# US 12,110,725 B2 · Non-contact, automatic door hinge operator system

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- Number: US 12,110,725 B2
- Document ID: US12110725B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/366,591
- Filed: 2023-08-07
- Published: 2024-01-18
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2020-09-09
- Applicants: Joseph M. Schulz
- Inventors: Joseph M. Schulz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110725B2

## CPC

- E05F 15/627: operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables (using flexible elongated push-pull mechanisms E05F15/619)
- E05F 15/73: responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
- E05F 15/76: responsive to devices carried by persons or objects, e.g. magnets or reflectors (E05F15/77 takes precedence)
- E05F 15/77: using wireless control
- E05F 2015/763: {using acoustical sensors}
- E05Y 2201/654: Cables
- E05Y 2201/664: Drums
- E05Y 2400/354: End positions
- E05Y 2400/44: Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement
- E05Y 2400/66: Wireless transmission
- E05Y 2400/851: Voice
- E05Y 2400/8515: Smart phones; Tablets
- E05Y 2400/854: Switches
- E05Y 2800/00: Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
- E05Y 2800/21: of identical elements, e.g. of identical compression springs
- E05Y 2800/70: Retrofitting of elements
- 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 non-contact, automatic door hinge operator system that allows a common door to be opened and closed automatically through use of a voice-activated sensor, optical switch or mobile app.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A non-contact, automatic door hinge operator system that both opens and closes a door attached to an adjacent wall with hinges, the door hinge operator system comprising:
a spool motor mechanism mounted onto the wall adjacent a hinge edge side of the door, the spool motor mechanism having a rotating spool portion, the spool motor mechanism slightly set off from the wall;
a controller for controlling the rotation of the spool portion, the controller comprising switching means for providing an electrical current to the spool motor mechanism to rotate the spool portion in either a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction;
an access point located on the door distally from the spool mechanism and adjacent a swinging edge side of the door;
a looped pull wire extending between the rotating spool portion and the access point on the door;
a coupling means for coupling the looped pull wire to the access point of the door, such that the switching means of the controller sends an electrical current to the spool motor mechanism which causes rotation of the spool portion in a first direction to retract the pull wire and open the door and the switching means of the controller sends an electrical current to the spool motor mechanism which causes rotation of the spool portion in a second direction to retract the pull wire and close the door; and
a first smart connect sensor attached to the wall adjacent the door and a second smart connect sensor attached to the door, wherein the first and second smart sensors let the controller know whether the door is open or closed based upon whether the first sensor and the second sensor are in contact.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The non-contact, automatic door hinge operator system of claim 1 wherein the pull wire comprises a continuous loop of material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The non-contact, automatic door hinge operator system of claim 1 wherein the controller is actuated using a non-contact sensor switch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The non-contact, automatic door hinge operator system of claim 1 wherein the controller is actuated using a voice-actuated switching means.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The non-contact, automatic door hinge operator system of claim 1 wherein the controller is actuated using an app installed on a mobile computing device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The non-contact, automatic door hinge operator system of claim 5 wherein the app sends control signals to the controller.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The non-contact, automatic door hinge operator system of claim 1 wherein the controller is actuated using a control signal selected from the group of control signals consisting of low voltage, bluetooth, cellular, infrared, radio frequency and electromagnetic impulse.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The non-contact, automatic door hinge operator system of claim 1 further comprising a contact switch, when the door is in a fully open position, the contact switch signals the controller to stop rotation of the spool portion and thereby prevent over tightening of the pull wire.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The non-contact, automatic door hinge operator system of claim 1 further comprising a contact switch, when the door is in a fully closed position, the contact switch signals the controller to stop rotation of the spool portion and thereby prevent over tightening of the pull wire.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The non-contact, automatic door hinge operator system of claim 1 in which the rotating spool portion has first and second sections, wherein as the spool portion rotates in one direction, the pull wire unwinds from the first section and winds onto the second section, and as the spool portion rotates in the other direction, the pull wire unwinds from the second section and winds onto the first section.