Cabinet with foot pedal-operated door opener

• US 4,911,508 A
• Filed: 08/25/1988
• Issued: 03/27/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Tillman, Harry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Falk, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US07/236,197
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 312/139, 312/319, 312/320, 312/330 R, 292/255, 49/276, 49/277, 49/278, 16/DIG. 7
• US Class Current: 312/319.9
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0033 for opening only E05B17/0029 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 53/001 Foot-operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 11/54 for doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 13/02 by devices, e.g. lever arms, affected by the movement of the user
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/676 Transmission of human force
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/31 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/19 Foot operated

Abstract

A cabinet structure having an improved user-mountable foot pedal-operated door opener. The pivot rod of the door opener may be mounted by the user to brackets previously mounted to the cabinet by the manufacturer, permitting completed installation of the door opener by the user without the need for tools. In one form, the door opener acts against a slide plate carried on the lower edge portion of the door of the cabinet, and in another form, a roller is provided on the pivot rod for directly engaging the door lower edge portion. The pivot rod may be readily removed from the cabinet construction, when desired, such as during subsequent shipment of the cabinet structure.

Claims

1. In a cabinet structure having wall means defining a front opening cavity defining opposite sides, and a door swingably mounted to the wall means at one side of the cavity for selectively closing said cavity, said wall means having a bottom wall defining a front edge portion and said door defining a lower edge portion juxtaposed to said bottom wall in a closed position of the door extending across the cavity, the improvement comprising a foot operable door opener mounted to the wall means at said bottom wall and at a second side of the cavity opposite said one side, said door opener comprising:

a pivot rod defining a longitudinal axis and having a first end, a laterally projecting presser portion, an opposite, laterally projecting second end portion, and laterally projecting retaining means at a position intermediate said end portions, wherein said retaining means comprises a pair of raised projections spaced apart longitudinally on said pivot rod;

a first pivot bracket mounted to said wall means and defining a socket rotatively receiving said first end of the pivot rod for rotation of the pivot rod about its longitudinal axis;

a second pivot bracket mounted to said wall means and defining a flange for pivotally supporting a portion of the pivot rod inserted laterally thereinto;

means on said wall means for cooperating with said retaining means of the pivot rod for retaining the pivot rod with said first end pivotally associated with said first pivot bracket and said opposite end portion outwardly of said wall means at said second side of the cavity, said presser portion being disposed inwardly of said lower edge portion of the door and swingable outwardly thereagainst as an incident of displacement of said opposite end portion of the pivot rod about said longitudinal axis of the pivot rod, thereby to swing said door outwardly away from said closed position; and

means for biasing said pivot rod to urge said presser portion inwardly away from said door.

2. The cabinet structure of claim 1 wherein said raised projections are disposed one each at opposite sides of said means on said wall means for cooperating with said retaining means.

3. The cabinet structure of claim 1 wherein said raised projections are disposed at opposite sides of said second pivot bracket, said opposite sides of said second pivot bracket defining said means on said wall means for cooperating with said retaining means.

4. In a cabinet structure having wall means defining a front opening cavity defining opposite sides, and a door swingably mounted to the wall means at one side of the cavity for selectively closing said cavity, said wall means having a bottom wall defining a bottom surface and further defining a front edge portion and said door defining a lower edge portion juxtaposed to said bottom wall in a closed position of the door extending across the cavity, the improvement comprising a foot operable door opener mounted to the wall means at said bottom wall and at a second side of the cavity opposite said one side, said door opener comprising:

a pivot rod defining a longitudinal axis and having a first end, a laterally projecting presser portion, an opposite, laterally projecting second end portion, and laterally projecting retaining means at a position intermediate said end portions;

a first pivot bracket mounted to said bottom surface of the bottom wall and defining a socket rotatively receiving said first end of the pivot rod for rotation of the pivot rod about its longitudinal axis;

a second pivot bracket mounted to said wall means and defining a flange for pivotally supporting a portion of the pivot rod inserted laterally thereinto;

means on said wall means for cooperating with said retaining means of the pivot rod for retaining the pivot rod with said first end pivotally associated with said first pivot bracket and said opposite end portion outwardly of said wall means at said second side of the cavity, said presser portion being disposed inwardly of said lower edge portion of the door and swingable outwardly thereagainst as an incident of displacement of said opposite end portion of the pivot rod about said longitudinal axis of the pivot rod, thereby to swing said door outwardly away from said closed position; and

means for biasing said pivot rod to urge said presser portion inwardly away from said door.

5. The cabinet structure of claim 4 wherein a cap is removably mounted to said opposite end portion for engagement by a user'"'"'s foot to effect pivoting of the pivot rod about said longitudinal axis thereof to effect said swinging of the door from said closed position by said presser portion of the pivot rod.

