GB2411348A

GB2411348A - Door handle assembly wherein a door handle is removable from the door independently of a mounting member and a cover

Info

Publication number: GB2411348A
Application number: GB0404268A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Leslie Mcmenemy
Original assignee: Newell Ltd
Current assignee: Newell Ltd
Priority date: 2004-02-26
Filing date: 2004-02-26
Publication date: 2005-08-31
Also published as: GB0404268D0

Abstract

A door handle assembly for removably fitting a handle 2 to a door includes a spindle 4 which passes through an aperture in the door. Upon the spindle, a mounting member 6 is mounted for mounting a member 8 which guides movement of the handle. The mounting member is located adjacent the door in use. A cover 16, fixed with respect to the door in use, is mounted on the spindle to extend over the mounting member and the guide. The handle is removably mounted on the mounting member such that the handle is removable from the door independently of the mounting member and a cover 16.

Description

2411 348

DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to door handle assemblies.

Conventional door handle assemblies include a door handle and several components mounted on a mounting portion of the handle to ensure that the door handle functions effectively. A cover fixed to the door is used to cover the components and mounting portion from view for aesthetic reasons. The cover may also prevent or deter detachment of the mounting portion, and thus the handle, from the door. If the handle is required to be replaced, the cover must be removed to release the mounting portion of the handle before detaching the handle from the rest of the assembly.

According to the invention there is provided a door handle assembly for removably fixing a handle to a door, the assembly comprising a spindle, suitable for passing through an aperture in the door, upon which spindle is mounted a mounting member for mounting guide means for guiding movement of the handle, the mounting member being located adjacent the door in use, a cover, fixed with respect to the door in use, mounted on the spindle to extend over the mounting member and guide means, the handle being removeably mounted on the mounting member such that the handle is removable from the door independently of the mounting member and cover.

Advantageously it is thus possible to replace the handle without having to remove the cover of the door handle assembly.

Preferably the mounting member comprises a first portion for mounting the guide means and a second portion for mounting the handle.

The first portion, may comprise a spindle receiving channel profiled to receive, preferably slideably, at least part of the spindle. The spindle may have a square external cross-section and the spindle receiving channel may have a corresponding square cross-section.

The handle may comprise a second portion receiving channel profiled to receive, preferably slideably, at least a part of the second portion of the mounting member. The second portion may have a square external crosssection and the second portion receiving channel may have a corresponding square cross-section.

A projection may be provided extending from an end face of the second portion of the mounting member, the projection being locatable within a corresponding recess in a wall of the second portion receiving channel for alignment of the handle relative to the mounting member in use. Efficient replacement of a handle may therefore be achieved.

Securing means is preferably provided for securing the handle to the mounting member in use. The securing means may comprise a grub screw arrangement, preferably comprising a grub screw arranged to pass through a securing channel in a wall of the handle adjacent the second portion receiving channel and into communication with a detent on the second portion of the mounting member. A plurality of such securing channels may be provided.

The mounting member preferably comprises a flanged rim between the first portion and the second portion. The first portion of the mounting member preferably comprises a generally circular external cross section.

The first portion may comprise a circumferential groove.

The guide means preferably comprises a plurality of annular components.

The flanged rim is preferably arranged to abut adjacent a surface of the cover, in use. One of the annular components may be locatable within the circumferential groove to retain it.

The first portion of the mounting member may further comprise one or more, preferably two, recesses, preferably extending from an end adjacent the door, in use, along a longitudinal axis of the mounting member.

The guide means preferably comprises biasing means, conveniently in the form of a coiled spring, to urge the handle towards an initial position.

The spring is preferably located adjacent the flanged rim of the mounting member in use.

The guide means preferably also comprises a limiting ring, fixedly mounted on the first portion of the mounting member, and adapted to limit movement of the ring relative to the door beyond a limiting point.

The limiting ring may comprise one or more inwardly extending projections locatable within the one or more recesses of the mounting member to fix the limiting ring relative to the mounting member in use.

The limiting ring is preferably locatable adjacent the spring in use.

The guide means may comprise an elastic ring to tightly retain the components of the guide means on the mounting member. The elastic ring may be in the form of a circlip, preferably located in the circumferential groove.

