Egress door opening assister

• US 9,151,099 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2012
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLS
• Original Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLS
• Inventors: Allison, Thomas L
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEKHAEIL, SHIREF M
• Application Number:
  US13/666,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20130111815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 493/79, 492/76, 493/24, 493/56, 292/207, 292/DIG.19, 292/198
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/105 with a compression spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/08 with springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/426 for the initial opening movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors

Abstract

A door opening spring assistance apparatus is set forth that will automatically apply a door opening assistance force using a combination of rods and coil springs. The release of the rods by the coil springs reduces the force required to set the door in motion.

Claims

1. A spring-assisted door opening mechanism comprising;

a housing comprising a metal plate, the metal plate having at least one thru-bore;

a cylinder having a longitudinal axis and having a cylinder length substantially greater than a cylinder diameter, the longitudinal axis in alignment with the thru-bore;

a rod carried in the cylinder and the thru-bore, a first end of the rod extending from the thru-bore and supporting an end cap having a diameter greater than a diameter of the rod, and a second end extending from a free end of the cylinder;

a coil spring carried by the first end of the rod and retained on the rod between the end cap and a surface of the metal plate;

wherein, the end cap engages either a door frame or a door, the spring providing a door entry assistance force that is less than the amount of force needed to set the door in motion when the door is unlatched so as to lessen a force needed by an operator to open the door when the door is closed and has a greater first air pressure pressing against one side of the door than a second air pressure pressing against a second side of the door.

2. The door opening mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the rod is threaded at least along the first end and the second end.

3. The door opening mechanism according to claim 2 wherein the end cap is secured by threads to the first end of the rod.

4. The door opening mechanism according to claim 1 wherein a nut engages the second end of the rod.

5. The door opening mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the housing is carried by a support bracket, the support bracket is supported by either the door or the door frame.

6. A process of reducing the force needed to open a closed door comprising:

supplying a door opening assist mechanism having a housing comprising a metal plate, the metal plate having at least one thru-bore;

a cylinder having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis in alignment with the thru-bore;

a rod carried in the cylinder and the thru-bore a first end of the rod extending from the thru-bore and defining an end cap having a diameter greater than a diameter of the rod, and a second end extending from a free end of the cylinder;

a coil spring carried by a shaft of the first end of the rod and retained on the rod between the end cap and a surface of a metal plate;

attaching the door opening assist mechanism so that the rod and end cap engages at least one of either a door or a door frame;

maintaining the spring in a compressed state when the door is in a closed position;

manually unlatching the door, and,

wherein the coil spring provides a force that pushes the first rod end in a direction toward either the door or the door frame that is less than an amount of force needed to set the unlatched door in motion so as to lessen the force needed by an operator to set the door in motion.

7. The process according to claim 6 wherein the force provided by the coil spring is between 10 to about 50 pounds, thereby reducing the amount of force a human operator needs to apply to set the door in motion.

8. The process according to claim 6 wherein the door is closed and has a greater first air pressure pressing against a first side of the door than a second air pressure pressing against a second side of the door thereby creating a pressure differential that forms a portion of the force that is to be overcome to set the door in motion.

9. A door opening assistance device consisting essentially of:

a housing defining at least one aperture there through, the housing and aperture positioned to be opposite at least one of an upper edge of a door or an edge of a door frame;

a rod carried by the aperture having a first and a second threaded end;

a cylinder having a longitudinal axis and having a cylinder length substantially greater than a cylinder diameter the longitudinal axis in alignment with the aperture;

a spring positioned along the length of the rod and secured along a circumference of the rod between a terminal end cap carried by the first threaded end of the rod and a surface of the housing;

a threaded nut carried by the second end of the rod and positionable along a length of the second threaded end of the rod, and;

wherein, when the housing is secured to either the door frame or the door, the end cap engages the other of the door frame or the door, the spring providing a compensating force that is less than the amount of force needed to set the door in motion when the door is unlatched so as to lessen the amount of force an operator needs to manually apply to set the door in motion.

10. The door opening assistance device of claim 9 wherein when the end cap engages the door when it is closed, the housing is secured to the door frame.

11. The door opening assistance device of claim 9 wherein when the end cap engages the door frame, the housing is secured to the closed door.