GB2027165A

GB2027165A - Door handle spindle

Info

Publication number: GB2027165A
Application number: GB7925547A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TCB FABRICATIONS Ltd
Current assignee: TCB FABRICATIONS Ltd
Priority date: 1978-07-24
Filing date: 1979-07-23
Publication date: 1980-02-13
Also published as: GB2027165B

Abstract

A square cross-section operating spindle 10 for a door latch, has adjacent each end a respective longitudinally extending slot 12 passing through the spindle transversely, the slot being closed at each end and being filled by an insert 14 of deformable material such as cardboard or plastics. A door handle 18 can be secured to the spindle in any desired position over a continuous range defined by the slot 12, by screwing a self-tapping screw 24 via a transverse bore 22 in the handle 18 into the slot so that the screw thread cuts corresponding screw portions in the side walls of the slot 12, the screw being also held in place by the deformable insert 14. Alternatively, screws (56) may be used to expand inserts (54, 66) into engagement with the handle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Door handle spindle This invention relates to door latches and in particular to operating spindles, (also called pillars) for connecting a door handle or door handles with the operating mechanism of a door latch of the kind which is housed in a mortise in an associated door or is secured to one side of the associated door, the spindle in either case passing through at least part of the door.

In a typical prior construction, a mortise latch is operable by means of an operating bush rotatably mounted in the latch casing, the operating bush having a square section formed entirely therethrough, whereby, after fitting the latch casing in a mortise cut in the door to which the latch is to be fitted, an operating spindle of corresponding square cross section can be passed through holes formed in the door panel and through the passage in the operating bush so that the spindle extends from one side of the door, through the latch casing via the operating bush and through the other side of the door, the spindle projecting from the door on both sides.Generally the spindle also passes through roses fitted to the door on each side around the hole through which the operating spindle passes, and a respective handle is fitted to each end of the spindle, each handle having a blind passage of square cross section corresponding to that of the shaft and which receives the respective end of the shaft when the handle is fitted, each handle being secured by a screw extending through a transverse bore in the handle and in screw-threaded engagement with a respective screw-threaded bore extending transversely through the spindle.

In order that operating spindles of a very few standard forms may be used for doors of a wide variety of thicknesses, it is customary to provide, adjacent at least one of the ends of the spindle, a series of such transverse screw-threaded bores at different positions along the spindle, so that the most appropriate screw-threaded bore may be used having regard to the thickness of the door in any particular case. However, since there is inevitably a finite pitch between adjacent such screw-threaded bores, it is still generally necessary to use spacer members or washers to take up remaining play, and fitting of the handles to the operating spindle properly is rendered a difficult and time consuming operation.

It is an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide an operating spindle for a latch of the kind referred to, and which facilitates the fitting of a handle precisely at a desired position along the spindle.

According to this aspect of the invention there is provided an operating spindle for a door latch, the operating spindle having, adjacent one end thereof a longitudinally extending slot passing through the spindle transversely.

It has been found that a self-tapping screw can be screwed transversely into the slot at a desired position therealong so that if such a screw is used to secure a handle fitted over the respective end of the spindle, the handle can be secured at a desired position along the spindle in a simple manner.

It has been discovered that where a slot is utilised which is open at the free end of the spindle, there is a tendency for the parts of the spindle on either side of the slot to be forced too readily away from each other as w seif-tapping screw is screwed into the slot so that insufficient resistance is presented to the insertion of the screw and an inadequate thread cut in the spindle, so that the screw is not firmly retained. In some embodiments of the invention, the tendency for the parts of the spindle on either side of the slot to be forced too readily away from each other is reduced by securing said parts together adjacent the free end of the spindle so that the slot is closed, at its end adjacent said free end of the spindle by the means securing said parts together.

The last mentioned means may comprise, for example, a weld, a rivet or a screw. The parts of the spindle on opposite sides of a slot open at one end might be prevented from being forced away from each other so readily if restrained from doing so, for example by the door handle fitted over the spindle, if the material of the door handle were of adequate strength, but as such an arrangement would restrict the variety of materials which might be adopted for handles dosed in conjunction with the spindle, it is preferred that the slot should be closed at both of its longitudinal ends.

