GB2106479A - Gripping device - Google Patents

Abstract

A gripping device for a cap or top of a screw top jar, bottle or the like, comprises a resilient sleeve 1 having a slit 2 to enable the sleeve to be resiliently expanded and contracted. The inside of the sleeve 1 is linear with a pad 4 to grip and conform to the skirts of the cap or top. Externally, the sleeve may be provided with knurling 6 or other grip-improving configurations. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Gripping device This invention relates to gripping devices primarily designed to assist in the opening of screw top jars and bottles.

Various forms of device for this purpose are available but in general they are not easy to use in that they require accurate placement on the top to be removed and usually also a fairly firm grip.

Accordingly, they are not suitable for use by people handicapped by poor eyesight or by hands affected by arthritis or similar conditions.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a gripping device comprising a sleeve of resilient material, preferably a plastics material, such as polyethylene, the sleeve being divided by a slit enabling the sleeve to be resiliently expanded and contracted, a lining material being secured within the sleeve to grip and conform to a cap or top over which the sleeve is introduced whereby manually grasping the sleeve and compressing it onto a skirt of the cap or top will enable the cap or top to be turned by rotation of the sleeve.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of opening a screw top jar, bottle or the like, comprising engaging over the screw top a gripping device according to the invention as set forth above so that it is in frictional engagement with a skirt of the screw top and twisting the sleeve to entrain the cap in the movement thereof.

The external surface of the sleeve may be provided with knurling or other formation to assist manual gripping.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of gripping device in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1.

The gripping or opening device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and consists of a generally cylindrical sleeve 1 of polyethylene or like plastics material having a generally axial slit 2 which, in the preferred form is convergent from both ends towards the centre and somewhat curved. The plastics material is resilient and the sleeve is so dimensioned that it will fit over and engage a range of sizes of screw tops for jars or bottles. In order to provide a good grip on the skirt of the screw top to be engaged, and also accommodate to it, the inside of the sleeve is lined with a rubber lining 3 which is preferably a laminate of a foam material 4 and a rubber of rubber like material 5 which has a pattern of protuberances to key it into the foam material.The layer 5 is firmly secured to the inner surface of the sleeve by adhesive or otherwise. The outer surface of the sleeve may have moulded into it, or attached to it, knurled or otherwise roughened gripping surfaces to assist in manual gripping of the sleeve for use.

In use, the gripping device, which may have a belled out lower edge to provide a lead-in surface, is introduced over the skirt of the cap to be released and is then tightened manually and twisted, also manually, to release the cap.

It will be seen that the longitudinal accuracy of engagement of the cap does not have to be particularly precise, and also the considerable length of the sleeve itself means that it can be more readily grasped by users whose hands may be effected by arthritis or other crippling diseases.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

1. A gripping device comprising a sleeve of resilient material divided by a slit enabling the sleeve to be resiliently expanded and contracted, a lining material secured within the sleeve to grip and conform to a cap or top over which the sleeve is introduced whereby manually grasping the sleeve and compressing it to contract it onto a skirt of the cap or top will enable the cap or top to be turned by rotation of the sleeve.

2. A gripping device as claimed in claim 1, in which the sleeve is of a plastics material.

3. A gripping device as claimed in claim 2, in which the sleeve is of polyethylene.

4. A gripping device as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, in which the outer surface of the sleeve is formed with knurling or other configuration to assist manual gripping.

5. A gripping device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A method of opening a screw top jar, bottle, or the like, comprising engaging over the screw top or cap a gripping device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, so that the gripping device is in frictional engagement with a skirt of the screw top, and twisting the sleeve to engage the cap in the movement therein.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Gripping device This invention relates to gripping devices primarily designed to assist in the opening of screw top jars and bottles. Various forms of device for this purpose are available but in general they are not easy to use in that they require accurate placement on the top to be removed and usually also a fairly firm grip. Accordingly, they are not suitable for use by people handicapped by poor eyesight or by hands affected by arthritis or similar conditions. In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a gripping device comprising a sleeve of resilient material, preferably a plastics material, such as polyethylene, the sleeve being divided by a slit enabling the sleeve to be resiliently expanded and contracted, a lining material being secured within the sleeve to grip and conform to a cap or top over which the sleeve is introduced whereby manually grasping the sleeve and compressing it onto a skirt of the cap or top will enable the cap or top to be turned by rotation of the sleeve. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of opening a screw top jar, bottle or the like, comprising engaging over the screw top a gripping device according to the invention as set forth above so that it is in frictional engagement with a skirt of the screw top and twisting the sleeve to entrain the cap in the movement thereof. The external surface of the sleeve may be provided with knurling or other formation to assist manual gripping. The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of gripping device in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1. The gripping or opening device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and consists of a generally cylindrical sleeve 1 of polyethylene or like plastics material having a generally axial slit 2 which, in the preferred form is convergent from both ends towards the centre and somewhat curved. The plastics material is resilient and the sleeve is so dimensioned that it will fit over and engage a range of sizes of screw tops for jars or bottles. In order to provide a good grip on the skirt of the screw top to be engaged, and also accommodate to it, the inside of the sleeve is lined with a rubber lining 3 which is preferably a laminate of a foam material 4 and a rubber of rubber like material 5 which has a pattern of protuberances to key it into the foam material.The layer 5 is firmly secured to the inner surface of the sleeve by adhesive or otherwise. The outer surface of the sleeve may have moulded into it, or attached to it, knurled or otherwise roughened gripping surfaces to assist in manual gripping of the sleeve for use. In use, the gripping device, which may have a belled out lower edge to provide a lead-in surface, is introduced over the skirt of the cap to be released and is then tightened manually and twisted, also manually, to release the cap. It will be seen that the longitudinal accuracy of engagement of the cap does not have to be particularly precise, and also the considerable length of the sleeve itself means that it can be more readily grasped by users whose hands may be effected by arthritis or other crippling diseases. Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

1. A gripping device comprising a sleeve of resilient material divided by a slit enabling the sleeve to be resiliently expanded and contracted, a lining material secured within the sleeve to grip and conform to a cap or top over which the sleeve is introduced whereby manually grasping the sleeve and compressing it to contract it onto a skirt of the cap or top will enable the cap or top to be turned by rotation of the sleeve.

2. A gripping device as claimed in claim 1, in which the sleeve is of a plastics material.

3. A gripping device as claimed in claim 2, in which the sleeve is of polyethylene.

4. A gripping device as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, in which the outer surface of the sleeve is formed with knurling or other configuration to assist manual gripping.

5. A gripping device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A method of opening a screw top jar, bottle, or the like, comprising engaging over the screw top or cap a gripping device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, so that the gripping device is in frictional engagement with a skirt of the screw top, and twisting the sleeve to engage the cap in the movement therein.