GB1578622A

GB1578622A - Door handle mechanisms

Info

Publication number: GB1578622A
Application number: GB3066179A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Allgood Ltd G & S
Current assignee: Allgood Ltd G & S
Priority date: 1977-10-17
Filing date: 1977-10-17
Publication date: 1980-11-05

Description

(54) DOOR HANDLE MECHANISMS (71) We, G & S ALLGOOD (HOLD INGS) LIMITED, formerly known as G & BR< S ALLGOOD LIMITED, a British Company of Carterville House, 279 Euston Road, London NW1 3AQ, England, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to mechanisms for door handles and including spring means for returning the handle to a predetermined position with respect to a mounting plate, the object of the invention being to provide such a mechanism in which the depth occupied by the mechanism is minimised, though reliable operation is assured.

According to the present invention there is provided a door handle mechanism comprising a handle, a mounting plate intended for securement, in use, to a door, a housing secured against rotation relatively to the mounting plate, a torsion spring contained in the housing, the torsion spring having a first end located in the housing and a second end located in a part of said handle projecting into and rotatable within the housing, said part of the handle carrying a stop plate non-rotatably engaged therewith, said stop plate forming an end of the housing and serving to enclose said spring within the housing, means being provided to secure the stop plate onto said part of the handle, and at least three projections being formed on the housing, at least three abutments on the stop plate co-operating with said projections thereby to limit rotation of said stop plate and thus rotation of said handle.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is a plan view of the rear of the mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a similar view with the lock nut removed; Figure 3 is a similar view with the lock nut and stop plate removed; Figure 4 is again a similar view with the lock nut, stop plate and spring removed; Figure 5 shows the end of the handle; and Figure 6 is a side elevational crosssectional view of the mechanism.

The mechanism is designed for use with a flat mounting plate which is indicated at 10 in Figure 6. The mounting plate thickness is typically 10 Standard Wire Gauge. This mounting plate has a hexagonal hole 11 therein, in which is engaged part of a housing 12. Said part of the housing is a shallow hexagon shaped spigot 12a locating in the correspondingly shaped hole in the plate 10. This spigot is both internally and externally hexagon shaped and as shown in Figure 4, the internal corners of the hexagon are relieved at 12b. This arrangement is created by forming the housing 12 as a pressing in which the centre is pressed out to form six ears which together define the hexagonal spigot 12a. The relieving at the corners at 12b also provides clearance for a washer 13 located therein. The washer 13 is therefore of hexagon shape externally but has a cylindrical bore 13a.The washer 13 is also provided at one axial end with an annular flange.

Journalled in the circular bore 13a of the washer is a spigot 14a which is of circular section but with two opposed flats 14b.

Within the handle 14 is a square section bore 14c to receive a spindle (not illustrated) of a latch mechanism fitted within a door to which the mounting plate 10 may be secured. As shown in Figure 3, the spigot 14a has, at its extremity, two opposed slots 14d, the purpose of which will be referred to later.

The housing 12 is of generally cylindrical configuration having a flat portion sur rounding the spigot 12a and a shallow external flange 12c on which are three spaced projections 15. These projections 15 are equi-angularly spaced about the centre of the housing and form respective abutments. Contained within the housing is a torsion spring 16. One end of the torsion spring engages in one of the slots 14d in the handle spigot 14a, such end of the spring being shorter than the slot so as not to protrude into the square section bore 14c in the spigot.

The other end of the torsion spring engages in a hole in the flange 12c of the housing 12. There are two such holes (not shown in the drawing) located at the positions of two of the projections 15 of the housing flange. The spring is of square section wire and may be fitted either way up. In the position shown it is designed to provide a spring force acting in a clockwise direction whereas with the spring turned over and its outer end engaged in the other of the two holes, anti-clockwise bias is produced.

Enclosing the spring and forming an end for the housing is a circular stop plate 17.

This has three external equally spaced lobes which engage over the flange 12c of the housing. Angular movement of the stop plate is limited by engagement of the lobes with the projections 15. The arrangement of three lobes and three projections provides a balance for the stop plate, resisting any tendency for it to tilt.

To secure the stop plate 17 in place, it has a hole of a shape to accept the flat-sided circular spigot 14a of the handle as shown in Figure 2. Furthermore, the end of the spigot is screw-threaded externally to receive a lock nut 18 which secures the stop plate against the housing. However, the lock nut is positioned to allow relative rotation between the stop plate and the housing but with minimum clearance between them.

The lock nut 18 has spaced notches and the stop plate has two radially spaced screw holes 19, in one of which a screw 20 is fitted.

