Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing a stopper from a bottle having an internal pressure greater than the ambient pressure surrounding the bottle, e.g. a champagne bottle. At least one generally vertical edge of the apparatus is placed in a generally vertical groove in the periphery of the stopper, in some cases cutting the groove simultaneously as it is moved downward over the stopper. The apparatus is then oscillated or rotated, whereupon the internal pressure in the bottle can overcome the sliding friction between the stopper and the bottle. The apparatus is also adapted to control the stopper, once expelled.

Abstract: A crimped cap removal and return assist device comprising a body with a pocket for engaging a crimped cap, a protruding midrib, and a boss for application of hand pressure while turning the body by the midrib in crimped cap engagement.

Abstract: A mechanical tool for facilitating coupling and decoupling of home fittings and caps to a plumbing outlet, such as septic drain outlet on a recreational vehicle is disclosed. The tool includes a handle and two opposed branches extending from one end thereof. The free end of each branch has a slot therein sized to engageably receive one of the two diametrically opposed outwardly projecting lugs existing on a conventional drain hose fitting or drain cap. The branches are roughly spaced such that when in use the slotted free ends of the branches are capable of being adjusted to engagably receive the lugs. An adjustable biasing member susposed between the branches and a position so its not to interfere with the operation of the tool when used to manipulate the fitting or cap. The biasing member allows the tool to be appropriately tensioned such that the branches securely engage the fitting or cap when in use.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a cap, especially a radiator cap, is disclosed having a cylindrical body 11, said body being open on one end, with diametrically opposed notch pairs 14 and 15 let into the walls of body 11 at its open end. A resilient strap 20 is employed to remove radiator caps which have no lugs. The invention will accommodate the removal of the majority of American and internationally made automotive radiator caps. Alternate embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An elongated plastic body is provided including first and second ends. The first end includes an enlarged head thereon provided with a recess therein opening outwardly generally along a radius of the longitudinal axis of the body and the other end of the body includes endwise outwardly projecting elongated collet fingers defining a recess therebetween in which to receive the outer end of a cork bottle, the inner surfaces of the collet fingers being provided with a plurality of projections for increasing the frictional grip of the collet fingers on an associated cork end and the recess being of a size and depth to receive the free end of the thumb of a hand encircling the body.

Abstract: A bottle opener includes a handle having a substantially circular first bottle opener portion at one end thereof with a centrally disposed first opening extending through the first bottle opener portion to remove a twist-off screw cap from a bottle and can, and a substantially flat second bottle opener portion extending outwardly from the opposite end of the handle with a second opening extending through the second bottle opener portion to remove a pry-off cap from a bottle and can, the second bottle opener portion including an off-set tab at a free end thereof in order to lift a ring-like portion of a lift-off tab of a flip top can to open same. The first bottle opener portion and the handle are constructed in one piece, from a rubber-like material. Engagement members are provided on the walls of the first opening of the first bottle opener portion for gripping and turning the twist-off screw cap.

Abstract: A bottle opener and key ring for lifting and twisting off bottle caps. It is made from a one piece solid body about 4" by 2". The design shows a hook at one end, a gear teeth type structure at the mid lower base, and a ring for holding keys at the other end. The ring, which carries the keys, is the only moveable part.

Abstract: A multiple-function beverage container opener is provided which features an ergonomically-shaped, elongate body having a stay-on tab opener on one end thereof, a crimped-on bottle cap opener on the opposite end thereof, and twist-off bottle opener in a central socket portion thereof. The stay-on tab opener is characterized by an arcuate loop formed between outboard and inboard arcuate-shaped lances. The arcuate-shaped lances and loop are provided with a radius that is substantially similar to the rim of the beverage container lid so that the loop fits between the tab handle and the rim of the beverage container. A ramp is coined in the arcuate loop to further assist in the camming of the tab handle upwardly into the arcuate loop for further pivoting and opening of the scored closure of the stay-on tab opener.

