AU2015203734B2 - Handle assembly for use with a bolt - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a handle assembly 3 for use with a lock assembly 5 when installed in a door 1. The handle assembly 3 includes a handle 25 that is rotatable relative to a furniture plate 26 so as to rotate a rotatable member 38 about a drive axis Y-Y. The handle assembly 3 also includes a detent 37 which interacts with the rotatable member 38 so as to hinder rotation of the rotatable member 38 when the detent 37 is in an active condition. r(3 rI r '7n rm rn m ___ r- 0 Lr) N Lr) N rJ /r-4

Description

HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH A BOLT

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates to a handle assembly for use with a door, and a lockset including such a handle assembly. One application for which the handle is suitable is for use with a bolt assembly that does not include a locking means within the bolt assembly. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this application, however it is to be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this application. The invention may also, for example, be used with a mortice lock assembly having a locking means to prevent operation of the actuator.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0002] A handle assembly is one type of operator that can interact with a bolt assembly for retracting the bolt. The handle assembly will generally include a handle and a furniture plate, or other escutcheon, which the handle rotates relative to when retracting the bolt.

[0003] It is desirable, for aesthetic purposes, that the handle on a swing door remain at an angle to the edge of the door when at rest, rather than parallel with the door. The bolt assembly may include a spring bias on its actuator to urge the actuator towards the angular rest position. However the spring bias may be insufficient to counter the weight of the handle so as to retain the handle in a perpendicular position relative to the edge of the door.

[0004] One option for this is to include a spring acting between the furniture plate and the handle to counter the weight of the handle. Naturally this will increase the force required to rotate the handle and depending on the characteristics of the spring, the spring force may increase the more the handle is rotated. This can make the lockset difficult to operate for the physically impaired and elderly.

[0005] One form of lockset includes a key operated cylinder lock operable from an outer side of the door and a handle assembly operated from the inner side of the door which can operate independently of the cylinder lock on the outer side of the door. In this arrangement the security of the lockset can be compromised if a person

2015203734 12 Dec 2019 on the outer side of the door can manage to operate the handle on the inner side of the door. The applicant has appreciated that a lockset with a relatively heavy handle, and a relatively weak spring biasing the actuator of the bolt assembly, can render the handle susceptible to manipulation from the outer side.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0006] According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a handle assembly for use with a bolt assembly when attached to a door, the bolt assembly including a housing and a bolt movable relative to the housing, the handle assembly including a furniture plate for positioning adjacent a surface of the door, a handle that is rotatable through an arc relative to the furniture plate about a drive axis for moving the bolt, a rotatable member that is rotated about a drive axis relative to the furniture plate by the handle from a first position through an intermediate position towards a second position, a detent means that is configured to interact with the rotatable member so that on rotation of the rotatable member the detent means is adjusted between an active position and in an inactive position, whereby the detent means adopts the active position when the rotatable member is in the first position in which the detent means and the rotatable member are configured to interact to hinder rotation of the rotatable member from the first position towards the second position, and the detent adopts the inactive position when the rotatable member has been rotated to the intermediate position so as to permit rotation of the rotatable member while in the intermediate position.

[0007] The first position preferably accounts for a relatively minor portion of the arc of rotation of the handle, and the intermediate position preferably accounts for a major portion of the arc of rotation of the handle. The total arc of rotation of the handle for rotating the rotatable member from the first position to the second may be of any value and in one embodiment it is 90°. When the total arc is 90° the first position preferably accounts for no more than 20° of said arc and the intermediate position preferably accounts for no less than 50° of said arc, however these values may vary.

[0008] The handle requires some level of operating force to rotate and an operating force of no less than 0.7Nm to rotate the rotatable member from the first position is preferred, and an operating force of no more than 0.2Nm to rotate the rotatable member through the intermediate position is further preferred. It is preferred.

2015203734 03 Jul 2015 that the operating force required to rotate the handle is substantially constant throughout rotation of the rotatable member through the intermediate position.

