jar opener
{{Short description|Kitchen device}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2022}}
File:Preserving jar opener - patended by Havolit - 1950s 2022-05-27 (focus stack).jpg
File:One-Touch Jar Opener Designed by Mark Sanders for Daka International.jpg
A jar opener is a kitchen device which is used to open glass or plastic jars. A jar is sealed by either (a) a screw-off rubberised lid or (b) a lid placed on the opening of the jar with a rubber sealing-ring between. Screw-off lids are usually made of metal with a thin rubber sealing layer, whereas lift-off lids mostly consist of glass.
Types
=Screw-off lids=
A traditional jar opener for a screw-off lid will have two handles, leading up to two concentric grooved rings which can be used to fit different lids. It also sometimes has a device to open a bottle on it. There are many models including rubber sheet grip models and rubber timing belt loop models.{{Cite web |last=tel-editors |date=2015-10-14 |title=Best Jar Opener for Older Adults |url=https://www.techenhancedlife.com/explorers/best-jar-opener-older-adults |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=Tech-enhanced Life |language=en}}
=Lift-off lids=
Jar openers that are designed to wedge open a lid sealed by a rubber ring were patented and produced in Germany in the mid 1930s, but all production has halted following the turn of the century. On the right is an example of a wooden vintage jar opener for preserve jars.
Reasons for use
Many people can remove the lids of glass jars by hand. Some people with and without disabilities cannot open a jar, while others prefer the ease that comes with a jar opener.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qJQImFTSaroC&dq=%22Jar+opener%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA16 |title=Wood's Historical Guide for Bottle, Can and Jar Openers. |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=978-1-4116-9062-2 |language=en}}
Motorised jar openers
Black & Decker produced the first automatic jar opener in 2003.{{Cite book |last=Mann |first=William C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HopxJS7cfjIC&dq=%22Jar+opener%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA135 |title=Smart Technology for Aging, Disability, and Independence: The State of the Science |date=2005-07-22 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-471-74396-5 |pages=135 |language=en}}