US2173131A

US2173131A - Door-handle construction

Info

Publication number: US2173131A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ottinger Leon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-04-03
Filing date: 1937-04-03
Publication date: 1939-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 1956-09-19

Description

Sept. 19, 1939. L. OTTINGER DOOR-HANDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 3, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 w. H m m 0 MN A 11% .N NN F l// m w h w w IN VENTOR.

Sept. 19, 1939. 1.. OTTINGER DOOR-KANDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 3, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept 19,1939.

L.OTflNGER nboR-HAnnLE couswaucrxou Filed April 5. 1937 5 Sheets$heet-4 lil 1... OTTINGER 2,173,131

DOOR-HANDLE CONSTRUCTION Sep 19, 1939.

5 Shuts-Sheet 5 Filed April 3, 193'! MATTORNEYJ ill Patented Sept. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR-HANDLE CONSTRUCTION 19 Claims.

My invention relates to handles for use on the doors of automobiles, airplanes and the like. More especially, the invention has to do with the arrangement of such handles to reduce the hazard of physical contact with the handle and to prevent the clothing from catching therein.

Various proposals have been made for eliminating or reducing the dangers due to motor car handles which project a considerable distance from the surface mple, to provide a handle which normally is ush with the surface of the body and releases the latch by an outward motion. Although the above hazards are removed by means of such a handle, the handle does not provide adequate means for controlling the opening and closing of the door.

When it is desired to open the door, for example, such a handle, first of all, has to be released from its close association with the car body so that it can be grasped by the hand. Then the person opening the door pulls on the handle and releases the latch. This pull causes the door to swing open with a jerk, and as the releasing motion of the handle is in the same direction as the movement of the door, the operator has no positive control of the motion of the door regardless of how firm a grasp he has on the handle. With the rotary type of handle, on the other hand, the movement of the handle to release the latch bolt is at right angles to the direction of movement of the door and the operator always has positive control of the door.

The public, moreover, is accustomed to expect all automobile doors to open by a turning movement of the handle. when, therefore, a person grasps a door handle which is designed to move in some other way to release the latch, he is apt to give a sudden and energetic twist to the handle which, not yielding, may cause a wrenching of the hand.

For these and other reasons the rotary type of door handle remains in favor with the automobile manufacturer. The present invention recognizes this fact and aims to provide a handle construction which, although projecting from the surface of the car body, is nevertheless so arranged as to remove the ordinary hazards of the projecting type of handle.

The invention also aims to provide a handle which, although projecting from the car body, stillhas the appearance of conforming to the principles of stream line design.

The invention will be understood from a consideration oi the following descriptive matter has been proposed, for err-- read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which, by way of example, illustrate a number of different embodiments of the invention. Referring now to these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a motor car provided with the handle and guard construction of the present invention, the body construction being such that the two side doors close against the center vertical column of the car body;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1',

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a modified form of automobile body of the type where both front and rear doors open along their front edges;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-4 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6, I and 8 are views of another modification, wherein the handle is normally much closer to the surface of the car body than the customary type of handle and is adapted to swing away from the body as the handle is turned. Of these figures, Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of a portion of a car door showing the handle and guards partly in plan and partly in section, while Fig. '7 is a side view and Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the angular shaft of the handle;

Fig. 9 is a view drawn to a smaller scale partly in plan and partly in horizontal section of a slightly modified arrangement of the construction of Figs. 6, T and 8;

Figs. 10 and 11 show a still further modification somewhat similar to the construction of Figs. 6, '1 and 8;

Figs. l2, l3 and i4 illustrate another modification of the invention, Fig. 12 being a side elevation, Fig. 14 being a vertical section taken on line H-ll of Fig. 12, and Fig. 13 being a horizontal section taken on line Ill-43 of Fig. 14; and

Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate still another modifl cation, Fig. 15 being a side elevation, and Fig. 16 being a vertical section taken on line l8-lii of Fig. 15.