The cover may comprise inner and outer cover members both being generally disc shaped and having perpendicularly extending portions at their rims.

The inner cover member may comprise fixing means for fixing the inner cover member to the door in use. The fixing means may comprise screw fixing means. The inner cover member preferably extends over the guide means and mounting member to obscure them from view, in use. The outer cover member is preferably arranged to snap fit over the inner cover member to cover it from view, in use.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a door handle assembly in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a door handle assembly comprises a handle 2, a spindle 4, a mounting member 6 for mounting guide means 8, which guides and limits the extent of movement of the handle 2, and for detachably mounting the handle 2. The guide means 8 comprises a flat coiled spring 10 for urging the handle 2 towards an initial position, a limiting ring 12 for limiting the range of movement of the handle 2 and an elastic ring in the form of a circlip 14 for tightly retaining the guide means 8 on the mounting member 6 in use. The assembly also comprises a cover 16 for extending over the mounting member 6 and guide means 8 to conceal them from view in use. The cover 16 comprises an inner cover member 18 and an outer cover member 20.

The handle 2 has a cylindrical stem 21 having an inset end wall 22 from which a blind second portion receiving channel 24 of square cross-section extends axially into the stem 21 of the handle 2. The stem 21 is also provided with a screw-threaded hole (not shown), which extends perpendicularly to and opens into the second portion receiving channel 24. The screw-threaded hole receives a grub screw 26. A square section recess (not shown) is formed at a closed end of the second portion receiving channel 24.

The spindle 4 is of a square cross section and is adapted to be received within a portion of the mounting member 6 as described in detail below.

The mounting member 6 has a cylindrical first portion 28 for mounting the guide means 8 and a second portion 30 for detachably mounting the handle 2. The first portion 28 of the mounting member 6 contains a co-axial socket 28' of a square cross-section, complementary to the external dimensions of the spindle 4 such that the spindle 4 is slideably receivable within the socket 28'. The second portion 30 of the mounting member 6 is in the form of a spigot of square external cross-section complementary to the second portion receiving channel 24 in the stem 21 of the handle 2 such that the second portion 30 is slideably receivable within the second portion receiving channel 24 of the mounting member 6.

The second portion 30 of the mounting member 6 has an end face 32 from which a short square section projection (not shown) centrally extends.

This projection is locatable within the square section recess at the closed end of the second portion receiving channel 24. Holes 34 are formed in opposed external surfaces of the second-portion either of which is alienable with the screw-threaded hole in the stem 21 of the handle to be engaged by the grub screw 26, so as to secure the handle to the mounting member 6.

A flanged rim 36 separates the first portion 28 and the second portion 30 of the mounting member 6 and fits into the end of the stem 21 against the inset end wall 22.

The external cross-section of the first portion 28 is circular as seen in Figure 1. A circumferential groove 38 is formed around the first portion 28 near its open end 40. Two diametrically opposed recesses 42 are formed in the wall of the first portion 28 extending from the open end 40 parallel to a central longitudinal axis 44 of the mounting member 6.

The coiled spring 10 has a hooked inner end 10' and a hooked outer end 10". The limiting ring 12 has two diametrically opposed inwardly extending projections 46 which have dimensions suitable for location within the diametrically opposed recesses 42 of the mounting member 6.

A circumferential recess 48 extends through 90 at a perimeter portion of the limiting ring 12. The recess 48 is defined between a first radial limiting surface 50 and a second radial limiting surface 52 of the limiting ring 12.

The inner cover member 18 is generally circular with a rearwardly extending peripheral rim 56 and has four screw receiving apertures 54 spaced equally around the inside of the rim and an integral peg 58 extending rearwardly from the back of a front wall 59 of the inner cover member 18. The peg 58 extends for the same distance as the depth of the rim 56. The front wall 59 of the inner cover member 18 has a central circular aperture 60 which is of complementary diameter to the cylindrical first portion 28 of the mounting member 6.

The outer cover member 20 also generally comprises a disc 62 having a rearwardly extending peripheral rim 64 and fits over the inner cover member 18 with a snap fit engagement. A central circular aperture 66 formed in the disc 62 of the outer cover member 20 is of a complementary diameter to the cylindrical exterior of the stem 21 of the handle. The disc 62 extends over the front wall 59 of the inner cover member 18 and conceals the screw receiving apertures 54 of the inner cover member 18 from view.

