On this subject, there are some foot-pedal operated sinks. Nice translation of the foot-operated trash can.

Might be handy for people using walkers or canes, too. One hand for walker, one for door -- where's the stuff go? In your teeth? Then when you go to get the stuff, the door swings closed. Arrgh.

But with your idea, just put the cane tip on the foot pedal and put the stuff in with your free hand. Way to go!

Good concept. Also, paron inspires me. Why isn't there a little mechnism that can hold the door open? Maybe something on a spring that can also ensure the door is fully closed when you're done. (Rather than the food spoiling and the electricity draining because you didn't quite close it.)- BTW, Is this worthy of Independent Idea Status?

Wow ! What an idea !

This is going to make you very jealous. I have one. It's an old Eaton Viking (made by Frigidaire) and it has a full width bar across the bottom to step on to open the door. I have seen other models that only have a small piano-like pedal. It also has shelves that rotate on a center bar so that you never need to reach to the back. It was made in the 1960's and I'll keep it alive as long as I can. Gotta wonder why they don't offer those features anymore.

I'd like some sort of mechanism that wouls slowly close the door, so it doesn't smash shut.

Modern fridge doors are allready designed to close automatically and at a steady rate. Part of the hinge raises the door slightly when you open it so once you let go the door will swing closed because of its own weight. This usually works unless the door is overloaded or the magnetic seals aroudnd the door have perished.

That is a very good idea. Currently no major appliance builder has one in production. I also believe that there should be more affordable glass door refrigiators so that you wouldn't have to open the door so much to see what's inside.

This would be an easy retrofit to an existing refrigerator- it simply calls for a foot pedal with a "finger" to open the door- it could be formed from a single piece of metal, such as 11 ga stainless, mounted on a pivot that could be attached to the appliance with "Very High Bond Strength" double-sided tape (the kind they use to fasten airliner wings together).

Talking about multi-tasking huh? You got a great idea there. But wouldn't that be a bit accident prone? Like for example, the door might hit you when you step on the foot pedal and the stuffs that you are carrying might fall. The makers of that product should analyze how they can reduce or prevent accident while using it.

One related idea is about the freezer compartment. Instead of having it on the top, it should be at the bottom. This is because freezer compartment is used far less frequently than main compartment. So it is much more convenient for people

yes good idea!

It wouldnt be "cool". It would be cluttered.. How about Open Sesame

I'm sure you can find a foot release hardware to retrofit to a refrigerator door at a hardware supply. Old refrigerators used to have foot releases.

Ooh! For a big enough fridge, a door-opener (like the kind used for wheelchair-accessible doors) combined with a remote (or the Clapper for even more convenience) could work. Just activate the remote and the door opens. If it's open for a set period of time it closes automatically. More expensive, but you can back off and not hit the door when you step on the pedal.

Better yet, this could integrate into a home-automation system (robochef!) or a system for handicapped individuals. (e.g. someone with one arm who can't open the fridge and put something in)

just put half your load down and open the d*** door. You'll probally need to move stuff around a bit anyway. There's probably a good reason that that didn't catch on in the old days. My fridge has freezer on bottom and french doors for the cooler part.

Possibly have a solenoid operated release to open the door that is operated by a wireless remote. The remote would be mounted on the edge of an adjacent counter. Leaning up against the remote would open the door.

This way you can bump it with your hand, your elbow, even your butt to open the door.

All you need is a flat peice of metal, bolted on to the bottom of the door, with the front edge bent slightly downward. Then you could hook your foot under it. I do this all the time without thinking about it.

How about moving to one side of the fridge and using your knee to open it?Or a small piece of metal fixed with 2 screws on the door?

A fridge door that can be opened by foot is a wonderful idea, another cool idea would be to have a fridge that works on unbreakable appliance parts, and that closes its own door, when you forget to.

Great idea! But when we have our arms full, we'd have to put the load down anyway to be able to coherently sort where the different food items go. For example, I can't just come home with bags of groceries still in the paper bags, and just stuff them somewhere in the fridge. Most people have areas where specific things go, and not a free for all "stash-space".

I still like this idea, but only see myself using it rarely, like with shrimp platters from Costco, etc.

I can definitely see this being handy when refilling ice trays and putting them back in the freezer. I'm still unsure why fridges aren't made with glass doors. We have glass doors in grocery stores already!

Patented in year 2000.

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6270175.PN.&OS=PN/6270175&RS=PN/6270175

Maybe we'll see it someday.

What about something like a Star Wars door in circle shaped that opens itself when a human hand approaches, you don't want your dog sneaking into ur fridge ;D