WO1988001332A1

WO1988001332A1 - Door handle assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1988001332A1
Application number: PCT/GB1987/000582
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keith Alfred Sutton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-08-20
Filing date: 1987-08-18
Publication date: 1988-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-20
Also published as: GB8903370D0; GB2213868B; GB2213868A

Abstract

A door handle assembly comprising a knob (14) having a locking part (15, 48) pivotally mounted thereon, the knob (14) being rotatably mounted on a backplate (10) and carrying a latch operating spindle (16). The backplate also carries thereon a keeper element (38, 39; 46) of strong material for releasable locking engagement with the locking part to prevent a knob on the spindle (16) at the other side of the door being turned. The locking part (15, 48) contains a locking element (32, 54) which is biased to a normal position where it blocks an opening (27, 49) in the locking part and thereby prevents the keeper element (39, 46) being received in said opening and engaging with the locking element, as the locking part is pivoted towards the backplate. A spring loaded push button (36, 63) is provided on the locking element to move the locking element against spring bias to unblock the opening (27, 49) in the locking part to allow the locking part to be locked to the keeper element or released therefrom as required, the locking element having a part which engages with a slot (40, 47) in the keeper element in the locked position.

Description

DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY

This invention relates to a door handle assembly intended to be fitted at one side of a door to replace the normal latch operating member, such as a lever handle, and having a state in which it prevents actuation of an interconnected operating member at the other side of the door, thereby preventing opening of the door from said other side by means of said interconnected operating member. The assembly thus provides a measure of security against an intruder attempting to open the door from said other side.

According to the invention a door handle assembly comprises an operating member intended to be mounted at one side of a door for angular movement relative to the door, and a further member also intended to be mounted at said one side of the door, respective parts of said operating member and said further member being releasably engageable together, such engagement preventing angular movement of the operating member.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a door handle assembly of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view thereof.

Figure 3 is an exploded view showing components of the mechanism.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of alternative components of the assembly, and Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing further alternative components of the assembly.

The door handle assembly has a backplate 10 with screw holes 11 for securing it to one side of a door instead of the conventional handle or knob. The backplate has a circular hole therein which receives a spigot 12 of an operating member 13, which comprises a main generally knob-shaped part 14 and an elongate extension part 15.

The spigot 12 has a conventional square section recess therein which receives a generally square section spindle 16, the spindle being secured to the part 14 by a pin 16a. The outer spigot surface has two pairs of opposed flats 17 and mounted _von said outer surface and received in the backplate is a main torsion spring 18, a stop plate 19 and a thrust spring 20, with a circlip 21 in an annular groove (not shown) at the free end of the spigot. The thrust spring and circlip can be replaced by a wave washer 22 and star lock washer 23 respectively (Figure 3).

The operating member 13 is thus angularly movable on the backplate 10 and_r in use, the spindle 16 operates a dead latch bolt in the conventional manner. For a purpose to be described, the spindle has a groove therein defining a weakened cylindrical part 16a.

The main part 14 of the operating member has a pair of parallel, spaced arms 24 between which one end 25 of the extension part 15 is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 25a. A torsion spring 26 (Figure 3) carried by the pin 25 acts^* between the parts 14 and 15 to bias the part 15 clockwise as viewed in Figure 2, i.e. away from the backplate. The side of the part 15 facing the backplate has a transverse generally rectangular opening 27 therein, which communicates above and below with a passage 28 which extends upwardly from the opening 27 through the part 15 to break into a circular section passage 29 extending downwards from the upper, free end of the part 15. The passage 28 has a step 30 above the opening 27 where it narrows and becomes cylindrical, and a further step 31 at the junction of the passages 28 and 29, providing an abutment shoulder.

Received in the passages 28 and 29 is an elongate locking element 32 having a rectangular locking plate 33 in the form of a rectangular window at the end of a cylindrical stem 34. A compression spring 35 around the stem -34 has one end against a washer 35a at the step 31 and its other against a push button 36, the spring 35 thus acting to bias the element 32 upwardly in the passage 28, the plate 33 being in the bottom of passage 28 and the stem 34 being in the cylindrical part of the passage 28. Movement of the element 32 in the part 15 is restricted by a tube 37 disposed on the stem 34 inside the spring 35. The tube forms a dead stop so that movement is dimensionally constant. The button 36 is fixed on the top of the stem 34 and projects out of the top of passage 29. The spring thus acts between the step 31 and button 36.

