GB2522610A

GB2522610A - Handle assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2522610A
Application number: GB1321940.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart Leslie Norcott; Andrew Basten
Original assignee: Assa Abloy Ltd
Current assignee: Assa Abloy Ltd
Priority date: 2013-12-11
Filing date: 2013-12-11
Publication date: 2015-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 2033-12-11
Also published as: GB2522610B; GB201321940D0; CN204876818U

Abstract

A handle assembly comprising a telescopic shaft 11, 22, connecting first and second manually operable actuators, e.g. handles, 1, 2 mounted on opposing sides of a door or window. Preferably a first axial rod 11 is hollow within which adjustably slides a second rod 22 accommodating different door thicknesses. A follower 3 may be tightly or slidably received on the spindle shaft 11. Also claimed is a handle assembly wherein an elongate spindle has a cross section in thickness wherein a length is more than twice its width such that two opposing sides 4, 5, are longer than two opposing shorter sides 6, 7. The two opposing longer sides may be curved.

Description

Handle assembly This invention relates to a handle assembly.

In a very well-known handle assembly a pair of handles are plaoed on opposite sides of a door or window and have cavities of square cross-section in which opposite ends of a square rod are received. The handles are rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the rod to rotate the rod on which an actuator is non-rotatably mounted so that it is rotated when a user rotates a handle. Rotation of the actuator by the handle, commonly against a resilient bias, may serve to retract a locking or latching member to allow the door or window to be opened.

There are many variations of this design. The "handles" may take a wide variety of forms and may, for example, incorporate locking assemblies. The door or window will most commonly be mounted on hinges but it may alternatively be slidably mounted or movably mounted in some other way. The actuator may be fixed on the rod or it may be slidably mounted on the rod or other arrangements may be adopted.

Common to all these arrangements is a rod of square external cross-section that extends through the thickness of the door or window and is received in a cavity of square cross-section on each of the opposite sides of the door or window. The handle assembly can be adapted to operate with a wide range of door thicknesses by providing a long rod which is suitable for a very thick door or window; the rod can then be cut dcwn in length to fit doors or windows of less thickness.

Tn order that the square cross-section rod can be easily fitted through the actuator, a small clearance has to be allowed between the interengaging parts. That inevitably results in a certain amount of play and that play is only increased if the tolerances are not very tight or the interengaging parts wear over time.

Tt is an object of the invention to provide an improved handle assembly.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a handle assembly comprising a first manually operable actuator for mounting on one side of a door or window, a second manually operable actuator for mounting on the opposite side of a door or window, and an elongate transmission for extending between the first and second manually operable actuators, the manually operable actuators being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the elongate transmission when assembled, wherein the elongate transmission comprises a telescopic rod assembly.

By providing a telescopic elcngate transmissicn it becomes possible to provide a handle assembly that can be fitted to a wide variety of thicknesses of doors and windows without any need to cut down the transmission.

The telescopic rod assembly preferably comprises a first rod for extending from the first manually operable actuator towards the second manually operable actuator and a second rod for extending from the second manually operable actuator towards the first manually operable aotuator. The first rod preferably telescopically engages the second rod when assembled. Thus there may be only two rods provided and that is the preferred arrangement, but it is within the scope of the invention for there to be one or more further rods forming the telescopic rod assembly.

Tt will be understood that the handle assembly may commonly be sold with the various parts separate and the present invention is directed to the parts prior to assembly, as well as to the assembled parts. Thus reference is made to the parts of the assembly and features that arise when the parts are assembled, by using the phrase vwhen assembled".

At least the distal end of the first rod is preferably hollow and the distal end of second rod is preferably slidably received within distal end of the first rod when assembled. The cross-section of the first and/or second rods is preferably constant along the lengths of the rods.

As will be understood, in that case, the external cross-section of the first rod will be greater than the external cross-section of the second rod.