Referring now tion is embodied bile body construction of the type in which both the forward or front door I and the rear door 2 close against the central upright post 3. Each of the doors is provided with a latch mechanism (not shown) of any desired construction, that for the front door having a latch bolt 4, and for the rear door a latch bolt 5. Handle shafts for the horizontally and movable release the latch mechanism,

3i with the handle H, or the tapering design of guard member with the handle 32.

The present invention provides, first of all, adequate protection for handles of the customary and accepted form as used on motor cars, and then, in addition, also provides for the protection oi a type of handle which protrudes to a very much less degree than the ordinary type of handle, and, in fact, associates such a handle with an elongated protuberant decorative element commonly used on the exterior surfaces of car bodies in such a way that the door handle cannot readily be distinguished from this decorative element. In all forms of the invention, however, the door handle is operated in the conventional manner so that the public does not have to become accustomed to a new way of manipulating automobile doors.

Although the invention has been described specifically in connection with the body constructions of automobile bodies, it will be understood that the invention can also profitably be employed in the construction of the airplane fuselage. Although the full advantages of the invention are gained when applied to the body constructions of such moving vehicles it will be understood that the invention may well be employed in body constructions which remain stationary, such, for example, as cabinets for refrigerators, radios, storage compartments, etc., wherever there is a possibility of physical injury by contact with a projecting handle, or wherever it is desired to apply the principles of streamline design. It is in the body constructions of moving vehicles, however, that the present invention has its greatest advantages.

This application is, in part, a continuation of my copending application, Ser, No. 55,237, filed December 19, 1935, Patent No. 2,075,829, granted April 6, 1937.

I claim: a

1. In a body construction, a body and door assembly having a latch mechanism, an operating handle shaft operatively connected with the latch mechanism and projecting from the surface of the door, an elongated handle fixed to the projecting end of the shaft in approximately parallel relation with the surface of the door and normally extending horizontally and movable downwardly from its horizontal position in order to turn the shaft and release the latch mechanism, a guard member on the surface of the door and a guard member on the surface of the body, the said guard members being in line with the opposite ends of the handle when the handle is in normal position.

2. In a body construction, a body and door assembly having a latch mechanism, an operating handle shaft operatively connected with the latch mechanism, an elongated handle fixed to the shaft in approximately parallel relation with the surface of the door and normally extending downwardly from its horizontal position in order to turn the shaft and one end of said handle being spaced a substantial distance from the surface of the door, a guard member on the surface of the door projecting outwardly to substantially the same distance as the adjacent end of the handle and extending along the door surface so as to appear as a prolongation of the handle, the opposite end of the handle being spaced close to said assembly, and a second guard member on said assembly and projecting outwardly beyond said closely spaced end of the handle.

3. In a body construction, a body and door assembly having a latch mechanism, an operating handle shaft operatively connected with the latch mechanism, an elongated handle fixed near one of its ends to the shaft, said handle extending in substantially parallel relation to the surface of the door, and a guard member of a width not substantially greater than the width of said elongated handle projecting from the surface of the door adjacent one end of the handle in alignment with the handle when the handle is in nor mal position and shaped to appear, when the handle is in normal position, as a continuation thereof extending along the surface of the door.

4. In a body construction, a body and door assembly having a latch mechanism, an operating handle shaft operatively connected with the latch mechanism, an elongated handle fixed to the shaft in approximately parallel relation with the surface of the door and normally extending horimentally and movable downwardly from his horizontal position in order to turn the shaft and release the latch mechanism, one end of said handle being spaced a substantial distance from the surface of the door, a guard member on the surface of the door projecting outwardly to substantially the same distance as the adjacent end of the handle and extending so as to appear as a prolongation of the handle, the opposite end of the handle being shaped to provide a guarding surface extending close to the surface of the door.

5. In a body construction, a body and door asembly having a latch mechanism, an operating handle shaft operatively connected with the latch mechanism and projecting from the main surface of the door, an elongated handle fixed near one of its ends to the projecting end of the shaft, said handle extending in substantially parallel relation to the surface of the door, a guard member extending outwardly from said mam surface of the door obstructing the space between the end of the handle and the door, and an extension on the opposite side of the handle shaft having the end thereof disposed adjacent the surface of the said assembly.

