AU2017100035A4 - Handle for translating a sliding door between open and closed conditions of use - Google Patents

Abstract

H:\tld\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCC\TLD\I2618420_I.doc-9/01/2017 -8 5 A handle for translating a sliding door between open and closed conditions of use, including a housing couplable to a frame of said door; and an arm hingedly coupled to the housing so as to rotate between extended and retracted conditions of use, wherein pushing or pulling the door by the extended arm between open and closed positions requires less torque than pushing or pulling the door by the frame. 12 -- 10 -- - - - -- - - Fioure 5

Description

H:\tld\Interwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\TLD\12618420_l .doc-9/01/2017 2017100035 10 Jan 2017 - 1 -

HANDLE FOR TRANSLATING A SLIDING DOOR BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED CONDITIONS OF USE

Technical Field of the Invention 5

The present invention relates to a handle for translating a sliding door between open and closed conditions of use.

Background of the Invention 10

Over time door panels have increased in weight and size to meet market requirements. Panels can weigh up to 100kg, for example, and current door handles may not facilitate easy translation of the sliding doors between open and closed conditions of use. 15

It is generally desirable to overcome or ameliorate one or more of the above mentioned difficulties, or at least provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention 20

According to the present invention, there is provided a handle for translating a sliding door between open and closed conditions of use, including: (a) a housing couplable to a frame of said door; and (b) an arm hingedly coupled to the housing so as to rotate between 25 extended and retracted conditions of use, wherein pushing or pulling the door by the extended arm between open and closed positions requires less torque than pushing or pulling the door by the frame.

Preferably, a force required to translate the door in a desired direction through a 30 person's hand engaging the extended arm is less than a force required to translate the door in a desired direction through a person's hand engaging the door by the frame alone.

Preferably, the housing includes: 35 (a) a front plate arranged to overlie a section of a frame of said door; and H:\tld\lnterwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\TLDM26l8420_l .doc-9/01/2017 2017100035 10 Jan 2017 -2- (b) a well opening into the front plate, the well being shaped to at least partially receive and seat therein the arm when arranged in the retracted position. 5 Preferably, the handle is hingedly coupled to the housing by a shaft that extends across opposed side wall sections of a common end of the well. The ends of the shaft are locked in position by plates that extend into the housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings 10

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereafter described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a handle for a sliding door; 15 Figure 2 is a front view of the handle shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the handle shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the handle shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the handle shown in Figure 1 in a condition of use. 20

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

The handle 10 shown in Figures 1 to 4 is used for translating the sliding door 12 shown in Figure 5 between open and closed conditions of use. The handle 10 includes 25 a housing 14 couplable to a frame 16 of said door and an arm 18 hingedly 20 coupled to the housing 14 so as to rotate in direction "A" about axis "B" between the extended condition of use shown in Figure 5 and the retracted conditions of use shown in Figure 1. Advantageously, pushing or pulling the door by the extended arm between open and closed positions requires less torque than pushing or pulling the door by the 30 frame.

In this embodiment, torque is a force "F" applied at a right angle to a arm 18 multiplied by its distance "L" from the arm's fulcrum (i.e. about axis "B") is its torque. The length of the arm 18 is preferably 115mm. However, any other suitable length of 35 arm can be used. In particular, the force "F" required to translate the door 12 in a H:\tld\Interwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\TLD\12618420_l .doc-9/01/2017 2017100035 10 Jan 2017 -3- desired direction through a person's hand engaging the extended arm 18 is less than a force "F" required to translate the door in a desired direction through a person's hand engaging the door 12 by the frame 16 alone. 5 The housing 14 includes a front plate 20 arranged to overlie a section of a frame 16 of the door 12. The front plate 20 is generally planar sheet of metal. The housing also includes a well 22 opening into the front plate 20. The well 22 is shaped to at least partially receive and seat therein the arm 18 when arranged in the retracted position. The well 22 is defined by peripheral side walls 24 extending from the opening 26 in 10 the front plate 20 and a back plate 28 that closes off the well 22. As shown, the back plate 28 of the well 22 is secured to the front plate 20 by way of screws 30a extending through corresponding slots 30b. However, the well 22 could be secured to the front plate by any other suitable means. 15 The arm 18 is hingedly coupled to the housing 14 by a shaft 32 that extends through coaxial slots 34 formed in the arm 18 and opposed side wall sections 24a, 24b of a common end of the well 22. Ends of the shaft 32 are locked in position by plates 36 that extend into slots of respective opposed side wall sections 24a, 24b of the housing 14. Alternatively, the arm 18 is hingedly coupled to the housing 14 by any other 20 suitable means.