In the construction of the assembly the guide means 8 is mounted upon the mounting member 6 in the manner which will now be described. The inner cover member 18 is fitted onto the first portion 28 of the mounting member 6 to abut against the flanged rim 36. The coiled spring 10 is positioned on the first portion 28 inside the inner cover member 18 against the back of the front wall 59. The hooked inner end lO'of the coiled spring 10 is engaged in one of the recesses 42 of the first portion and the hooked outer end 10" is anchored around the peg 58. Next the limiting ring 12 is slid onto the first portion mounting member 6 against the spring 10 with the inwardly extending projections 46 engaging and sliding in the recesses 42. The circumferential recess 48 of the limiting ring 12 straddles the peg 58 so that its first and second limiting surfaces 50, 52 provide stops to limit the turning movement of the limiting ring, and hence of the mounting member 6, relative to the inner cover member 18. The spring urges the one limiting surface to engage with the peg such as to urged the handle 2, when fitted to the mounting member, to a normal, horizontal, at rest position.

The circlip 14 is then snapped into the circumferential groove 38 of the first portion of the mounting member 6 to retain the guide means 8 securely on the mounting member 6. The components of the guide means 6 are all contained within the depth of the rim 56 of the inner cover member 18.

For use of the assembly on a door, the spindle is inserted, in usual manner, on a suitable aperture or door to operate a door opening mechanism.

The mounting member 6, with the guide means 8 and inner cover member 18 mounted thereon, is slid onto the spindle 4 such that the first portion 28 is adjacent the door and is fixed to the door by screws engaged in the four screwing receiving apertures 54 of the inner cover member.

The outer cover member 20 is then snap-fitted over the inner cover member 18 to cover that member and conceal the screws from view. The handle 2 is slid onto the second portion 30 of the mounting member 6 which is received into the second receiving channel 24 in the stem of the handle. The handle 2 is orientated, so as to be substantially horizontal, in its at rest position. The grub screw 26 is tightened in the screw-threaded hole of the stem of the handle into the aligned hole 34 in the adjacent surface of the second portion 30 of the mounting member 6 so as to secure the handle to the mounting member. When the handle is so secured the end of the stem 21 extends over the flanged rim 36 of the mounting member and freely into the central aperture 66 of the outer cover member, leaving the stem free to turn relative to the outer cover member.

Upon operation of the handle 2, against the action of the spring 10, the turning movement of the handle 2 is limited by the interaction of the limiting ring 12 and the peg 58. At the limit of its turning movement against the spring action the handle extends substantially vertically downwards. When released the handle is returned to its at rest position by the spring 10.

Conventional handle assemblies are provided mounted directly on the spindle which also mounts the guide means and, if it is desired to remove or replace the handle, it is necessary to remove the cover to be able to detach the handle from the door. The present invention allows the handle 2 to be easily removed by simply releasing the grub screw 26 from its engagement with the second portion 30 of the mounting member and sliding the handle 2 off the second portion, the latter remaining in place on the door. A replacement handle, or other operating device e.g. a door knob, having a similar square section second portion receiving channel 24 may then be positioned on the mounting member and used as part of the assembly.

Various modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from its scope. For example, different forms of spindle, guide means, cover, mounting member or handle may be used. For example, a hexagonal section spindle may be used. Alternate limiting and biasing means may be used. Another shaped cover may be used with different forms of door attachment. Another form of mounting member may be used according to the type of guide means being used. Instead of a handle a door knob or similar operating mechanism may be provided and a different form of attachment of the operating mechanism may be used for engagement with the spindle.

Claims

1. A door handle assembly for removably fixing a handle to a door, the assembly comprising a spindle, suitable for passing through an aperture in the door, upon which spindle is mounted a mounting member for mounting guide means for guiding movement of the handle, the mounting member being located adjacent the door in use, a cover, fixed with respect to the door in use, mounted on the spindle to extend over the mounting member and guide means, the handle being removeably mounted on the mounting member such that the handle is removable from the door independently of the mounting member and cover.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the mounting member comprises a first portion for mounting the guide means and a second . 15 portion for mounting the handle. -.

