Abstract:
A door assist system including a door and a door assist assembly. The door is pivotally attached to a wall. The door has a paddle handle configured to be pivoted about a first pivot axis relative to the door for allowing the door to rotate relative to the wall to open. The door assist assembly includes a bar connected to the door and configured to pivot relative to the door about a second pivot axis. The door assist assembly further includes a handle engagement member connected to the bar and securely engaging the paddle handle. Rotation of the bar about the second pivot axis causes the handle engagement member to rotate the paddle handle about the first pivot axis to allow the door to open.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/791,960, filed Mar. 15, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to auxiliary door opening devices, and more particularly to an open assist handle for assisting children and those with poor balance in opening an elevated door on a recreational vehicle or the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first aspect of the present invention, a door assist system is provided. The door assist system includes a door and a door assist assembly. The door is pivotally attached to a wall. The door has a paddle handle configured to be pivoted about a first pivot axis relative to the door for allowing the door to rotate relative to the wall to open. The door assist assembly includes a bar connected to the door and configured to pivot relative to the door about a second pivot axis. The door assist assembly further includes a handle engagement member connected to the bar and securely engaging the paddle handle. Rotation of the bar about the second pivot axis causes the handle engagement member to rotate the paddle handle about the first pivot axis to allow the door to open. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved recreational vehicle having a door pivotally attached to a wall, with the door having a paddle handle configured to be pivoted about a first pivot axis relative to the door for allowing the door to rotate relative to the wall to open. The improvement includes a door assist assembly including a bar connected to the door and configured to pivot relative to the door about a second pivot axis, with the door assist assembly further including a handle engagement member connected to the bar and securely engaging the paddle handle. Rotation of the bar about the second pivot axis causes the handle engagement member to rotate the paddle handle about the first pivot axis to allow the door to open. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a door assist assembly comprising a curved bar, a top connection member, a bottom connection member and a handle engagement member. The top connection member is connected to the top of the curved bar, with the top connection member being configured to be connected to a door at a first location above a paddle handle of the door. The bottom connection member is connected to a bottom of the curved bar, with the bottom connection member being configured to be connected to the door at a second location below the paddle handle of the door. The handle engagement member is connected to the bar between the top connection member and the bottom connection member, with the handle engagement member being allowed to freely slide on the curved bar. The top connection member and the bottom connection member define a pivot axis for rotation of the curved bar. Rotation of the bar about the pivot axis causes the handle engagement member to slide on the curved bar such that the handle engagement member can rotate the paddle handle to allow the door to open when the handle engagement member is connected to the paddle handle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of a recreational vehicle having a door, a door handle and an open assist handle of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top schematic view illustrating the door, door handle and the open assist handle of the present invention in a closed position. 
         FIG. 3  is a top schematic view illustrating the door, door handle and the open assist handle of the present invention in an open position. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the door, the door handle and a top portion of the open assist handle of the present invention in the closed position. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the door, the door handle and the top portion of the open assist handle of the present invention in the open position. 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a top portion of the open assist handle of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of a top portion of the open assist handle of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of a handle engagement member of the open assist handle of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of description herein, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined herein. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless expressly stated otherwise. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a recreational vehicle  10  having a door  12  with a nearly flush door handle  14  known as a paddle handle such as used on recreational vehicles. The door handle  14  has a generally planar member, or paddle  16 , which is substantially flush with a face plate  18  on a surface  20  of the door  12 . The paddle  16  pivots on a vertical axis  22  (see  FIGS. 2-3 ) to allow the door  12  to open. Since the door  12  and especially the door handle  14  are located above the ground, children and those with poor balance can have a very difficult time actuating the door handle  14  and maintaining their balance to allow them to keep the door  12  open to enter the recreational vehicle  10 . Difficulty in opening the door  12  can be increased when the door  12  is located off the ground and the children and those with poor balance must stand on stairs  24  to open the door  12 . An open assist handle  26  of the present invention assists children and those with poor balance in opening the door  12  on the recreational vehicle  10  (or the like). 
     In the illustrated example, the open assist handle  26  engages with the paddle  16  of the door handle  14  to open the door  12 . The open assist handle  26  includes a top connection member  28 , a bottom connection member  30 , a pivoting bar  32  and a handle engagement member  34 . The pivoting bar  32  pivots about the top connection member  28  and the bottom connection member  30  to move the handle engagement member  34  to open the door  12 . The paddle  16  of the door handle  14  and the handle engagement member  34  substantially pivot about the vertical axis  22  to open the door  12 . 