The first rod may be non-rotatably mounted in the first manually operable actuator when assembled. The second rod may be non-rotatably mounted in the second manually operable actuator when assembled. The manually operable actuators may take a wide variety of forms. Tn a very common arrangement, the first and/or second manually operable actuator is a handle. The first and/or second manually operable actnators nay take other forms, for example the actuator may be key operated.

At least one of the ends of elongate transmission is preferably of an elongate external cross-section having a length that is more than twice its width. By providing an elongate external cross-section, the play between the transmission and the manually operable actuator can be reduced for a given clearance between the transmission and the actuator. Also, more wear may be required to increase the amount of play, compared to a square cross-section, and therefore the effect of wear on the amount of play may be reduced.

The elongate external cross-section may comprise two opposite longer sides and two opposite shorter ends. The two opposite sides may be at least partially curved. The curved sides may bow outwardly along middle portions. The two opposite shorter ends may be substantially straight.

The curved longer sides may be of approximately constant radius of curvature and the centre of the radius of curvature may be outside the external cross-section.

In the case where the telescopic rod assembly comprises first and second rods, at least the distal end of the first rod is preferably of an elongate external cross-section having a length that is more than twice its width.

Preferably, the first rod is of constant cross-section.

The elongate external cross-section preferably comprises two opposite longer sides and two opposite shorter ends, the two opposite sides being preferably at least partially curved. As will be understood, the elongate external cross-section of the first rod may have any of the featllres of the elongate external cross-section of the transmission described above.

The second rod may similarly have the features just described in respect of the first rod. As will be understood, in the case of the second rod, the external cross-section of the rod will be smaller than the external cross-section of the first rod.

The internal cross-section of the first rod is preferably matched to the external cross-section of the second rod. Preferably the wall thickness of the first rod is approximately constant along each of its two opposite longer sides.

The assembly may further include a follower non-rotatably mounted on the elongate transmission when assembled, the follower including a radially projecting actuating part for engagement with another part to be moved upon rotation of the elongate transmission. The follower may be fixed to the elongate transmission, or it may be a tight fit on the transmission, or it may be slidably mounted; in that last case, the axial position of the follower is preferably restricted by some other part of the assembly when in use.

The follower may have an opening through which the elongate transmission passes when assembled, the opening being of elongate internal cross-section. In the case where the telescopic rod assembly comprises first and second rods and the distal end of the second rod is slidably received within the distal end of the first rod when assembled, the follower is preferably non-rotatably mounted on the first rod when assembled.

The use of an elongate transmission which is of an elongate external cross-section is itself a novel and inventive aspect of the invention and can be employed even in a case where the transmission is not telescopic.

Accordingly, in a second aspect, the invention provides a handle assembly comprising a first manually operable actuator for mounting on one side of a door or window, a second manually operable actuator for mounting on the opposite side of a door or window, and an elongate transmission for extending between the first and second manually operable actuators, the manually operable actuators being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the elongate transmission when assembled, wherein at least one of the ends of the elongate transmission is of an elongate external cross-section having a length that is more than twice its width.

Such an elongate external cross-section may be employed in a wide variety of spindle designs, including for example ones employing what are known as "split spindles" and/or "split followers".

The handle assembly of the second aspect of the invention may incorporate any of the features described above with reference to the handle assembly of the first aspect of the invention and vice versa.

The present invention further provides a door or window fitted with a handle assembly as defined above.

By way of example an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a partly exploded isometric view of a handle assembly; Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the handle assembly of Fig. 1 when assembled; Fig. 3 is a side view of the handle assembly of Figs. 1 and 2 with opposite sides of a door to which it is fitted shown in dotted outline; Fig. 4 is an end view of a part of the handle assembly of Figs. 1 to 3.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the handle assembly shown generally comprises a first handle 1 mounted for rotation on a faceplate SA, a second handle 2 mounted for rotation on a second faceplate 2A, a spindle or rod II extending from the first handle 1, a spindle or rod 22 extending from the second handle 2, and a follower 3.

