US2249272A - Escutcheon for handles and the like - Google Patents

Description

July 15, 1941. e. E. DEY 2,249,272

ESCUTCHECN FOR HANDLES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. '25, 1940 ill? 7 Z5 Z7 INVENTOR.

6e0/7e 7E, Bey

Patented July 15, 1941 George E. pa, GrandRapi-ds, Mich., assignor to W. B. Jarvisjcompajny, Grand Rapids, Mich.,

a corporation of Michigan 7 Application December 23, 1940, Serial No. 371,271

'19 Claims. (01. 292-357) This invention relates to improvements in es-- cutcheons for handlesand the like. 9

The main objects of this invention are:'

First, to provide an improvedescutcheon unit for door handleand other similar-hardware Second, to provide an escutcheon 'or similar unit adapted to greatly facilitate the assembly of a door operating handle on .a spindle 'controlled thereby, the escutcheon or like unit being exceedingly simple and inexpensive of construction and highly attractive in appearance.

Third, to provide a telescoping depressible escutcheon structure which greatly facilitates the assembly of a handle on a door control or other spindle without necessitating a. depressible or:

yieldable 'door panel.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will .appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are i1' lustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a handle and escutcheon therefor in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in central section illustrating details of construction and arrangement of the coacting' escutcheon and handle parts shown inFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a'fragmentary view in central section illustrating the escutcheon and handle structure 1 of Fig. '2, with the parts of the escutcheon in collapsed position to permitthe insertion or re-. moval'ofthe handle retaining pin. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the escutcheon unit.

Figs. 5 and 6 are views in central section illus- 1 trating escutcheons in accordance with further modified embodimentsofthe invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of still another modified form or embodiment-of my invention. 7

This invention relates to escutcheon; assemblies for handles or. other operating hardware of automobiles and the like, and inparticularto an assembly of the type described which is very; com pact "and inexpensive in construction, which. enables the ready'and quick assembly of the bandle or other operating member on a spindle controlled thereby, also the mam'pulat'ion of theescutcheon to exposea locking .pin whenit i sfde-q sired to'removethe handle." I

'Referring to the drawing, in Figs. .1 t 4. I illustrate an escutcheon with the preferred embodiinent of my invention, Referencenunieral-J l in general indicates the escutcheon and refalfr; ence'numerarz a handle associated therewith and adapted to be connected to a door latch or other member operating spindle 3 of non-circular section 'by'means of a pin 3!. This pin is engageable with a transverse hole 4 in the spindle and -a coacting transverse hole in the shank 5 of the handle, which is "brought into alinement with the spindlehole when the spindle is inserted throughan opening 6 in the door-panel 1 or other support and into a non-circular openingS in the handle shank. s

The escutcheon I is a telescoping collapsible structure enabling the coacting pinreceiving holes of the spindle and handle shank to beexposed to give access for the insertion of the pin in assembling the parts, or in removing the handle relative to the spindle. The escutcheon. structure is clearly illustrated in Figs, 2, 3 and 4 and consists of an open dished or cupped circular base stamping .9 having the upturned annular rimllll and a central opening l l which is alined with. .the panel opening 6 in assembling thees cutcheon. Coacting with the base 9 is the dished annular top escutcheon member 12 having the downturned annular flange 13 in external telescoping engagement or association with flange Ill. The two telescoped parts receive .and .house a conical coil compression spring M, the upper or top escutcheon member l2 having a=central1 opening l5 engageable externally on or receiving.

the handle shank 5 and provided with the inturned annular lip IE or flange defining the shank engaging opening. In the preferred embodiment,

relation to the .top escutcheon member. The bottom .escutcheon member 9 has tabs or lugs I! struck up therefrom in spaced relation to the flange ID to receive and locate, and, if desired,

to lockingly position the bottom coil of the spring,

thereby controlling the parts as .a ,unit.

In assembling the handle andes'cutcheon struc ture, escutcheon I is placed over the spindle 3 trated in Fig. 3.

