: Herein presented is a device for shutting off the flow through a pipe. The device is basically a pincers tool with two jaws and two handles. It, however, has special and unique features that make it rugged, reliable, efficient and easy to use.It has compound leveraging. It has pivotal features that allow the inner surfaces of its jaws to remain parallel to one another as the jaws are opened and closed. A latching and releasing mechanism permits the locking of the handles once the jaws have reached a desired closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Inventor: Gary E. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4643053
    Abstract: A tool designed primarily for the removal of oil filters of the canister type. The tool is generally cup shaped and of a design to operate in a minimum of working space. The tool has finger portions defined by cut-out openings equally spaced about the central axis. Gripping surfaces in the form of spring biased roller cams mounted on the finger portions serve to secure the tool on the canister when the tool is positioned thereon and to firmly grip and lock the tool upon the canister when rotated by a suitable wrench, thereby enabling the canister to be easily removed from the engine block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Inventor: Charles W. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 4523497
    Abstract: Apparatus for use in removing container caps and especially screw cap elements which may be tightly engaged with the top of a container body. The apparatus comprises a housing having a base and side wall means arranged to form an enclosure within which a pair of fixed cap gripping jaws are secured by means of a spacer and divider plate elements in spaced relation to one another. The several components are further arranged to define cap receiving spaces occurring in two different levels in the housing capable of accommodating a wide range of cap sizes. Rotatably attached to the base at one side thereof is a flat handle element whose outer end projects from the housing to provide a grip.The handle member is constructed with cap gripping jaw parts which may be moved, together with the handle, toward and away from respective fixed jaw portions. The housing is constructed for use in either one of two ways. The housing may be secured by fastenings to the underside of a shelf or cover or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1985
    Inventors: Carl H. Rosberg, Hazel N. Rosberg
  • Patent number: 4512215
    Abstract: A radiator cap removing device formed of suitable material having a proper thickness, such as metal or from various heat resistive type thermoduric plastics and resins. The cap removing device has a cylindrical elongate body member with a top wall and being open at its bottom end for defining a radiator cap receiving chamber. A lever bar or arm is affixed to the top wall to facilitate rotation of the radiator cap. Two diametrically disposed slots are provided within the body member each dimensioned for receiving and abutting a respective protuberant portion of the radiator cap. An adjustable lief spring like cap clamping/engaging member may be provided within the chamber to facilitate removal of different sized radiator caps and those without protuberant portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Inventor: Walter Krauchick
  • Patent number: 4509784
    Abstract: A container cap removal tool includes a split ring defining a cap grip, and handles to actuate the split ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Inventor: Gary L. Vollers
  • Patent number: 4483221
    Abstract: A pliers-type top opener has a pair of pivotally interconnected handles each having a gripper at one end. Each handle is bent from sheet steel and has a flat intermediate portion. The flat intermediate portions of the handles are pivotally interconnected for relative swinging movement about an axis passing through and perpendicular to the flat intermediate portions. The sheet steel of the handles is bent substantially 90.degree. about a helical bend out of the plane of the intermediate portion to form an end portion carrying the gripper. Each gripper has a web that extends from an edge of that end portion away from the other gripper and terminates in a flange which extends from the edge of each web remote from the other web, only in a direction away from the plane of the flat portion. Each web is spaced a substantial distance to one side of that plane, so that all portions of the flanges are spaced a substantial distance from that plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Inventor: Nathan D. Hoskins
  • Patent number: 4458564
    Abstract: A tool adapted to align and interact with a radiator cap to assist in the removal of the cap from a radiator has a pliers type arrangement of levers with uniquely constructed end effectors. One of the end effectors includes a substantially planar alignment plate with a depending skirt extending less than 180.degree. about a peripheral sector of the alignment plate. The alignment plate orients the tool with the top of the radiator cap, and the skirt angularly orients the tool to positively abut a lug on the radiator cap with the skirt sidewall. The other end effector is a relatively narrow gripping jaw which cooperatively interacts with the alignment plate and skirt to compressively engage an interposed radiator cap as the handle on the levers are manually moved toward each other. The levers mechanically multiply both compressive force manually applied to the levers to firmly grasp the cap, and the torque applied to unscrew the cap from the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Inventor: George Simmons
  • Patent number: 4442735
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Inventors: Allan Chance, William T. Gray
  • Patent number: 4437360
    Abstract: A strip of tensile material is transversely bent in the middle to form equal elongated upper and lower flat members that are longitudinally parallel with free handle ends oppositely disposed to the bent closed end. The members are spaced apart the height of a sparkling wine bottle stopper head for receiving the head therebetween. The lower member, adjacent the curved end, defines a compound hole comprising contiguous holes of unequal radii longitudinally oriented and adapted respectively to receive a stopper head through the larger hole and for the smaller hole to engage around the stopper body, slidably. Moving the handle ends back and forth and up and down moves the stopper as desired under complete control regardless of the lack of engaging pressure on the handle ends, and without force engaging the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1984
    Inventor: Hal C. Becker
  • Patent number: 4235132
    Abstract: A cap twister bottle opener having a pair of elongate clamp rings each having a transverse major axis and thick and thin circumferential portions surrounding a central opening. The rings are secured together by a pivot pin extending through the major axes and through the thin portion of one ring and the thick portion of the other ring. Cap-engaging teeth are provided on the interior surfaces of the thick portions of the rings for engagement with a cap inserted through the central openings. The bottle opener fits easily within the palm of the user and is squeezed to rotate the rings about the pin and move the teeth into engagement with the cap. The elongate shape of the rings facilitate rotation of the opener and held cap relative to the bottle to remove the cap from the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1980
    Inventor: Robert R. Kendall
  • Patent number: 4179954
    Abstract: A pair of symmetrical elongated gripping members are affixed to each other in angular relation by a generally V-shaped resilient joining member. Each of the gripping members has a length-extending edge with a plurality of spaced partially circular notches formed therein. The notches have diameters varying from a minimum in the area of the joining member to a maximum in the area of the free ends. Handles extend from the free ends of the gripping members to facilitate urging such free ends toward each other to grasp a lid of a container between corresponding notches of the gripping members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Inventor: Robert Whalen
  • Patent number: 3965605
    Abstract: A fishhook tieing device including a handle, a spring clamp and a threading device. The spring clamp is attached to one end of the handle for grasping a hook. The threading device includes a spring wire loop end which is readily compressed to be pushed through the eye of the hook and thereafter expands to its original size whereby a fishing line end may be easily extended through the loop. Extraction of the loop end then pulls the line through the hook eye whereby the line may then be tied to the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1976
    Inventor: Arthur A. Allen