[0009] The detent means may take any form and in one form the detent means includes a detent member and a biasing means acting on the detent member urging the detent means to adopt the active position. The biasing means may take any form and in one form it is a compression spring however this may vary. The detent member preferably interacts with the rotatable member so as to move relative to the furniture plate against the biasing means on rotation of the rotatable member from the first position to the intermediate position to thereby relatively hinder said rotation of the rotatable member. The detent member preferably remains substantially stationary relative to the furniture plate once the rotatable member is in the intermediate position and also during rotation of the rotatable member through the intermediate position towards the second position to thereby relatively permit said rotation of the rotatable member. The movement of the detent member may be in any direction and in one form it is relative to the furniture palate and in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the drive axis. The manner in which the detent member is directed relative to the furniture plate may take any form and in one form the furniture plate includes a guide track within which the detent member slides when the detent means adjusts between the active position and the inactive position. It is preferred that the detent member includes a body and a plurality of legs extending out opposed sides of the body. And in one preferred form the guide track includes a pair of opposed guide track portions each opposed side of the body of the detent being positioned adjacent its respective pair of opposed guide track portions, whereby each leg locates its respective opposed guide track portions. The furniture plate preferably includes a loading slot for each leg of the detent which leads to the guide track, through which loading slot the detent member is loaded into the guide track by moving the detent member in a direction substantially parallel to the drive axis. It is preferred that each loading slot is located relative to the drive axis to prevent each leg form locating in its respective loading slot when the detent means adjusts between the active position and the inactive position.

[0010] The detent member may take any form and on one form it includes a head portion and the rotatable member has a first recess so that the head potion seats in the first recess when the rotatable member is in the first position. The rotatable

2015203734 03 Jul 2015 member may include a second recess angularly spaced from the first recess so that the head seats in the second recess when the rotatable member is in the second position. The rotatable member may include additional recesses if required. The rotatable member preferably has a surface between the first recess and the second recess of a substantially constant radius over which the head slides when the rotatable member rotates through the intermediate position.

[0011] The handle may take any form and in one form it includes a main portion that extends radially from the drive axis and free end portion which is substantially parallel to the drive axis. The free end potion being of any length and in one preferred form it is preferably at least 20mm in length. The rotatable member preferably lies in a plane which is substantially parallel to a plane in which the main portion of the handle lies, with said planes being spaced by between 35 to 45 mm.

[0012] According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a lockset for attachment to a door including a handle assembly according to any one of the preceding claims for location on an inner side of the door, a bolt assembly for attachment to an edge of the door including a housing and a bolt movable relative to the housing, and outer door furniture for location on an outer side of the door including a key operated cylinder lock.

[0013] The bolt may take any form and in one form it is a deadbolt whereby its movement from the retracted position to the extended position is by way of operation of either the handle or the cylinder lock. It is preferred that the cylinder lock is the only operator on the outer side of the door for adjusting the position of the bolt.

[0014] A reference herein to a patent document or other matter which is given as prior art is not to be taken as an admission that that document or matter was, in Australia, known or that the information it contains was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0015] In order that the invention may be more fully understood, some embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures in which:

2015203734 03 Jul 2015 [0016] Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of a preferred embodiment of a lockset according to one aspect of this invention.

[0017] Figure 2 is an exploded isometric view of a handle assembly according to another aspect of this invention.

[0018] Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the assembled handle assembly from Figure 2 with a rotatable member in a first position.

[0019] Figure 4 is a front elevation view of the assembled handle assembly from Figure 2 with a rotatable member in an intermediate position.

[0020] Figure 5 is a front elevation view of the assembled handle assembly from Figure 2 with a rotatable member in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0021] Referring now to Figure 1 which illustrates in summary a door 1, lockset 2, inner door furniture 3 for location on an inner side of the door 1, outer door furniture 4 for location on an outer side of the door 1 and a mortice lock assembly 5 for location in a mortice cavity 6 formed in a side edge 7 of the door 1. The mortice lock assembly illustrated in Figure 1 is described in greater detail in the Applicant's patent AU2007215374, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The invention however is not limited to this form of mortice lock assembly 5 only. The mortice lock assembly illustrated could be substituted by a mortice latch assembly, tubular latch assembly or a throw bolt assembly.

[0022] The mortice lock assembly 5 illustrated in Figure 1 includes a substantially rectangular shaped two-part housing formed by a base 8 and cover plate 9. A swing bolt is mounted on a shaft 11 which is mounted to the base 8 and cover plate 9 so as to rotate about the shaft axis X-X. The mortice lock assembly 5 also includes a two-part actuator 12 that rotates as a single unit about a drive axis Y-Y when the actuator 12 is assembled. The actuator 12 includes a drive arm 13 that interacts with the bolt 10 when the actuator 12 is rotated about the drive axis Y-Y.