As particularly shown in Figure 5, the arm 18 includes a curved hand engaging section 36 to improve user comfort when engaging the handle. The curved hand engaging section is closed by transverse member 38 which, during use, acts to inhibit slippage 25 of a hand from the handle 18.

The curved hand engaging 36 section laterally displaces a users hand coupled thereto away from a corresponding door jam that the sliding door closes against. The displacement is preferably distance "LD" of 35mm. User contact with the 30 corresponding door jam is avoided when the sliding door 12 is closed with the user engaging the curved hand engaging section 36. Of course, any other suitable distance LD can be used to avoid hand contact with the with the door jam.

The curved hand engaging section 36 is generally "U" shaped. Alternatively, the 35 curved hand engaging section 36 can be any other suitable shape to laterally displace H:\tld\lnterwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\TLD\12618420_l -doc-9/01/2017 2017100035 10 Jan 2017 -4- a user's hand from the door jam.

The arm 18 is not handed. Rather, it is a singular part which can be flipped vertically so that it can be used on both LHD & RHD opening doors 18. By removing pin 32 the lever 18 can be reversed. 5

The handle 10 is secured to the frame 16 of the door 12 by fasteners (not shown) through slots 42. Alternatively, the handle 10 can be secured to the frame 16 of the door 12 by any other suitable means. 10 The handle 10 provides a deeper flush pull with integrated lever 18. The increased depth "D" gives the required purchase to open the door panel. The depth "D" is preferably 22mm. However, any other suitable depth can be used. The "flip down" lever 18 gives the end user additional grip to open the door 12 when required 15 The lever 18 has a unique geometry to stop end user hitting their hand on frame jamb when closing.

The part 44 shown in Figure 4 is a resilient member, preferably a helical spring, which forms part of a ball and dent mechanism. 20

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, 25 an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia

In this specification and the claims that follow, unless stated otherwise, the word "comprise" and its variations, such as "comprises" and "comprising", imply the 30 inclusion of a stated integer, step, or group of integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

References in this specification to any prior publication, information derived from any said prior publication, or any known matter are not and should not be taken as an 35 acknowledgement, admission or suggestion that said prior publication, or any 2017100035 10 Jan 2017 H:\tld\Interwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\TLD\12618420_l .doc-9/01/2017 -5- information derived from this prior publication or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which the specification relates.

Claims (14)

1. Claims Defining the Invention

   1. A handle for translating a sliding door between open and closed conditions of use, including: (a) a housing couplable to a frame of said door; and (b) an arm hingedly coupled to the housing so as to rotate between extended and retracted conditions of use, wherein pushing or pulling the door by the extended arm between open and closed positions requires less torque than pushing or pulling the door by the frame.
2. 2. The handle claimed in claim 1, wherein a force required to translate the door in a desired direction through a person's hand engaging the extended arm is less than a force required to translate the door in a desired direction through a person's hand engaging the door by the frame alone.
3. 3. The handle claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a length "L" of the arm is substantially 115mm.
4. 4. The handle claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing includes: (a) a front plate arranged to overlie a section of a frame of said door; and (b) a well opening into the front plate, the well being shaped to at least partially receive and seat therein the arm when arranged in the retracted position.
5. 5. The handle claimed in claim 4, wherein the well is defined by peripheral side walls extending from an opening in the front plate and a back plate that closes off the well.
6. 6. The handle claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein a depth "D" of the well allows sufficient grip to the operation of the door when the arm is in the retracted position.
7. 7. The handle claimed in claim 6, wherein the depth "D" is substantially 22mm.
8. 8. The handle claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the handle is hingedly coupled to the housing by a shaft that extends across opposed side wall sections of a common end of the well.
9. 9. The handle claimed in claim 8, wherein the ends of the shaft are locked in position by plates that extend into the housing.
10. 10. The handle claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the arm includes a curved hand engaging section to improve user comfort when engaging the handle.
11. 11. The handle claimed in claim 10, wherein the curved hand engaging section laterally displaces a users hand coupled thereto away from a corresponding door jam that the sliding door closes against.
12. 12. The handle claimed in claim 11, wherein user contact with the corresponding door jam is avoided when the sliding door is closed with the user engaging the curved hand engaging section.
13. 13. The handle claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the curved hand engaging section is generally "U" shaped.
14. 14. The handle claimed in any one of the above-mentioned claims, wherein the arm can be flipped vertically for use with either a left hand opening door or a right hand opening door.