Furthermore it is preferred that the slot be occupied by a readily deformable material capable of assisting the retention of a screw inserted in the slot.

The readily deformable material may be a fibrous material such as cardboard or hardboard.

It has been found that the presence in the slot of such a deformable material, which is deformed and compressed as a self-tapping screw is screwed into the slot tends to inhibit undesired movement of the screw in the slot, in particular rocking movements in the plane of the slot, which tend to destroy the thread formed by screwing the screw into the slot. The use of such a deformable material in the slot thus makes it possible to obtain reliable retention of a door handle by the use of a self-tapping screw of a size and form lending itself to the insertion more readily than the size and form of screw which would be necessary without such material.

It has also been found that where the slot is occupied by an insert of readily deformable material, adequate retention of a screw inserted in the slot can be achieved even without having the two parts of the spindle on opposite sides of the slot secured together adjacent the respective free end of the spindle, provided that the slot is spanned, at its end nearer the respective free end of the spindle, by means serving to close off the slot at the respective end and limit axial movement of said insert towards the respective free end of the spindle, and provided that the insert is of an axial length such as to fit snugly in the slot without room for appreciable axial movement. It is believed that in this case the forces retaining the screw in the slot arise principally from compression of the insert by the screw in two opposite axial directions.

The means serving to close off the slot at the end nearer the respective free end of the spindle may simply be a pin, of metal or plastics, received in a transverse bore in the spindle and extending across the slot, the pin simply being a frictional fit in the last-mentioned transverse bore.

In any of the variants noted, the spindle may have such a slot adjacent either end thereof, or may have such a slot at one end only with, for example, a conventional screw-threaded transverse bore adjacent the other end.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a latch having an operating member operatively connected with a spindle extending therefrom, a handle being fitted over an end of said spindle, the spindle being received within a complementary passage in the handle, and having, adjacent said end, a longitudinally extending slot, passing transversely through the spindle and closed at either longitudinal end, the handle being retained on the spindly by means of a transversely extending self-tapping screw extended through a transverse bore in the handle and into said slot the screw being in screwthreaded engagement with the walls of the slot.

Another problem arising in connection with door handle spindles, and the fitting of knobs or handles to the same is that there are two different standard sizes of spindle in wide use throughout the world, one of which, being 7mm x 7 mm in square cross-section, used predominantly on the continent of Europe and in the United States of America, and the other of which, being 8 mm x 8 mm in square cross-section, is, for example, in predominant use in the United Kingdom.

It will be appreciated that knobs and handles having square section passages therein dimensioned to receive a spindle of one of these standard sizes may not normally be used with spindles of the other of these standard sizes.

It is another object of the invention, viewed from another aspect, to provide a spindle arrangement allowing a spindle of smaller crosssection (associated, for example with a latch having said boss thereof pierced by an aperture of corresponding smaller cross-section), to be utilised in conjunction with a door handle having an internal passage of correspondingly shaped but larger cross-section.

According to this other aspect of the invention, there is provided an operating spindle for a door latch, the operating spindle having an aperture extending into the spindle, transversely to the length of the spindle, and adapted to receive a screw, and a further aperture extending into the spindle transversely to said first-mentioned aperture and to the length of the spindle and intersecting said first-mentioned aperture, said further aperture having a displaceable insert therein adapted to be displaced outwardly from said further aperture, transversely of the spindle, upon screwing of a screw into the first-mentioned aperture.

Preferably the spindle is of square cross-section and the first aperture extends through the spindle between one pair of opposite lateral faces thereof, whilst said further aperture extends through the spindle between the other pair of lateral faces thereof, a respective displaceable insert being accommodated in the two parts of said further aperture which lie on opposite sides of the first mentioned aperture and open onto respective opposite faces of the spindle.

In one embodiment said first aperture is a screw-threaded bore and said further aperture is a smooth bore.

In another embodiment, said first aperture is a screw-threaded bore and said further aperture is a longitudinally extending slot also extending between two opposite faces of the spindle and intersected by said screw-threaded bore.