[0023] Figure 1 also illustrates the mortice lock assembly 5 having a bistable means 14 which acts on the actuator 12. The bistable means 14 includes a column 15

2015203734 03 Jul 2015 and a compression spring 16 which combine to act on the actuator 12 to urge the bolt to adopt either an extended or retracted position relative to the housing 8, 9.

[0024] The outer door furniture 4 illustrated in Figure 1 includes an elongate furniture plate 17 having an aperture 18 formed adjacent an upper end of the furniture plate 17 for receiving a cylinder lock 19. The cylinder lock 19 illustrated is of the form having a barrel 20 that is rotatable relative to a cylinder lock housing 21 on insertion of a correctly coded key 22. A cam 23 (partially obscured) is attached to the rear of the barrel 20 and is configured to interact with teeth 24 on the actuator 12 so that rotation of the barrel 20 about the barrel axis 22 will cause rotation of the actuator 12 about the drive axis Y-Y.

[0025] The inner furniture 3 illustrated in Figure 1 is a preferred embodiment of a handle assembly 3 according to another aspect of the invention. The handle assembly 3 illustrated includes a handle 25 which is rotatable about the drive axis Y-Y. A furniture plate 26 is provided for securing the handle assembly 3 to the door 1, and it includes a handle aperture 27 which is coaxial with the drive axis Y-Y. A shaft 28 of the handle 25 is inserted through the handle aperture 27 when the handle assembly 3 is assembled. A bushing 29 is included for providing a relatively hard bearing surface against which the shaft 28 rotates about the drive axis Y-Y. It can be appreciated from Figure 2 that the bushing 29 includes spines around the exterior surface thereof which engage with the furniture plate 26 in a friction fit. A ring seal 31 is provided to seal between the bushing 29 and the handle 25.

[0026] Figure 1 illustrates a spindle 32 having a square shaped drive end 33 that locates within a square shaped bore 34 of the shaft 28 of a handle 25. The spindle 32 also includes a square shaped driven end 35 which locates within a square shaped bore (obscured) of the actuator 12. A compression spring 36 is provided to act between the handle 25 and the spindle 32 to urge the spindle 32 towards engagement with the actuator 12.

[0027] The handle assembly according to the invention includes a detent means 37 and rotatable member 38. Both of these features will be described in greater detail with reference to later illustrations, however, it can be appreciated from Figure 1 that the rotatable member 38 includes a key configuration for location in a key way 40 formed in the shaft 28 of the handle 25. This interconnection of the handle 25 with the

2015203734 03 Jul 2015 rotatable member 38 causes the rotatable member 38 to rotate about the drive axis YY on rotation of the handle 25. Clearly other forms of interaction between the rotatable member 38 and the handle 25 are possible, and the illustrated arrangement is merely one preferred form. The handle assembly 3 also includes a washer 41 between the bushing 29 and the rotatable member 38 so as to reduce the likelihood that rotation of the rotatable member 38 will rotate the bushing 29. Any form of washer 41 will be suitable, however the most preferred form is a wave washer 41 as illustrated. A circlip 42 is also provided for location in a groove 43 at the distal end of the shaft 28. The circlip 42 captures the shaft 28 of the handle 25 and therefore retains the handle 25, washer 41 and rotatable member 38 mounted on the furniture plate 26.

[0028] Referring now to Figure 2, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the rotatable member in greater detail. The rotatable member 38 illustrated is in the form of a disc having an annular surface 45 formed with a plurality of recesses 44 a, b, c, d. The annular surface 45 between each recess 44 is preferably of a constant radius for reasons which will be explained in greater detail later in the specification.

[0029] The detent means 37 illustrated in Figure 2 includes a biasing means 46 and a detent member 47. The biasing means 46 acts between the detent member 47 and a stud 48 formed in the furniture plate 26 for urging the detent member 47 towards engagement with the rotatable member 38. The preferred form of biasing means 46 as illustrated is a compression spring, however this may vary.

[0030] The detent member 47 illustrated includes a body 49 with a plurality of legs 50 extending out laterally of the body 49. These legs 50 locate within a guide track 51 formed in the furniture plate 26. More specifically, the furniture plate 26 includes opposed guide track portions 51 (only one of which is visible in Figure 2) formed in opposed walls 52 of the furniture plate 26. These guide track portions 51 allows the detent member 47 to slide linearly relatively to the furniture plate 26.

[0031] The furniture plate illustrated in Figure 2 also includes a pair of loading slots 53 formed in the side walls 52 of the furniture plate 26 (see also Figure 3). These loading slots 53 each lead to the guide track portion 51 so as to enable the detent member 47 to be loaded into the furniture plate 26. Naturally the number and location of loading slots 53 may vary.