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.

Abstract: A tool used for applying specified torque to the backshells of electrical connectors has a cylindrical body of diameter compatible with that of the backshell on which it is used with a cutout on said cylindrical body to allow wires from the connector to be routed away from the tool. A high friction material such as silicone rubber or similar type substance is bonded to the inner lower lip of the tool, below the cutout section, and a clamping means with separable closure and adjustable friction producing strap is bonded to the outer lower lip of the tool across its rear surface and over the front of said cutout. A fitting at the top of the tool is located on the tool's axis and is designed to accept conventional socket torque wrenches.

Abstract: A rotary opener and closer for screws and in particular for screw closures on jars, bottles, etc. is described having two converging side walls perpendicular to the rotary plane in the use position and which are interconnected at the ends where they have their maximum spacing by an approximately semicircular side wall. To the inside of one side wall, preferably adjacent to the end remote from the semicircular side wall, is fixed a spring steel strip with a roughened surface. This spring steel strip engages internally on said side wall, on the connected semicircular side wall and on the opposite side wall. This provides a large area for gripping the screw closure to be opened, so that it is not excessively stressed and therefore damaged at one point. Taking account of the opening direction R, a fixing point is to be positioned to hold the steel strip in such a way that the spring steel strip is tensile stressed both on opening and closing, i.e.

Abstract: A multi-purpose device is disclosed for opening a variety of containers, such as plastic milk jugs, soda cans and soda bottles. A cup-like guide member is received over the tamper-resistance cap of a plastic milk jug and has cleaving lugs projecting downward into the spaces between rupturable connector elements, which join the threaded cap to a fixed locking collar. By twisting the guide member, the cleaving lugs are caused to rupture the connector elements and free the cap for easy removal. A handle provides leverage to facilitate application of the necessary twisting torque. A smaller cup-like section, co-axial with the cup-like guide member but of smaller diameter, is provided with ribbed side walls for engagement with the flutes of a standard twist-off bottle cap to facilitate its removal by twisting.

Abstract: A reusable, releasable, self-locking handle device is provided for carrying and manipulating large bottles and containers, the handle comprises a frame member having a support strap and a lock ring adapted to secure and lock a wide-body, narrow neck container, such as a large two liter bottle, and a hand grip web which allows one-handed manipulation of the large bottle. The lock ring may take the form of a flexible, resilient snap ring open at one end adapted to grip the narrow neck portion of the container or bottle. A thumb depression element allows for flexing of the ring. Also provided in the handle is a screw cap opener incorporating gripping teeth in the handle which can be used to easily and quickly break the initial seal of a sealed cap. The entire handle may be made of plastic.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a reusable bottle cap which cooperates with a soda bottle or the like to maintain the required pressure within the bottle. The reusable bottle cap is secured to an open end of the bottle. The bottle, with the bottle cap secured thereto, is inverted such that the liquid contents of the bottle is provided adjacent the bottle cap. In this position, air is prevent from flowing into or out of the bottle, so that the pressure of the bottle is maintained over time and changing conditions. Support means are provided on the bottle cap to insure that the bottle will be maintained in the vertical position. Also provided on the bottle cap is a removal means, which cooperates with the original lid of the bottle, to easily remove the lid therefrom.

Abstract: An opener for tab-top, screw-top and crimped top beverage containers is disclosed. The opener comprises: an injection-molded, substantially flat, elongated handle of an essentially constant wall thickness having a central portion and two ends; a cavity molded in one end of the handle; a serrate frustoconical receptacle molded in the central portion of the handle; an opening molded in the other end of the handle; a passage also molded in the other end and communicating with the opening; and a steel insert frictionally retained in the passage, a portion of the insert protruding into the opening. In use, the cavity receives a tab-top tab, the receptacle engages a screw-top cap, or the opening receives a crimped-top cap, the insert engaging the edge of the cap. The ergonomic handle is then used as a lever to open the container. A permanent magnet may be attached to the opener to allow easy storage on a magnetic surface. The opener may be provided with holes for attaching a cord or tether.

