Abstract:
A foot actuated doorbell button assembly can comprise a housing that contains a button as well as a pedal that can be stepped on to actuate the button. The housing can be configured to mount to a wall or to the ground so that the pedal is positioned at or near the ground where it can be easily stepped on. The housing can contain wired or wireless circuitry to allow the doorbell button assembly to be used with virtually any of the existing doorbell assemblies currently available.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.: 62/059,094 which was filed on Oct. 2, 2014. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A doorbell is typically an electronic device. A doorbell button is typically mounted to a wall next to an exterior door and serves as an actuator for causing the doorbell to emit a sound. Two general types of doorbells exist: a wired doorbell, and a wireless doorbell. In a wired doorbell, the doorbell button is typically comprised of a housing, a switch to which the wires are connected, and the button. When the button is pressed in a wired doorbell configuration, the switch is closed thereby allowing current to flow through the circuitry of the doorbell which causes a sound to be emitted. In a wireless doorbell, the doorbell button is typically comprised of a housing, transmitter circuitry, and the button. When the button is pressed in a wireless doorbell configuration, the transmitter circuitry transmits a wireless signal that is received by corresponding receiver circuitry. In response to receiving the wireless signal, the receiver circuitry causes a sound to be emitted. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The present invention extends to a foot actuated doorbell button assembly. A doorbell button assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention can comprise a housing that contains a button as well as a pedal that can be stepped on to actuate the button. The housing can be configured to mount to a wall or to the ground so that the pedal is positioned at or near the ground where it can be easily stepped on. The housing can contain wired or wireless circuitry to allow the doorbell button assembly to be used with virtually any of the existing doorbell assemblies currently available. 
         [0004]    In one embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a foot actuated doorbell button assembly that comprises a housing, a button contained within the housing, the button configured to cause a doorbell to be actuated when the button is depressed; and a pedal that extends out from the housing, the pedal being coupled to the housing in a pivoting connection, the pivoting connection biasing the pedal into an unactuated position and allowing the pedal to be depressed downwardly into an actuated position, the pedal including an extension that depresses the button when the pedal is depressed into the actuated position. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a foot actuated doorbell button assembly that comprises a housing, a pedal that extends out from the housing, the pedal being coupled to the housing in a pivoting connection, the pivoting connection biasing the pedal into an unactuated position and allowing the pedal to be depressed downwardly into an actuated position, the pedal including an extension that approaches or contacts the housing when the pedal is depressed, and circuitry for detecting when the extension has approached or contacted the housing, and in response, causing a sound to be emitted. 
         [0006]    This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate side views of a foot actuated doorbell button assembly in an unactuated and an actuated position respectively; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate front views of the foot actuated doorbell button assembly that correspond with the side views of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  respectively; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  illustrates an example of a biasing means that can be used to bias the pedal of the foot actuated doorbell button assembly in the unactuated position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  illustrates another example of a biasing means that can be used to bias the pedal of the foot actuated doorbell button assembly in the unactuated position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates circuitry that can be included within the housing of the foot actuated doorbell button assembly; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of an alternate configuration of a foot actuated doorbell button assembly in which the assembly can be mounted directly to the ground; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate how a foot actuated doorbell button assembly can include a logo; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates another example of a foot actuated doorbell button assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]      FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 A, and  2 B illustrate a foot actuated doorbell button assembly  100  in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. Assembly  100  generally comprises a housing  101 , a pedal  102 , and a button  103 . Housing  101  functions as a mounting plate for mounting assembly  100  to a wall or other structure. For example, a back surface  101   c  of housing  101  may be placed against a wall near an exterior door. Back surface  101   c  may include an adhesive for adhering housing  101  to the wall, or housing  101  may include one or more holes (not shown) for securing housing  101  to the wall using one or more fasteners such as screws. A bottom surface  101   d  of housing  101  may be positioned against the ground or other floor surface to provide additional support to assembly  100 . 
         [0017]    Pedal  102  is connected to housing  101  using a pivoting connection. In this way, when stepped on, pedal  102  will pivot downward. Pedal  102  includes an extension  102   a  that extends from a bottom surface of the pedal. Extension  102   a  is curved towards housing  101  and may include a tip  102   b  at its bottom end. Because extension  102   a  is curved towards housing  101 , when pedal  102  is pivoted downward, tip  102   b  can contact and depress button  103 . In some embodiments, tip  102   b  can be formed of a compressible material such as rubber to minimize the impact on button  103  when pedal  102  is depressed. 
