IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,888,149
Granted Patent B2
US 8,888,149 · App. 13/079,712 · Granted Nov 18, 2014

Sanitary door latch system

Inventor: Robert Joshua Lehr (Wilsonville, OR)
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,888,149
App. No.
13/079,712
Granted
Nov 18, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A door latch system may include a foot actuator, a first disk, a first linkage coupled to the foot actuator and the first disk, a locking mechanism, and a second linkage coupled to the first disk and the locking mechanism. The first linkage may be configured to rotate the first disk from a first position to a second position responsive to a user actuating the foot actuator. The second linkage may be configured to cause the locking mechanism to transition from a first state to a second state responsive to the first disk rotating from the first position to the second position.

Claims (39)

1. A door latch system, comprising:

a foot actuator;

a first disk;

a first linkage coupled to the foot actuator and the first disk, wherein the first linkage is configured to rotate the first disk from a first position to a second position responsive to a user actuating the foot actuator;

a locking mechanism;

a second linkage coupled to the first disk and the locking mechanism, wherein the second linkage is configured to cause the locking mechanism to transition from a first state to a second state responsive to the first disk rotating from the first position to the second position; and

an occupancy indicator coupled to the foot actuator, wherein the occupancy indicator is configured to transition from a first state to a second state responsive to a user actuating the foot actuator.

2. A door latch system according to claim 1 , wherein the foot actuator comprises at least one pedal.

3. A door latch system according to claim 2 , wherein the first linkage is configured to rotate the first disk from the first position to the second position responsive to the user stepping on a first pedal, and wherein the first linkage is further configured to rotate the first disk from the second position back to the first position responsive to the user stepping on a second pedal.

4. A door latch system according to claim 2 , wherein the foot actuator further comprises a second disk coupled to the at least one pedal, and wherein the second disk is configured to rotate from a first position to a second position responsive to the user stepping on the at least one pedal.

5. A door latch system according to claim 2 , wherein the foot actuator further comprises a panel coupled to the at least one pedal, and wherein the panel is configured to rotate from a first position to a second position responsive to the user stepping on the at least one pedal.

6. A door latch system according to claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a second disk, and wherein the second linkage is configured to cause the locking mechanism to transition from the first state to the second state by rotating the second disk from a first position to a second position.

7. A door latch system according to claim 6 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a tab coupled to the second disk.

8. A door latch system according to claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a receiving member configured to receive the tab.

9. A door latch system according to claim 8 , wherein a door is configured to be locked in a closed position responsive to the receiving member receiving the tab.

10. A door latch system according to claim 1 , wherein the first linkage comprises a single component.

11. A door latch system, comprising:

a foot actuator;

a first disk;

a first linkage coupled to the foot actuator and the first disk, wherein the first linkage is configured to rotate the first disk from a first position to a second position responsive to a user actuating the foot actuator;

a locking mechanism;

a second linkage coupled to the first disk and the locking mechanism, wherein the second linkage is configured to cause the locking mechanism to transition from a first state to a second state responsive to the first disk rotating from the first position to the second position; and

a light switch coupled to the foot actuator, wherein the light switch is configured to transition from a first state to a second state responsive to a user actuating the foot actuator.

12. A door latch system according to claim 11 , wherein the foot actuator

comprises at least one pedal.

13. A door latch system according to claim 12 , wherein the first linkage is configured to rotate the first disk from the first position to the second position responsive to the user stepping on a first pedal, and wherein the first linkage is further configured to rotate the first disk from the second position back to the first position responsive to the user stepping on a second pedal.

14. A door latch system according to claim 12 , wherein the foot actuator further comprises a second disk coupled to the at least one pedal, and wherein the second disk is configured to rotate from a first position to a second position responsive to the user stepping on the at least one pedal.

15. A door latch system according to claim 12 , wherein the foot actuator further comprises a panel coupled to the at least one pedal, and wherein the panel is configured to rotate from a first position to a second position responsive to the user stepping on the at least one pedal.

16. A door latch system according to claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a second disk, and wherein the second linkage is configured to cause the locking mechanism to transition from the first state to the second state by rotating the second disk from a first position to a second position.

17. A door latch system according to claim 16 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a tab coupled to the second disk.

18. A door latch system according to claim 17 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a receiving member configured to receive the tab.

19. A door latch system according to claim 18 , wherein a door is configured to be locked in a closed position responsive to the receiving member receiving the tab.

20. A door latch system, comprising:

a foot actuator;

a first disk;

a first linkage coupled to the foot actuator and the first disk, wherein the first linkage is configured to rotate the first disk from a first position to a second position responsive to a user actuating the foot actuator;

a locking mechanism;

a second linkage coupled to the first disk and the locking mechanism, wherein the second linkage is configured to cause the locking mechanism to transition from a first state to a second state responsive to the first disk rotating from the first position to the second position; and

a lid actuator coupled to the foot actuator, wherein the lid actuator is configured to transition a toilet lid from a first position to a second position responsive to a user actuating the foot actuator.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61413920 · Nov 15, 2010
Related Publication 20120119521A1 · May 17, 2012