Abstract: A tool for removing radiator caps. The tool has a hollow handle and a flanged hollow face. The hollow face has a recess with a perimeter. The perimeter has a pair of opposed rectangular indentations, at least one pair of opposed arcuate indentations, and a pair of tapering indentations which interrupt the perimeter to form a pair of opposed openings.

Abstract: A keyless chuck operating system comprises a hollow, generally cylindrical body formed of rubber or other similar substance preferably having a shore hardness in the range of 50 to 60. The body has a central cavity therein formed to fit firmly over a chuck locking drum. Tightening the jaws is accomplished by adjusting the drill for ordinary drilling with a right handed bit, firmly grasping the outer periphery of the chuck operating device, and then turning on the drill. Loosening the chuck jaws is done in a manner similar to tightening them except that the drill is adjusted to reverse the direction of rotation. The chuck actuation may include a plurality of gripping beads in the passage that receives the chuck body for gripping the chuck when the rotary tool is actuated. The outer periphery of the chuck operating device preferably has a plurality of indentations thereon to facilitate manual gripping of the device.

Abstract: A device and method for removing closures from laboratory sample containers is the subject of the present invention. The device consists of a tubular member which is large enough to contain a laboratory sample container or vial. Integral with one end of the tubular member is a housing member which is large enough to contain the stopper or closure for the laboratory vial and is thus of a diameter larger than the tubular member. The end of the housing opposite the tubular member is closable with an irreversibly locking cap. A vial with a stopper to be removed is placed into the cap end of the housing member and is received by the tubular member unitl the stopper rests on the bottom surface of the housing member. The cap on the housing member is closed and a force is exerted on the vial to dislodge the stopper from it. The vial is pulled through the tubular member, leaving the stopper in the housing member.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a radiator cap having a handle, a housing open at one end and closed at another end with the handle attached to the housing at the housing closed end. The housing engages a radiator cap at the housing open end. The housing further includes notches formed at the housing open end for receiving the ears of a radiator cap. A pressure relief valve engagement member may be disposed within the housing for engaging a radiator cap pressure relief valve.

Abstract: A coaster for supporting beverage cans that is also operative to open both tab topped beverage cans and twist-off cap bottles. The coaster is a square body with parallel top and bottom surfaces and relatively short sides that are normal to both the top and bottom surfaces. A circular depression, whose surface serves to support beverage cans, is formed on the top surface. A circular dome is formed on the central portion of the depression's surface. The coaster also includes a slot, for opening tab topped beverage cans, formed on the corner of one of its sides. The coaster also includes a circular depression, having a circle or radially inwardly extending projections on its inner wall, centrally formed on its bottom surface. This depression serves to remove twist-off bottle caps from beverage bottles.

Abstract: A keyless chuck operating device comprises a hollow, generally cylindrical body formed of rubber or other similar substance preferably having a shore hardness in the range of 50 to 60. The body has a central cavity therein formed to fit firmly over a chuck locking drum. Tightening the jaws is accomplished by adjusting the drill for ordinary drilling with a right handed bit, firmly grasping the outer periphery of the chuck operating device, and then turning on the drill. Loosening the chuck jaws is done in a manner similar to tightening them except that the drill is adjusted to reverse the direction of rotation. The chuck actuation may include a plurality of gripping beads in the passage that receives the chuck body for gripping the chuck when the rotary tool is actuated. The outer periphery of the chuck operating device preferably has a plurality of indentations thereon to facilitate manual gripping of the device.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing a stopper from a bottle having an internal pressure greater than the ambient pressure surrounding the bottle, e.g. a champagne bottle. At least one generally vertical edge of the apparatus is placed in a generally vertical groove in the periphery of the stopper, in some cases cutting the groove simultaneously as it is moved downward over the stopper. The apparatus is then oscillated or rotated, whereupon the internal pressure in the bottle can overcome the sliding friction between the stopper and the bottle. The apparatus is also adapted to control the stopper, once expelled.

