GB2632862A

GB2632862A - Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps

Info

Publication number: GB2632862A
Application number: GB2312977.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Whitby Douglas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-08-25
Filing date: 2023-08-25
Publication date: 2025-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2043-08-25
Also published as: GB202312977D0; GB2632862B

Abstract

Manually operated device to open child proof or safety bottle caps using combined axial and rotational pressure by means of two handed operation comprising a base 1 with an anti-slip insert 2, vertical height adjusters 3 perpendicular to the base, top retainer plate 5, a pivot pin 4 incorporated into the upper compression lever 6, the pivot pin is free to move within the height adjusters, upper compression lever attached to a lower compression lever 7 by a pivot 9, the lower lever has an integral cup 8. The device may have a recess to receive an anti-slip insert 2. The vertical height adjusters may have angled slots to accommodate containers of different heights. The slots may house the pivot pin at different heights and be angled upwards to maintain the position of the pivot pin when a compressive force is applied to the upper lever. The pivot pin may be adhesively bonded into the upper compression lever. The upper lever may be joined to the lower lever by a pivot 9 through the centre of the cup to allow rotation in clockwise and anticlockwise directions.

Description

Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps.

The growing emphasis on consumer safety has increased the demand for child-resistant medicine bottle caps. Opening these child-resistant caps involves two dissimilar motions -to push and twist -simultaneously. Both age fragility and a wide range of conditions and/or disabilities can limit manual dexterity, making it extremely difficult to open said caps. Furthermore, the contents contained within said bottles is often pain-relieving opioids. The physical effort required to open said bottle caps is likely to cause further pain, which is counter-intuitive.

Other devices that are available to these population groups still require the simultaneous push and twist motions with one hand, whilst holding the bottle with the other hand.

To alleviate these problems the present invention proposes a manual two-handed unit that is lightweight and portable. The product design eliminates the need to use the wrist in a twisting motion and minimises the pressure required by the use of two levers: one applies the pressure; the second has an integral gripping cup that, when rotated anti-clockwise, breaks the initial seal and releases the cap. The bottle is secured on an anti-slip base and therefore the user is not required to hold it in place. The levers are integral to a height adjuster to allow for different bottle heights.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure t shows the Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps in the stored position.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps as seen from the left side.

Figure 3 shows a top view of the Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps in the open position with a cross-section of the pivot pin.

Figure 4 shows a front view of the Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps cross-sectioned in the start position with the finish position indicated by a broken line.

Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional view of the Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps in the stored position.

Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional view of the Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps in the operational position.

Figure 7 is a photographic representation of Figure t in the stored position.

Figure 8 is a photographic representation of the Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps shown in the ready position.

Figure 9 is a photographic representation of the Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps shown in the start position.

Figure 10 is a photographic representation of the Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps shown in the finish position.

I

In Figure 1, the Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps includes a horizontal base (1) which incorporates an anti-slip insert (2). Attached at 90° to the base (1) are vertical height adjusters (3) with a top retainer plate (5). Housed within the vertical height adjusters (3) is an upper compression lever (6) which is attached to the lower lever (7) by the upper to lower lever pivot (9) secured in place by magnets (10).

Figure 2 shows an alternative cross-section view of the Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps as seen from the left in the open position. The base (I) incorporates an anti-slip insert (2). Vertical height adjusters (3) are attached to said base (1) at 90°, with a top retainer plate (5). The upper compression lever (6) is in the open position and at an adjusted height by pivot pin (4). A cross-sectioned view of lower lever (7) is shown with integral cup grip (8). Lower lever (7) is attached to upper compression lever (6) by means of an upper to lower lever pivot (9).

From the storage position, the user will lower the levers to a horizontal position. The user then places a bottle on to the anti-slip insert. The lower lever with integral cup grip should be turned 90° clockwise from the upper compression lever. Both levers are now ready to be placed into the desired height adjustment position ensuring that the pivot pin is fully inserted allowing the integral cup grip to cover the bottle cap. Applying gentle pressure on the upper compression lever, the user now turns the lower lever anti-clockwise up to 180° until the cap is released from its safety lock. The user can now raise the levers, remove the opened bottle, and place the unit back into the storage position.

Figure 3 shows an alternative view of the Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps, with said unit in an adjusted height by pivot pin (4). The lower lever (7) is in the start position and the broken line denotes the finish position after lower lever (7) has been turned anti-clockwise by approximately 180°.

Figure 4 shows a top view of the Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps in the start position. The lower lever (7) has been rotated 90° clockwise about the upper to lower lever pivot (9). A cross-sectional view of the upper compression lever (6) and the pivot pin (4) positioned with the vertical height adjusters (3) is shown.