The invention also includes, within its scope the combination of a spindle according to the lastmentioned aspect with a latch having an operating member operatively connected with the spindle and a door knob or handle fitted over the spindle and secured thereto.

Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a door latch spindle embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, in a plane perpendicular to that of Figure 1, showing the spindle of Figure 2 with a door handle secured thereto and a portion of an associated rose, and Figure 3 is a view in cross-section along the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of part of a variant door latch spindle, Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section of another variant door latch spindle, Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of another variant door-latch spindle before a handle securing screw has been inserted, Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 8 but showing the position after a handle securing screw has been inserted, Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a variant of the spindle of Figures 6 and 7 before a handle-securing screw has been inserted, and Figure 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 8 but showing the position after a handle supporting screw has been inserted.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, a door latch spindle 10, of conventional square cross-section, has, adjacent either end, respective longitudinally extending slots 12, each passing transversely through the spindle, as shown in Figure 3, from one side face to the opposite parallel side face, and each being closed at either end. The slots may be formed by making, in the length of square section material which is to form the spindle, a respective slot extending from each end thereof, for example by cutting each slot from the respective end, and subsequently closing the open longitudinal end of each slot by welding, before finishing the exterior of the spindle at the ends, e.g. by grinding.

Fitted tightly into each slot 1 2 is a respective piece 14 of a deformable fibrous material such as cardboard or hardboard, the longitudinal edges of each piece 14 being flush with the faces of the spindle onto which the slots 12 open.

To use the spindle in the fitting of handles to a door having, for example, a motise latch, and having, in known manner, roses, such as indicated fragmentarily at 1 6, fitted to the door around the holes for the latch spindle, the spindle is passed through the last-mentioned holes and through the passageway of square cross-section complementary with the spindle, in the operating bush of the latch, so that the ends of the spindle project on respective sides of the door.Each handle is then fitted, the handles being of conventional form and each having, as indicated in the handle 1 8 in Figure 2, a blind passageway 20, of square cross-section complementary with the spindle, and which receives the respective end part of the spindle, each handle 1 8 also having a transverse bore 22, intersecting the passage 20, for a locating screw serving to locate the handle axially on the spindle. In the present instance, the locating screw 24 is a self-tapping screw, of such a size as to be fairly readily screwed into the slot 12 transversely, as shown in Figure 2, with the crests of the screw thread on the screw 24 cutting thread forms in the opposing side walls of the slot 12.During insertion of the screw, the parts of the spindle on each side of the slot may be forced apart slightly in a resilient fashion, thereby ensuring that the screw is engaged tightly, but since the slot is closed at its end nearest the respective end of the spindle, by welding the same the parts of the spindle on either side of the slot are held sufficiently rigidly to ensure that an adequate thread is cut by the screw 24 and the latter reliably retained. At the same time, the deformable material 14 is compressed during insertion of the screw and by frictional engagement with the screw resists loosening of the screw.

It will be appreciated that when one handle has been fitted in this manner on one side of the door, the other handle may be fitted over the other end of the spindle and the handles pushed towards the door in opposite directions to take up any axial play before inserting the respective screw 24 in the other handle and screwing in the screw in the manner already indicated.

It will be appreciated that in certain cases it will be sufficient for the spindle to be slotted at one end only, rather than at both. Thus, for example, where it is desired to provide a handle on one side of a door only, for example in the case of a fire door, one end of the spindle may be secured to the latch mechanism within the door, only the slotted end of the spindle projecting from the door and being fitted with a handle.Furthermore, at the cost of part of the range of adaptability for doors of different widths, it is possible to provide one end of the spindle with a transverse screwthreaded bore to allow location of a door handle in the traditional fashion by an ordinary fastening screw, and to have only the end part of the spindle at the other end thereof slotted and fitted with a cardboard or hardboard insert for fitting of the other handle in a desired position in the manner described above.

It will also be appreciated that whereas the end of each slot nearest the free end has been described as being closed by welding the parts of the spindle on opposite sides of the slot together, these parts could be held together by some other means, e.g. by a rivet or screw.

