US3676895A - Hardware for sliding door - Google Patents

Abstract

Door handles especially adapted for use on sliding ''''pocket'''' type doors permitting single hand opening and closing. Means is also provided adapting the handles for replacement of existing door operating means without carpentry work involving repair or remodeling of the previous carpentry.

Description

United States Patent Stewart 5] July 18, 1972 i 1 HARDWARE FOR SLIDING DOOR 2,659,939 11/1953 Greig .49/425 [72] Inventor: James suwm west Palm Beach, Fla 2,760,803 8/1956 Solomon .A9/449 [73] Assignee: Stewart Research, lnc., West Palm Beach, Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay

Assistan! Examiner-Doris L. Troutman [22] Filed; Au 24, 1970 Attorney-Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow & Garrett [21] Appl. No.: 66,371 [57] ABSTRACT Door handles especially adapted for use on sliding "pocket" ..l6/ll0, 49:46 72; yp doom permitting single hand p g and closing Means 58] Field 160/84 is also provided adapting the handles for replacement of existo 91;49 4 0 4 3 52 gm ing door operating means without carpentry work involving repair or remodeling of the previous carpentryv l 1 e 5 Clalns, 5 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,006,409 10/1971 Pemberton [60/84 Patented July 18, 1972 3,676,895

2 Sheets-Sheet l 26 JAMES M. STEWART BY Y ' ATTORNEY YS Patented July 18, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet :1

INVENTOR FIG. 3

JAMES M. STEWART HARDWARE FOR SLIDING noon This invention relates to hardware for sliding doors of the so-called pocket type, i.e., doors which are mounted for sliding movement into a recess between two opposing walls, and

which may be pulled from the recess and slid into door-closing position within a surrounding door frame. Normally such doors slide completely into the recess for full door-open position, and substantially completely therefrom to door frame abutting position when fully closed. Such doors are supported from a suitable track by means of affixed rollers.

It is well known that such door arrangements present some substantial disadvantages in opening and closing, and this is true even though they are provided with some means intended to facilitate the opening and closing operations. Almost universally, it is believed, such doors are provided with a pocket on opposite sides of the door, each pocket being fitted with a small metal cup, into which a finger is inserted in order to move the door away from its fully closed position and start it on its way to its open position, i.e., fully within the wall recess. In order that the door can be retrieved from the wall recess, the door face is customarily provided with a metal insert, including a small, finger-grasping means, pivotally mounted in the insert in such manner that it normally falls to a position fully flush with the door face when not being employed to pull the door from the recess. In this down" position, it advantageously does not present any protruding portion on the door face, such as would snag clothing or possibly do injury. This means is also so mounted that one may depress, i.e., move inwardly relative to the door facing, the end of the pivoted means opposite to the end which provides the fingergrasping portion, as a result of which, the finger-grasping means emerges from with the recess and presents itself for the insertion of a finger, thus enabling one to pull the door from the wall recess. This pivoted means is nothing more than a simple bar and intermediate fulcrum point, operating as a simple lever.

Although the combination of the metal side pockets and the finger-grasping element are operable for their intended purpose, they are by no means entirely satisfactory, as will now be more fully pointed out below. There disadvantages have long been suffered, apparently without receiving attention with a view to providing improved means.

Regardless of whether one is opening or closing sliding doors equipped as above described, two hands are invaribly employed and the hands must shift thru multiple positions to effect the desired final door position. One can open or close the door with one hand, but not with ease and facility, and especially not if the door is heavy, or if the door is poorly mounted (which is often the case), and is at all balky upon being pushed or pulled. Moreover, at some point or points in either opening or closing of the door, the hand pressure necessary to be applied in the side finger pockets in order to develop adequate purchase causes the door to bind. In closing a sliding door of the type under discussion, one first pivots the finger-grasping means to a point where it can be grasped. This may most easily be done with the hand fartherest away from the grasping means, i.e., reaching across the body. However, if one has something in that hand, he must either shift it to the other, or proceed awkwardly to use the empty hand. Even though one employs the preferred hand, he cannot move the door very far before that hand moves to an awkward, uncomfortable position. (It is not uncommon that, during this operation, a finger is injured.) He must then release the finger grasping means and shift to the side pocket in order to complete the closing against the opposite door frame. Usually, however, once the door is pulled from its recess a short distance, one employs both hands, especially if the door is at all heavy, balky or warped; and, usually one releases the finger-grasping means quickly and grasps entirely around the door facing, either assisting by means of the side finger pockets, or not using either of the means actually provided for opening and closing. It usually is less troublesome to open such doors, i.e., move the door from against the frame fully into its pocket, but only if the door slides nicely, and is properly mounted so that it does not tend to bind against the pocket framing at some point. Here again, however, under normal circumstances, one tends to employ both hands and, if one hand is occupied, an awkward situation results.

