GB2542157A

GB2542157A - Handle arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2542157A
Application number: GB1515990.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dolman Terry
Original assignee: Trojan Hardware and Design Ltd
Current assignee: Trojan Hardware and Design Ltd
Priority date: 2015-09-09
Filing date: 2015-09-09
Publication date: 2017-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2035-09-09
Also published as: GB2542157B; GB201515990D0

Abstract

A handle 10has a grip 12 coupled to a rotatable shaft 14 that extends in a longitudinal dimension and has multiple shaft protrusions 21-24. A wall 62 has an aperture for receiving a portion of the shaft; at least one retainer 70configured to retain the portion of the shaft in the aperture. The retainer or retainers have multiple stops 81-84 for alignment and engagement with the shaft protrusion in order to prevent the shaft from withdrawing from the aperture in the wall. Multiple retention protrusions 71-74prevent the shaft protrusions from misaligning with the stops.

Description

TITLE

Handle arrangement TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a handle arrangement. In particular, they relate to a handle arrangement for a door.

BACKGROUND A handle for a door or a window can be subject to a large amount of force, in particular if it is misused. If a grip of the handle is attached to a backplate, for example, the application of a large pulling force by a user to the grip can cause the grip to detach from the backplate, potentially resulting in injury to the user.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a handle arrangement, comprising: a grip coupled to a rotatable shaft that extends in a longitudinal dimension and has multiple shaft protrusions; a wall comprising an aperture for receiving a portion of the shaft; at least one retainer configured to retain the portion of the shaft in the aperture, the at least one retainer comprising multiple stops, wherein each of the multiple stops is for alignment with a shaft protrusion and is configured to engage with that shaft protrusion in order to prevent the shaft from moving in the longitudinal dimension and thereby withdraw from the aperture in the wall; and multiple retention protrusions, wherein each retention protrusion is configured to respond to rotation of the shaft protrusions by causing the multiple stops to rotate, in order to retain alignment of the multiple stops and the shaft protrusions.

Each of the multiple stops may be for alignment with a shaft protrusion in a radial dimensional and an azimuthal dimension.

The shaft protrusions may be configured to engage with the retention protrusions when the shaft protrusions are rotated, thereby causing the retention protrusions to rotate. The shaft protrusions may be arranged to rotate when the shaft is rotated. The shaft protrusions may extend radially from the shaft.

The at least one retainer may comprise an aperture for alignment with the aperture in the wall. The stops may be positioned azimuthally around the aperture in the at least one retainer. The stops may extend radially inwards towards the aperture in the at least one retainer.

The at least one retainer may comprise the retention protrusions. The retention protrusions may be positioned azimuthally around the aperture in the at least one retainer. The retention protrusions may extend in the longitudinal dimension and may extend radially inwards towards the aperture in the at least one retainer.

Adjacent shaft protrusions may have a recess therebetween. The retention protrusions may be configured to be at least partially positioned in the recesses in the adjacent shaft protrusions.

The retention protrusions may be configured to flex when the shaft protrusions are engaged with the retention protrusions. Adjacent shaft protrusions may have a recess therebetween. The retention protrusions may be configured to enter the recesses between the adjacent shaft protrusions in response to rotation of the shaft protrusions, after the flexing of the retention protrusions.

The at least one retainer may comprise at least some of the retention protrusions. The at least one retainer may comprise a first retainer comprising at least some of the retention protrusions, and a second retainer comprising at least some of the stops.

Adjacent stops may have a recess therebetween. The retention protrusions may be configured to extend through the recesses in the adjacent stops.

The wall may be provided by a backplate or a rose.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided examples as claimed in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

For a better understanding of various examples that are useful for understanding the detailed description, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a handle arrangement;

Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the handle arrangement in which first and second washers have been positioned on a shaft of the handle arrangement;

Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the handle arrangement in which a portion of the shaft has been inserted into a wall;

Figs 4A to 4D illustrate the handle arrangement in a first state in which a plurality of protrusions on the shaft have engaged with multiple retention protrusions, causing the multiple retention protrusions to flex; and

Figs 5A to 5D illustrate the handle arrangement in a second state in which the plurality of shaft protrusions has been rotated relative to the multiple retention protrusions, which causes the shaft protrusions to align with multiple stops.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a handle arrangement 10. Fig. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the handle arrangement 10. A cylindrical coordinate system is illustrated in fig. 1 and other figures which has an azimuthal dimension Θ, a radial dimension r and a longitudinal dimension z. Each of the dimensions Θ, r and z are orthogonal to one another. The handle arrangement 10 comprises a grip 12 that may be gripped and rotated by a user to open a door or a window, for example. The grip 12 is not illustrated in fig. 1, but is shown in other figures.

