GB2485794A

GB2485794A - A handle arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2485794A
Application number: GB1019872.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence James Dolman
Original assignee: Trojan Hardware and Design Ltd
Current assignee: Trojan Hardware and Design Ltd
Priority date: 2010-11-24
Filing date: 2010-11-24
Publication date: 2012-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2030-11-24
Also published as: GB201019872D0; GB2485794B

Abstract

A handle arrangement 10 comprises a base member 12 in the form of a cover plate. A bush member 14 is mounted to turn on the base member 12 by means of a spring cassette system 16. The bush member 14 has a cam surface on which lock members in the form of elongate pegs will bear. A handle 20 is mounted to turn on the base 12. The bush 14 comprises 2 bush components 22 having opposed surfaces between which there is a gap 24, the two components being biased together to close the gap 24. The handle 20 carries lugs 26 which extend into the gap to be gripped by the bush components 22 at least when at rest.

Description

Improvements in or relating to handle arranqements The present invention relates to handle arrangements. In particular, examples of the present invention relate to handle arrangements for doors or windows.

Door handle arrangements commonly provide a handle on either face of the door, each of which can be used to open the door. Similarly, some windows allow for handle operation from both faces. The two handles may be connected through the door (or window) by means of a drive bar, often a metal bar of square section received in square sockets in each of the handles. The drive bar couples the two handles together so that when one handle is turned, the other will also turn. In addition, the drive bar couples the handles to latching, locking or other mechanisms within the door, allowing the door to be released by turning the handles.

In typical mechanisms, manufacturing tolerances arise between the drive bar and the sockets in the handles, and between the drive bar and the other door mechanisms. This can result in handles not sifting at their designed rest position, but sagging by an amount determined by the manufacturing tolerances. This can create an unsightly arrangement and can create an unsatisfactory feel to the operation of the handle, allowing the user to feel the handle moving to take up the tolerances before engaging the drive bar.

Examples of the present invention provide a handle arrangement for a door or window, comprising: a base member; a bush member mounted to turn on the base member and having a cam surface or surfaces; a lock member bearing on the cam surface or surfaces to move in response to the bush member turning; and a handle mounted to turn on the base member; wherein the bush member comprises two bush components having opposed surfaces between which there is a gap, the two components being biased together to close the gap, and wherein the handle carries at least one lug which extends into the gap to be gripped by the bush components, at least when at rest.

The handle may comprise a pair of lugs spaced to either side of the axis about which the handle turns. The or each lug may be integral with the handle. The or each lug may be cast with the handle. The handle may comprise a cylindrical barrel received in the base member to provide articulation for the handle to turn around the axis of the barrel, and wherein the radial extent of the lug or lugs from the barrel axis is less than the radius of the barrel.

The lock member may include an elongate peg which bears at one end against the or one of the cam surfaces and which moves axially as the bush member turns, there being a resilient member arranged to press the said peg end against the cam surface. The bearing of the lock member against the cam surface may provide the bias to close the gap between the bush components.

The handle and the bush member may turn coaxially.

The handle may have a socket aligned with the turning axis of the handle and in which a drive bar is received to be turned about the axis by the handle turning, the drive bar extending between the bush components to cause the bush to turn with the handle.

The bush components may each form a collar around the drive bar.

In another aspect, examples of the present invention provide a spring cassette for a handle arrangement for a door or window, comprising: a base member; a bush member mounted to turn on the base member and having a cam surface or surfaces; a lock member bearing on the cam surface or surfaces to move in response to the bush member turning; and wherein the bush member comprises two bush components having opposed surfaces between which there is a gap, the two components being biased together to close the gap.

The spring cassette may comprise any feature or combination of the features of the first aspect of the invention.

