FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a door opener that provides a hand-free means for opening and closing a door. More specifically, the invention relates to foot operated door openers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mechanical handles of all shapes and sizes are mounted to doors, to allow a user to push or pull open a door for access with the user’s hand. However, in some circumstances, there may be sanitary reasons or health risks, where hand contact is undesirable, such as around toilets or areas with an increased risk of infection.

Furthermore, in some cases, door handles can also provide an obstacle for those with disabilities or arthritis and as such, an alternative to hand operation can assist in overcoming these physical limitations.

The following invention was conceived with these shortcomings in mind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the invention provides a door opener for mounting to at least one of an inner side and an outer side of a door, the door opener comprising: a mounting member for engaging the opener with the door; a primary contact surface connected to the mounting member for receiving a foot of a user, the primary contact surface being configured to receive and guide the user’s foot into an operating configuration; and a secondary contact surface disposed adjacent the primary contact surface, wherein the foot in the operating configuration is positioned to apply a force to the secondary contact surface to thereby actuate the opening or closing of the door. By allowing the user to engage the door with their foot, hand contact with the door can be significantly reduced, and may be eliminated all together in some arrangements.

In some embodiments the operating configuration aligns a side of the user’s foot with the secondary contact surface, such that the force from the user’s foot is directly applied to the secondary contact surface in a direction away from the door. The user can articulate their foot in a pushing motion against the door, or alternatively, apply pressure/load onto the secondary contact surface in a direction away from the door to thereby urge the door open.

The secondary contact surface may extend along a full edge of the primary contact surface. In some embodiments, the secondary contact surface may only extend partially along a peripheral edge of the primary contact surface.

In some embodiments, the secondary contact surface may be configured as a lip that extends at least partially along a perimeter of the primary contact surface. The lip may extend upwardly or downwardly from the primary contact surface. The secondary contact surface and the primary contact may provide a cup-like receiver for receiving the foot of a user. An upper edge of the secondary contact surface may be contoured to improve engagement with the user’s foot.

In some embodiments the mounting member extends in parallel to the secondary contact surface. Alternatively, in some embodiments the mounting member and the secondary contact surface are aligned to converge toward a hinge side of the door.

In some embodiments the primary contact surface may be wedge-shaped. However, in other embodiments, the primary contact surface is trapezoidal. When the primary contact surface is configured as a wedge-shape, the peripheral edges of the primary contact surface may be heavily chamfered to reduce the risk of catch or snagging on footwear and clothing. The chamfers may also reduce the risk of people knocking their legs or stubbing their toes on protruding surfaces of the door opener. The primary contact surface may provide surface protrusions to increase frictional contact with the user’s foot.

The mounting member may be arranged in a downturned configuration. In the downturned configuration the mounting member projects from the primary contact surface in an opposing direction to the secondary contact surface. In the downturned configuration the door opener may have a Z-shaped cross section. The downturned configuration the mounting member facilitates the door opener being raised above a bottom edge of the door. This facilitates access to get underneath the door opener for ease of mounting and for ease of cleaning by providing access for a broom or mop. This downturned configuration may also reduce damage from scraping or scuffing of the door opener across the floor immediately adjacent the door opening arc.

Alternatively, the mounting member may be arranged in an upturned configuration. In the upturned configuration the mounting member projects from the primary contact surface in the same direction as the secondary contact surface. In the upturned configuration the door opener may have a U-shaped cross section.

The mounting member may be configured as a flat plate for mounting flush against the inner or the outer side of the door. Alternatively, the mounting member may be an angled plate configured to abut against an end face of the door simultaneously with one of the inner or the outer side of the door. Simultaneously abutting a side and the end of the door provides additional mounting stability to the opener.

The mounting member may provide at least one aperture to receive a fastener to fixedly engage with the inner or the outer side of the door. The mounting member may comprise a plurality of apertures along a length thereof for securing the door opener to the door. The plurality of apertures may be offset. By offsetting the apertures for receiving fasteners the risk of splitting a wood grain of the underlying door is reduced. In some embodiments the door opener may be bonded or glues to the door.

The mounting member may be configured as a channel in which a lower portion of the door is slidably received. At least one resilient member may be located within the channel to provide an interference fit between a lower portion of the door and the mounting member. The resilient member may be located in contact with the inner side of the door. The resilient member may be located in contact with the outer side of the door. The resilient member may be located in contact with the end face of the door. In some embodiments, the resilient member may be a pad or cushion made from foam, or rubber, or silicon or felt. In some embodiments the resilient member may be a sprung member or armature that is compressed when brought into contact between the door and the door opener. In some embodiments, the door opener may further comprise a second primary contact surface symmetrically mounted to an opposing side of the mounting member, to allow actuation of the door from each of the inner and the outer side thereof.

