Patent ID: 8141296

Claim:
An apparatus for automatically opening and closing a bathroom stall door, the apparatus comprising: a gravity coupled slanted hinge for driving a door open or closed, the door covering a bathroom stall; wherein the gravity hinge forces the door to open or close due to gravity and position of the gravity hinge; a motor for rotationally positioning the gravity hinge for opening and closing the door; an automatic door lock attached to the door for preventing entry of the stall from outside the stall; a control unit for controlling the motor and automatic door lock; an outer activation sensor for sensing a presence of a person in proximity to the outer activation sensor, the outer activation sensor located on an outer surface or in the proximity of the bathroom stall door; and an inner activation sensor for sensing a presence of a person in proximity to the inner activation sensor, the inner activation sensor located on an inner surface or in proximity of the bathroom stall door; wherein, upon the outer activation sensor sensing a presence of a person in proximity to the outer activation sensor, the control unit commands the motor to rotate the gravity hinge to a first position to drive open the door and rotate the gravity hinge to a second position to automatically close the door after a predetermined time period; wherein, upon the inner activation sensor detecting a person in the stall, the control unit activates the automatic door lock mechanism and locks the door; wherein, upon the inner activation sensor senses a presence in proximity of the inner activation sensor a second time, the control unit commands the door lock to unlock the door and the motor to rotate the gravity hinge to the first position to drive open the door.