Patent Application - DEVICE TO ASSIST ARTHRITICS AND OTHER INVALIDS IN OPENING A DOOR > Claims

1. A device for assisting arthritics or other invalids in opening a door, comprising: a gripping member comprising a slip resistant material that can be wrapped at least partially around a doorknob;a handle attached to a free end of the gripping member such that when a user pulls the handle in a lateral direction relative to the doorknob, the gripping member rotates the doorknob so as to open a door.
2. A device for assisting arthritics or other invalids in opening a door, comprising: a gripping member in the form of a loop comprising an elastomeric slip resistant material comprising suction cups that can be looped at least partially around a doorknob, the suction cups being oriented towards and engaging the doorknob during use;a strap attached to and extending from a free end of the gripping member, the strap having a length sufficient to allow the strap to be wrapped around the doorknob at least twice; anda handle attached to a free end of the strap such that when a user pulls the handle in a lateral direction relative to the doorknob, the gripping member rotates the doorknob so as to open a door.
- 3. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the length of the strap is between about 20 and about 28 inches.
- 4. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the length of the strap is about 24 inches.
- 5. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the strap is about 2 inches wide.
- 6. A device as recited in claim 2, further comprising a buckle positioned between the loop of the gripping member and the elongate strap that can be adjusted to tighten or loosen the size of the loop of the gripping member.
7. A method of opening a door comprising: providing a device for assisting arthritics or other invalids in opening a door, the device comprising: a gripping member in the form of a loop comprising an elastomeric slip resistant material comprising suction cups that can be looped at least partially around a doorknob, the suction cups being oriented towards and engaging the doorknob during use;an elongate strap attached to and extending from a free end of the gripping member, the strap having a length sufficient to allow the strap to be wrapped around the doorknob at least twice; and a handle attached to a free end of the strap such that when a user pulls the handle in a lateral direction relative to the doorknob, the gripping member rotates the doorknob so as to open a door;looping the gripping member in the form of a loop around a round doorknob so that the suction cups are oriented towards and engage a surface of the doorknob;wrapping the elongate strap around the doorknob two times, the elongate strap being positioned over the looped gripping member so that the gripping member is between the doorknob and the portion of the elongate strap that is wrapped around the doorknob; andpulling the handle attached to the elongate strap in a direction that is generally laterally up, down, or sideways relative to an axis about which the doorknob turns so as to rotate the doorknob and open the door.
- 8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the device further comprises a buckle positioned between the loop of the gripping member and the elongate strap that can be adjusted to tighten or loosen the size of the loop of the gripping member, the method further comprising adjusting the buckle to tighten the loop around the doorknob once the gripping member is looped around the doorknob.