6. The cabinet structure of claim 4 wherein said biasing means comprises spring means acting between said wall means and said presser portion of the pivot rod.

7. The cabinet structure of claim 4 wherein said bottom wall of the wall means defines a front surface and said second pivot bracket is mounted to said front surface of the bottom wall.

8. The cabinet structure of claim 4 wherein said presser portion of the pivot rod comprises a U-shaped portion thereof.

10. The cabinet structure of claim 4 further including a roller mounted to said presser portion to have rolling engagement with said door lower edge portion.

9. In a cabinet structure having wall means defining a front opening cavity defining opposite sides, and a door swingably mounted to the wall means at one side of the cavity for selectively closing said cavity, said wall means having a bottom wall defining a front edge portion and said door defining a lower edge portion juxtaposed to said bottom wall in a closed position of the door extending across the cavity, the improvement comprising a foot operable door opener mounted to the wall means at said bottom wall and at a second side of the cavity opposite said one side, said door opener comprising:

a pivot rod defining a longitudinal axis and having a first end, a laterally projecting presser portion, an opposite, laterally projecting second end portion comprising a U-shaped portion thereof, and laterally projecting retaining means at a position intermediate said end portions;

a first pivot bracket mounted to said wall means and defining a socket rotatively receiving said first end of the pivot rod for rotation of the pivot rod about its longitudinal axis;

a second pivot bracket mounted to said wall means and defining a flange for pivotally supporting a portion of the pivot rod inserted laterally thereinto;

means on said wall means for cooperating with said retaining means of the pivot rod for retaining the pivot rod with said first end pivotally associated with said first pivot bracket and said opposite end portion outwardly of said wall means at said second side of the cavity, said presser portion being disposed inwardly of said lower edge portion of the door and swingable outwardly thereagainst as an incident of displacement of said opposite end portion of the pivot rod about said longitudinal axis of the pivot rod, thereby to swing said door outwardly away from said closed position; and

means for biasing said pivot rod to urge said presser portion inwardly away from said door.

11. The method of mounting a foot pedal-operated door opener to a cabinet structure comprising the steps of:

providing a cabinet structure having wall means defining a front opening cavity defining opposite sides, and a door swingably mounted to the wall means at one side of the cavity for selectively closing said cavity, said wall means having a bottom wall defining a front edge portion and said door defining a lower edge portion juxtaposed to said bottom wall in a closed position of the door extending across the cavity;

mounting a first pivot bracket to said wall means;

mounting a second pivot bracket to said wall means;

causing said cabinet construction to be transported to a use site with said pivot brackets so mounted;

installing a pivot rod in association with said pivot brackets at said use site, said pivot rod comprising a rod defining a longitudinal axis and having a first end, a laterally projecting presser portion, an opposite, laterally projecting second end portion, and laterally projecting retaining means at a position intermediate said end portions, said first pivot bracket defining a socket releasably, rotatively receiving said first end of the pivot rod for rotation of the pivot rod about its longitudinal axis, said second pivot bracket defining an upturned flange for releasably, pivotally supporting a portion of the pivot rod inserted laterally thereinto, said installing step including the steps of inserting said first end of said rod into said socket and snapfitting said portion of the pivot rod into said upturned flange;

providing means on said wall means for cooperating with said retaining means of the pivot rod for retaining the pivot rod with said first end pivotally associated with said first pivot bracket and said opposite end portion outwardly of said wall means at a second side of the cavity opposite the one side of the cavity, said presser portion being disposed inwardly of said lower edge portion of the door and swingable outwardly thereagainst as an incident of displacement of said opposite end portion of the pivot rod about said longitudinal axis of the pivot rod, thereby to swing said door outwardly away from said closed position; and

providing means for biasing said pivot rod to urge said presser portion inwardly away from said door.

12. The method of mounting a foot pedal-operated door opener to a cabinet structure of claim 11 wherein said bottom wall of the wall means defines a front surface and said second pivot bracket is mounted to said front surface of the bottom wall.