6. In combination with a door, a protuberant elongated decorative element on a side face of the door, a latch operating handle and means for mounting said handle on the door at one of its ends whereby the other end of said handle swings downwardly and away from the door face when the handle is operated, said latter end of the handle normally lying contiguous to and in alinement with said protuberant element, and said element constituting a guard-preventing impingement of objects with the end of the handle.

'I. In a door construction, a substantially horizontal protuberant elongated decorative element on the surface of the door, a latching mechanism for the door, and a door handle lying normally substantially in alinement with said decorative element to render the handle inconspicuous, said door handle being connected with the latching mechanism by means of a shaft arranged at a decided angle to the plane of the door, the handle being thereby swung downwardly out of alinement with the decorative element when the handle is turned to release the latching mechanism.

8. In combination, a door structure having a side wall provided with a depressed wall section,

a latch operating shaft mounted in said wall section, a handle on one end of said shaft normally extending substantially horizontally therefrom in opposed relation to said deprmsed wall section and movable downwardly from its said horizontal position in order to turn the latch operating shaft, and said wall, at one end of the depressed section, having a protuberant part in alinement with said handle when it is in its said normal position constituting a deflecting guard preventing impingement of objects with the free end of the handle.

9. In combination, a door structure having a side wall provided with an inwardly depressed section to form a finger receiving recess, and a substantially horizontal protubera'nt wall section integrally continuous with said depressed wall section at one end of the latter andforming a horizontal ornamental moulding on the face of the door, a latch operating shaft mounted in said side wall, and a handle on one end of said shaft normally extending therefrom in opposed relation to said finger receiving recess and terminating at one of its ends in horizontal alinement with said protuberant wall section and adjacent to the point of juncture of said protuberant and depressed wall sections.

10. In combination, a door structure having a side wall provided with a protuberant wall section forming a horizontal moulding on the face of the door, a latch operating shaft mounted in said side wall, and a handle on one end of said shaft normally extending horizontally therefrom, beneath and closely adjacent to said protuberant wall section, and terminating at its free end Contiguous to the outer face of said wall, the outer surfaces of the handle and the protuberant wall section projecting approximately the same distance from the face of the door, the protuberant wall section serving as a guard to prevent the impingement of objects with the handle.

11. In combination with a door structure having a side wall with a pair of spaced apertures therein, a latch operating handle mounted on said structure and having an end normally positioned adjacent to the surface of said wall, and guard means on said structure to prevent the impingement of objects with said handle end, said guard means comprising an elongated member having a pair of spaced hook-like projections on its inner surface having the prongs thereof extending in the same direction and adapted to be received within the apertures in the said wall, a threaded aperture in said guard member extending through the same to the outer surface thereof, and a screw positioned in each of said apertures with its end engaging the wall of one of said apertures and coasting with the hook-like projection therein to prevent the release of the said projection from the aperture and to force said projection into close engagement with the wall of said aperture.

12. In combination, a door structure having a side wall provided with a horizontally-elongated, inwardly and upwardly inclined section, a latch operating shaft having one of its ends mounted in said wail section, and a handle on said end of the shaft normally disposed in overlying relation to said inclined wall section, and adapted for outward latch-bolt-retracting movement in a path substantially parallel to the inclined plane of said wall section.

13. In combination, a door structure having a side wall provided with a horizontally-elongated, inwardly and upwardly inclined section, a latch operating shaft having one of its ends mounted in said wall section with the shaft axis disposed at substantially right angles to said wall section. and a handle on said end of the shaft normally disposed in overlying relation to said inclined wall section and inwardly of the plane of the outer surface of said wall below the inclined section thereof, said handle being adapted for outward latch-bolt-retracting movement in a path substantially parallel to the inclined plane of said wall section.

