Toepener


No one wants to talk about it, but there is something odd about leaving public (perhaps even private) bathrooms by way of a grab-and-twist knob, handle or other hand-held object. Nobody wants to get a nasty virus from a restroom. The solution is simple, safe and sanitary, but still rarely implemented.

Toeopener has a nice ring to it, and speaks to its functionality as well as the photos or videos – simply use your foot instead of your hands. This plastic-bumpered metal bar screws into place, making installation (and removal) easy as well.

If it sounds awkward, well, it does not look particularly uncomfortable in practice. The catch is that it may not be particularly friendly to disabled or elderly persons – this drawback can be offset by including the same grips we all know to expect at arm level, regardless.

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Toepener device

“The Toepener (toe opener) came to life at the beginning of 2011.  It was designed to liberate the hands of bathroom users, to free them of the unease of touching a dirty door handle. The Toepener is ADA compliant and made of sturdy, rust-resistant stainless steel. It mounts easily and securely with four phillips head screws that are included with your purchase.”

You can find the Toepener hands-free foot door opener at many retailers, or buy it from their website for $49.95.

Similar options abound. The Step-n-pull is one common option, shown in use above. It comes in a variety of colors to blend into residential uses as well as commercial, if you like.

“When you invest in making your restrooms touch free, yet your customers are still having to touch the dirty door handle, what’s the point? StepNpull® foot operated door openers offer a low-cost and effective way to ensure your customers have a germ-free option when exiting your restroom. Simply step and pull, it’s that easy!”

The GermKick is a similar idea, but works a little differently.

“One advantage of a lift-pull opener is that it doesn’t put force on the door hinges. Stepping on the corner of the door has a 3-feet of leverage on the bottom hinge and over 7-feet of leverage on the top hinge, particularly if teen-agers take it for a ride.. This could cause early failure of the door hinges, depending on their quality and the traffic through them.”