In the example illustrated in fig. 1, the handle arrangement 10 further comprises a shaft 14, a first washer 38, a second washer 40, a backplate 60, a first retainer 70 and a second retainer 90.

The grip 12 and the shaft 14 are coupled to one another and, in some embodiments such as the one illustrated in the figures, the grip 12 and the shaft 14 may be integrally formed. The grip 12 and the shaft 14 may, for instance, be made from one or more metals. For example, the grip 12 and the shaft 14 may be made from brass or stainless steel.

The shaft 14 extends along the longitudinal dimension z in fig. 1, and is substantially perpendicular to the grip 12. The shaft 14 has a first shaft portion 14a and a second shaft portion 14b. The first shaft portion 14a is proximal to the grip 12. The second shaft portion 14b is at the distal end of the shaft 14 relative to the grip 12. The second portion 14b of the shaft 14 has a narrower diameter than the first portion 14a of the shaft 14.

The shaft 14 comprises multiple, fixedly positioned shaft protrusions 21-24 at its distal end. The shaft protrusions 21-24 extend radially outwards from the shaft 14 and are distributed azimuthally around the circumference of the distal end of the shaft 14. Recesses 31-34 are positioned between adjacent shaft protrusions 21-24 around the circumference of the distal end of the shaft 14. A first recess 31 is positioned between first and second shaft protrusions 21, 22. A second recess 32 is positioned between second and third shaft protrusions 22, 23. A third recess 33 is positioned between third and fourth shaft protrusions 23, 24. A fourth recess 34 is positioned between the fourth shaft protrusion 24 and the first shaft protrusion 21.

The shaft 14 also comprises an aperture 8 at its distal end for receiving a spindle.

The first washer 38 is shaped to be positioned on the second portion 14b of the shaft 14. In the illustrated example, the first washer 38 has a circular cross-section. The first washer 38 may, for example, be made from rubber or a plastics material.

The second washer 40 is also shaped to be positioned on the second portion 14b of the shaft 14. When the first washer 38 and the second washer 40 are positioned on the second portion 14b of the shaft 14, they are both located between the shaft protrusions 21-24 and the first portion 14a of the shaft 14 in the longitudinal dimension z. More specifically, the first washer 38 is positioned between the second washer 40 and the first portion of the shaft 14a, and the second washer 40 is positioned between the shaft protrusions 21-24 and the first washer 38.

The second washer 40 may be made from rubber or a plastics material, for example. The second washer 40 comprises a plurality of protrusions 41-44 that extend in the longitudinal dimension z and are positioned azimuthally around the second washer 40.

The backplate 60 comprises a wall 62. However, in some embodiments, the handle arrangement 10 need not comprise a backplate 60. Instead, the wall 62 may be provided by a rose.

The wall 62 comprises an aperture 50 for receiving the second portion 14b of the shaft. The aperture 50 comprises a plurality of recesses 51-54 that extend radially outwards and which are distributed azimuthally around the aperture 50. The recesses 51-54 are positioned to enable the protrusions 41-44 of the second washer 40 to be located therein.

The first retainer 70 comprises an aperture 75, multiple retention protrusions 71-74 and multiple stops 81-84. The aperture 75 is for alignment with the aperture 50 in the wall 62 and comprises a plurality of recesses 76-79. Each stop 81-84 is positioned between adjacent retention protrusions 71-74 and between adjacent recesses 76-79 around the circumference of the aperture 75.

For example, a first stop 81 is positioned between first and second retention protrusions 71-72 and between first and second recesses 76, 77. A second stop 82 is positioned between second and third retention protrusions 72, 73 and between second and third recesses 77, 78. A third stop 83 is positioned between third and fourth retention protrusions 73, 74 and between third and fourth recesses 78, 79. A fourth stop 84 is positioned between the fourth retention protrusion 74 and the first retention protrusion 71 and between the fourth recess 79 and the first recess 76.

