Patent Application
20240384584
The present invention relates to safe, foot operable door openers, to avoid manual hands contact with door handles having unsanitary pathogens thereon. Foot operable implies use of the foot, or use of a cane. The foot operable door opener could also be applied to the hands-free opening of many different types of doors, including, but not limited to, those doors that warehouse workers and food service wait staff may utilize for ingress and egress while carrying packages and/or heavy trays of food. The foot operable door opener also acts as a door assist for people with weak arms. The foot operable door opener is a cost-effective aid for people with disabilities who are in walkers or wheelchairs at home or in commercial environments. The foot operable door opener is a cost-effective application for home use convenience of entering a residence with groceries, letting pets in and outdoors, regulating household temperatures and saving energy by remotely opening and closing doors. The foot operable door opener is a cost-effective application which can be integrated into smart home technology and aid in life safety and egress.
In this era of germs and viruses, including, but not limited to, the Covid-19 virus, other fungal bacterial and viral pathogens, door handles can be a constant source of transmission of germs and viruses, being readily communicable to the hands of subsequent openers of those doors.
Efforts have been made to provide electrically operable door openers, but they are often complex and expensive to install and operate.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 10,081,977 B2 of Shelley, discloses an automatic electronically and remotely controlled door opening and closing device, using RF frequency remote controls, and a chassis and a slide mechanism with a spring-loaded tensioner for ground contact, in contrast to our retractable variable cam linear motion device to create floor friction and traction. The system taught by Shelley and U.S. 2013/0318878 (Manseder) or US 2012/0304541 (Goodman) does not include a foot-operated switch, and does not have real time door position monitoring and real time regulating and adjusting of the wheel's vertical position using a linear actuator to account for sloped conditions and/or accommodating for application of a variable force with respect to the ground plane and/or for accommodating changing environmental conditions and/or in situ conditions. Shelly's device has drawbacks if used in a residential and/or a commercial application.
Other patents promote a non-motorized cradle for a footwear, such as a shoe or boot, which is attached to a door so that a user has to awkwardly insert the shoe or boot into the door attached, non-moving footwear cradle, where the cradle includes a lower horizontal floor plate and a distal upwardly extending vertical ledge, whereby the user attempts to open the door using only the leverage of the user's leg, as noted in U.S. Pat. No. 9,115,530 of Michael Sewell. This is not practical since most doors, by design, are equipped with standard overhead closers, or floor closers or spring hinges, which have a 5-10 lbs. of resistance. A force too great to comfortably overcome without mechanical advantage while pivoting on one leg.
The openers of the aforementioned patents do not provide simple, cost effective, means of opening a door without using one's hands, and without a footwear cradle, offering no mechanical assistance. They are also not applicable to siding doors.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simple, cost-effective means of opening a door without using one's hands.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a convenient, safe door opener solely that may be operated using the foot of the user upon a pedal actuator of a door opener.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a door opener with a time delay on both the opening and closing cycle of the door opening/closing processes, to permit safe egress through the door.
It is a further object to provide a foot operable door opener that can be retrofit onto any existing door.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a foot operable door opener, with optional motor assist for persons who have limited mobility, and/or very limited strength.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simple, cost-effective means of opening a door without using one's hands utilizing the most current: motor, sensor, and interfacing technologies currently available.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In keeping with these objects and others which may become apparent, in one non-motorized embodiment the present invention is directed to a foot operable door opener, without using one's hands, and without an electrical assist.
It is to be known in the trade as the SAFETY MAX™ DOOR OPENER.
In this era of germs and viruses, non-motorized embodiment provides a simple, cost effective, means of opening a door without using of one's hands, and without an electrical assist. The entrance cycle is initiated by stepping on a pedal. This force drives the pedal a ¼ turn, engaging a soft wheel to open the door. The pedal is hard linked to a crank arm which goes into a unidirectional crank shaft hub to turn the wheel. The downward pressure from the pedal pivots a ratcheted hinge connected to a bracketed spring-loaded wheel assembly to keep constant pressure to the ground. A speed increasing gear box or multiple pumps of the pedal turns the wheel system two or more 360 degrees rotations, opening the door sufficiently to allow the entrant to pass. When the foot pedal is dis-engaged by the entrant, this action releases a one way directional mechanical device, such as a ratchet hinge mechanism, or other one way mechanical devices, such as cams, coils, one way threaded devices, slides and ways, or rack and pawl devices, allowing the spring assisted wheel assemble to rotate or slide up, back to its original up position, releasing the wheel from the ground, allowing the door to close with a standard overhead closer or spring-loaded hinge. Now the door is ready for the next entrant.
Models may also include an optional, main spring which can be wound for a further assist to accommodate a delayed action start, where now, a foot switch actuated spring-loaded wheel drops and engages opening cycle as described above. The door which after actuation, will close after a time delay on the retracting spring mechanism, also described above. Both opening and closing are by mechanical advantage, without the use of electric power or motors. This invention is differentiated, unique, novel, and patentable from all prior art, by its' being a simple machine without electric power, electric motors, scanner or traffic readers of any kind, and through mechanical advantage and a spring loaded hinge assembly to keep constant pressure to the floor plane, hygienically opening doors when safety from disease, virus, bacteria, or other hazards are wished to be avoided or hand operation is not possible as with warehouse or food service, where hands free greatly eases the potential for trip and drop hazards, by the use of an economical apparatus that can be added/or retro fit to any door type, swinging or sliding, wood, hollow metal, metal-framed glass, all glass, etc. to facilitate ingress and egress passages of all types, locations and environments.
