Reversal of force
#1
Reversal of force
My aunt is bedridden and would like to be able to open and close her bedroom door from her bed. We can't afford to put in electronic gear. I'd like to rig up two cords with tags on them saying Open and Close. Closing the door would be easy. She'd just have to pull on the cord, since the hinges are outside her room, in the bathroom.
However, I can't figure out how to arrange the cord and eyelets to make the door open. First, I have to figure out how to get the door handle to turn when she pulls the cord. Then I have to figure out how to reverse the force of her pulling to pushing.
Does anyone know how to do this. Thanks for any help. Sharon.
However, I can't figure out how to arrange the cord and eyelets to make the door open. First, I have to figure out how to get the door handle to turn when she pulls the cord. Then I have to figure out how to reverse the force of her pulling to pushing.
Does anyone know how to do this. Thanks for any help. Sharon.
#2
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Since it's unclear as to how "Immobile" your aunt is as well as several other factors I can only make a somewhat general suggestion and include options you may not be willing or able to do.Working out a cord and eyelet solution to the opening of the door would actually be fairly simple with the inclusion of pulleys to keep the cords working smoothly,untangled etc.The problem is first that it would likely involve either disengaging or removing the bolt mechanism of the door's lock and, assuming the clearance between the door and the door frame at the top is tight,cutting a small notch in either the door or the frame.These are options you may or may not want to do and if it is necessary to have a working lock/latch on the bathroom door you may have to mount a slide bolt,hook&eye or simular surface mounted latch to substitute for the knob set's bolt,assuming your Aunt has the ability to use such a device.I am guessing there are alternatives that involve electronics with a remote etc. but you have ruled them out so this is my best suggestion.Hope it helps.
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You seem to have the pulley and eyelet thing figured out. To open the door, I suggest drilling a hole through the wall on the hinge side of the door, just at the top of the jamb. Insert a small metal or plastic pipe or tube (just large enough for the string to pass smoothly). An eyelet or pulley on the wall about the width or the door away from the jamb will give you the leverage point to pull the door open. You will have to remove the latch.
#4
And if you do not want to remove the latch, it would not be too difficult to put a second cord and pulley (below the door "handle") to open and close it. You would probably have to go with a right angle handle to replace the knob, but these are readily available.
#6
door springs
This site is great for thinking outside the box.
My kids used to leave the basement door open so rather than keep yelling at them I went to the hardware store and found a spring actuated door closer that replaces the top hinge pin. It took me about 20 mins to install and wella the door closes by itself, cost was under 10 bucks. One chord gone?
To open the door I would probably take off the door nob and remove the inner guts and put the nob back on as a dummy. I'm sure from this point it would be easy to rig up one chord to open the door.
cheers
My kids used to leave the basement door open so rather than keep yelling at them I went to the hardware store and found a spring actuated door closer that replaces the top hinge pin. It took me about 20 mins to install and wella the door closes by itself, cost was under 10 bucks. One chord gone?
To open the door I would probably take off the door nob and remove the inner guts and put the nob back on as a dummy. I'm sure from this point it would be easy to rig up one chord to open the door.
cheers