IE83609B1 - Door lever handles - Google Patents
Door lever handlesInfo
- Publication number
- IE83609B1 IE83609B1 IE1996/0619A IE960619A IE83609B1 IE 83609 B1 IE83609 B1 IE 83609B1 IE 1996/0619 A IE1996/0619 A IE 1996/0619A IE 960619 A IE960619 A IE 960619A IE 83609 B1 IE83609 B1 IE 83609B1
- Authority
- IE
- Ireland
- Prior art keywords
- handle
- channel
- abutment
- disposition
- door
- Prior art date
Links
- 210000001699 lower leg Anatomy 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000000717 retained Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000002093 peripheral Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000000969 carrier Substances 0.000 description 7
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 7
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 210000001331 Nose Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000875 corresponding Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004512 die casting Methods 0.000 description 2
- HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N zinc Chemical compound [Zn] HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000011701 zinc Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052725 zinc Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910001297 Zn alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
Description
"DOOR LEVER HANDLES"
This invention relates to lever handles for doors, in particular
internal doors in a domestic house or other like premises. The
invention is particularly directed to an improvement in spring
mechanisms for biassing the lever of a door handle towards a latching
position.
A multiplicity of designs of return springing mechanism for door
handles are known, including inter alia those described in British
Patent Specifications Nos. 1,496,934 and 2,227,518A. In the
arrangement described in GB 1,496,934, a pair of springs are housed in
respective semicircular recesses in the backing plate for the door
handle mechanism and act against a rotatable member secured to the
lever handle in such a manner as to tend to restore the handle towards
a horizontal latched disposition, whenever the handle lever is
displaced towards a rotated latch release disposition.
GB—A—2,227,518 describes a biassing unit and backplate assembly in
‘836~?D’9
which the biassing unit is of cartridge form. A backplate is secured
to the face of a door and a flanged nylon retaining bush in turn
secures a nylon carrier for the biassing unit to the backplate. In
the arrangement described, the biassing unit is snap-fitted to the
nylon carrier by a pair of flexible arms. The retaining bush is also
provided with a number of flexible fingers at its end remote from the
flange for snap-fitting engagement in a hole in a base region of the
carrier, a projection of the carrier in turn being received in a hole
of the backplate. Surfaces of the flexible fingers of the retaining
bush engage an annular shoulder between the hole in the base region of
the carrier and a further hole in the projection of the carrier so that
the flange of the retaining bush is held tightly against one side of
the backplate and the carrier, with the biassing unit, is held
similarly tightly against the other side of the backplate.
A disadvantage of a spring arrangement of the kind described in GB
1,496,934, in which the springs are continuously curved when mounted in
the backing plate of the handle mechanism, is that there is frictional
action between the outer periphery of each curved spring and the recess
within which it is housed or accommodated. This friction may lead to
extensive and excessive wear on the outside of the spring, especially
where a steel spring is accommodated in a die casting formed from for
example zinc, such an arrangement being prone to adverse metal to metal
interaction. Furthermore, the continuous curve of the spring provides
it with an inherent bias towards buckling- These various factors
combine to reduce spring life, so that the satisfactory service life in
use of such a door handle arrangement subjected to a typical average
number of operations is generally of the order of some nine to ten
years only. while the friction and metal to metal action may be
alleviated or relieved or reduced to some degree by the introduction of
a nylon bush to sheath the spring or otherwise to take up a location
between the spring and the recess of the housing or backing plate, such
measures result in the introduction of an extra component and thereby
add to the cost of the unit.
‘ out above are substantially eliminated.
The solution adopted in GB—A—2,227,518 provides a structure in
which the spring action is straight line. In this arrangement, there
is no curvature of the spring at any stage, so that the problems set
However, this satisfactory
result is achieved at the cost of additional components being present
in the structure, so that there is additional complexity in assembly as
well as extra cost incurred in providing these additional parts. A
further potential disadvantage of such a structure is that a
custom-made spring may be required, thereby adding to the cost involved
and leading also to difficulties in sourcing and maintaining a suitable
stock of this component.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved
freturn spring mechanism for a door lever handle in which at least some
of the foregoing disadvantages are overcome or alleviated. It is a
further object of the invention to provide such an improved spring
mechanism with a minimum of component parts.
According therefore to the invention, there is provided a return
spring mechanism for urging a door handle towards and into a door
latching disposition from an unlatching or door release disposition,
the door handle being pivotably mountable for rotation between said
door latching disposition and said unlatching or door release
disposition, the return spring mechanism having at least one coil
spring compressively engaged between a first abutment and a second
abutment, the second abutment being provided on a member which is
rotatably associatable with the handle, the first abutment being fixed
relative to the direction of rotation of the handle, and said at least
one coil spring being accommodated in a channel and retained therein by
said member, wherein said channel has a first linear or straight
portion extending from said first fixed abutment and continued by a
part—circular portion within which said second abutment is arcuately
displaceable, and said member which is rotatably associatable with the
handle has a peripheral portion providing unobstructed access to said
first linear or straight portion of the channel, in at least one
disposition of the handle, for insertion of said at least one coil
spring into said channel.