Other alternate embodiments for the foot operable door opener may include an internal or wired latch release mechanism, enabling the door opener to be used on a standard latching door, such as found in most residences.
In a first embodiment, the foot operable door opener includes a crank assembly including a crank arm, which is rotated from a home position by depression of a foot pedal, with a foot or cane, to rotate a crankshaft 1.3. A drive assembly is connected to the crank arm through the crank shaft for winding one or more main springs.
A gear train with a preselected speed increasing ratio transfers power from the main spring to a drive wheel assembly, which preferably includes a main drive wheel with a mechanical soft, durometer contact material, or a pneumatic main drive wheel connected to a main driveshaft. A traction tension assembly is actuated by the main crankshaft to rotate the main shaft for swinging the door open.
Optionally, a delay assembly is provided for delaying release of potential energy of the main spring to the main drive shaft in order to allow safe ergonomic transfer of an entrant's weight to both feet, which allows the entrant to comfortably step aside to clear swinging of the door.
A return spring is mounted on the aforementioned crank shaft and arm, for returning the crank arm to its home position; and, whereby an entrant is able to open the door without use of hands or electrical assist.
A safety feature is included, whereby the gear train of the door opener includes a clutch bearing allowing for one-way travel of the gear train with no backlash or backward movement.
The gear train preferably has a speed increasing ratio of about 1 to 10.
For safety reasons, the delay assembly of the door opener includes a spring-loaded mechanical, dashpot, or pneumatic cylinder, which is compressed by the main crankshaft when the pedal and crank arm are depressed, so that the pneumatic cylinder has an opening, such as an orifice or an adjustable needle valve to allow air to escape from a compressed chamber in the mechanical or pneumatic cylinder, regulating the delay which releases stored potential from the main springs and which starts a cycle of the main drive wheel turning, without losing any potential energy.
Further with respect to the delay assembly, the aforesaid pneumatic cylinder has a piston and a spring-loaded plunger, where the plunger depresses a pawl, which engages a one-way mechanical directional device, such as a ratcheting wheel or socket, which is directly connected to the aforesaid main drive wheel. Other one-way directional devices can be used, such as cams, one-way threaded devices, rack and pawl devices. The release of pressure within the cylinder causes the spring-loaded plunger to release the ratchet, and the delay releasing stored potential from the main spring, starts a cycle of the main drive wheel turning, without losing any potential energy.
The traction assembly is also actuated when the crank arm is depressed, which rotates the aforesaid main shaft, causing a depressing arm to pull down a fork assembly, engaging a spring-loaded mechanism held down by a locking pawl, which causes a constant downward pressure for a predetermined length of travel, to accommodate an undercut under said door, threshold, and any slope in front of the door. When an activation pin hits an activation trigger when the aforesaid main springs unwinds at an end of its rotation, the spring-loaded mechanism releases and raises up the locking pawl and the main drive wheel back to a resting position ready for a next cycle.
Afterward, the door closes by itself with the assistance of at least one of standard spring-loaded or gravity hinges, overhead closing mechanisms and floor closing mechanisms, which is standard equipment in all operating entrance doors, or can be added to interior doors not normally equipped therewith.
Optionally, the drive wheel assembly is connected to the crank arm with a set of steel cables wrapped around a drum, whereby when the pedal and crank arm are depressed, the cables turn the drum, winding the main spring. Optionally, the main springs are all left-handed or right-handed.
For stability, a chassis is mounted on the door, which houses substantially all operative elements of the door opener.
The present invention also includes in a preferred first embodiment, a method of constructing and using a foot operable door opener comprising the steps of:
The method of opening a foot openable door opener without an electric assist further includes the optional step of providing the gear train including a clutch bearing allowing for one-way travel of the gear train with no backlash or backward movement.
Preferably the gear train has a speed increasing ratio of about 1 to 10.
The method also includes the step of the delay assembly having a spring-loaded mechanical or pneumatic cylinder, which is compressed by the main crankshaft when the pedal and crank arm are depressed, and wherein the mechanical or pneumatic cylinder has an opening, such as a fixed orifice or adjustable needle valve, for allowing air to escape from a compressed chamber in the pneumatic cylinder or dashpot, whereby regulating the delay releases stored potential from the main springs and starts a cycle of the main drive wheel turning without losing any potential energy.
Alternately the method optionally includes a friction clutch to restrain said drive wheel for a fixed or variable length of time, or a dampener, such as a dash pot cylinder to mechanically regulate spring-loaded plunger depresses a pawl which engages a ratcheting wheel, which itself is directly connected to the aforesaid main drive wheel, whereby release of pressure within the cylinder causes the spring-loaded plunger to release the ratchet, and the delay releases stored potential from the main spring and starts a cycle of the main drive wheel turning without losing any potential energy.
The method further includes the mechanical or pneumatic cylinder having a piston and a spring-loaded plunger, where the spring-loaded plunger depresses a pawl which engages a ratcheting wheel, which itself is directly connected to the aforesaid main drive wheel, whereby release of pressure within the cylinder causes the spring-loaded plunger to release the ratchet, and the delay releases stored potential from the main spring and starts a cycle of the main drive wheel turning without losing any potential energy.
Optionally the method further includes the mechanical or dashpot cylinder having a piston and a spring-loaded plunger, where the spring-loaded plunger depresses a pawl which engages a ratcheting wheel, which itself is directly connected to the aforesaid main drive wheel, whereby release of pressure within the cylinder causes the spring-loaded plunger to release the ratchet, and the delay releases stored potential from the main spring and starts a cycle of the main drive wheel turning without losing any potential energy.
