A number of persons, and particularly those who are elderly or handicapped, encounter problems in opening a variety of packaging types. For instance, problems can be encountered in unscrewing the lids of food or drink containers. Persons may also have trouble in slicing opening flexible plastic packaging, opening ring pull cans, and/or removing corks from bottles.

According to the present invention there is provided opening apparatus, the apparatus comprising a base member locatable on a work surface or the like, and a support means extending upwardly from the base member and defining an upwardly diverging upwardly open recess, whereby an article can be supportingly located in the support means whilst it is opened.

The inner walls of the support means may have a high friction lining such as rubber, maybe profiled, and/or maybe ribbed.

The support means may be removably mounted on-the base member. The support means may comprise a substantially frusto-conical member.

The base member may include one or more tool locations in the form of recesses or other formations in or on which one or more tools can be held. The tools may comprise any of a vacuum release tool, a bag slicer tool, a ring pull tin opener, or a bottle opener.

The base member may comprise means for engaging with the surface upon which it is located. The underside of the base member may have a high friction surface, a profiled surface, and/or a resilient surface such as a rubber pad. The base member may be fixable to a surface, by for instance screws or suction cups.

The apparatus may also comprise a rotation member, which member may comprise a grippable part and an engagement part engageable with an article in the support means whereby to remove a top or lid from an article which is non rotatably held in the support means.

The engagement part may comprise means defining in use an upwardly converging downwardly open recess. The engagement part may be substantially frusto- conical. The interior of the engagement part may have a high friction lining such as rubber, may be profiled, and/or may be ribbed.

The engagement part is preferably rotatable relative to the remainder of the rotation member whereby to unscrew a top or lid of an article. The rotation member may comprise a motor which may be mains powered, powered by mains from a transformer, powered by battery, or may be rechargeable.

A mains lead may be provided on the rotation member. Alternatively a lead may extend from the rotation member to the base member, with a mains lead extending from the base member.

As a further alternative the rotation member may be electrically connectable to the base member, for instance by resting on or in the support means, to recharge the rotation member.

Manually operable control means for the engagement part may be provided on the grippable part. The engagement part may be arranged to only rotate in an anti- clockwise direction to unscrew closures, or may also be selectively rotatable in a clockwise direction to replace closures.

The engagement part may be selectively removable and replaceable with other items such as a rotatable corkscrew or whisk.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Fig. i is a perspective view of an opening apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a lower part of the apparatus of Fig. l ; Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively side and plan views of the lower part shown in Fig.

2; Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively side and front views of a top part of the apparatus of Fig. l ; and Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively top and side views of a further part of the apparatus of Fig. i.

The drawings show an opening apparatus 10 suitable for instance for opening jar or bottle lids, or a number of other purposes. The apparatus lo comprises a lower part 12 and an upper part 14, which are shown in Fig. x with the upper part 14 resting on the lower part in Fig. 10 for storage purposes.

The lower part 12 comprises a base 16 which may be decorative as shown in the drawings representing a lily leaf. Four equispaced recesses 18 are provided around the base 16 which selectively locate opening tools 20 which are shown diagrammatically in Figs. 7 and 8. Such tools 20 may comprise a vacuum release tool for vacuum sealed metal lug caps, which such caps are commonly used on jam jars. The tools may comprise a bag slicer for safe slicing open of flexible plastics material packaging. Such tools 20 could also comprise a ring pull tin opener, and/or a bottle opener. The tools 20 can slidingly locate in the recesses 18 with the ends of their handles 22 locating therein to provide the appearance of petals on a lily pad.

An upwardly converging frusto-conical portion 24 extends centrally upwardly from the base 16 and extends into a downwardly converging frusto-conical portion 26.

The top portion 26 has a rubber lining 28 with contours 30 thereon which help to grip items located therein. The lower part may be fixable to a work surface for instance by screws or suction cups.

The upper part 14 is intended for rotating part of an item held in the lower part 12 to open a closure or otherwise. The upper part 14 comprises a top grippable part 32 which contains a motor (not shown). A control button 34 for the motor is provided towards the top of the grippable part 32 and may be in the form of an on/off push button, or may comprise a toggle switch permitting three way switching.

A hollow engagement part 36 extends from the grippable part 32 and the interior of the engagement part 36 comprises a frusto-conical rotatable member (not shown) with a ribbed lining. A mains lead 38 extends from the top of the upper part 14 for providing power to the motor therein.

In use a jam jar could be opened by locating the jar in the lower part 12 and then placing the upper part 14 thereon and engaging the button 34 to unscrew the lid. It is to be realised that such an operation could be carried out one hand with the torque being provided by the motor. If a three way button 34 is provided the lid could be screwed back on in a similar manner. The tools 20 can be selectively removed from the base 16 and used to open various packaging conveniently placed on the base 16.

There is thus described an opening apparatus which provides for ready one handed opening of otherwise problematic articles. The apparatus provides the power to unscrew lids which otherwise would be problematic. The apparatus is of relatively straightforward construction and can thus be robustly and inexpensively manufactured.

The apparatus is aesthetically quite pleasing and can be used by all members of society without any particular stigma attaching thereto.

It is to be realised that a wide range of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the upper part could be arranged to be usable with a corkscrew for instance by removal of the engagement part, to open a bottle held in the lower part. The upper part could also be usable with other implements such as a whisk, with a bowl or other container held in the lower part if required.

Different tools may be mountable on the base. The base may have a different form and part thereof may be removable for washing purposes. Whilst the upper part is shown as being mains powered, it could be battery powered or powered from a transformer. The transformer could for instance be located in the lower portion of the lower part with a lead extending therefrom the upper part. Where mains powered the mains could still enter the base and then a short lead be provided extending therefrom to the upper part.

The interior of the grippable part and/or support portion may have different linings. Cooperable engagement formations may be provided respectively on the base and upper part. The upper part could be rechargable, and be charged from a charging unit in the base through such formations.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.