In a favoured embodiment of the return spring mechanism of the
invention, there are two said channels, each channel extending from a
respective first fixed abutment, said fixed abutments being disposed on
diametrically opposite sides of the axis of rotation of the handle, and
each channel being continued by a further linear or straight portion
extending from said part—circular portion towards and to the first
fixed abutment from which the other channel extends, so that the first
linear or straight portion of each channel meets the further linear or
straight portion of the other channel at an apex and the two apices
thus defined are disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the axis
of rotation of the handle, each apex itself also defining a first fixed
abutment for one of said channels. The mechanism suitably has two coil
springs, each accommodated in a respective said channel.
In an alternative embodiment, the mechanism may have two said
channels, each channel extending from said first fixed abutment, and
the part—circular portions of each channel being continued to meet one
another at a location on the opposite side of the axis of rotation of
the handle from said fixed abutment, so that the first linear or
straight portions of the two channels meet one another at an apex, said
apex also defining said first fixed abutment, and the part—circular
portions of the channels define an arcuately-continuous structure
extending between the first linear or straight portions of the channels
on the opposite side of the axis of rotation of the handle from said
fixed abutment. A single coil spring is suitably accommodated in one
of said channels, and a stop portion is provided at a location on said
arcuatelyécontinuous structure extending between the first linear or
straight portions of the channels on the opposite side of the axis of
rotation of the handle from said fixed abutment which is substantially
diametrically opposite said apex, for cooperation with a stop portion
which is rotatable with the handle to limit maximum rotation of the
handle towards said unlatching or door release disposition.
_ 5 _
In any embodiment of return spring mechanism of the invention, the
or each feature which is rotatable with the handle is preferably
provided on said member which is rotatably associatable with the
handle. Said member which is rotatably associatable with the handle
may have at least one stop region on a peripheral surface region
thereof radially outward of its axis of rotation to limit maximum
rotation of the handle towards at least one of said door latching
disposition and said unlatching or door release disposition by
engagement of said at least one stop region against a cooperating fixed
stop portion of the mechanism. Said member which is rotatably
associatable with the handle is suitably mountable on a shank or shaft
portion of the handle for rotation therewith, said shank or shaft
portion being bearingly receivable in a backing plate for association
with the handle in a handle assembly.
In a favoured embodiment, the or each said channel and fixed
abutment are formed integrally in said backing plate- Alternatively,
said member which is rotatably associatable with the handle may be
accommodated within a cassette housing, optionally in the form of a cam
follower, a shank or shaft portion of the handle being insertable
through said cassette housing and said member, and the cassette housing
being fixedly associatable with a door in an assembled condition of the
handle and return spring mechanism. The or each said channel and fixed
abutment are then comprised in said cassette housing.
According to the invention in a further aspect, there is provided
a door handle assembly having a handle pivotably mounted in a backing
plate for rotation between a door latching disposition and an
unlatching or door release disposition, and a return spring mechanism
for urging the handle towards and into said door latching disposition
from said unlatching or door release disposition, the return spring
mechanism having at least one coil spring compressively engaged between
a first abutment which is fixed relative to the backing plate and a
second abutment provided on a member which is rotatably associatable
with the handle, and said at least one coil spring being accommodated
_ 5 _
in a channel and retained therein by said member, wherein said channel
has a first linear or straight portion extending from said first fixed
abutment and continued by a part-circular portion within which said
second abutment is arcuately displaceable, and said member which is
rotatably associatable with the handle has a peripheral portion
providing unobstructed access to said first linear or straight portion
of the channel, in at least one disposition of the handle, for
insertion of said at least one coil spring into said channel.
In a favoured embodiment of the door handle assembly of the
invention in this aspect, there are two said channels, each channel
extending from a respective first fixed abutment, said fixed abutments
being disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of rotation
of the handle, and each channel being continued by a further linear or
straight portion extending from said part-circular portion towards and
to the first fixed abutment from which the other channel extends, so
that the first linear or straight portion of each channel meets the
further linear or straight portion of the other channel at an apex and
the two apices thus defined are disposed on diametrically opposite
sides of the axis of rotation of the handle, each apex itself also
defining a first fixed abutment for one of said channels. The assembly
suitably has two coil springs, each accommodated in a respective said
channel.
In an alternative embodiment, the assembly may have two said
channels, each channel extending from said first fixed abutment, and
the part—circular portions of each channel being continued to meet one
another at a location on the opposite side of the axis of rotation of
the handle from said fixed abutment, so that the first linear or
straight portions of the two channels meet one another at an apex, said
apex also defining said first fixed abutment, and the part—circular
portions of the channels define an arcuately—continuous structure
extending between the first linear or straight portions of the channels
on the opposite side of the axis of rotation of the handle from said
fixed abutment. A single coil spring is suitably accommodated in one
_ 7 _
of said channels, and a stop portion is provided at a location on said
arcuately—continuous structure extending between the first linear or
straight portions of the channels on the opposite side of the axis of
rotation of the handle from said fixed abutment which is substantially
diametrically opposite said apex, for cooperation with a stop portion
which is rotatable with the handle to limit maximum rotation of the
handle towards said unlatching or door release disposition.
