Basement door opener

Abstract

A device is provided for opening and closing a basement door leaf. The device may include a motor and a piston for pushing the door leaf open and pulling the door leaf closed in response to activation by an input device.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a basement door leaf opening and closing device;    an input device, which can activate the basement door leaf opening and closing device;    wherein the input device can be set by an operator to cause the basement door leaf opening and closing device to push a basement door leaf into an open position or pull a basement door leaf into a closed position.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 the input device comprised of a wireless remote control transmitter.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein 
 the input device is comprised of a wireless remote control receiver.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 the input device is hardwired to the basement door leaf opening and closing device.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 the input device includes a keypad having one or more keys; and    wherein one or more keys on the keypad when activated cause the basement door leaf opening and closing device to push the basement door leaf into an open position.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 the input device includes a keypad having one or more keys; and    wherein one or more keys on the keypad when activated cause the basement door leaf opening and closing device to pull the basement door leaf into a closed position.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein 
 the keypad is adapted to be mounted outside of a basement.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein 
 the keypad is adapted to be mounted inside of a basement.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 the basement door leaf opening and closing device includes an electric motor, which is adapted to be rotatably mounted to a base, and a piston having first and second ends, wherein the first end is connected to the electric motor and the second end is adapted to be rotatably mounted to a basement door leaf.    
     
     
         10 . A method comprising: 
 mounting an input device outside of a basement; and    providing a basement door leaf opening and closing device; and    wherein the input device can be set by an operator to cause the basement door leaf opening and closing device to push a basement door leaf into an open position or pull a basement door leaf into a closed position.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein 
 the input device comprised of a wireless remote control transmitter.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein 
 the input device is hardwired to the basement door leaf opening and closing device.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein 
 the input device includes a keypad having one or more keys; and    wherein one or more keys on the keypad when activated cause the input device to push the basement door leaf into an open position.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein 
 the input device includes a keypad having one or more keys; and    wherein one or more keys on the keypad when activated cause the input device to pull the basement door leaf into a closed position.    
     
     
         15 . A method comprising: 
 mounting an input device inside of a basement; and    providing a basement door leaf opening and closing device; and    wherein the input device can be set by an operator to cause the basement door leaf opening and closing device to push a basement door leaf into an open position or pull a basement door leaf into a closed position.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein 
 the input device includes a keypad having one or more keys; and    wherein one or more keys on the keypad when activated cause the input device to push the basement door leaf into an open position.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein 
 the input device includes a keypad having one or more keys; and    wherein one or more keys on the keypad when activated cause the input device to pull the basement door leaf into a closed position.    
     
     
         18 . An apparatus comprising 
 a basement door comprised of a single door leaf having a width and a length, wherein the length is substantially longer than the width;    a hinge;    wherein the hinge is connected to the basement door along the width of the basement door;    and further comprising a basement door leaf opening and closing device including a motor which is adapted to be rotatably mounted to the base and including a rod which is adapted to be rotatably mounted to the single door leaf, wherein the rod is attached to the motor, so that the rod slides with respect to the motor but does not rotate with respect to the motor; and    wherein the motor opens the single door leaf by extending the rod;    and wherein the motor closes the single door leaf by retracting the rod.    
     
     
         19 . An apparatus comprising 
 a basement door comprised of a single door leaf having a width and a length, wherein the length is substantially longer than the width;    a hinge;    wherein the hinge is connected to the basement door along the width of the basement door;    and further comprising a basement door leaf opening and closing device including a motor, a first member, and a second member;    wherein the motor is adapted to be fixedly mounted to a structural member;    wherein the first member has a first end and a second end;    wherein the second member has a first end and a second end;    wherein the first end of the first member is connected to the motor so that the motor can cause the first member to slide;    wherein the second end of the first member is pivotally connected to the first end of the second member; and    wherein the second end of the second member is adapted to be pivotally connected to an underside surface of the single door leaf.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 the basement door leaf opening and closing device includes a pivot pin which can be detached by hand without the use of a tool and which when detached allows the basement door leaf to be opened by hand.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising 
 a pivot pin; and    wherein the rod is adapted to be rotatably mounted to the single door leaf by the pivot pin;    and wherein the pivot pin can be detached by hand without the use of a tool from the single door leaf to allow the single door leaf to be opened by hand.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising 
 a pivot pin which can be detached by hand without the use of a tool from the second end of the second member and from the underside surface of the single door leaf to allow the single door leaf to be opened by hand.