Door opening system

A door opening system for assisting an individual to open a door without having to touch a handle. The door opening system generally includes a connecting member rotatably attached to a wall adjacent a door, a foot pedal attached to a lower end of the connecting member, and a lever attached to an upper end of the connecting member. An engaging member is attached to an upper end of the door to be opened and is engaged by the lever when a user pushes upon the foot pedal causing rotation of the connecting member and the lever. The lever forces the door open so the user does not have to engage handle of the door.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable to this application.

Not applicable to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a door opening device and more specifically it relates to a door opening system for assisting an individual to open a door without having to touch a handle.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional doors include a handle that a user grasps with their hands to open the door. The problem with conventional doors is that the handles become contaminated by prior users of the door (e.g. dirt, bacteria, germs). Restroom doors in public facilities (e.g. gas stations, bars, truck stops, lounges, restaurants) are highly susceptible to contamination by users of the restroom resulting in subsequent users' hands to become contaminated by touching the handle of the door. This is particularly problematic for individuals who have washed their hands prior to leaving the restroom and are forced to physically engage the handle of the door. To avoid contamination in public restrooms, some people use a paper towel to engage the handle resulting in paper towels being deposited on the floor in the restroom after usage and increased waste material.

Because of the inherent problems with the related art, there is a need for a new and improved door opening system for assisting an individual to open a door without having to touch a handle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a door opening devices which includes a connecting member rotatably attached to a wall adjacent a door, a foot pedal attached to a lower end of the connecting member, and a lever attached to an upper end of the connecting member. An engaging member is attached to an upper end of the door to be opened and is engaged by the lever when a user pushes upon the foot pedal causing rotation of the connecting member and the lever. The lever forces the door open so the user does not have to engage handle of the door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,FIGS. 1 through 6billustrate a door opening system10, which comprises a connecting member20rotatably attached to a wall16adjacent a door12, a foot pedal40attached to a lower end of the connecting member20, and a lever50attached to an upper end of the connecting member20. An engaging member60is attached to an upper end of the door12to be opened and is engaged by the lever50when a user pushes upon the foot pedal40causing rotation of the connecting member20and the lever50. The lever50forces the door12open so the user does not have to engage handle14of the door12. The present invention may be attached to an existing door12or installed with a new door12.

FIGS. 1,2,3,5,6aand6bof the drawings illustrate an exemplary door12pivotally attached to wall16with hinges. The door12is positioned within an opening within the wall16, typically surrounded by a frame. The door12may be closed as illustrated inFIGS. 1,2and6aof the drawings, or the door12may be pivoted open as illustrated inFIGS. 3,6bof the drawings.

The door12is typically comprised of a vertically orientated planar panel structure as is well known with conventional doors12. The door12may be comprised of a structure that forms a selective entrance to a restroom or other structure. The door12preferably opens inwardly into the room (e.g. restroom) as illustrated inFIG. 3of the drawings.

The door12may include a handle14such as a rotatable knob or U-shaped handle14attached to the interior of the door12to allow for a user to open the door12from the inside of the room.FIGS. 1 through 3illustrate an exemplary handle14comprised of a knob structure, but it can be appreciated that the handle14may be comprised of various other structures. It can also be appreciated that the door12does not require a handle14to be attached when using the present invention.

It is preferable that the door12include a closing device18that biases the door12into the closes position. The closing device18may be spring or hydraulic biased. The closing device18includes an arm that connects the closing device18and the door12wherein the closing device18is attached to the outside surface of the door12. The closing device18may be comprised of any conventional device utilized to apply a closing force to a door12(e.g. a hydraulic door12closer).

C. Connecting Member

FIGS. 2 through 5best illustrate the connecting member20that is rotatably attached to the inside surface of the wall16adjacent to an outer edge of a door12. The connecting member20may be positioned within the interior of the wall16to hide the connecting member20and related components. The connecting member20is comprised of an elongated member (e.g. elongated shaft, elongated tube) that is vertically orientated. The connecting member20has a length sufficient to extend from the lower portion of the door12to above the upper edge of the door12as illustrated inFIG. 5of the drawings. The connecting member20is parallel to the outer edge of the door12as best illustrated inFIG. 5of the drawings.

