Pivoting and rotating elongated door handle

Abstract

A door opening apparatus comprises an elongated rod joined pivotally, at one end to a U-shaped bracket, which, in turn, is joined pivotally to a mounting plate fixed to the surface of a door. The elongated rod normally hangs downwardly when not in use, but through its enablement for arcuate swivel movement within a U-shaped bracket, the rod may be pivoted over a 180 angular degrees of motion and rotated over a 360 angular degrees of motion. This permits the rod to be used to pull the door open and to one side of a wheel chair bound individual to facilitate moving through the doorway.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A door opening apparatus comprising an elongated rod joined pivotally, at one end thereof, to a U-shaped bracket, the U-shaped bracket, in turn, joined pivotally to a mounting plate, the mounting plate providing means for fixed surface fastening of the mounting plate to a door surface; the elongated rod thereby enabled for arcuate swivel movement within the U-shaped bracket over a 180 angular degrees of motion and rotational movement with the U-shaped bracket relative to the mounting plate over a 360 angular degrees of motion.  
     
     
         2 . A combination comprising a door opening apparatus and a door, the door opening apparatus including an elongated rod joined pivotally, at one end thereof, to a U-shaped bracket, the U-shaped bracket, in turn, joined pivotally to a mounting plate, the mounting plate providing means for fixed surface fastening of the mounting plate to a surface of the door adjacent a door unlatching means of the door; the elongated rod thereby enabled for arcuate swivel movement within the U-shaped bracket over a 180 angular degrees of motion and rotational movement with the U-shaped bracket relative to the mounting plate over a 360 angular degrees of motion.  
     
     
         3 . A door opening apparatus for use by an individual confined to a wheel chair, the apparatus comprising an elongated rigid member of between 2 and 4 feet in length, the elongated rigid member joined pivotally, at one end thereof, to a means for fixed mounting of the elongated rigid member to a door surface; the fixed mounting means enabled for directing movement of the elongated rigid member pivotally about the one end thereof, and rotationally about a longitudinal axis of the elongated rigid member.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising a door, the fixed mounting means joined to a surface of the door adjacent to a door latching means of the door.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising a metal surface plate extensive for receiving the door latching means and the mounting plate.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising a hinged knee positioned for extending the elongated rod at an angle around an open edge of the door.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising a rubber bumper cup applied at a distal end of the elongated rod.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein a hinge pin is set so as to provide a friction fit between the elongated rod and the U-shaped bracket enabling resistance to movement of the elongated rod during use of the door.