In any embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the or each
feature which is rotatable with the handle is preferably provided on a
stop washer which is rotatably associated with the handle. Said stop
washer is suitably fixedly mounted on a shank or shaft portion of the
handle for rotation therewith, said shank or shaft portion being
‘bearingly received in the backing plate and said stop washer also
cooperating with a circlip or like feature to retain said shank or
shaft portion against axial withdrawal from said backing plate.
In a favoured embodiment, the or each said channel and fixed
abutment are formed integrally in said backing plate, which is suitably
a die casting, along with any further fixed or non-rotatable features.
Alternatively, the or each said channel and fixed abutment may be
comprised in a cassette structure for association with a backing plate
as already previously indicated.
In a further aspect, the invention also provides a door handle
assembly having a handle pivotably mounted relative to a backing plate
for rotation between a door latching disposition and an unlatching or
door release disposition, and a return spring mechanism accommodated
within a cassette housing fixedly associated with said backing plate
for urging the handle towards and into said door latching disposition
from said unlatching or door release disposition, the return spring
mechanism having at least one coil spring compressively engaged between
a first abutment which is fixed relative to the backing plate and a
second abutment provided on a member which is rotatably associatable
with the handle, and said at least one coil spring being accommodated
in a channel provided within said cassette housing and retained therein
by said member, wherein said channel has a first linear or straight
portion extending from said first fixed abutment and continued by a
part—circular portion within which said second abutment is arcuately
displaceable, and_said member which is rotatably associatable with the
handle has a peripheral portion providing unobstructed access to said
first linear or straight portion of the channel, in at least one
disposition of the handle, for insertion of said at least one coil
spring into said channel.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described having regard
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded view of a dual spring arrangement
according to the present invention,
Figure 2 shows the side of the stop washer which is directed
towards the springs in the assembled condition of the unit of the
invention,
Figure 3 is a partially schematic diagram showing the disposition
of the device in the rest or latched position of the handle,
Figure 4 is a drawing similar to Figure 3 showing the condition of
the device in the pivoted or unlatching condition of the handle, and
the manner in which the springs are stressed under these”conditions;
Figure 5 is an exploded view of a right—hand single spring
arrangement of the device according to the invention,
Figure 6 shows the side of the backing washer of the arrangement
of Figure 5 which is directed towards the spring in the assembled
condition of the unit of Figure 5,
Figure 7 is similar to Figure 3, showing the rest condition of the
door handle unit for the single spring arrangement of Figure 5,
Figure 8 shows the unlatched or pivoted condition of the handle
for the single spring unit of Figure 5,
Figures 9 and 10 correspond to Figures 3 and 4 for a left-hand
handle assembly, compared with the right—hand arrangements of Figures 1
to 8,
Figure 11 shows a cassette embodiment of the invention with double
springing,
Figure 12 shows a further backplate embodiment of a dual spring
arrangement according to the present invention, and
Figure 13 shows a further embodiment of a single spring backplate
arrangement of a device in accordance with the invention.
As shown in Figure 1, a door lever handle with a springing
mechanism according to the invention has a lever type handle 2 and a
backing plate 4. The backing plate 4 is secured to or mounted on the
external surface of a door fitted with a latching mechanism which is to
be operated by the handle 2. To this end, the handle 2 has a shaft or
shank or spindle portion extending at right-angles to the gripping part
of the handle, this shaft portion defining a fixing end 9 of the handle
2. The handle 2 is received in a location hole 6 in the backing plate
4 and a nylon bush 8 placed on the fixing end 9 of the handle 2 acts as
a bearing for the handle 2 in the locating hole 6; “‘The”fixing“end 9
of the handle 2 has a pair of opposed flats 10, and the handle 2, when
its fixing end 9 is pushed through the location hole 6, is retained
within the backing plate 4 by a retaining stop washer 12. washer 12
has a central aperture 13 matching the profile of the flats 10 at the
fixing end 9 of the handle 2. washer 12 is pushed onto the fixing end
9 so that the opposed straight portions of the periphery of aperture
13 engage over the flats 10 of the fixing end. washer 12, when
mounted on the fixing end 9 of the handle 2, then rotates with the
handle 2 when the handle is pivoted. washer 12 is held in position on
the fixing end 9 of the handle 2 against axial displacement or removal
from the handle by means of a retaining spring type circlip 14, which
is snapped into position in a circumferential groove 16 at the fixing
end 9 of the handle 2.
