Apparatus and method for enabling a trained dog to open a door
OwnerLaura Wilsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A paw-supporting element, mountable to a hinged door at a suitable location, enables a dog easily to either pull or push the door open depending on which way the door is operable. A pivotable plate mounted above the paw-supporting element, linked to a liftable latch of the door if one is provided, enables the dog to also unlatch the door to open the same.
Claims12
An apparatus for enabling a dog to open a door, by selectively either pulling it towards itself or by pushing it away depending on which way the door is operable, comprising:
- a paw-supporting element attachable to the door at a selected location thereon;
- and means for attaching the paw-supporting element to the door.
An apparatus for enabling a dog to open a door that has a liftable latch, by selectively either pulling the door towards itself or by pushing it away depending on which way the door is operable, comprising:
- a paw-supporting element attachable to the door at a selected location thereon;
- a plate element pivotably supported above the paw-supporting element;
- linkage disposed intermediate the pivotably supported plate element and the liftable latch so as to cause unlatching of the latch upon application of a paw of the dog to pivot the pivotably supported plate;
- and
- means for attaching the paw-supporting element to the door.
A method for enabling a dog to open a door by selectively either pulling it towards itself or by pushing it away depending on which way the door is operable, comprising the step of:
- mounting a paw-supporting element to the door at a location thereon that is suitable for the dog to forcibly press a paw downward on the paw-supporting element and simultaneously pull or push on the paw-supporting element to thereby open the door.
A method for enabling a dog to open a door that has a liftable latch, by selectively either pulling the door towards itself or by pushing the door away depending on which way the door is operable, comprising the steps of:
- mounting a paw-supporting element to the door at a location thereon that is suitable for the dog to forcibly apply a paw downward on the paw-supporting element and simultaneously pull or push on the paw-supporting element to thereby open the door;
- provide a plate element supported pivotably above the paw-supporting element;
- and
- provide a linkage disposed on the door intermediate the plate element and the liftable latch so as to cause an unlatching movement of the liftable latch upon application of the paw of the dog to pivot the pivotably moved plate while simultaneously pulling or pushing the door.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.