Abstract: A device for loosening and tightening threaded caps on the neck of bottles and bottle-like containers, the device having a body with a conically widening inner cavity dimensioned to accommodate the customary bottle cap sizes. On the inner surface of the cavity there is a thread with a pitch the direction of which is opposite to the direction of the pitch of the thread of the bottle-cap. By the aid of the thread the device is pressed onto the cap and loosens it on the bottle neck when the device is screwed onto the cap in its opening direction.

Abstract: A jar or bottle lid or cap remover or opener comprising only two conical members, i.e. a relatively hard outer pressure cone and an inner elastomeric insert, and a space between the two.

Abstract: A tool for removing child resistant caps from medicine containers is formed of a resilient material providing a good frictional interfit with the cap to be removed. The tool has a lower surface defining a cap receiving recess and an upper surface defining a smooth surface of transition comfortably received in the palm of one's hand. The cap is removed by inserting it into the recess and by palm pressure only, depressing and rotating the cap to remove it from its child resistant engagement with the container.

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: This bottle opener is designed to remove screw caps off of beer bottles with little effort. Primarily, it consists of a base cap with left hand threads on the interior, for engagement with the outer threads of a screw cap on a filled bottle. It also is provided with a locking band in the top portion that locks a bottom end of an empty bottle in the device, so as to serve as a handle and also provide mechanical advantage for easy rotation to remove the screw cap from the filled bottle.

Abstract: A stopper removal apparatus is provided having an elongated flexible hollow stopper removal member for removing a stopper form a medical container and having an open end and a closed end, the stopper removal member has an angled protective shield adapted to extend over a medical container stopper and to cover a portion of the medical container. A first flexible stopper gripping portion of the stopper removal member is connected to the angled protective shield and can be compressed onto the stopper for removing the stopper. A second flexible stopper gripping portion is smaller in size than the first stopper gripping portion and is connected to the first stopper gripping portion for gripping and removing a smaller stopper from medical containers, so that a person can remove a plurality of sizes of stoppers from medical containers with one size shielded stopper removal apparatus while being shielded from the contents of the medical container.

Abstract: A device for opening small and large bottled drinks having twist-off caps, and cans having pop-top tabs. The device has a handle, two different size back-to-back sockets on one end of the handle, a slot at the other end of the handle, and a projection at the end of the slot which engages with the fulcrum point or downward pushing end of the tab. The back-to-back sockets are useful in twisting off different size bottle caps. The slot and projection are useful in opening pop-top or tab-top cans. The preferred device of the invention has a punch hole for removing bottle caps which become lodged in the sockets, an additional socket at the slot end of the device, an extension with a hanging hole, and ribs on the handle for reinforcing the handle.

Abstract: A device for draining an engine sump of the type having a threaded drain plug comprises a cup-like container having a flexible flange surrounding the open end thereof. The flange is provided with a gasket for forming a fluid tight seal between the sump and the container and with magnet means for adhering the container to the sump. A shaft carrying a socket on one end extends into the container and is sealably movable with respect thereto. Once the container is placed in position over a drain plug, the plug can be engaged and removed by manually turning a handle provided on the other end of the shaft. After removal of the plug, oil from the sump drains from a tube at the bottom of the container whereby contact with the oil by the service person is completely avoided.

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 gripper for allowing a twist or screw type container cap to be removed with relatively little exertion by a person's hand, includes a generally solid body of rubber-like resilient material, the body having a recess in which a container cap can be snuggly fitted regardless of the cap size within a determined range of cap sizes. The body material is sufficiently elastic, in the region of the recess, to conform substantially to the outer periphery of the inserted container cap, so that an opening force is applied by the material to the outer periphery of the cap when the body is twisted by the user's hand and the cap is restrained by its associated container from rotation with respect to the gripper body.