Optionally, the method also includes the step in which the traction assembly is also actuated when the crank arm is depressed, rotating the crankshaft, which causes a depressing arm to pull down a bracket arm, engaging a spring-loaded mechanism held down by a locking pawl, causing a constant downward pressure for a predetermined length of travel, to accommodate an undercut under the door, threshold, and any slope in front of the door.
The method of opening the foot operable door opener further includes the step of having an activation pin hit an activation trigger when the main springs unwind at an end of its rotation, thereby releasing the locking pawl closing the spring-loaded mechanism, to raise up the main drive wheel 5.1 back to a resting position and ready for a next cycle.
Optionally the method also includes a time delay for the raising of the main drive wheel back to its original position for a prescribed length or variable length of time before lifting main drive wheel 5.1 back, to a resting position, and ready for a next cycle.
The method also includes the step of connecting the drive wheel assembly to the gear train which connects to the transfer shaft where the crank arm with a set of steel cables wrapped around a drum, whereby when the pedal and crank arm depressed, the cables turn the drum and transfer shaft, winding the main spring.
Optionally, the main springs are all left-handed and right-handed.
Furthermore, when a chassis is mounted on the door, it houses substantially all operative elements of the foot operable door opener.
In a second embodiment, a foot operable door opener operates by user exertion of force against a pedal attached to a crank arm and shaft, where a transfer shaft works with a transfer arm and a drive pawl, and with right-handed main springs as a drive assembly, mounted on a main chassis with attachments, such as chassis mounting holes and screws or a clamping sub plate. A gear train of this second embodiment includes a main gear, with a clutch bearing, an idler increasing gear and an idler shaft, as well as with a secondary speed increasing gear, a shaft, a drive gear driving a drive shaft with associated transfer gears, communicating with a drive wheel. A traction/tension carriage assembly regulates adhesive or slippage and coefficient of friction of the various components on surfaces upon which they move, including a bracket arm, an actuating arm, a connecting arm, a carriage depressing arm, a hinge pin, a tension arm with a tension arm roller. A traction spring is provided, along with a trigger actuator pin, to ensure smooth opening and closing of the door, with a delay by way of a friction slip clutch between the drive wheel and the drive shaft.
In a third embodiment, a non-motorized foot operable door opener with a drive train, preferably a planetary gear assembly, is initiated in an entrance cycle by the user stepping on a pedal This force exerted on the pedal drives the crank arm, a sixty to ninety (60-90) degree turn, engaging a soft wheel, to open the door D. A speed increasing planetary gear box, winds one or more springs, (right and left-handed) thereby opening the door, sufficiently to allow the entrant to pass until the foot pedal, is dis-engaged by the entrant. The crank arm is returned to its original position, with the aid of the return arm spring. This action causes the crank arm, to strike the trigger lever release, which in turn releases the ratcheting hinge mechanism and spring, allowing the wheel return lifting springs, to lift the wheel assembly to rotate up, back to its original up position, guided by the guide pin and stop. This disengages the wheel, from the ground, thus allowing the door to close with a standard overhead closer or spring-loaded hinge, which is standard hardware on most doors. At that time after the opening and closing of the door, the door is ready for the next entrant.
In an optional alternate embodiment shown in
The arrangement in
It is noted that the openable door depicted in drawing
For example, an activator button or switch can be physically attached to the door opening pedal 101.1, so that pushing on the pedal 101.1 will activate the electronic control features of the embodiments shown in
It is further noted that while a person can contact a foot pedal with motor assist options controlled by a controller of
Therefore, it is also intended that the activation of this motor assist can be activated optionally by a person who lacks physical capacity to push down on the pedal 101.1, and may instead be activated by pushing a finger operable hardwired or remote activator button/switch, proximity device, facial recognition, a scanned key card, Bluetooth communications, security emergency and environmental systems, or some human or non-human interface (not shown) which communicates with the controller module 106.7 (or 206.7) for controlling the sequence of the door opening and closing.
The door opener device shown in
The controller module 106.7 may perform many functions, including, but not limited to, doing power manipulation, as follows:
The motors on the system may be powered by hardwired line voltage with a battery backup, or may be battery powered. Batteries can be charged by being removed like in a power drill, or with induction charging contact which proximity may be engaged and sufficient when the door is closed. This may be powered by a low Volt DC power supply (i.e., “low” volt being less than 50 volts), like a small charging cube for a cell phone, which may reduce the risk of shock from higher voltage DC and AC chargers.
Without limitation, the following are some of the terms to be incorporated into the language to cover different iterations of the parts of the motorized door opener:
Other terms may also be utilized hereinafter, and which may be defined where
described.
The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in the following drawings.
As used throughout this specification, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to, or being optional), rather than a mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must), as more than one embodiment of the invention may be disclosed herein. Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to.
The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” may be open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, and “A, B, and/or C” herein means all of the following possible combinations: A alone; or B alone; or C alone; or A and B together; or A and C together; or B and C together; or A, B and C together.
Also, the disclosures of all patents, published patent applications, and non-patent literature cited within this document are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. However, it is noted that the citing of any reference within this disclosure, i.e., any patents, published patent applications, and non-patent literature, is not an admission regarding a determination as to its availability as prior art with respect to the herein disclosed and claimed apparatus/method.
Furthermore, any reference made throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection therewith is included in at least that one particular embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Therefore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of any particular aspect of an embodiment disclosed herein may be combined in any suitable manner with any of the other embodiments disclosed herein.
