GB2183724A

GB2183724A - Foot-operated door opener

Info

Publication number: GB2183724A
Application number: GB08617798A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Desmond Patrick Khan
Original assignee: Belling & Co Ltd; Belling and Co Ltd
Current assignee: Belling & Co Ltd; Belling and Co Ltd
Priority date: 1985-07-25
Filing date: 1986-07-21
Publication date: 1987-06-10
Also published as: GB8617798D0; GB8518843D0

Abstract

A door (1) on a cooker oven has a spring not shown, e.g. a spring hinge), for pivoting the door open about vertical hinges, a latch mechanism (not shown) for holding the door closed, and a pivotable foot-operable member (3) adapted to act on the internal surface of the door. When the member (3) is kicked in or pushed down then the member (blade 6) pushes the door to overcome the latch mechanism, permitting the spring to open the door. The spring is wound up again by action of closing the door. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to doors This invention relates to doors for use in situations where non-manual opening of a door is required, particularly for ovens.

When using an oven, for example, it happens from time to time that the cook find it inconvenientto bend down to open an oven door, in the case of a floor mounted oven, when the hands are otherwise occupied, for example, carrying a dish to be put in the oven or attending to items on a hobabovethe oven. A main object of the invention is, therefore, to provide means whereby such a door can befoot controlled in these circumstances.

According to the invention, there is provided a door having a spring for urging the doorto its open position, a latch mechanism for holding the door in its closed postion and a foot-operable member adapted to act on the internal surface of the door.

Thus, when the door is in its closed position, operation of the foot-operable member causes the latch mechanism to be released or disengaged, thereby permitting the spring to open the door.

Release of the latch mechanism comes about by the force appiied by the foot-operable member, conveniently in a direction substantially at right angles to the plane of the door, on the back ofthe oven door resulting in the door being pushed open against the initial force of the latch mechanism holding the door closed.

The spring is wound up by the action of closing the door and therefore, on releasing the latch, the spring unwinds causing the door to open preferably to its widest-open position. Preferably, the spring is separate from the latch and more preferably is integral with a hinge of the door such as any spring hinge well known in the art.

Therefore, according to the invention, a hinged door assembly comprises a spring mounted to urge the doorto its open position, a latch mechanism for holding the door in its closed position and including an actuating memberto be operated buy a person's foot for releasing the latch mechanism thereby permitting the spring to open the door, the latch mechanism being arranged automatically to hold the door closed when returned to its closed position.

The foot-operable member preferably ends in a foot pedal which is preferably angled so as to be operable by being either depressed or kicked inwards towards the door by a person's foot.

In orderthatthe invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, one mechanism in accordance therewith will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa sectional plan of a lowermost portion of a floor-mounted electric oven, only the right hand foremost portion thereof being shown; Figure2 and 3 are respectively a plan and a side elevation of a foot lever in the oven of Figure 1; Figure 4is a diagram showing a modification to the oven of Figure 1, and Figures 5and 6are respectively a front and side elevation of a foot lever in the modification of Figure 4.

Figure 1 shows a hinged oven door 1 in its closed position. The vertical edge of the door on the other side of the oven (i.e. remote from the edge 2, not shown) is hinged to the body ofthe oven and incorporates a spring that causes the door to open when unlatched by operation of a lever as described below. The spring may be a coiled torsion spring coaxial with the hinge and having arms at opposite ends respectively engaging the oven body and the door.

A lever 3 pivoted to the oven body at 4, has an abutment endS angled so as to be capable of being pushed inwards or kicked downwards by the user's foot. The opposite end of the lever is formed with a blade 6 which, when the door is latched by a pin and spring loaded roller catch mounted halfway up one edge ofthe door, engages the bottom edge ofthe door so that a small thrust inwards or downwards by the user's foot on the abutment 5 causes the blade 6 to push on the back ofthe door sufficiently to free the latching device thereby freeing the hinge spring to open the door. Alternatively, for example, the latching device may comprise a spring-pressed ball mounted in the door, that engages a hole 7 in the blade 6.

To close the door, the user simply pushes the door to, until the latching device engages. A stop is provided to limit the reverse movement ofthe lever.

The structure of the foot lever is shown in Figure 2.

It is formed from two pressed flat metal pieces, one of which is shaped to the form of the lever 3 including the blade 6 and the other of which is bent to a rectangular box section with tongues 8,9 that are spot welded together and to the lever 3 as shown.

In the modification of Figure 4, the lever 3 is vertically mounted with the foot abutment located in front of a plinth 8 on which the oven is mounted. This provides more clearance for the user's foot beneath the door as the door swings open.

The alternative structure of the foot lever is shown in Figures 5 and 6. It is formed from a single pressed flat metal piece 3,6 having a moulding shaped to form the tongues 8, 9.

1. A door having a spring for urging the doorto its open position, a latch mechanism for holding the door in its closed position and a foot-operable member adapted to act on the internal surface ofthe door.

2. A hinged door assembly comprising a spring mounted to urge the door to its open position, a latch mechanism for holding the door in its closed position and including an actuating member to be operated buy a person'sfootforreleasing the latch mechanism thereby permitting the spring to open the door, the latch mechanism being arranged automatically to hold the door closed when returned to its closed position.

3. A hinged door assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the member is a foot-operated lever mounted substantially at the bottom edge of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to doors This invention relates to doors for use in situations where non-manual opening of a door is required, particularly for ovens. When using an oven, for example, it happens from time to time that the cook find it inconvenientto bend down to open an oven door, in the case of a floor mounted oven, when the hands are otherwise occupied, for example, carrying a dish to be put in the oven or attending to items on a hobabovethe oven. A main object of the invention is, therefore, to provide means whereby such a door can befoot controlled in these circumstances. According to the invention, there is provided a door having a spring for urging the doorto its open position, a latch mechanism for holding the door in its closed postion and a foot-operable member adapted to act on the internal surface of the door. Thus, when the door is in its closed position, operation of the foot-operable member causes the latch mechanism to be released or disengaged, thereby permitting the spring to open the door. Release of the latch mechanism comes about by the force appiied by the foot-operable member, conveniently in a direction substantially at right angles to the plane of the door, on the back ofthe oven door resulting in the door being pushed open against the initial force of the latch mechanism holding the door closed. The spring is wound up by the action of closing the door and therefore, on releasing the latch, the spring unwinds causing the door to open preferably to its widest-open position. Preferably, the spring is separate from the latch and more preferably is integral with a hinge of the door such as any spring hinge well known in the art. Therefore, according to the invention, a hinged door assembly comprises a spring mounted to urge the doorto its open position, a latch mechanism for holding the door in its closed position and including an actuating memberto be operated buy a person's foot for releasing the latch mechanism thereby permitting the spring to open the door, the latch mechanism being arranged automatically to hold the door closed when returned to its closed position. The foot-operable member preferably ends in a foot pedal which is preferably angled so as to be operable by being either depressed or kicked inwards towards the door by a person's foot. In orderthatthe invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, one mechanism in accordance therewith will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa sectional plan of a lowermost portion of a floor-mounted electric oven, only the right hand foremost portion thereof being shown; Figure2 and 3 are respectively a plan and a side elevation of a foot lever in the oven of Figure 1; Figure 4is a diagram showing a modification to the oven of Figure 1, and Figures 5and 6are respectively a front and side elevation of a foot lever in the modification of Figure 4. Figure 1 shows a hinged oven door 1 in its closed position. The vertical edge of the door on the other side of the oven (i.e. remote from the edge 2, not shown) is hinged to the body ofthe oven and incorporates a spring that causes the door to open when unlatched by operation of a lever as described below. The spring may be a coiled torsion spring coaxial with the hinge and having arms at opposite ends respectively engaging the oven body and the door. A lever 3 pivoted to the oven body at 4, has an abutment endS angled so as to be capable of being pushed inwards or kicked downwards by the user's foot. The opposite end of the lever is formed with a blade 6 which, when the door is latched by a pin and spring loaded roller catch mounted halfway up one edge ofthe door, engages the bottom edge ofthe door so that a small thrust inwards or downwards by the user's foot on the abutment 5 causes the blade 6 to push on the back ofthe door sufficiently to free the latching device thereby freeing the hinge spring to open the door. Alternatively, for example, the latching device may comprise a spring-pressed ball mounted in the door, that engages a hole 7 in the blade 6. To close the door, the user simply pushes the door to, until the latching device engages. A stop is provided to limit the reverse movement ofthe lever. The structure of the foot lever is shown in Figure 2. It is formed from two pressed flat metal pieces, one of which is shaped to the form of the lever 3 including the blade 6 and the other of which is bent to a rectangular box section with tongues 8,9 that are spot welded together and to the lever 3 as shown. In the modification of Figure 4, the lever 3 is vertically mounted with the foot abutment located in front of a plinth 8 on which the oven is mounted. This provides more clearance for the user's foot beneath the door as the door swings open. The alternative structure of the foot lever is shown in Figures 5 and 6. It is formed from a single pressed flat metal piece 3,6 having a moulding shaped to form the tongues 8, 9. CLAIMS

3. A hinged door assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the member is a foot-operated lever mounted substantially at the bottom edge of the door.

4. A door according to any preceding claim, wherein the spring is adapted to be wound up bythe action of closing the door.

5. A door according to any preceding claim, wherein the spring is adapted to fully open the door on releasing the latch mechanism.

6. A door according to any preceding claim, having a spring hinge.

7. A door according to any preceding claim, wherein the foot-operable member is adapted to be operable by being either depressed or kicked inwards.

8. A hinged door assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

3. Ahinged door assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 to 6 ofthe accompanying drawings.

10. Afree-standing cooker provided with a door according to any preceding claim.