Twist Assist Bottle and Jar Opener

There are many common physical disabilities than can interfere with a person’s control of their hands. In many cases, these conditions can cause pain along with frustration while completing daily tasks. One of the common forms of disability in this area is arthritis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23% of all adults in the United States have arthritis. When arthritis affects the hands of a person, simple tasks that most people need not think about can become painful and difficult. One such action is opening twist top containers such as jars and bottles. Although there are grip aiding devices on the market, there is room for improvement in this area in user friendliness and effectiveness of the product. This project is focused on designing a twist top jar and bottle opener to assist people with disabilities. The premise for the design came from a family friend who has arthritis in her hands and struggles to open twist top containers. This device will be able to help many people become more independent and reduce the pain some face in daily life. It is designed to be ergonomic for ease of use and is operable with one hand. The base of the device adjusts automatically to clamp to multiple jar and bottle sizes and holds secure to most smooth counter tops. Users are able to adjust the top of the device to grip multiple cap and lid sizes with an ergonomic wheel and a strap wrench concept. Overall, the design incorporates mechanical advantage in the base grip and in the torque applied through the handle. The ability for users to operate the device with one hand opens the customer market to include amputees and stroke victims. Currently, the model is a counter top design and future modifications would attempt to reduce the size of the design. Additionally, more portable versions of the design could be explored with a specific focus on opening twist top bottles.