Alternatively, the spindle may be pierced transversely and the slots formed by broaching or some other method. Each slot may in that case be formed with fully. rndiused ends, as shown at 30 in Figure 4, and the piece 14 of deformable material inserted in the slot 12 may comprise a length, cut from an extrusion of deformable plastics material such as polyethylene, the extrusion having a cross section corresponding closely to the profile of the slot as viewed in Figure 4 and said length being short in the direction of extrusion, corresponding to the diameter of the spindle.

An inserted piece 14 of the same kind may also, of course, be used in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3.

It has also been found that it is possible, where a suitable insert is used, to secure adequate retention of the door handle retaining screw 22, in use, in a spindle slot which is not closed at the free end of the spindle, provided that the slot, at said free end of the spindle is spanned by means serving to prevent, or at least substantially limit, extension of the insert in the axial direction.

Thus, shown in Figure 5, the slot 12 may be formed by cutting from the respective free end 12' of the spindle, a snugly fitted insert 14, for example of plastics, such as polyethylene being received in the slot and having an end extending to, and flush with the end 12' of the spindle, the insert 14 being retained in the slot by means of a pin 32, of metal or plastics, passing through aligned transverse bores in the spindle and the insert 14 adjacent the free end 12' of the spindle, and being preferably simply held in place by friction, the end of the insert 1 4 furthest from the pin 32 bearing firmly against the radiused closed end 33 of the slot so that the insertion of the selftapping handle-retaining screw will cause the material of the insert between the screw and the end 33 of the slot, and between the screw and the pin 32 to be compressed in the axial direction of the spindle.

The use of an insert or inserts in conjunction with a handle-retaining screw may also be used to overcome the problems of interchangeability arising from the fact that there are two different standard sizes of door handle spindle in wide use through the world, one such standard size being 7 mm x 7 mm square in cross-section and the other such standard size being 8 mm x 8 mm square in cross-section. It will be appreciated that if a door handle having a square section hole therein to receive an 8 mm x 8 mm section standard spindle is fitted on a 7 mm x 7 mm square section shaft, the handle will fit only very loosely and unsatisfactorily on the spindle. It will not normally be possible simply to change the spindle size, since the latter will normally be determined by the latch to be operated by the handle.The spindle illustrated in cross-section in Figures 6 and 7 provides a solution to this problem. The spindle 44 is of 7 mm x 7 mm square cross-section, and is shown, located in an 8 mm x 8 mm square cross-section hole 46 in a door handle 48 (shown only partially).

The spindle 44 has, at intervals therealong, the conventional series of tapped holes, one of which is indicated at 50, for a handle-securing screw.

A slot 52 is formed through the spindle 44, extending transversely through the spindle, from one side thereof to the other, perpendicular to, and intersecting, the bores 50, the slot also being, if desired, elongate in the longitudinal direction of the spindle. Two pieces of deformable material, for example a plastics material such as polyethylene, as indicated at 54 are fitted snugly in the slot 52, the two pieces being of equal width so that adjoining faces of the two pieces 54 meet in a central longitudinal plane of the spindle containing the axes of the bores 50 while the opposite faces of the two pieces are flush with the opposite sides of the spindle on which the slot 52 opens.When the handle 48 is secured to the spindle 44 by means of a screw 56, in the conventional manner, the two pieces 54 are forced apart from one another and pushed outwardly from the spindle 44 so that the faces of pieces 54 which were formerly flush with the respective opposite sides of the spindle bear firmly against respective opposite walls of the square section hole 46, thus taking up the 1 mm of slack and securing the handle firmly to the spindle.

The screw 56 is preferably somewhat pointed at its end, to assist in initial insertion of the screw and separation of the pieces 54, although it will be appreciated that the pieces 54, in the fitted condition of the handle, are preferably under compression to some extent, so that some axial force may be necessary in insertion of the screw, which force may be provided by the action of screwing the screw in if the parts of each bore 50 on both sides of the slot are screw threaded for engagement with screw 56. If desired, the two pieces 54 may be replaced by an insert which is initially in one piece but which may have a central line of weakening or the like so that when a screw 56 is inserted the insert is split along the plane containing the axes of bores 50, the two pieces resulting from the splitting being then forced apart in the same way as described in relation to pieces 54.

