Patent Grant
9347252
The invention relates to a foot-operated door opener, a door, and use.
Foot-operated door openers are known.
DE 101 13 865 A1 discloses a device for opening a door, in particular in wet rooms, whereby an actuating element used for actuation by the foot is provided in the door, and the actuating element is designed as a rod which protrudes from the door.
EP 1 048 811 A1 discloses in particular a door opening system which is equipped with a foot switch that is situated next to the door, whereby an actuator rod directly engages with a door opening mechanism.
WO 02/31297 A1 discloses a door opening mechanism which converts a translational movement, due to a step by the foot, into a rotational movement of a member which directly engages with a door opening mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,863 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,546 disclose a foot-operated door opener which is situated on the door in a flap-like manner, so that actuation by placing a foot on a plate-shaped or rotatable foot tread element causes an actuator rod to undergo a translational movement, so that the door may be opened by engagement with an opening mechanism of the door.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,848 discloses a foot-operated door opener in which a user may actuate a pedal-shaped foot-operated element which protrudes from the door, and a translational movement from top to bottom results in engagement with an opening mechanism of the door via an actuator rod, by means of which the door may be opened.
DE 10 2010 035 554 A1 discloses a foot-operated door opener having a foot-operated actuator element for opening the door situated on the lower region of the door, the foot-operated actuator element having an upper and a lower foot tread element which are connected to one another in an articulated manner, and which in each case at least partially pivot into the interior of the door upon actuation by the foot.
These foot-operated door opening devices known from the prior art, with the exception of the latter-mentioned one, share the common feature that on the one hand they allow a relatively rough, imprecise opening of the door by means of a foot, and on the other hand are associated with a certain potential for injury during operation due to somewhat cumbersome geometries. Although these problems are solved for the most part in the latter-mentioned device, in practice it has been found that the possibility for even more precise opening of the door is desirable.
An object of the invention, therefore, is to at least partially avoid the mentioned disadvantages.
This object on which the invention is based is achieved by a foot-operated door opener according to the invention having a foot-operated actuator element which is situated/situatable in the lower region of a door, for opening the door, the foot-operated actuator element having at least one foot tread element which, when actuated by a foot, at least partially pivots downwardly and inwardly, the foot tread element being at least also forcibly guided by means of a forcibly guided element and at least one forcibly guided moving element, and the foot tread element is rotatably connected to an articulated element and rotatably connected to the forcibly guided moving element in such a way that, when actuated by a foot, the foot tread element undergoes a movement downwardly and is also moved as a whole at least partially outwardly.
The invention likewise includes a door having a foot-operated door opener as set forth herein.
The invention further includes the use of a foot-operated door opener as set forth herein for installation in a door.
The foot-operated door opener according to the invention is equipped with a foot-operated actuator element which is situated/situatable in the lower region of a door, for opening the door, the foot-operated actuator element having at least one foot tread element, for example and in particular having a slightly convex, plate-like design, which, when actuated by a foot, i.e., by placing a foot on the foot tread element and applying force, at least partially pivots downwardly and inwardly, the foot tread element being at least also forcibly guided by means of a forcibly guided element, for example and in particular in the form of an arched material protrusion, and at least one forcibly guided moving element, for example and in particular designed as a flat part, for example and in particular having a triangular shape, which is hinged to a frame part of the foot-operated opener. The foot tread element is rotatably connected at an articulated joint to an articulated element, for example and in particular in the form of a rod-shaped element, and rotatably connected to the forcibly guided moving element, in particular in such a way that, when actuated by a foot, the foot tread element undergoes a movement downwardly and is also moved as a whole at least partially outwardly. It will be readily appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art that the movement at least partially pivots downwardly and inwardly of the foot tread element, and the movement downwardly and also moved as a whole at least partially outwardly of the foot tread element. As shown and described in connection with
In this way, at least partial synchronization of the rotational movement and the translational travel of the foot tread element takes place, so that due to the outward translational travel, a larger foot support surface of the foot tread element is available to the operator, thus allowing easier handling.
In practice it has been found to be advantageous for the articulated element to have a rod-shaped design to allow a particularly large outward translational movement.
Furthermore, it is advantageous when the forcibly guided moving element is hinged to a frame part of the foot-operated door opener in order to minimize to the greatest extent possible friction forces which may occur along the progression of the forcibly guided element.
In this context, it is also advantageous when the forcibly guided moving element is designed as a flat part, for example and in particular having a triangular shape, so that, for example, over a wide progression along the forcibly guided element it is possible for the forcibly guided moving element to have contact with the forcibly guided element at more than one point in order to allow particularly secure forcible guiding.
Furthermore, it is advantageous when the forcibly guided moving element has at least one material formation, for example and in particular having a meandering shape, which corresponds to a frame part material formation, so that, in relation to the neutral position of the foot tread element or in the fully depressed state of the foot tread element, in each case material formations correspond to one another, thus allowing additional stabilization of the mechanism of the foot-operated door opener.