Additionally, any approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative or qualitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value or recitation modified by a term such as “about” is not to be limited to the precise theoretical characteristic or value specified, and may include values that differ from the specified value in accordance with design variations that may be described in the specification, as well as applicable case law. Also, in at least some instances, a numerical difference provided by the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument that may be used for measuring the value or characteristic (e.g., a recitation of being “substantially straight”). A numerical difference provided by the approximating language may also correspond to a manufacturing tolerance associated with production of the aspect/feature being quantified/described (see e.g., Ex Parte Ollmar, Appeal No. 2014-006128 (PTAB 2016)). Furthermore, a numerical difference provided by the approximating language may also correspond to an overall tolerance for the aspect/feature that may be derived from variations resulting from a stack up (i.e., the sum) of a multiplicity of such individual tolerances.
Similarly, the term “substantially” means that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.
Any use of a friction fit (i.e., an interface fit) between two mating parts described herein indicates that the opening (e.g., a hole) is smaller than the part received therein (e.g., a shaft), which may be a slight interference in one embodiment in the range of 0.0001 inches to 0.0003 inches, or an interference of 0.0003 inches to 0.0007 inches in another embodiment, or an interference of 0.0007 inches to 0.0010 inches in yet another embodiment, or a combination of such ranges. Other values for the interference may also be used in different configurations (see e.g., “Press Fit Engineering and Design Calculator,” available at: www.engineersedge.com/calculators/machine-design/press-fit/press-fit-calculator.htm).
Any described use of a clearance fit indicates that the opening (e.g., a hole/recess) is larger than the part received therein (e.g., a shaft/protrusion), enabling the two parts to move (e.g. to slide and/or rotate) when assembled, where the gap between the opening and the part may depend upon the size of the part and the type of clearance fit—i.e., loose running, free running, easy running, close running, and sliding (e.g., for a 0.1250 inch shaft diameter the opening may be 0.1285 inches for a close running fit, and may be 0.1360 inches for a free running fit; for a 0.5000 inch diameter shaft the opening may be 0.5156 inches for a close running fit and may be 0.5312 inches for a free running fit). Other clearance amounts are used for other clearance types. See “Engineering Fit” at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_fit; and “Three General Types of Fit,” available at mmto.org/˜dclark/Reports/Encoder%20Upgrade/fittolerences %20%5BRead-Only%5D.pdf.
Any structures or methods described herein with respect to two elements being fixedly secured together means that any suitable joining technique known in the art may be used, including, but not limited to, using mechanical fasteners (e.g., rivets, screws, bolts & nuts, threaded inserts, etc.), adhesive, welding techniques (arc welding, friction welding, etc.), etc.
The present invention has broad applications to many technical fields for a variety of articles. For illustrative purposes only, a preferred mode for carrying out the invention is described herein, wherein a foot operable door opener is provided without an electrical assist.
In a first embodiment, shown in drawing
The current configuration of the first embodiment of the door opener is divided into seven distinct operational segments. The first segment is the crank assembly, 1.0. The cycle is initiated when the pedal 1.1 is depressed which moves the crank arm, 1.2, down transferring the torque to the crankshaft, 1.3. The crank arm returns back to the home position with the assistance of the return spring, 1.33.
The next segment is the drive assembly, 2.0. The drive assembly is connected to the crank arm with a set of steel cables, 2.2. The cables are wrapped around the drum, 2.3, when the pedal and crank arm are depressed, the cables, turn the drum, winding up the main springs, 2.6, 2.7. In the current configuration, the springs are both left-handed and right-handed, ganged up on the main shaft, 2.5, to generate the torque required to turn the wheel, 5.1 via gear train 4.0.
The chassis, 3.1, houses all the different mechanisms and bushings within the chassis. It also accommodates the means of securing the chassis with fasteners, such as screws or clamps, to the door.
The gear train, 4.0. has a speed increasing ratio of 1 to 10. The 60 degree turn on the crank arm, 1.2, will translate to 4.5 revolutions of the 4-inch wheel, 5.1. This is enough to open the door 25 to 30 inches. The main springs, 2.6, 2.7, drive the primary gear, 4.1, which has a one-way clutch bearing, 4.11, centered around the shaft, 2.5. This allows for the one-way travel of the gear with no backlash or backward movement. The large main gear is meshed with the small idler gear, 4.2, which is connected with gear, 4.3 via axle 4.31. The gear 4.3 is meshed with drive gear, 4.4. The drive gear 4.4 is mounted on the same shaft, 4.5, as the drive wheel, 5.1. The drive train transmits rotation of the transfer shaft 2.5 to driveshaft 4.5 with ratio 1:10 in the same rotational direction.
The drive wheel assembly, 5.0, consists of a drive wheel, such as, for example, a soft durometer wheel connected to the main driveshaft, 4.5, or a pneumatic main drive wheel, through a hub, 5.2. The energy stored in wound-up torsion springs 2.6 and 2.7 is transmitted via gear train to drive wheel 5.1. The drive wheel 5.1 is temporarily locked by delay system to allow a safe time delay, such as about 3 to 5 seconds, for the wheel 5.1 to start rotating.
The delay system, 6.0, holds and delays the release of the energy of the wound springs 2.6 and 2.7. This allows safe ergonomic transfer of one's weight to both feet. This unique feature enables one's weight to be planted back on the ground. This allows the entrant to comfortably step aside to clear the swinging door.