The recesses 76-79 and the retention protrusions 71-74 are positioned azimuthally around the aperture 75. The retention protrusions 71-74 are inwardly biased in the radial dimension r. Each retention protrusion extends from a recess 76-79. Each retention protrusion 71-74 extends in the longitudinal dimension z and extends radially inwards towards the aperture 75 in the first retainer 70. The recesses 76-79 are shaped to receive the shaft protrusions 21-24.

The second retainer 90 comprises an aperture 95 and multiple stops 101-104. The aperture 95 is for alignment with the aperture 50 in the wall 62. A plurality of recesses 91-94 and a plurality of stops 101-104 are positioned around the circumference of the aperture 95 in the second retainer 90. Each stop 101-104 extends radially inwards towards the aperture 95 and is positioned between adjacent recesses 91-94. For example, a first stop 101 is positioned between first and second recesses 91, 92, a second stop 102 is positioned between second and third recesses 92, 93, a third stop 103 is positioned between third and fourth recesses 93, 94 and a fourth stop 104 is positioned between the fourth recess 94 and the first recess 91. Both the recesses 91-94 and the stops 101-104 are positioned azimuthally around the aperture 95 in the second retainer 90. The recesses 91-94 are shaped to receive the retention protrusions 71-74 in the first retainer 70.

Fig. 2 illustrates a situation in which the first washer 38 and the second washer 40 have been positioned on the second portion 14b of the shaft 14. The backplate 60 has been removed in fig. 2 for clarity reasons.

Fig. 3 illustrates the handle arrangement 10 in the process of manufacture. It illustrates the second portion 14b of the shaft 14 in the aperture 50 in the wall 62 of the backplate 60, after the first and second washers 38, 40 have been positioned on the second portion 14b of the shaft 14. The first and second washers 38, 40 do not pass through the aperture 50 in the wall 62.

It can be seen in fig. 3 that the shaft protrusions 21-24 pass through the aperture 50 when the aperture 50 receives the second portion 14b of the shaft 14. The protrusions 41-44 in the second washer 40 are positioned in the recesses 51-54 in the aperture 50 in fig. 1. The presence of the protrusions 41-44 in the recesses 51-54 adds rotational strength to the handle arrangement 10.

The first retainer 70 and the second retainer 90 have been collocated in fig. 3, such that the retention protrusions 71-74 in the first retainer 70 are received by and extend through the recesses 91-94 in the second retainer 90. The stops 81-84 in the first retainer 70 are aligned with the stops 101-104 in the second retainer 90 in fig. 3.

After the second portion 14b of the shaft 14 has been positioned in the aperture 50 in a wall 62, the first retainer 70 and the second retainer 90 are positioned on the second portion 14b of the shaft 14, such that the wall 62 is positioned between the retainers 70, 90 and the washers 38, 40.

When the second portion 14b of the shaft 14 and the retainers 70, 90 are brought together (by movement in the longitudinal dimension z), the shaft protrusions 21-24 are aligned with the recesses 76-79 and the retention protrusions 71-74 in the first retainer 70 and aligned with the recesses 91-94 in the second retainer 90. As the shaft protrusions 21-24 are received by the recesses 76-79, 91-94, they engage with the retention protrusions 71-74, causing the retention protrusions 71-74 to flex outwardly in the radial dimension r.

Figures 4A to 4D illustrate the handle arrangement 10 in the process of manufacture. They illustrate shaft protrusions 21-24 located in the recesses 76-79, 91-94 in the first and second retainers 70, 90. Fig 4A is a front elevation of the handle arrangement 10. Fig. 4A includes a magnification of the area denoted with the reference numeral 81, as shown by the dotted line 82 in fig. 4A. Fig. 4C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the handle arrangement 10 and fig. 4D is a further magnification of the handle arrangement 10.

After the shaft protrusions 21-24 have been positioned in the recesses 76-79, 91-94 in the first and second retainers 70, 90, the shaft protrusions 21-24 are rotated during the process of manufacture. In this example, the shaft protrusions 21-24 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows 110 illustrated in fig. 4A and fig. 4D. This rotation is about the longitudinal axis z, in a clockwise (-Θ) direction.

