APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPENING JARS

Inventor: MARK T. GILES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of kitchen tools, and more particularly to kitchen tools and methods for overcoming the torque needed to open vacuum sealed jars.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

[0002] Many foods are sold in jars that are sealed before the cooked contents cool to create an internal vacuum condition to securely hold the jar cap in place and effectively protect the contents from becoming contaminated. Vacuum sealing pertains both to jar caps with full threading requiring a complete rotation or more to be removed and quick-release jar caps requiring less than a quarter turn to be removed. A problem exists in that removing vacuum-sealed jar caps requires the application of significantly more torque, in the range of 33% to 100% more torque, than needed to remove the same caps without vacuum seals. Because of this greater torque requirement, many people have difficulty removing a cap from a vacuum sealed jar. When the person is older, or has less hand strength than average, removing a vacuum-sealed cap from a jar becomes a major challenge.

[0003] Over the years, different devices have been developed and sold to attempt to overcome the problem of removing the vacuum-sealed jar cap. Some of these devices serve as a tool to increase the gripping force and torque the person can apply to the cap through leverage. Some are simply an elastomeric frictional pad to increase the amount of grip the person applies with the same force. Some are electrically driven clamping chuck devices to unscrew jar caps. In all cases, the vacuum has to be overcome, and

traditionally a greater torque has been the available means to do so. The present invention overcomes the problem through a novel and simple approach.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

[0004] The jar opening apparatus and method of the invention provides means for relieving the vacuum under which a jar cap is sealed to reduce the torque required for opening the jar. A pin is mounted to a plunger that can be depressed against the force of a compression spring. The pin is preferably formed with a narrow tip having a flat end. The jar opening apparatus is placed on a vacuum-sealed jar cap to be opened. When the plunger is depressed, the pin is extended through an orifice in a base portion to punch a hole through the jar cap, causing an audible impact and releasing the vacuum. The compression spring then retracts the pin into the orifice, and ambient air enters the jar to relieve the vacuum and reduce the amount of torque needed to open the jar. In the preferred embodiment, a magnet is included in the base of the jar opening device for securing the jar cap during use, and to a refrigerator or other steel surface for storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

[0005] The present invention is best understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which like elements are identified by similar reference numerals and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view of the jar opening apparatus of the invention positioned on a capped jar, the jar and cap shown in dashed lines.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the jar opening apparatus of Figure 1 taken in the direction indicated by line 2 - 2 with the plunger in raised position and the punching pin retracted.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the jar opening apparatus of Figure 1 taken in the direction indicated by line 2 - 2 with the plunger depressed and the punching pin extended.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the jar opening apparatus taken in the direction of line 4 - 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevation view of the punching pin as it punched through a jar cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT: [0006] Referring to Figure 1 , a jar 10 and a jar cap 12 are illustrated in dashed lines. Cap 12 may be of the type requiring one or more complete rotations to be removed from jar 10 or a quick-release type requiring less than a quarter turn to be removed. In either type cap, sealing under vacuum has been done and cap removal requires the application of considerable torque. In all practical applications of the present invention, jar 10 is oriented vertically.

[0007] According to the description herein, the present invention is directed to puncturing the cap of a vacuum-sealed jar so as to reduce the pressure differential on the jar cap and lessen the torque needed to rotate and remove the cap. An implement is used for puncturing the cap, and the implement is then removed from the punched hole. With a hole made through the cap, the pressure within the jar equalizes with ambient pressure allowing the cap to be rotated and removed more easily.

[0008] The apparatus 20 for removing jar caps sealed under vacuum is depicted as a cap punch device shown residing on top of cap 12. Cap punch device 20 has a head 24 mounted to a plunger 26 that is adapted for being moved downwardly in response to downward pressure on head 24. While head 24 is illustrated as being hemi-spherical, other shapes including flat are applicable within the scope of the present invention. Plunger 26 is partly encased in a housing 28 that is affixed to a base 30. In the preferred embodiment, a magnetic pad 32 is assembled to the lower surface of base 30. Magnetic pad 32 removably holds cap punch device 20 to jar cap 12 during use. When cap punch device 20 is not being used, magnetic pad 32 allows temporary mounting of cap punch device 20 on a convenient steel

surface, for example a panel of a refrigerator. Magnetic pad 32 is formed of flexible sheet magnetic material, as is known. Alternatively, base 30 may be formed of a magnetized plate. Preferably, a magnet or magnetic pad may be positioned within base 30.

[0009] Referring now to Figure 2, cap punch device 20 is shown in a cross sectional view taken along line 2 - 2 of Figure 1. As noted above, head 24 is mounted to plunger 26, and housing 28 is affixed to base 30 by conventional means, for example an adhesive or screw fasteners (not shown). Plunger 26 is seen to have the cross sectional shape of an inverted letter "T" with a lower rim extending radially outward, and housing 28 has an inwardly extending upper rim so that when cap punch device 20 is assembled, plunger 26 is captive within housing 28. The lower surface of plunger 26 rests on biasing member 38, for example a compression spring, that allows assembled head 24 and plunger 26 to be moved downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow A and raises head 24 and plunger 26 when the downward pressure is released. Biasing member 38 is contained within housing 28 by the assembly of base 30. Base 30 has an orifice 36 formed axially therethrough. A puncturing member, i.e. pin 34, is fixed into an axial hole in the lower surface of plunger 26 with an exposed length configured to reside totally within housing 28 and orifice 36 when plunger 26 is in the raised position. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, pin 34 and orifice 36 are located centrally in plunger 26 and base 30 respectively. Pin 34 is formed of a hard metal, preferably stainless steel, and having a sharp point on its exposed end to readily punch through a metal jar cap 12 (Figure 1). Other components of cap punch device 20 are made of any conventional material, including metals and plastic resins.

