Automatic lock-unlock door safety control

Abstract

An electromechanical door supporting system for temporarily maintaining a door in an open position having: a) a housing with an electric motor in communication with a power source; b) a base plate sized to pass underneath a swinging door; c) the base plate extending away from the housing; d) the electric motor causing rotational movement in a rod extending from inside the housing, to outside the housing and over a surface of the base plate; e) a door supporting element extending perpendicular to the extended rod; and f) the door supporting element being attached to the extended rod at a proximal location and extending over the surface of the base plate to a distal end so that rotation of the extended rod causes the distal end of the door supporting element to elevate above the base plate to secure an opened door.

Claims

1. An electromechanical door supporting system for temporarily maintaining a door in an open position comprising: a) a housing containing an electric motor in communication with a power source; b) a base plate configured to pass underneath a swinging door; c) the base plate extending away from the housing in a first direction; d) the electric motor causing rotational movement in an extended rod extending from inside the housing, to outside the housing and over a surface of the base plate, wherein the electric motor is a solenoid with a drive rod moveable by the solenoid to cause rotation of the extended rod, and wherein the drive rod of the solenoid is engaged with a lever segment approximately perpendicular to the extended rod, connected to the housing and the lever segment is also engaged with a biasing spring secured within the housing causing biasing tension against the lever segment engaged with the drive rod; e) a door supporting element extending approximately perpendicular to the extended rod; and f) the door supporting element being attached to the extended rod at a proximal location and extending over the surface of the base plate to a distal end so that rotation of the extended rod causes the distal end of the door supporting element to elevate above the base plate to provide a supporting area between the door supporting element and the housing.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the drive rod of the solenoid rotates the extended rod to a closed position when the drive rod is extended from the solenoid, and the biasing spring is in a greatest tension biasing state when the drive rod is extended from the solenoid and the distal end of the of the door supporting element is at least 15 degrees above parallel with the base plate.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein when the drive rod is in a non-extended position with respect to the solenoid, the biasing spring is maintained in a minimum tension biasing state and the distal end of the of the door supporting element is approximately parallel to or below parallel with the base plate.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the lever segment rotates about a pivot point connection to external rod to increase tension in the biasing spring when the door supporting element is in a door supporting position.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the power source comprises a battery within the housing.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the power source comprises a receptor for an electrical cord in connection with an external AC power source.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein a timing circuit is present to limit an amount of time in which the door supporting element is maintained above parallel alignment with the base plate.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein a timing circuit is present to limit an amount of time in which the door supporting element is maintained above parallel alignment with the base plate in which the timing circuit times release of the drive rod so that a biasing spring provides torque against the extended rod to return the distal end of the door supporting element to return to a position parallel to or below parallel to the base plate.

9. A method of automatically and temporarily maintaining a swinging door in an open position comprising: a) providing an electromechanical door supporting system for temporarily maintaining a door in an open position having: a) a housing containing an electric motor in communication with a power source; b) a base plate configured to pass underneath a swinging door; c) the base plate extending away from the housing in a first direction; the electric motor comprising a drive rod operatively connected to a lever segment, the lever segment connected to the housing and to an extended rod, operation of the electric motor causing rotational movement in the extended rod extending from inside the housing, to outside the housing and over a surface of the base plate, wherein the electric motor causing rotational movement creates a tension in a biasing spring within the housing, with tension counter to a direction of rotation of the extended rod in its rotated position causing biasing tension against the lever segment engaged with the drive rod; e) a door supporting element extending approximately perpendicular to the extended rod; and f) the door supporting element being attached to the extended rod at a proximal location and extending over the surface of the base plate to a distal end so that rotation of the extended rod causes the distal end of the door supporting element to elevate above the base plate to provide a supporting area between the door supporting element and the housing; the method including activating the electric motor to cause the rotational movement in an extended rod, tension or force from the electric motor at least partially maintaining the extended rod to remain in a rotated position in which the distal end of the door supporting element maintains the door in an open position.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the tension or force from the electric motor is ceased and the tension in the biasing spring causes the extended rod to counter rotate to a position in which the distal end of the door supporting element does not maintain the door in an open position.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the electric motor is a solenoid motor and the solenoid motor drives a solenoid rod to cause the rotational movement in the extended rod.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the solenoid retracts the solenoid rod to cause rotation in the extended rod and create tension in the biasing spring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 shows a top view of the open-door supporting device with the door supporting element in a raised position.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a front view of a door frame with an open door supported by an open-door supporting device of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a top view of a door frame with an open door supported by an open-door supporting device of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a side cutaway view of internal elements of an open-door supporting device of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a top cutaway view of internal elements of an open-door supporting device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) An electromechanical door supporting system for temporarily maintaining a door in an open position having:

(7) a) a housing containing an electric motor in communication with a power source;

(8) b) a base plate configured to pass underneath a swinging door;

(9) c) the base plate extending away from the housing in a first direction;

(10) d) the electric motor causing rotational movement in an extended rod that extends from inside the housing, to outside the housing and over a surface of the base plate;

(11) e) a door supporting element extending approximately perpendicular (e.g., 25 degrees) to the extended rod; and located and extending within or over the surface of the base plate to a distal end so that rotation of the extended rod causes the distal end of the door supporting element to elevate above the base plate to provide a supporting area between the door supporting element and the housing. If the external rod is within the base plate, there is a hole from a back side of the base plate through the base plate to an opening or a slot-opening on the base plate to the door supporting element.

