Patent Application
20130020814
The present disclosure is generally related to latching devices and, more particularly, is related to a foot operated latch.
Run away viruses have become troublesome in recent years. Especially in the winter months, a slew of sicknesses can debilitate people, causing lost days of work, lost wages, and other medical bills. Often, colder temperatures and stress from the holiday season aid individuals in developing a weaker immune system. When colds and the flu start coming around, it can be almost impossible to avoid being affected by them.
Some of the illnesses that people come down with are not contagious, but those that are can wreak havoc. Often, it is difficult for those sharing the same household or workplace to bypass spreading germs and bacteria that cause these sicknesses. Sanitation and cleanliness are two things that will offer defense against illness.
One should always be sure to wash their hands frequently and keep them away from their mouths, but this is especially important when sickness is going around. Washing of hands with soap and warm water frequently throughout the day is highly advisable. When family members at home are sick, it is advisable to disinfect common areas like the kitchen, bathrooms, and living room. Doing so may save others from coming down with the illness, as well. The closer that attention is paid to cleanliness and keeping things sanitary, the easier it should be to avoid the spread of bacteria. Though this will most definitely guard family members around the home, sometimes it is not enough. One particularly susceptible location for the spreading of germs is a public lavatory. A user can wash her hands before and after using the public facilities, but she must still use the hand operated latching system to secure the door to the stall she is using. This leads to a difficult situation when trying to remain safe from catching germs from a previous user. There are, thus, heretofore unaddressed needs with previous solutions.
Example embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems of providing foot operated latching. Briefly described, in architecture, one example embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows: a latching device configured to be actuated by a foot of a user, the latching device affixed to one of a door and a door frame member; and a receiving device affixed to the other of the door and the door frame member, the receiving device configured to receive the latching device to secure the door in a closed position.
Embodiments of the present disclosure can also be viewed as providing methods for providing foot operated latching. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: providing a latching device configured to be actuated by a foot of a user, the latching device affixed to one of a door and a door frame member; and providing a receiving device affixed to the other of the door and the door frame member, the receiving device configured to receive the latching device to secure the door in a closed position.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the several figures, and in which example embodiments are shown. Embodiments of the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples and are merely examples among other possible examples.
There are many instances in which manually securing a door to be closed is difficult, or undesirable. If a user has her hands full and needs to secure a door behind them, or open a secured door to go through, it would be beneficial to have a means for securing a door or portal, or for opening a door or portal such that it cannot be opened from the other side, in which the securing means could be operated without the use of the person's hands. The securing means is intended to replace, for example, existing hand operated public restroom stall door latches and can be retro-fitted to existing stalls.
Example embodiments will be described in terms of a public restroom stall, but are applicable to other latching applications as well. The securing means could also be used in addition to existing hand operated latches, providing a sanitary option for securing doors. The use of the disclosed latching device may be used in conjunction with an existing door stop. This disclosure presents systems and methods of securing a door or other portal closing device without the user using his hands to manually secure the door in a fixed position. In some applications, the systems and methods disclosed herein may be implemented to keep a door in an open position.
In one example embodiment, receiving device 265 is a u-shaped bracket and latching device 255 is configured to fit into the u-shaped receiving bracket of receiving device 265. The bracket may be any shape which may receive the latching device. Receiving device 265 may secure latching device 255 such that when latching device 255 is received within receiving device 265, the door is prevented from being pushed open.
In an example embodiment, latching device 255 extends in opposite directions from a center pivot point. If receiving device 265 receives latching device 255 from above receiving device 265, a user may use a foot on the section of latching device 255 that extends downward from the pivot point to rotate latching device 255 around the pivot point and into receiving device 265.
In an example embodiment, receiving device 265 may be magnetized in any manner, and latching device 255 may be of a metal which reacts to the magnetization of receiving device 265. Alternatively, latching device 255 may be magnetized and receiving device 265 may be constructed of a metal which reacts to the magnetization. In yet another example embodiment, both latching device 255 and receiving device 265 may be magnetized in opposite polarities to attract each other and hold latching device 255 in receiving device 265. In other alternative embodiments, non-magnetic means are used to secure latching device 255 in the open and/or closed positions.