2015203734 03 Jul 2015 [0032] The preferred detent member 47 illustrated in Figure 2 includes head 54 which extends off a lower end of the body 44 of the detent member 47. The head 54 of the detent member 47 is shaped to seat in the recess 44 of the rotatable member 38 (see Figure 3), when the rotatable member 38 is aligned with the detent member 47. The rotatable member 38 is considered to be in the first position when the head 54 of the detent member 47 is located within the recess 44a as illustrated in Figure 3. When the detent means 37 and rotatable member 38 are interacting in this way, it hinders rotation of the rotatable member 38 from this first position.

[0033] Figure 4 illustrates the handle 25 having being rotated relative to the furniture plate 26 so as to rotate the rotatable member 38 from the first position. Once the head 54 of the detent member 47 is unseated from the recess 44a so as to locate on the annular surface 45, the rotatable member is considered to be in an intermediate position. When the rotatable member 38 is in the intermediate position, the interaction of the detent member 47 with the rotatable member 38 is such that it no longer hinders the rotation of the rotatable member 38. The annular surface is of constant radius and as such the biasing means 46 does not apply further load to the rotatable member 38 through this rotation. Whilst there may be some surface friction between the head 54 and the annular surface 45, this level of resistance is relatively minor in comparison to when the head 54 is located in the recess 44a.

[0034] Figure 5 illustrates the handle 25 having been rotated through its full arc so that the rotatable member 38 adopts a second position. When the rotatable member 38 is in the second position, the head 54 of the detent member 47 locates within the further recess 44b of the rotatable member. This again hinders movement of the rotatable member 38 away from the second position in the same manner as occurs when the rotatable member 38 is in the first position.

[0035] The total arc of rotation of the handle between the first position and second position may vary from that illustrated. The illustrations show a rotation of 90° between the first position and the second position. It is further preferred that when the total arc of rotation is 90°, movement of the handle 25 through no more than 20° should be sufficient to adjust the rotatable member 38 from the first position. It is further preferred that movement of the rotatable member 38 through no less than 50° should be sufficient to rotate the rotatable member through the intermediate position between the first position and the second position

2015203734 03 Jul 2015 [0036] It should be noted by comparing Figures 3 and 4 that the detent means 47 illustrated in Figure 3 is in an active position whereby it hinders rotation of the rotatable member 38. In contrast, Figure 4 illustrates the detent means 37 in an inactive position whereby the rotatable member 38 is relatively free to rotate. It can also be noted that adjustment of the detent means 37 between an active position and an inactive position is still insufficient for the legs 50 of the detent member 47 to be aligned with the loading slots 53. This ensures that the legs 50 of the detent member 47 remain in the guide track portions 51 during normal operation of the handle assembly.

[0037] It should be appreciated that the handle 25 will require a level of force in order to rotate relative to the furniture plate 26. It is preferred that the operating force to rotate the handle 25 from the first position is no less than 0.7Nm, however the operating force to rotate through the intermediate position be no more than 0.2Nm [0038] Figure 2 illustrates a preferred form of handle having a main portion 55 which extends radially from the drive axis Y-Y and a free end portion 56 which is parallel with the drive axis Y-Y. It is preferred that the free end portion 56 be at least 20mm in length so as to facilitate a user maintaining a grip on the handle 25 in the event that they slip along the main portion 55. It is also preferable that the main portion 55 lies in a plane which is substantially parallel to the plane of rotation of the rotatable member 38 and those planes be spaced by between 35mm — 45mm. This facilitates providing an adequate gap between the main portion of the handle 25 and the door 1 to enable the user to grip the handle.

[0039] It can also be noted from Figure 2 that the rotatable member 38 has additional recesses 44c, 44d, which allow the handle assembly 3 to be operated on a right hand or left hand side of the door.

[0040] It ought to be appreciated from the foregoing that the handle assembly according to the invention is relatively difficult to manipulate from an outer side of the door whilst continuing to be relatively easy to operate from the inner side of the door.