The backplate 10 has a projection therefrom at the same side as the operating member. The projection is in the form of a tapered cylinder 38. A steel keeper shaft 39 is cast into the cylinder 38 or otherwise permanently affixed. The keeper shaft has a downwardly facing open slot 40 adjacent its free end, which end projects into the opening 27 in the part 15 when the part 15 is vertically disposed, as shown best in Figure 2. With th ss disposition of the part 15 slot 40 lies through h ^ rectangular window in plate 33, and receives the bottom part of the window therein under the bias of the spring 35 unless the push button 36 is depressed.

Accordingly in use, the extension part 15 can be locked to the keeper shaft 39 by moving the part 15 to the vertical position, best shown in Figure 2, against the torsion spring 26 whilst depressing the push button 36. This - depression of the button slides the element 32 downwardly against the pressure of the spring 35, thereby compressing it. Such movement lowers the plate 33 sufficiently for its bottom part to clear the shaft 39 as the shaft 39 enters the opening 27. Thereafter release of the button allows the spring 35 to slide the element .32 in the opposite direction, thus engaging the plate 33 into the slot 40 in the keeper shaft 39 to lock part 15 in position. The operating member 13 is thus prevented from being rotated, as also is the interconnected operating portion at the other side of the door, connected by the way of the spindle 16. To open the door by means of the operating member 13 it is merely necessary to depress the button 36 which lowers the;element 32 to clear keeper shaft 39. The spring 26 then drives the part 15 to the normal, released position shown in dashed line in Figure 2, allowing the member 13 to be turned and the door opened.

With the part 15 locked to the keeper parts 38, 39, an intruder may try to gain entry by unscrewing the backplate at the other side of the door, after removing the operating member thereon. However any attempt to turn or remove the square spindle would fail. The assembly described is made of a strong material such as brass, steel, zinc alloy with steel inserts or other high impact material, and as mentioned, the spindle 16 is pinned to part 14. Additionally the spindle has a shear groove at the weakened part 16a. Accordingly an attempt to turn the spindle by means of a wrench would cause the spindle to. break off at said groove which is desirably level with the mortice lock face, leaving the intruder with no method of operating the locked operating member from outside the door.

The part 14 could be disposed on the backplate with the part 15 normally horizontal or vertically downwards, provided the keeper 39 was likewise repositioned for reception into the opening 27.

The assembly described and shown therefore provides a measure of security against an intruder, without requiring, as with other security devices, the necessity of keeping a key, whilst being easy to lock and unlock.

Figure 4 schematically shows an alternative mechanism to replace keeper shaft 39. The keeper shaft 41 of Figure 4 has its free end of the same form as shaft 39, having a downwardly facing open slot 42. However the shaft 41 passes through the full length of the conical cylinder 38 to the rear side of the backplate 10. Rivetted or otherwise secured to the end of this shaft 41 is a crank in the form of a disc 43 joined by a connecting rod 44 to a solenoid or linear motor 45 which, when operated, rotates keeper shaft 39 thus rotating keeper slot 42 out of engagement with plate 33. This then causes the part 15 to pivot away from the backplate under the influence of the torsion spring 26. The member on the other side of the door can then be turned to operate the latch.

The solenoid or linear motor can be operated from the outside of the door by a magnetic strip card, an electronic finger print reader or an electronic combination block. Any such state of the art technology could be obtained from appropriate suppliers, and the use thereof with the handle assembly described would still further improve its application.

Figure 5 shows an alternative form of part 15, its associated push-button components, and cylinder 38 and shaft 39. In this embodiment the cylinder and shaft are replaced by a generally rectangular steel keeper block 46 which can be integral with or secured to the backplate (not shown). It has an upwardly facing, open slot 47. The extension part 15 is replaced by a T-shaped extension part 48, the free end of the longer limb of which is pivotally mounted between the arms of the part 14, as in the first embodiment described, the part 15 being biased away from the backplate by spring 26.

The side of the part 15 facing the backplate has a transverse, generally rectangular opening 49 therein, which communicates with an upper passage 50 which is stepped down at 51 and 52 as it extends through the longer limb of T-shaped part. The passage 50 breaks into- a stepped circular section passage 53 extending through the shorter limb of the part 15 from one end almost to its other end.