Alternatively, a weight may be added to one side of latching device 255 forcing latching device 255 to return to the open position eliminating the magnet on door 220 that holds latching device 255 open. In another example embodiment, latching device 255 may be installed to door 220 off center, forcing latching device 255 into the open position thereby eliminating the magnet on door 220 that holds latching device 255 open. A spring clip may be used on door frame member 205 instead of the magnet/bracket. The spring clip would trap latching device 255 eliminating the need for magnets.
In an example embodiment, latching device 255 may be attached to the door with hardware and a pivot mechanism that will allow latching device 255 to be moved to and from a vertical or open position and a horizontal or closed position. Latching device 255 may include a pin which fits through a hole in door 220. Latching device 255 may pivot around the attached pin. The pin may fit inside a hole in door 220, or in a sleeve that fits in the hole. By moving latch device 255 to the horizontal position, latching device 255 will mate with receiving device 265 to secure door 220 to door frame member 205. Alternatively, the latching device may be attached to the door frame member and the receiving device may be attached to the door.
In an example embodiment, the latching mechanism may be attached to the door (or the door frame member) at substantially the end of the latching mechanism. This would afford a single area of the latching device to apply pressure to rotate it between the open and closed positions. In this embodiment, it is preferable for the latching device to extend past the receiving device when the latching device is in the closed position, within the receiving device. This will enable a person to access the end of the latching device to move it into the vertical or open position.
Alternatively, the pivot may be substantially away from the end of latching device 255, such that there are two areas of latching device 255 upon which to apply pressure to rotate latching device 255 between the open and closed positions. In this embodiment, latching device 255 may extend past receiving device 265; but latching device 255 may also be designed such that the end of latching device 255 fits inside receiving device 265. In this embodiment, to move latching device 255 into the closed position, pressure may be applied to a first end of latching device 255. To move latching device 255 into the open position, pressure is applied to the same first end of latching device 255, but in the opposite rotational direction. Alternatively, to open and close latching device 255, pressure may be applied to opposite ends of latching device 255.
An example embodiment of latching system 350 may include one or more of a steel plate with a hole, a u-bracket, magnets, screws, a sleeve, an aluminum bar with pedals, a nut, and a pin. The steel plate with the hole may be affixed to the door and or the door frame member. The steel plate may act as a support and/or guide for the sleeve and pin and/or the u-bracket. The u-bracket may be affixed to either the door or the door frame member. It may be positioned to receive the aluminum bar with the pedals. A magnet may be affixed in the u-bracket, or alternatively, the u-bracket may be fashioned out of magnetic material. The magnetic material may hold the aluminum bar in place in the u-bracket. Another magnet may also be located in the opposite structure, positioned to hold the aluminum bar in an open position. Alternatively, a magnet may be affixed at the end of the aluminum bar such that it is held in place at the metal u-bracket in a closed position, and in an open position.
The screws may be used to hold the steel plate and/or the u-bracket in place. The sleeve may be used to act as a guide for the pin. The aluminum bar may rotate about the pin, the pin being affixed from the outside of the door. The pin may have no indentations on the head of the pin such that the pin may not be rotated from outside of the door. The nut may fit on the end of the pin to secure it in place. The sleeve may extend out of the door or door frame member, such that the aluminum bar rotates around the sleeve. Alternatively, the sleeve is substantially sized to the width of the door and the bar rotates around the pin that extends from the sleeve.
In an alternative embodiment, the action of engaging or disengaging the example embodiments of the latching device may activate a vacancy indicator on the door or a door frame member. The activation of the vacancy indicator may be by electronic or mechanical means including RF, infrared, electrical wire, mechanical wire, string, rod, or other means known to one of skill in the art.
Although the systems and methods disclosed herein have been described in terms of magnetic securing and lavatory door implementations, the disclosed systems and methods may be implemented with other door, shutter, or even window systems, with other shapes and sizes of latches, and with other securing/fastening means such as stud ball fasteners, bearing fasteners, or any other fastening means known to one of ordinary skill in the art. It should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
This application claims benefit to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/318,401, filed on Mar. 29, 2010, which is incorporated by reference herein.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US11/30406 | 3/29/2011 | WO | 00 | 9/28/2012 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61318401 | Mar 2010 | US |
