This door handle design would be good for public libraries or other buildings where there are a lot of people going in and out. Instead of a handle that gets dirty and passes germs from user to user, the door to a public building could have a lever that could be operated with the forearm -- maybe a lip or a hook that the user could hook their forearm into and then manipulate the locking mechanism. This would allow a user to keep their hands to themselves.
-- JesusHChrist, Feb 13 2006

Door opener bar http://www.gai.org.uk/prod_four.php
scroll down a bit [csea, Feb 13 2006]

Power door openers http://www.accessib...werdooropeners.html
motorized door opener [csea, Feb 13 2006]

I like this - not because of the hygiene angle, but because it caters to clumsy people carrying stacks of books.
-- jutta, Feb 13 2006


Many public buildings already have this (at least in the USA) - and it can be operated by hip or butt motion, too. See [link.]

I'm constantly frustrated by latches that only operate by pulling "down" or "up" - what seems natural doesn't always work.

I'm surprised that more places don't have foot-activated latches. But possibly these don't work for those with disabilities.
-- csea, Feb 13 2006


Yes, baked everywhere in the US of A. [csea] has it right on target. Not the first two pictures, but the next 4, especially the touch-bar ones. Openable with any body part, as long as it exerts pressure.
-- DesertFox, Feb 13 2006


All of the examples in [csea]'s link are for exiting doors. Could you design a similarly simple "forearm"dle for doors which you wish to enter, that is, those that require being pulled toward the user? That's what I'd want most if I was returning a stack of books to the research library.
-- jurist, Feb 13 2006


its all very well, if you are carrying a pile of books and operate a forearm-dle as long as the door is a push-me rather than a pull me type door - then it becomes a formidable...
-- po, Feb 13 2006


See second [link] for generic power door openers; a variety of switches (including floor mats and infrared "electric eyes") can be used to open these.

Models are available to swing either way. (Hmm, great straight line - did I write that?)
-- csea, Feb 13 2006


Yes, I'm aware of that, but I'm still working on bringing my fiancee' around to the idea.
-- normzone, Feb 13 2006


Is this not the same thing as the doors that open to an OR, that the surgeon opens by jabbing his elbow against?

That would satisfy [jurist's] requirement as well, as the door opens towards the surgeon, to prevent the swoosh of air from blowing germs into the OR.
-- blissmiss, Feb 13 2006



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