Cutting device to disable a childproof container

Abstract

A method of removing locking tabs from a container or its closure, where the container has threading and locking tabs on an outer surface and its closure has locking tabs on its inner surface, by positioning an apparatus comprising a ring and at least one blade mounted on the ring over the threading on the container or inside the closure and rotating the ring relative to the container or its closure so that the blade removes the locking tabs from the container or its closure.

1 . An apparatus for use with a container, said container having locking tabs on an external surface of the container, said apparatus comprising a ring and at least one blade mounted on the ring, said at least one blade being capable of removing at least a portion of said locking tabs from said container. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said ring is sized so as to fit over a mouth of said container. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said ring is sized so as to fit over a mouth of said container so as to position said blade so as to enable said blade to remove at least a portion of said locking tabs from said container. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said blade is positioned on a lower edge of said ring. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said blade is positioned on an inner surface of said ring. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for adjusting a size of said ring. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said ring is fabricated from a strip of flexible metal, and the means for adjusting the size of said ring is a means for adjusting a circumference of the ring. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said ring comprises two blades mounted on opposite sides of the ring. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a means for adjusting a distance between said two blades. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle connected with said ring. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said means for adjusting a distance between said two blades includes at least one handle connected with said ring. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said ring is connected with a first end of said handle, and a second end of said handle includes a prying edge. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said ring is connected with a first end of said handle, and a second end of said handle includes a prying edge. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising threading on the inner surface of said ring, said threading being adapted to screw onto threading provided on the outer surface of a mouth of said container 
   
   
       15 . A method of removing locking tabs from a container, said container having threading on an outer surface and locking tabs on said outer surface, comprising the steps of:
 a) positioning an apparatus comprising a ring and at least one blade mounted on the ring over the threading on the container;   b) rotating the ring relative to the container so that the blade removes the locking tabs from the container.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the blade removes the locking tabs from the container without cutting the threads. 
   
   
       17 . A combination of a container having locking tabs and an apparatus for removing said locking tabs from said container, the combination comprising;
 a container comprising a mouth having an outer surface with threading and an inner surface and locking tabs on the outer surface of the mouth below the threading; and   an apparatus for removing said locking tabs including a ring and at least one blade mounted on the ring,   wherein said ring fits over the mouth of the container so as to position said blade in proximity to said locking tabs, said blade being capable of removing at least a portion of said locking tabs from said container.   
   
   
       18 . The combination of  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus for removing said locking tabs has a means for engaging said threading on the outer surface of the mouth. 
   
   
       19 . The combination of  claim 18 , wherein the means for engaging said threading on the outer surface of the mouth is threading on an inner surface of the ring. 
   
   
       20 . A kit comprising:
 a first device for removing locking tabs from a first container having a mouth of a first size, said first device including a ring having a diameter which enables the first device to fit over said mouth of a first size, and at least one blade mounted on the ring, said at least one blade being capable of removing at least a portion of said locking tabs from said first container; and   a second device for removing locking tabs from a second container having a mouth of a second size, said second device including a ring having a diameter which enables the second device to fit over said mouth of a second size, but not over said mouth of a first size, and at least one blade mounted on the ring, said at least one blade being capable of removing at least a portion of said locking tabs from said second container.   
   
   
       21 . An apparatus for use with a container cap, said container cap including a round, generally planar top with an outer annular skirt connected to a periphery of said top and an inner annular skirt connected to a lower surface of said top, said outer annular skirt having locking tabs on an inner surface thereof, said apparatus comprising a ring and at least one blade mounted on the ring, said at least one blade being capable of removing at least a portion of said locking tabs from said outer annular skirt. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein an outer diameter of said ring is less than an inner diameter of said outer annular skirt. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said ring is sized so as to position said blade so as to enable said blade to remove at least a portion of said locking tabs from said outer annular skirt. 
   
   
       24 . A method of removing locking tabs from a container cap, said container cap including a round, generally planar top with a flexible outer annular skirt connected to a periphery of said top  6  and an inner annular skirt connected to a lower surface of said top, said outer annular skirt having locking tabs on an inner surface thereof, comprising the steps of:
 a) positioning an apparatus comprising a ring and at least one blade mounted on the ring within the outer annular skirt so that said at least one blade contacts at least one of said locking tabs;   b) rotating the container cap relative to the ring so that the blade removes the locking tabs from the container.