Afterthis, the escutcheon i." ;released to permit the spring to' urge .the top member I 2 into its final operative relation to the handle concealing the locking pin. It should be noted that the above described telescoping and collapsible escutcheon assembly does away with the need for relying on a depressible upholstery panel such as has been employed in many heretofore known structures. The parts thereof are simple, inexpensive, and self-contained and greatly facilitate the handle assembly operation.

In Fig. 5 I illustrate a somewhat modified embodiment of my invention wherein a molded plastic composition, colored in any desired manner, is employed for the top annular dished member of the unit, here designated by the reference numeral I8. Elements of that type may be produced in such plastics in-a number of attractive color eiTects or finishes to blend with any interior hardware or decorative color scheme or claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An escutcheon unit for automobile door handles and the like having a telescoping spindle and handle shank, comprising a dished base member having an annular upturned flange and an axial aperture for receiving the spindle, an outer dished escutcheon member having an annular flange externally telescopingly engageable with the base member flange and a centrally flanged opening concentric with the base member opening to telescope on the handle, and a coil spring disposed internally of said members and concentrically thereof, one of theend coils thereof being smaller than the other and in lateral gripping engagement with the central flange of the escutcheon arrangement. In such a molded construction the 7 upper member is provided with a central annular cylindrically flanged opening for the reception of the handle shank, the upper coil of the spring l9 being preferably made slightly smaller in diameter than the flange of this opening, or distorted to a slightly out-of-round condition to assure a gripping action maintaining the spring and escutcheon top part in desired relation and thereby facilitating their assembly. The lower annular dished half 2| of this embodiment, illustrated as a stamping, receives the enlarged lower coil of the spring and is provided with an indentation 22 for engaging and locking the said coil in place, thereby constituting the escutcheon a unit. Manipulation of the unit in assembling or removing the handle is the same embodiment of Figsl to 4. g s

In Fig. 6 I illustrate a further embodiment of my invention wherein an ornamental base 23 of molded plastic isemployed. this base being pro vided with a central shouldered opening 24 serv- 7 ing as an abutment for the lower coil of the spring 25. The upper or ton escutcheon member 26, that is, the annular flange 2'! thereof, is telescopingly received in the enlarged portion of ,the opening, and the upper coil of the spring is grippingly received by thefdownwardly and outwardly curved flange 2 3 defining the central handle shank receiving opening.

In the embodiment showninFig. '7 the base member 28 is provided with an inturned flange 29 surrounding the s indle opening thereof, this flange being shaped like the inturned flange 1 6 of the top member 12. The coils of the spring 3!) are of dimensions uniform with the bottom coil en aged with the flange 29, th same as the top coil is engaged with the flange l5.

In all of theforegoing structures, a unitary escutcheon is provided which is exceedingly compact in'nature and economical in its parts. Assembly of the same with a handle on a door panel in operative relation to an operating spindle is greatly facilitated by the depressible operation of the escutcheon and many. very attractive ornamental efiec ts may be produced suitable for almost any conceivable interior or exterior decorative scheme. I

I have illustrated and described my invention in embodiments which are very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable'those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I as in the member and axially abutting the escutcheon member, and the opposite coil abutting and being clampingly positioned by the base member, said members and spring being secured together as a unit'by said gripping engagement and clamping positioning, and the members being relatively collapsible inopposition to said spring to expose a portion of said handle normally covered thereby to view, means locking the handle and spindle together when the spindle and handle shank are in telescoped engagement;

2. An escutcheon unit for automobile door handles' and the like, comprising a dished base member having an annular upturned flange and an axial aperture for receiving a handle-operated spindle, anouter dished escutcheon member having an annular flange externally telescopingly engageable with the base member flange, and a centrally flanged opening concentric with the base member opening to telescope'on the handle, and a coil spring disposed internally of said members and concentrically thereof, one of the end coils'thereof being in lateral gripping engagement with the central flange of the escutcheon member and axially abutting the escutcheon member, and the opposite coil abutting the base member, whereby said escutcheon and base members are secured in unitary relation by said spring, said members beingrelatively collapsible in'opposition to said spring to expose a portion of said handle normally covered thereby to view.

