Patent Publication Number: US-6669241-B1

Title: Door latch opening system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to door latch handles and more specifically it relates to a door latch opening system for providing efficient and convenient opening of a door latch. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Door latches have been in use for years. A door latch is comprised of a latch mechanism attached to the interior of a door near a door jam with a handle pivotally extending from the latch mechanism. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an exemplary door latch structure. To open the door latch, the user presses upon the handle thereby actuating the latch mechanism into an open position. 
     The handles utilized upon door latches are often times relatively small in size and length. The size and length of the door latch handles makes them difficult to engage by a user of limited physical abilities or an individual carrying objects such as groceries. 
     Examples of patented devices which may be related to the present invention include U.S. Pat. No. 369,085 to Barnett; U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,614 to Anderson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,153 to Dozier; U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,931 to Neary; U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,731 to Jones, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 268,984 to Bergen; U.S. Pat. No. 289,369 to Foshee; U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,489 to Lind; U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,739 to Overholser; U.S. Pat. No. 280,799 to Ohno; U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,228 to Marko et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,058,685 to Haan, Jr. 
     While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for providing efficient and convenient opening of a door latch. Door latch handles are difficult to open for individuals of limited physical abilities and for individuals carrying packages. 
     In these respects, the door latch opening system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing efficient and convenient opening of a door latch. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of door latches now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new door latch opening system construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing efficient and convenient opening of a door latch. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new door latch opening system that has many of the advantages of the door latches mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new door latch opening system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art door latches, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises an engaging member have a broad engaging area, a receiver member attached to the rear portion of the engaging member, and a coupler member attached within the receiver member. The coupler member has a coupler slot that snugly fits about the door latch handle effectively securing the engaging member to the door latch handle. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and. in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a door latch opening system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
     A second object is to provide a door latch opening system for providing efficient and convenient opening of a door latch. 
     Another object is to provide a door latch opening system that provides a larger surface area to engage by an individual. 
     An additional object is to provide a door latch opening system that is easily attached to an existing door latch handle without tools. 
     A further object is to provide a door latch opening system that fits upon various sizes of door latch handles. 
     Another object is to provide a door latch opening system that increases the effective length of a door latch handle. 
     A further object is to provide a door latch opening system that increases the leverage force applied to a door latch mechanism. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention attached to the door latch handle. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded upper perspective view of the present invention with respect to a door latch handle. 
     FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded upper perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a front exploded view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a rear view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a front view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line  9 — 9  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 10 a  is a front view of the engaging member having a rectangular shape. 
     FIG. 10 b  is a front view of the engaging member having an oval shape. 
    
    
     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 9 illustrate a door latch opening system  10 , which comprises an engaging member  20  have a broad engaging area, a receiver member  30  attached to the rear portion  26  of the engaging member  20 , and a coupler member  50  attached within the receiver member  30 . The coupler member  50  has a coupler slot  52  that snugly fits about the door latch handle  12  effectively securing the engaging member  20  to the door latch handle  12 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 of the drawings, the engaging member  20  is comprised of a relatively broad structure. The engaging member  20  preferably has a width and length greater than 3 inches. The engaging member  20  may have various shapes, thickness, widths, sizes and lengths. For illustration purposes only, the engaging member  20  is illustrated in the drawings as having a circular shape as shown in FIG.  5 . However, the engaging member  20  may have various other shapes such as square, oval (FIG. 10 b ), rectangular (FIG. 10 a ) and the like. 
     The engaging member  20  has a front portion  22 , a perimeter portion  24  and a rear portion  26 . The user engages the front portion  22  of the engaging member  20 . The front portion  22  may have a flat or non-flat structure. 
     The front portion  22  may also include a gripping design or material to facilitate gripping of the engaging member  20  by the user. The perimeter portion  24  of the engaging member  20  may be rounded, tapered or straight. The rear portion  26  may be comprised of a cavity structure as illustrated or a flat structure. 
     A side cutout  28  extends into the perimeter portion  24  of the engaging member  20  for providing access to the receiver member  30 . If the rear portion  26  is not a cavity structure, then the side cutout  28  is not required. 
     The receiver member  30  is attached to the rear portion  26  near the side cutout  28 . The receiver member  30  has a tubular structure with a receiver slot  34  and a rear slot  32 . The rear slot  32  extends into the receiver member  30  from the opening. The rear slot  32  is longitudinal with the receiver member  30  and is connected to the receiver slot  34  as best illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings. 
     A guide rib  40  preferably extends upwardly from the rear portion  26  within the receiver slot  34  as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The guide rib  40  extends longitudinally with respect to the receiver member  30 . The guide rib  40  may have various cross sectional shapes such as but not limited to square, curved, triangular and rectangular. 
     The coupler member  50  is positionable within the receiver member  30  as shown in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 ,  6 ,  8  and  9  of the drawings. The coupler member  50  has a coupler slot  52  extending longitudinally within a main body that slidably and frictionally receives the door latch handle  12 . The coupler slot  52  preferably has an oval, rectangular or oblong shaped cross section for snugly receiving the door latch handle  12 . Adhesive, fasteners or other structures may be positioned between the coupler member  50  and the door latch handle  12  for securing thereto. 
     The coupler member  50  has a connector portion  54  extending from the main body containing the coupler slot  52  as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. A base portion  56  is attached to the connector portion  54  opposite of the main body as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The base portion. 56  preferably has a guide channel  58  than slidably receives the guide rib  40 . The guide channel  58  preferably has a shape and size similar to the guide rib  40 . The base portion  56  is manipulated into the receiver slot  34  of the receiver member  30  with the connector portion  54  extending through the rear slot  32  of the receiver member  30  as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 of the drawings. The coupler member  50  may be permanently secured within the receiver member  30  by an adhesive, fastener or similar connector structure. 
     Alternatively, the coupler member  50 .may be directly connected to the rear portion  26  of the engaging member  20  in a single structure. The coupler member  50  in the alternative embodiment would not require the base portion  56 , connector portion  54  or the guide channel  58 . 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of, operation, assembly and use, are deemed to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalent structural variations and relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.