Patent Application
20070101660
This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning opening basement doors.
Typically in the prior art basement doors are opened by hand. When entering from outside the basement one must typically bend over and lift open a door leaf sufficiently far so that a safety latch engages so that the door leaf does not fall back shut. An individual would then proceed down a basement stairway a few steps and then, turn around while still on the stairway to unlatch the safety latch previously set. The individual would then manually close the door behind himself or herself as the individual goes down the basement stairway backwards.
When exiting from a basement through a horizontal doorway an individual typically must proceed a few steps up a usually poorly lit stairway. Then individual would then open the safety latch and push a door leaf open will walking up the stairs at the same time. The individual would then proceed all the way up the stairway while pushing the door leaf until the door leaf finally swings far enough open so that the safety latch catches. The individual would typically then bend over to close the door behind himself or herself.
The procedure described above is clumsy, strenuous and even dangerous. Many older and infirm individuals are not even able to use their basement entryways because of the problems described above.
Various counterbalancing devices, such as gas springs, are known for making it easier or safer to open or close a basement door by hand. One such device, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,395, to Dabrowski “decelerates the movement of a door leaf during opening of the door and firmly supports the door without the need of an additional hold-open device and allows the user to close the door leaf with one hand rather than two”. (Dabrowski, col. 2, Ins. 2-6). However, such devices still require an operator to open a door leaf by hand and they do not provide for a means to close the door other than by hand.
In one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided comprising a basement door leaf opening and closing device, and an input device which can activate the basement door leaf opening and closing device. The input device can be set by an operator the cause the basement door leaf opening and closing device to push a basement door leaf into an open position or pull a basement door leaf into a closed position.
The input device may include a keypad having one or more keys. The one or more keys on the keypad when activated may cause the basement door leaf opening and closing device to push the basement door leaf into an open position. The one or more keys on the keypad when activated may cause the basement door leaf opening and closing device to pull the basement door leaf into a closed position. The keypad may be adapted to be mounted outside of a basement or inside of a basement.
The basement door leaf opening and closing device may include an electric motor, which is adapted to be rotatably mounted to a base, and a piston having first and second ends, wherein the first end is connected to the electric motor and the second end is adapted to be rotatably mounted to a basement door leaf.
The basement door leaf opening and closing device may alternatively include an electric motor, which is adapted to be fixedly mounted to a structural member, such as a reinforced top wall portion of a basement door device.
The foundation or base 11 includes sidewalls 14 and 16, top wall portions 12, 18, and 20, and front wall 22. The top wall portions 12, 18, 20, and front wall 22 surround an opening 25 over which the door device 30 is placed.
The door device 30 includes an upwardly extending header flange 32, a flat plate header 34, an elongated flat plate 36, a flat plate 38, a left door leaf 40, a right door leaf 44, and a plate 48. The door device 30 may be similar to that shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 8 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,395, which is fully incorporated herein by reference. The door device 30 may include hinges 50 and 52 which connect the right door leaf 44 to the flat plate 36, top wall portion 20, and/or the side wall 16, in a manner which allows the right door leaf 44 to rotate into an opened or closed position. In the closed position the right door leaf 44 and the left door leaf 40 completely cover the opening 25 in the base or foundation 11 so that water cannot get through the opening 25 in the foundation or base 11.
The door leaf opening and closing device 60 includes an electric motor 62 connected to a piston, rod or cylinder 61. The piston 61 may be an electric and/or hydraulic piston, an electric screw, or an electric screwworm jack. The piston 61 is typically connected to the motor 62 so that the piston 61 can slide with respect to the motor 62 but cannot rotate with respect to the motor 62. The motor 62 is rotatably mounted to brackets 64 and 65, through a pivot pin 64a, so that the motor 62 can rotate about pivot pin 64a with respect to the brackets 64 and 65. The piston 61 has an end 61a, which is rotatably mounted to a bracket 63 through a pivot pin 63a, so that the piston 61 can rotate about pivot pin 63a with respect to the bracket 63. The piston 61 has an end 61b, which is connected to the motor 62. The brackets 64 and 65 are fixed to the side wall 16. The bracket 63 is fixed to the right door leaf 44. The brackets 64 and 65 are also fixed to an elongated brace 67 shown in
The motor 62 is electrically connected through a conductor or cord 70 to a keypad device 72. The keypad device 72 has keys or buttons 72a. One or more of the keys or buttons 72a can be pressed to cause the electric motor 62 to push or extend piston 61 and thereby push the right door leaf 44 into the fully open position shown in
The motor 62 is also electrically connected through a conductor or cord 80 to a keypad device 82. The keypad device 82 is mounted to the exterior of side wall 14. The keypad device 82 has keys or buttons 82a. One or more of the keys or buttons 82a can be pressed to cause the electric motor 62 to push or extend piston 61 and thereby push the right door leaf 44 into the fully open position shown in
The apparatus 10 includes a receiver 90 and a transmitter or remote control device 92. The remote control device 92 may have a plurality of keys or buttons 92a, which can be pressed or activated to cause a remote control signal to be sent to the receiver 90. The receiver 90 may be electrically connected to the motor 62, such as through the cord 70 or through the keypad 72 and the cord 70. The remote control device 92 may be similar to a remote control garage door opener. The remote control device 92 may send out any type of remote control, typically wireless, signal. The receiver 90 receives the remote control signal from device 92 and causes the motor 62 to be activated to either push open the door leaf 44 using piston 61 or pull close the door leaf 44 using piston 61.
