Foot-Operated Sanitary Door Opener With Friction Pull Bar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door opening mechanisms are often cumbersome, expensive, prone to malfunction, and unsanitary, particularly for individuals with physical limitations or those who need to avoid touching dirty handles, and existing toe-operated door openers require balance and can cause foot injuries or contamination.
Innovation Solution
A simple, easy-to-install door opener made from rigid materials like aluminum or stainless steel with a frictional engagement bar that allows users to open doors by stepping on it and pulling with their foot, eliminating the need for hand operation and providing easy cleaning and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user inserts their toe into a concavity pull mechanism, then the door can be opened by leg retraction, but the user's foot may be abraded, cut or injured
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring the user to insert their toe into a concavity and retract their leg, the invention inverts the mechanism by providing a protruding engagement element that the user steps on with their foot. The user then pulls the door by stepping backward, eliminating the need for toe insertion and leg retraction while preventing foot injuries and contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary engagement element (protruding element) between the user's foot and the door mechanism. This intermediary allows the user to apply force through foot placement and backward stepping without direct contact with the door hardware, thereby preventing foot injury and contamination while enabling door opening.
2Ease of operation
If the user balances on one leg to position their toe under the pull, then the door can be opened, but the user must continue to balance while retracting the leg and may have to hop backwards
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the operational sequence by having the user first step on the protruding engagement element with their foot, then pull the door by stepping backward. This eliminates the need for balancing on one leg while positioning the toe and continuing to balance during retraction, as the user simply steps on the element and pulls in a natural backward motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention allows the user to operate the door using their natural stepping and pulling motion without requiring external balancing support. The protruding engagement element is designed to be stepped on comfortably, and the backward stepping motion naturally pulls the door open, making the operation self-contained and eliminating the need for additional balancing or hopping actions.
3Ease of operation
If the pull mechanism is mounted near the bottom of the door, then it can be engaged by the toe, but dust, dirt and grime build up inside the device
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the engagement mechanism by using a protruding element that extends outward from the door rather than a concavity that recesses inward. This protruding design prevents dust, dirt and grime from accumulating inside the device, as there is no recessed space where contaminants could build up, while still allowing toe engagement for door operation.
4Ease of operation
If complex electrical mechanical apparatuses are used, then door opening is assisted for users with physical limitations, but the devices are expensive, cumbersome and prone to malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex electrical mechanical apparatuses with a simple mechanical lever system. The protruding engagement element and lever arm mechanism provide door opening assistance through pure mechanical advantage, eliminating the need for electrical components, motors, or complex control systems. This simple mechanical design is inexpensive, reliable, and easy to maintain while still assisting users with physical limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a simple, inexpensive mechanical design that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. The lever mechanism and engagement element are constructed from basic materials that are cost-effective to produce, eliminating the need for expensive electrical mechanical apparatuses while providing the same door opening assistance function.
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
The solution allows for effortless door opening without balance issues, reduces the risk of foot injuries, and maintains sanitation by allowing only the sole of the shoe to contact the device, making it user-friendly and aesthetically appealing while being easy to manufacture and maintain.
Implementation Method 1
The user engages the device by placing their foot onto the upper surface of the frictional engagement bar and stepping downward to apply force. As the force is increased, the frictional co-efficient between the user's shoe and the device is also increased.
Data Source
AI summary
A door opener for mounting on a door, including a mounting plate, a frictional engagement beam and an upwardly projecting ledge spaced apart from the mounting plate. A user steps onto the device contacting their shoe with the engagement bar and the upwardly projecting ledge to frictionally engage the shoe to the opener. The user then forcibly retracts their foot towards their body to lever the door open.