A spring housing is formed by two part circular channels or
recesses or grooves 20, 21 formed in the backing plate 4 on its inner
side which is directed towards the door in the mounted condition of the
device, the channels 20, 21 extending around the periphery of the
handle location hole 6 radially outwardly of the hole 6. Backing
plate 4 is most suitably a die cast product formed from a zinc alloy
and the channels 20, 21 and other features of the structure are most
suitably formed by moulding the metal material during the casting
operation. Nonetheless, the spring mounting features of the backing
plate may also be provided in any other suitable manner, and an
independent spring mounting structure or cassette for association with
a handle may also be provided, as subsequently described. As shown
however in Figure 1, each of the spring accommodating channels 20, 21
defines substantially a quarter circle around the sides of the handle
location hole 6 close to the sides 5 of the backing plate 4, one
quarter circle to each side of the hole 6. Above and below the
location hole 6, the channels 20, 21 become straight and the upper and
lower straight portions 22, 23 of the channels 20, 21 meet at
respective apices 24, 25 above and below the locating hole 6.
The structure is completed by a pair of springs‘26:f27j‘shown'in
their mounted configuration in the exploded view of Figure 1. It will
be appreciated that in a relaxed pre-mounting disposition, the springs
26, 27 are in fact of generally cylindrical form, and that the
partially curved profile shown in the drawings is taken up by the
springs only following insertion into the channels 20, 21. when in
position in the respective channels 20, 21, one end of each spring 26,
27 engages a respective apex 24, 25, while the other end of the spring
26, 27 is engaged by a respective abutment portion 28, 29 of the
retaining stop washer 12, this abutment feature being further shown in
Figure 2, which shows the other side of the washer 12 from that
apparent in Figure 1, namely the inner side which is directed towards
the spring channels 20, 21 in the assembled condition of the device and
which carries the abutment portions 28, 29. Two abutment portions 28,
29 are provided, so that the right—hand spring 26 as shown in Figure 1
extends in the mounted condition between the upper apex 24 and the
abutment portion 28 which is most distant from that apex, i.e. the
lower abutment as shown in the drawings. Each abutment portion 28, 29
extends into a respective channel 20, 21 to form an end stop against
expansion of the spring 26 or 27 accommodated in that channel beyond
that abutment and to maintain a compressive force on the spring 26 or
27 between abutment 28 or 29 and the respective apex 24 or 25. The
other or left—hand spring 27 extends between the other or lower apex 25
and the second abutment portion 29, which is again that portion most
remote from the particular apex in the assembled condition of the
structure and being the upper abutment of the washer 12 as shown in the
Thus one spring 26 extends from the upper apex 24 towards
the lower abutment 28 of the stop washer 12, while the other spring 27
extends from the lower apex 25 to the upper abutment 29, as it appears
drawings.
in the drawings, one spring 26 being located to one side of the
location hole 6, namely its right-hand side in Figure 1, and the other
spring 27 located to its other or left-hand side.
The manner of assembly of the arrangement of the invention is as
follows:
The handle 2 is fitted to the plate 4 following placement of the
nylon bush 8 on the fixing end 9 of the handle 2. The handle fixing
end 9, with nylon bush 8, is then pushed through the location hole 6 in
the plate 4. The retaining stop washer 12 is pushed onto the flats 10
on the fixing end 9 of the handle 2, and the retaining spring type
circlip 14 is fitted into the groove 16 in the fixing end 9 of the
handle 2. The handle 2 is thus pivotably held on the plate 4 to form
a single assembly.
The upper or right-hand coil compression spring 26 as it appears
in Figure 1 is then inserted into the first channel 20 at the upper
apex 24, which is accessible by virtue of the set—back portion 32 of
the upper periphery of the washer 12 in the handle horizontal
disposition of the pre—assembled handle 2 and plate 4. Spring 26 is
pushed into the upper straight channel portion 22 until the lower end
of the spring 26 abuts against the lower abutment portion 28 of the
retaining stop washer 12 in the handle horizontal disposition of the
device. This lower abutment portion 28 is located at the transition
from the part-circular portion of channel 20 to the lower straight
section 23 leading to lower apex 25 in this handle horizontal condition
of the device. Abutment portion 28 extends from the inner surface of
washer 12 into the channel or groove 20 so as to exert a compressive
force against the lower end of spring 26 in the assembled condition of
the device. The upper end of the spring 26 is then forced into the
channel 20 to be retained by the compressive action of the stressed
spring 26 against the side wall of the channel 21 where it meets
channel 20 at apex 24. The spring insertion action is straightforward
and is terminated by the spring 26 snapping into place in apex 24 under
its own compressive action as exerted between the lower abutment
portion 28 of the washer 12 and the channel side wall portion at apex.
24. The second spring 27 is inserted in similar manner from the
opposite or lower apex 25. Spring 27 is similarly easily insertable
into channel 21 from the lower end as applies to the insertion of
spring 26 into channel 20, by virtue of access to the apex 25 being
unobstructed, due to the curved periphery of the stop‘washer“I2"in'this
region. This spring 27 is thus pushed into the channel 21 from lower
apex 25 until its lower end can be snapped down to abut against the
planar end surface of the channel at the apex 25, spring 27 then being
held in place under its own compressive force between upper abutment 29
and the channel side wall at the lower apex 25.
