Every time we drink bottled soda, we rarely pay attention to the cap. The number of serrations on the cap is even less of a concern. Try counting the serrations on the cap, and you will find that almost all caps have 21 serrations.
Why do bottle caps usually have 21 serrations?
To explain why bottle caps usually have 21 serrations instead of 22 or 20, you need to know that this design is based on scientific reasoning rather than a random choice by the bottle manufacturer. Although the bottle cap is a very small part, they still have to optimize the design to ensure the preservation of the liquid in the bottle and convenience for users.
According to Sohu, the initial number of serrations on the bottle cap was not 21. There were designs with 23 or 24 serrations. In the late 19th century, William Painter (an American mechanical engineer of Irish origin) created a bottle cap with 24 serrations and applied for a patent. Inside the cap, there were pieces of paper to prevent the drink from coming into contact with the metal. Painter believed that this number of serrations was most suitable for sealing the bottle of wine, and the number 24 became an industrial standard.
The 24-serration bottle cap was used until around the 1930s. After that, people realized that this number of serrations was too many, making it difficult to open the cap tightly. After many trials and adjustments, the number 21 serrations were considered the most suitable, ensuring tightness and easy opening for users. The number of serrations on metal bottle caps is almost always 21 to this day.
Explanation for why bottle caps usually have exactly 21 serrations: This number ensures the tightness of the cap while still making it easy for users to open. (Image: Amazon UK)
In addition, there are several explanations for why bottle caps usually have 21 serrations:
– 21 is a multiple of 3, and in physics, there is a principle that an object with 3 supports will be more stable and balanced than 2 or 4 supports. However, it is extremely difficult to use a bottle cap with a 3-point principle, so manufacturers experimented with numbers that are multiples of 3. Based on this principle, 21 serrations on bottle caps (being a multiple of 3) are completely reasonable.
– The 21-serration bottle cap still meets the minimum requirements for strength, helping to seal the bottle and prevent gas from escaping.
– The number of 21 serrations enhances the safety when unscrewing a gas-filled drink, preventing the cap from popping off too strongly due to the pressure from the gas inside when being shaken. In addition, the wave-like design of the serrations also increases friction and makes it easier to rotate and open.
It can be seen that the best performance in terms of tightness, hardness, and ease of opening are the reasons why bottle caps usually have 21 serrations. The 21-serration bottle cap has been perfected and become an international standard to this day. In Vietnam and many other countries, not only beer but also other popular carbonated drinks are packaged in glass bottles using this type of cap.
How to open a beer bottle cap without an opener
The wave-like design of a beer bottle cap reduces friction and makes it easier for you to open the cap. When using any tool to open the bottle, you also need to place it correctly on the serration point of the cap to facilitate easy opening. If you don’t have a bottle opener, you can open it in the following ways:
Use another beer bottle
A common method that many people use is to use other beer bottles to open the cap. Place two beer bottles upside down and align their serrations, then hold the bottom bottle tightly, and use force to open the other cap.
Use a spoon or chopsticks
After choosing a spoon of the appropriate size, place it under the edge of the beer bottle cap, hold the bottle tightly by the neck, and pry the cap open. Similarly, you can also use the larger end of a chopstick to place it under the cap, use your thumb as a fulcrum for the chopstick, and exert a strong upward force to open the cap.
Use the edge of a table
You just need to hold the beer bottle and tilt the serrated part of the cap against the edge of the table, then use your other hand to tap the cap down. You should avoid using this method on a glass table.
Use a knife, key, or lighter
Using a lighter is also one of the ways to open a bottle cap without an opener. (Image: MEL Magazine)
Sturdy and angled objects like knives, keys, and lighters can all be used to open a beer bottle cap. You can place a part of the blade or the tip of the key on a corner of the cap and push firmly to pop the cap.
When using a lighter, hold the neck of the bottle tightly, use the bottom of the lighter to create leverage, and push the lighter up to open the cap. If you want to open the bottle safely, repeat this action around the cap carefully until you open it.
According to VTC news
Cap is Far Away, Vinegar Bottle Cap Requires Nail Breaking’>Creative Bottle Designs that Offend – Fish Sauce Bottle Cap is Far Away, Vinegar Bottle Cap Requires Nail Breaking
Bottle Cap is Far Away, Vinegar Bottle Cap Requires Nail Breaking’>Women everywhere are rejoicing at the news of new container designs that are meant to reduce kitchen ‘accidents’. Manufacturers are aiming to make lives easier by providing improved design solutions for common kitchen mishaps.