Figure 5 is a three-dimensional view of Figure 1 where the device is shown in the stored position.

Figure 6 is a three-dimensional view of Figure 3 in which the device is shown in the start position.

Figure 7 is a photograph of Figure 1 where the device is shown in the stored position.

Figure 8 is a photograph of Figure 2 where the device is in the open position. The photograph includes a bottle which has been placed on the anti-slip insert (2) and the bottle cap is shown within the integral cup grip (8).

Figure 9 is a photograph of Figure 3 whereby the device is in the start position. The photograph includes a bottle which has been placed on the anti-slip insert (2) and the bottle cap is shown within the integral cup grip (8).

Figure 10 is a photograph of Figure 3 where the device is shown in the finish position, as indicated by the broken line in Figure 3. The photograph shows a bottle placed on the anti-slip insert (2) and the bottle cap has been released from its bottle seal within the integral cup grip (8).

Claims

Claims 1. The present invention is a lightweight and portable Functional unit that provides combined axial pressure and rotation to facilitate the opening of child-resistant bottle caps by means of a manual two-handed operation, comprising: a Base that embodies an Anti-slip insert, Vertical height adjusters perpendicular to said base with a Top retainer plate, a Pivot pin which is freely housed within the said Vertical height adjusters and is incorporated into an Upper compression lever, said Upper compression lever being attached to a Lower lever with Integral cup grip by means of an Upper to lower lever pivot.
2. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claim 1, whereby the said Functional unit may be manufactured from suitable materials such as plastics, metals, or species of wood.
3. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claim 1, whereby the Base is of an optimum size for stability, and said Base has a shaped recess to receive the Anti-slip insert.
4. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claims I and 3, in which the Anti-slip insert is shaped to prevent rotation, when combined with the adhesive tape and anti-slip surface, of the bottle when under compression.
5. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claims 1, 3, and 4, in which the Anti-slip insert has a surface covered, by means of adhesion, with a material that is capable of primarily preventing a bottle or container from slipping or rotating, said surface currently being soft rubber.
6. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claims 1, 3, 4, and 5, wherein the Base incorporates an Anti-slip insert that is removable for cleaning or replacement purposes, the material of which should provide grip through friction.
7. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claim I, whereby the angled slots situated within the Vertical height adjusters accommodate a plurality of different heights of bottles or containers.
8. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claims I and 7, in which the Vertical height adjusters incorporate multiple slots to house the Pivot pin at different heights, said slots being sufficiently angled upwards to allow compression to the Upper compression lever, so that when pressure is applied to said Upper compression lever the pressure is equally transferred to the Lower lever integral cup grip and the Pivot pin retains its position in the required slot, thus maintaining the necessary height.
9. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claims 1 and 8, in which the Pivot pin is adhesively bonded into the Upper compression lever, said lever being of a sufficient length to achieve the pressure required for the intended operation.
10. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claims 1, 7, 8, and 9, whereby the Top retainer plate provides rigidity and retains equal spacing of the Vertical height adjusters as has been set in the Base, allowing free movement of the Upper compression lever and Pivot pin.
11. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claim 1, whereby the Lower lever is connected to the Upper compression lever by means of a Pivot through the centre of the Cup grip to maintain a fixed axis point of rotation, so that said Lower lever can be rotated about said Upper to lower lever pivot both clockwise and anticlockwise, and said Lower lever is of a sufficient length to aid the intended operation.
12. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claims I and I I, wherein the Lower lever incorporates an Integral cup of an optimum size and shape to receive said push and twist bottle caps.
13. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claims 1 and 12, in which the Integral cup grip has a surface material that is capable of preventing the cap from slipping, when under compression, within said grip, said material currently being soft rubber.
14. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claims 1, 12, and 13, whereby the cup grip can be configured to enhance grip by means of ridging, shaping, or another form of gripping element.
15. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claims 1, 12, 13, and 14, whereby the Integral cup grip can be designed to receive a plurality of different sized caps, such as that of, but not limited to, a medicine bottle.
16. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claims 1, 8, 9, 10, and 11, whereby both the Pivot pin and the Upper to lower lever pivot are manufactured in metal for necessary strength and stability.
17. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claim 1, whereby the Upper compression lever and the Lower lever with Integral cup grip are stored within the Vertical height adjusters and secured by means of magnets.
18. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps according to Claim 1, or as in any of the preceding claims, which may vary in size.
19. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps as in Claim 1, or any of the preceding claims, which may vary in appearance provided the unit's basic function remains.
20. A Functional unit for opening child-safety push and twist bottle caps as in Claim 1, or any of the preceding claims, whereby the current device is manually operated and has no electrical components.