In a variant shown in Figures 8 and 9, instead of the slot 52, individual transverse bores 60 are formed through the spindle, (indicated at 64), each said transverse bore being perpendicular to and intersecting, a respective one of the screwthreaded bores 50. The bores 60 are each filled with a respective plug of deformable material, such as plastics, e.g. polyethylene, each said plug extending for the whole length of the respective bore 60 and being, at its ends, flush with the respective side faces of the spindle 64.

When a handle-securing screw 56 is screwed into a bore 50, the end of the screw, preferably again pointed, splits the respective plug into two parts, on opposite sides of the axis of the respective bore 50 and forces these parts outwardly, as indicated at 66a in Figure 4, to engage the opposing side walls of the square section passage in the handle and hold the handle firmly with respect to the spindle, in a manner similar to that described with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

Claims

1. An operating spindle for a door latch, the operating spindle having, adjacent one end thereof, a longitudinally extending slot passing through the spindle transversely.

2. A spindle according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinally extending slot is closed at each longitudinal end thereof.

3. A spindle according to claim 2 wherein said longitudinally extending slot has been formed by cutting the spindle longitudinally from one free end thereof and subsequently closing the slot, adjacent said free end, by welding, rivetting or by means of a screw.

4. A spindle according to any preceding claim wherein said slot is occupied by an insert of readily deformable material.

5. A spindle according to claim 4 wherein said insert is of a fibrous material such as cardboard or hardboard.

6. A spindle according to claim 4 wherein said insert is of deformable synthetic plastics material.

7. A spindle according to claim 1 wherein said slot is open at a free end of the spindle, and is occupied by a closely fitting insert of deformable material located by means of a pin or other fastener extending across the slot, through the insert, and through the parts of the spindle on opposite sides of the slot.

8. A spindle according to claim 7 wherein said pin is held in place by friction.

9. The combination of a latch having an operating member operatively connected with an operating spindle according to any of claims 1 to 8, the spindle projecting, at said one end thereof, from the latch and a handle being fitted over said end of the spindle, the spindle being received within a complementary passage in the handle, the handle being retained on the spindle by means of a transversely extending self-tapping screw extending through a transverse bore in the handle and into said slot.

10. An operating spindle for a door latch, the operating spindle having an aperture extending into the spindle, transversely to the length of the spindle, and adapted to receive a screw, and a further aperture extending into the spindle transversely to said first mentioned aperture and to the length of the spindle and intersecting said first-mentioned aperture, said further aperture having a displaceable insert therein adapted to be displaced outwardly from said further aperture, transversely of the spindle, upon screwing of a screw into the first-mentioned aperture.

11. A spindle according to claim 10 wherein said further aperture is in the form of a slot, elongate in the longitudinal direction of the spindle and extending from one side thereof to the other and intersecting said aperture adapted to receive a screw, and the slot being occupied by two such displaceable inserts, meeting along a plane containing the axis of the aperture adapted to receive a screw and being, prior to insertion of a screw, substantially flush with the sides of the spindle on which the slot opens.

12. A spindle according to claim 10 wherein said aperture adapted to receive a screw is a screw threaded bore extending through the spindle and said further aperture is a bore, extending transversely through the spindle at right angles to the screw threaded bore and intersecting the latter, said further aperture being occupied by a plug of deformable material which, before insertion of a screw is, at its ends, substantially flush with the sides of the spindle, the plug being arranged to be split by insertion of.

a screw into the screw-threaded bore to urge the two parts thus formed, of the plug outwardly from the respective parts of their bore.

13. An operating spindle for a door latch, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

14. An operating spindle for a door latch, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. An operating spindle for a door latch, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

16. An operating spindle for a door latch, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

17. An operating spindle for a door latch, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

1 8. The combination, with a spindle according to any of claims 13 to 1 7, of a door latch, handle, and handle fixing screw, substantially as herein described.

19. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.