Patent Abstract:
A door latch apparatus is described that is installable on a door of, for example, a camper, to make it easier for kids, small adults, those in wheelchairs and the like, who may have difficulty reaching a conventionally located door handle, to open the door from the outside. Kids or short adult will no longer need to climb up steps to open the door or ask an adult for assistance, and make it easier to gain access without walking up and down camper steps. The door latch apparatus includes a second exterior door latch mounted lower on the door which is linked to a first or upper door latch. Either latch can be used to open the door.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/279,362 filed Oct. 19, 2009, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to a door latch and a door with the door latch, more specifically, to a camper door with an auxiliary door latch system that makes it easier for children, small adults, those in wheelchairs and the like who may have difficulty reaching a conventionally located door handle to open from the outside. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    With a conventional camper door, due to the height of the camper, the door latch is in such a position on the door that children, small adults, those in wheelchairs and the like may have difficulty reaching a conventionally located door handle in which case they may have to climb up steps in order to access the door latch in order to open the door. When steps are not available, children, small adults, those in wheelchairs and the like may not be able to access the door latch. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A door latch apparatus is described that is installable on a door of, for example, a camper, to make it easier for children, small adults, those in wheelchairs and the like who may have difficulty reaching a conventionally located door handle, to open the door from the outside. The described door latch apparatus makes it easier for those who may have difficulty reaching a conventionally located door handle, to open the camper door from outside the camper. Children or small adults will no longer need to climb up steps to open the door or ask an adult for assistance, and make it easier to gain access without walking up and down camper steps. With an existing door latch, a child has to open the door, then climb back down the steps out of the way of the door, swing the door open and then go back up the steps. 
         [0005]    In one disclosed example, a door latch apparatus installable on a door includes a door fastener and a first door handle installable into a first opening in the door and a second door handle installable into a second opening in the door. The first door handle is connectable to the door fastener to actuate the door fastener from a closed position to an open position. A linkage mechanism is connectable to the second door handle and to the door fastener or to the first door handle so the second door handle can actuate the door fastener from the closed position to the open position via the linkage mechanism. 
         [0006]    In another disclosed example, a door includes a door panel, a door fastener mounted on the door panel, a first door handle mounted on the door panel at a first position and connected to the door fastener to actuate the door fastener from a closed position to an open position, a second door handle mounted on the door panel at a second position that is lower on the door panel than the first door handle, and a linkage mechanism connecting the second door handle to the door fastener or to the first door handle to actuate the door fastener from the closed position to the open position via the linkage mechanism. 
         [0007]    In another disclosed example, a camper includes a camper body defining an interior space and a door mounted on the camper body. The camper body is mounted on wheels. The door includes a door panel having an interior side and an exterior side, a door fastener mounted on the door panel, a first door handle mounted on the exterior side of the door panel at a first position and connected to the door fastener to actuate the door fastener from a closed position to an open position, a second door handle mounted on the exterior side of the door panel at a second position that is lower on the door panel than the first door handle, and a linkage mechanism connecting the second door handle to the door fastener or to the first door handle to actuate the door fastener from the closed position to the open position via the linkage mechanism. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a camper with a door that incorporates the inventive concepts and showing one embodiment of a door latch apparatus installed on the door. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2(   a ) illustrates an outside view of the door of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 2(   b ) illustrates an inside view of the door of  FIG. 2(   a ). 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a view of the interior of the door of  FIG. 1 , looking from inside the camper, showing one embodiment of a door latch apparatus that is electrically actuated. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4(   a ) illustrates an end view of the door of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4(   b ) illustrates an end view of a door jamb in which the door of  FIG. 3  is mounted. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates an inside view of a door showing another embodiment of a door latch apparatus that is mechanically actuated. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates an outside view of an embodiment of a camper screen door incorporating a door latch apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    A door latch apparatus is described that is installable on a door, such as a camper door, to make it easier for kids, small adults, those in wheelchairs and the like who may have difficulty reaching a conventionally located door handle, to open the door from the outside. The door latch apparatus will be described in association with a door of a camper. However, the door latch apparatus concepts described herein can be applied to any door having a conventional door latch apparatus that may be hard for people to reach in order to open the door. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a camper  100  that can employ the door latch apparatus concepts described herein. The camper  100  has a camper body  110  defining an interior space. The camper body is mounted on wheels  115  which allow the camper to roll along the ground during transport. A door  120  is mounted on the camper body  110  through which the interior space of the camper is accessed by users. Since the camper is typically elevated off the ground a certain distance, a plurality of steps  130  may optionally be provided on the camper to facilitate users entering and exiting the camper. Although  FIG. 1  illustrates a single door, the camper can have a plurality of doors. In addition, the door  120  can be an outside or exterior door, and the camper can also have an inside or interior screen door (an example of which is illustrated in  FIG. 6 ) that is adjacent to the interior side of the outside door  120 . 
