US4949600A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combination pop-top can and bottle opener having engaging lip
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-08-11
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Granted: 1990-08-21
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Expires: 2009-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A combination pop-top can and bottle opener having an elongated lever body, a lifting element positioned on the lever body and sized and shaped to fit underneath a lift tab on a pop-top can, a fulcrum element formed on the lever body in physical association with the lift element but spaced away from the lift element to form a pop-top tab sheaving channel between the lift element and the fulcrum element, is improved by including an improved bottle cap edge gripper on the lever body. The edge gripper is formed to include one or both of a concave edge or a tongue. The tongue is tilted out of the plane of the remainder of the edge gripper. Further, opposing detents are formed on the gripper member to facilitate attachment of the gripper member to the lever body.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce E. Tricinella
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:33
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67B; B67B7/00; B67B7/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
In combination with a pop-top can and bottle opener of the type having a lever body formed as a unitary elongated body with an elongated planar portion of the lever body formed as a lifting element for fitting underneath a pop-top can lift tab on a pop-top can, the lifting element including a wedge surface for fitting between a pop-top can lift tab and the top surface of a pop-top can; a fulcrum element formed as a further portion of the elongated lever body, the fulcrum element for engaging either the top of a bottle cap or one surface of the pop-top lift tab, the fulcrum element including a straight section and an arcuate section with the straight section of the fulcrum element located in parallel planar association with the lifting element and joining the arcuate section to the remainder of the lever body, and the arcuate section of the fulcrum element curving away from the lifting element, a pop-top lift tab sheaving channel formed as an opening between the lifting element and the fulcrum element on the lever body, an improvement comprising: a generally planar bottle cap gripping member independent of but fixedly joining to said lever body, said gripping member having first and second side edges joined by a back edge and a lifting edge; said gripping member formed of a material essentially impervious to deformation by an edge of a bottle cap; said lifting edge of said gripping member including a bottle cap engagement means for engaging with the under side of the edge of a bottle cap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
261 words
In combination with a pop-top can and bottle opener of the type having a lever body formed as a unitary elongated body with an elongated planar portion of the lever body formed as a lifting element for fitting underneath a pop-top can lift tab on a pop-top can, the lifting element including a wedge surface for fitting between a pop-top can lift tab and the top surface of a pop-top can; a fulcrum element formed as a further portion of the elongated lever body, the fulcrum element for engaging either the top of a bottle cap or one surface of the pop-top lift tab, the fulcrum element including a straight section and an arcuate section with the straight section of the fulcrum element located in parallel planar association with the lifting element and joining the arcuate section to the remainder of the lever body, and the arcuate section of the fulcrum element curving away from the lifting element, a pop-top lift tab sheaving channel formed as an opening between the lifting element and the fulcrum element on the lever body, an improvement comprising: a generally planar bottle cap gripping member independent of but fixedly joining to said lever body, said gripping member having first and second side edges joined by a back edge and a lifting edge; said gripping member formed of a material essentially impervious to deformation by an edge of a bottle cap; said lifting edge of said gripping member including a bottle cap engagement means for engaging with the under side of the edge of a bottle cap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An improvement of claim 1 wherein: said bottle cap engagement means includes said lifting edge formed as a concave edge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An improvement of claim 1 wherein: said bottle cap engagement means includes said lifting edge having first and second notches formed therein with the portion of said lifting edge located between said notches tilted out of the plane of the remainder of said gripping member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
An improvement of claim 1 wherein: said bottle cap engagement means includes said lifting edge formed as a concave edge with first and second notches formed in said concave edge and with the portion of said concave edge located between said notches tilted out of the plane of the remainder of said gripping member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
An improvement of claim 1 wherein: said back edge of said gripping member includes a cutout area extending in the plane of said gripping member towards said lifting edge; and said gripping member attaching to said lever body by locking said cutout area about a portion of said lever body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