The assembly is capable of being rotated through an angle up to
It is then
returned to the horizontal by virtue of the springs 26, 27 acting
against the abutments 28, 29 of the retaining washer 12. The dual
spring arrangement provides an especially effective and balanced return
force. External side stops 30 and 31 on the stop washer 12 limit the
degree of rotational travel of the handle assembly to the required
°.
is provided on the right—hand side of the stop washer 12, in the view
away from the horizontal against spring action.
Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, the external side stop 30
of Figure 1, and defines a nose portion of the washer structure which
is positioned and dimensioned so as to engage the inner surface of the
right—hand side wall 5 of the backing plate 4, as seen in Figure 1,
when the handle is in a horizontal disposition, thus preventing further
rotation of the lever handle 2 beyond the horizontal latching
disposition into an orientation in which the handle 2 would be inclined
The
second rotation abutment or side stop 31 is formed by a further nose
upwardly away from its pivot axis relative to the horizontal.
portion of the washer 12, in this case on an upper left—hand region of
the washer as it appears in Figure 1, and this stop portion is arranged
to engage the inner surface of the opposite or left—hand side wall 5 of
backing plate 4 when the handle 2 is rotated fully into an unlatched or
door opening disposition. Stop 31 is thus positioned to limit the
rotational travel of the handle 2 in a direction downwardly away from
the horizontal. 2 I
Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, these show respectively the
handle assembly of Figures 1 and 2 in a handle horizontal or closed or
latching disposition and in the handle pivoted or rotated orientation
of the unit, this being an unlatching or door opening disposition. As
shown in Figure 3, the springs 26 and 27 are expanded to their maximum
possible extent between the respective abutment portions 28 and 29 and
the respective apices 24 and 25 of the channels 20 and 21 within which
the springs are accommodated. The springs are arranged to urge the
stop washer 12, and thereby the handle 2 fixedly connected to the stop
washer for rotation therewith, in a clockwise direction, as shown in
this drawing, and this clockwise bias is limited as to the possible
rotational displacement of the handle 2 by engagement of the washer
nose or abutment 30 against the inner surface of the side wall 5 on the
right-hand side of the backing plate 4.
Figure 4 shows the situation when the handle 2 is grasped by a
user and rotated downwardly away from the horizontal. Since washer 12
is fixedly secured to the fixing end 9 of handle 2, the washer 12 is in
turn rotated. The abutment portions 28 and 29 are therefore
rotationally displaced about the axis of pivoting of the handle 2 and
washer 12 so as to compress further the springs 26 and 27,
compressively retained between abutments 28 and 29 and apices 24 and 25
respectively. The handle may continue to be rotated until such time
as the second rotation or pivot abutment 31 of the washer 12 engages
against the inside surface of the left—hand side wall 5 of the backing
plate 4, this terminating the counterclockwise door—opening rotation of
the handle 2.
of the door opening action, the increased compression of the springs 26
On release of the handle 2 by the user or a relaxation
and 27 acts immediately to exert a clockwise return force to restore
the handle 2 to the initial handle horizontal disposition. Thus the
action of the springs 26, 27 is always to exert a clockwise force to
bring the handle 2 to the handle horizontal disposition, and this
spring action is overcome by a user exerting a counterclockwise force,
in the view of Figures 3 and 4, to overcome the spring force and enable
the door on which the handle 2 is mounted to be unlatched and opened.
A particular advantage of the spring arrangement of the present
invention is that the location channels 20, 21 for the springs are in
part straight, and only a portion of each spring mounting channel is
curved. Thus when the springs 26, 27 are in position in the channels
, 21 and engaged and retained therein by the fixing washer 12
attached to the lever handle 2 for rotation therewith, and the spring
compression is increased by an opening movement of the handle lever 2,
only a portion of the spring compression takes place by rotating
compressive action within the circular channel portion, and the major
part of the spring compression takes place in the straight channel
portions 22, 23. There is thus a reduction in channel wall to spring
friction as compared with fully circularly-accommodated springs, so
that the torque which may be exerted by the spring is increased and
there is an improved efficiency of action. Furthermore, the reduction
in friction and wear enables the working life of the spring and handle
assembly to be greatly extended, by up to a factor of 3.
The dual spring arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 4 is especially
advantageous in providing for fully balanced forces within the handle
assembly and represents a favoured and preferred embodiment of the
invention. However, satisfactory operation may also be achieved by a
single spring arrangement. A single spring arrangement may be
provided simply by omitting one of the two springs from the dual spring
structure of Figures 1 to 4. However, a lever handle assembly
specifically adapted to the use of a single spring may also be
provided, in which advantage is taken of the absence of a second spring
to put in place an alternative rotational stop feature. Such an
embodiment is shown in Figures 5 to 8, which Figures correspond in
their various views to those of Figures 1 to 4. These drawings use
similar reference numbers to those of Figures 1 to 4, with the addition
of 50 in each case. As compared with the first embodiment, there is
however only one spring 76 provided, and a single spring abutment
portion 78. In addition, the backing plate 54, while provided with
two channels 70 and 71, has only a single upper apex 74 and upper
straight channel portions 72 leading to this upper apex 74.