The shaft protrusions 21-24 may be rotated by rotating the grip 12, which causes the shaft 14 to rotate. Since the shaft protrusions 21-24 are fixedly positioned on the second portion 14b of the shaft 14, rotation of the shaft 14 causes the shaft protrusions 21-24 to rotate.

The shaft protrusions 21-24 rotate in the direction indicated with the reference numeral 110 relative to the retention protrusions 71-74, such that the shaft protrusions 21-24 become aligned with the stops 81-84, 101-104 in the first and second retainers 70, 90 in the radial and azimuthal dimensions r, Θ. When the shaft protrusions 21-24 rotate, the inwardly biased retention protrusions 71-74 travel radially inwards. For example, when the first shaft protrusion 21 rotates in the direction 110 such that it is aligned with the stop 101 of the second retainer 90, the first retention protrusion 71 flexes radially inwards into the space vacated by the first shaft protrusion 21. Similarly, rotation of the second shaft protrusion 22 in the direction 110 causes the second retention protrusion 72 to flex radially inwards into the space vacated by the second shaft protrusion 22. A corresponding effect occurs due to the rotational movement of the third and fourth shaft protrusions 23, 24.

When the shaft protrusions 21-24 rotate relative to the retention protrusions 71-74, the retention protrusions 71-74 enter the recesses 31-34 between the shaft protrusions 21-24. The retention protrusions 71-74 are partially positioned in the recesses 76-79, 91-94 and extend through those recesses 79-79, 91-94 to be partially positioned in the recesses 31-34 between the shaft protrusions 21-24.

Figures 5A to 5D illustrate the handle arrangement 10 after the shaft protrusions 21-24 have been rotated and aligned with the stops 101-104. The shaft protrusions 21-24 and the retainers 70, 90 are shown in figs 5A to 5D in their final, post-manufacture arrangement. Fig. 5A is a front elevation of the handle arrangement. Fig. 5A includes a magnification of the area denoted with the reference numeral 83, as shown by the dotted line 84 in fig. 5A. Fig. 5C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the handle arrangement 10 and fig. 4D is a further magnification of the handle arrangement 10.

If the first shaft protrusion 21 is further rotated in the indicated direction 110 (during manufacture or in use post-manufacture), it reaches the second retention protrusion 72 and engages with it because the second retention protrusion 72 has flexed inwards. In this example, the first shaft protrusion 21 abuts the second retention protrusion 72 as it is rotated. Each of the second, third and fourth shaft protrusions 22-24 engage with (abut) the third, fourth and first retention protrusions 72, 73, 71 respectively. Further rotation of the shaft protrusions 21-24 in the indicated direction 110 causes simultaneous rotation of the retention protrusions 71-74. As the first, second and fourth retention protrusions 71-74 rotate, they engage with the stops 101-104 in the second retainer 90, causing the stops 101-104 to rotate simultaneously with the retention protrusions 71-74 and the shaft protrusions 21-24. In this example, the retention protrusions 71-74 abut the stops 101-104 as the retention protrusions 71-74 rotate. Thus, the engagement between the shaft protrusions 21-24, the retention protrusions 71-74 and the stops 101-104 causes the shaft 14, the first retainer 70 and the second retainer 90 to rotate simultaneously.

If, for example, the shaft protrusions 21-24 are rotated in the opposite (anticlockwise; +Θ) direction, the first, second, third and fourth shaft protrusions 21-24 engage with the first, second, third and fourth retention protrusions 71-74 respectively, which in turn engage with the fourth, first, second and third stops 104, 101, 102, 103 respectively. The engagement between the shaft protrusions 21-24, the retention protrusions 71-74 and the stops 101-104 causes the shaft 14, the first retainer 70 and the second retainer 90 to rotate simultaneously, maintaining alignment of the shaft protrusions 21-24 and the stops 101-104.

In summary, initial rotation of shaft protrusions 21-24 relative to the retention protrusions 71-74 causes the shaft protrusions 21-24 to align with the stops 101-104 in the radial and azimuthal dimensions r, Θ. The shaft protrusions 21-24 then maintain this alignment during subsequent rotation.