[0041] Various alterations and/or additions may be introduced into the handle assembly and lockset as hereinbefore described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

   1. A handle assembly for use with a bolt assembly when attached to a door, the bolt assembly including a housing and a bolt movable relative to the housing, the handle assembly including a furniture plate for positioning adjacent a surface of the door, a handle that is rotatable through an arc relative to the furniture plate about a drive axis for moving the bolt, a rotatable member that is rotated about a drive axis relative to the furniture plate by the handle from a first position through an intermediate position towards a second position, a detent means that is configured to interact with the rotatable member so that on rotation of the rotatable member the detent means is adjusted between an active position and in an inactive position, whereby the detent means adopts the active position when the rotatable member is in the first position in which the detent means and the rotatable member are configured to interact to hinder rotation of the rotatable member from the first position towards the second position, and the detent adopts the inactive position when the rotatable member has been rotated to the intermediate position so as to permit rotation of the rotatable member while in the intermediate position.
2. 2. A handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first position accounts for a relatively minor portion of the arc of rotation of the handle, and the intermediate position accounts for a major portion of the arc of rotation of the handle.
3. 3. A handle assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the arc of rotation of the handle for rotating the rotatable member from the first position to the second is 90°, and the first position accounts for no more than 20° of said arc and the intermediate position accounts for no less than 50° of said arc.
4. 4. A handle assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the handle requires an operating force of no less than 0.7Nm to rotate the rotatable member from the first position, and an operating force of no more than 0.2Nm to rotate the rotatable member through the intermediate position.
5. 5. A handle assembly according to claim 4 wherein the operating force required to rotate the handle is substantially constant throughout rotation of the rotatable member through the intermediate position.

   2015203734 12 Dec 2019
6. 6. A handle assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the detent means includes a detent member and a biasing means acting on the detent any member urging the detent means to adopt the active position, the detent member interacting with the rotatable member so as to move relative to the furniture plate against the biasing means on rotation of the rotatable member from the first position to the intermediate position to thereby relatively hinder said rotation of the rotatable member.
7. 7. A handle assembly according to claim 6 wherein the detent member remains substantially stationary relative to the furniture plate once the rotatable member is in the intermediate position and also during rotation of the rotatable member through the intermediate position towards the second position to thereby relatively permit said rotation of the rotatable member.
8. 8. A handle assembly according to any one of claims 6 or 7 wherein said movement of the detent member is relative to the furniture palate and in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the drive axis.
9. 9. A handle assembly according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the furniture plate includes a guide track within which the detent member slides when the detent means adjusts between the active position and the inactive position.
10. 10. A handle assembly according to claim 9 wherein the detent member includes a body and a plurality of legs extending out opposed sides of the body
11. 11. A handle assembly according to claim 10 wherein the guide track includes a pair of opposed guide track portions each opposed side of the body of the detent being positioned adjacent its respective pair of opposed guide track portions, whereby each leg locates its respective opposed guide track portions.
12. 12. A handle assembly according to claim 10 or 11 wherein the furniture plate includes a loading slot for each leg of the detent which leads to the guide track, through which loading slot the detent member is loaded into the guide track by moving the detent member in a direction substantially parallel to the drive axis.
13. 13. A handle assembly according to claim 12 wherein each loading slot is located relative to the drive axis to prevent each leg form locating in its respective loading slot when the detent means adjusts between the active position and the inactive position.

    2015203734 12 Dec 2019
14. 14. A handle assembly according to claim any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein the detent member includes a head portion and the rotatable member has a first recess so that the head potion seats in the first recess when the rotatable member is in the first position, and the rotatable member has a second recess angularly spaced from the first recess so that the head seats in the second recess when the rotatable member is in the second position
15. 15. A handle assembly according to claim 14 wherein the rotatable member has a surface between the first recess and the second recess of a substantially constant radius over which the head slides when the rotatable member rotates through the intermediate position.
16. 16. A handle assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the handle includes a main portion that extends radially from the drive axis and free end portion which is substantially parallel to the drive axis.

    wherein the free end potion being at least 20mm in length.
17. 17. A handle assembly according to claim 16 wherein the rotatable member lies in a plane which is substantially parallel to a plane in which the main portion of the handle lies, with said planes being spaced by between 35 to 45 mm.
18. 18. A lockset for attachment to a door including a handle assembly according to any one of the preceding claims for location on an inner side of the door, a bolt assembly for attachment to an edge of the door including a housing and a bolt movable relative to the housing, and outer door furniture for location on an outer side of the door including a key operated cylinder lock.
19. 19. A lockset according to claim 18 wherein the bolt is a deadbolt whereby its movement from the retracted position to the extended position is by way of operation of either the handle or the cylinder lock.
20. 20. A lockset according to claim 18 or 19 wherein the cylinder lock is the only operator on the outer side of the door for adjusting the position of the bolt.