Opening device for membrane-sealed plastic bottles

Claim 1

A combined membrane removal-disposal device for membrane sealed plastic bottles which comprises, in combination, a. a cap, adapted to be placed over the neck of the bottle the membrane seal of which is to be removed, having a downwardly extending peripheral skirt and a top closure. b. a combined membrane piercing and extracting member centrally mounted within the cap on the top closure thereof, having an elongated shank ending in a piercing end terminating within the space enclosed by the cap, the elongated shank having a reduced diameter portion forming a peripheral shoulder, and c. an annular cutting member adapted to fit into the nEck of the bottle the membrane seal of which is to be removed, in close proximity to the inner wall of the bottle neck, having a serrated cutting edge, concentrically mounted within the cap on the top closure thereof to surround the combined membrane piercing and extracting member and in spaced relation to both the downwardly extending peripheral skirt and the combined membrane piercing and extracting member, the tips of the serrated cutting edge terminating between the inner surface of the top closure of the cap and the peripheral shoulder of the combined membrane piercing and extracting member, and the serrations of the serrated cutting edge terminating a distance away from the inner surface of the top closure.