An improvement of claim 1 including: said back edge of said gripping member having a cutout area extending in the plane of said gripping member towards said lifting edge, said cutout having left and right side walls intersecting said back edge; first and second opposing detent means located the intersection of said left and right side walls with said back edge; and said gripping member attaching to said lever body by positioning said cutout area about a portion of said lever body with said first and second detent means engaging said lever body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An improvement of claim 1 wherein: said gripping member is formed of a stainless steel plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A combination of claim 1 further including: a portion of said lever body formed as a web; and said gripping member having a central cutout area therein, said gripping member attaching to said lever body by positioning of said gripping member cutout area onto lever body web.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
An improvement of claim 8 further including: said back edge of said gripping member having a cutout area extending in the plane of said gripping member towards said lifting edge, said cutout including left and right side walls intersecting said back edge; first and second opposing detent means located the intersection of said left and right side walls with said back edge; and said gripping member attaching to said lever body by positioning said cutout about said lever body web with said first and second detent means engaging said lever body web.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
243 words
In combination with a pop-top can and bottle opener of the type having an elongated unitary lever body with a portion of the lever body formed as an elongated planar lift element having its elongated axis coaxial with the elongated axis of the lever body and with a further portion of the lever body formed as a fulcrum element, the fulcrum element including a straight section and an arcuate section with the straight section located on the lever body in association with the lift element and spaced away from the lift element to define a lift tab sheaving channel between the lift element and the fulcrum element, and with the lift tab sheaving channel formed with walls which are parallel to one another and which are spaced apart from one another a distance to accept positioning of a pop-top lift tab between the walls, and with a further portion of the lever body formed as a web, an improvement comprising: a generally planar bottle cap gripping member independent of but fixedly joining to said lever body about said lever body web, said gripping member having first and second side edges joined by a back edge and a lifting edge; said gripping member formed of a material essentially impervious to deformation by an edge of a bottle cap; said lifting edge of said gripping member including a bottle cap engagement means for engaging with the under side of the edge of a bottle cap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
243 words
In combination with a pop-top can and bottle opener of the type having an elongated unitary lever body with a portion of the lever body formed as an elongated planar lift element having its elongated axis coaxial with the elongated axis of the lever body and with a further portion of the lever body formed as a fulcrum element, the fulcrum element including a straight section and an arcuate section with the straight section located on the lever body in association with the lift element and spaced away from the lift element to define a lift tab sheaving channel between the lift element and the fulcrum element, and with the lift tab sheaving channel formed with walls which are parallel to one another and which are spaced apart from one another a distance to accept positioning of a pop-top lift tab between the walls, and with a further portion of the lever body formed as a web, an improvement comprising: a generally planar bottle cap gripping member independent of but fixedly joining to said lever body about said lever body web, said gripping member having first and second side edges joined by a back edge and a lifting edge; said gripping member formed of a material essentially impervious to deformation by an edge of a bottle cap; said lifting edge of said gripping member including a bottle cap engagement means for engaging with the under side of the edge of a bottle cap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
An improvement of claim 10 wherein: said back edge of said gripping member includes a cutout area extending in the plane of said gripping member towards said lifting edge; and said gripping member attaching to said lever body by locking said cutout area about said lever body web.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
An improvement of claim 10 including: said back edge of said gripping member having a cutout area extending in the plane of said gripping member towards said lifting edge, said cutout having left and right side walls intersecting said back edge; first and second opposing detent means located the intersection of said left and right side walls with said back edge; and said gripping member attaching to said lever body by positioning said cutout area about said lever body web with said first and second detent means engaging said web.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An improvement of claim 10 wherein: said bottle cap engagement means includes said lifting edge formed as a concave edge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
An improvement of claim 10 wherein: said bottle cap engagement means includes said lifting edge having first and second notches formed therein with the portion of said lifting edge located between said notches tilted out of the plane of the remainder of said gripping member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
An improvement of claim 10 wherein: said bottle cap engagement means includes said lifting edge formed as a concave edge with first and second notches formed in said concave edge and with the portion of said concave edge located between said notches tilted out of the plane of the remainder of said gripping member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
229 words