       FIGS. 1, 2 and 4  illustrate the open assist handle  26  of the present invention in the closed position, wherein the door  12  cannot be opened. In the closed position, the paddle  16  is flush with the face plate  18  on the surface  20  of the door  12 . A spring or similar member (not shown) connected to the paddle  16  maintains the paddle  16  in the closed position. In the closed position, the pivoting bar  32  is adjacent the surface  20  of the door  12  and the handle engagement member  34  is adjacent or abutting the surface  20  of the door  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the handle engagement member  34  includes a gripping member  36  having a paddle receiving slot  38  receiving the paddle  16  therein. When the pivoting bar  32  is pulled away from the surface  20  of the door  12 , the pivoting bar  32  will pivot about the top connection member  28  and the bottom connection member  30  to move the handle engagement member  34  away from the surface  20  of the door  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 3  to pivot the paddle  16  about the vertical axis  22  to thereby open the door  12  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . 
     In the illustrated example, the top connection member  28  and the bottom connection member  30  connect the open assist handle  26  of the door  12 . The top connection member  28  includes U-shaped fixed portion  40 , a T-shaped pivoting portion  42  and a bar connection post  44 . The bottom connection member  30  also includes the U-shaped fixed portion  40 , the T-shaped pivoting portion  42  and the bar connection post  44 . As discussed in more detail below, the bar connection post  44  is pivotable about the T-shaped pivoting portion  42  such that a single design and parts can be used for forming both the top connection member  28  and the bottom connection member  30 , such that only the top connection member  28  will be discussed herein with the understanding that the bottom connection member  30  can be identical in configuration to the top connection member  28 . The U-shaped fixed portion  40  includes a base  46  flush with the surface  20  of the door  12  along with a top arm  48  and a bottom arm  50  cantilevered from the base  46 . The top arm  48  and the bottom arm  50  include counterbores  52  therein, with the counterbores  52  configured to receive fasteners therein. The fasteners positioned within the counterbores  52  also extend into the door  12  to connect the U-shaped fixed portion  40  to the door  12 . 
     The illustrated T-shaped pivoting portion  42  is configured to pivot within the U-shaped fixed portion  40  of the top connection member  28 . The T-shaped pivoting portion  42  includes a cylinder  54  extending between the top arm  48  and the bottom arm  50  of the U-shaped fixed portion  40  and a side arm  56  extending sidewardly from a middle section of the cylinder  54 . A fastener  58  extends through the top arm  48  of the U-shaped fixed portion  40 , the axis of the cylinder  54  and the bottom arm  50  of the U-shaped fixed portion  40  to pivotally connect the cylinder  54  and therefore the T-shaped pivoting portion  42  to the U-shaped fixed portion  40 . The bottom arm  50  can have a polygonal shaped opening  51  for receiving a nut therein for receiving a bottom threaded end of the fastener  58  to connect the fastener  58  to the U-shaped fixed portion  40  and to allow for only a single tool to connect the T-shaped pivoting portion  42  to the U-shaped fixed portion  40 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6-7 , the cylinder  54  can have a radial slot  60  receiving a pin  62  extending from the base  46  of the U-shaped fixed portion  40  to maintain the rotational stability of the cylinder  54 . A spring having a first end connected to the T-shaped pivoting portion  42 , a middle portion surrounding the fastener  58  extending through the cylinder  54 , and a second end fixed to the U-shaped fixed portion  40  biases the side arm  56  of the T-shaped pivoting portion  42  to a position wherein the side arm  56  is substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis of the cylinder  54  in a direction away from the paddle  16  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ). In the illustrated example, the bar connection post  44  is freely pivotably about a free end of the side arm  56  of the T-shaped pivoting portion  42 . The bar connection post  44  of the top connection member  28  includes a reduced diameter cylinder extending downward and received within a top  70  of the pivoting bar  32 . Likewise, the bar connection post  44  of the bottom connection member  30  includes a reduced diameter cylinder extending upwards and received within a bottom  72  of the pivoting bar  32 . While a particular configuration of the top connection member  28  and the bottom connection member  30  are shown and described, it is contemplated that the top connection member  28  and the bottom connection member  30  could have other configurations that allow the pivoting bar  32  to pivot about the surface  20  of the door  12 , including having different configurations for the top connection member  28  and the bottom connection member  30  (i.e., such that the top connection member  28  and the bottom connection member  30  are different). It is contemplated that the top connection member  28  and the bottom connection member  30  could be made out of any material (e.g., metal and/or plastic). It is contemplated that the top connection member  28  and the bottom connection member  30  could be retrofit to existing recreational vehicles (and the like) or that the doors  12  to recreational vehicles could have the top connection member  28  and the bottom connection member  30  affixed thereto when sold. It is further contemplated that the door  12  can be configured to have integral top connection member  28  and the bottom connection member  30  formed thereon (with the U-shaped fixed portions  40  forming a part of the structure of the door  12 ). 