The handles 1 and 2 may take any of a wide variety of forms including many forms that are conventional in most respects. They are shown in the drawings as having simple cylindrical end parts lB and 2B respectively, but those parts may be replaced by lever handles or other parts. The handles 1 and 2 are notable for having recesses of special shapes for receiving the spindles 11 and 22, as will be described below.

The spindle 22 is solid and of constant cross-section along its length. The external cross-section of the spindle 22 is an elongate shape and will be described further below.

The spindle 11 is hollow and of constant cross-section along its length. As can be seen most clearly in Fig. 4 which is an end view of the spindle 11, its external cross-section is an elongate shape, formed of two opposite longer curved sides 4 and 5, and two opposite shorter ends 6 and 7. The sides 4 and 5 are of substantially constant radius of curvature, are bowed outwardly to a maximum separation at a mid-point, and the centre of curvature of each of the sides is outside the cross-section. The shorter ends 6 and 7 are substantially straight. The wall thickness of the hollow spindle 11 is approximately constant around its entire circumference, so the internal cross-section of the spindle 2 is of similar shape to the external cross-section.

The external cross-section of the spindle 22 is matched to the internal cross-section of the spindle U so that the distal end of the spindle 22 can be received as a close sliding fit in the distal end of the hollow spindle 11. In the particular example shown in the drawings there is a clearance of about mm between the exterior of the spindle 22 and the interior of the spindle 11.

As can be seen in Fig. 1, the spindle 11 is fitted into a correspondingly shaped recess in the handle 1 as a close fit. The spindle 22 is similarly fitted into a correspondingly shaped recess in the handle 2 as a close fit. Thns, as will be nnderstood the recess in the handle 1 is of similar shape to, but larger oross-section than, the recess in the handle 2.

The follower 3 is provided with an opening 31 of elongate cross-section matched to the external cross-section of the spindle 11. Integral actuators 32A and 32B project radially outwardly from the main part of the follower 3. In the particular example shown in the drawings there is a clearance of about mm between the exterior of the spindle 11 and the boundary of the opening 31.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, when the handles are assembled on opposite sides of a door, the distal end of the spindle 22 is inserted into the distal end of the spindle 11 to form a telescopic assembly. As part of that assembly, the distal end of the spindle 11 is inserted into the opening 31 in the follower 3. When so assembled the separation of the faceplates 1A and 2A can be adjusted according to the thickness of the door simply by moving them towards or away from each other with the variation in thickness being accommodated by the telescopic sliding movement of the spindles 11 and 22 relative to one another.

Because the cross-sections of the interengaging parts of the spindles 11, 22, and follower 3 are of the elongate shape shown, the clearances between those parts when they are assembled result in less play and less backlash than -10 -would be the case if the cross-sections were of the same area but of square shape. Furthermore, more wear is required in the design shown in the drawings to increase the amount of play, compared to a square cross-section.

In one particular example of the invention the spindle 22 is of 55 mm length and the spindle 11 is of 54 mm length. The elongate external cross-section of the spindle 11 has a length, measured between the opposite ends 6 and 7 of 9.5 mm, a maximum width measured between the mid-points of the curved sides 4 and 5 of 5.5 mm and a minimum width measured where the sides 4, 5 meet the ends 6, 7 of 2.5 mm. The wall thickness of the spindle 11 is 1 mm. As already indicated, the clearance between the exterior of the spindle 22 and the interior of the spindle 11 is A nun, and thus the elongate external cross-section of the spindle 22 has a length, measured between its opposite ends, of 7 mm, a maximum width measured between the mid-points of the curved sides of 3 mm and a minimum width measured where the curved sides meet the end of 1 mm. In this example, the parts are made of steel.

The handle assembly of the invention may be employed when a new lockset is being provided, or it can be retrofitted to an existing lockset if the follower 3 can be designed to replace the follower of the existing lockset.

