Door Assistant

1 . A door assistant apparatus for retaining an opened door in a desired position; said door assistant comprising a wedge-shaped portion for driving into position under a lower edge of a door; said apparatus further comprising a wedge-shaped rearwardly extending foot pad portion and a handle portion extending vertically when in use from said wedge-shaped portion and said foot pad portion; said wedge-shaped portion, said foot pad portions and said handle portion hingedly interconnected; said handle portion including a grasping portion comprising a rotatably mounted shaft portion and a grip portion extending substantially normal from said shaft portion said grasping portion operable between a first position in which said grip portion is substantially aligned with said wedge-shaped portion and said foot pad portion, and a second position wherein said grip portion is substantially aligned with a surface of a door to which said door assistant has been applied.

2 . The door assistant of claim 1 wherein said wedge-shaped portion comprises an elongate, generally rectangular prismatic body; said body tapering upwardly from a first distal lower end to a second proximate higher end.

3 . The door assistant of claim 2 wherein heights above a supporting floor surface at said first distal lower end and at said second proximate higher end are such as to define a surface between said ends able to provide friction contact with an edge of an underside of a door.

4 . The door assistant of claim 2 wherein said foot pad portion extends rearwardly from said second proximate higher end; said foot pad portion presenting a generally downward sloping surface; said downward sloping surface extending from a height approximately equal to height of said second proximate higher end of said wedge-shaped portion to a lower end.

5 . The door assistant of claim 4 wherein said foot pad portion is of greater width than width of said wedge-shaped portion.

6 . The door assistant of claim 1 wherein said wedge-shaped portion and said foot pad portion are hingedly connected to central base block; rotation of said wedge-shaped portion and said foot pad portion adapted to substantially align said wedge-shaped portion and said foot pad portion with said vertically extending handle portion for packaging and transport of said door assistant.

7 . The door assistant of claim 6 wherein said vertically extending handle portion includes a rigid vertical tubular element; said rigid vertical tubular element extending upwardly from said central base block.

8 . The door assistant of claim 7 wherein rotatably mounted shaft portion is coaxial with an axis of said rigid vertical tubular element.

9 . The door assistant of claim 8 wherein said grasping portion is rotatably mounted to said rigid vertical tubular element with a release mechanism; said release mechanism operated by a pushbutton located at an upper end of said shaft portion.

10 . The door assistant of claim 7 wherein said rigid vertical tubular element is provided with outrigger elements; said outrigger elements supporting a pair of shell elements; said shell elements when assembled forming a smooth tapering, rounded enclosure extending from the upper end of said central base block to proximate said grasping portion.

11 . A method of operating a door assistant apparatus to securing secure an open door in a desired open position; said method including the steps of a user:

(a) grasping a handle portion of said door assistant so as to position a wedge-shaped portion of said door assistant proximate a lower edge of said open door,

(b) driving a sloping surface of said wedge-shaped portion under said lower edge of said open door by application of the foot of said user;

(c) rotating said grasping portion of said handle portion such that a grip element of said grasping portion is aligned with a surface of said open door when said door assistant is positioned for use,

said positioning being such that said wedge-shaped portion is in friction contact with a supporting floor surface below said lower edge of said door and with said lower edge; said wedge-shaped portion including a surface defined between a first distal lower end and a second proximate higher end, and wherein said door assistant further includes a foot pad extending rearwardly from said wedge-shaped portion; a surface of said foot pad having a downward sloping surface from said second proximate higher end.

12 . A security device for arresting a partly opened door in a partially opened position; said device comprising a wedge-shaped portion, a rearwardly extending wedge-shaped sloping foot pad portion and a handle portion extending substantially vertically when in use from said wedge-shaped portion and said sloping foot pad portion; said wedge-shaped portion, said sloping foot pad portion and said handle portion hingedly interconnected; said handle portion including a grasping portion comprising a rotatably mounted shaft portion and a grip element extending substantially normal from said shaft portion; said grasping portion operable between a first position in which said grip element is substantially aligned with said wedge-shaped portion and said rearwardly extending wedge-shaped sloping foot pad portion, and a second position wherein said grip element is substantially aligned with a surface of said door.

13 . A method of operating a security device for arresting a partly open door; said method including the steps of:

(a) grasping a grasping portion of a handle portion of a door assistant apparatus,

(b) placing said door assistant apparatus adjacent said door with a wedge-shaped portion of said apparatus proximate a lower edge of said door,

(c) placing a user's foot on a wedge-shaped sloping rear foot portion of said security device,

(d) allowing said door to open against said wedge-shaped portion, and wherein said grasping portion of said security device comprises a rotatably mounted shaft portion and a grip element extending substantially normal from said shaft portion; said grasping portion operable between a first position in which said grip element is substantially aligned with said wedge-shaped portion and a second position in which said grip portion is aligned with a surface of said door.