         [0018]    The camper also has a plurality of windows  140  and storage compartments  150  but it is not necessary for the camper to have windows or storage compartments. A gooseneck  160  is connected to the front of the camper  100  by which the camper is connected to a vehicle for transporting the camper. The camper could alternatively be of the type that has its own engine allowing a user to drive the camper. A plurality of jack mechanisms  170  (only one is visible in  FIG. 1 ) are also provided adjacent the front of the camper for use in supporting the front of the camper and leveling the camper. 
         [0019]    As evident from  FIG. 1 , because of the wheels  115  and the jack mechanisms  170 , the camper is elevated off of the ground a certain distance. This elevated position makes it hard for children and short adults to access a first door handle  220  on the door  120 , especially if the steps  130  are not available. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  ( a ) illustrates the door  120  from the outside. The door  120  has a door panel  210 . The door panel  210  includes an interior side shown in  FIG. 2(   b ) and an exterior side shown in  FIG. 2(   a ). The door panel  210  has a latch side  280  and a hinge side  290  via which the door is hingedly mounted to a door jamb. A door latch apparatus is installed on the latch side  280  of the door for controlling opening and closing of the door. The door  120  can also optionally include a window  240 . 
         [0021]    The door latch apparatus includes an interior door handle  250  (shown in  FIG. 2   b ) that is connected to a door fastener that engages with the door jamb for retaining the door at a closed position, the first door handle  220  which is accessible from the exterior of the door and is connected to the door fastener to actuate the door fastener, a second exterior door handle  230  which can actuate the door fastener, and a linkage mechanism. 
         [0022]    The interior door handle  250 , the first door handle  220  and the door fastener are installed into a first opening in the door located at a conventional height on the door. The first, exterior door handle  220  is suitably connected to the door fastener to actuate the door fastener from a closed position, to retain the door at a closed position, to an open position which allows the door to be opened. The connection between a door handle and a door fastener to control the door fastener is well known in the art. 
         [0023]    The second exterior door handle  230  is installed into a second opening in the door so that the second door handle  230  is at a second position on the door. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2   a , the second position is lower on the door panel  210  than the position of the first door handle. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the second position is adjacent a bottom edge  270  of the door panel. As shown in  FIG. 2  ( a ), the first door handle  220  and the second door handle  230  are mounted on the exterior of the door, and the second latch mechanism is reachable by a short adult or a kid from the ground to open the door. 
         [0024]    The second door handle  230  can mounted on the door panel  210  at any location one finds suitable for being accessible by kids or short adults. For example, the second door handle  230  can be approximately 7.0 inches from the bottom edge  270  of the door panel. 
         [0025]    The linkage mechanism of the door latch apparatus is connected to the second door handle  230  and to the door fastener or to the first door handle  220  so that the second door handle  230  can actuate the door fastener from the closed position to the open position via the linkage mechanism. Any linkage mechanism that permits the second door handle  230  to actuate the door fastener can be used. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 2   b , the interior side of the door  120  appears similar to conventional doors, with the interior door handle  250  being actuated to actuate the door fastener and open the door. In the illustrated embodiment there is no corresponding interior door handle for the second exterior door handle  230 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates the interior of the door  120  that employs an electrically actuated linkage mechanism. The door latch apparatus includes a door fastener  350 , which is illustrated as a bolt-like structure, that engages with a suitable recess on the door jamb for retaining the door in a closed position. The first exterior door handle  220  is suitably connected to the door fastener  350  to actuate the door fastener in the direction of the arrow from a locking position to an unlocked position. The door fastener  350  is preferably returned to the locking position by a spring. Any type of door fastener that can be actuated by the door handle  220  can be used. 
         [0028]    The second exterior door handle  230  is connected to the door fastener  350  via the linkage mechanism for actuating the door fastener. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the linkage mechanism is an electrically actuated mechanism that includes a switch  3410  that is connected to the second door handle  230 , an actuator  3420 , for example a solenoid, that is connected to the door fastener  350 , and a plurality of wires  3430 . The linkage mechanism is connected to a 12-Volt battery power supply of the camper via a plurality of electrical door contacts  3440  mounted on the hinge side  290  of the door and a plurality of spring loaded contacts  420  (shown in  FIG. 4   b ) mounted in the door jamb  440 . The door contacts  3440  are engaged with the contacts  420  when the door is closed to provide electrical power to the door. Although a 12-Volt battery of the camper is described as the power supply, any other type of power supply can be used. The wires  3430  electrically connect the door contacts to the switch  3410 . The wires  3430  also electrically connect the switch  3410  to the actuator  3420 . 
