Have an elderly client who has trouble exiting & entering her front door due to her storm/screen door closure. In observing her predicament, she opens & holds the storm door in place while positioning her walker between the storm door & the door jamb. Once positioned, she then “catches up†with her walker. She repeats these steps until she’s in/out. I was hoping to find a door closer which would remain at the opening until pushed again and then either close if released, or open further if pushed. While there is such a closure, it requires that you always first set a button to be in that mode. With the storm door being a full view model, can’t ask her to reach down or try to tap the button with her walker to activate the hold open mode. Contacted the makers of this closure, but they only had a “heavy duty†version which would probably cause damage to storm doors. On the other hand, don’t really want to remove the closure either. Know of any products or ideas to help this lady? jimz
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Greetings j,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.
Perhaps it will catch someones attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
'Nemo me impune lacesset'
No one will provoke me with impunity
I think National Mfg makes one, unless there's is the one you already looked at...
edit to add: http://www.natman.com/prodinfo_item.asp?cat=19&sub=133&prod=369&catalog=67
Edited 4/22/2006 1:17 pm by torn
What she needs is for the screen door to spring itself open, rather than closed.
Set a spring on the outside of the door so that when the door is released the spring will pull it to a position about 90 degrees to the doorframe. A simple shelf bracket mounted on horizontally on the outside of the doorframe might work.
When she unlatches the door, it will open for her. She will then walk through.
How to close that door again? A simple rope attached to the top outside corner of the door, run though an eyehole just inside the doorframe. One she is inside, she just pulls on the rope to close the door behind her.
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
I got it! A rare earth magnet!
Just attach one to the storm door and another one where it will hold the door open. By using just the right size magnet, the door should stay open when the magnets make contact, but a purposeful push should break the bond.
Actually, there are many types of cabinet latches that would work as well. Just choose a type that is weatherproof.
-Don
Don, Torn & Paul - thanks for your leads, comments & ideas. jimz
Or a magnetic doorstop. Rig a switch to release it.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
Or a magnetic doorstop. Rig a switch to release it.
Yeah, that's the ticket. And make it powerful enough so that when you turn it on, it will open the door. Just be sure to recommend an aluminum walker. :-)
-Don