In addition, it is advantageous when the forcibly guided moving element has a receiving element, for example and in particular in the form of a groove, for accommodating the upper end of the foot tread element with respect to the neutral position of the foot tread element, to provide corresponding additional mechanical stabilization, optionally even before reaching the fully depressed end position of the lower foot tread element.
In addition, it is advantageous when the forcibly guided element has an arched or circular forcible guiding progression to achieve the most uniform movement possible along the progression of the forcibly guided element.
Furthermore, it is advantageous when the foot-operated door opener according to the invention is designed in such a way that the movability, i.e., the simultaneous rotation and translation, of the foot tread element is limited by means of at least one stop element, for example and in particular in the form of a rubber pad, it being particularly advantageous when the stop element is situated on the articulated element, so that when the stop element and the other parameters are appropriately dimensioned, the operator is provided with a secure, comfortable stop.
It is also advantageous when the foot tread element has a further forcibly guided moving element, for example and in particular beneath the foot tread element, in order to allow even better movability of the foot tread element during operation.
Furthermore, it is advantageous when a force element, for example and in particular in the form of a spring element, directly or indirectly engages with the foot tread element in such a way that the foot tread element is pulled into a neutral position without resistance on the foot of an operator, so that after a door engages in the lock/latch an immediate option is provided for the foot-operated door opener to be correspondingly re-actuated in order to open the door.
In this context, it is advantageous when the movement of the foot tread element caused by the restoring force of the force element is damped by means of a damper element, for example in the form of an oil brake cylinder, since this generally prevents the force element from pulling the foot tread element unbraked into its neutral position, which is typically associated with a high noise level since the foot tread element then runs against corresponding stops.
In addition, it is advantageous when the foot-operated door opener according to the invention is designed in such a way that upon actuation by the foot, a locking mechanism, for example and in particular in the form of a so-called “semitrailer” mechanism, is activated which prevents the foot tread element from returning, in order to initially prevent uncontrolled travel into a neutral position of the foot tread element.
Furthermore, it is advantageous when the foot-operated door opener according to the invention is designed in such a way that when the door leaf and the door frame are situated opposite one another, the locking mechanism is unlocked, for example and in particular by means of magnetic force or mechanical force, to allow the door to engage in the lock very softly without the door falling against the door latch.
Relative terms such as up, down, left, and right, are for convenience only and are not intended to be limiting.
The invention is described in a non-limiting manner with reference to the following figures, which illustrate the following:
The above-described arrangement is shown in a perspective view in
In the design variant shown in
The two foot tread elements (upper foot tread element 7 and lower foot tread element 1) are connected to one another in an articulated, manner via an articulated joint D5. A frame material formation or material protrusion 21 of the frame part 4 corresponds to a material formation or material indentation 20 in the forcibly guided moving element 2, so that additional mechanical stabilization of the mechanism of the foot-operated door opener according to the invention is achieved in the neutral position of the foot tread element 1 and also in the fully depressed position of the foot tread element 1. In this case, the articulated joint D1 is designed as a “bone joint,” in a manner of speaking, which primarily ensures that dislocation is prevented, and D1 is relieved of significant stress due to the large-surface contact of the forcibly guided moving element 2 on the forcibly guided element ZF. The foot tread element 1 is articulatedly connected to the articulated element 3 via D4. As shown in
When the door closes, so to speak, the door leaf and the door frame are situated opposite one another, so that the magnet element 14 (which may be an actual magnet or a ferromagnetizable material) is thus drawn toward an oppositely situated magnet (not shown), so that the lock V is unlocked via the rod assembly 13 and the lever 12. The lock latch of the door is thus closed, and at the same time, the two foot tread elements 1 and 7 slowly travel into their neutral position in a damped manner.
All of the figures involve a double design variant of the foot-operated door opener according to the invention, which when installed in a door thus allows the door to be opened from both sides.
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, and uses and/or adaptations of the invention and following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2012 001 845 | Feb 2012 | DE | national |
This application is a continuation of Application No. PCT/EP2013/000317, filed Feb. 1, 2013, which Application claims priority of German Application No. 10 2012 001 845.2, filed Feb. 1, 2012, and each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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| Entry |
|---|
| International Search Report (ISR) in parent application No. PCT/EP2013/000317, filed Feb. 1, 2013, ISR dated May 28, 2013 (3 pgs.). |
| Canadian Office Action of Feb. 10, 2014, re Canadian Application No. 2,809,340, to Metiba Verwaltungs GmbH. (2 pages). |
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| German Office Action dated Jun. 6, 2011 in DE 10 2010 035 554.2, filed Aug. 26, 2010 (4 pgs.). |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150020454 A1 | Jan 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2013/000317 | Feb 2013 | US |
| Child | 14448864 | US |
