US20020184736A1

US20020184736A1 - Pivoting and rotating elongated door handle

Info

Publication number: US20020184736A1
Application number: US09/879,546
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard Nelson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-11
Filing date: 2001-06-11
Publication date: 2002-12-12

Abstract

A door opening apparatus comprises an elongated rod joined pivotally, at one end to a U-shaped bracket, which, in turn, is joined pivotally to a mounting plate fixed to the surface of a door. The elongated rod normally hangs downwardly when not in use, but through its enablement for arcuate swivel movement within a U-shaped bracket, the rod may be pivoted over a 180 angular degrees of motion and rotated over a 360 angular degrees of motion. This permits the rod to be used to pull the door open and to one side of a wheel chair bound individual to facilitate moving through the doorway.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to door handles and more particularly to an articulated door handle for use by individuals in a wheel chair for manipulating a door that opens toward the wheel chair.

2. Description of Related Art

The prior art teaches the use of door knobs and door handles for opening doors. These are well known in the prior art. However, these devices are designed for use by individuals with the use of their legs and who are in an upright attitude. The wheel chair bound individual is at a disadvantage when it is necessary to transit a portal closed by a door that opens only toward the wheel chair. The wheel chair may be rolled up to the door and the individual may be able to reach up and open the door slightly using the door knob. However, opening the door further is a daunting task since the wheel chair must be backed up while pulling the door toward the chair. The problem is compounded when the door has an strong door closing mechanism attached and when there is little room to roll the chair to one side of the door. There is no known prior art for solving this difficulty. The present invention provides an elegant solution and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

A door opening apparatus for a wheel chair bound individual comprises an elongated rod joined pivotally, at one end to a U-shaped bracket, which, in turn, is joined pivotally to a mounting plate fixed to the surface of a door. The elongated rod normally hangs downwardly when not in use, but through its enablement for arcuate swivel movement within a U-shaped bracket, the rod may be pivoted over a 180 angular degrees of motion and rotated over a 360 angular degrees of motion. This permits the rod to be used to pull the door open and also, importantly, to one side of the wheel chair to facilitate moving through the doorway. The apparatus is useful only on the side of the door that moves toward the person wishing to transit the doorway.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of use of such apparatus that provides advantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of facilitating the pulling of a door toward a wheel chair so as to navigate the doorway.

A further objective is to provide such an invention capable of allowing a person in a wheel chair to move out of the way of a door when opening it toward the wheel chair.