     In the illustrated example, the rotational axes of the cylinders  54  of the T-shaped pivoting portions  42  of the top connection member  28  and the bottom connection member  30  are aligned and co-linear to allow the pivoting bar  32  to pivot. Furthermore, the rotational axes of the cylinders  54  of the T-shaped pivoting portions  42  of the top connection member  28  and the bottom connection member  30  are adjacent the vertical axis  22  of the paddle  16  to allow the paddle  16  to properly pivot when the pivoting bar  32  is pivoted. The pivoting bar  32  can be curved (arcuate) to accommodate the handle engagement member  34  between the pivoting bar  32  and the paddle  16  of the door  12  in the open and the closed position (and anywhere in between). It is contemplated that the pivoting bar  32  could have other configurations (e.g., stepped and/or curved portions between the top  70  and the bottom  72  thereof). The pivoting bar  32  can be made of any material (e.g., plastic and/or metal). 
     The illustrated handle engagement member  34  ( FIGS. 4, 5 and 8 ) is engaged with the pivoting bar  32  of the open assist handle  26  and the paddle  16 . The handle engagement member  34  includes a bar  90  and an L-shaped extension  91  forming the gripping member  36  and a ring connector  92  for connecting the handle engagement member  34  to the pivoting bar  32 . The bar  90  is a flat plate  94  having the L-shaped extension  91  extending from a first side thereof and the ring connector  92  extending from a second side thereof. The bar  90  can have a rubber stop  93  at the second side thereof, with the rubber stop  93  configured to abut against the surface  20  of the door  12  when the paddle  16  is in the closed position (see  FIG. 2 ). The ring connector  92  has a U-shaped base portion  95  straddling the bar  90  and an arched portion  95  extending from the bar  90  in a direction opposite to the direction of the rubber stop  93 . The arched portion  95  includes a central opening  96  receiving the pivoting bar  32  therein. In the illustrated example, the pivoting bar  32  is allowed to freely slide within the central opening  96  of the arched portion  95  of the ring connector  92  of the handle engagement member  34  to allow the handle engagement member  34  to pivot about the pivoting bar  32  as the pivoting bar  32  is rotated. Furthermore, allowing the pivoting bar  32  to freely move within the central opening  96  allows the handle engagement member  34  of the open assist handle  26  to be moved vertically relative to the rest of the open assist handle  26  when the open assist handle  26  is connected to the door  12  to allow for proper alignment of the open assist handle  26 . The bar  90  and the L-shaped extension  91  of the handle engagement member  34  forming the gripping member  36  also form the paddle receiving slot  38  for receiving the paddle  16  therein. 
     In use, the pivoting bar  32  of the open assist handle  26  is grasped near the bottom  72  thereof and pulled away from the surface  20  of the door  12 , thereby pivoting the pivoting bar  32  about the rotational axes of the cylinders  54  of the T-shaped pivoting portions  42  of the top connection member  28  and the bottom connection member  30 . As the pivoting bar  32  is pivoted from the position shown in  FIG. 2  to the position shown in  FIG. 3 , the ring connector  92  of the handle engagement member  34  will move away from the surface  20  of the door  12 , thereby pulling the gripping member  36  holding the paddle  16  therein. As the paddle  16  is pulled, the paddle  16  will pivot about the vertical axis  22 , thereby allowing the door  12  to open. Accordingly, a person that cannot reach the paddle  16 , but can grasp the pivoting bar  32  near the bottom  72  thereof is able to open the door  12 . The person also will not have to stand on the stairs  24  to be able to reach the paddle  16  and not have to risk falling off of the stairs  24  to allow the door  12  to fully open in a path that leads directly over the stairs  24 . The open assist handle  26  also does not require a strong grip to open the door  12 . 
     It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned embodiments without departing from the concepts of the present invention. Moreover, it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered herein unless expressly stated otherwise.