Method of making and using a foot operable door opener
OwnerJoseph Ivan Jaroff, James Polk +1inventors
InventorsJoseph Ivan Jaroff, James Polk, Yefim Safris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of using a foot operable door opener which operates, without using one's hands, and without electrical assist. Signage is provided on the door showing that the entrance cycle is initiated by the entrant stepping on a pedal, actuating an initial delay, allowing the entrant to comfortably step aside to clear the path of swinging of the door, while a second delay assembly provides for a delayed release of the drive wheel at an end of the opening cycle, to allow ergonomic passage, which allows the entrant to comfortably step through an open portal of the door before integrated closing devices close the door behind the entrant.
Claims12
A method of constructing and using a foot operable door opener without use of hands or electrical assist, comprising:
- a) providing a crank assembly comprising a crank arm rotated from a starting position before any operations by depression of a foot pedal for rotating a crank shaft, which, in turn, activates a spring assembly connected to said crank arm through said crank shaft;
- for winding at least one main spring, said at least one main spring being wound by said crank assembly, said at least one main spring being at least one wound spring to develop a stored potential energy and manifested power to perform the work required to open a door, said stored potential energy and manifested power being transferred to a gear train with a preselected speed increasing gear train ratio for transferring said stored potential energy and manifested power from said at least one main spring to rotate a wheel assembly;
- b) providing a drive assembly comprising a durometer drive wheel or a pneumatic drive wheel, connected to a main driveshaft;
- or,
- c) providing a traction tension assembly actuated by said foot pedal for winding said at least one main spring for rotating said crank shaft for swinging said door open;
- or,
- d) providing a delay assembly for a delayed release of said stored potential energy and manifested power of said at least one main spring to said main drive shaft in order to allow ergonomic transfer of the weight of the entrant to both feet, allowing the entrant to step aside to clear the path of the swinging of said door;
- or,
- e) providing said delay assembly for a delayed release of said drive wheel at an end of an opening cycle to allow ergonomic passage allowing the entrant to comfortably step through an open portal of said door before integrated closing devices close said door behind the entrant;
- f) providing a return spring mounted on said crank shaft for returning said crank shaft to said starting position;
- g) whereby the step of the entrant using said foot operable door opener opens said door without use of hands or electrical assist.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.