Examples of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs 1 and 2 are perspective views of the base member and handle, respectively without and with a drive bar fitted; Fig. 3 is a section through the arrangement of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show opposite faces of a spring cassette for incorporation into the arrangement of the earlier drawings; Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are a perspective and an exploded view of the spring cassette of Figs 4 and 5; Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the arrangement of Fig. 2 and also including the spring cassette; Fig. 9 is an assembled view corresponding with Fig. 8; Figs. 10 and 11 are, respectively, an exploded view and an assembled view of a second example spring cassette; and Fig. 12 is a further enlarged view of a bush component for the spring cassette of Figs. 10 and 11.

Overview Attention is first drawn to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, for an overview of the mechanism being described. The mechanism is a handle arrangement which may be particularly applicable to a door, but which may also find application on a window.

The handle arrangement 10 comprises a base member 12 in the form of a cover plate which provides a neat outward appearance when mounted on a door. A bush member 14 is mounted to turn on the base member 12 by means of a spring cassette 16, described in more detail below. The bush member 14 has a cam surface (not visible in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9). Lock members 18, in the form of elongate pegs, bear on the cam surface to move in response to the bush 14 turning. A handle 20 is mounted to turn on the base member 12.

The bush 14 comprises two bush components 22 having opposed surfaces (to be described) between which there is a gap 24, the two components 22 being biased together to close the gap 24. The handle 20 carries lugs 26 which extend into the gap 24 to be gripped by the bush components 22, at least when at rest.

Base member and handle Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show the base member 12 in more detail. The inside of the base member 12 is visible. When installed, the edge 28 would be against the door to which the arrangement 10 is filled, held in position by fixing screws located in sockets 30. The outside of the base member 12 then provides the external visible features of the base member 12.

The handle 20 is rotatably mounted in a suitable aperture 21 in the base member 12, by means of a bearing arrangement generally at 32. The handle 20 has a cylindrical barrel 34 received in the aperture 31 to provide articulation for the handle to turn around the axis 36 of the barrel. The handle has a square socket 38 centered at the axis 36, for receiving a square drive bar 40. In the event that handle arrangements 10 are fitted to both sides of the door or window, the drive bar 40 will extend through the door or window and into a corresponding socket 38 in a handle arrangement on the other face of the door or window, so that either of the handles 20 can be turned to cause the drive bar 40 to turn and thereby to turn the other handle.

In this example, the handle 20 carries a pair of lugs 26 (see Fig. 1, particularly) which are spaced to either side of the axis 36. Thus, the Iugs 26 are to either side of the socket 38. Each lug 26 is integral with the handle 20 (see Fig. 3).

That is, the lugs 26 are integrally formed with the handle 20, such as by casting with the handle 20. Moreover, the radial extent of the lugs 26 from the axis 36 is less than the radius of the barrel 34, as can be seen from Fig. 3.

Spring cassette (first example] Figs. 4 to 7 illustrate the spring cassette 16 of this example arrangement 10, on an enlarged scale.

The cassette 16 has a base plate 44 which has an opening 46 in which two parallel, elongate locking pegs 18 are located. The tree ends 48 of the pegs 18 are mounted in guide bores 50 defined by the base plate 44, allowing the pegs 18 to slide axially through the bores 50. At their other ends, the pegs 18 are connected with, or formed integrally with a common yoke 52 which has a cam face 54. Compression springs 56 are carried by each of the pegs 18 to be compressed between the yoke 52 and an edge of the opening 46 as the pegs 18 move in the guide bores 50.

The cassette 16 also includes the bush member 14 which has two components 22, as noted above. The two components 22 are best seen in Fig. 7. At the upper face of the base plate 44 (as viewed in Fig. 7), each component 22 has an arcuate edge 58. Walls 60 on the components 22 face each other to define part of a generally square region 62 between the components 22 and corresponding in size with the dimensions of the drive bar 40. Further pairs of opposed walls 61 define between them the gaps 24 for receiving the lugs 26. Lead-in surfaces 63 may be provided from the rear (Fig. 5).

At the back face of the base plate 44 (as viewed in Fig. 7), each component 22 has lateral flanges 64 which give the bush member 14 a non-circular shape (Fig. 5). The flanges 64 provide cam surfaces against which the yoke 52 bears, under the influence of the springs 56.

