Bottle opener/assistance device

myminifactory

I am not an expert inventor or designer by any means. However, I'm highly motivated to make a difference in the lives of people close to me. My wife suffers from lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, which can be incredibly challenging for her even at this early stage. Simple tasks like opening a juice bottle or soda bottle become impossible without assistance. As any husband would do, I started brainstorming ideas until something stuck. I wanted to create a device that could provide leverage without requiring much hand strength or movement. My goal was not only to help my wife but also to make it useful for others who may be facing similar challenges. The design you see here is the result of some intense thinking and experimentation. It's not perfect, but it's open-ended and allows for expandability. The attachments are interchangeable and can be easily swapped out with new ones in the future. The long arm provides a significant amount of leverage, making it easier to twist off even stubborn caps. The strap on the device is designed to be worn comfortably around the user's wrist or arm, allowing them to open bottles even if their hand is completely incapacitated. All they need to do is press the adapter onto the cap and turn the arm to loosen the cap. I've included two adapters so far: one for a standard 64-ounce juice bottle and another for a standard soda bottle (which works with any US plastic soda bottle from 12 oz to 2 liters). I'm planning to create another adapter that can fit larger caps, like pickle jars, but that will have to wait until I have more time to design and test. My intention is to make this device available to anyone who might find it useful. You're free to share the model with attribution and print it for someone in need, but please don't charge them money. If you're not willing to give a print away, then please don't waste your filament. If you want to help me out, check out my Proto-pasta affiliate link. I recommend using PLA for the lever and flexible filament for the cap adapters. The juice bottle adapter could be tightened up a bit, but overall it's working well. The soda bottle adapter fits snugly and can even lift a full 20-oz bottle once it's in place. What drew me to 3D printing was its potential to help fix things around the house. I never thought I'd be designing something that could make a real difference in someone's life, especially not for someone as close to me as my wife. This is by far my most serious effort at designing something useful yet, and I have no illusions about it becoming a successful product. If it can help just one person besides my wife, then I'll be overjoyed. If you print this device, please post your make and/or share your story. If you have questions or constructive criticism, please leave a comment. And if you're a troll, kindly steer clear of here – I don't have time for negativity towards people with disabilities. God bless and do good!