Abstract: A tool useful in facilitating the safe twist-off of an automotive radiator cap. The novel tool comprises a wrench element having an elongated handle with a radiator cap receiving socket at the lower end of the handle, and a shield element having a tubular grip with a hood skirt affixed at the lower end of the grip tube. The shield element is open at both its ends and the elongated wrench handle is both rotatable and axially slideable within the shield grip. In an operative assembled condition of the tool the wrench element is axially inserted into the shield element so as to shroud the cap wrench socket within the hood for deflecting hot liquid or stem ejected from a radiator, the hot fluid being diverted by the hood away from the person operating the tool.

Abstract: A tool for removing broken corks from bottles has an elongate transverse handle with a smaller end for pushing a cork into a bottle and a larger knob end for gripping in the hand. Between the ends of the handle is a transverse stem to which is attached opposite ends of a band forming a cork removing loop. The opposite ends of the band have internal projections which fit in recesses in the stem and are covered by a sleeve which can slide on the outside of the stem. This provides a particularly convenient form of attachment as between the band and the stem allowing for ready replacement of broken bands.

Abstract: The universal grip device comprises a handgrip element provided, at one end thereof, with an engagement body which can be snap fitted onto the neck portion of a bottle. With the handgrip element there is associated, at the other end, a band element which is clampable ring-like and engageable with a portion of the lateral surface of said bottle.

Abstract: A device for use in removing screw closures from containers comprises a body having a recess therein of substantially complementary frusto-conical or bell shape being to accommodate a screw-closure of a container. Converging wall portions being provided in said recess with the inner surface thereof being of, or having secured thereto a lining of, a material having a frictional adherence or resistence property with any screw closure located in contact therewith and having relative rotational movement caused therebetween by rotation of the container or of the body. A bracket is provided to enable the body to be wall- or shelf-mounted, two cheeks of the bracket being similarly apertured and the body having a bore whose axis is alignable with those of the apertures to enable a pin to be locatable therethrough to readily secure the body to the bracket. The bore in the body has its axis at right angles to the axis of the body.

Abstract: A tool for opening cans of the type having a weakened portion of the can top engagable by a lever and hinged downwardly into the can comprising a sleeve sized to receive the lever to a predetermined depth and operable to bend the weakened portion downwardly in a swinging action, the tool having tapered ribs within the sleeve that engage the lever in a wedging action securing the lever within the sleeve.

Abstract: An ampul opening device is disclosed which enables one to open a glass ampul in a safe and secure manner while minimizing fragmentation of the ampul during opening. The device features a one-piece body structure comprising an ampul holding member having a cylindrical configuration closed or partially closed at one end and having the opposite end open. Integrally attached to the open end is an arm being in line with the vertical axis of the holding member. The arm is of such length as to extend slightly beyond the removable end of the ampul. The upper region of the arm possesses sufficient flexibility to enable the operator to exert a force by means of one's thumb or thumbs to cause the neck of the ampul to fracture cleanly along a narrowly defined transverse fracture path.

Abstract: A combination receptacle opener including a plate member having at least one aperture with serrations for gripping for twisting off a twist-cap inserted into the aperture. The aperture also includes a segment for engagement beneath the lip of a crown cap for prying the cap off its bottle, this second function being performed from the same face of the plate member as the twisting function. Further embodiments include tang members extending from one face of the plate member around an aperture, which serve as insertion depth regulations for twist-cap inserted into the aperture, and a baffle extending from one face of the opener around an aperture for adjusting the operative diameter of the aperture for use with smaller twist-caps.

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 device for testing the torque required to break the seal of a medicine vial is comprised of a torque gauge mounted on a base. The torque gauge has an armature which is adapted to hold the bottom of a medicine vial. A torque arm is attached to a cylindrical unit made up of a housing and a concentric handle connected together by a coil spring such that the coil spring can be opened by turning the housing relative to the handle so that the spring fits over the cap of a vial and holds it securely when turned in a direction which tends to tighten the coils of the spring.