In combination with a pop-top can and bottle opener of the type having an elongated unitary lever body with a portion of the lever body formed as an elongated planar lift element having its elongated axis coaxial with the elongated axis of the lever body and with a further portion of the lever body formed as a fulcrum element, the fulcrum element including a straight section and an arcuate section with the straight section located on the lever body in association with the lift element and spaced away from the lift element to define a lift tab sheaving channel between the lift element and the fulcrum element, and with the lift tab sheaving channel formed with walls which are parallel to one another and which are spaced apart from one another a distance to accept positioning of a pop-top lift tab between the walls, an improvement comprising: a generally planar bottle cap gripping member independent of but fixedly joining to said lever body; said gripping member having a lifting edge; said gripping member formed of a material essentially impervious to deformation by an edge of a bottle cap; said lifting edge of said gripping member including a bottle cap engagement means for engaging with the under side of the edge of a bottle cap; and said bottle cap engagement means including said lifting edge formed as a concave edge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
229 words
In combination with a pop-top can and bottle opener of the type having an elongated unitary lever body with a portion of the lever body formed as an elongated planar lift element having its elongated axis coaxial with the elongated axis of the lever body and with a further portion of the lever body formed as a fulcrum element, the fulcrum element including a straight section and an arcuate section with the straight section located on the lever body in association with the lift element and spaced away from the lift element to define a lift tab sheaving channel between the lift element and the fulcrum element, and with the lift tab sheaving channel formed with walls which are parallel to one another and which are spaced apart from one another a distance to accept positioning of a pop-top lift tab between the walls, an improvement comprising: a generally planar bottle cap gripping member independent of but fixedly joining to said lever body; said gripping member having a lifting edge; said gripping member formed of a material essentially impervious to deformation by an edge of a bottle cap; said lifting edge of said gripping member including a bottle cap engagement means for engaging with the under side of the edge of a bottle cap; and said bottle cap engagement means including said lifting edge formed as a concave edge.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
254 words
In combination with a pop-top can and bottle opener of the type having an elongated unitary lever body with a portion of the lever body formed as an elongated planar lift element having its elongated axis coaxial with the elongated axis of the lever body and with a further portion of the lever body formed as a fulcrum element, the fulcrum element including a straight section and an arcuate section with the straight section located on the lever body in association with the lift element and spaced away from the lift element to define a lift tab sheaving channel between the lift element and the fulcrum element, and with the lift tab sheaving channel formed with walls which are parallel to one another and which are spaced apart from one another a distance to accept positioning of a pop-top lift tab between the walls, an improvement comprising: a generally planar bottle cap gripping member independent of but fixedly joining to said lever body; said gripping member having a lifting edge; said gripping member formed of a material essentially impervious to deformation by an edge of a bottle cap; said lifting edge of said gripping member including a bottle cap engagement means for engaging with the under side of the edge of a bottle cap; and said bottle cap engagement means including said lifting edge having first and second notches formed therein with the portion of said lifting edge located between said notches tilted out of the plane of the remainder of said gripping member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
254 words
In combination with a pop-top can and bottle opener of the type having an elongated unitary lever body with a portion of the lever body formed as an elongated planar lift element having its elongated axis coaxial with the elongated axis of the lever body and with a further portion of the lever body formed as a fulcrum element, the fulcrum element including a straight section and an arcuate section with the straight section located on the lever body in association with the lift element and spaced away from the lift element to define a lift tab sheaving channel between the lift element and the fulcrum element, and with the lift tab sheaving channel formed with walls which are parallel to one another and which are spaced apart from one another a distance to accept positioning of a pop-top lift tab between the walls, an improvement comprising: a generally planar bottle cap gripping member independent of but fixedly joining to said lever body; said gripping member having a lifting edge; said gripping member formed of a material essentially impervious to deformation by an edge of a bottle cap; said lifting edge of said gripping member including a bottle cap engagement means for engaging with the under side of the edge of a bottle cap; and said bottle cap engagement means including said lifting edge having first and second notches formed therein with the portion of said lifting edge located between said notches tilted out of the plane of the remainder of said gripping member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1199272A
Cited
US4583429A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-20 | 1994-02-19 | 1994-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-20 | 1998-02-19 | 1998-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-20 | 2002-02-19 | 2002-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |