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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/794,687, filed Apr. 25, 2006 and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to locksmithing services generally and, more particularly, to an apparatus and/or method for opening locked doors. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A person can find themselves locked out of their home or office and unable to enter. For example, keys can be locked inside, a key can be broken off in the lock or the keyway of the lock can be glued through vandalism. Police may need to gain access through a locked door in order to help in an emergency or prevent a crime. Locksmiths can drill a hole into the lock case to release the locking mechanism or drill out the cylinder. However, drilling a hole in a lock case to release the locking mechanism causes damage to the unit and often requires replacement of the lock. Similarly, drilling out the cylinder requires inserting and re-pinning a new cylinder. Another method for pin and tumbler locks is to use a pick set to pick the lock. However, pick sets are illegal in most states, except when used by registered locksmiths. High security locks can be designed to prevent picking. 
   It would be desirable to have an apparatus and/or method for opening locked doors without causing damage to the door or to the lock and without the time consuming, or futile, process of picking the lock. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention concerns an apparatus comprising an elongated rod and a strap. The elongated rod is generally adapted for sliding under a bottom of a locked door. The elongated rod generally includes a main section, a curved section, a handle end and an actuator end. The handle end, the curved section and the actuator end generally extend away from the main section in the same direction such that the handle end, the curve section, the main section, and the actuator end define a plane. The strap is generally adapted for engagement with an opening mechanism of the locked door. A first end of the strap is attached to the actuator end and a second end of the strap is attached to the main section by a first connection device. The first connection device is generally adapted to slide along the main section of the elongated rod. 
   The objects, features and advantages of the present invention include providing an apparatus and/or method for opening locked doors that may (i) open knob and/or lever type lock sets, (ii) open locked doors without causing damage to the lock and/or door, (iii) operate on doors with limited space, (iv) wrap a material around a knob to maximize knob rotation, (v) provide one-handed operation and/or (vi) be simple to operate. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims and drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the tool of  FIG. 1  in a position relative to a lockset of a door; 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example operation of the tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the tool of  FIG. 1  under a door; 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the tool of  FIG. 1  rotated prior to being lifted; 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating the tool of  FIG. 1  being lifted toward the door; 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating the tool of  FIG. 1  lifted to a vertical position and in contact with the door; 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a strap of the tool of  FIG. 1  wrapped on a handle of the door; 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram of a tool for opening lever handle type locksets. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention generally provides an apparatus for opening locked doors by turning an inside knob of the locked door. The present invention further provides a method for using the apparatus for opening locked doors. The present invention generally provides an apparatus that may open lock doors having either a knob type or a lever type handle. The present invention may further provide a set of tools (or kit) comprising (i) a tool for opening doors having either a knob type or a lever type handle and (ii) a tool customized for opening locked doors with lever type handles. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a diagram is shown illustrating a tool  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The tool  100  may comprise an elongated rod  102 , a strap  104  and a pullcord  106 . In one example, the elongated rod  102  may be formed from three-sixteenth inch steel rod stock. However, other sizes and materials may be used accordingly to meet the design criteria of a particular implementation. In one example, the elongated rod  102  may be powder coated for aesthetics. The elongated rod  102  generally has an overall length greater than a vertical distance between a bottom of the locked door and the door opening mechanism (e.g., knob, lever, etc.). 
   The elongated rod  102  may be adapted to be inserted under a locked door and raised up to make contact with the inside knob of the door allowing rotation of the knob from the outside of the door to open the locked door. The elongated rod  102  generally includes a main section  110 , a curved section  112 , a handle end  114  and an actuator end  116 . The handle end  114  may be formed by bending the rod material to form a loop and, for example, welding the loop closed. The handle end  114  is generally disposed at one end of the curved section  112 . A second end of the curved section  112  connects to a first end of the main section  110 . A second end of the main section  110  generally transitions into the actuator end  116 . In one example, the actuator end  116  of the rod may be formed by bending a portion of the rod material perpendicular to the main section  110  and forming a loop  118  at the end of the perpendicular portion. 
   The strap  104  may be attached to the main section  110  and the actuator end  116  of the elongated rod. In one example, the strap  104  may be implemented using a flexible material having a high coefficient of friction (e.g., a textured rubber material, etc.). For example, the strap  104  may be formed using one-sixteenth inch red textured rubber gasket material available through a hardware store. However, any material that may provide a relatively high-friction surface and limited deformation when pressed against an object may be used. 