At the lower end of the channels 70, 71, there is no second apex,
and the part-circular side portions of the channels 70, 71 continue in
a circular manner to fully surround the lower periphery of the locating
hole_56. where the two channels 70 and 71 meet below the locating
hole 56, there is provided an integral abutment 83 located at the
meeting point of the channels 70 and 71. The stop washer 62 is
provided with a cooperating abutment 84, which in the assembled
condition of the device extends into and is located in the channel 71,
i.e. the channel which does not accommodate the spring. Cooperation
between channel abutment 83 and washer abutment 84 provides an
alternative manner of limiting the rotational displacement of the
handle 52 relative to the backing plate 54. The provision of channel
abutment 83 may however be omitted, as also may be the washer abutment
84, and a continuous unobstructed channel arrangement 70, 71 formed.
In this circumstance, handle rotation may be limited or constrained in
the manner already described for Figures 1 to 4, by means of camming or
abutting surfaces on the stop washer 62 engaging the inner side walls
55 of backing plate 54.
The present variant of the invention is further illustrated in
Figures 7 and 8, which are comparable to Figures 3 and 4, and show this
embodiment of the invention in the handle horizontal and handle rotated
dispositions respectively. The action of spring 76 between upper apex
74 and lower abutment 78 is identical in its biassing and restoring or
return action as already described for the dual spring arrangement of
Figures 1 to 4. The handle horizontal position may again be
maintained by rotation abutment 80 engaging the inner surface of
right—hand side wall 55 of backing plate 54. Alternatively however,
the handle horizontal disposition may be maintained by abutment against
the channel abutment 83 of the opposite face of portion 78 from that
engaging the lower end of spring 76, as can be seen in Figure 7. The
limit in this embodiment on maximum handle rotation is also achieved by
channel abutment 83, in this case by engagement of washer abutment 84
against the opposite face of channel abutment 83 from that engaged by
abutment 78 in the handle horizontal disposition. Figure 8 shows the
handle assembly in a part rotated condition, with washer abutment 84
approaching channel abutment 83 towards the‘termination of handle“— *“”"
rotation.
The action of this variant of the invention is identical with the
dual spring arrangement, save only that the restoring force is exerted
by a single spring rather than by two springs.
Figures 1 to 8 have shown the invention in a right—hand
embodiment. The invention is readily adaptable to a left-hand type
assembly, where the position of the handle is reversed compared with
the arrangement shown in Figures 1 or 5, to extend in the opposite
direction relative to the backing plate. In the dual spring
arrangement, a mirror image washer is provided, but all other features
remain exactly the same, the springs merely being reversed so that the
upwardly extending spring, relative to the lower apex, is then on the
right—hand side and the downwardly extending spring from the upper apex
is on the left—hand side of the assembled structure, in its Figure 1
orientation. Figures 9 and 10 correspond to Figures 3 and 4 for this
reversed or left—hand arrangement. The reference numerals for the
features of Figures 9 and 10 correspond to those of Figures 3 and 4,
with the addition of the suffix "L".
Precisely the same applies to the single spring structure of
Figures 5 to 8. Again a mirror image washer is required, but all
other components are identical. The spring is merely inserted into
the left-hand channel 71 rather than the right—hand channel 70.
The embodiments described provide for the formation of the spring
accommodating channels within the actual backing plate structure, such
as is particularly conveniently effected in a die cast unit. The
spring mechanism of the invention may however also be embodied or
incorporated in a so—called cassette type arrangement, in which the
spring accommodating features are provided in a separate component
which is associated with the handle at the time of assembly of the
handle unit, such as by way of a backplate.
Figure 11 shows a particular cassette‘or”cartridge embodiment of
the return spring mechanism of the invention. The cassette has a
plastics or zinc housing 104 having side walls 105 and a central
circular cam follower locating hole 106. Two channels or spring
grooves 120, 121 are formed around this hole.
straighten at each end and terminate at respective top and bottom
apices 124 and 125 by way of respective upper 122 and lower 123
straight portions, the intersections of these straight portions 122,
These channels
, forming the respective apex 124 or 125. Two retaining or
mounting spigots 107 allow the attachment and securing of a cover plate
.
threaded holes for screw mounting of the cover plate 115, in the
assembled condition of the unit.