13. The method of mounting a foot pedal-operated door opener to a cabinet structure comprising the steps of:

providing a cabinet structure having wall means defining a front opening cavity defining opposite sides, and a door swingably mounted to the wall means at one side of the cavity for selectively closing said cavity, said wall means having a bottom wall defining a front edge portion wherein said bottom wall of said wall means defines a bottom surface and said door defining a lower edge portion juxtaposed to said bottom wall in a closed position of the door extending across the cavity;

mounting a first pivot bracket to said wall means, wherein said first pivot bracket is mounted to said bottom surface of the bottom wall;

mounting a second pivot bracket to said wall means;

causing said cabinet construction to be transported to a use site with said pivot brackets so mounted;

installing a pivot rod in association with said pivot brackets at said use site, said pivot rod comprising a rod defining a longitudinal axis and having a first end, a laterally projecting presser portion, an opposite, laterally projecting second end portion, and laterally projecting retaining means at a position intermediate said end portions, said first pivot bracket defining a socket rotatively receiving said first end of the pivot rod for rotation of the pivot rod about its longitudinal axis, said second pivot bracket defining a flange for pivotally supporting a portion of the pivot rod inserted laterally thereinto;

providing means on said wall means for cooperating with said retaining means of the pivot rod for retaining the pivot rod with said first end pivotally associated with said first pivot bracket and said opposite end portion outwardly of said wall means at a second side of the cavity opposite to one side of the cavity, said presser portion being disposed inwardly of said lower edge portion of the door and swingable outwardly thereagainst as an incident of displacement of said opposite end portion of the pivot rod about said longitudinal axis of the pivot rod, thereby to swing said door outwardly away from said closed position; and

providing means for biasing said pivot rod to urge said presser portion inwardly away from said door.

14. In a cabinet structure having wall means defining a front opening cavity defining opposite sides, and a door swingably mounted to the wall means at one side of the cavity for selectively closing said cavity, said wall means having a bottom wall defining a front edge portion and said door defining a lower edge portion juxtaposed to said bottom wall in a closed position of the door extending across the cavity, the improvement comprising a foot operable door opener mounted to the wall means at said bottom wall and at a second side of the cavity opposite said one side, said door opener comprising:

a pivot rod defining a longitudinal axis and having a first end, a laterally projecting presser portion, an opposite, laterally projecting second end portion, and laterally projecting retaining means at a position intermediate said end portions;

a slide plate on said door lower edge portion;

a first pivot bracket mounted to said wall means and defining a socket releasably, rotatively receiving said first end of the pivot rod for rotation of the pivot rod about its longitudinal axis;

a second pivot bracket mounted to said wall means and defining an upturned flange providing a releasable snapfit retention for pivotally supporting a portion of the pivot rod inserted laterally thereinto;

means on said wall means for cooperating with said retaining means of the pivot rod for retaining the pivot rod with said first end pivotally associated with said first pivot bracket and said opposite end portion outwardly of said wall means at said second side of the cavity, said presser portion being disposed inwardly of said lower edge portion of the door and swingable outwardly against said side plate as an incident of displacement of said opposite end portion of the pivot rod about said longitudinal axis of the pivot rod, thereby to swing said door outwardly away from said closed position; and

means for biasing said pivot rod to urge said presser portion inwardly away from said door.

15. The cabinet structure of claim 14 wherein said slide plate defines a vertically elongate slide surface engaged by said presser portion.

16. The cabinet structure of claim 14 wherein said slide plate is formed of a synthetic resin.

17. The cabinet structure of claim 14 wherein said slide plate is formed of a synthetic resin having a low surface friction characteristic.

18. In a cabinet structure having wall means defining a front opening cavity defining opposite sides, and a door swingably mounted to the wall means at one side of the cavity for selectively closing said cavity, said wall means having a bottom wall defining a front edge portion and said door defining a lower edge portion juxtaposed to said bottom wall in a closed position of the door extending across the cavity, the improvement comprising a foot operable door opener mounted to the wall means at said bottom wall and at a second side of the cavity opposite said one side, said door opener comprising:

a pivot rod defining a longitudinal axis and having a first end, a laterally projecting presser portion, an opposite, laterally projecting second end portion, and laterally projecting retaining means at a position intermediate said end portions;

a slide plate on said door lower edge portion, said slide plate defining a vertically elongate slide surface engaged by said presser portion and side flanges, and means are provided for removably securing said side flanges to said door lower edge portion;

a first pivot bracket mounted to said wall means and defining a socket rotatively receiving said first end of the pivot rod for rotation of the pivot rod about its longitudinal axis;

a second pivot bracket mounted to said wall means and defining a flange for pivotally supporting a portion of the pivot rod inserted laterally thereinto;

means on said wall means for cooperating with said retaining means of the pivot rod for retaining the pivot rod with said first end pivotally associated with said first pivot bracket and said opposite end portion outwardly of said wall means at said second side of the cavity, said presser portion being disposed inwardly of said lower edge portion of the door and swingable outwardly against said side plate as an incident of displacement of said opposite end portion of the pivot rod about said longitudinal axis of the pivot rod, thereby to swing said door outwardly away from said closed position; and

means for biasing said pivot rod to urge said presser portion inwardly away from said door.