MXPA06003774A - Spindle assembly for use in a door handle assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A door handle assembly includes a door handle having an operator portion, and a shank extending from the operator portion, the shank having a first opening. A door latch mechanism has a rotatable actuator, the rotatable actuator having a second opening. A spindle assembly includes a spindle and a spring. The spindle has a first end and a second end. The spring is attached to the first end of the spindle. The spring and the first end of the spindle of the spindle assembly are inserted as a unit into the first opening of the shank of the door handle, and the second end of the spindle is inserted into the second opening of the rotatable actuator of the door latch mechanism.

Description

SPINDLE ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN A DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a door handle assembly, and, more particularly, to a spindle assembly for use in a door handle assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE Door handle assemblies have been available for a long time which include a door handle, for example, a knob or lever, which is rotatably supported by a keyhole shield, and retained therein using a fastener , such as a fastener ring. The door handle includes, for example, an operator portion and a rod. A coupling, which may include two or more loose parts, which connect the door handle rod to a door latch mechanism is included in the door handle assembly. Said arrangement, however, can be difficult to assemble due to the multiple loose parts.

What is needed in the art is a design that reduces the number of loose parts needed to assemble the door handle assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a design that reduces the number of loose parts needed to assemble the door handle assembly. The invention, in an exemplary embodiment, is directed to a door handle assembly. The door handle assembly includes a door handle having an operator portion, and a rod extending from an operator portion, the rod having a first opening. The door latch mechanism has a rotary actuator, the rotary actuator has a second opening. The spindle assembly includes a spindle and a spring; The spindle has a first end and a second end. The spring is fixed to the first end of the spindle. The spring and the first end of the spindle of the spindle assembly are inserted as a unit in the first opening of the rod of the door handle, and the second end of the spindle is inserted in the second opening of the rotary actuator of the latch mechanism of the spindle. door.

