Foot-Operated Door Opening System with Force Conversion Wheel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hands-free door opening systems require significant user coordination, balance, and strength, and can cause excessive loading on door hinges, limiting their usability and longevity.
Innovation Solution
A door opening system that includes a frame coupled to the door with a rotatably supported wheel, converting downward force into lateral force to open the door, featuring a base plate, support arm, and resilient members to facilitate easy operation and reduce loading on the door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a bracket is attached to the door to allow foot-powered opening, then hands-free operation is enabled, but the user must have minimum coordination, balance, and strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a floor-mounted platform as an intermediary between the user and the door. The platform converts downward foot pressure into lateral door opening force through a mechanical linkage system, eliminating the need for users to directly apply lateral force to the door while reducing the coordination and strength requirements compared to direct foot-operated brackets.
2Ease of operation
If a foot-powered bracket is used to open the door, then hands-free opening is achieved, but excessive downward force damages the door hinges
Solution Approach 1:
The floor-mounted platform serves as a mediator that redirects the user's downward force into lateral motion through a ramped surface and linkage mechanism. This converts vertical force into horizontal door opening force, preventing excessive vertical loading on the door hinges while maintaining hands-free operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the direction of force application from vertical (downward foot pressure) to horizontal (lateral door opening force) through a ramped bracket mechanism. This dimensional transformation allows the user to apply force in a comfortable vertical direction while the mechanism converts it to the required horizontal direction, protecting the hinges from excessive vertical loads.
3Ease of operation
If a ramped bracket system is used to reduce user coordination requirements, then ease of operation improves, but the door can only open to a limited extent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic linkage system with movable arms and joints that can adapt their configuration during the door opening process. The linkage mechanism maintains mechanical advantage throughout the range of motion, allowing the door to open to full extent while the platform remains at a fixed, ergonomic position on the floor, thus preserving ease of operation across the entire opening arc.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables hands-free door opening using a user's body weight without excessive loading on the door, improving usability and reducing damage to hinges, allowing for effective operation on both swinging and sliding doors.
Implementation Method 1
The wheel can be configured to convert a downward force applied to the frame by a user into a lateral force to open the door
Implementation Method 2
The frame can also include a resilient member configured to move the wheel from the loaded configuration to the unloaded configuration when the downward force is removed
Data Source
AI summary
A door opener for a door includes a frame coupled to the door and a wheel rotatably supported by the frame. The wheel, including its position relative to the door and frame, as well as its shape, are configured to convert a downward force applied by a user's foot into a lateral force that opens the door by rotating the wheel in contact with the floor.