The foundation or base 111 may be similar to or identical to the base 11 shown in
The door device 130 includes an upwardly extending header flange 132, a flat plate header 134, an elongated flat plate 136, a flat plate 138, a door 144, and a plate 148. The late plate header 134 may be reinforced with an extra layer of plating or steel for strength. The door device 30 may include hinges 150 and 152 which connect the door 144 to the flat plate 134, top wall portion 112, in a manner which allows the door 144 to rotate into an opened or closed position. In the closed position the door 144 completely covers the opening 125 in the base or foundation 111 so that water cannot get through the opening 125 in the foundation or base 111. The door 144 is comprised of a single door leave having a width W1 and a length L1. The Length L1 is typically substantially greater than the width W1. For example the length L1 may be two times greater than the width W1.
The door or door leaf opening and closing device 160 includes an electric motor 162 connected to a piston 161. The piston 161 may be an electric and/or hydraulic piston, an electric screw, or an electric screwworm jack. The piston 161 is capable of extending or expanding to the fully extended or expanded position shown in
The motor 162 is electrically connected through a conductor or cord 170 to a keypad device 172. The keypad device 172 has keys or buttons 172a. One or more of the keys or buttons 172a can be pressed to cause the electric motor 162 to push or extend the piston 161 and thereby push the door 144 into the fully open position shown in
The motor 162 is also electrically connected through a conductor or cord 180 to a keypad device 182. The keypad device 182 is mounted to the exterior of sidewall 114. The keypad device 182 has keys or buttons 182a. One or more of the keys or buttons 182a can be pressed to cause the electric motor 162 to push or extend piston 61 and thereby push the door 144 into the fully open position shown in
The apparatus 110 includes a receiver 190 and a transmitter or remote control device 192. The remote control device 192 may have a plurality of keys or buttons 192a, which can be pressed or activated to cause a remote control signal to be sent to the receiver 190. The receiver 190 may be electrically connected to the motor 162, such as through the cord 170 or through the keypad 172 and the cord 170. The remote control device 192 may be similar to a remote control garage door opener. The remote control device 192 may send out any type of remote control, typically wireless, signal. The receiver 190 receives the remote control signal from device 192 and causes the motor 162 to be activated to either push open the door 144 using piston 161 or pull close the door 144 using the piston 161.
The apparatus 200 includes components, which have previously been described with reference to
The motor 261 is electrically connected to keypads 172 and 182 by bus, cord, or communication lines 270 and 280 respectively. Only parts of cords 270 and 280 are shown in
In operation, an individual would press one or more keys 172a or 182a on keypads 172 or 182, respectively, to cause the motor 261 to open or close the door 144. To transition from the closed door state of
Each of pivot pins 63a, 64a, 163a, 164a, 263a, and 265d may be pivot pin in the nature of a clevis hitch pin so that each of pivot pins 63a, 64a, 163a, 164a, 263a, and 265d can be removed by hand and without the use of a tool, to disconnect the appropriate door opening and closing device from the appropriate door, the appropriate motor and/or the appropriate arm. This will allow an individual to open or close the door manually and without being constrained by the appropriate door opening and closing device.
Pin 300 includes retaining pin 302, narrowed portion 308, cylinder 310, ridge 312, cylinder 314, and ring 316. The retaining pin 302 includes a ring portion 304 integrated with a straight portion 306. The straight portion 306 includes sections 306a, 306b, and 306c. The section 306b is shown in dashed lines and is located inside of a hole 309, which is also shown by dashed lines. The hole 309 is located inside of the cylinder 310. The pin 300 can be placed so that the cylinder 310 is the pivot or axle for rotation. For example, if the pin 300 is used for the pivot pin 63a, the retaining pin 302 would be pulled out of the opening 309 and then an end 308a would be inserted into a opening, not shown, in the bracket 63 and an opening, not shown, in the piston 61, so that the piston 61 is rotatably or pivotally mounted with respect to the bracket 63. After insertion, an end 302a of the retaining pin 302 would be inserted into the opening 309 so that the retaining pin 302 would be located as in
Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art.