   The strap  104  may be implemented as a generally rectangular piece of material. In one example, the strap  104  may have one corner removed. In one example, the strap  104  may include four attachment locations (or points). In one example, the attachment locations may be formed with grommets inserted through the material. In one example, the grommets may be metal (e.g., aluminum, brass, etc.). However, other materials may be used accordingly to meet the design criteria of a particular implementation. 
   The strap  104  may have a first upper corner, a second upper corner, a first lower corner and a second lower corner. In one example, a distance between the first upper corner and the first lower corner may be shorter than a distance between the second upper corner and the second lower corner. The first upper corner of the strap  104  may be attached to a loop portion  118  of the actuator end  116  using a first connection device. The first connection device generally provides a rigid connection between the strap  104  and the actuator end  116 . In one example, the first connection device may be implemented with a nylon wire tie. However, other connection devices may be implemented accordingly to meet the design criteria of a particular implementation. 
   The second lower corner of the strap  104  may be connected to the main section  110  using a second connection device. The second connection device generally provides a rigid connection between the strap  104  and the main section  110 . In one example, the second connection device may comprise a metal (e.g., brass, aluminum, steel, etc.) or plastic (e.g., nylon, etc.) guide strap. The guide strap may be adapted to slide along the main section  110  of the elongated rod  102 . 
   The pullcord  106  may be attached to the first lower corner of the strap  104 . The pullcord  106  may be implemented using wire, string, cord, twine, or other string-like material. The attachment point in the first lower corner of the strap  104  is generally vertically displaced from a line drawn perpendicularly to the main section  110  of the elongated rod  102  and through the attachment point in the second lower corner. Therefore, the point of attachment of the pull cord to the first lower corner is at a position higher than the point of attachment of the second lower corner of the strap  104  to the main section  110  of the elongated rod  102 . 
   The second upper corner of the strap  104  may be, in one example, left disconnected from the actuator end  116  of the elongated rod  102 . In another example, the second upper corner of the strap  104  may be connected via a third connection device to either the actuator end  116  or the main section  110  of the elongated rod  102 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , a diagram is shown illustrating the overall length of the tool  100  relative to the distance between the bottom of a locked door and the door opening mechanism. The tool  100  is shown in front of the door with the handle end  114  toward a hinge side of the door and the actuator end  116  in contact with the door opening mechanism. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , a diagram is shown illustrating an example operation of the tool  100 . During operation, the main section  110  and the actuator end  116  are behind the locked door, the curved section  112  is passing under the door and the handle end  114  and an end of the pullcord  106  are on the front side of the door being manipulator by the person trying to open the door. In general, the actuator end  116  of the tool  100  is moved from a vertical position toward the door opening mechanism until the strap  104  engages the door opening mechanism. In one example, the handle end  114  may be moved toward the hinge side of the door while the actuator end  116  is moved toward the door opening mechanism. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4-8 , diagrams are shown illustrating various points in an example operation of the tool  100 . The curved section  112  of the elongated rod  102  is generally adapted to allow operation of the tool  100  on doors having limited space behind them. For example, the tool  100  may be slid under the door to a point where the strap  104  is completely on the rear side of the door ( FIG. 4 ). The handle portion  114  may then be rotated up approximately 90 degrees from the floor also raising the strap  104  and actuator end  116  ( FIG. 5 ). The tool  100  may then be rotated upwards to bring the actuator end  116  of the elongated rod  102  into contact with the back side of the door ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). In general, the apparatus is slid beneath a center portion of the door and raised up into position. 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , a diagram is shown illustrating the strap  104  engaging the door opening mechanism. The tool  100  is generally rotated (as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) such that the strap  104  is brought down on top of the knob (or lever) on the rear (inside) side of the door while the handle portion  114  is slid toward the hinge side of the door. As the strap  104  comes in contact with the knob on the rear side of the door, the actuator end  116  of tool  100  is lowered such that the strap wraps around the knob (or lever). In general, the actuator end  116  may be lowered to maximize contact between the strap  104  and the knob (e.g., the actuator end  116  is moved down between the knob and the jamb of the door). When the tool  100  is in position, the pullcord  106  attached to the first lower corner of the strap  104  may be pulled causing the knob or lever to rotate and open the locked door. 
   The loop  118  of the actuator end  116  is generally adapted such that the strap  104  is spaced away from the back of the door (e.g., to avoid a rosette which may be behind the knob and against the face of the door). The attachments of the first upper corner and second lower corner of the strap  104  generally provide an advantage of causing the strap  104  to wrap and encase (e.g., cup around) the knob, thereby increasing turning power. 
   The curved section  112  of the elongated rod  102  generally provides the advantage of allowing the tool  100  to slide under the center of the door and be raised up into position in spaces that are shallow (e.g., having a depth less than the overall length of the elongated rod) and/or that may include obstructions (e.g., desks, file cabinets, etc. on either side of the door). 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , a diagram of a tool  200  is shown illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. The tool  200  may be used similarly to the tool  100  except that the tool  200  may allow one-handed operation. For example, the tool  200  may be operated similarly to the tool  100  as illustrated generally in  FIGS. 3-8  while eliminating the pullcord  106 . 
   The tool  200  may comprise an elongated rod  202 , a strap  204  and a stopper device  206 . In one example, the elongated rod  202  may be formed from three-sixteenth inch steel rod stock. However, other sizes and materials may be used accordingly to meet the design criteria of a particular implementation. The elongated rod  202  generally has an overall length greater than a vertical distance between a bottom of the locked door and the door opening mechanism (e.g., knob, lever, etc.). 
   The elongated rod  202  may be adapted to be inserted under a locked door and raised up to make contact with the inside knob of the door allowing rotation of the knob from the outside of the door to open the locked door. The elongated rod  202  generally includes a main section  210 , a curved section  212 , a handle end  214  and an actuator end  216 . The handle end  214  may be formed by bending the rod material to form a loop and, for example, welding the loop closed. The handle end  214  is generally disposed at one end of the curved section  212 . A second end of the curved section  212  connects to a first end of the main section  210 . A second end of the main section  210  generally transitions into the actuator end  216 . In one example, the actuator end  216  of the rod may be formed by bending a portion of the rod material perpendicular to the main section  210  and attaching a tip  218  at the end of the perpendicular portion. The tip  218  generally comprises a material for protecting a finish of a door. In one example, the tip  218  may be implemented by placing a soft plastic bolt cover over the end of the rod material forming the actuator end  216 . In another example, the tip  218  may be formed using a plastic material (e.g., nylon, Teflon, etc.) and attached (e.g., threaded on, press fitted, etc.) to the actuator end  216 . 
   The strap  204  may be attached to the main section  210  and the actuator end  216  of the elongated rod  202 . In one example, the strap  204  may be implemented using a flexible material having a high coefficient of friction (e.g., a textured rubber material, etc.). For example, the strap  204  may be formed using one-sixteenth inch red textured rubber gasket material. However, any material that may provide a relatively high-friction surface and limited deformation when pressed against an object may be used. 
   The strap  204  may be implemented as a generally rectangular piece of material. In one example, a top end of the strap  204  may be wrapped around the actuator end  216  and fastened back to itself. In one example, an adhesive product (e.g., Super Bonder® 420 Instant Adhesive from Henkel Loctite Corporation, Rocky Hill, Conn.) designed to bond (weld, glue, fuse, etc.) the particular material of the strap  204  may be used to form the top end of the strap  104  into a sleeve that fits over the actuator end  216 . 
   A lower end of the strap  204  may be connected on one side to the main section  210  using a connection device  220 . In one example, the connection device may be metal (e.g., brass, aluminum, steel, etc.) or plastic (e.g., nylon, etc.). The connection device  220  may comprise a guide strap (or ring) adapted to slide along the main section  210  of the elongated rod  202 . In one example, the connection device  220  may be implemented using a nylon wire tie. In one example, the lower end of the strap  204  may be glued similarly to the top end to form a sleeve via which the connection device  220  connects to the strap  204 . 
   The stopper device  206  may be attached to the main section  210  of the elongated rod  202  between the actuator end  216  and the connection device  220 . The stopper device  206  may be implemented, in one example, as a rubber o-ring. In one example, the o-ring may have an inner diameter approximately equal to or less than a diameter of the elongated rod  202 . In general, the stopper device  206  is configured such that the stopper device  206  may be easily positioned along the main section  210  while providing substantial resistance to (e.g., stopping) movement of the connection device  220  past the position of the stopper device  206 , along the main section  210 , during operation of the tool  200 . 