3. An assembly according to Claim 2, wherein the first portion defines a spindle receiving channel profiled to receive at least part of the ë-..

spindle. . .e

20

4. An assembly according to Claim 3, wherein the spindle receiving channel is profiled to slideably receive at least part of the spindle.

5. An assembly according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the spindle has a square external cross-section and the spindle receiving channel has a corresponding square cross-section.

6. An assembly according to any of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the handle defines a second portion receiving channel profiled to receive at least a part of the second portion of the mounting member.

7. An assembly according to Claim 6, wherein the second portion receiving channel is profiled to slideably receive at least a part of the second portion of the mounting member.

8. An assembly according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the second portion has a square external cross-section and the second portion receiving channel has a corresponding square cross-section.

9. An assembly according to any of Claims 2 to 8, wherein a projection is provided extending from an end face of the second portion of the mounting member, the projection being locatable within a corresponding recess in a wall of the second portion receiving channel for alignment of the handle relative to the mounting member in use. . .e ...

. 15

10. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein securing : means is provided for securing the handle to the mounting member in use. :'

11. An assembly according to Claim 10, wherein the securing means

I

comprises a grub screw arrangement. . ..

:.. 20

12. An assembly according to Claim 11, wherein the grub screw arrangement comprises a grub screw arranged to pass through a securing channel in a wall of the handle adj acent the second portion receiving channel and into communication with a detent on the second portion of the mounting member.

13. An assembly according to Claim 12, wherein a plurality of such securing channels are provided.

14. An assembly according to any of Claims 2 to 13, wherein the mounting member comprises a flange between the first portion and the second portion.

15. An assembly according to any of Claims 2 to 14, wherein the first portion of the mounting member has a generally circular external crosssection.

16. An assembly according to Claim 15, wherein the first portion has a circumferential groove therein.

17. An assembly according to any of Claims 2 to 16, wherein the guide means comprises a plurality of annular components. ë. ...

. 15

18. An assembly according to any of Claims 14 to 17, wherein the A flanged rim is arranged to abut adjacent a surface of the cover, in use. :e

19. An assembly according to Claim 17 or Claim 18, wherein one of the annular components is locatable within the circumferential groove to ..e 20 retain it.

20. An assembly according to Claims 2 to 19, wherein the first portion of the mounting member has one or more recesses therein.

21. An assembly according to Claim 20, wherein the first portion has two recesses therein.

22. An assembly according to Claim 20 or Claim 21, wherein the or each recess extends from an end adjacent the door, in use, along a longitudinal axis of the mounting member.

23. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the guide means comprises biasing means to urge the handle towards an initial position.

24. An assembly according to Claim 23, wherein the biasing means comprises a coiled spring.

25. An assembly according to Claim 24, wherein the spring is located adjacent the flanged rim of the mounting member in use.

26. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the guide means also comprises a limiting ring, fixedly mounted on the first portion of the mounting member, and adapted to limit movement of the ring relative to the door beyond a limiting point. . 15

I'.' .

27. An assembly according to Claim 26, wherein the limiting ring . comprises one or more inwardly extending projections locatable within the one or more recesses of the mounting member to fix the limiting ring -.

relative to the mounting member in use. ..e 20

28. An assembly according to Claim 26 or Claim 27, wherein the limiting ring is locatable adjacent the spring in use.

29. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the guide means comprises an elastic ring to tightly retain components of the guide means on the mounting member.

30. An assembly according to Claim 29, wherein the elastic ring is in the form of the circlip.

31. An assembly according to Claim 31, wherein the circlip is located in the circumferential groove.

32. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover comprises inner and outer cover members both being generally disc shaped and having perpendicularly extending portions at their rims.

33. An assembly according to Claim 32, wherein the inner cover member comprises fixing means for fixing the inner cover member to the door in use.

34. An assembly according to Claim 33, wherein the fixing means comprises screw fixing means. ate .

^ 15

35. An assembly according to Claim 33 or Claim 34, wherein the inner A. . cover member extends over the guide means and mounting member to obscure them from view, in use.

36. An assembly according to any of Claims 32 to 35, wherein the ..

20 outer cover member is arranged to snap fit over the inner cover member to cover it from view, in use.

37. An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.