# US 10,480,238 B1 · Door operating apparatus with enhanced durability

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- Number: US 10,480,238 B1
- Document ID: US10480238B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/902,743
- Filed: 2018-02-22
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-02-22
- Applicants: Donald James La Force
- Inventors: Donald James La Force
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480238B1

## CPC

- E05F 15/627: operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables (using flexible elongated push-pull mechanisms E05F15/619)
- E05Y 2201/422: for opening
- E05Y 2201/656: Chains
- E05Y 2201/71: Toothed gearing
- E05Y 2400/3013: during manual wing operation
- E05Y 2400/324: Switches
- E05Y 2400/854: Switches
- E05Y 2900/132: Doors
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

A door operating apparatus for use with a door pivotably mounted to a door frame permits the door to swing in one of a manual operation and an automatic operation. The apparatus includes a housing, a first rotatable sprocket disposed in the housing and coupled to the door, a second rotatable sprocket disposed in the housing and connected to the first rotatable sprocket by a roller chain, the second sprocket having a top face with a protrusion, a drive assembly disposed in the housing and having a motor operably connected to a drive arm. A force applied to the door permits the first and second sprockets to rotate simultaneously to enable the door to swing open. Activation of the motor allows the drive arm to contact the protrusion and drive the second sprocket, thereby rotating the first and second sprockets simultaneously to enable the door to swing open.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A door operating apparatus for use with a door pivotably mounted to a door frame, the door operating apparatus configured to permit the door to swing from a closed position to an open position in one of a manual operation and an automatic operation, the door operating apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a first rotatable sprocket disposed in the housing and coupled to the door;
a second rotatable sprocket disposed in the housing and operably connected to the first rotatable sprocket by a roller chain, the second sprocket comprising a bottom face and a top face with a protrusion coupled thereto;
a drive assembly disposed in the housing and comprising a motor operably connected to a drive arm located proximate the second rotatable sprocket;
wherein a force applied to the door in the manual operation of the door operating apparatus permits the first and second rotatable sprockets to rotate simultaneously to enable the door to swing to the open position, wherein activation of the motor in the automatic operation of the door operating apparatus allows the drive arm to engage in pivotal movement to contact the protrusion and drive the second sprocket, thereby permitting the drive arm to rotate the first and second rotatable sprockets simultaneously to enable the door to swing to the open position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The door operating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly comprises a drive shaft operably connected to the motor and extending through a central opening in the second rotatable sprocket, the drive shaft comprising an upper portion with a plurality of teeth configured to engage with a corresponding plurality of teeth in the drive arm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The door operating apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a first bearing disposed around the drive shaft and in contact with the bottom face of the second sprocket and a second bearing disposed around the drive shaft and in contact with both the top face of the second sprocket and the drive arm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The door operating apparatus of claim 3, wherein each bearing in the first and second bearings comprises an oil-infused bearing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The door operating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the protrusion in the second sprocket comprises a generally cylindrical-shaped member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The door operating apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a driven shaft coupled to the door and extending through a central opening in the first sprocket.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The door operating apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a hydraulic member disposed in the housing and operably connected to the driven shaft, the hydraulic member configured to activate to drive the driven shaft to swing the door from the open position to the closed position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The door operating apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a switch located remote from the drive assembly and operably connected to the motor, the switch configured to be depressed to activate the motor and facilitate the apparatus in the automatic operation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The door operating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the motor of the drive assembly is rated at least ⅛ horsepower.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The door operating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the chain comprises an adjustable coupling member configured to vary length of the chain.