FIGS. 2 through 5illustrate a lower bracket30and an upper bracket32attached to the wall16. The lower bracket30and the upper bracket32rotatably receive the connecting member20as illustrated inFIGS. 2,3and5of the drawings. The lower bracket30is positioned upon a lower portion of the connecting member20and the upper bracket32is positioned upon an upper portion of the connecting member20as illustrated inFIG. 5of the drawings. It can be appreciated that additional brackets may be utilized to rotatably support the connecting member20. The connecting member20rotates upon a vertical axis that is parallel to the outer edge of the door12.

FIGS. 1 through 6billustrate an exemplary foot pedal40that a user engages with their foot to open the door12. The foot pedal40is attached to a lower end of the connecting member20as illustrated inFIGS. 2,3and5of the drawings. The foot pedal40is comprised of a plate member as best illustrated inFIG. 4of the drawings, however, various other configurations for the foot pedal40may be utilized. The foot pedal40has a front surface sufficient in size and shape to receive a foot of the user without the user having to expend a significant amount of effort engaging the foot pedal40. The foot pedal40is positioned slightly above the ground surface within the room as best illustrated inFIGS. 2,3and5of the drawings.

FIGS. 2 through 6bof the drawings illustrate an exemplary lever50attached to an upper end of the connecting member20opposite of the foot pedal40. The lever50extends transversely with respect to the connecting member20towards the door12as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3of the drawings. The lever50preferably is comprised of an elongated structure having a length approximately less than half of the width of the door12as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 5of the drawings, however, various other lengths may be utilized for the lever50. The lever50preferably is comprised of a rigid thin member having a narrow distal end that slidably engages the engaging member60to force the engaging member60along with the door12open when the foot pedal40is engaged.

G. Engaging Member

The engaging member60is attached to the upper portion of the door12as illustrated inFIGS. 1,2,3and5of the drawings. The engaging member60preferably extends above the upper edge of the door12as best illustrated inFIG. 5of the drawings. The foot pedal40and the engaging member60are preferably not parallel to one another and are instead offset from one another so that the lever50is parallel to the door12when the door12is closed as illustrated inFIG. 6aof the drawings and wherein the foot pedal40is parallel to the wall16when the door12is opened as illustrated inFIG. 6bof the drawings.

The engaging member60is comprised of a plate member that has a relatively broad structure and sufficient in width to allow the lever50to engage and slide upon during opening of the door12as illustrated inFIGS. 2,3,5,6aand6bof the drawings. The engaging member60is adapted to be engaged by the lever50for selectively opening the door12so that when a user pushes the foot pedal40with a foot the lever50engages the engaging member60thereby opening the door12as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 6bof the drawings.

The engaging member60is attached to the door12by a plurality of conventional fasteners62(e.g. screws, bolts). The engaging member60preferably is distally spaced from the inside surface of the door12as best illustrated inFIGS. 6aand6bof the drawings. Spacers or similar structures may be positioned between a lower portion of the engaging member60and the inside surface of the door12to space the same apart with the fasteners62extending through the lower portion of the engaging member60as illustrated inFIG. 5of the drawings. The spacing between the engaging member60and the inside surface of the door12provides sufficient space for the lever50to extend between the wall16and the interior surface of the engaging member60when the door12is in the closed position as illustrated inFIG. 6aof the drawings.

H. Cover Member

FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate a cover member70adapted to cover the connecting member20and the brackets30,32from view by users. The cover member70preferably includes a lower cover72that extends inwardly and outwardly with a lower opening74as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2of the drawings. The lower cover72is positioned over the foot pedal40, wherein the lower opening74provides access to the foot pedal40by the user's foot. The cover member70may be attached about the connecting member20by attaching to the wall16or the brackets30,32.

I. Operation of Preferred Embodiment

Initially when the door12is in the closed position (FIGS. 1,2and6a), the lever50is substantially parallel to the door12and the engaging member60as illustrated inFIGS. 1,2and6aof the drawings. When the door12is in the closed position, the foot pedal40extends inwardly into the room at an angle as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 6aof the drawings.

When the user desires to leave the room, instead of grasping the handle14of the door12, the user presses upon the foot pedal40forcing the foot pedal40towards the wall16with their foot which causes the connecting member20and the lever50to correspondingly rotate. Since the lever50extends in a direction from the connecting member20opposite of the foot pedal40, the lever50pivots away from the wall16thereby engaging the engaging member60resulting in the door12to be opened as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 6bof the drawings. With the door12partially opened as illustrated inFIG. 3, the user then extends their arm between the door12and the wall16thereby allowing the user to completely open the door12with their arm (without touching the door12with their hands). The door12is then either allowed to remain open or is closed automatically via the closing device18.

All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.