A groove 66 is provided between the edges 58 and the flanges 64 to receive the edges of the opening 46. The groove 66 is circular and centered at the axis 36, allowing the bush member 14 to turn around the axis 36.

When the cassette 16 is assembled (Fig. 6), the effect of the springs 56 will press the yoke 52 against the components 22, pressing them together to minimise the width of the gap 24 and also holding the yoke 52 against the cam flanges 64. If the bush member 14 is turned in either direction around the axis 36, one of the cam flanges 64 will push the yoke 52 away from the axis 36, against the bias provided by the springs 56. This action will push the pegs 18 through the guide bores 50 to extend out beyond the base plate 44. This allows the pegs 18 to act as lock members, either directly or by operation of other mechanisms (not illustrated) within the handle arrangement 10, door or window.

Assembly (first example) Assembly of the handle arrangement 10 can now be understood from Fig. 8 and is Fig. 9, in the light of the description of the earlier drawings, set out above.

The spring cassette 16 is offered to the base member 12, with the lugs 26 penetrating between the lead-in surfaces 63 to locate in respective gaps 24. This causes the bush components 22 to be separated very slightly, so that the springs 56 press back and cause the lugs 26 to be gripped lightly between the bush components 22. It is envisaged that only a small movement apart of the bush components 22, such as 0.5 mm, will be required. In particular, it is envisaged that the movement will be too small to cause the pegs 18 to activate any locking mechanisms.

The drive bar 40 is then inserted through the bush member 14 and into the socket 38.

S

Qperation (fjrst exampje When the assembled handle arrangement 10 is in a relaxed state, pressure between the yoke 52 and the cam flanges 64 will tend to hold the bush member 14 in the orientation illustrated in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Furthermore, the lugs 26 will be lightly gripped between the walls 61, as described above. Consequently, the handle 20 is directly held by the spring cassette 16, whether or not a drive bar 40 has been installed in the socket 38. The handle 20 is therefore reliably held at a predetermined position set by the construction of the bush member 14, the lugs 26 and the handle 20, and independent of the drive bar 40 or any manufacturing tolerances between the drive bar 40 and the socket 38. This prevents the unsightly appearance of a handle 20 which has sagged when at rest, because of the manufacturing tolerances.

When the handle 20 is turned by hand, resistance will be felt from the lugs 26 turning the bush member 14 and thus compressing the springs 56. This will give the user a positive feel, even if some manufacturing tolerances result in a small movement of the handle 20 being required before the tolerances are taken up and the drive bar 40 is picked up by the socket 38.

Thus, the initial movement of the bush member 14 may be driven by the lugs 26, but once the drive bar 40 has been picked up by the handle 20, further turning of the handle 20 will turn the drive bar 40, which will in turn engage the walls 60 to cause the bush member 14 to turn further. This continues to drive the pegs 18 out through the guide bores 50 to operate external locking mechanisms (not shown). Once the drive bar 40 is driving the bush member 14, the grip on the lugs 26 may be released slightly, according to manufacturing sizes, tolerances etc. SprinQcassette (second exan-jplej Figs. 10 to 12 illustrate a second example of a spring cassette 16a, again on an enlarged scale. The spring cassette 16a can be used in place of the spring cassette 16, described above. Many features of the two example cassettes 16, 16a are the same, or closely correspond. These features are given the same reference numerals as in previous figures.

The cassette 1 6a has a base plate 44a which has an opening 46 in which three parallel, elongate locking pegs 18 are located. The free ends 48 of the pegs 18 are mounted in guide bores 50 defined by the base plate 44a, allowing the pegs 18 to slide axially through the bores 50. At their other ends, the pegs 18 are connected with, or formed integrally with a common yoke 52 which has a cam face 54. Compression springs 56 are carried by some of the pegs 18 to be compressed between the yoke 52 and an edge of the opening 46 as the pegs 18 move in the guide bores 50. In this example, the ends of the yoke 52 are captive in slots 70 in the base plate 44a.

