GB2255276A - A handle assembly or other furniture article - Google Patents

Abstract

A handle assembly or other furniture article has inserts mounted in complementary recesses 15, 16, 26 in the base plate 3 and handle 1 to provide a decorative finish. Selection and fitments of different inserts enables the handle assembly to be adapted to a range of decorative finishes as desired. <IMAGE>

Description

FURNITURE This invention relates to articles of furniture for doors and windows and in particular, though not exclusively, to handle assemblies.

According to the present invention there is provided an article of furniture for doors, windows or the like having a body part provided with at least one recess in which an insert is received.

Preferably, a range of inserts are provided for selective use with a common article. In such range, the inserts may be distinguished from each other by the material, colour, surface finish or pattern. As a result, the same article can have a range of decorative finishes by selection and fitment of the appropriate insert as desired.

The body part is preferably made of brass and the insert made of porcelain having any desired surface finish or pattern.

Preferably, the recess has a flat base wall bounded by a peripheral wall and is of shallow uniform deptn.

Tne insert is convenientlsT of complementary shape to the recess and is preferably of uniform thickness similar to the depth of the recess so that the front surface is substantially flush with the front surface of the body part.

Preferably the insert is secured by adhesive but other means of retaining the insert may be employed.

In a preferred application, the article of furniture is a handle assembly having a handle rotatably mounted on a base plate for securing to a door or window with at least one recess being provided in the base plate or handle.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a door handle assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the backplate shown in Figure 1; Figures 5a,5b and 5c are front views of inserts for use with the handle assembly shown in Figure 1; Figures 6a,6b and 6c are side views of the inserts shown in Figure 5a,5b and 5c; Figure 7 is a front view of an alternative insert; Figure 8 is a transverse section through a second embodiment of a handle assembly according to the present invention; Figure 9 is a front view of the handle of the handle assembly shown in Figure 8;; Figure 10 is a front view of the rose plate of the handle assembly shown in Figure 8; Figure 11 is a front view of an insert for use with the handle assembly shown in Figure 8; and Figure 12 is a side view of the insert shown in Figure 11.

The handle assembly shown in Figures 1 to 6 is adapted for fitting to a door and comprises a lever handle 1 rotatably mounted on a generally rectangular backplate 2.

The handle 1 and backplate 2 are formed by alloy die castings, for example brass. This is not essential, however, and other materials such as zinc die castings having any desired surface finish or plastic mouldings may be used for one or both parts.

The side and end walls of the backplate 2 are stepped to form a continuous ledge 3 in which holes 4 are provided at the corners of the backplate 2 for fixing screws for securing the backplate 2 to a door. Usually, the backplate 2 is mounted so that its length extends vertically as shown in Figure 1.

The handle 1 has a shank 5 with a transverse grip 6 at one end. The shape of the handle 1 and/or backplate 2 may be altered from that shown to suit different styles for example Victorian, Georgian etc.

The other end of the shank 5 is journalled in aligned holes 7,8 in the front wall of the backplate 2 and a spacer 9 housed within the backplate 2.

The handle 1 is axially located in the aligned holes 7,8 by a collar 10 formed integrally with the shank 5 intermediate the ends which seats against the front wall of the backplate 2 to conceal the flole 7.

The handle 1 is secured for rotation relative to the backplate 2 by a retainer 11 located in an annular groove 12 at the free end of the shank 5.

A square section spindle 13 of a latch mechanism, not shown, is engaged in a complementary axial socket 14 in the free end of the shank 5 for rotation with the lever handle.

The front wall of the back plate 2 is formed with two elongate oval recesses 15,16 on opposite sides of the hole 7. Each recess 15,16 is of shallow uniform depth having a flat base wall 17,18 respectively bounded by a peripheral wall 19,20 respectively.

One recess 15 is longer than the other recess 16 and, in the vertical position of the backplate 2 shown in Figure 1, this longer recess 15 is arranged below the hole 7.

Each recess 15,16 receives a respective complementary insert 21,22 secured by adhesive.

The inserts 21,22 are made of porcelain and the front surface may have a decorative pattern applied thereto. This is not essential, however, and different materials including wood, plastics, marble, glass etc may be used.

Each insert 21,22 is flat and of uniform thickness such that, as shown in Figure 3, the front surface is substantially flush with the front wall of the backplate 2. This is not essential, however, and the front surface may have any desired shape, pattern or style.

The insert 21 received in the longer recess 15 has a central aperture 23 which aligns with a complementary aperture 24 in the botton wall of the recess 15 for a key or thumb turn for operating a lock mechanism, not shown.

For applications not requiring a lock mechanism, a solid insert 25 as shown in Figure 7 may be secured in the larger recess 15 to conceal the aperture 24 in the base wall. In this way, the handle assembly may be adapted for locking and non-locking applications.