Aside from the above, three separate slots must be provided in the door by a carpenter for receiving the pieces of hardware, and, of course, the three pieces must be mounted.

The present invention seeks to overcome the above disadvantages.

The principal objects of this invention may be stated as fol lows:

To provide a door handle for pocket sliding doors which provides convenient grasping means for control of the opening and closing of the door, including convenient guiding of the door into the frame at its closed position;

To provide a door handle which permits sliding pocket doors to be manipulated with ease, using only one hand, and either hand, to fully closed or open position without the need for release and hand repositioning;

To provide a door handle which affords protection to the operator's hands during the operating of the door, particularly as when compared to existing hardware;

To provide a door handle which may be installed without frame modification on typical existing pocket door assemblies;

To provide a door handle of one piece construction and of pleasing esthetic appearance, and for which an infinite variety of decorative designs may be used while adhering to the established structural requirements;

To provide a door handle which may be used on one side of the door only, such as with closet doors;

To provide a door handle of the type described which may be produced and installed with minimum cost.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a door handle in accord with the above objects in combination with a second part serving to permit replacement of the hardware already installed on doors by the handle of the present invention.

The invention is illustrated by drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. I illustrates a door handle of this invention, formed as a casting, in position on a door facing, the door being in nearly fully opened position. The door framing is fragmentary;

FIG. 2 illustrates in horizontal section a door handle of the invention, formed by a stamping operation, positioned on a door in a relatively deep notch therein, and having a facing piece in the form of a notch insert, the arrangement eliminating the need for notching of the opposite door trim in order to permit full closing;

FIG. 3 illustrates a handle, generally similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 in horizontal section, the handle being of modified configuration permitting closing without notching of the opposite trim;

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a cover element which may be employed with the handle of this invention whereby ready replacement of existing hardware is permitted, while also hiding previous notching for the first installed parts.

Referring to FIG. I, numeral I0 denotes a handle according to this invention having two hand-grasping portions 12, extending from a central door mounting area 14. The handle is mounted in the door facing 16 by means of screws l8. Numeral 20 denotes door trim extending longitudinally of the door framing 22, the trim being notched, or broken in its running length, as at numeral 24.

Referring to FIG. 2, the handle 10 is seen in horizontal section. It is there observed that the handle is shaped such that it has a central flat portion, denoted by numeral 26, as between the points A and B, and two similarly curved portions denoted by numeral 28. The central flat portion 26 preferably should be of such length that they position the point of beginning curvature of the curved portions 28 beyond the outer sides of the door trim, thereby permitting complete recessing of the door in its pocket 30. Thus, immediately beyond the points denoted by A and B the curvature is relatively sharp in order that the handle will hug rather closely to the door framing for a short distance, as between points A and C and points B and D. Beyond points C and D, as will be seen, the two grasping portions curve less and tend more to straighten, as at points E and F, in order that the main handle portions flare away from the framing and provide a substantial distance between the framing and points G and H of the handle. This configuration is preferred for the reason that it better permits the door to be manipulated with either hand, while also, quite importantly, greatly minimizing the chance that a finger may be bruised by mashing against the door framing at either end of the door travel.

Further in reference to the drawings, particularly FIG, 1, it will be noted that the main grasping portion of the handle, denoted generally by numeral 32 expands, or flares, to a substantially greater vertical (lateral) dimension at its termination. In actual contemplated size, this dimension is preferably about 3% inches, i.e., about four fingers. As a result of the upward and downward flaring of the grasping portion to provide such dimension, the hand is strongly directed or encouraged to grasp the handle by positioning the fingers along or around the vertical length, rather than around the top edge surface, as at 34. However, even though the handle be grasped around the top edge, the curvature tends to direct the hand and fingers downwardly along the longer edge portion 32 rather than more inwardly in the direction of the doorv In this way, the fin gers of one hand may easily move the door in either direction to either extreme and with the probability of fingenbruising being greatly minimized. As will be understood the configura tion and dimensions of the handles of the invention seek to provide ease of manipulation in either door-moving direction, while guarding against possible injury, even though such possibility is small and the injury minimal, and while also maintaining the handle in unobtrusive position relative to the room area near the door frame. As to the latter, curvature is important, as it is to the former.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be noted that the grasping area 32 bulges as at 36 to provide a flat surface 38 extending the full vertical length on the outer side of the handle. This surface provides a proper finger ledge for moving the door from closed to open position. It will be seen that danger to finger-bruising is absent as the door moves to full open position because they are not between the inner side of the handle and the door framing. When moving the door to closed position, the grasping of the handle is directly opposite, i.e., around the surface 32.