The delay assembly 6.0 consists of a double-acting pneumatic cylinder, with spring return, 6.2. The cylinder 6.2 is compressed by means of the main crankshaft, 1.3, when the pedal, 1.1 and crank arm, 1.2, are depressed. Cylinder, 6.2, through plastic tubes, 6.24 and check valves, 6.251, pressurizing the system to a single acting pin cylinder, 6.3, extending a plunger, 6.32. This plunger depresses a pawl, 6.4, which engages and locks a ratchet wheel, 6.5, which is directly connected to the main drive wheel 5.1. Air escapes from the compressed chamber of the single-acting pin cylinder, 6.2, through fixed orifice restrictor, 6.252, or needle valve, regulating the delay. As the pressure is released through the orifice, the spring-loaded plunger, 6.32, retracts releasing the pawl, 6.4, with the aid of a tension spring, 6.6, allowing the pawl 6.4, to release the ratchet, 6.5, on the main wheel, 5.1. This delay releases the stored energy of the wound-up torsion springs without losing any energy and frees rotation of the drive wheel 5.1.
The traction tension assembly, 7.0, is actuated when the main pedal crank arm, 1.2, is depressed. This rotates the crankshaft, 1.3, which is connected to the actuating arm, 7.2, which pulls down the carriage depressing arm, 7.3. through the connecting link, 7.21, The depressing arm, 7.3, pulls down the tension arm, 7.4, through tension arm roller, 7.41, which falls into a notch and is locked into place with the traction locking pawl, 7.5, assisted with traction pawl spring, 7.51, which maintains continuous light torque that keeps traction locking pawl in contact with round part of the tension arm 7.4. The depressing arm, 7.3, pulls down and engages the pre-loaded fork assembly, 7.1, through guide pin and stop 7.12. moving the drive wheel, 5.1 towards the ground. The traction spring, 7.6, keeps constant downward pressure and develops positive force to the ground to maintain traction throughout the one- and one-half inches of travel, 7.11. This is to accommodate: the undercut under a door, threshold, and any slope in the travel path of the opening door.
As the main springs, 2.6, 2.7, unwinds at the end of the cycle, an actuating pin 7.8 hits the trigger lever 7.7 and lifts the locking pawl 7.5 through pawl actuator shaft 7.52, releasing the fork assembly with the assistance of the fork assembly lifting spring, 7.13. This raises up the main drive wheel, 5.1, back to the resting position where it is ready for the next cycle.
As the main springs, 2.6, 2.7, unwinds at the end of the cycle, an actuating pin 7.8 hits the trigger lever 7.7 and lifts the locking pawl 7.5 through pawl actuator shaft 7.52, releasing the fork assembly with the assistance of the fork assembly lifting spring, 7.13. This raises up the main drive wheel, 5.1, back to the resting position where it is ready for the next cycle.
This could also serve as a delay for the engagement of the traction release mechanism, 7.0, providing another delay option for holding the door open delaying the closing cycle with a fixed or variable time interval.
This could also serve as a delay for the engagement of the traction release mechanism, 7.0, providing another delay option for holding the door open delaying the closing cycle with a fixed or variable time interval.
This could also serve as a delay for the engagement of the traction release mechanism, providing another delay option for when the closing cycle would begin.
For example,
In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual depictions are used to illustrate the preferred embodiment. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.
In a second embodiment, as shown in
The next operation is the drive assembly, 32.0. The drive assembly is connected to the main spring, 32.6, when the pedal and crank arm are depressed, the main spring winds up and turns the main gear, 34.1, through the transfer shaft, 32.5, which has a clutch bearing, 34.11, centered around the shaft, 32.5. This allows for the one-way travel of the gear with no backlash or backward movement. The main gear is held in place and not allowed to unwind the main spring by the drive pawl, 32.3, which is depressed and set by the connecting link, 32.2. Winding the main spring, 32.6,
The chassis, 33.1, houses all the different mechanisms and bushings within the chassis. It also accommodates the means of securing the mechanize with screws or clamps to the door.
The gear train, 34.0. has a speed increasing ratio of 1 to 10. This is so a 60-90 degree turn on the crank arm, 31.2, will net 2½ to 3 full revolutions of the 04-inch wheel, 35.1. This is enough to open the door 25 to 30 inches. The main Spring, 32.6, drive the main gear, 34.1, and meshes with the transfer gears, 34.6. The large transfer gears steps down to the small idler gear, 34.2, which again steps up to the secondary speed increasing gear, 34.3, and eventually to the drive gear, 34.4. The drive gear is mounted on the same shaft, 34.5, as the drive wheel, 35.1.
The drive wheel assembly, 35.0, consists of a soft durometer wheel connected to the main driveshaft, 34.5, connected to the drive shaft. The potential energy of the springs, 32.6, are wound with the depression of the pedal, 31.1 and the crank arm, 31.2, connected to the driver arm, 32.7 through the connecting link, 32.2, which winds the spring, 32.6. The potential energy is held back, momentarily, not allowed to release.
The delay assembly, 36.0, holds and delays the release of the potential energy of the wound springs. This allows safe ergonomic transfer of one's weight to both feet. This unique feature enables one's weight to be planted back on the ground. This allows the entrant to comfortably step aside to clear the swinging door.
The delay assembly consists of spring-loaded pneumatic cylinder, (not shown). The cylinder is compressed by means of the main crankshaft, when the pedal and crank arm, is depressed. Cylinder, with the aid of hoses, and check valves, moves air to the piston of a single action pin cylinder, and plunger. This plunger depresses a pawl, which engages a ratcheting wheel, which is directly connected to the main drive wheel. Air escapes from the compressed chamber, adjusted with a needle valve, regulating the delay. As the pressure is released, the plunger, disengages with the aid of a tension spring, allowing the pawl, to release the ratchet, on the main wheel.