In one embodiment, the primary contact surface, the secondary contact surface and the mounting member are integrally formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a door opener according to one embodiments of the invention, illustrating a U-shape cross-section;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a door opener according to another embodiment of the invention, illustrating a Z-shape cross-section;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the door opener of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a door opener having a wedge-shaped primary contact surface for receiving the foot of a user;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a door opener, illustrating a triangular configuration;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a door opener, illustrating an arched configuration for receiving the foot of a user;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a door opener, illustrating a secondary contact surface substantially aligned with a mounting member of the opener; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a door opener, illustrating a secondary contact surface substantially aligned with a mounting member of the opener having a Z-shaped cross-section;

Figure 9A is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention, illustrating a double-sided door opener, slidably mounted to the door;

Figure 9B is a perspective view of the door opener from Figure 9a, illustrating a central C-shaped channel for receiving the door therein;

Figure 9C is an end view of the door opener of Figure 9A, illustrating a resilient material located between the door opener and the door to facilitate mounting thereof;

Figure 10 is an end view of a further embodiments of the door opener, wherein the unit is single-sided and uses a channel to slidingly engage with the door; and

Figure 11 is a final embodiment of the door opener, illustrating a plurality of locations for applying frictional members for improving the grip between the user’s foot and the opener.

Embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various embodiments, although not the only possible embodiments, of the invention are shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described below. The description includes reference numerals that identify the features described in the figures. However, to maintain clarity of the figures, all of the reference numerals have not been included in each of the figures.

In general terms, the invention as illustrated in the Figures 1-11 relates to a door opener (1) for mounting to at least one of an inner side (9a) and an outer side (9b) of a door (9), the door opener (1) comprising: a mounting member (3) for engaging the opener with the door (9); a primary contact surface (5) connected to the mounting member (3) for receiving a foot of a user, the primary contact surface (5) being configured to receive and guide the user’s foot into an operating configuration; and a secondary contact surface (7) disposed adjacent the primary contact surface (5), wherein the foot in the operating configuration is positioned to apply a force to the secondary contact surface (7) to thereby actuate the opening or closing of the door (9).

As illustrated in Figure 1 , the door opener (1) is configured to have a U-shape in cross- section, where the mounting member (3) and the secondary contact surface (7) each extend upwardly from the primary contact surface (5) at about a 90-degree angle.

The door opener (1) is formed from a material that is strong and resilient and easily formed. In some embodiments the door opener is made from a metal, e.g. steel in a thickness of between 2mm - 3mm. In other embodiments the door opener (1) can be formed from a heavy-duty plastic or polymer.

The door opener (1) may be laser cut and then folded. When the door opener (1) is laser cut the primary and secondary contact surfaces can has bevelled edges or radii. Typical dimensions for the mounting member (3) will be about 50 x 100 mm. The primary contact surface (5) is contemplated to be about 70 mm in depth. The secondary contact surface (7) will be out 15mm in height.

All further described embodiments of the door opener (101 , 201 , 301 , ... X01) can be made from similar materials and thicknesses as described above in relation to door opener (1).

The door opener (1) is mounted to the door (9) by a mounting member (3) illustrated in Figure 1 as a planar plate, having a plurality of apertures (8) offset along a length of the plate. The apertures (8) are preferably offset so that if fasteners are used to mount the door opener (1) to the door (9) the change of the wood splitting is minimised.

The primary contact surface (5) is a wedge-shape that narrows as the primary contact surface (5) extends away from a leading edge of the door (9). As such the primary contact surface (5) is wider at a first proximate end (5a) for receiving a foot of a user, than at the distal end (5b) adjacent toes of the user’s foot.

As shown in Figure 1 , the proximate end 5a is wider as the mounting member (3) and the secondary contact surface (7) converge towards the distal end (5b) of the primary contact surface (5). This opening receives the foot of a user and guides the foot along the secondary contact surface (7) to allow the user to apply load from their foot onto the secondary contact surface (7) to urge the door to an open configuration, with the need for contact between the user’s hands and a handle (not shown) of the door (9).

At each end (5a, 5b), the primary contact surface (5) has been cut-away to form chamfers (4). These chamfers reduce projections from the primary contact surface (5) that could present snagging and injurious protrusions to users.

Figure 1 also illustrates a contoured irregular edge (6) to the secondary contact surface (7). The upright secondary contact surface (7) allows for a left to right movement of the user’s foot, as opposed to a front-to-back movement. This left to right movement is more ergonomic because, people are generally more stable sideway-on than frontward-on. As such, the door opener (1) provides a kind of foot hold, that is comfortable and easy to use as the side of the user’s foot (or shoe) contacts an inner surface (7a) of the secondary contact surface (7).

