IP Library Granted Patent US 9,016,170
Granted Patent B2
US 9,016,170 · App. 13/492,308 · Granted Apr 28, 2015

Combination five gallon bucket opener and method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,016,170
App. No.
13/492,308
Granted
Apr 28, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A combination five gallon bucket opener, includes a handle portion and a head portion, a first opener feature located in the head portion, the first opener feature having a plurality of engaging members and a bearing surface, at least one of the engaging members configured to receive a tab of a lid, at least one of the engaging members configured to engage a top surface of the lid, and a second opener feature located in the head portion, the second opener feature having at least one extended member configured to receive a cap, the at least one extended member having at least one feature defined therein to engage a corresponding feature on the cap.

Claims (12)

1. A combination five gallon bucket opener, comprising:

a handle portion including an undulating first surface forming finger grasping depressions and a shoulder and a head portion including a head and a neck opposite the shoulder;

a first opener feature located in the head portion, the first opener feature having a plurality of engaging members and a bearing surface, at least one of the engaging members configured to receive a tab of a lid, at least one of the engaging members configured to engage a top surface of the lid; and

a second opener feature located in the head portion and integrally formed with the first opener feature, the second opener feature having a plurality of arcuate cap engaging members configured to receive a cap, each of the plurality of arcuate cap engaging members having at least three recess features defined therein to engage corresponding ribs on the cap, the arcuate cap engaging members, together, forming an incomplete circular structure; wherein the first opener feature and the second opener feature extend in opposite directions away from each other.

2. The combination five gallon bucket opener of claim 1 , wherein the at least one member of the first opener feature configured to receive the tab of the lid extends inwardly.

3. The combination five gallon bucket opener of claim 1 , wherein the first opener feature comprises a first lid engaging member configured to engage a tab of a lid and a second lid engaging member configured to engage a wall of the lid.

4. A method for making a combination five gallon bucket opener, comprising:

forming a handle portion including an undulating first surface forming finger grasping depressions and a shoulder and a head portion including a head and a neck opposite the shoulder; forming a first opener feature in the head portion, the first opener feature formed to have a plurality of engaging members and a bearing surface, at least one of the engaging members formed to receive a tab of a lid, at least one of the engaging members formed to engage a top surface of the lid; and

forming integrally with the first opener feature a second opener feature located in the head portion, the second opener feature formed to have a plurality of arcuate cap engaging members configured to receive a cap, each of the plurality of arcuate cap engaging members having at least three recess features defined therein to engage corresponding ribs on the cap, the arcuate cap engaging members, together, forming an incomplete circular structure;

wherein the first opener feature and the second opener feature extend in opposite directions away from each other.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one member of the first opener feature formed to receive the tab of the lid is formed to extend inwardly.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein forming the first opener feature further comprising forming a first lid engaging member to engage a tab of a lid and forming a second lid engaging member to engage a wall of the lid.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 1, 2016
From: HOMER TLC, INC.
To: HOMER TLC, LLC
Reel/Frame 037968/0988 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2016
From: HOMER TLC, LLC
To: HOME DEPOT PRODUCT AUTHORITY, LLC
Reel/Frame 037970/0123 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2013
From: HOME DEPOT U.S.A., INC.
To: HOMER TLC, INC.
Reel/Frame 030799/0673 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2012
From: NELSON, MICHAEL R.
To: HOME DEPOT U.S.A., INC.
Reel/Frame 028478/0077 →