Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This application relates to a combination beverage
container and cap remover.
BACRGROUND OF T~ INV~TION
There has recently been a move in some aspects of the
beverage indus-try, particularly the brewed alcoholic beverage
industry, to replace traditional crown caps on beer and the like
bottles by caps which are of the threaded twist off type. The
most common of the twist off caps are in fact a combination oE
the traditional crown caps with an additional twist off feature.
The user therefore has the option of twisting -the cap off on
threads provided on the bottle or prying it off using a
traditional crown cap opener.
Clearly, a major reason for the introduction of the
combination twist/crown cap is to do away with the necessity for
having a traditional crown cap opener available.
A number of factors have lead to difficulties with the
combination caps. In order to maintain the required pressure in
the bottles, the caps must fit very tightly and must not be
dislodgeable by normal handling. At the same time, the caps also
include the crimped edges characteristic of crown caps. The
result is that in some cases the combination caps require a
considerable effort to twist off, and many users either do not
have sufficient stength to apply to the small surface of the cap
or are reluctant to apply the necessary pressure because of the
risk of injury occasioned by the sharp crimped edges. Frequent
cutting, tearing and scraping of the fingers results from the use
of these caps.
There is therefore a need -to provide a means for
removal of the new combination caps which will avoid injury to
the hands and will also avoid the requirement for the presence of
a separate opener.
It is to this problem that the present invention is
directed.
PRIOR ART
Various types of beverage container opener combinations
have been proposed, but none is aimed at nor adequate for the
present problem.
Grunwald U.S. Patent 2,745,301, issued May 15, 1956,
illustrates one such early bottle/opener combination. The
subject matter of this patent exhibits many problems. For
example, the prying action across the bar concentrates the force
applied against the bar and results in breakage. The depth of
depression in the bottom of the container again necessitated by
the prying action is substantial. The extra size and required
strengthening in this case mitigate agains-t its use.
Martinmaas U.S. Patent 3,236,126, issued February 22,
1966, provides a combination similar to that of Grunwald. In
this case the container is specially shaped to form a fulcrum for
the prying action in removing the cap. The prying action
requires the levering of one bottle against the other. Again
there is clear danger of chipping and breakage where -the crown
cap contacts the glass, and in the contact between -the two
bottles.
Neither reference suggests usage with a combination
twist/crown cap.
SUk~lARY OF T~E INVENTION
It has now been discovered that the force required to
remove a combination twist/crown cap can be spread about a
relatively fragile opener in such a way as to lessen the stress
on any single part of the opener and thereby avoid chipping,
breakage and the like.
Accordingly, the invention provides a beverage
container comprising a continuous body section, a neck section
integral with the body section and terminating in an e~ternally
threaded section adapted to receive a combination twist/crown
cap, a bottom section integral with the body section, the bottom
section having an indented section integral therewith, and
wherein the indented section is provided with a set of spaced
profiled teeth in a circular arrangement adapted to engage
indentations in the crimped edges of a combination twist/crown
cap.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the
invention,
FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a container
according to the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the container
illustrating a twist/crown cap in the bottom of -the container;
FIGURE 3 illustrates a tooth ring for use with the
invention;
FIGURE ~ is a section along line IV-IV of FIGURE 3; and
FIGURE 5 illustrates the manner of use of the container
as an opener.
While the invention will be described in conjunction
with illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is
not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the
contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications
and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of
the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTI~N OF T~E EMBODIMENTS
In the following description, similar features in the
drawings have been given similar reference numerals.
FIGURE 1 illustrates a beverage container comprising a
bottle 10 having an externally threaded section 12 at the top 22
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thereoE. Associated with the bottle 10 is a combination
twist/crown cap 14. When applied to the bottle 10 as best
illustrated in Figure 5, the edge 16 of the cap 14 maintains a
crimped configuration comprising protrusions 18 and inden-tations
20.
The cap 14 may be removed from bottle 10 by prying the
crimped edge 16 outwardly from the threaded top 12 of the bottle
using a conventional opener or by twisting the cap against the
threads 24 of threaded section 12.
In the latter case, the pressure required to loosen the
cap is considerable and may frequently result in injury to the
hand.
To avoid this problem the bottle 10 is here provided
with an opener 26 recessed in the bottom 28 of the bottle. Thus
the bottle is provided in the bottom with an indentation 30 which
can take various configurations, depending on whether some or all
of the opener 26 is integral with bottom 28 or comprises an
insert secured within indentation 30.
As illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2~ the teeth 32 are
molded integrally with the bottom 28 of the bottle 10 to form a
set each of which presents a cylindrical outer side 34. The
teeth 32 preferably extend from top edge 36 to bottom edge 38 of
i.ndentation 30. Indentation 30 preferably has a depth "d"
approximating the height of cap 14. As well, -the teeth 32 are
preferably curved longitudinally to match the normally curved
edge from top 40 to bottom 42 of the crimped edge 16 of cap 14.
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The number, size and arrangement of tee-th can be varied
as felt necessary to balance the factors affecting opening. For
example, a greater number of teeth will distribute opening force
over a greater area but will be somewhat more difficult to place
over a cap. For standard sized caps 14, it has been Eound
preferable to provide seven teeth 32 evenly distributed about the
indentation 30.
FIGURES 3, 4, and 5 illustrate a variation in which the
indentation 30 has a basically cylindrical configuration and a
toothed ring 44 is secured within the indentation. FIGURES 4 and
5 illustrate a variation in the shape of the teeth 32 in which
the teeth 32 are of truncated pyramindal shape. The outer face
46 of these teeth may be further profiled for easy approach to
the indentations 20 of the cap 14, and the body of teeth
correspondingly modified.
Various other tooth designs can be proposed which would
be entirely suitable.
The ring 44 may be constructed of any suitable
material, such as metal or plastic, but a tough resilient plastic
is preferred. Plastics are readily available which will
withstand repeated use and, as well, nandling, cleaning, and the
like operations between uses.
Similarly, various techniques may be employed for
securing the ring 44 into the indentation 30. These include the
use of adhesives, and press or snap fits.
I'he manner of use of the invention is to invert the
combination twist/crown cap of a bottle to be opened into the
opener so that the teeth 32 engage the crimped edge 16 of the
cap. Relative twisting of the bottles then results in easy
removal of the cap.
Thus it is apparent that there has been provided in
accordance with the invention a combination beverage container
and cap remover that fully satisfies the objects, aims and
advantages set forth above. While the invention has been
described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is
evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will
be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing
description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such
alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the
spirit and broad scope of the invention.