The invention, in another exemplary embodiment, is directed to a spindle assembly, which includes a spindle having a first end and a second end, and a spring fixed to the first end of the spindle. The invention, in another exemplary embodiment, is directed to a method for forming a spindle assembly, including providing a spiral spring having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the spiral spring having a normal inside diameter that expands to a second diameter; providing a spindle having a spindle body and a spindle post axially aligned with the spindle body along an axis, the post having a dimension that perpendicularly crosses the axis which is greater than the normal inside diameter of the spring; expand the spiral spring to the second diameter; Insert the spindle post into the proximal end of the spiral spring; and releasing the spiral spring of the second diameter to return to the normal diameter to form an exact adjustment connection of the spiral spring to the spindle post. The invention, in another exemplary embodiment, is directed to a method for assembling a door handle assembly, the door handle assembly includes a door handle and a door latch mechanism, the door handle rotatably coupled to the door handle assembly. a mounting plate, the door handle having an operator portion and a rod extending from the operator portion, the rod having a first opening, and the door latch mechanism having a rotary actuator, the rotary actuator having a second opening . The method includes forming a spindle assembly by attaching a spring to a spindle, the spindle having a first end and a second end, the spring fixed to the first end of the spindle; Insert the spring and the first end of the spindle into the first opening of the rod of the door handle; and inserting the second end of the spindle into the second opening of the rotary actuator of the door latch mechanism. In one embodiment, for example, one advantage of the invention is the reduction in the number of loose parts needed to assemble the door handle assembly, thereby making the assembly easier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The aforementioned features and advantages and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of achieving them, will be apparent and the invention will be better understood with reference to the following description of the embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: where: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a door handle assembly including the present invention. Figure 2A is a partially schematic perspective view of a spindle assembly in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2B is a perspective view of a spindle assembly of Figure 2A in an assembled state. Figure 3 is a flow diagram of general steps for assembling a door handle assembly. Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts across all views. The exemplifications set forth herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and said exemplifications are not construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure 1, there is shown a door handle assembly 10 that includes an interior door handle assembly 12, an exterior door handle assembly 14 and a door latch mechanism. 16. The door latch mechanism 16 includes a body 18, a latch bolt 20, and a rotary actuator 22. The rotary actuator 22 includes an aperture 24. The latch mechanism 16 is of a type commonly used in the art. technique and will not be described in detail below. The inner door handle assembly 12 includes an inner mounting plate 28, which may be in the form of a keyhole shield, an inner door handle 30, and a spindle assembly 32. The inner door handle 30 engages rotating manner to the inner mounting plate 28. The inner door handle 30 includes an operating portion 34 and a rod 36 extending from an operating portion 34. The rod 36 includes an opening 38. The spindle assembly 32 includes a spindle 40 and a spring 42. The spindle 40 has a first end 44 and a second end 46. The spring 42 is fixed to the first end 44 of the spindle 40. The spring 42 of the first end 44 of the spindle 40 of the spindle assembly 32 is inserted. , as a unit, in the opening 38 of the rod 36 of the inner door handle 30. The second end 46 of the spindle 40 is inserted into the opening 24 of the rotary actuator 22 of the door latch mechanism 16. A shaft 48 serves as shaft rotates for the inner door handle 30 with respect to the inner mounting plate 28, as it also serves as the shaft passing longitudinally through the center of the spindle 40. The outer door handle assembly 14 includes an outer mounting plate 58 , which may be in the form of a keyhole shield, an outer door handle 60, and a spindle assembly 62. The outer door handle 60 is rotatably coupled to the outer mounting plate 58. The exterior door handle 60 includes an operating portion 64 and a rod 66 extending from an operating portion 64. The rod 66 includes an opening 68. The spindle assembly 62 includes a spindle 70 and a spring 72. the spindle 70 has a first end 74 and a second end 76. The spring 72 is fixed to the first end 74 of the spindle 70. The spring 72 and the first end 74 of the spindle 70 of the spindle assembly 62 are inserted, as a unit, into the opening 68 of the rod 66 of the mani outer door 60. The second end 76 of the spindle 70 is inserted into the opening 24 of the rotary actuator 22 of the door latch mechanism 16. The shaft 48 serves as a rotary shaft for the outer door handle 60 with respect to the exterior mounting plate 58, as it also serves as the shaft which passes longitudinally through the center of the spindle 70. In the embodiment herein, the spindle assembly 32 and the spindle assembly 62 are substantially identical, so that a detailed description of one also will apply to the other. Also, for brevity, the construction details of the spindle assemblies 32, 62 will now be described with respect to only the spindle assembly 32. Referring now to Figures 2A and 2B, in the illustrated embodiment, the spring 42 is a coil spring having a proximal end 82 and a distal end 84. The proximal end 82 of the spiral spring 42 has a diameter D which may vary, for example, between a normal inside diameter, i.e. when the spring 42 is located at rest, and a second expanded diameter. The second expanded diameter of the spiral spring 42 can be achieved, for example, by applying a rotation to the distal end 84 in a direction opposite to the rotation of the coil spring 42 while maintaining the proximal end 82 stationary.