Alternatively, features 107 may define two bosses having
Compression springs 126, 127 are loaded into the opposite channels
120, 121, in the manner previously described for the handle and
backplate assembly of Figure 1. The springs 126, 127 butt up against
an end vertical wall of the respective apex 124 or 125 and also butt
against respective portions 128, 129 of a cam follower 112 which is
rotatably mounted in the location hole 106 of the cassette housing 104
by means of a suitable boss or spigot portion of substantially circular
cross-section. The assembly thus resembles that already described for
the handle/backplate arrangement of Figure 1. The cassette is closed
by the cover plate 115 being located on the spigots 107, which may then
be welded, or alternatively, the cover plate 115 is secured by screwing
to threaded apertures in bosses 107. A further spigot portion 117 of
the cam follower 112 passes through and rotates within a cooperating
locating aperture 118 in cover plate 115.
The cassette assembly is fitted to a plate and handle structure at
the point of attachment to a door and lock. A substantially square
section spindle bar is passed through the lock, then through the square
section aperture 113 of the cam follower and further into a cooperating
square cross—section hole provided in the handle. The second handle
is similarly mounted on the opposite side. when the lever handle is
operated by turning, the spindle bar rotates the cam follower 112
within the cassette structure, thereby compressing both springs by a
pressing force exerted by the abutment portions 128, 129 of the cam
follower 112; The springs 126, 127 are thus compressed and straighten
out within the straight portions 122, 123 adjacent to the apices 124,
125.
and substantially minimising wear resistance.
This arrangement generates a maximum torque, while yet reducing
These advantages flow
from the present design, in the manner already previously described.
On release of the handle, which in the arrangement shown is a
lefthand structure, the cam follower 112 returns to its original
initial position and the springs 126, 127 follow the contour of the
channels 120, 121 to maintain torque on the cam follower 112, which is
in turn transferred to the handle, to restore the handle to the
horizontal position. The cassette variant of the invention is thus
mounted on a door handle and door assembly in known manner, while yet
providing the advantages previously recited for the Figure 1 handle and
backplate integral construction of the invention, in either lefthand or
righthand configurations.
Rotational limitation of turning of the handle may be effected by
an end stop arrangement defined by a lug 135 which projects radially
from the periphery of spigot portion 117 for orbital movement within a
recess 136 in the inner wall or circumference of aperture 118. In its
end position, lug 135 abuts one or other of the end faces 137, 138 of
recess 136, these corresponding to the normal (handle horizontal) and
rotated dispositions of the handle. Alternatively other stop
arrangements may be provided, as already identified for the handle and
backplate assembly of Figure 1. A single spring cassette embodiment
may also be provided. To facilitate assembly, the cam follower 112 may
be a symmetrical component, so that it may be mounted in either of two
dispositions and does not have a normal and inverted orientation. A
symmetrical placement of the stops 128, 129 also facilitates use of the
cassette for left-handed or right-handed assemblies, in a substantially
uniform manner, without its being necessary to retain a separate
inventory of left—handed and right—handed component parts.
Figures 12 and 13 show further embodiments of the invention in a
dual spring arrangement, Figure 12, and a single spring arrangement,
Figure 13. The arrangements shown correspond broadly to those of
Figures 1 and 5 respectively, and the reference numerals are the same
as those for Figures 1 and 5, but in the number sequence 151 to 199,
thus with the addition of 150 or 100 respectively, as compared with the
reference numerals applicable to Figures 1 and 5. The principal
difference from the earlier Figures now requiring mention is the use of
an alternative profile of stop washer 162, which can be of generally
symmetrical configuration, and thus usable irrespective of the hand of
the lever assembly, whether lefthand or righthand, and also whether two
springs are in use, or one spring. The external profile of this
modified embodiment of stop washer 162 is such that a lateral or side
rotation abutment 180 is provided, corresponding to abutments 30 or 80
of Figures 1 and 5 respectively, while a second upper or top rotation
abutment 181 carries out the function fulfilled by abutment 31 in the
embodiment of Figure 1. Component standardisation thus facilitates
the production of a diversity of constructions of the invention with a
minimum of parts.
Symmetrical placement of the abutment portions 178, 179
substantially centrally between the top and bottom of the washer 162 in
the side edge regions of the plate—shaped washer radially outward of
the profiled aperture 163 for reception of the washer on the handle
flats 160, also facilitates use of this embodiment of the invention for
left~handed or right—handed assemblies, in a substantially uniform
manner, without its being necessary to retain a separate inventory of
left-handed and right—handed component parts, in that a fully
invertible component may be provided, usable for either left- or
right—handed arrangements irrespective of its orientation, i.e. which
end is uppermost, or alternatively, the arrangement may be such that
the washer applies to left~hand handles when a particular end is
uppermost and to right-hand assemblies when that end is directed
downwards.
