Foot operated door opener

Abstract

A foot operated door opener device that includes a pair of pedals near the lower corner of the door below the door knob/lever. The pedals are connected to a shaft that pivots within housings that are mounted to either side of the door across from one another. The pedal is hooked to a flexible strap or cable that runs vertically up to the knob/lever horizontal shaft. The cable or strap is connected and wrapped around the rotatable knob/lever shaft. As the operator depresses the pedal the cable or strap is pulled downward and rotates the knob/lever unlatching the door. The pedal is pulled or pushed by the operators' foot/shoe to open. Once the operator is through the doorway, the operator can close and re-latch the door by pulling or pushing the door pedal by foot without ever having to touch the knob/lever handle with their hands.

Claims

1) A foot operated door opener that includes two pedals, two tubular mounting housings, a connecting shaft, a strap and/or cable and a flexible/gripping material.

2) The device in claim 1) has two steel tubular mounting housings 6 in FIG. 5, 6. The housings 6 consist of a steel mounting plate 1 that is fastened to the door 5 with screws 2, a section of tubing 3 that is welded to the mounting plate 1, and a flanged nylon bushing 4 that is inserted in the end of the tubing.

3) The steel tubular housings 1 are fastened near the bottom portion of the door 5, one each on either side of the door 5, in line with a drilled hole and in line with one another both vertically an horizontally.

4) The housings in claim 2) have a steel connecting shaft 7 extending through the drilled hole and through both mounting housing bushings 4 on either side of the door 5.

5) The steel connecting shaft 7 in claim 4) has a steel pedal 8 fastened on each end of it using a threaded fastener 9 tightened, locking each pedal onto the shaft 7 ensuring that both pedals 8 move in unison.

6) Each of the steel pedals in claim 5) has a non-slip grip surface 10 applied to the top of the pedals for excellent foot/shoe grip.

7) Each of the steel pedals in claim 5) has a tab with a hole 11 near the thinner/smaller end of one of the pedals 8 to connect an “S” type hook 12 which also connects to the end of the cable or strap 13.

8) The cable or strap 13 in claim 7) upper end runs up the door vertically and is connected to the shaft of a typical door knob/lever 14 with a flexible/gripping material 15 that is wrapped around the door knob/lever shaft 14.

9) When either of the pedals in claim 5) are depressed the force is transferred to the cable/strap in claim 7) which rotates the door handle or lever shaft 14 causing an unlatching of the door latch.

10) The operator is then able to pull to them self or push away from them self the pedal in claim 5) horizontally causing the door to open.

11) Once the operator is throught the doorway, they can place a foot on the other pedal in claim 4) and pull to or push away to close and re-latch the door.

12) The result is that a typically latched door can be unlatched, opened, and closed all hands free.

13) This device will benefit individuals that are hand handicapped. This device provides them the ability to unlatch, open, close, and re-latch a door all hands free.

14) The hands-free operation will prevent the transfer of germs onto the door handle/knob by eliminating the need to use a hand to touch a knob/lever to unlatch, open, close, and re-latch a door.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1) depicts an elevation view of the invention installed on a face side of a door.

[0010] FIG. 2) depicts an elevation view of the invention installed onto a door from the latch/edge view of the door.

[0011] FIG. 3) depicts a plan view of the invention installed onto the door from a vertical view looking from the top edge of the door down.

[0012] FIG. 4) depicts the same view as FIG. 3 but much closer.

[0013] FIG. 5) depicts an elevation view of the tubular mounting housing without the pedal installed.

[0014] FIG. 6) depicts a side view of the tubular mounting housing with the connecting shaft protruding out of the tubular housing.

[0015] FIG. 7) depicts an elevation view of the tubular mounting housing with the pedal, “S” hook, and strap assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] A foot operated door opener that includes two pedals, two tubular mounting housings, a connecting shaft, a strap and/or cable and a flexible/gripping material. The two tubular mounting housings are fastened to the bottom portion of the door. Each of the two housings is located on either side of the door, in line with a hole drilled completely through the door, and with one another both vertically and horizontally. A shaft runs through both mounting housings and the drilled hole in the door. The shaft has a pedal on each end fastened to it. An “S” type connector fastens the end of a cable or strap to a tab located near the thinner/smaller end of one of the pedals. The upper/other end of the cable or strap runs up the door vertically and is wrapped around the flexible/gripping material that is wrapped around directly to the smaller rotating housing of the lever or door knob. When either of the pedals is depressed the force pulls on the cable/strap which turns the door handle or lever shaft and causes an unlatching of the door. The operator then is able to pull or push the pedal horizontally causing the door to open. Once the operator is beyond the door way, the operator can turn and place a foot on the other pedal and pull or push the door closed. The result is that a latched door can be unlatched, opened, closed, and re-latched by an operator all hands free.