Alternately the method includes the use of a spring-loaded dash pot with plunger to be used in leu of the single acting pin cylinder. This would be mechanically activated. This would eliminate the need for the pneumatic cylinder, hoses, and check valves. This delay releases the stored potential from the main springs and starts the cycle of the wheel turning without losing any potential energy.
Alternately the method includes a friction clutch plate, 36.1, to restrain said drive wheel, 35.1, or main gear, 34.1, for a fixed or variable length of time, as shown in
The traction tension assembly, 37.0, regulates adhesive, slippage or coefficient of friction of the various components on surfaces upon which they move. It is actuated when the main pedal crank arm, 31.2, is depressed. This rotates and drops the connecting arm, 37.21, which in turn drops the carriage depressing arm, 37.3. The depressing arm actuates bracket arm, 37.1 by engaging the actuating arm, 37.2, it engages the traction spring, 37.6. This keeps constant variable pressure on the bracket arm, 37.1, so there is constant pressure on the sloping floor.
As the drive pawl, 32.3, rotates along with the main gear, 34.1, the peddle, 31.1, transfer arm, 32.2, and connecting arm, 37.21, all lift the carriage depressing arm, 37.3. This in turn causes the depressing arm to lift the bracket arm, 37.1 by engaging the actuating arm, 37.2, which in turn engages the traction spring, 37.6, lifting the bracket arm, 37.1, and retracting the wheel, 35.1, so door, D, can now swing freely, back to the closed position with aid of the overhead of floor mounted, or spring-loaded hinges. This allows the door to close without human assistance.
In a third embodiment shown in
A speed increasing planetary gear box, 54.1, winds one or more springs, 52.27 and 52.26, (right and left-handed) which may work optionally if the sequence is reversed and goes from crank arm to gears, to winding springs, or also optionally multiple pumps of the pedal, turns the wheel system, which each are connected to drive shaft, 54.5, in turn rotating the wheel, 51.1, over multiple 360 degrees rotations, and thereby opening the door, D, sufficiently to allow the entrant to pass until the foot pedal, 51.1, is dis-engaged by the entrant. The crank arm, 51.2, is returned to its original position, with the aid of the return arm spring, 51.33. This action causes the crank arm, 51.2, to strike the trigger lever release, 57.7, which in turn releases the ratcheting hinge mechanism and spring, 57.5, and 57.6, allowing the wheel return lifting springs, 57.8, to lift the wheel assembly to rotate up, back to its original up position, guided by the guide pin and stop, 57.11, and 57.12, releasing the wheel, 55.1, from the ground, thus allowing the door to close with a standard overhead closer or spring-loaded hinge, which is standard hardware on most doors. At that time after the opening and closing of the door, the door is ready for the next entrant.
The embodiment of
In general, in all three embodiments of
In general, in all three embodiments of
It is further noted that while
A second embodiment shown in drawing
A third embodiment shown in drawing
Motorized and/or Motor Assist Embodiments
Other alternate (motorized) embodiments are shown in
A hands-free door opening/closing system 100 is shown in
The chassis 103.1, in addition to providing a framework configured to support the mechanical components of system 100, may furthermore include mounting holes that are configured for mounting of the door opening/closing system 100 to the door D.
Note that one single, suitably thick, coupling link may be used to position the second shaft with respect to the first shaft and may create a cantilevered arrangement; however, greater stability may be obtained by using two coupling links. Also note that where two coupling links are used, they may furthermore be joined together as a single integral part, and may form a u-shaped coupling link member 107.1 having two links that extend from a base flange to form a clevis, and that configuration is illustrated in the figures merely to be illustrative of the various possible different configurations.
In what may be the simplest of the motorized embodiments that use gears, as seen in the
The shaft 104.31 may be rotatably mounted to the u-shaped coupling link member 107.1 using holes in proximity to its base flange, while holes at the distal ends of the links of the clevis of the coupling link member 107.1 may rotatably support the second shaft 104.32.
The main gear 104.1 may be fixedly secured to the first shaft 104.31, and each of the drive gear 104.4 and the drive wheel 105.1 may be fixedly secured to the second shaft 104.32. Being so mounted, and with the main gear 104.1 and the drive gear 104.4 being configured to mesh, rotational motion in a first direction imparted to main gear 104.1 via rotation of the first shaft 104.31 by the motor 102.9 will cause the drive gear 104.4 and thus also the second shaft 104.32 to correspondingly co-rotate according to the gear sizes/ratios utilized, with the corresponding co-rotation of the second shaft 104.32 similarly causing the drive wheel 105.1 to co-rotate, and thus move along the floor or ground G to thereby open the door D.
In one possible embodiment, the u-shaped coupling link member 107.1 may be fixedly secured to prevent its individual movement (e.g., by being fixed to the chassis 103.1), and thus the mounting location of the chassis on the door D must be carefully set to provide a requisite amount of engagement force between the drive wheel 105.1 and the floor or ground G, because the drive wheel 105.1 is thereby fixedly positioned with respect to the door D (and with respect to the floor/ground surface). In this embodiment, the movement of the door D from the desired (and preset) door open position back towards the door closed position may be accomplished by the controller module 106.7, which may cause the motor 102.9 to operate in reverse, causing counter-rotational motion (i.e., rotation in a second direction) to be imparted to main gear 104.1 via counter-rotation of the first shaft 104.31 by the motor 102.9, thereby causing the drive gear 104.4 and thus also the second shaft 104.32 to correspondingly counter-rotate, with the corresponding counter-rotation of the second shaft 104.32 causing the drive wheel 105.1 to counter-rotate and thus move in the opposite direction with respect to the floor or ground G to thereby close the door D.