Whilst one particular ertodiment of the invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, many variations to that embodiment may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, the nature of the -11 -handles 1 and 2 may be varied in many different ways; one or both handles may be lever handles and/or may be key-operated. The spindles II and 22 may be fixed to the handles 1 and 2 or may be freely slidable therein. The handles 1 and 2 may at their simplest each be single members but they may also be complex assemblies. Whilst it is convenient for the spindles 11 and 22 to be of constant cross-section and received in correspondingly shaped recesses in the handles 1 and 2 respectively, that is not essential and the handles may be rotatably coupled to the spindles in any other suitable way.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or

elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable eguivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as If individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims.

Claims

-12 -Claims: 1. A handle assembly comprising a first manually operable actuator for mounting on one side of a door or window, a second manually operable actuator for mollnting on the opposite side of a door or window, and an elongate transmission for extending between the first and second manually operable actuators, the manually operable actuators being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the elongate transmission when assembled, wherein the elongate transmission comprises a telescopic rod assembly.
2. A handle assembly according to claim 1, in which the telescopic rod assembly comprises a first rod for extending from the first manually operable actuator towards the second manually operable actuator and a second rod for extending from the second manually operable actuator towards the first manually operable actuator.
3. A handle assembly according to claim 2, in which the first rod telescopically engages the second rod when assembled.
4. A handle assembly according to claim 2 or 3, in which at least the distal end of the first rod is hollow and the distal end of the second rod is slidably received within the distal end of the first rod when assembled.
5. A handle assembly according to any of claims 2 to 4, in which the first rod is non-rotatably mounted in the first manually operable actuator when assembled.

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6. A handle assembly according to any of claims 2 to 5, in which the second rod is non-rotatably mounted in the second manuaiiy operable actnator when assembled.
7. A handle assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the first manually operable actuator is a handle.
8. A handle assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the second manually operable actnator is a handle.
9. A handle assembly according to any preceding claim, in which at least one of the ends of the elongate transmission is of an elongate external cross-section having a length that is more than twice its width.
10. A handle assembly according to claim 9, in which the elongate external cross-section comprises two opposite longer sides and two opposite shorter ends, the two opposite sides being at least partially curved.
11. A handle assembly according to claim 10, in which the curved longer sides are of approximately constant radius of curvature and the centre of the radius of curvature is outside the external cross-section.
12. A handle assembly according to any of claims 2 to 6, or any of claims 7 to 11 when dependent upon claim 2, in which at least the distal end of the first rod is of an elongate external cross-section having a length that is more than twice its width.
13. A handle assembly according to claim 12, in which the elongate external cross-section comprises two opposite longer sides and two opposite shorter ends, the two opposite sides being at least partially curved.

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14 - 14. A handle asser±ly according to claim 10, in which the curved longer sides are of approximately ccnstant radius cf curvature and the centre of the radius of curvature is outside the external cross-section.
15. A handle assembly according to any of claims 2 to 6 or 12 to 14, or any of claims 7 to 11 when dependent upon claim 2, in which at least the distal end of the second rod is of an elongate external cross-section having a length that is more than twice its width.
16. A handle assembly according to claim 15, in which the elongate external cross-section comprises two opposite longer sides and two opposite shorter ends, the twc opposite sides being at least partially curved.
17. A handle assembly according to claim 16, in which the curved longer sides are of approximately constant radius of curvature and the centre of the radius of curvature is outside the external cross-section.
18. A handle assembly according to any preceding claim, further including a follower non-rotatably mounted on the elongate transmission when assembled, the follower including a radially projecting actuating part for engagement with a another part to be moved upon rotation of the elongate transmission.
19. A handle assembly according to claim 18, in which the follower has an opening through which the elongate transmission passes when assembled, the opening being of elongate internal cross-section.