FIG. 3 shows a modified grasping surface wherein a vertical trough 40 is provided for finger reception which affords similar advantages. This modification permits the handle to lie somewhat closer to the door frame when the door is fully opened, i.e., in its pocket. Also, it will be observed that in this form of the invention the central flat area is stamped to provide a shallow channel, as at 42, such that the handle fits around the facing in order that the door may be fully closed without trim notching in the opposite framing 43.

Referring to FIG. 4, numeral 44 denotes a cover plate for use with the hereindescribed handle whereby existing hardware may be replaced and prior finger pockets cut in the wood hidden from view. The cover plate comprises three flat sides, 46, 48 and 50 As will be understood, this plate is fitted over the facing in a notch provided to receive it and the handle, and it is adapted to be fixed to the door either by separate screws or by means of the same screws which hold the handle to the facing.

As will be understood from considering the foregoing description, numerous modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A readily grippable door handle for a sliding pocket-type door in which the door slides through the door framing and into a pocket in open position and into a recess in the opposite side of the door framing in closed position, said door handle comprising a generally flat, central portion overlying and adapted for mounting to the door facing, the central portion having side edges and a width approximately equal to the width of the recess in the door framing; a pair of leg portions extending rearwardly from the side edges of said central portion a short distance substantially equal to the depth of the recess in the door framing, said central and leg portions providing a shallow channel that fits around the door facing; and a pair of arm portions extending outwardly from the rear ends of said leg portions, and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of the sliding door, to a point in the zone of the outer door framing and thereafter curving rearwardly and outwardly a distance sufficient to pro vide a hand-grasping portion between the ends of the arm portions and the door framing when the door is in open position.

2. The door handle of claim 4, in which the vertically ex tending trough opens forward relative to the rearwardly ex tending arm portions.

3. A handle as in claim I, wherein said arm surface flares upwardly and downwardly in a gentle curve to provide a broad hand grasping portion, and which hand grasping portion is provided on its outer side with a vertically extending surface, which is generally flat, lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the door framing.

4. A handle as in claim 1 wherein said hand-grasping position terminates in a vertically extending trough adapted for finger reception.

5. A handle as claimed in claim I having matched thereto a door cover plate designed for covering door carpentry work whereby said handle may be readily employed as a replacement handle.

Claims (5)

1. A readily grippable door handle for a sliding pocket-type door in which the door slides through the door framing and into a pocket in open position and into a recess in the opposite side of the door framing in closed position, said door handle comprising a generally flat, central portion overlying and adapted for mounting to the door facing, the central portion having side edges and a width approximately equal to the width of the recess in the door framing; a pair of leg portions extending rearwardly from the side edges of said central portion a short distance substantially equal to the depth of the recess in the door framing, said central and leg portions providing a shallow channel that fits around the door facing; and a pair of arm portions extending outwardly from the rear ends of said leg portions, and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of the sliding door, to a point in the zone of the outer door framing and thereafter curving rearwardly and outwardly a distance sufficient to provide a hand-grasping portion between the ends of the arm portions and the door framing when the door is in open position.

2. The door handle of claim 4, in which the vertically extending trough opens forward relative to the rearwardly extending arm portions.

3. A handle as in claim 1, wherein said arm surface flares upwardly and downwardly in a gentle curve to provide a broad hand grasping portion, and which hand grasping portion is provided on its outer side with a vertically extending surface, which is generally flat, lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the door framing.

4. A handle as in claim 1 wherein said hand-grasping position terminates in a vertically extending trough adapted for finger reception.

5. A handle as claimed in claim 1 having matched thereto a door cover plate designed for covering door carpentry work whereby said handle may be readily employed as a replacement handle.

Images