Garage door handle systems and apparatuses

1 . A system for operating a garage door comprising:

a central # 1 hinge assembly operably connected between a first section and a second section of the garage door, comprising:

a first hinge leaf configured to be secured to the first section, the first hinge leaf including a first tube-receiving channel formed at the first hinge leaf;

a second hinge leaf configured to be secured to the second section, the second hinge leaf including a second tube-receiving channel formed at the second hinge leaf; and

a cylindrical tube horizontally extending through the aligned first tube-receiving channel and the second tube-receiving channel, defining a pivot axis about which the first hinge leaf and the second hinge leaf rotate relative to one another, wherein the cylindrical tube includes a hollow internal channel;

a retrofit apparatus including:

a body, the body including:

a handle member end comprising a handle member;

an attachment end connected to the handle member end, the attachment end comprising a left arm and a right arm, wherein the attachment end is pivotably attachable to the central # 1 hinge assembly;

a clevis pin configured to:

connect the left arm and the right arm to the central # 1 hinge assembly by being inserted through an aperture of the left arm, the hollow internal channel, and an aperture of the right arm, such that the body is removably attached to the central # 1 hinge assembly.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the attachment end is pivotably attached to the central # 1 hinge assembly via the clevis pin.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the clevis pin is configured to receive a hitch pin to prevent detachment of the clevis pin.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein removable attachment of the body to the central # 1 hinge assembly is toolless.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the garage door is a sectional garage door.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the body is made of a single piece of material.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a rod within the handle member, the rod linking the left arm of the attachment end to the right arm of the attachment end.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the handle member end and the attachment end comprise a single piece of material having at least one point of attachment to the central # 1 hinge assembly.

9 . A retrofit apparatus for operating a garage door comprising:

a body, the body including:

a handle member end comprising a handle member;

an attachment end connected to the handle member end, the attachment end comprising a left arm and a right arm, wherein the attachment end is pivotably attachable to a central # 1 hinge assembly connecting a first and second panel operably connected between a first section and a second section of the garage door, wherein the central # 1 hinge assembly comprises:

a first hinge leaf configured to be secured to the first section, the first hinge leaf including a first tube-receiving channel formed at the first hinge leaf;

a second hinge leaf configured to be secured to the second section, the second hinge leaf including a second tube-receiving channel formed at the second hinge leaf; and

a cylindrical tube horizontally extending through the aligned first tube-receiving channel and the second tube-receiving channel, defining a pivot axis about which the first hinge leaf and the second hinge leaf rotate relative to one another, wherein the cylindrical tube includes a hollow internal channel;

a clevis pin configured to:

connect the left arm and the right arm to the central # 1 hinge assembly by being inserted through an aperture of the left arm, the hollow internal channel, and an aperture of the right arm, such that the body is removably attached to the central # 1 hinge assembly.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the attachment end is pivotably attached to the central # 1 hinge assembly via the clevis pin.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein removable attachment of the body to the central # 1 hinge assembly is toolless.

12 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the garage door is a sectional garage door.

13 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the body is made of a single piece of material.

14 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the body further comprises a rod within the handle member, the rod linking the left arm of the attachment end to the right arm of the attachment end.

15 . A method for attaching a retrofit apparatus to a garage door, the method comprising:

providing a central # 1 hinge assembly operably connected between a first section and a second section of the garage door, comprising:

a first hinge leaf configured to be secured to the first section, the first hinge leaf including a first tube-receiving channel formed at the first hinge leaf;

a second hinge leaf configured to be secured to the second section, the second hinge leaf including a second tube-receiving channel formed at the second hinge leaf; and

a cylindrical tube horizontally extending through the aligned first tube-receiving channel and the second tube-receiving channel, defining a pivot axis about which the first hinge leaf and the second hinge leaf rotate relative to one another, wherein the cylindrical tube includes a hollow internal channel;

providing the retrofit apparatus, comprising:

a body, the body including:

a handle member end comprising a handle member;

an attachment end connected to the handle member end, the attachment end comprising a left arm and a right arm, wherein the attachment end is pivotably attachable to a garage deer the central # 1 hinge assembly;

a clevis pin;

connecting the handle arm to the central # 1 hinge assembly by inserting the clevis pin through an aperture of the left arm, the hollow internal channel, and an aperture of the right arm, such that the attachment end is removably attached to the central # 1 hinge assembly;

attaching a hitch pin to the clevis pin, wherein the hitch pin is configured to prevent disengagement of the clevis pin from the central # 1 hinge assembly.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein removable attachment of the body to the central # 1 hinge assembly is toolless.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising sliding the handle member over an end of the left arm proximal to the handle member end and inserting an end of the right arm proximal to the handle member end into the handle member.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the attachment end comprises one of: one single piece of material; and two separate pieces of material.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the handle member end further comprises a rod within the handle member, the rod coupling the left arm to the right arm.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the handle member, the left arm and the right arm comprise a single piece of material having at least one point of attachment to the central # 1 hinge assembly.