The arrangement is such that the correct clearance of the stop plate from the housing flange can be selected with one screw 20 occupying one of the holes 19. The 90" spacing of the holes 19 and the 60 spacing of the notches in the lock nut 18 provides for fine adjustment of the nut.

An alternative arrangement for securing the stop plate on to the end of the spigot 14a of the handle is a spring clip with the end of the spigot being spun over to locate it and retain it in place.

This Patent Application has been divided from our U.K. Patent Application No.

44043/76. (Serial No. 1578621) WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A door handle mechanism comprising a handle, a mounting plate intended for securement, in use, to a door, a housing secured against rotation relatively to the mounting plate, a torsion spring contained in the housing, the torsion spring having a first end located in the housing and a second end located in a part of said handle projecting into and rotatable within the housing, said part of the handle carrying a stop plate non-rotatably engaged therewith, said stop plate forming an end of the housing and serving to enclose said spring within the housing, means being provided to secure the stop plate onto said part of the handle, and at least three projections being formed on the housing, at least three abutments on the stop plate co-operating with said projections thereby to limit rotation of said stop plate and thus rotation of said handle.

2. A door handle mechanism as claimed in Claim 1, in which three equi-angularly spaced projections are provided on the housing, and three similarly equi-angularly spaced lobes are formed on the stop plate, to engage, in use, with said projections to limit rotation of the handle.

3. A door handle mechanism as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the torsion spring has its first end engaged in a hole in a selected one of said projections and its second end in a correspondingly selected one of a pair of opposed slots in said part of the handle, the torsion spring thus being reversible to provide bias in opposite directions respectively.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

rounding the spigot 12a and a shallow external flange 12c on which are three spaced projections 15. These projections 15 are equi-angularly spaced about the centre of the housing and form respective abutments. Contained within the housing is a torsion spring 16. One end of the torsion spring engages in one of the slots 14d in the handle spigot 14a, such end of the spring being shorter than the slot so as not to protrude into the square section bore 14c in the spigot.

The other end of the torsion spring engages in a hole in the flange 12c of the housing 12. There are two such holes (not shown in the drawing) located at the positions of two of the projections 15 of the housing flange. The spring is of square section wire and may be fitted either way up. In the position shown it is designed to provide a spring force acting in a clockwise direction whereas with the spring turned over and its outer end engaged in the other of the two holes, anti-clockwise bias is produced.

Enclosing the spring and forming an end for the housing is a circular stop plate 17.

This has three external equally spaced lobes which engage over the flange 12c of the housing. Angular movement of the stop plate is limited by engagement of the lobes with the projections 15. The arrangement of three lobes and three projections provides a balance for the stop plate, resisting any tendency for it to tilt.

To secure the stop plate 17 in place, it has a hole of a shape to accept the flat-sided circular spigot 14a of the handle as shown in Figure 2. Furthermore, the end of the spigot is screw-threaded externally to receive a lock nut 18 which secures the stop plate against the housing. However, the lock nut is positioned to allow relative rotation between the stop plate and the housing but with minimum clearance between them.

The lock nut 18 has spaced notches and the stop plate has two radially spaced screw holes 19, in one of which a screw 20 is fitted.

The arrangement is such that the correct clearance of the stop plate from the housing flange can be selected with one screw 20 occupying one of the holes 19. The 90" spacing of the holes 19 and the 60 spacing of the notches in the lock nut 18 provides for fine adjustment of the nut.

An alternative arrangement for securing the stop plate on to the end of the spigot 14a of the handle is a spring clip with the end of the spigot being spun over to locate it and retain it in place.

This Patent Application has been divided from our U.K. Patent Application No.

44043/76. (Serial No. 1578621) WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A door handle mechanism comprising a handle, a mounting plate intended for securement, in use, to a door, a housing secured against rotation relatively to the mounting plate, a torsion spring contained in the housing, the torsion spring having a first end located in the housing and a second end located in a part of said handle projecting into and rotatable within the housing, said part of the handle carrying a stop plate non-rotatably engaged therewith, said stop plate forming an end of the housing and serving to enclose said spring within the housing, means being provided to secure the stop plate onto said part of the handle, and at least three projections being formed on the housing, at least three abutments on the stop plate co-operating with said projections thereby to limit rotation of said stop plate and thus rotation of said handle.
2. A door handle mechanism as claimed in Claim 1, in which three equi-angularly spaced projections are provided on the housing, and three similarly equi-angularly spaced lobes are formed on the stop plate, to engage, in use, with said projections to limit rotation of the handle.
3. A door handle mechanism as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the torsion spring has its first end engaged in a hole in a selected one of said projections and its second end in a correspondingly selected one of a pair of opposed slots in said part of the handle, the torsion spring thus being reversible to provide bias in opposite directions respectively.