   The tool  200  is generally slid under a locked door and lifted into a vertical position in a similar manner as described above in connection with  FIGS. 4-8 . When the tool  200  is in a vertical position with the tip  218  against the back of the locked door, the tool  200  is generally rotated such that the strap  204  is brought down on the door opening mechanism (e.g., knob, lever, etc.). As the tool  200  is brought down on the door opening mechanism, the strap  204  wraps on the door opening mechanism and the connection device  220  slides along the main section  210  until stopped by the stopper device  206 . When the connection device  220  is stopped by the stopper device  206 , resistance may be felt to further lowering of the tool  200  onto the door opening mechanism. When resistance is felt to further lowering of the tool  200 , the handle end  214  of the tool  200  may be moved toward the hinge side of the door to rotated the door opening mechanism and open the locked door. In general, the operation of opening the locked door with the tool  200  may be performed with one hand. 
   In one example, the strap  204  may be implemented having a length ranging from about twelve inches to about eighteen inches and a width ranging from about two inches to about four inches. The stopper device  206  is generally initially positioned about two inches above a lowest position of the connection device  220  along the main section  210 . However, the initial position of the stopper device  206  may be varied to vary the amount of the strap  204  that wraps on the door opening mechanism. Increasing the initial distance between the stopper device  206  and the connection device  220  generally increases the amount of the strap  204  that wraps on the door opening mechanism. Increasing the amount of the strap  204  that wraps on the door opening mechanism generally increases the force applied by the tool  200  to rotate the door opening mechanism. 
   Referring to  FIG. 10 , a diagram is shown illustrating a tool  300  for opening locked doors having a lever type handle. In one example, the tool  300  may comprise a tube portion  302 , an actuator portion  304 , a handle  306  and a knob  308 . The tube portion  302  may be implemented, in one example, using one-quarter inch metal (e.g., steel, etc.) tubing. The actuator portion may be implemented, in one example, using three-sixteenth inch spring wire. In one example, a wire from and electrician&#39;s wire puller (or snake) may be used to implement the actuator portion. The handle  306  and the knob  308  may be implemented using wood, plastic, metal or other suitable material. 
   The tube portion  302  generally comprises a straight section  310  and a curved section  312 . The curved section  312  is generally shaped to allow the tool  300  to be slid under doors and lifted to a vertical position with a minimal amount of space behind the door. The straight section  310  generally transitions into the curved section  312 . The straight section  310  and the curved section  312  may be formed from a single piece of tubing. The handle  306  is generally adapted to fit over an end of the curved section  312  of the tube portion  302 . 
   The actuator portion  304  may have a first end  320  and a second end  322 . The first end  320  may be attached to an outside surface of the straight section  310  of the tube portion  302 . In one example, the first end may be bonded (or welded) to the tube portion  302 . The second end  322  may be passed through the tube portion  302  forming a loop at an end of the straight section  310  where the first end is attached and exiting the tube portion  302  at an end of the curved section  312  and passing through the handle  306 . The handle  306  may be attached to the end of the curved section  312 . The knob  308  may be attached to the second end  322  of the actuator portion  304 . In one example, the tool  300  may be covered with a material for protecting finished surfaces of the door and/or aesthetic considerations. In one example, the tool  300  may be covered with heat shrink tubing. 
   In general, the tool  300  may be slid under the locked door and manipulated to position the loop of the actuator portion  304  over the lever type handle similarly to the process described above in connection with  FIGS. 3-8 . When the loop of the actuator portion  304  is over the lever type handle, the knob  308  may be pulled while holding the tool  300  in position. Pulling the knob  308  generally causes the loop of the actuator portion  304  to become smaller, thus pulling on the lever type handle. 
   The present invention generally provides tools that may be used to open locked doors that have damaged key cylinders and/or locks that have pick resistant cylinders. The tools implemented in accordance with the present invention may be used to open locked doors having locks that meet fire codes specifying that commercial locks open with a single turn. The tools implemented in accordance with the present invention may be adapted to slide under a locked door using a small gap between the door and the floor that may result from barrier free access specifications. The present invention may provide a kit comprising a tool capable of opening knob and/or lever type doors (e.g., the tools  100  and  200  above) and a tool adapted to opening lever type doors (e.g., the tool  300 ). 
   While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Summary:
An apparatus comprising an elongated rod and a strap. The elongated rod is generally adapted for sliding under a bottom of a locked door. The elongated rod generally includes a main section, a curved section, a handle end and an actuator end. The handle end, the curved section and the actuator end generally extend away from the main section in the same direction such that the handle end, the curve section, the main section, and the actuator end define a plane. The strap is generally adapted for engagement with an opening mechanism of the locked door. A first end of the strap is attached to the actuator end and a second end of the strap is attached to the main section by a first connection device. The first connection device is generally adapted to slide along the main section of the elongated rod.