In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1 , a bottom of the user’s foot (or shoe) can contact the contoured edge (6) of the secondary contact surface (7) to further improve contact between the user’s foot and the door opener (1) and improve ease of use. Although not illustrated in other embodiments, it is intended that this contoured edge (6) can be applied to the outward facing edge of the secondary contact surface (7) of each and every one of the embodiments described herein. In Figure 1 the contoured edge (6) is formed with castellations, however, it is contemplated that there could be ribs, serrated teeth, bevels or other projecting formations to form the required contour.

Moving now to Figure 2 where an alternative embodiment of the door opener (101) is illustrated. Here the door opener (101) has a Z-shaped cross-section, which allows the door opener (101) to be mounted to the door (9) at a raised level to the door opener (1) of Figure 1 .

The door opener (101) provides a mounting member (103) that extends from the primary contact surface (105) in an opposing direction from the secondary contact surface (107).

A width of the mounting member (103) determines the approximate height above a floor level the door opener (101) is mounted. This height or gap provides clearance for mops and brooms and other cleaning apparatus to clean between the door opener (101) and the floor. The gap further provides access to insert fasteners to attach the mounting member (103) to the door (9). This leaves the fasteners (not shown) out-of- sight once the door opener (101) is mounted.

In Figure 2 the secondary contact surface (107) extends only partially along an outer edge (105c) of the primary contact surface (105). This is contrasted with the secondary contact surface (7) of Figure 1 , in which the secondary contact surface (7) extends almost the entire length of the peripheral edge (5c).

Further illustrated in Figure 2, the apertures (108) extend equidistantly along the mounting member (103) for receiving fasteners to secure the door opener (101) to the door (9).

As described in relation to previous embodiments, protruding edges of the primary contact surface (105) have been cut-away to form chamfers (104) at either end of the secondary contact surface (107).

Figure 3 illustrates the door opener (1) of Figure 1 , when viewed in plan view. The primary contact surface (5) can be seen to narrow toward the distal end (5b) and the secondary contact surface (7) diverging toward the mounting member (3).

Turning now to Figure 4 an alternative embodiment of the door opener (201) is illustrated having a Z-shaped cross-section. In this embodiment the primary contact surface (204) has not be cut-away. This embodiment can be easily manufactures, and easily stacked (nested) for ease of transportation. Only two mounting apertures (208) are provided in this embodiment of the door opener (201), however this number can be increased or decreased depending on the overall length of the door opener (201) and the weight of the door (9) to which is it affixed.

Figure 5 illustrated an alternative embodiment of the door opener (301), in which the mounting member (303) and the secondary contact surface (307) converge to an apex. As such, the door opener (301) is a wedge-shaped bracket, that can receive the user’s foot therein. The door opener (301) can be folded, welded from individual plates or pressed, depending on the weight and gauge of the material required to match the weight and overcome the inertia required to move the door (9). Where the door opener (301) is made from plastic or settable materials, each of the mounting member (303), primary contact surface (305) and secondary contact surface (307) including the apertures (308) can be moulded in a single-step process.

Moving on to Figure 6, an alternative embodiment of the door opener (401) is illustrated, in which the mounting member (403) and the secondary contact surface (407) do not converge the door opener (401) has an overall U-shape cross-section, which has been overturned to create an archway into which the user can insert their foot to open the door (9). This embodiment of the door opener (401) is well suited to bonded attachments, as access to the illustrated apertures (408) can be hampered by the secondary contact surface (407).

Illustrated in Figure 7, is an alternative embodiment of the door opener (501) wherein the proximate end (505a) is the same width as the distal end (505b) such that the mounting member (503) and the secondary contact surface (507) are substantially parallel to one another. Each of the proximate and distal ends (505a, 505b) of the primary contact surface (505) have been cut-away to form chamfers (504). The chamfers (504) are formed such that the secondary contact surface (507) is located approximately centrally along the peripheral edge (505c).

The cross-section of the door opener (501) is U-shaped, similarto the embodiment shown in Figure 1 . In contrast the embodiment of the door opener (601) shown in Figure 8 has a Z-shaped cross-section, which allows the door opener (601) to be mounted to the door (9) at a raised level to the door opener (701) of Figure 7. The door opener (601) provides a mounting member (603) that extends from the primary contact surface (605) in an opposing direction from the secondary contact surface (607).

A width of the mounting member (603) determines the approximate height above a floor level the door opener (601) is mounted. This height or gap provides clearance for mops and brooms and other cleaning apparatus to clean between the door opener (601) and the floor. The gap further provides access to insert fasteners to attach the mounting member (603) to the door (9). This leaves the fasteners (not shown) out-of- sight once the door opener (601) is mounted.

In Figure 8 the secondary contact surface (607) extends only partially along an outer edge (605c) of the primary contact surface (605). The length of the secondary contact surface (607) can be varied to additional leverage by reducing the depth of the chamfers (604).

