Methods and apparatus for removing tamper-proof seals from containers

Abstract

An apparatus removes a tamper-proof seal from a mouth of a container and retains the tamper-proof seal to prevent any of the seal from falling into the container. The apparatus includes a body having a top surface and a bottom surface. A sidewall circumscribes the body and extends substantially perpendicularly from the top surface of the body. A first projection extends substantially perpendicularly from the top surface and is disposed radially inward from the side wall. A plurality of second projections extend from the top surface of the body and are disposed circumferentially around body top surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for removing a tamper-proof seal from an opening of a container, said apparatus comprising: 
 a body comprising a top surface and a bottom surface;    a sidewall circumscribing said body and extending substantially perpendicularly from said body top surface;    a first projection extending substantially perpendicularly from said body top surface, said first projection disposed radially inward from said sidewall and comprising at least one notch and a first tip, said notch configured to retain the tamper-proof seal, said tip configured to pierce the tamper-proof seal; and    a plurality of second projections extending from said body top surface and disposed radially inward from said sidewall.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first projection notch disposed between said first tip and said body, said first tip extending from said notch.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 2  wherein each of said plurality of second projections comprises a second tip.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said plurality of second projections disposed a distance from said sidewall.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first projection is disposed radially inward from said plurality of second projections.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first projection is identical with said plurality of second projections.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said plurality of second projections circumferentially surround said first projection.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first projection extends from said body top surface a first distance, said plurality of second projections extend from said body top surface a second distance, said sidewall extends from said body top surface a third distance, said third distance greater than said first distance and said second distance.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said first distance greater than said second distance.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first projection further comprises a plurality of filaments extending radially outward from said first projection tip.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said filaments configured to retain the tamper-proof seal.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a container cap extending from said apparatus body bottom surface, said container cap configured to attach to the container  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said apparatus body has a circular cross-sectional profile.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first projection further comprises a plurality of notches.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said container cap comprises a plurality of threads.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said first projection is circumferentially aligned with said plurality of second projections such that said plurality of second projections and said first projection are disposed a distance from said sidewall.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said first and second projections extend from said body top surface a first distance, said sidewall extends from said body top surface a second distance, said first distance less than said second distance.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 16  further comprising a container cap extending from said apparatus body bottom surface, said container cap configured to attach to the container.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 18  wherein said first projection further comprises a plurality of notches.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 19  further wherein said container cap comprises a plurality of threads.  
     
     
         21 . A cap for a container including an opening, the opening defined by a lip and covered with a tamper-proof seal, said cap comprising: 
 a body comprising a top surface and a bottom surface;    a first sidewall circumscribing said body and extending substantially perpendicularly from said body top surface;    a second sidewall circumscribing said body and extending from said body bottom surface; and    a first projection extending substantially perpendicularly from said body bottom surface, said first projection disposed radially inward from said second sidewall.    
     
     
         22 . A cap in accordance with  claim 21  wherein said first projection comprises at least one notch and a tip, said notch disposed between said tip and said body, said tip extending from said notch and configured to pierce the tamper-proof seal, said notch configured to retain the tamper-proof seal.  
     
     
         23 . A cap in accordance with  claim 21  further comprising a plurality of second projections extending from said body bottom surface, said plurality of second projections disposed radially inward a first distance from said second sidewall.  
     
     
         24 . A cap in accordance with  claim 23  wherein the container opening lip has a thickness, said first distance greater than the container opening lip thickness.  
     
     
         25 . A cap in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said first projection is radially inward from said plurality of second projections, said plurality of second projections circumferentially surround said first projection.  
     
     
         26 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 25  wherein said first projection extends from said body bottom surface a second distance, said plurality of second projections extend from said body top surface a third distance, said sidewall extends from said body top surface a fourth distance, said fourth distance greater than said second distance and said third distance.  
     
     
         27 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 23  wherein said second distance greater than said third distance.  
     
