GB2290740A - Jar gripper - Google Patents

Abstract

A jar gripping unit has a fixed body, 1, with a slide assembly arrangement 2 and 4, that acts as a vice. By inserting a jar within the specially designed jaws 3, the operator can tighten the grip on the jar by turning the handle, thus leaving both hands free to undo the jar lid. Alternative size jaws 5 may be stowed within the unit. The jaws have a serrated rubber surface. The unit may be releasably attachable to a working surface (Fig 2). <IMAGE>

Description

JAR GRIPPER This invention relates to a simple mechanical aid for gripping various types ot jars to enable the lids to be easily removed.

In many households some people are finding great difficulty in opening various types of jars, i.e. vacuum-sealed jars, such as jam, pickles and others.

There are available various types of tools for gripping and turning jar tops, but holding the jar tight enough to enable the top to be removed is a problem.

This can be a major problem to disabled and elderly people living alone that just have not the strength in their hands to be able to grip the jars firm enough to carry out the opening operst,ion, My solution to this problem is to provide a Jar Gripper that will form part of the general kitchen equipment to enable the operator to clamp the jar tight enough and leave both hands free to operate one or other of the various lid-removing tools.

According to the present invention the gripping unit is provided in the form of a vice with jaws, so designed to fit most domestic jars.

The operator simply selects and fits the appropriate size jaws, places the jar within and winds uF tight to grip the jar, The serrated, rubber-taced jaws have fixed dowels to facilitate easy fitting and removal.

The various size ,jaws are stowed within the unit.

Figure 1 shows the basic jar gripper that can easily be flitted to a worktop by means of either bolts or clamps.

Figure 2 shows the gripper unit corpiete with a worktop slide-on attachment and thum screws.

Figure 3 shows the gripper unit with either left or right hand side fixings.

Figure 4 shows the gripper urit in the torn of s drawer that can we witted to most types of kitchen units.

In this versatile configuration the drawer can Iso act as a stowage for bottle and Jar lid opening too Is.

Ref erring to the drawing the jar gripper unit comprises a vice with specially designed jaws to accommodate various types of domestic jars.

Figure 1 shows the complete basic unit. Item 1 is the static portion that can be fixed to the worktop either by screws or clamps.

Item 2 is the slide assembly that will slide through either grooved or tubular slide arrangement by operating the handle, item 4, and thus clamping the jar within the jaws, Item 3 or r.

Smaller diameter, easy-to-fix jaws are provided and are conveniently stowed within the unit.

Claims (5)

1. A jar gripping unit in the form of a vice so designed to provide the means to grip various diameter domestic jars in serrated- rubber jaws to enable the operator to have both hands free to use various lid-removing tools.

2. A jar gripping unit as claimed in Claim 1 with additional various diameter jaws with fixed dowels for easy fitting and removing into dowel recesses.

This unit has spare jaw stowage capability.

3. A jar gripping unit as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 wherein a quick release attachment is provided to attach the unit to most standard kitchen worktops by means of thumb screws.

4. A jar gripping unit as claimed in Claims 1 and with left or right hand side fixing capa.b.lity.

5. A jar gripping unit as claimed in Claims 1. and 2 provided as a drawer for fitting to various kitchen units.