If a user applies a pulling force to the grip 12 or the shaft 14 of the handle arrangement 10 in the -z direction, the shaft protrusions 21-24 engage with the stops 101-104 of the second retainer 90, preventing the shaft 14 from moving in the longitudinal dimension z and thereby withdrawing from the aperture 50 in the wall 62. When the grip 12 of the handle arrangement 10 is rotated (simultaneously with application of a pulling force or otherwise), the retention protrusions 71-74 respond to rotation of the shaft protrusions 21-24 by causing the stops 101-104 to rotate, in order to retain alignment of the multiple stops 101-104 with the shaft protrusions 21-24.

If a rotational force is applied to the grip 12 which urges the grip 12 in a direction that it is not configured to rotate, the shaft protrusions 21-24 are urged against the stops 101-104 of the second retainer 90 which is, in turn, urged against the first retainer 70. Advantageously, the handle arrangement 10 exhibits particular strength in response to such forces being applied.

While the illustrated handle arrangement 10 includes first and second retainers 70, 90, in some examples, the second retainer 90 may not be present. It may be preferred to have both the first retainer 70 and the second retainer 90 in the handle arrangement 10, because this enables the first retainer 70 to be made from a relatively resilient and flexible material (as may be desired for the resiliently biased retention protrusions 71-74), and the second retainer 90 to be made from a more rigid material to provide strength to the handle arrangement 10. However, in some applications, sufficient strength may be obtained by merely having the first retainer 70 and not the second retainer 90.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, the shaft protrusions 21-24, the recesses 91-94 and the stops 81-84, 101-104 need not have the same shapes as those described above and illustrated in the figures.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

Whilst endeavoring 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

1. A handle arrangement, comprising: a grip coupled to a rotatable shaft that extends in a longitudinal dimension and has multiple shaft protrusions; a wall comprising an aperture for receiving a portion of the shaft; at least one retainer configured to retain the portion of the shaft in the aperture, the at least one retainer comprising multiple stops, wherein each of the multiple stops is for alignment with a shaft protrusion and is configured to engage with that shaft protrusion in order to prevent the shaft from moving in the longitudinal dimension and thereby withdraw from the aperture in the wall; and multiple retention protrusions, wherein each retention protrusion is configured to respond to rotation of the shaft protrusions by causing the multiple stops to rotate, in order to retain alignment of the multiple stops and the shaft protrusions.

2. The handle arrangement of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple stops is for alignment with a shaft protrusion in a radial dimensional and an azimuthal dimension.

3. The handle arrangement of claim 1 or 2, wherein the shaft protrusions are configured to engage with the retention protrusions when the shaft protrusions are rotated, thereby causing the retention protrusions to rotate.

4. The handle arrangement of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the shaft protrusions are arranged to rotate when the shaft is rotated.

5. The handle arrangement of any of the preceding claims, wherein the shaft protrusions extend radially outwards from the shaft.

6. The handle arrangement of any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one retainer comprises an aperture for alignment with the aperture in the wall, and the stops are positioned azimuthally around the aperture in the at least one retainer.

7. The handle arrangement of claim 6, wherein the stops extend radially inwards towards the aperture in the at least one retainer.

8. The handle arrangement of claim 6 or 7, wherein the at least one retainer comprises the retention protrusions, and the retention protrusions are positioned azimuthally around the aperture in the at least one retainer.

9. The handle arrangement of claim 8, wherein the retention protrusions extend in the longitudinal dimension and extend radially inwards towards the aperture in the at least one retainer.

10. The handle arrangement of any of the preceding claims, wherein adjacent shaft protrusions have a recess therebetween, and the retention protrusions are configured to be at least partially positioned in the recesses in the adjacent shaft protrusions.

11. The handle arrangement of any of the preceding claims, wherein the retention protrusions are configured to flex when the shaft protrusions are engaged with the retention protrusions.

12. The handle arrangement of claim 11, wherein adjacent shaft protrusions have a recess therebetween, the retention protrusions are configured to enter the recesses between the adjacent shaft protrusions in response to rotation of the shaft protrusions after the flexing of the retention protrusions.

13. The handle arrangement of any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one retainer comprises at least some of the retention protrusions.

14. The handle arrangement of claim 13, wherein the at least one retainer comprises a first retainer comprising at least some of the retention protrusions and a second retainer comprising at least some of the stops.

15. The handle arrangement of any of the preceding claims, wherein adjacent stops have a recess therebetween, and the retention protrusions are configured to extend through the recesses in the adjacent stops.

16. The handle arrangement of any of the preceding claims, wherein the wall is provided by a backplate or a rose.