In another possible embodiment, the shaft 104.31 may be rotatably mounted to the u-shaped coupling link member 107.1 and the u-shaped coupling link member 107.1 may be free to pivot about that shaft 104.31 (i.e., it is not fixed to the chassis 103.1), being free to pivot to the extent that it may be driven by its connection with the linear actuation device 107.21, as discussed further hereinbelow, forming a cam pivot for drive wheel 105.1 (i.e., it may have a pivot point with an eccentric movement). The linear actuation device 107.2 may have one end pivotally mounted with respect to the second shaft 104.32 (either pivotally mounted directly to the second shaft 104.32 or pivotally mounted to a portion of the U-shaped coupling link member 107.1 (as illustrated herein), and a second end pivotally mounted with respect to the chassis 103.1, e.g., using bracket 107.22. The linear actuation device 107.2 may be any suitable linear actuator, including, but not limited to, the actuators disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,386 to Grouw; U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,248 to Petersen; U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,372 to Erhart; U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,896 to Nagai; U.S. Pat. No. 7,541,707 to Hochhalter; U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,155 to Bertalot; U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,037 to Novick; and U.S. Pat. No. 9,480,333 to Randlov.
The controller module 106.7 may control extension of the piston 107.6 of the linear actuation device 107.2 to position the drive wheel 105.1 in contact with the ground G when it is desired that the door D be driven into its open position, and the controller module 106.7 may control retraction of the piston 107.6 of the linear actuation device 107.2 to lift the drive wheel 105.1 off of the floor surface, so that the door may close on its own (or the door may close via spring biasing—not shown).
The motor 102.9 may be triggered to actuate (i.e., may be triggered to begin causing the first shaft 104.31 to rotate) by any suitable apparatus and method known in the art, and may preferably be a hands-free apparatus. For example, a pedal 101.1, and an associated pedal arm 101.2 may be pivotally mounted with respect to the chassis 103.1, and may also be coupled to toggle a switch 106.71 which can be mounted on either side of the chassis to enable the left hand or right hand mounting onto a door, that may control the power supply to the motor 102.9 via the controller module 107.1. So, tapping on the pedal 101.1 may initiate hands-free opening (and closing) of the door D, as discussed hereinafter. Other apparatus that may alternatively or additionally be used to trigger the motor 102.9 to actuate may include, but is not limited to: a push button arrangement that may be positioned on the door, and may be actuated by a portion of the user's arm (e.g., the elbow); facial recognition, a proximity sensor that may be mounted to the chassis 103.1 (or to the door), which may detect the user when he/she is within a threshold distance of the sensor and may then command the switch 106.71 to supply power to the motor 102.9; a voice activated microphone; a remote control; a key card and card reader, a user interface cable, Bluetooth or wireless connections/communications, an API running on a smartphone, computer, an app, a home or office security or media system or service, a home or office Wi-Fi system similar to Alexa, Echo, Siri, Google Assistant, Nest, Android, or similar interface device and smart office and home technologies, etc., which may permit remote opening and closing of the door D by someone located very distant from the door (e.g., across town, and/or out of the country).
The motor 102.9 may be powered by a fixed or removable rechargeable low volt DC power supply (e.g., one or more batteries 102.93) that may be positioned in a receptable of the chassis 103.1 (see
When the motor 102.9 is triggered to operate, as described above, it may cause the first shaft 104.31 to rotate a first selective amount of angular rotation, which is configured to cause co-rotation of the main gear 104.1 and thereby cause co-rotation of the drive gear 104.4, and thus cause rotation of the second shaft 104.32 a second selective amount of angular rotation, which in turn thereby causes the drive wheel 105.1 to co-rotate a third selective amount of rotation. This third selective amount of rotation of the drive wheel 105.1 is correlated to a radial distance that the drive wheel 105.1 is positioned away from the axis of a hinge of the door D (i.e., from the door hinge line), and in combination with contact of the drive wheel 105.1 (and its particular diameter) with the floor surface, it causes rotation (pivoting) of the door a desired angular amount to thereby pivot from a door closed position into a desired door open position (e.g., 90 degrees of door rotation).
The controller module 106.7 may be wired (not shown) or may wirelessly communicate with respect to various components of the system, or external systems and inputs, to be configured to control many different aspects of the operation of the system 100.
