Automated storm door closure system

An automated door closure system to regulate the release and closure of a door in a door assembly, the door assembly including a primary door, a secondary door, and a door frame defining a doorway, the system comprising:

• (a) a door closer connected between the secondary door and the door frame, the door closer including a cylinder having an operating rod extending from an end thereof, wherein the door closer biases the secondary door toward a closed position in the doorway;
• (b) a control unit, including:
• (i) a motive device,
• (ii) a rod catch element that releasably engages the operating rod,
• (iii) a mechanical linkage between the motive device and the rod catch element, wherein the mechanical linkage can be operated by the motive device to move the rod catch element from a first position to a second position, and
• (iv) a rod catch spring,
• (v) wherein, in the first position, the rod catch spring releasably biases the rod catch element, directly or indirectly, into engagement with the operating rod such that the rod catch element will allow a user to open the secondary door but will automatically latch onto the operating rod to prevent the secondary door from closing once it is released by a user, and, in the second position, the operating rod may move freely relative to the rod catch element such that the secondary door may be closed by the door closer, and
• (vi) wherein movement of the rod catch element, when latched onto the operating rod to prevent the secondary door from closing, to the second position can be effectuated by the motive device;
• (c) at least one automatic input sensor, each sensor being arranged to detect a condition pertaining to the use of the door assembly;
• (d) wherein the rod catch element is normally biased in the first position by the rod catch spring, including while the secondary door is being moved to an open position by a user and released, until such time as the condition is detected;
• and
• (e) wherein thereafter, the control unit controls operation of the motive device, based on the detected condition, to move the mechanical linkage to effectuate movement of the rod catch element from the first position to the second position, thereby permitting the door closer to close the secondary door.