US3906706A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cap-tightener
Assignee: ITNOC DAIRY CAP CO Inc
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Filing: 1973-12-13
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Granted: 1975-09-23
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Expires: 1993-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A cap-tightener for tightening caps which are already sitting on top of a bottle is disclosed. The cap-tightener comprises a cylindrical housing which supports a plurality of cap gripping elements positioned within the housing. The gripping elements each include an actuating portion which extends along the top of the housing and a gripping portion which extends toward the open end of the housing. The gripping elements pivot and are caused to securely grip the cap by the upward movement of the bottle and cap against the actuating portions of the gripping elements. After the cap has been gripped, the tightener is rotated, thereby threading the cap on the bottle and securely tightening it.
Inventors
- 👤 Vincent N Conti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:36
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67B; B67B3/00; B67B3/20; B67B3/2066; B67B2201/00; B67B2201/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A cap tightener for threading a cap onto a bottleneck, comprising: a. a housing having a top, side wall and open end; b. a plurality of cap gripping elements positioned within said housing and facing the open end thereof, said cap gripping elements together defining a cap receiving opening, and each of said gripping elements having a first actuating portion extending along the top of said housing and a second gripping portion extending toward the open end of said housing along the side wall thereof for alignment with the side of the cap when positioned within said cap receiving opening; c. pivot means for mounting said gripping elements in said housing for pivoting movement about a pivot axis between a first open cap receiving position and a second cap gripping position; and d. spring means disposed below the pivot axis engaging along the gripping portions of the gripping elements and providing the sole means for normally urging them toward the side wall of the housing and into said cap receiving position, said actuating portions extending inwardly of the side wall of the housing and toward the open end thereof when the gripping portions are in said cap receiving position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A cap tightener for threading a cap onto a bottleneck, comprising: a. a housing having a top, side wall and open end; b. a plurality of cap gripping elements positioned within said housing and facing the open end thereof, said cap gripping elements together defining a cap receiving opening, and each of said gripping elements having a first actuating portion extending along the top of said housing and a second gripping portion extending toward the open end of said housing along the side wall thereof for alignment with the side of the cap when positioned within said cap receiving opening; c. pivot means for mounting said gripping elements in said housing for pivoting movement about a pivot axis between a first open cap receiving position and a second cap gripping position; and d. spring means disposed below the pivot axis engaging along the gripping portions of the gripping elements and providing the sole means for normally urging them toward the side wall of the housing and into said cap receiving position, said actuating portions extending inwardly of the side wall of the housing and toward the open end thereof when the gripping portions are in said cap receiving position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cap tightener as in claim 1, wherein: a. said pivot means is located adjacent the juncture of the top and side walls of the housing; and b. the pivot means engages the gripping elements substantially approximate to the junction of said gripping and actuating portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cap tightener as defined in claim 2 further comprising: a. stud means extending from either said side wall or said gripping elements and into an opening in said gripping elements or said side wall, respectively, for blocking removal of the gripping elements from the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cap tightener as in claim 3 wherein said stud means extends from said side wall into an opening in said gripping elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cap tightener as in claim 4 wherein said stud means is stationary with respect to said side wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A cap tightener as in claim 2 wherein the gripping portions of each of the gripping elements is substantially contiguous with the side walls of the housing when said elements are in said first open cap receiving position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cap tightener as in claim 1 further comprising means separate from said pivot means for effecting engagement between said cap gripping elements and said housing and for blocking removal of said gripping elements from said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A cap tightener as defined in claim 2, wherein: a. the pivot means is located along the side wall of the housing and adjacent the top and extends radially inwardly of the side wall for holding the gripping portions of the gripping elements spaced from the side wall adjacent the top.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cap tightener as defined in claim 8, wherein: a. said pivot means is defined by a ridge located at the junction of the side wall and top of the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cap tightener as defined in claim 8, wherein: a. said pivot means includes a wire member positioned adjacent the junction of the side wall and top.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A cap tightener as defined in claim 2, wherein: a. the gripping portions of the gripping elements are provided with a groove extending around the cap receiving opening; and b. said spring means is disposed within said groove.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A cap tightener as defined in claim 11, wherein: a. said spring means comprises a spring wire having a length less than the circumference of the groove to permit the contraction of the spring during pivoting of said gripping elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
119 words
A cap tightener as defined in claim 2, further comprising: a. an actuating plate covering the actuating poRtions of the gripping elements for direct engagement by the top of the cap upon insertion into the cap receiving opening; b. at least one opening in the top of the housing; c. aligned openings through the actuating portions of the gripping elements; d. support means connected to said plate and extending through said openings for slidably mounting said plate and support means for movement toward the open end of said housing; and e. second spring means urging said plate toward the open end of said housing for engagement with the top of the cap when inserted into the cap receiving opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cap tightener as defined in claim 13, wherein: a. said support means is centrally located within said housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
A cap tightener as defined in claim 2, wherein: a. the interior of said housing is circular in shape; and b. said gripping elements are four in number with each taking up a sector of the interior of said housing and being spaced from each other, as measured from sector to sector, to permit pivoting within said housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cap-tightener as defined in claim 3, wherein: a. said gripping portions are provided with serrations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
A cap-tightener as defined in claim 2, further comprising: a. rotatable support means for supporting said housing for rotation and linear movement along the axis of rotation of said support means; and b. clutch means secured to said support means for imparting rotary motion to said housing upon linear movement of said housing into engagement with said clutch means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as in claim 17, wherein: a. the clutch means is shaped to provide positive engagement during the threading of a cap onto a bottle neck and slipping with respect to the cap upon the cap being tightened against further rotation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as in claim 18, wherein: a. the cap tightener is resiliently urged toward the bottle; and b. said clutch means is a key for engaging a slot on said housing, said key including a surface with a relatively small slope, said slope positioned on the side of said key that approaches said slot during threading of the cap onto the bottle neck.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |