FIELD

The present teachings generally relate to novel hinged-panel opening/closing systems (e.g., doors and gates opening/closing systems) and processes relating thereto. More particularly, the present teachings relate to improved hinged-panel opening/closing systems and processes relating thereto that use a movement-enabling component to automatically open/close a hinged panel (e.g., door) without manual intervention.

BACKGROUND

People, without a handicap, typically open/close doors and gates (herein referred to as “hinged panels”) by applying a force to displace the doors and gates towards/away from their respective door frames and gate frames. Handicapped individuals (e.g., a person relying on a wheelchair for movement), however, may not be capable of applying a requisite force to open/close doors and gates. Such individuals need assistance to carry out the open/close action for entry into/exit from a room or a confined space.

What is, therefore, needed are novel solutions for effectively opening/closing doors and gates for handicapped individuals.

SUMMARY

To this end, the present arrangements and teachings provide improved hinged-panel opening and closing systems (e.g., doors and gates opening and closing systems) and methods relating thereto. The systems and methods of the present arrangements and teachings allow rotational displacement of doors and gates towards/away from a receiving structure. Opposite to the receiving structure is a supporting structure that facilitates support of the doors and gates.

In one aspect, the present arrangements provide hinged-panel opening and closing systems. An exemplar of such hinged-panel opening and closing systems includes: (i) a gear motor; (ii) an anchor; and (iii) a movement-enabling component. In this example, the gear motor is designed to be located on a supporting structure and the anchor is designed to be located on a hinged panel. The hinged panel, which includes a proximate end and a distal end, is configured to be disposed between a receiving structure and the supporting structure. In this configuration, the hinged panel is capable of rotating about one or more hinges, located at or near the proximate end, to displace the distal end relative to the receiving structure. The movement-enabling component is coupled to both the supporting structure and the hinged panel. Moreover, the movement-enabling component is capable of displacing the distal end of the hinged panel relative to the receiving structure. Preferably, the hinged panel is a gate or door.

The movement-enabling component includes: (iv) a movement-enabling shaft; (v) a spindle; and (vi) a linear element. The movement-enabling shaft is designed to be disposed on the supporting structure and is operationally coupled, at one end of movement-enabling shaft, to the gear motor. In one operative state, the gear motor enables an opening motion of the movement-enabling shaft.

The spindle is also designed to be located on the supporting structure and is operationally coupled to another movement-enabling shaft end. The opening motion of the movement-enabling shaft is conveyed, through another end of the movement-enabling shaft, to produce one operative of state of the spindle that generates an operative torque.

The linear element attaches, at a first linear end, to the spindle and attaches, at a second linear end, to the anchor such that the linear element extends by an adjustable length between the spindle and the anchor. The linear element rotationally, and not linearly, displaces the anchor.

In the presence of the operative torque, the linear element wraps around the spindle to reduce the adjustable length of the linear element extending between the spindle and the anchor. This results in an opening tension force acting upon the linear element that rotationally displaces the anchor and is designed to displace the distal end of the hinged panel away from the receiving structure in a manner that produces an opening motion of the hinged panel.

When the spindle receives an external force not resulting from the operative state of the gear motor, the spindle generates an opposing torque effective in a direction opposite to the operative torque. In the presence of the opposing torque, the linear element is prevented from wrapping around the spindle or unwraps from the spindle. If the linear element unwraps from the spindle, the adjustable length of the linear element, between the spindle and the anchor, increases. Moreover, the opposing torque results in a closing force, acting on the linear element, that allows rotational displacement of the anchor. The closing force is also designed to allow displacement of the distal end towards the receiving structure to produce a closing motion of the hinged panel.

During a non-operative state of the gear motor, however, when another type of external opening force acts upon the anchor, the anchor undergoes rotational displacement causing the linear element to unwrap from the spindle without transferring the external opening force to the spindle. Thus, when another type of external opening force acts upon the anchor, the movement-enabling component and the gear motor are designed to not interfere with the opening motion of the hinged panel.

In one implementation of the present arrangements, the hinged panel is a gate or door. In another implementation of the present arrangements, the external force is produced by presence of an impediment to rotational displacement of the anchor. In yet another implementation of the present arrangements, the spindle is a capstan spindle and the linear element is a capstan strap.

The anchor, in one embodiment of the present arrangements, has defined thereon an arced surface profile that extends an arced length spanning from one end to another end. The linear element is disposed adjacent to the arced surface profile and extends an extending length that is equivalent to the arced length. The spindle, during one operative state, rotates and the extending length of the linear element wraps or unwraps around the spindle, which angularly displaces the anchor by about 90 degrees.

In one embodiment of the present arrangements, the hinged-panel opening and closing systems further includes one or more hinges disposed between the hinged panel and the supporting structure.

In another embodiment of the present arrangements, the hinged-panel opening and closing systems further includes a closing mechanism for applying a closing external torque on the spindle to unwrap the linear element from the spindle, which increases the adjustable length of the linear element between the spindle and the anchor. A resulting closing force allows rotational displacement of the anchor and is designed to allow displacement of the distal end towards the receiving structure and produce the closing motion. In one implementation of the present arrangements, the closing mechanism is a spring this is designed to be coupled, at one spring end, to the hinged door and, at another spring end, to the supporting structure.

In yet another embodiment of the present arrangements, the hinged-panel opening and closing systems further includes a circuit coupled to the gear motor at one end and coupled to a power supply at another end. The circuit is configured to measure draw of current by the gear motor during operation and depending on value of draw of current measured, the circuit directs voltage to enable rotational displacement of the anchor in one direction or in a reverse direction.

In addition to the circuit, the hinged-panel opening and closing system, in one implementation of the present arrangements, further includes a memory for storing the values of draw current measured and a clock or a timer that operates in conjunction with the circuit to enable the circuit to direct voltage or current, to enable rotational displacement of the anchor in the one direction or in the reverse direction, for a specified duration.

In yet another embodiment of the present arrangements, the hinged-panel opening and closing systems further includes a gear motor shaft that is coupled, at one end, to the gear motor and is coupled, at another end, to the movement-enabling shaft. The gear motor operates through the gear motor shaft to enable the opening motion of the movement-enabling shaft. Preferably, in presence of the operative torque, the gear motor shaft and the movement-enabling shaft rotate in a same direction.

The hinged-panel opening and closing systems, in yet another implementation of the present arrangements, further includes a first frictional surface and a second friction surface. The first frictional surface is coupled to the gear motor shaft and the rotation motion of the gear motor shaft generates an imparting torque at the first frictional surface. The second frictional surface makes a frictional contact with the first frictional surface and is coupled to the movement-enabling component. The imparting torque received at the first frictional surface is restricted by presence of the frictional contact to produce a restricted torque at the second frictional surface. The restricted torque is conveyed to the movement-enabling shaft.

In the presence of an opposing torque that is equal to or greater than the restricted torque, the gear motor shaft rotates in a first direction and the movement-enabling shaft does not rotate or rotates in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

The first frictional surface, in one embodiment of the present arrangements, is a protruding component that includes a contact surface. The second frictional surface is a receiving component that includes a conical-shaped cavity having a complementary surface. At least a portion of the protruding component occupies the conical-shaped cavity and the contact surface and the complementary surface contact to form the frictional contact. The protruding component is coupled to the gear motor shaft and the receiving component is coupled to the movement-enabling shaft. An outside portion of the movement-enabling shaft includes the spindle.

The first frictional surface, in another embodiment of the present arrangements, is a supporting disc that includes a contact surface. The second frictional surface is a rotating disc that includes a complementary surface. The rotating disc is coupled to the gear motor shaft and the supporting disc is coupled to the movement-enabling shaft. The contact surface and the complementary surface contact to form the frictional contact.

Another exemplar of the present hinged-panel opening and closing systems includes: (i) a gear motor; (ii) an anchor; and (iii) a movement-enabling component, however, the gear motor is designed to be located on a hinged panel and the anchor is designed to be located on a supporting structure. The hinged panel, which includes a proximate end and a distal end, is configured to be disposed between a receiving structure and the supporting structure and is capable of rotating about one or more hinges, located at or near the proximate end, to displace the distal end relative to the receiving structure. The movement-enabling component is coupled to both the supporting structure and the hinged panel. Moreover, the movement-enabling component is capable of displacing the distal end of the hinged panel relative to the receiving structure.

The movement-enabling component includes: (iv) a movement-enabling shaft; (v) a spindle; and (vi) a linear element. The movement-enabling shaft is designed to be disposed on the hinged panel and is operationally coupled, at one end of movement-enabling shaft, to the gear motor. In one operative state, the gear motor enables an opening motion of the movement-enabling shaft.

In this example, the spindle is also designed to be located on the hinged panel. The spindle is operationally coupled, at another shaft end, to the movement-enabling shaft. The opening motion of the movement-enabling shaft is conveyed, through another end of the movement-enabling shaft, to produce one operative of state of the spindle that generates an operative torque.

The linear element attaches, at a first linear end, to the spindle and attaches, at a second linear end, to the anchor such that the linear element extends by an adjustable length between the spindle and the anchor. The linear element rotationally, and not linearly, displaces gear motor.

In the presence of the operative torque, the linear element wraps around the spindle to reduce the adjustable length of the linear element extending between the spindle and the anchor. This results in an opening tension force acting upon the linear element that rotationally displaces the gear motor and is designed to displace the distal end of the hinged panel away from the receiving structure in a manner that produces an opening motion of the hinged panel.

When the spindle receives an external force not resulting from the operative state of the gear motor, the spindle generates an opposing torque effective in a direction opposite to the operative torque. In the presence of the opposing torque, the linear element is prevented from wrapping around the spindle or unwraps from the spindle. If the linear element unwraps from the spindle, the adjustable length of the linear element, between the spindle and the anchor, increases and resulting in a closing force that allows rotational displacement of the gear motor. The closing force is also designed to allow displacement of the distal end towards the receiving structure to produce the closing motion of the hinged panel.

In one embodiment of the present arrangements, hinged-panel opening and closing systems further includes a circuit; and a switch. The circuit may be coupled to the gear motor at one end, and coupled to a power supply at another end. In this configuration, the circuit is configured for measuring draw of current by the gear motor during operation of the gear motor and depending on value of draw of current measured, the circuit directs voltage and current drawn to enable rotational displacement of the gear motor in one direction or in a reverse direction. The switch is, preferably, coupled to the circuit and when contacted or pressed, instructs the circuit to cease operation of the gear motor.

In another aspect, the present teachings also provide methods of pivoting a hinged panel around hinges. In one implementation of the present teachings, the method includes: (i) powering a gear motor on a supporting structure; (ii) placing into an opening motion, using the gear motor, a movement-enabling shaft that is operationally coupled to the gear motor; (iii) generating, using the opening motion, an operative torque at a spindle that coupled to the movement-enabling shaft; (iv) wrapping around the spindle, using the operative torque, a linear element and producing an opening tension force along the linear element; (v) angularly displacing the anchor, using the opening tension force, wherein the anchor is secured on the hinged panel that is disposed between the supporting structure and a receiving structure; and (vi) pivoting, contemporaneously with the angularly displacing the anchor, the hinged panel around one or more hinges disposed between and coupled to the supporting structure and the hinged panel to produce an opening motion of the hinged panel such that the hinged panel displaces away from the receiving structure.

The methods of pivoting a hinged panel around hinges, in this aspect of the present teachings, further includes receiving, at a signal receiver that is coupled to the gear motor, an initializing signal to initiate powering of the gear motor. In one embodiment of the present teachings, powering the gear motor includes distributing, using a circuit, an opening voltage from the power supply to the gear motor.

In certain embodiments of the present teachings, wrapping around the spindle further includes wrapping an extending length of the linear element around the spindle to angularly displace the anchor by about 90 degrees.

In one embodiment of the present teachings, the methods of pivoting a hinged panel around hinges further includes: (a) applying, using a closing mechanism, a closing external torque on the spindle; (b) unwrapping around the spindle, under action of the closing external torque, the linear element and thereby increasing the adjustable length of the linear element between the spindle and the anchor and resulting in a closing force; and (c) rotationally displacing the anchor, under action of the closing force, such that the distal end of the hinged panel rotationally displaces towards the receiving structure to produce a closing motion of the hinged panel.

In another embodiment to the present teachings, placing the movement-enabling shaft into the opening motion further includes placing into motion a gear motor shaft, coupled, on one end, to the gear motor and coupled, at another end, to the movement-enabling shaft such that the gear motor operates through the gear motor shaft to enable placing the movement-enabling shaft into the opening motion.

In one implementation of the present teachings, the methods of pivoting a hinged panel around hinges further includes: (a) receiving, at the spindle, an external force not resulting from the gear motor; (b) translating the external force, received at the spindle, to an opposing torque operating in a direction opposite to the operative torque; and (c) if magnitude of the opposing torque is greater than or equal to the operative torque, impeding the opening motion or performing a closing motion of the movement-enabling shaft, wherein the closing motion of the movement-enabling shaft is in a direction opposite to the opening motion of the movement-enabling shaft, and the closing motion of the movement-enabling shaft allows the hinged panel to displace towards the receiving structure.

The step of impeding the opening motion of the movement-enabling shaft, in one embodiment of the present teachings, includes using a physical hinged-panel displacement regulator and further includes: (a) rotating, using the motion of the gear motor shaft, a first friction surface, wherein the gear motor shaft is coupled to the first friction surface; (b) generating, from the rotating, an imparting torque at the first frictional surface; (c) creating a frictional contact between the first frictional surface and a second frictional surface that is coupled to movement-enabling component; (d) restricting, using the frictional contact, the imparting torque of the first frictional surface to produce a restricted torque at the second frictional surface; and (e) translating the restricted torque to the opening motion the movement-enabling shaft. In the presence of the opposing torque that is equal to or greater than the restricted torque, the gear motor shaft rotates in a first direction and the movement-enabling shaft does not rotate or rotates in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

The step of the performing a closing motion of the movement-enabling shaft, in one embodiment of the present teachings, includes using an electronic hinged-panel displacement regulator and further comprising: (a) measuring, using a circuit, an amount of current drawn by the gear motor; (b) comparing, using the circuit, the amount of current drawn to a predefined value of amount of current drawn for a predefined value of time duration; and (c) directing, using the circuit, a closing voltage to the gear motor, if the amount of current drawn equals to or exceeds the predefined value of amount of current drawn for the predetermined value of time duration.

The closing voltage may be a magnitude of voltage that is applied to the gear motor to effect the closing motion of the movement-enabling shaft. In a preferred embodiment of the present teachings, directing the closing voltage to the gear motor is carried out for a predefined duration of closing time, which is value of time duration taken by the hinged panel to be disposed in a same plane as the receiving structure.

In yet another embodiment of the present teachings, the methods of pivoting a hinged panel includes instructing the circuit, using a switch, to cease operation of the gear motor when the switch is contacted or pressed.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following descriptions of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying figures.