         [0029]    When the door is closed, the switch  3410  is activated by the second door handle  230  when the second door handle is actuated. This closes the switch, which directs power to the actuator  3420  which in turn pulls the door fastener  350  in the direction of the arrow from the closed position to the open position. The door can then be pulled open via the second door handle  230 . To facilitate door opening, the second door handle  230  is preferably a handle-type or other structure that allows a user to grip the second door handle to apply a pulling force on the door. When the door is opened, the door contacts  3440  are disengaged from the contacts  420 , disconnecting the supply of power. The spring mechanism on the door fastener  350  then returns the door fastener to the closed position. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4(   a ) illustrates the electrical door contacts  3440  of  FIG. 3 . The door contacts  3440  include, for example, two brass contacts on the hinge side  290  of the door panel. However, the door contacts  3440  can be any other types of electrical contacts.  FIG. 4(   b ) illustrates the spring loaded contacts  420  disposed on the door jamb  440 . The spring loaded contacts  420  are connected to the 12-Volt battery power supply of the camper. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of a door latch apparatus that utilizes a mechanical linkage mechanism. The door latch apparatus is similar to the door latch apparatus of  FIGS. 1-3  in that it includes a door fastener  550 , a first exterior door handle  520 , a second exterior door handle  530  and a linkage mechanism. The door fastener  550  and the first door handle  520  are installed into a first opening in the door. The first door handle  520  is connected to the door fastener  550  to actuate the door fastener from a closed position to an open position. The second door handle  530  is installed into a second opening in the door and is connected to the fastener  550  via a mechanical linkage mechanism so that the second door handle  530  can actuate the door fastener  550  from the closed position to the open position. 
         [0032]    The linkage mechanism includes a cable  5410  connecting the second door handle  530  and the door fastener  550 . The cable  5410  has one end connected to the second door handle  530  and the other end connected to the fastener  550 . When the second door handle is actuated, the cable  5410  transfers the force to the door fastener  550 , thereby actuating the door fastener from the closed position to the open position. The cable  5410  can be, for example, a plastic coated steel cable. However, the cable  5410  can be made from other types of materials. The use of a mechanical linkage mechanism eliminates the need for the electrical contacts and wires used in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates an outside view of a camper screen door incorporating a door latch apparatus. The screen door can be used adjacent to, but inside of the door  120  of  FIG. 1 . The door latch apparatus concepts used on the camper screen door, as discussed below, can be used on the door  120 . 
         [0034]    The door includes a door panel  610  having an interior side, an exterior side  615 , a latch side  680 , and a hinge side  690 . The panel  610  also optionally includes a kick plate  650 , a plurality of screens  660  permitting air flow through the door, and a sliding cover  670 . 
         [0035]    A door latch apparatus is installed on the latch side of the door panel  610 . The door latch apparatus includes a door fastener that is actuatable from a closed position to an open position, a first exterior door handle  620  that is connected to the door fastener for actuating the door fastener, a second exterior door handle  630  and a linkage mechanism. The second door handle  630  is installed adjacent the bottom edge of the door below the first door handle. 
         [0036]    The linkage mechanism is a mechanically actuated mechanism that includes a cable  6410  connected to the first door handle  620  and to the second door handle  630 . When the second door handle  630  is actuated from the outside, the cable transfer the opening force to the first door handle, which actuates the first door handle  620 , and which in turn actuates the door fastener from the closed position to the open position. The user can then open the door by pulling the second door handle outward. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 3 and 5  illustrate the linkage mechanism connecting the second door handle to the door fastener so that the second door handle can be characterized as being directly connected to the door fastener.  FIG. 6  illustrates the linkage mechanism connecting the second door handle to the first door handle, and since the first door handle is connected to the door fastener, the second door handle can also be characterized as being connected to, albeit indirectly, the door fastener. It is to be realized that the linkage mechanisms of  FIGS. 3 and 5  could be connected to the first door handles to indirectly actuate the door fastener, and the linkage mechanism of  FIG. 6  could be directly connected to the door fastener. 
         [0038]    In addition, the door latch apparatus components can be sold as a kit that is installable on an existing door. The kit can include the door fastener, the first exterior door handle, the second exterior door handle, and the linkage mechanism. The interior door handle can also be included in the kit. It is also contemplated that one could utilize the preexisting door fastener, first exterior door handle and the interior door handle, in which case the kit would include the second exterior door handle and the linkage mechanism which are installed on the door and where the linkage mechanism connects the second exterior door handle to the door fastener or to the first exterior door handle. 
         [0039]    Instead of the second exterior door handle being a handle, the second exterior door handle could be a button that is pushed which results in the door opening. 
         [0040]    The examples disclosed in this application are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not limitative. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8