Hand tool for opening of packaging

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tool for opening packings, in particular so-called BiB packings, and of the kind indicated in the preamble of claim 1.

Background of the Invention

Deliveries of pre-fabricated food products, such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, dairy products and similar products for use in catering centres, restaurants and especially fast-food chains, are increasingly provided in so-called BiB packings (Bag-in-Box packings) with a volume content of 5 or 10 litres, and where the goods themselves are contained in a relatively large soft plastic bag which normally has an outer packing in the form of a box-shaped cardboard packing. BiB packings are provided with a spout opening with a plug as closure.

An auxiliary tool with a handle part and a gripper part is known, which is adapted to be put in around an upper edge part of the plug with the intention of releasing the latter from the spout opening of the packing.

In practice, this prior art auxiliary tool has appeared to be designed in an unsuitable way, since it is rather difficult to retain the plug in the gripper part such that it frequently happens that the plug falls out of the gripper part and down on the floor and becomes smudged thereby.

Object of the Invention

On this background, it is the purpose of the invention to indicate a new and improved tool for use by opening BiB packings, and which by means of simple measures enables achieving easy and safe opening of BiB packings.

Description of the Invention

The tool according to the invention is characterised in that the tool part is constituted by an upper tool part of a tongs-shaped tool, of which a lower tool part includes a retainer adapted to be inserted around an upper edge part of the spout opening, the tool parts being spring biased towards each other such that the upper and lower tool parts are moved towards each other when handle parts connected with respective tool parts of the tool are moved away from each other.

By means of simple measures may hereby be provided a new and improved tool of the kind indicated in the introduction that enables easy and safe opening of BiB packings, and which in a secure way keeps hold of the plug such that it is not inadvertently smudged.

With the purpose of facilitating insertion of the tool according to the invention around a spout opening with plug, the tool is suitably designed such that the tool parts are both designed with insertion openings that are open at the front, i.e. in direction away from the handle parts.

With the purpose of ensuring optimal retention of the plug, the tool according to the invention is designed such that the tool part adapted to be inserted around and retaining an upper edge part of the plug is provided with lower projecting curving edges at opposing sides, the curving edges adapted to engage under the upper edge part of the plug when the latter has been inserted in the tool part.

Preferably, the tool according to the invention is designed such that the tool part adapted to be inserted around the plug has gradually decreasing transverse dimension inwards, i.e. may retain plugs with different diameters.

With the intention of fixing the tool according to the invention around the spout opening, the tool is suitably designed such that the lower tool part includes a holder adapted to be inserted around an upper edge part of the spout opening and which is designed with a U-shaped opening which at the bottom has an inwards projecting U-shaped edge flange adapted to engage under an annular projecting edge flange of the spout opening.

The tool according to the invention may advantageously be designed such that an upper part of the tongs-shaped tool between the upper tool part and an upper handle part at each their side are designed with outer bearing members, each provided with an internal circular bearing opening for receiving complementing bearing members of a lower part of the tongs-shaped tool.

When the tool according to the invention is designed in addition such that a lower part of the tongs-shaped tool between the lower tool part and a lower handle part at each their side are designed with inner bearing members, each provided with an external circular bearing projection for being received in complementing bearing openings of an upper part of the tongs-shaped tool, a very easy

assembling of respective parts of the tool is achieved by only squeezing the tool parts together permanently after providing a twist spring between the tool parts.

Which is achieved in that the tool according to the invention is designed such that the upper part of the tongs-shaped tool is adapted to be assembled permanently with the lower part of the tongs-shaped tool in that lower internal inclined edges of the outer bearing members are pressed down over outer external edges of the internal bearing members until respective bearing members engage each other in an interlocking way.

The tool according to the invention is suitably designed such that it includes a simple twist spring disposed between the bearing members, the spring having end parts engaging each their handle part.

Description of the Drawing The invention is now explained in detail in connection with the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a tongs-shaped tool according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the tool in Fig. 1 suspended in a wall- mounted holder;

Fig. 3 shows two views of a user guide for using a tool according to the invention for opening BiB packings;

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a lower part of tool according to the invention;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of an upper part of tool according to the invention;

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a spring for a tool according to the invention;

Fig. 7 shows a plan view of a lower part of a tool according to the invention, as seen from the side;

Fig. 8 shows a plan view of an upper part of a tool according to the invention, as seen from the side;

Fig. 9 shows in perspective a partial view in section of a second embodiment of a tool according to the invention; and

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a tool according to the invention, cf. Fig. 9, shown suspended in a wall-mounted holder.

Detailed Description of the Invention The tool 2 shown in Fig. 1 is designed as tongs with an upper tool part 4 with associated handle part 6 and a lower tool part 8 with associated handle part 10.

In Fig. 2, the tongs 2 are seen suspended in a holder 12 intended for wall mounting.

Fig. 3 shows in views 1 and 2 how the tongs 2 are used for opening a BiB packing 14 which has a spout opening 16 and a cap or plug 18.

View 1 shows how the tongs 2 with assembled tools 4 and 8 are moved with a horizontal movement in around a spout opening 16 of a BiB packing 17 with inserted plug 18 while the tool part 4 is inserted around the plug 18 while the tool part 8 is simultaneously inserted around the spout opening 16, i.e. while respective handle parts 6, 10 of the tongs still assume an inactive position.

View 2 shows how the plug 18 is lifted off the spout opening 16 of the BiB packing 17 by pressing the handle parts 6, 10 together and at the same time moving the tool parts 4 and 8 away from each other. The plug 18 is now retained and fixed in a secure way in the tool part 4, after which the tongs 2 can be disengaged from the spout opening 16.

If desired, the tongs 2 with the plug 18 still fixed in the tool part 4 are temporarily put in the wall holder 12.

Fig. 4 shows the tool part 8 and the handle part 10 where it may clearly be seen that the tool part 8 has a front insertion opening 20 in to a U-shaped opening 22 which along a lower edge is provided an inwards projecting U-shaped edge part 24 adapted to interact with an external rib or edge of the spout opening 16.

Between the tool part 8 and the handle part 10 there is provided a bearing arrangement 26 including two circular external bearing projections 28 that are adapted to engage and interact with complementary circular bearing openings 30 which are provided at inner sides of a complementing bearing arrangement 32 (Fig. 5) formed between the tool part 4 and the handle part 6.

The tool part 4 is provided a substantially U-shaped insertion opening 21 which along a lower edge is designed with an also substantially U-shaped edge part 23 adapted to engage under an upper protruding edge collar of the plug 18 (Fig. 3). The insertion opening 21 and the edge part 23 have inwardly decreasing transverse dimensions such that it may fit to plugs with different diameters.

Alternatively, it will be possible that the insertion opening 21 is provided at opposing sides with resilient contact faces that are intended for interacting with plugs of varying diameter.

At 36, the bearing arrangement 32 is designed with inclining faces that enable the bearing arrangement 32 to be inserted around the bearing arrangement 26 in over upper edges 34 until the bearing projections 28 permanently engage the bearing openings 30. It is to be noted that a twist spring 38, cf. Fig. 6, within such an interference joint has to be provided between the bearing rings 28, as shown in Fig. 9, in a way that free ends of arm parts 40, 42 of the twist spring 38 engage between socket parts 44, 46 provided at the inner side of the handle parts 6, 10.

The handle parts 6, 10 are hereby permanently spring biased in direction away from each other, i.e. the tool parts 4, 8 are correspondingly permanently spring biased against each other.