Figure 9A illustrates yet another alternative embodiment of the door opener (701) in which the mounting member (703) is configured as a U-shaped channel that is configured to receive a lower portion of the door (9). Figure 9B illustrates the door opener (701) alone, where it is shown that the door opener (701) provides a pair of symmetrical primary contact surfaces (705, 705’) extending from each of the inner side (9a) and outer side (9b) of the door (9). The end of the U-shaped mounting member (703) can be enclosed (as shown in Figure 10). At the peripheral edges (705c, 705c) the symmetrical secondary contact surfaces (707, 707’) extend upwardly giving the door opener (701) and plane-wing configuration.

The door opener (701) is configured to slidably mount to the door (9) with apertures (708) for fasteners or to be bonded in place. Where the apertures (708, 708’) are aligned along the mounting member first portion (708) and a mounting member second portion (708’) the fasteners can be configured to extend entirely through the thickness of the door (9).

As with previous embodiments, the number of apertures (708, 708’) for receiving fasteners or fixtures can be increase or reduced or offset, to accommodate for the weight and style of door and the expected volume of use for which the product is expected to perform.

Although not illustrated, it is contemplated that the two-sided door opener (701) as illustrated in Figure 9 can take the form of each and any of the previously described embodiments of the door opener (1 , 101 , 201 , 301 , 401 , 501 , 601 , 701). While the manufacture of these contemplated embodiments may no longer be foldable from sheet material, the individual components thereof can be formed and welded or bonded together. Additionally, where the door opener is to be formed or moulded from a settable material, these two-sided door opener variants can be formed in a single manufacturing operation.

Figure 9c is a front, perspective view of the door opener (701) looking at the end face (9c) of the door (9). Illustrated to line the U-channel of the mounting member (703) is a resilient material (702). The resilient material (702) can be used to take up slack where the door (9) is narrower than the channel of the mounting member (703).

Alternatively, the resilient member (702) can be additionally adhesive, such that the resilient member (702) also adheres the door opener (701) to the door (9).

The resilient member (702) can be a solid or laminate product that is prior inserted into the U-Channel of the mounting member (703). The resilient member (702) may be applied by painting or spraying where only a thin layer is required. Alternatively, the resilient member (702) can be formed from a plurality of discrete pads or cushions (see Figure 10) adhesively stuck in place and then permanently held by the compression between the mounting members (703, 703’) and the door (9). As a further alternative, the resilient member (702) can be formed as a sleeve, that is placed within the mounting member (703) of across the lower portion of the door (9) prior to introducing the door opener (701) to the door (9).

It is contemplated that the resilient member (702) could be formed from a foam or a rubber, as silicon, or a plastic, a gum or a glue and the like. Figure 10 illustrates a single-sided embodiment of the door opener (801) in which the mounting member (803) is configured as a u-channel, as previously described in relation to Figure 9. In this manner, the door opener (801) is mounted to the door (9) in similar manner to that described for the door opener (901), while only providing a single primary contact surface (805) on either of an inner or an outer side of the door (9).

Figure 10 also illustrated the resilient member (802) configured as small patches mounted to inner surfaces of the mounting member (803) to hold the door opener (801) in place and prevent the door opener (801) from moving loosely around the door (9).

Finally, Figure 11 illustrates and alternative embodiment of the door opener (901) in which a reduced mounting member (903) is formed as a C-shaped channel that does not extend under the door (9) but instead wraps around the inner (9a), end (9c) and outer (9b) sides of the door (9). In this embodiment, it is contemplated that the door opener (901) can be mounted via apertures (908), or bonded or held in place by friction (interference fit) between the door opener (901) and the door (9).

The door opener (901) uses a reduced length mounting member (903) while still providing large primary contact surfaces (905, 905’) on opposing sides of the door (9). In this embodiment, the secondary contact surfaces (907) have been reduced to almost half a length of the primary contact surfaces (905, 905’). The length of the secondary contact surfaces (907, 907’) can be adjusted to accommodate different weights and sizes of door (9). The resilient material (902) can also be applied to an inner surface (907a’) of the secondary contact surfaces (907, 907’) for improved comfort or contact between the user’s foot and the door opener (901).

Also illustrated in Figure 11 , is a pair of frictional surfaces (910, 910’) incorporated partially across the primary contact surfaces (905, 905’) to improve grip with the user’s foot (or shoe). The frictional surfaces (910, 910’) can be a non-stick coating, or rubberised layer, or a serious of protrusions/swages or dimples pressed into the primary contact surfaces (905, 905’) to improve the friction between the door opener (901) and the user’s foot to reduce the likelihood or slippage. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the scope of the following claims. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative of the scope of protection, and not restrictively.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, a limited number of the example methods and materials are described herein.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

LEGEND