Door opening and closing system
First Claim
1. A door state changing apparatus for assisting a user to move a door between a closed state where the door is positioned adjacent a door frame and a open state comprising:
- permanent magnet means on or attached to said door to provide a permanent magnetic field, electromagnet means on or attached to said door frame adjacent said permanent magnet means when said door is in said closed state, which electromagnet means is energisable to provide a magnetic field in a first direction to reinforce said permanent magnetic field and energisable to provide a magnetic field in a second direction to oppose said permanent magnetic field door position detection means to detect the state of said door, user interface means to detect the presence of a user attempting to alter the state of said door, and control means which receives input from said door position detection means and said user interface means and provides a control signal to energise said electromagnet means to provide a magnetic field in said first detection if said user interface means indicates a user is attempting to alter the state of said door and said door position detection means indicates that said door is in said open state and provides a control signal to energise said electromagnet means to provide a magnetic field in said second direction if said user interface means indicates a user is attempting to alter the state of said and said door position detection means indicates that said door is in said closed state.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus assists a user to move a door between closed and open states. The apparatus includes a permanent magnet provided on the door. An electromagnet is located on the door frame adjacent thereto when the door is closed and is energizable to provide a magnetic field which reinforces the permanent magnetic field or to provide a magnetic field in opposition to the permanent magnetic field. A detector detects the state of the door and an interface detects the presence of a user. A controller receives input from the detector and the interface and energizes the electromagnet to provide a reinforcing magnetic field if a user is attempting to open the door and provides an opposing magnetic field to the permanent magnetic field if the door is closed and the user is attempting to open the door.
90 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A door state changing apparatus for assisting a user to move a door between a closed state where the door is positioned adjacent a door frame and a open state comprising:
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permanent magnet means on or attached to said door to provide a permanent magnetic field, electromagnet means on or attached to said door frame adjacent said permanent magnet means when said door is in said closed state, which electromagnet means is energisable to provide a magnetic field in a first direction to reinforce said permanent magnetic field and energisable to provide a magnetic field in a second direction to oppose said permanent magnetic field door position detection means to detect the state of said door, user interface means to detect the presence of a user attempting to alter the state of said door, and control means which receives input from said door position detection means and said user interface means and provides a control signal to energise said electromagnet means to provide a magnetic field in said first detection if said user interface means indicates a user is attempting to alter the state of said door and said door position detection means indicates that said door is in said open state and provides a control signal to energise said electromagnet means to provide a magnetic field in said second direction if said user interface means indicates a user is attempting to alter the state of said and said door position detection means indicates that said door is in said closed state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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19. A home appliance including a cabinet and a door hingeably connected to said cabinet and closeable against a door frame said appliance including a door state changing apparatus for assisting a user to move said door between a closed state and an open state where said door is positioned adjacent said door frame and an open state, said door state changing apparatus comprising:
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permanent magnet means on or attached to said door to provide a permanent magnetic field, electromagnet means on or attached to said door frame adjacent said permanent magnet means when said door is in said closed state, which electromagnet means is energisable to provide a magnetic field in a first direction to reinforce said permanent magnetic field and energisable to provide a magnetic field in a second direction to oppose said permanent magnetic field, door position detection means are also provided to detect the state of said door, user interface means to detect the presence of a user attempting to alter the state of said door, and control means which receives input from said door position detection means and said user interface means and provides a control signal to energise said electromagnet means to provide a magnetic field in said first detection if said user interface means indicates a user is attempting to alter the state of said door and said door position detection means indicates that said door is in said state and provides a control signal to energise said electromagnet means to provide a magnetic field in said second direction if said user interface means indicates a user is attempting to alter the state of said door position detection means indicates that said door is in said closed state.
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Specification