14. In combination, door structure having a side wall provided with a narrow inwardly and upwardly inclined section, extending horizontally substantially across the entire width of the door, a latch-operating shaft having one of its ends mounted in said wall section closely adjacent to the free edge of the door, and a handle on said end of the shaft normally disposed in substantially parallel overlying relation to said inclined wall section, and adapted for outward latch-boltretracting movement in a path substantially parallel to the inclined plane of said wall section.

15. In combination with a motor vehicle structure, having walls provided with an ornamental belt-line molding, one of said walls having a narrow, horizontally-elongated, upwardly and inwardly inclined section, a latch-operating shaft having one of its ends mounted in said wall section, and a handle on said end of the shaft normally disposed substantially horizontally and substantially in the plane of said belt line molding, and in overlying relation to said inclined wall section, said handle being adapted for outward latch-bolt-retracting movement in a path substantially parallel to the inclined plane of said wall section.

16. In combination with a door structure. a latch mechanism, a latch-operating shaft, an elongated handle connected adjacent one of its ends with the latch-operating shaft, said elongated handle normally lylng in a substantially horizontal position and having its free end lying outwardly of the main plane of the outer side surface of that portion of the door which is adjacent thereto, said elongated handle being movable downwardly from its said normal position to release the latch mechanlsm, and a protuberant part on the outer surface of the door adjacent the free end of said handle when it is in its said normal position, and located to be opposite and in alinement with the free end of the handle when it is in its said position, said protuberant part extending outwardly from the surface of the door a distance suflicient to constitute a deflecting guard for the free end of the handle and prevent impingement of objects therewith.

17. In combination with a door structure, a latch mechanism, a latch-operating shaft, an elongated handle connected adjacent one of its ends with the latch-operating shaft, said elongated handle normally lying in a substantially horizontal position and movable downwardly to release the latch mechanism, and an elongated protuberant part on the outer surface of the door, said elongated protuberant part extending from a position adjacent the free end of the handle when it is in its said normal position away therefrom in substantial alinement with said elongated handle, said protuberant part extending outwardly from the surface of the door a distance suilioient to constitute a deflecting guard for the free end of the handle and prevent impingement .of objects therewith.

18. In combination with a door structure, a latch mechanism, a latch-operating shaft, an

elongated handle connected adjacent one of its ends with said latch-operating shaft, said elongated handle normally lying in a substantially horizontal position and movable downwardly to release the latch mechanism, and an elongated protuberant part of a width not substantially greater than the width of said handle on the outer surface of the door, said elongated protuberant part extending from a position adjacent the free end of the handle when it is in its normal position away therefrom in substantially horizontal alinement with said elongated handle, said protuberant part extending outwardly from the surface of the door a distance sufficient to constitute a deflecting guard for the free end of the handle and prevent impingement of objects therewith.

19. In combination with a body and door having a wall structure of substantially uniform thickness, an elongated latch-operating handle mounted on said wall structure for rotation about a transversely-positioned axis and having an end normally disposed in closely spaced relation to the main outer surface of said wall structure, a horizontally-elongated, outwardly-convex protuberance extending outwardly from the main outer surface of the door, said protuberance extending substantially parallel with said elongated handle when said handle is in normal position and having a part thereof adjacent said handle, to deflect objects striking the main outer surface of the door adjacent said handle and outwardly away therefrom.

LEON O'ITINGER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORREQ TION Patent No. 2,175,151.

LEON OTTINGER September 19, 1959.

It is hereb; certified that error appears in the rinted specification of the above and column,

column, line 11, claimli before "door" insert correction therein that the same may ters Patent should be read with this numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5,nseoline 23, claim h, for the Word "his" read its; page 6, second a; and that the said Letconform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealedthis Zhth day of October, 4.. n. 19 9.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

H. S. LABOMBARDE mourns FOR ACTING on ammxs Sept. 19, 1939.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1935 i: MN 4 O -ib 5 w M & w Ens-8V0 1 I s a 1 Ar.- 1 J I I 1 I 0 I H. s. LABOMBARDE 2,173,171

MACHINE FOR ACTING ON BLANKS Sept. 19, 1939.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1935 E 1 III tibiae- 276:?