Claims (14)
1. A return spring mechanism for urging a door handle towards and into a door latching disposition from an unlatching or door release disposition, the door handle being pivotably mountable for rotation between said door latching disposition and said unlatching or door release disposition, the return spring mechanism having at least one coil spring compressively engaged between a first abutment and a second abutment, the second abutment being provided on a member which is rotatably associatable with the handle, the first abutment being fixed relative to the direction of rotation of the handle, and said at least one coil spring being accommodated in a channel and retained therein by said member, wherein said channel has a first linear or straight portion extending from said first fixed abutment and continued by a part—circular portion within which said second abutment is arcuately displaceable, and said member which is rotatably associatable with the handle has a peripheral portion providing unobstructed access to said first linear or straight portion of the channel, in at least one disposition of the handle, for insertion of said at least one coil spring into said channel.
2- A return spring mechanism according to Claim 1, having two said channels, each channel extending from a respective first fixed abutment, said fixed abutments being disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of rotation of the handle, and each channel being continued by a further linear or straight portion extending from said part—circular portion towards and to the first fixed abutment from which the other channel extends, so that the first linear or straight portion of each channel meets the further linear or straight portion of the other channel at an apex and the two apices thus defined are disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of rotation of the handle, each apex itself also defining a first fixed abutment for one of said channels.
3. A return spring mechanism according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, having two coil springs, each accommodated in a respective said channel.
4. A return spring mechanism according to Claim 1, having two said channels, each channel extending from said first fixed abutment, and the part-circular portions of each channel being continued to meet gne another at a location on the opposite side of the axis of rotation of the handle from said fixed abutment, so that the first linear or straight portions of the two channels meet one another at an apex, said apex also defining said first fixed abutment, and the part-circular portions of the channels define an arcuately—continuous structure extending between the first linear or straight portions of the channels on the opposite side of the axis of rotation of the handle from said fixed abutment.
5. A return spring mechanism according to Claim 4, having a :single coil spring accommodated in one of said channels, wherein a stop portion is provided at a location on said arcuately-continuous structure extending between the first linear or straight portions of the channels on the opposite side of the axis of rotation of the handle from said fixed abutment which is substantially diametrically opposite said apex, for cooperation with a stop portion which is rotatable with the handle to limit maximum rotation of the handle towards said unlatching or door release disposition.
6. A return spring mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each feature which is rotatable with the handle is provided on said member which is rotatably associatable with the handle.
7. A return spring mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein said member which is rotatably associatable with the handle has at least one stop region on a peripheral surface region thereof radially outward of its axis of rotation to limit maximum rotation of the handle towards at least one of said door latching disposition and said unlatching or door release disposition by engagement of said at least one stop region against a cooperating fixed stop portion of the mechanism.
8. A return spring mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein said member which is rotatably associatable with the handle is mountable on a shank or shaft portion of the handle for rotation therewith, said shank or shaft portion being bearingly receivable in a backing plate for association with the handle in a handle assembly.
9. A return spring mechanism according to Claim 8, wherein the or each said channel and fixed abutment are formed integrally in said backing plate.
10. A return spring mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein said member which is rotatably associatable with the handle is accommodated within a cassette housing, a shank or shaft portion of the handle being insertable through said cassette housing and said member, and the cassette housing being fixedly associatable with a door in an assembled condition of the handle and return spring mechanism.
11. A return spring mechanism according to Claim 10, wherein the or each said channel and fixed abutment are comprised in said cassette housing.
12. A door handle assembly having a handle pivotably mounted in a backing plate for rotation between a door latching disposition and an unlatching or door release disposition, and a return spring mechanism for urging the handle towards and into said door latching disposition from said unlatching or door release disposition, the return spring mechanism having at least one coil spring compressively engaged between a first abutment which is fixed relative to the backing plate and a second abutment provided on a member which is rotatably associatable with the handle, and said at least one coil spring being accommodated in a channel and retained therein by said member, wherein said channel has a first linear or straight portion extending from said first fixed abutment and continued by a part—circular portion within which said second abutment is arcuately displaceable, and said member which is rotatably associatable with the handle has a peripheral portion providing unobstructed access to said first linear or straight portion of the channel, in at least one disposition of the handle, for insertion of said at least one coil spring into said channel.
13. relative to a backing plate for rotation between a door latching A door handle assembly having a handle pivotably mounted disposition and an unlatching or door release disposition, and a return spring mechanism accommodated within a cassette housing fixedly associated with said backing plate for urging the handle towards and into said door latching disposition from said unlatching or door release disposition, the return spring mechanism having at least one coil spring compressively engaged between a first abutment which is fixed relative to the backing plate and a second abutment provided on a member which is rotatably associatable with the handle, and said at least one coil spring being accommodated in a channel provided within said cassette housing and retained therein by said member, wherein said channel has a first linear or straight portion extending from said first fixed abutment and continued by a part-circular portion within which said second abutment is arcuately displaceable, and said member which is rotatably associatable with the handle has a peripheral portion providing unobstructed access to said first linear or straight portion of the channel, in at least one disposition of the handle, for insertion of said at least one coil spring into said channel.
14- A return spring mechanism substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBUNITEDKINGDOM05/09/19959518079.0 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
IE83609B1 true IE83609B1 (en) | 2004-10-06 |
Family
ID=
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