         [0018]    Housing  101  may also include a protrusion  101   a  that protrudes from a front surface of the housing. Protrusion  101   a  is positioned underneath pedal  102  and forms a surface that pedal  102  will contact when depressed. Protrusion  101   a  can therefore serve to limit the downward movement of pedal  102  to prevent extension  102   a  from damaging button  103 . In some embodiments, protrusion  101   a  can include a chamfered edge  101   b.  Chamfered edge  101   b  can be formed to have an angle that matches the angle of pedal  102  when pedal  102  contacts protrusion  101   a.  In this way, chamfered edge  101   b  increases the surface area of protrusion  101   a  that contacts pedal  102  thereby minimizing the risk that pedal  102  may be bent or otherwise damaged when contacting protrusion  101   a.    
         [0019]      FIGS. 1A and 2A  illustrate side and front views respectively of assembly  100  when pedal  102  is in an unactuated position. Pedal  102  may be biased to the position shown in  FIGS. 1A and 2A  so that a downward force is required to actuate button  103 . 
         [0020]      FIGS. 1B and 2B  illustrate side and front views respectively of assembly  100  when pedal  102  is in an actuated position. Pedal  102  may reach this actuated position when stepped on. As shown, in the actuated position, pedal  102  has pivoted downward until its bottom surface has contacted chamfered edge  101   b . In this actuated position, tip  102   b  depresses button  103  to thereby cause the doorbell to ring or otherwise emit a sound. Protrusion  101   a  and/or chamfered edge  101   b  can be positioned so that pedal  102  will be stopped at a point where extension  102   a  will depress button  103  sufficiently to activate circuitry within housing  101 , but will not cause damage to button  103  or housing  101 . 
         [0021]    Pedal  102  may be connected to housing  101  in a biased configuration in various ways. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3A , a spring hinge  301  may be positioned within housing  101  and pedal  102 . Spring hinge  301  may bias pedal  102  into the unactuated position shown in  FIGS. 1A and 2A .  FIG. 3B  illustrates another example where an external spring  302  extends between the front surface of housing  101  and the bottom surface of pedal  102 . External spring  302  may also bias (i.e. push) pedal  102  into the unactuated position shown in  FIGS. 1A and 2A . Although not shown, an external spring  302  could alternatively or additionally extend between the front surface of housing  101  and the top surface of pedal  102  to bias (i.e., pull) pedal  102  into the unactuated position. An external spring may also be positioned underneath pedal  102  so that the spring is compressed between pedal  102  and the ground when pedal  102  is depressed. Other biasing means could also be used including magnets and biased pulleys which retract pedal  102  to the unactuated position after the pedal has been depressed. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of circuitry  401  that can be included within housing  101 . When assembly  100  provides a wired configuration, circuitry  401  can comprise a switch that is closed when button  103  is depressed. When assembly  100  provides a wireless configuration, circuitry  401  can comprise transmitter circuitry for transmitting a wireless signal when button  103  is depressed. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  illustrates an alternate embodiment where housing  101  includes a mounting plate  101   e  that acts as an extension of bottom surface  101  d. Mounting plate  101  e can facilitate mounting housing  101  directly to the ground or flooring surface. For example, mounting plate  101   e  can include an adhesive on its bottom surface or can include one or more holes through which fasteners may extend. Although in  FIG. 5  housing  101  is shown as having a reduced height, in embodiments where housing  101  includes mounting plate  101   e,  housing  101  may also have a similar height as shown in  FIG. 1A . 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, housing  101  and pedal  102  (or their external surfaces) may be formed of a material that allows a decorative design to be formed thereon. For example, housing  101  and pedal  102  may be formed of a metal or plastic on which a logo may be printed or engraved.  FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate embodiments where a logo is formed on the front surface of housing  101  and the top surface of pedal  102  respectively. 
         [0025]    Although the figures depict assemblies where the pedal is narrower than the housing, in some embodiments of the present invention, the pedal may be as wide as or wider than the housing. Similarly, in some embodiments, the housing can have any shape or size desirable including when the housing has a mounting plate similar to mounting plate  101   e.    