The handle 1 is formed in the outer end of the shank 5 with an annular recess 26 of uniform depth. The recess 26 has a flat base wall 27 bounded by a peripheral wall 28 and receives a complementary disc-shaped insert 29 secured by adhesive. The insert 29 is of uniform thickness and, as shown in Figure 2, is substantially flush with the end wall of the shank 5.

The insert 29 is made of the same material as the inserts 21,22 and may have a decorative pattern or finish applied to the front surface as desired.

Referring now to Figures 8 to 12, there is shown a handle assembly adapted for fitting to a door comprising a handle 101 rotatably mounted on a circular rose plate 102.

The handle 101 and rose plate 102 are formed by alloy die castings, for example brass. This is not essential however, and other materials such as zinc die castings having any desired surface finish or plastics mouldings may be used for one or both parts.

Tne side wall of the rose 102 is of stepped profile forming a continuous ledge 103. The front wall of the rose 102 is flat and is provided with two diametrically opposed holes 104 for fixing screws for securing the rose to a door.

The handle 101 has a shank 105 with a knob 106 at one end. The knob 106 is of circular shape in plan view with opposed parallel front and rear walls connected by curved side walls.

The other end of the shank 105 is journalled in aligned holes 107,108 in the front wall of the rose 102 and in a spacer 109 housed within the rose.

Spaced from the free end, the shank 105 has an integral collar 110 which seats against the front wall of the rose to conceal the hole 107 and axially locate the shank 105.

A retainer 111 engaged in an annular groove 112 at the end of the shank 105 secures the handle 101 to the rose 102 for rotation relative thereto.

A square section spindle 113 of a latch mechanism, not shown, is engaged in a complementary axial socket 114 in the free end of the shank 105 for rotation with the handle 101.

The front wall of the knob 106 is formed with a circular recess 126 having a flat base wall 127 bounded by a peripheral wall 128. Also formed in the front wall of the knob 106 is an annular groove 130 spaced outwardly from the marginal edge of the recess 126.

The recess 126 is of uniform depth and receives a complementary disc-shaped insert 129 secured by adhesive. The insert 129 is of uniform thickness and, as shown in Figure 8, is substantially flush with the front wall of the knoD 106. This is not essential, however, and the front surface may have any suitable shape.

The insert 129 is made of porcelain to which a decorative pattern or surface finish may be applied to the front surface. This is not essential, however, and the insert may be made of different materials such as wood, plastics, marble, glass etc as desired.

The invention, as will be understood from the embodiments described, enables a handle assembly to be provided having an ornamental or decorative finish by means of inserts located in recesses in the handle and/or attachment parts.

A range of inserts of different materials and/or having different surface finishes and/or patterns may be provided for a given handle assembly for selection by the customer.

Thus, the present invention provides a relatively simple and cheap method of adapting handle assemblies to suit different tastes and requirements. By this use of decorative inserts, the retailer does not have to maintain large stocks of handle assemblies to meet all possible combinations.

Although the invention has been described with reference to handle assemblies for doors, it will be understood that the invention has application to handle assemblies for windows and to other articles of furniture for doors and windows, for example a finger plate for securing to a door may be provided with one or more recesses for reception of complementary inserts.

It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to the shape and position of the recesses and complementary inserts described and illustrated in the embodiments. Thus, for any given article of furniture, the number position and shape of each recess and complementary insert may be chosen as desired.

It will further be understood that the invention is not limited to specific materials for the body part in which the recess is formed and for the insert and that any suitable materials may be used and are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

Claims:

1. An article of furniture for doors, windows or the like having a body part provided with at least one recess in which an insert is received.

2. An article according to Claim 1 wherein the body part is made of brass and the insert is made of porcelain.

3. An article according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the recess has a flat base wall bounded by a peripheral wall and is of shallow uniform depth.

4. An article according to Claim 3 wherein the insert is of complementary shape to the recess and is of uniform thickness similar to the depth of the recess.

5. An article according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the insert is adhesively secured in the recess.

6. An article according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the insert has a decorative front surface.

7. An article of furniture comprising a handle rotatably mounted on a base plate for securing to a door or window, the handle and/or base plate having a recess with a flat base wall bounded by a peripheral wall, and an insert of complementary shape mounted in the recess, the insert having a flat rear surface seating on the base wall of the recess and a decorative front surface substantially flush with the front surface of the handle and/or base plate surrounding the recess.

8. An article of furniture having a recess and a plurality of complementary inserts distinguished by material, colour, surface finish or pattern for selective mounting in the recess to provide a desired decorative effect.

9. An article of furniture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

10. An article of furniture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 8 to 12 of the accompanying drawings.