US 12,000,191 B2
Method of making and using a foot operable door opener
Joseph Ivan Jaroff, Old Westbury, NY (US); James Polk, Kent Lakes, NY (US); and Yefim Safris, Golden Valley, MN (US)
Filed by Joseph Ivan Jaroff, Old Westbury, NY (US)
Filed on May 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/198,250.
Application 18/198,250 is a division of application No. 17/345,898, filed on Jun. 11, 2021, granted, now 11,692,384.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/102,377, filed on Jun. 12, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0366253 A1, Nov. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. E05F 13/00 (2006.01); E05F 11/54 (2006.01); E05F 13/02 (2006.01)
CPC E05F 11/54 (2013.01) [E05F 13/02 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/706 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/72 (2013.01); E05Y 2800/116 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of constructing and using a foot operable door opener without use of hands or electrical assist, comprising:
a) providing a crank assembly comprising a crank arm rotated from a starting position before any operations by depression of a foot pedal for rotating a crank shaft, which, in turn, activates a spring assembly connected to said crank arm through said crank shaft;
for winding at least one main spring, said at least one main spring being wound by said crank assembly, said at least one main spring being at least one wound spring to develop a stored potential energy and manifested power to perform the work required to open a door, said stored potential energy and manifested power being transferred to a gear train with a preselected speed increasing gear train ratio for transferring said stored potential energy and manifested power from said at least one main spring to rotate a wheel assembly;
b) providing a drive assembly comprising a durometer drive wheel or a pneumatic drive wheel, connected to a main driveshaft; or,
c) providing a traction tension assembly actuated by said foot pedal for winding said at least one main spring for rotating said crank shaft for swinging said door open; or,
d) providing a delay assembly for a delayed release of said stored potential energy and manifested power of said at least one main spring to said main drive shaft in order to allow ergonomic transfer of the weight of the entrant to both feet, allowing the entrant to step aside to clear the path of the swinging of said door; or,
e) providing said delay assembly for a delayed release of said drive wheel at an end of an opening cycle to allow ergonomic passage allowing the entrant to comfortably step through an open portal of said door before integrated closing devices close said door behind the entrant;
f) providing a return spring mounted on said crank shaft for returning said crank shaft to said starting position;
g) whereby the step of the entrant using said foot operable door opener opens said door without use of hands or electrical assist.