A still further objective is to provide such an invention capable of providing an extended reach to a person in a wheel chair so as to improve doorway transit for such individuals.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings: [0012]
FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the invention; [0013]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof showing the manner in which the invention is used; and [0014]
FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof.[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention in at least one of its preferred embodiments, which is further defined in detail in the following description. [0016]
The present invention is a door opening apparatus for use primarily by an individual confined to a wheel chair and provides advantage to such individual. The apparatus comprises an elongated [0017] rigid member 10, preferably a rod or tube of metal or hard plastic, and generally of between 2 and 4 feet in length and ½ to 3 inches in diameter, but other sizes may be used alternatively. This member 10 is joined pivotally, at one end 12, to a means for fixed mounting 20 of the elongated rigid member 10 to a door surface 32. The fixed mounting means 20 is preferably a U-shaped bracket 22 joined pivotally, to a mounting plate 24 as shown in FIG. 3. The fixed mounting means 20 is enabled for directing movement of the elongated rigid member 10 pivotally about the one end 12 thereof, and also rotationally about a longitudinal axis 14 of the elongated rigid member 10. This motion relationship is accomplished through the use of pivot pins 15 and 17. The surface contact area between U-shaped bracket 22 and mounting plate 24, and the tightness of the pin 17 should be sufficient to eliminate tilting motion of U-shaped bracket 22 while allowing free rotation of U-shaped bracket 22. The invention may also be considered, in a further embodiment, to also comprise a door 40 where the fixed mounting means 20 is mounted to a surface of the door 40, by fasteners 26, in a position adjacent to a door latching means 42 of the door 40. Such door latching means 42 may be a door knob or door handle assembly controlling latching element 44, as shown in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 3, the [0018] elongated member 10 is pivotally attached to the U-shaped bracket 22, while the U-shaped bracket, in turn, is joined rotationally to the mounting plate 24, the mounting plate providing means, such as the four holes shown and screws shown in FIG. 3, for fixed surface fastening of the mounting plate 24 to a surface 32 of the door 40 adjacent to a door latching means 42. Most doors have a metal surface plate 50 positioned as shown in FIG. 1. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention this metal surface plate 50 is preferably extended downwardly, as shown, to provide a surface for improved mounting of the present invention mounting plate 24. The elongated rod 10 thereby is enabled for arcuate swivel movement within the U-shaped bracket 22 over a 180 angular degrees of motion and is also facilitated for rotational movement along with the U-shaped bracket 22 relative to the mounting plate 24 over 360 angular degrees of motion. In a further embodiment, the elongated rod 10 provides a hinged knee 19 positioned, as shown in FIG. 3, on the elongated rod 10 so that the rod 10 may be extended at an angle around the open edge of the door for improved manipulation of the door and for holding the door 40 ajar while traversing it. The elongate rod 10 is improved through the use of a rubber bumper cup 13 applied to its distal end, as shown in FIG. 3. This cup 13 provides an improved grip by the user and also softens impact between the rod 10 and door surface 32 when the rod 10 is released. Preferably hinge pin 15 is set so as to provide a friction fit between rod 10 and U-shaped bracket 22, so that under normal use of the door the rod 10 does not tend to move and cause frequent impacts with the door 40.
In use, the wheel chair bound individual first unlatches the [0019] door 40 using door latch means 42. Once the door is unlatched, the individual grasps the elongated rigid member 10 at its other end 16 as best seen in FIG. 1, and draws it upwardly as seen in FIG. 2. The chair is backed up and to one side of the door, if possible, as shown in FIG. 2 while pivoting the elongated rigid member 10 to the opening side of the door. When in this position, the door 40 may be held ajar, even when a strong door closer tends to keep the door shut, while the chair is moved toward the portal, and at that position the elongate member 10 may be dropped while the door is held open with the same hand while moving (rolling) through the doorway 45.
While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims. [0020]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A door opening apparatus comprising an elongated rod joined pivotally, at one end thereof, to a U-shaped bracket, the U-shaped bracket, in turn, joined pivotally to a mounting plate, the mounting plate providing means for fixed surface fastening of the mounting plate to a door surface; the elongated rod thereby enabled for arcuate swivel movement within the U-shaped bracket over a 180 angular degrees of motion and rotational movement with the U-shaped bracket relative to the mounting plate over a 360 angular degrees of motion.

2. A combination comprising a door opening apparatus and a door, the door opening apparatus including an elongated rod joined pivotally, at one end thereof, to a U-shaped bracket, the U-shaped bracket, in turn, joined pivotally to a mounting plate, the mounting plate providing means for fixed surface fastening of the mounting plate to a surface of the door adjacent a door unlatching means of the door; the elongated rod thereby enabled for arcuate swivel movement within the U-shaped bracket over a 180 angular degrees of motion and rotational movement with the U-shaped bracket relative to the mounting plate over a 360 angular degrees of motion.

3. A door opening apparatus for use by an individual confined to a wheel chair, the apparatus comprising an elongated rigid member of between 2 and 4 feet in length, the elongated rigid member joined pivotally, at one end thereof, to a means for fixed mounting of the elongated rigid member to a door surface; the fixed mounting means enabled for directing movement of the elongated rigid member pivotally about the one end thereof, and rotationally about a longitudinal axis of the elongated rigid member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a door, the fixed mounting means joined to a surface of the door adjacent to a door latching means of the door.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a metal surface plate extensive for receiving the door latching means and the mounting plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a hinged knee positioned for extending the elongated rod at an angle around an open edge of the door.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a rubber bumper cup applied at a distal end of the elongated rod.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a hinge pin is set so as to provide a friction fit between the elongated rod and the U-shaped bracket enabling resistance to movement of the elongated rod during use of the door.