One-handed childproof medicine bottle opener

A compact device for easy one-handed removal and replacement of a childproof cap from a lightweight bottle having a lower end and a maximum width dimension of approximately five inches, said device comprising:

• a rigid base plate having an upper surface and a plurality of feet;
• a rigid top plate having a central opening;
• said top plate being positioned above said base plate and substantially parallel to said base plate, said central opening having a maximum width dimension of approximately six inches;
• a rigid hollow, open-ended essentially upright cylindrical member connected between said upper surface of said base plate and said top plate;
• a plurality of flexible flap-like bottle gripping members positioned within said central opening and configured so as to collectively leave a central bottle insertion aperture having a diameter slightly less than one inch;
• each of said flap-like bottle gripping members being made from high-adhesion material;
• and
• a gripping mat made from high-adhesion material and positioned upon said upper surface of said base plate so that when the lower end of a lightweight bottle having a childproof cap is placed between said flap-like bottle gripping members and the lower end is positioned against said gripping mat with the childproof cap remaining exposed through said central opening in said top plate, said gripping mat and said flap-like bottle gripping members in combination secure the bottle in place without rotation so that the palm of one adult hand without the use of fingers can be used to exert a downward axial force in combination with a horizontal twisting force to remove and replace the childproof cap.

A method for one-handed removal and replacement of a childproof cap from a lightweight bottle having a lower end and a maximum width dimension of approximately five inches, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a rigid base plate with high-adhesion feet attached its bottom surface, a rigid top plate having a central opening with a maximum width dimension of approximately six inches, a rigid open-ended cylindrical member having a width slightly exceeding the width of the largest bottle contemplated for cap removal and replacement by said method, a plurality of flap-like bottle gripping members, a gripping mat, and a bottle having a threaded childproof cap;
• placing said base plate upon a stable rigid surface;
• connecting said cylindrical member in an essentially upright position to said base plate;
• securing said gripping mat centrally within the bottom of said cylinder to said base plate
• placing said top plate above said base plate in a position approximately parallel to said base plate;
• connecting said cylindrical member in an essentially upright position to said top plate;
• attaching each of said flap-like bottle gripping members to said top plate so that said flap-like bottle gripping members substantially cover the upper opening in said cylindrical member with the exception of a central bottle insertion aperture having a diameter slightly less than one inch;
• lifting said bottle by said threaded childproof cap;
• sequentially placing said lower end of said bottle through said bottle insertion aperture between said flap-like bottle gripping members, and through said upper opening in said cylindrical member;
• continuing to downwardly insert said lower end of said bottle into said cylindrical member until said lower end of said bottle comes to rest upon said gripping mat;
• after said bottle is in firmly contact with said gripping mat, applying a downward vertical compression force and a horizontal twisting force with the palm of one hand without the use of fingers to said threaded childproof cap to loosen its engagement with said bottle;
• and
• lifting said threaded childproof cap from said bottle.