     
         28 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 21  wherein said first projection further comprises a plurality of filaments extending radially outward from said first projection tip, said filaments configured to retain the tamper-proof seal.  
     
     
         29 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 21  wherein said first sidewall configured to attach to a container.  
     
     
         30 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 23  wherein said first projection is identical with said plurality of second projections.  
     
     
         31 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 30  wherein said first projection is circumferentially aligned with said plurality of second projections such that said first projection is disposed said first distance from said second sidewall.  
     
     
         32 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 31  wherein said first and second projections extend from said body top surface a second distance, said second sidewall extends from said-body bottom surface a third distance, said second distance less than said third distance.  
     
     
         33 . A method for removing a tamper-proof seal from an opening of a container using an apparatus, the apparatus including a body, a sidewall, and a first projection, the body having a top surface and a bottom surface, the sidewall circumscribing the body and extending from the body top surface, the first projection extending substantially perpendicularly from the body top surface and disposed radially inward from the sidewall, said method comprising the steps of: 
 positioning the apparatus in close proximity to the container opening;    piercing the tamper-proof seal with the first projection;    rotating the apparatus; and    removing the apparatus with the tamper-proof seal retained therein.    
     
     
         34 . A method in accordance with  claim 33  wherein the first projection includes a tip and a notch, the tip extending from the notch, the notch between the tip and the body, said step of removing the apparatus further comprising retaining the tamper-proof seal with the first projection notch.  
     
     
         35 . A method in accordance with  claim 33  wherein the container opening is defined by a lip having a thickness, the apparatus further including a plurality of second projections disposed radially inward from the sidewall, each of the plurality of second projections includes a tip, the plurality of second projections disposed radially inward from the sidewall a first distance, the first distance greater than the container lip thickness, said step of positioning the apparatus further comprising positioning the apparatus such that the sidewall contacts the body top surface between the sidewall and the plurality of second projections.  
     
     
         36 . A method in accordance with  claim 35  wherein the first projection is disposed radially inward from the plurality of second projections, the plurality of second projections circumferentially surround the first projection, said method further comprising piercing the tamper-proof seal with the plurality of second projections.  
     
     
         37 . A method in accordance with  claim 35  wherein the first projection extends a second distance from the body top surface, the plurality of second projections extend a third distance from the body top surface, the third projections extend a fourth distance from the body top surface, the fourth distance greater than the third distance and the second distance, the second distance greater than the third distance, said step of piercing the tamper-proof seal with the plurality of second projections further comprising piercing the tamper-proof seal with the plurality of second projections after the first projection has pierced the tamper-proof seal.  
     
     
         38 . A method in accordance with  claim 33  wherein the first projection further includes a plurality of filaments extending radially outward from the first projection tip, said step of removing the apparatus further comprising retaining the tamper-proof seal with the filaments after the first projection has pierced the tamperproof seal.  
     
     
         39 . A method in accordance with  claim 33  wherein the apparatus further includes a cap extending from the apparatus body bottom surface, the cap configured to attach to the container, said step of positioning the apparatus further comprising: 
 removing the cap from the container opening; and  
 inverting the cap above the container opening.  
 
     
     
         40 . A method in accordance with  claim 35  wherein the first projection is identical to each of the plurality of second projections, the first and second projections disposed a first distance from the sidewall, said step of piercing the tamper-proof seal further comprising simultaneously piercing the tamper-proof seal with the first projection and the plurality of second projections.  
     
     
         41 . A method in accordance with  claim 35  wherein each of the plurality of second projections includes a tip and a notch, said step of retaining the tamper-proof seal further comprising retaining the tamper-proof seal with the plurality of second projection notches.  
     
     
         42 . A method in accordance with  claim 33  wherein the apparatus further includes a cap extending from the apparatus body bottom surface, the cap configured to attach to the container, said step of positioning the apparatus further comprising: 
 removing the cap from the container opening; and  
 inverting the cap above the container opening.