         [0026]    Although the figures and the above description describe the use of a button, a foot actuated doorbell button assembly may be implemented without a button. For example, housing  101  may include an opening into which extension  102   a  inserts when pedal  102  is depressed. In such embodiments, the insertion of extension  102   a  into the opening may activate circuitry (e.g., by completing a circuit). As another example, housing  101  may include circuitry for sensing the proximity of extension  102   a  to housing  101  (e.g., via variations in capacitance). In such embodiments, the circuitry can detect when extension  102   a  has come within a specified proximity of housing  101  and activate appropriate circuitry to cause a sound to be emitted. Accordingly, a foot actuated doorbell button assembly is not limited to embodiments where a physical button is depressed, but includes any embodiment where depressing pedal  102  causes extension  102   a  to approach or contact housing  101  thereby activating circuitry for causing a sound to be emitted. 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  illustrates another example of a foot actuated doorbell button assembly  700  in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. Assembly  700  can function in a similar manner as assembly  100  as described above. In particular, assembly  700  includes a housing  701  and a pedal  702  (of which only a portion is shown). Assembly  700  may also include a plate  703  which can be mounted to a wall surface. Housing  701  can be configured to couple to plate  703 . In this way, housing  701  does not couple directly to the wall surface which may facilitate removing housing  701  from the wall surface to replace components of assembly  700 . 
         [0028]    Housing  701  can be coupled to plate  703  in any suitable manner such as via screws, coupling surfaces, magnets, etc. In some embodiments, plate  703  may have an outer dimension that is less than an outer dimension of housing  701  so that plate  703  may insert at least partially inside a cavity formed in the back surface of housing  701 . Plate  703  can be configured to couple to a wall surface in any suitable manner. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , housing  701  includes an opening  701   b  into which pedal  702  inserts. Holes (or channels)  701   a  may be formed within a wall of opening  701   b  and, in some cases, may extend through an outer surface of housing  701  such as is shown in  FIG. 7 . A corresponding hole or holes  702   a  may be formed through pedal  702 . One or more rods (not shown) may be inserted through these holes to retain pedal  702  within opening  701   b . In some cases, the one or more rods may be configured with springs or other structures to bias pedal into the unactuated position. Alternatively, pedal  702  may be biased by one or more external springs to push or pull pedal  702  into the unactuated position such as is shown in  FIG. 3B . 
         [0030]    Housing  701  includes a protrusion  701   d  which provides the same function as protrusion  101   a  described above. Protrusion  701   d  may be positioned such that its top surface forms an extension of a bottom wall of opening  701   b . The resulting surface  701   d   1  can be angled downwardly to correspond to an angle in which pedal  702  will be oriented when in the actuated position. Accordingly, surface  701   d   1  functions to limit the downward movement of pedal  702 . 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, housing  701  may not include protrusion  701   d.  In such cases, the bottom wall of opening  701   b  may still be angled downwardly to provide a surface for limiting the downward movement of pedal  702 . However, by employing protrusion  701   d  to create surface  701   d   1 , a larger surface area can contact pedal  702  to limit its downward movement. 
         [0032]    Although not shown, pedal  702  can include an extension similar to extension  102   a  for pressing or otherwise actuating a doorbell button. Housing  701  includes an opening  701   e  through which a doorbell button may extend. A back surface of housing  701  may be hollowed out around opening  701   e  to allow a standard-sized doorbell assembly to be placed therein with the doorbell button extending out through opening  701   e.  In this way, assembly  700  can easily be employed with standard doorbell assemblies. Preferably, a wireless doorbell assembly could be employed so that no wiring is required to install assembly  700  for use. 
         [0033]    One benefit of the configuration of assembly  700  is that, because housing  701  can be removed from plate  703 , pedal  702  and the doorbell assembly can be easily removed from housing  701 . For example, if the battery of a wireless doorbell assembly dies, housing  701  can be removed to provide easy access to the doorbell assembly. Also, by removing housing  701  from plate  703 , the interface between pedal  702  and housing  701  can be easily accessed to enable removal of pedal  702  (e.g., by removing rods from holes  701   a,    702   a ). This can allow pedal  702  to be easily customized or replaced. 
         [0034]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.