3. An escutcheon unit for automobile door handles and the like, comprising a dished base member having an annular upturned flange and an axial aperture for receiving a handle-operated spindle, an outer dished escutcheon member having an annular flange telescopingly engageable with the base' member flange and a centrally flanged opening concentric with the base memberopeni'ng to telescope on the handle, and a coil spring disposed internally of said members and concentrically thereof, one of the end coils thereof axially abutting the escutcheon member and the opposite coil abuttingthe base member, said spring having securing engagement with said escutcheon and base members to secure the same together as' a unit, said members being relatively collapsible in opposition to said spring to expose a portion of said handle normally covered therebytoview. V

4. In combination, with a spindle and a handle telescoped thereon and adapted to receive a locking key, an escutcheon. unit for said handle associated betweenthe sameand a backing panel,

comprising a dished base member adjacent. the.

panel and provided with an annular out-turned flange, and a coil spring disposed in said members and in thrust transmitting relation thereto, to urge same for axial abutting engagement with the panel and handle respectively, said members having concentric alined apertures for the reception of the spindle and handle, and means integral therewith for securing said coil spring to said members to constitute the members and spring a unit, said members being relatively collapsible axially to expose said handle for access to the key.

5. In combination with a spindle and a handle telescoped thereon and adapted to receive a looking key, an escutcheon unit for said handle associated between the same and a backing panel, comprising a dished base member adjacent the panel and provided with an annular out-turned flange, a top member normally concealing said key and having an annular inturned flange telescopingly engageable with said base member flange, and a coil spring disposed in said members and in thrust transmitting relation thereto, to urge the same for axial abutting engagement with the panel and handle respectively, said members having concentric alined apertures for the reception of the spindle and handle, and means integral with at least one of said members for securing said coil spring thereto, the spring being grippingly secured to the other member to connect the members in unitary relation, said members being relatively collapsible axially to expose said handle for access to the key.

6. In combination with a spindle and a handle telescoped thereon and adapted to receive a looking key, an escutcheon unit for said handle associated between the same and a backing panel, comprising a dished base member adjacent the panel and provided with an annular out-turned flange, a top member normally concealing said key and having an annular inturned flange telescopingly engageable with said base member flange, and a coil spring disposed in said members and in thrust transmitting relation thereto, to urge the same for axial abutting engagement with the panel and handle respectively, said members having concentric alined apertures for the reception of the spindle and handle and said spring being restrainingly connected at its ends to said respective members to connect the same in unitary relation, said members being relatively collapsible axially to expose said handle for access to the key.

7. A collapsible escutcheon assembly for door handles, remote control handles and the like comprising facing cupped base and top members having telescoping engagement, the top member being provided with a central opening adapted to receive the shank of a handle and having an inturned curved flange, and a conical coiled spring, the smaller outer coil of which is in clutching engagement with said flange of said top member, the larger inner coil of which is seated within the flange of the cupped base member, said cupped base member having lugs retainingly engaging said inner coil whereby the spring acts to retain the escutcheon members in assembled relation and permits the collapsing thereof.

8. A collapsible escutcheon assembly for door handles, remote control handles and the like comprising a base and top members having telescoping engagement, the top member being provided with a central opening adapted to receive the shank of a handle and having an inturned flange, and a conical coiled spring, the smaller outer coil of which is in retaining engagement with said flange of said top member, the larger inner coil of which is seated within the base member, said cupped base member having retaining means engaging said inner coil whereby the spring acts to retain the escutcheon members in assembled relation.

9. A collapsible escutcheon assembly for door handles, remote control handles and the like comprising a base and top members having telescoping engagement, the top member being provided with a central opening adapted to receive the shank of a handle and having an inturned flange, and a coiled spring, the outer coil of which is in retaining engagement with said flange of said top member, the inner coil of which is seated within the base member, said cupped base member having retaining means engaging said inner coil, whereby said members and spring are se cured together in unitary assembled relation.

10. A collapsible escutcheon assembly for handles and the like comprising a base and top members having telescoping engagement, the top member being provided with a central spindle receiving opening, and a coiled spring, the outer coil 01 which is in retaining engagement with said flange of said outer member, the inner coil of which is retainingly engaged with said base member whereby the spring acts to retain the escutcheon members in assembled relation and permits the collapsing thereof.

GEORGE E. DEY.

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