The spindle 40 includes a spindle body 86 and a spindle post 88 axially aligned with said spindle body along the axis 48. The spindle post 88 has a dimension 90 that perpendicularly crosses the axis 48 which is greater than the inside diameter of the spiral spring 42. As shown in Figure 2B, the spindle post 88 is inserted into the proximal end 82 of the spiral spring 42 and together form an exact adjustment connection of the spiral spring 42 to the spindle 40. More particularly, the spiral spring 42 expands to an expanded diameter greater than the normal diameter, the spindle post 88 of the spindle 40 is inserted into the proximal end 82 of the spiral spring 42, and the spiral spring 42 is released from the expanded diameter to return to the normal diameter to form an exact adjustment connection of the spiral spring 42 to the spindle post 88 of the spindle 40. The spindle 40 has fixed thereto a spacer 92. The separator 92 can be fixed e to the spindle 40, for example, near the second end 46 of the spindle 40 to limit the degree of insertion of the second end 46 of the spindle 40 into the opening 24 of the rotary actuator 22 of the door latch mechanism 16. In the embodiment shown in FIG. Figures 2A and 2B, for example, the spacer 92 may be in the form of a C-shaped pin. The spindle post 88 of the spindle 40 may further include a slot 94 for receiving the C-shaped pin. the art will recognize that the separator 92 can take any form capable of limiting the degree to which the spindle 40 is allowed to enter the opening 24 of the rotary actuator 22 of the door latch mechanism 16, and can be formed integral with the spindle 40. Other forms of separator 92 may include, for example, a flange, a bolt, a set screw, or a welding shock, etc. Figure 3 is a flow diagram of the general steps for assembling a door handle assembly, such as the interior door handle assembly 12, and the connection of the door handle assembly to the door. The steps described below with respect to the inner door handle assembly 12 can be easily adapted for use with the outer door handle assembly 14, and thus for brevity will not be described separately for the outer door handle assembly 14 In step S100, the spring 42 and the first end 44 of the spindle 40 of the spindle assembly 32 are inserted as a unit into the opening 38 of the rod 36 of the inner door handle 30. The cross-sectional shapes of each opening 38 in the rod 36 and the first end 44 of the spindle 40 are selected to allow sliding engagement of the spindle 40 with the inner door handle 30 in the direction along the axis 48, while operatively engaging the inner door handle 30 to the spindle 40 for a common non-independent rotation about the axis 48. For example, the cross-sectional shapes of the first end 44 of the spindle 40 and the opening 38 of the 36 of the inner door handle 30 can be polygonal, like square. In step S 102, the second end 46 of the spindle 40 of the spindle assembly 32 is positioned to engage the rotary actuator 22 of the door latch mechanism 16, so that the spring 42 is compressed between the inner door handle 30 and the spindle 40. In step S104, the inner door handle 30 rotates slightly, if necessary, so that the second end 46 of the spindle 40 enters the opening 24 of the rotary actuator 22 of the door latch mechanism 16. cross-sectional shapes of each opening 24 of the rotary actuator 22 of the door latch mechanism 16 and the second end 46 of the spindle 40 are selected to allow slidable engagement of the spindle 40 with the opening 24 of the rotary actuator 22 of the door latch mechanism 16 in one direction along axis 48, while operably engaging the rotary actuator 22 of the door latch mechanism 16 to the spindle 40 for common non-independent rotation, about the axis 48. For example, the cross-sectional shapes of the second end 46 of the spindle 40 and the opening 24 of the rotary actuator 22 of the door latch mechanism 16 can be polygonal, such as square. The separator 92 of the spindle assembly 32 will engage the rotary actuator 22 to limit a degree to which the second end 46 of the spindle 40 is inserted into the opening 24 of the rotary actuator 22 of the door latch mechanism 16. In step S106, the Interior mounting plate 28 is fixed to the door. The spring 42, is in the compressed state, applies an expansion force between the inner door handle 30 and the spindle 40 of the spindle assembly 32, thus forcing the separator 92 of the spindle assembly 32 to maintain engagement with the rotary actuator 22. , so that it limits the internal free play within the interior door handle assembly 12 and reduces noise. Although this invention has been described with respect to the embodiments of the invention, the present invention may also be modified within the spirit and scope of this description. This application is therefore intended to cover any variation, use or adaptation of the invention using its general principles. In addition, this application is intended to cover such deviations from the description herein as long as they are within common practice and known in the art to which the invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims (14)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A door handle assembly, comprising: a door handle having an operating portion, and a rod extending from said operating portion, said rod having a first opening; a door latch mechanism having a rotary actuator, said rotary actuator having a second opening; and a spindle assembly including a spindle and a spring, said spindle having a first end and a second end, said spring fixed to said first end of said spindle, characterized in that said spring and said first end of said spindle of said assembly of said spindle. The spindle is inserted as a unit in said first opening of said rod of said door handle, and said second end of said spindle is inserted in said second opening of said rotary actuator of said door latch mechanism.

