One Touch Easy Open Door
By O'Donnell, Adam J.; Mollendorf, Joseph C.; NSF 2008 Engineering Senior Design Projects to Aid Persons With Disabilities, pp. 110-111Publication Date: 2011
Description of an electronic door opening device designed for people with grasping disabilities such as carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis. Designed by an engineering student at the University of New York at Buffalo, the one touch easy open door attaches to an existing interior door with some modifications. It includes a U shaped grab handle, installed on the inside of the door, with switches located at its outmost portion along with an additional moveable surface which activates the switches when pressure is applied. This handle also allows the user to apply forces to open the door. Secondly, a panel switch placed on the outside of the door contains a base, switch, and moveable face. The base attaches directly to the door and houses the switching mechanism. The switch is activated by pushing on the face. Finally, an internal electromechanical component for opening the door includes an electrical-to-mechanical transducer, a timer circuit, and a power source consisting of two 9 Volt batteries. The timer circuit receives the activation signal from the switches on the exterior of the door. It then activates the transducer through a relay, rotating the latching mechanism as well as the door knob to the open position, allowing the door to be pulled or pushed open. Overall project cost was around 30 dollars.
Published by: Creative Learning Press, Inc. (Website:http://www.creativelearningpress.com)
Link to text: http://nsf-pad.bme.uconn.edu/2008/Chapter%208,%20State%20University%20of%20New%20York%20at%20Buffalo.pdf
ISBN: 1-931280-12-6