The cassette 16a also includes an alternative form of bush member 14a which has two components 22a. The two components 22a are best seen in Fig. 10. A single component 22a is shown in Fig. 12. Each component 22a is identical, and is in the form of a collar defining a generally rectangular aperture 72 and an edge 74. A rebate 76 is formed in the edge 74. An upstand 78 is provided, opposite the rebate 76. Two teeth 80 project out of the plane of the collar and provide waIls 61 a. The edge 74 is generally rounded, except in the region of the rebate 76andtheupstand 78.

The components 22a are assembled by inverting and reversing one of them (Fig. 10), bringing them together with each upstand 78 in the rebate 76 of the other component 22a, and each pair of teeth 80 in the aperture 72 of the other component 22a (Fig. 11). The separation of the teeth 80 and the upstand 78, together with the dimensions of the rebate 76 and the aperture 72, allow a small amount of relative movement of the components 22a, in the plane of the collars and perpendicular to the walls 61 a, that is, along a direction from the upstand 78 to the rebate 76.

When assembled, the components 22a define a generally square central region 62 between walls 60a, corresponding in size with the dimensions of the drive bar 40. Pairs of the opposed walls 61 a define between them the gaps 24 for receiving the lugs 26. Lead-in surfaces 63 may be provided on the teeth 80.

After assembly, the rounded edges 74 extend into the slots 70 in the base plate 44a, and also provide cam surfaces against which the yoke 52 bears, under the influence of the springs 56.

When the cassette 16a is assembled (Fig. 11), the effect of the springs 56 will press the yoke 52 against the components 22a, pressing them together to minimise the width of the gap 24 between the surfaces 61a and also holding the yoke 52 against the edges 74. In the rest position, each upstand 78 will be bearing against the corresponding rebate 76. Each pair of teeth 80 will be spaced slightly inboard of the edge of the aperture 72.

If the bush member 14a is turned in either direction around the axis 36, the edges 74 will push the yoke 52 away from the axis 36, against the bias provided by the springs 56. This action will push the pegs 18 through the guide bores 50 to extend out beyond the base plate 44a. This allows the pegs 18 to act as lock members, either directly or by operation of other mechanisms (not illustrated) within the handle arrangement 10, door or window.

Assembly (second example) Assembly of the handle arrangement 10 with the spring cassette 16a of Figs. 10 to 12 is primarily achieved as described above in relation to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9.

The spring cassette 16a is offered to the base member 12, with the lugs 26 penetrating between the surfaces 61 a to locate in respective gaps 24. This causes the bush components 22a to be separated very slightly, so that the springs 56 press back and cause the lugs 26 to be gripped lightly between the bush components 22a. It is envisaged that only a small movement apart of the bush components 22á, such as 0.5 mm, will be required (and less than the movement required for the teeth 80 to engage the edge of the aperture 72). In particular, it is envisaged that the movement will be too small to cause the pegs 18 to activate any locking mechanisms.

The drive bar 40 is then inserted through the bush member 14a and into the socket 38.

Operation (second example) When the assembled handle arrangement 10 is in a relaxed state, pressure between the yoke 52 and the components 22a will tend to hold the bush member 14a in the orientation illustrated in Fig. 11. Furthermore, the lugs 26 will be lightly gripped between the walls 61a, as described above. Consequently, the handle is directly held by the spring cassette 16a, whether or not a drive bar 40 has been installed in the socket 38. The handle 20 is therefore reliably held at a predetermined position set by the construction of the bush member 1 4a, the lugs 26 and the handle 20, and independent of the drive bar 40 or any manufacturing tolerances between the drive bar 40 and the socket 38. This prevents the unsightly appearance of a handle 20 which has sagged when at rest, because of the manufacturing tolerances, as noted above.

When the handle 20 is turned by hand, resistance will be felt from the lugs 26 turning the bush member 14a and thus compressing the springs 56. This will give the user a positive feel, even if some manufacturing tolerances result in a small movement of the handle 20 being required before the tolerances are taken up and the drive bar 40 is picked up by the socket 38.