2. The door handle assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a separator fixed to said spindle near said second end of said spindle to limit a degree to which said second end of said spindle is inserted into said spindle. second opening of said rotary actuator of said door latch mechanism.

3. - The door handle assembly according to claim 2, further characterized in that said spacer is a C-shaped pin that engages a groove in said spindle.

4. The door handle assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that said spring is a spiral spring having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said spiral spring having a normal inside diameter that it expands to a second diameter; Said spindle includes a spindle body and a spindle post axially aligned with said spindle body along an axis, said spindle post having a dimension that perpendicularly crosses said axis which is greater than said normal inside diameter of said spindle; and said spindle post of said spindle is inserted into said proximal end of said spiral spring to form an exact adjustment connection of said spiral spring to said spindle.

5. A spindle assembly comprising: a spindle having a first end and a second end; and a fixed spring to said first end of said spindle.

6. The spindle assembly according to claim 5, further characterized in that: said spring is a spiral spring having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said spiral spring has a normal inside diameter that is expands to a second diameter, said spindle includes a spindle body and a spindle post axially aligned with said spindle body along an axis, said spindle post having a dimension that perpendicularly crosses said axis which is greater than said diameter normal interior of said dock; and said spindle post of said spindle is inserted into said proximal end of said spiral spring to form an exact adjustment connection of said spiral spring to said spindle.

7. The spindle assembly according to claim 6, further characterized in that it comprises a separator fixed to said spindle body.

8. The spindle assembly according to claim 7, further characterized in that said separator is a C-shaped pin that engages a groove in said spindle body.

9. A method for forming a spindle assembly, comprising: providing a spiral spring having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said spiral spring having a normal inside diameter that expands to a second diameter; providing a spindle having a spindle body and a spindle post axially aligned with said spindle body along an axis, said spindle post having a dimension that perpendicularly crosses said axis which is greater than said normal inside diameter of said spindle dock; expanding said spiral spring to said second diameter; inserting said spindle post of said spindle into said proximal end of said spiral spring; and releasing said spiral spring from said second diameter to return to said normal diameter to form an exact adjustment connection of said spiral spring to said spindle post of said spindle.

10. The method according to claim 9, further characterized in that it comprises fixing a separator to said spindle.

11. The method according to claim 10, further characterized in that said separator is a C-shaped pin that engages a groove in said spindle body.

12. A method for assembling a door handle assembly, said door handle assembly includes a door handle and a door latch mechanism, said door handle rotatably coupled to a mounting plate, said door handle The door has an operator portion and a rod extending from said operating portion, said rod having a first opening, and said door latch mechanism having a rotary actuator, said oratory actuator having a second opening, said method comprising: forming an assembly of spindle when fixing a spring to a spindle, said spindle has a first end and a second end, said spring fixed to said first end of said spindle; inserting said spring and said first end of said spindle into said first opening of said rod of said door handle; and inserting said second end of said spindle into said second opening of said second rotary actuator of said door latch mechanism.

13. The method according to claim 12, further characterized in that before inserting said second end of said spindle in said second opening of said rotary actuator of said door latch mechanism, the method comprises fixing a separator to said spindle by of said second end of said spindle to limit a degree to which the second end of said spindle is inserted in said second opening of said rotary actuator of said door latch mechanism, said spacer coupling said rotary actuator to maintain said spring in a state compressed when said mounting plate is fixed to a door.

14. The method according to claim 12, further characterized in that before inserting said second end of said spindle in said second opening of said rotating actuator of said door latch mechanism, the method comprises: attaching a separator to said spindle near said second end of said spindle to limit a degree to which the second end of said spindle is inserted in said second opening of said rotary actuator of said door closing mechanism; coupling said rotary actuator with said spindle assembly to compress said spring; and rotating said door handle so that said second end of said spindle will enter said second opening of said door latch mechanism, said spacer engaging said rotary actuator to maintain said spring in a compressed state when said mounting plate is fixed to a door.