Sliding door gripping apparatus

A sliding door gripping apparatus includes a base that includes a first side and a second side. The first side is concavely arcuate. A panel is attached to and extends away from the second side. A suction cup is removably attachable to a glass surface of a sliding door. A coupling assembly couples the suction cup to the first side of the base to allow the suction cup to attach the panel to the sliding door. The suction cup is pulled toward the first side of the base when the base is rotated in a first direction with respect to the suction cup to increase adhesion between the suction cup and the sliding door when the suction cup is attached to the glass surface. The panel is abuttable by a person's appendage to open the sliding door when the suction cup is attached to the sliding door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to sliding door grip devices and more particularly pertains to a new sliding door grip device for allowing a person to open a sliding door with a foot, elbow or other portion of their body if they are unable to use their hands to grip a handle of the door.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a base that includes a first side, a second side and a perimeter edge. The first side is concavely arcuate. A panel is attached to and extends away from the second side of the base. A suction cup is removably attachable to a glass surface of a sliding door. A coupling assembly couples the suction cup to the first side of the base to allow the suction cup to attach the panel to the sliding door. The coupling assembly includes a first mating member attached to the first side and a second mating member attached to the suction cup. The first and second mating members are threadably coupled to each other. The suction cup is pulled toward the first side of the base when the base is rotated in a first direction with respect to the suction cup to increase adhesion between the suction cup and the sliding door when the suction cup is attached to the glass surface. The panel is abuttable by a person's appendage to open the sliding door when the suction cup is attached to the sliding door.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS. 1 through 9thereof, a new sliding door grip device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral10will be described.

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 9, the sliding door gripping apparatus10generally comprises a base12that includes a first side14, a second side16and a perimeter edge18. The first side14is concavely arcuate and the base12is comprised of a rigid material such as a plastic material.

A panel20is attached to and extends away from the second side16of the base12. The panel20has a distal edge22with respect to the base12. The panel20includes a first side edge24and a second side edge26extending from the base12to the distal edge22. In one version of the apparatus10shown inFIGS. 1-8, the panel20has a pair of opposite curves28therein from the first side edge24to the second side edge26to be wave shaped. This shape increases the friction between the panel12and person's appendage. Another version, shown inFIG. 9, depicts a planar panel20. The panel20is comprised of a rigid material as well and may be integrally coupled to the base12. The panel20has a length from the base12to the distal edge22between 2 inches and 6 inches. The panel20has a width from the first side edge24to the second side edge26between 3 inches and 6 inches.

A suction cup29is removably attachable to a glass surface50of a sliding door52. A coupling assembly30couples the suction cup29to the first side14of the base12to allow the suction cup29to attach the panel20to the sliding door52. The coupling assembly29includes a first mating member32attached to the first side14and a second mating member34attached to the suction cup29. The first32and second34mating members are threadably coupled to each other. The suction cup29is pulled toward the first side14of the base12when the base12is rotated in a first direction with respect to the suction cup29to increase adhesion between the suction cup29and the sliding door52when the suction cup29is attached to the glass surface50. This is caused by increasing the ratio of air pressure between the air located outside of the suction cup29to the air positioned between the suction cup29and the sliding door52. The panel20is orientated approximately orthogonal to a plane of the sliding door52when the suction cup29is attached to the sliding door52.

In use, the suction cup29is attached to the glass surface50of a sliding door52and the base tightened to the sliding door52by rotating the base12to pull the suction cup29into the open concave space between the suction cup29and the first side14. The base12may also be rotated to ensure that the panel20is vertically orientated from the first side edge22to the second side edge24. The panel20may then be abutted by a person's appendage, such as a foot or elbow, to open the sliding door52when the suction cup29is attached to the sliding door52.