[0010] Referring now to Figure 3, cap punch 20 is shown with plunger

26 in depressed condition with biasing means 38 compressed and pin 34 extending a distance d below base 30 and magnet 32. According to the present invention as illustrated, depression of head 24 and plunger 26 applies force through pin 34 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper

surface of jar cap 12 (Figure 1) to punch a hole therethrough. As will be understood, in the punching condition illustrated in Figure 3, with cap punch device 20 mounted on cap 12 of jar 10 (Figure 1), pin 34 will be pushed through the upper surface of cap 12 to make a hole therethrough. When pressure is removed from head 24, head 24, plunger 26 and pin 34 are raised by biasing means 38 to resume the condition illustrated in Figure 2. Removal of pin 34 from the hole punched through cap 12 allows air to enter jar 10 and relieve the vacuum therein. Cap punch device 20 is then removed from cap 12, and cap 12 is unscrewed from jar 10 with less torque than would have been needed with the vacuum held within jar 10. A reduction in torque required to unscrew cap 12 from jar 10 of between 25% and 60% has been achieved by use of the apparatus of the present invention for opening jars. A key 27 and a slot 37 are adapted to lock and unlock the mechanism described.

[0011] Referring now to Figure 4, a cross sectional view is shown of the jar punch device 20 for the purpose of disclosing a locking feature thereof. Plunger 26 is illustrated positioned within housing 28. Slot 37 is formed in the upper rim of housing 28. Key 27 protrudes radially from the side of plunger 26. Plunger 26 is able to be rotated a partial circle in the directions indicated by arrow B. When plunger 26 is rotated clockwise, key 27 is aligned with slot 37 and plunger 26 is free to be moved downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow A (see Figure 2). When plunger 26 is rotated counterclockwise, key 27 is out of alignment from slot 37 and plunger 26 cannot be moved downwardly, thus preventing pin 34 from being exposed beyond the lower face of jar punch device 20.

[0012] Referring now to Figure 5, pin 34, an enlarged side elevation view is provided of the lower section thereof. As more clearly illustrated, pin 34 is formed of shaft 39 shoulder portion 40 and tip 42. An upper part of shaft 39 is held securely in a cavity formed in plunger 26 (see Figures 2 and 3). Shaft 39 is a solid metallic cylinder with a diameter D of approximately 3.2 mm (1/8 inch) in the preferred embodiment. Shoulder portion 40 is

substantially conical with an included angle X of approximately 90°. Tip 42 is formed with a diameter d of approximately 0.45 mm (0.018 inch) and a length L of approximately 0.50 mm (0.020 inch), in the preferred embodiment. The free end 44 of tip 40 is substantially planar and oriented perpendicular to the length of pin 34. Pin 34 is formed from a rod of stainless steel by the process of lathe cutting or grinding as is known, with all portions thereof coaxial.

[0013] Referring further to Figure 5, pin 34 is shown with tip 42 having penetrated the sheet material of jar cap 12, shown in cross section for clarity. A user presses downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow A on plunger cap 24 (see Figure 2) to push tip 42 against and through jar cap 12. Whereas tip 42 of pin 34 has a planar end 44 in contact with jar cap 12, as opposed to a sharp point, sufficient force must be applied to pin 34 to punch tip 42 through the sheet metal jar cap 12. If a sharp pointed bit were to be used, the force required to penetrate jar cap 12 would be substantially less than the force required with flat ended tip 42. The benefit of using a flat end and requiring greater force is that once sufficient force is applied to puncture jar cap 12, the sheet material of jar cap 12 is rapidly breached and the force of the user continues to propel puncture tool 20 (see Figure 1) so that shoulder portion 40 of pin 34 audibly impacts jar cap 12 to reside in the position shown in Figure 5. This audible impact serves as a confirmation that an orifice has been opened through jar cap 12.

[0014] Referring further to Figure 5, due to the force and momentum of punching through jar cap 12, shoulder portion 40 causes a "bell-mouth" opening on the top surface thereof. The diameter of the "bell-mouth" opening depends on the toughness and thickness of the sheet material forming jar cap 12 and generally conforms to the angular contour of shoulder portion 40. The diameter of the opening formed through jar cap 12 by tip 42 is small, on the order of 0.50 mm (0.020 inch), thus being of relatively minor effect on the preservation of the food within jar 10 (see Figure 1).

[0015] While the description above discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is contemplated that numerous variations and modifications of the invention are possible and are considered to be within the scope of the claims that follow.

BEST MODE:

The best mode of practicing the invention is by providing an apparatus for opening jars, comprising: a. a pin mounted in a plunger for making a hole in a jar cap by application of a force substantially perpendicular to an upper surface of the jar cap; b. biasing means in contact with and positioned for retracting the pin when the force is released; c. a housing to contain the pin, the plunger and the biasing means, the housing having a central orifice configured to allow the pin to pass therethrough; d. a lock for selectively preventing the pin from passing through the orifice; and e. a magnet for securing the apparatus to the jar cap during use; f. wherein the pin is formed with a substantially planar end and a shoulder portion that is positioned between the tip and the plunger in order to cause an audible impact confirmation that the pin has punctured the jar cap.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY:

The present invention is industrially applicable by requiring components thereof to be individually manufactured and assembled to one another, packaged and distributed to the market. The plunger cap, plunger shank, housing and base are preferably made by injection molding plastic resin. The punching pin is preferably made by forming on a lathe. The invention jar opening apparatus is intended for use in residential and commercial kitchens.