(12) The following Figure Key will be used in describing the Figures and enhancing an understanding of the invention.

FIGURE KEY

(13) FIG. 1

(14) 10AUTOMATIC LOCK-UNLOCK DOOR SAFETY SYSTEM 12HOUSING 14BASE PLATE 16TOP SURFACE OF BASE PLATE 18ELEVATING DOOR GRIP 20SOLENOID DRIVEN, BIASED ROTATING EXTERNAL ROD
FIG. 2 200DOOR FRAME 202DOOR 204SPRING LOADED HINGES 206DOOR HANDLE 210DOOR HOLDER ROD 212DOOR HOLDER
FIG. 3 302aDOOR FRAME 302bDOOR 304ANTERIOR WALL 306STAINLESS STEEL ROD 308DOOR HOLDER
FIG. 4 400RUBBER ANTI-SKID MAT 402DOORHOLDER WALL 404RUBBER BASE 406SOLENOID 408NUT 410SOLENOID ROD 412PIN 414STAINLESS STEEL ROD 416RETURN SPRING 418SPRING LOOPS 420EYE SCREW 422STAINLESS STEEL ROD EYE 424SOLENOID LEAD WIRES 426DELAY TIMER 428MOMENTARY SWITCH 430ON/OFF SWITCH 432NEGATIVE BATTERY LEAD 434POSITIVE BATTERY LEAD 436BATTERY 438BATTERY CHARGING HOOK-UP 450PIVOT POINT CONNECTION TO EXTERNAL ROD
FIG. 5 500FRONT OF DOOR HOLDER 502SIDE OF DOOR HOLDER 504SOLENOID 506SOLENOID NUT 508SOLENOID ROD 510MOMENTARY SWITCH 512STAINLESS STEEL ROD 514STAINLESS STEEL ROD 516LOOP ON END OF ROD 518BASE 520RETURN SPRING 522EYE SCREW 524DOOR HOLDER SIDE 526SPRING LOOP 528DRIVE ROD IN A NON-EXTENDED POSITION 530LEVER SEGMENT

(15) FIG. 1 shows a top view of the open-door supporting device 10 with the door supporting element 18 in a raised position. The housing 12 has a base plate 14 extending over a floor surface (not shown), and rotation of the external rotating rod 29 rotates the door-supporting element 18 into a position that will hold the door (not shown) in place in an open position until the door-supporting element 18 is lower to be flush with or below the plane of the top surface 16 of the base plate 14.

(16) FIG. 2 shows a front view of a door frame 200 with an open door 202 supported by an open-door supporting device 208 of the present invention. The base plate 212 extends below the open door 202 with the door-supporting element 210 supporting the door in an open position. Door hinges 204 and the door handle 206 are shown.

(17) FIG. 3 shows a top view of a door frame 304 with an open door 302b supported by an open-door supporting device 310 of the present invention. The position of a closed door 302a is also shown. The base plate 308 is shown extending under the open door 302b with the elevated door-supporting element 310 supporting the door 302b in an open position.

(18) FIG. 4 shows a side cutaway view of internal elements of an open-door supporting device 400 of the present invention. The open-door supporting device 400 is shown with its housing 402, base plate 404, retraction drive solenoid 406, nut 408, solenoid rod 410 and pin 412. The pin 412 is supporting and applying tension to a pivoting rod 414 (here a metal rod, such as a stainless steel rod). The rod eye 422 is secured by an eye screw 420 which receives a spring loop 418 of a return (biasing) spring 416. As the stainless steel rod eye 422 is retracted by the retraction action of the solenoid 406 against the pivoting rod 414, the extended exterior rod (not shown, see FIG. 5) connected to the pivoting rod with an end shown as a pivot point connection to external rod 450 is rotated (here, counterclockwise) to elevate the door-supporting element (see 310 in FIG. 3). The tension in the spring 416 is maintained or significantly increased to bias the pivoting rod 414 by movement of the stainless steel rod eye 422 which (the entire pivoting rod) is locked into position by the retracted solenoid rod 410 within the solenoid 406. When the retracting solenoid 406 releases the tension retaining the solenoid rod 410 in a retracted position, the tension in the biasing spring 416 extends the solenoid rod, allowing the pivoting rod to rotate clockwise, and causing the pivot point connection to external rod 450 to rotate, returning the exterior rod and door support elements (not shown in this figure) to return to a position that does not restrain a door in an open position, the open door supporting element lying parallel to the base or at least with the head (e.g., the curved head) lying below the bottom of the door, approximately parallel with the base or below parallel. Cables 424 extend from the solenoid 406 to a battery 436 powered delayed timer 426. The delayed time acts on the solenoid, assuring a programmable time in which the door will remain in an open position, once the solenoid 406 has acted to place the open-door support element in a position to maintain the door in a transient open position. Also shown are a momentary switch 428, on-off button 430, negative battery lead 432, positive battery lead 434, rechargeable battery 436 and battery charging lead/hook-up 438. The top of the pivoting rod or plate 414 around the rod eye 422 translates or rotates backwards towards the solenoid 406 as the solenoid rod 408 retracts and the pivoting rod 414 is also retracted to put tension in the biasing spring 416.