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20. A handle assembly according to claim 19 when dependent upon claim 4, in which the follower is non-rotatably mounted on the first rod when assembled.
21. A handle assembly comprising a first manually operable S actnator for mounting on one side of a door or window, a second manually operable actuator for mounting on the opposite side of a door or window, and an elongate transmission for extending between the first and second manually operable actuators, the manually operable actuators being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the elongate transmission when assembled, wherein at least one of the ends of the elongate transmission is of an elongate external cross-section having a length that is more than twice its width.
22. A handle assembly according to claim 21, in which the elongate external cross-section comprises two opposite longer sides and two opposite shorter ends, the two opposite sides being at least partially curved.
23. A handle assembly according to claim 22, in which the curved longer sides are of approximately constant radius of curvature and the centre of the radius of curvature is outside the external cross-section.
24. A handle assembly according to any of claims 21 to 23, further including a follower non-rotatably mounted on the elongate transmission when assembled, the follower including a radially projecting actuating part for engagement with a another part to be moved upon rotation of the elongate transmission.

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25. A handle assembly according to claim 24, in which the follower has an opening through which the elongate transmission passes when assembled, the opening being of elongate internal cross-section.
26. A handle assembly snbstantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
27. A door or window fitted with a handle assembly according to any preceding claim.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims: 1. A handle assembly comprising a first manually operable actuator for mounting on one side of a door or window, a second manually operable actuator for mounting on the opposite side of a door or window, and an elongate transmission for extending between the first and second manually operable actuators, the manually operable actuators being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the elongate transmission when assembled, wherein the elongate transmission comprises a telescopic rod assembly comprising a first rod for extending from the first manually operable actuator towards the second manually operable actuator to a r distal end and a second rod for extending from the second Co C'-J manually operable actuator towards the first manually operable actuator to a distal end, at least the distal end of the first rod being of an elongate external cross-section having a length that is more than twice its width and comprising two opposite longer sides and two opposite shorter ends, the two opposite sides being at least partially curved.2. A handle assembly according to claim 1, in which the first rod telescopically engages the second rod when assembled.3. A handie assembiy according to claim 1 or 2, in which at ieast the distai end of the first rod is hoiiow and the distai end of the second rod is siidabiy received within the distai end of the first rod when assembled.4. A handie assembiy according to any preceding ciaim, in which the first rod is non-rotatably mounted in the first manually operable actuator when assembied.5. A handie assembiy according to any preceding ciaim, in which the second rod is non-rotatabiy mounted in the second manuaiiy operable actuator when assembied.6. A handie assembiy according to any preceding ciaim, in which the first mannaliy operahie actuator is a handie. r7. A handie assembiy according to any preceding ciaim, in Co C'-J which the second manually operable actuator is a handie.8. A handie assembiy according to any preceding ciaim, in which at ieast one of the ends of the eiongate transmission is of an eiongate externai cross-section having a iength that is more than twice its width.9. A handie assembiy according to claim 8, in which the elongate external cross-section comprises two opposite longer sides and two opposite shorter ends, the two opposite sides being at least partially curved.10. A handle assembly according to claim 9, in which the curved longer sides are of approximately constant radius of curvature and the centre of the radius of curvature is outside the external cross-section.11. A handie assembiy according to any preceding claim, in which the curved longer sides of the elongate external cross-section of at ieast the distal end of the first rod are of approximately constant radius of curvature and the centre of the radius of curvature is outside the external cross-section.12. A handle assembly according to any preceding claim, in which at least the distal end of the second rod is of an elongate external cross-section having a length that is more than twice its width. r13. A handle assembly according to claim 12, in which the Co elongate external cross-section comprises two opposite longer sides and two opposite shorter ends, the two opposite sides being at least partially curved.14. A handle assembly according to claim 13, in which the curved longer sides are of approximately constant radius of curvature and the centre of the radius of curvature is outside the external cross-section.15. A handle assembly according to any preceding claim, further including a follower non-rotatably mounted on the elongate transmission when assembled, the follower including a radially projecting actuating part for engagement with a another part to be moved upon rotation of the elongate transmission.16. A handle assembly according to claim 15, in which the follower has an opening through which the elongate transmission passes when assembled, the opening being of elongate internal cross-section.17. A handle assembly according to claim 16 when dependent upon claim 3, in which the follower is non-rotatably mounted on the first rod when assembled.18. A handle assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.19. A door or window fittod with a handlo assembly r according to any preceding claim. Co (4