The controller module 106.7 may also be configured to control the motor 102.9 to cause a time delay between when the motor is triggered to actuate (by the user using the selected hands-free apparatus, e.g., foot pedal 101.1, arm 101.2, and switch 106.71), and when the motor is activated and actually begins rotating to cause the described shaft rotations. Also, the controller module 106.7 may be configured to further control the motor 102.9, such that when the door D has been rotated open by the system 100 to the desired door open position, the controller module may lock the motor 102.9 and essentially freeze rotation of the drive wheel 105.1, to maintain the door at the desired door open position for another pre-determined or programmable time period. The controller module 106.7 may also be configured to cause the motor 102.9 to operate in reverse, as noted above, after a predetermined time or programmable delay, to effect closing of the door using the drive wheel 105.1. Additionally, the controller module 106.7 may be configured to control the linear actuation device 107.2, to consistently maintain a pre-set and/or variable, and/or programmable amount of pressure between the drive wheel 105.1 and the floor surface, to provide a necessary amount of traction in various different conditions. Additionally, or alternatively, the controller module 106.7 may, after a pre-set amount of time, shut off the motor 102.9, and subsequently trigger the motor 107.21 of the linear actuation device 107.2 to cause the piston 107.6 of the linear actuator to retract, and thereby lift the otherwise static drive wheel 105.1 off of the floor surface, permitting the door to automatically return, on its own, into the closed door position, which door return may be spring biased (e.g., using torsion springs or a clock spring at the door hinge(s) to bias the door towards the closed door position- or hydraulic or spring or other door closing devices, all not shown). Note that the linear actuation device 107.2 may also utilize a helical spring 107.7, whereby the spring 107.7 may be coupled to a portion of the link 107.1 (see e.g.,
As seen in
The controller module 106.7 may be electronically coupled to a hall effect sensor or similar device 106.82 that is configured to co-act with a single or plurality of magnets 106.83 (e.g., eight magnets) that may be radially mounted and equally spaced on at least one side of an idler wheel 106.84 that is configured to roll freely on the ground G, which idler wheel may be supported by a bracket 106.81 that may be mounted to the shaft 104.31 and/or to the chassis 103.1. The idler wheel 106.84 may be metallic, or not, and may have a circumferential groove at the outer periphery of the wheel that may receive a rubber O-ring 106.85, which may serve to make the idler wheel's movement more reliable like most rubber wheels or other material which have a high coefficient of friction (e.g., having very little tendency to slip or be distorted).
The number of magnets 106.83 on the idler wheel 106.84 may be counted by the sensor 106.82 as the idler wheel rotates on the ground G during movement of the door D, so that if there are eight magnets, there may be approximately one and a half inches of travel between each of the eight magnets, i.e., the distance of travel may be determined according to the diameter of the idler wheel 106.84 used, the number of magnets 106.83 used, and the radial placement of the magnets on the idler wheel, which distance may be calculated by the controller module 106.7 using an algorithm associated with the use and particular arrangement of these components.
This determination of the travel of the door D made by the controller module 106.7 allows for the adjustment and programming of the door opening to not hit walls or other permanent obstructions within each specific application to 1½″ of arc, of the door movement depending on the number of magnets, whether there are eight magnets or possibly more magnets.
Use of the idler wheel 106.84 and the sensor arrangement may permit the controller module 106.7 to determine if the drive wheel 105.1 is slipping due to ice, sand, an oil/grease covered surface, or due to other field conditions that may be encountered, allowing the motor 102.9 to turn the drive wheel added rotations (or a portion of a rotation) until the door D has reached its designated opening distance to occupy a desired door open position (and to similarly operate in reverse to occupy the door closed position).
The arrangement shown in
The arrangement shown in
Note that for any of these motorized embodiments the controller module 106.7 may determine if an obstruction in the path of travel has been encountered by the door (e.g., a box left on the ground, a person walking nearby, or if someone pushes on the either side of the door), after the linear motion device 107.2 has caused the drive wheel 105.1 to engage with the ground and may have even been actuated to open the door D at least part way. The controller module 106.7 may be able sense the obstruction by being able to sense an increase in the current draw by the drive motor 102.9, being indicative of an added load on the motor (i.e., the obstruction hindering movement of the door D). Upon detecting the obstruction, the controller module 106.7 may cause retraction of the linear motion device 107.2 to cause lifting of the drive wheel 105.1, so the door may close on its own, and the system may also reset for the next door opening cycle.
The controller module 106.7 coupled with the idler wheel may also be used to determine if the door is moving as a result of the rotation of the drive wheel, and may increase the pressure on the drive wheel by causing further extending of the linear motion device to adjust for variable environmental conditions in real time if the drive wheel is slipping.
As noted above,
As seen at least in
The door opening and closing system 200 may use, for the linear actuation device, a column lifter (i.e., a multi-stage linear actuator) 207.2 to drive the bracket-mounted drive wheel relative to the chassis mounting plate between a retracted position and one or more extended positions. A retracted position may be seen in
The door opening and closing system 200 may also use an idler wheel sensor assembly 206.8, including an idler wheel 206.83 with magnets 206.831, and a hall sensor 206.82. Speaker and microphone 206.86 may be used for communication of sound, to permit the use of voice control/commands for opening and closing of the door, and to provide for sound alarms or voice directions. A traction spring 207.6 may be used to bias the bracket 202.91 downward, to bias the drive wheel into contact with the floor. While illustrative implementations of one or more embodiments of the disclosed system are provided hereinabove, those skilled in the art and having the benefit of the present disclosure will appreciate that further embodiments may be implemented with various changes within the scope of the disclosed system. Other modifications, substitutions, omissions and changes may be made in the design, size, materials used or proportions, operating conditions, assembly sequence, or arrangement or positioning of elements and members of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of this invention.
Accordingly, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described example embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 18/198,250, filed May 16, 2023, and claims priority under 35 USC 120 therefrom, which '250 application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 17,345,898, filed Jun. 11, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,692,384 B2 issued Jul. 4, 2023, and claims priority under 35 USC 120 therefrom. The '898 application claims benefit of provisional application No. 63/102,377, filed Jun. 12, 2020, and claims priority in part therefrom under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) therefrom. The disclosures of the '250 and the '898 applications are incorporated by reference herein, the disclosures of the '377 provisional application is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63102377 | Jun 2020 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17345898 | Jun 2021 | US |
| Child | 18198250 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 18198250 | May 2023 | US |
| Child | 18732723 | US |