Abstract: A tool for manipulating beverage bottle closures in which a prior art recapper cup for applying press-fit bottle caps is modified to include an elongated slot to engage thereby a lift tab for opening a flap closure for a tab-top container. The recapper cup is further modified to include a set of four ribs so that screw-type bottle caps can also be operated on by the recapper cup.

Abstract: A hand held opening apparatus with no moving parts which includes three distinctly different opening devices. One of the opening devices consists of a centrally located socket-like portion at the center of a substantially flat body portion. This opening device is adapted to be telescoped over twist-off bottle cap members. A second opening device is located at one end of the flat body portion and consists of a wedge member insertable beneath a ring pull tab of a can end easy opening member. The third opening device is used to open plastic bags or the like and consists of a blade laminated within upper and lower portions of the flat body portion at the end opposite the second opening device. The body portion may be made from a plastic material and a permanent magnet may be embedded in one surface of the flat body member to permit the apparatus to be held magnetically when not in use.

Abstract: A bottle cap opener for prying off or twisting off tapered caps including a palm size top, a base holding a tang for engaging the cap. In a modified form the top is formed of transparent plastic. A plastic or paper member for receiving an imprinted logo is attached to the top. The device in one form includes magnets embedded in the base. Still another form is formed with an opening in the base for receiving an attachment member.

Abstract: A device for use in connection with tapping off fluid from or filling fluid into a container comprises a bell-like housing which is adapted to be removably mounted with an open end thereof over an internally threaded tapping or filling hole in a wall of the container and which is provided with an opening through which fluid may be fed into or discharged from the housing, and a tool for manually operating an externally threaded generally cup-shaped closing plug for said hole, from a position outside the housing. Said tool comprises a shaft which extends slidably and rotatably through a portion of the housing opposite to the open end of the housing, handle means provided at an outer end of said shaft.

Abstract: A manually operable tool for removing threaded closures from the necks of bottles is provided. Such tool constitutes a one piece molded plastic structure of generally oval-shaped horizontal configuration having a peripheral depending wall by which torque applied by the fingers may be transmitted to the tool. Within the boundaries of the peripheral wall, a depending circular wall is integrally formed and portions of such circular wall are integral with portions of the peripheral wall. The circular wall is provided with appropriate internal projections or ribs to engage similar ribs or depressions provided on the closure for which the tool is designed.

Abstract: For added strength and efficiency, the handles of impact or striking implements are weighted near their striking ends by the addition thereto of carefully pre-weighed supplemental veneers intervened with main veneers or by providing in a solid handle blank a head portion of increased thickness prior to compression. The mass of the handle at the striking end is effectively increased.

Abstract: A base is securable to the lid of a conventional container assembly which also includes a vessel. The base includes an inwardly directed flange which abuts the top panel of the lid and a downwardly directed flange which encircles the skirt of the lid. Upstanding from the base are lugs which provide diametrically opposed shoulders for receiving a leverage tool for the purpose of rotating the lid relative the vessel.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with drills that are driven by electrical motors upon which there is movable chuck jaws for changing the size of the drill bit. The invention comprises of two parts, a drive sleeve, and a studded anchor ring. By means of the studded anchor ring, the operator is able to hold the spindle of the drill motionless so that it will not rotate, while by means of the drive sleeve, the outer cylinder of the chuck can be turned, thus locking or unlocking the jaws of the chuck to remove or insert the desired drill bit. The drive sleeve consists of a medium hard resilient type member, preferably made of rubber in the shape of a cylinder. The anchor ring cmprises a material also of a medium hard rubber or the like with three studs molded at intervals of 120 degrees apart on the inner surface. The studs engage the pivot hole in the spindle and prevent it from turning while the drive sleeve operates the opening and closing of the jaws of the chuck.