(19) FIG. 5 shows a top cutaway view of internal elements of an open-door supporting device 500 of the present invention. The device 500 is shown with a housing 502, solenoid 504, stabilizing nut 506, solenoid rod 508, momentary switch 510, internal section of a rotating rod 512 (e.g., metal), external segment of the rotating rod 514, with a loop (or cushioning element) 516 on an end of the rod 514 to minimize scratching of a door or strengthen the end of the rod 514. The base plate 518, return or biasing spring 520 and eye screw 522 screwed into a distal, door supporting end 524 of the housing are also shown. The drive rod 528 from the solenoid 504 is shown in an extended position, driving the lever segment 530 to rotate the internal segment of the rod 512 to elevate the end of the rod 514 above the base plate 518 so that the loop 516 is elevated to contact a door (not shown) to secure it in an open position.

(20) The system may be further described as an electromechanical door supporting system for temporarily maintaining a door in an open position having:

(21) a) a housing containing an electric motor in communication with a power source;

(22) b) a base plate configured to pass underneath a swinging door;

(23) c) the base plate extending away from the housing in a first direction;

(24) d) the electric motor causing rotational movement in an extended rod extending from inside the housing, to outside the housing and over a surface of the base plate;

(25) e) a door supporting element extending approximately perpendicular to the extended rod; and

(26) f) the door supporting element being attached to the extended rod at a proximal location and extending over the surface of the base plate to a distal end so that rotation of the extended rod causes the distal end of the door supporting element to elevate above the base plate to provide a supporting area between the door supporting element and the housing.

(27) The electric motor may be a solenoid with a drive rod moveable by the solenoid to cause rotation of the extended rod, and the drive rod of the solenoid may be engaged with a lever segment approximately perpendicular to the extended rod and the lever segment is also engaged with a biasing spring secured within the housing. The drive rod of the solenoid may rotate the extended rod to a closed position when the drive rod is extended from the solenoid, and the biasing spring is in a greatest tension biasing state when the drive rod is extended from the solenoid and the distal end of the of the door supporting element is at least 15 degrees above parallel with the base plate. When the drive rod is in a non-extended position with respect to the solenoid, the biasing spring is maintained in a minimum tension biasing state and the distal end of the of the door supporting element is parallel to or below parallel with the base plate. The lever segment pivots about a middle section of the lever segment about a distal end of the drive rod. The power source may be a battery within the housing, or a receptor for an electrical cord in connection with an external AC power source. A timing circuit may be present to limit an amount of time in which the door supporting element is maintained above parallel alignment with the base plate, and where a timing circuit is present to limit an amount of time in which the door supporting element is maintained above parallel alignment with the base plate in which the timing circuit times release of the drive rod so that a biasing spring provides torque against the extended rod to return the distal end of the door supporting element to return to a position parallel to or below parallel to the base plate.

(28) The invention also includes a method of use of the apparatus includes a method of automatically and temporarily maintaining a swinging door in an open position including:

(29) a) providing an electromechanical door supporting system for temporarily maintaining a door in an open position having:

(30) a) a housing containing an electric motor in communication with a power source;

(31) b) a base plate configured to pass underneath a swinging door;

(32) c) the base plate extending away from the housing in a first direction;

(33) d) the electric motor causing rotational movement in an extended rod extending from inside the housing, to outside the housing and within or over a surface of the base plate;

(34) e) a door supporting element extending approximately perpendicular to the extended rod; and

(35) f) the door supporting element being attached to the extended rod at a proximal location and extending over the surface of the base plate to a distal end so that rotation of the extended rod causes the distal end of the door supporting element to elevate above the base plate to provide a supporting area between the door supporting element and the housing;
the method including activating the electric motor to cause the rotational movement in an extended rod, tension or force from the electric motor at least partially maintaining the extended rod to remain in a rotated position in which the distal end of the door supporting element maintains the door in an open position. The electric motor may cause rotational movement creates tension in a biasing spring within the housing, with tension counter to a direction of rotation of the extended rod in its rotated position. The tension or force from the electric motor may be ceased (e.g., by the timing mechanism) ceased and the tension in the biasing spring causes the extended rod to counter rotate to a position in which the distal end of the door supporting element does not maintain the door in an open position. The electric motor may be a solenoid motor and the solenoid motor drives a solenoid rod to cause the rotational movement in the extended rod. The solenoid retracts the solenoid rod to cause rotation in the extended rod and create tension in the biasing spring.