Lid removal tool

Claim 1

For removing relatively rigid, heavy-gauge lids of synthetic material, of the type having a top surface and a substantial, downwardly extending rim which ends in a continuous lip, said rim designed to provide a tight fit on bulk containers, said lid being removable only after the downwardly extending lip of said rim is cut at spaced apart points about the circumference, a tool enabling easy removal of said lid without normally experienced difficulties, said tool comprising a rigid shaft, one end of said shaft adapted for use as a handle, and a forked construction at the other end of said shaft, defining two arms configured and arranged to engage about said rim of said lid, the first arm having at its outer end a portion shaped to rest on the top surface of said lid and adapted to serve as a fulcrum during removal of said lid, the second arm having at its end a rim-gripping formation shaped to grip the lip of said downwardly extending rim, and an upwardly directed cutting edge adapted to move upwardly during inward rotation of said handle in a manner to progressively cut said lip and locally sever said rim, and said rim-gripping formation adapted to engage and pull upwardly said rim during rotation of said handle, whereby to remove said lid, at several points spaced around the circumference of said rim, said tool can be engaged about said rim, the end portion of said first arm resting on the top surface of said lid, the end portion of said second arm positioned to grip said lip and said cutting edge engaged on said lip, and the handle portion of said tool can be moved inwardly rotating about said fulcrum to cause said cutting edge to cut said lip and locally sever said rim and to cause the end portion of the second arm to grip the lip of said rim and pry it outward and upward to facilitate removal of said lid.