Thus, the initial movement of the bush member 14 may be driven by the lugs 26, but once the drive bar 40 has been picked up by the handle 20, further turning of the handle 20 will turn the drive bar 40, which will in turn engage the walls 60a to cause the bush member 14 to turn further. This continues to drive the pegs 18 out through the guide bores 50 to operate external locking mechanisms (not shown). Once the drive bar 40 is driving the bush member 14a, the grip on the lugs 26 may be released slightly, according to manufacturing sizes, tolerances etc. In this example, the collar form of the components 22a causes them to be captive on the drive bar 40. That is, the drive bar 40 will remain through the apertures 72 even if forces from the springs 56 or elsewhere seek to force the components 22a away from the assembled condition described. This ensures that the components 22a will return to the initial position (Fig. 11).

Concludinqiemarks In the examples described, the lugs 26 do not extend radially beyond the barrel 34, so that they can be introduced with the barrel 34 through the aperture 31 and can thus be formed integrally with the handle 20, thus removing one source of manufacturing tolerance and "play" in the operation of the assembled mechanism. However, the radial extent of the bush members 14, 14a need not be limited in this way, because these features are introduced from the rear, as part of the spring cassette 16, 1 6a. This, in conjunction with the bush components 22, 22a gripping the lugs 26, provides for a positive drive connection between the handle 20 and the pegs 18, and in which the rotation of the handle 20 can be significantly amplified by the cam action, without introducing another source of manufacturing tolerance and "play" in the operation.

Many variations modifications can be made that the apparatus described above, without departing from the scope of the invention being described. In particular, many different shapes, sizes and relative shapes and sizes can be chosen for the various components described. Components can be manufactured from various different materials, including metal and plastics.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A handle arrangement for a door or window, comprising: a base member; a bush member mounted to turn on the base member and having a cam surface or surfaces; a lock member bearing on the cam surface or surfaces to move in response to the bush member turning; and a handle mounted to turn on the base member; wherein the bush member comprises two bush components having opposed surfaces between which there is a gap, the two components being biased together to close the gap,SS.....* and wherein the handle carries at least one lug which extends into the gap to be gripped ***eS* * by the bush components, at least when at rest. * 0S * . * S.. *
2. A handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a pair of lugs spaced to either side of the axis about which the handle turns.S. �*esS
3. A handle arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each lug is integral with the handle.
4. A handle arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the or each lug is cast with the handle.
5. A handle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle comprises a cylindrical barrel received in the base member to provide articulation for the handle to turn around the axis of the barrel, and wherein the radial extent of the lug or lugs from the barrel axis is less than the radius of the barrel.
6. A handle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the lock member includes an elongate peg which bears at one end against the or one of the cam surfaces and which moves axially as the bush member turns, there being a resilient member arranged to press the said peg end against the cam surface.
7. A handle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the bearing of the lock member against the cam surface provides the bias to close the gap between the bush components.
8. A handle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle and the bush member are able to turn coaxially.
9. A handle arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle has * *,*** * a socket aligned with the turning axis of the handle and in which a drive bar is received * ** o* * to be turned about the axis by the handle turning, the drive bar extending between the bush components to cause the bush to turn with the handle.
10. A handle arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the bush components each form a collar around the drive bar.S t*SS
11. A handle arrangement for a door or window, substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A spring cassette for a handle arrangement for a door or window, comprising: a base member; a bush member mounted to turn on the base member and having a cam surface or surfaces; a lock member bearing on the cam surface or surfaces to move in response to the bush member turning; and wherein the bush member comprises two bush components having opposed surfaces between which there is a gap! the two components being biased together to close the gap.
13. A spring cassette according to claim 12 and forming part of a handle arrangement in accordance with any of claims 1 to 11.
14. A spring cassette for a handle arrangement for a door or window, substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the 6..S* * preceding claims.S****** * S * S. S. * .50 5SIS liSIS SI'S. I fl