Received in the passage 50 is an elongate locking element 54 having a rectangular, locking plate 55 at the end of a stem 56. On assembly, in use, a compression spring 57 around the stem has one end against the plate 55 and the other against the shoulder of the step 52 to bias the element 54 downwardly in the passage 50. The upper end of the stem 56 has a through slot 58. Contained in the passage 53 is a slidable rod 59 which has an enlargement 60 between its ends, the enlargement providing an upwardly facing inclined cam surface 61. Between a step in the passage 53 and one end of the rod is a compression spring 62, and a push button 63 is slidably secured on said one end of the rod and projects out of the passage 53. The spring 62 thus acts between the step and the push button. The rod 59 passes through the slot 58 in the stem. With the element 54 biased by the spring 57 to its lower position in the passage 50, the slot 58 is positioned substantially at the bottom of the inclined cam surface 61 with the upper surface of the slot below the level of the uppermost part of the cam surface.

When the backplate is fitted to a door, the end of the block 46 projects into the opening 49 in the part 48 when the part 48 ' is vertically disposed, as shown in Figure 2. With this disposition of the part 48, the slot 47 lies directly below the plate 55 which is thus received therein under the bias of the spring 57.

Accordingly, in use, the extension part 48 can be locked to the keeper block 46 by moving it to the vertical position against the spring 26 whilst depressing the push button 63. This depression of the button slides the rod 59 in the passage 53 whilst compressing the spring 62. Such movement of the rod moves the inclined cam surface through the slot 58. The upper surface of the slot 58 thus rides up the cam surface so that the element 54 is raised sufficiently for the plate 55 to clear the block 46 as the block enters the opening 49. -Thereafter release of the button allows the spring 62 to slide the rod in the opposite direction, with the upper slot surface riding down the cam surface and thus lowering the plate into the slot 47 to lock the part 48 in position, in the same way as part 15 in the first described embodiment.

To open the. door by means of the operating member 13 it is merely necessary to depress the button 63 which lifts the element 54 clear of the block 46. The spring 26 then drives the part 48 to the position shown in dashed lines in Figure 2, allowing the member 13 to be turned and the door opened.

The part 14 could be disposed on the backplate with the part 15 or part 48 normally horizontal, or vertically downwards, provided the shaft 39 or block 46 was likewise repositioned for reception into the opening 27 or 49. In the Figure 5 embodiment the limb containing the passage 53 could be reduced in length if necessary when the assembly is used at the edge of a door close to a wall, in order to provide sufficient space for the part 14 or part 48 to be gripped. Any suitable alternative means instead of a push button could.be used, for example, a pistol grip arrangement or the like. The hand of the assembly can be easily changed by reversing the plate 19 on the flats. The extra leverage provided by the operating member part 15 or 48 is advantageous to any person with a hand disability.

In some applications of the assembly, it may be possible to disengage the latch bolt by driving a steel rod through the frame from outside the door. To counter this possibility a lip can be provided on the striker plate to prevent a rod reaching the bolt, the lip extending perpendicularly into the frame to provide the required barrier.

To prevent inadvertent locking of part 15 or 48, the engaging surfaces of the slots 40 and 47, and plates 33 and 55, can be so formed that a positive locking force against the spring 26 is required.

Claims

1. A door handle assembly comprising an operating member intended to be mounted at one side of a door for angular movement relative to the door, and a further member also intended to be mounted at said one side of the door, respective parts of said operating member and said further member being releasably engageable together, such engagement preventing angular movement of the operating member.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the operating member and said further member incorporates a locking element biased to a locking position and the other of the operating member and said further member incorporates an opening into which at least part of said locking element engages in said locking position.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said operating member and said further member incorporate said locking element and said opening respectively.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said operating member comprises a part intended to operate a spindle and a locking part pivotally mounted thereon and carrying said locking element.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking element is slidably disposed in said locking part, and the locking part has an opening into which at least part of said further member can be received for engagement with -said locking element, the locking element being biased to a position where it blocks said opening, there being means for moving said locking element from said blocking position to allow -said further member to be received in said slot with said locking thereafter being moved by said bias to a position where said locking element engages in said opening in the further member.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the locking element comprises a stem having a transverse extension at one of its ends which engages, in use, in said slot in the further member.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the transverse extension is a square or rectangular window through which the further member projects in said locking position, with a transverse part of the window engaged in said slot of said further member.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the locking _.part has a stepped bore therein to receive said locking element, said stem extending into a largest part of the bore, which is open at the end of the locking part remote from the spindle operating member, said part of the bore containing spring means bearing against a push button on the end of the stem to bias the locking element in a direction away from the spindle operating member, towards which the slot in the further member faces, movement of the locking element to a position where said opening is unblocked by it being possible upon depression of the push button against the spring bias.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the spring means is a compression spring disposed around a stop tube on the stem, the spring normally biasing the push button to a position where it partly protrudes out of said open end of the locking part.

10. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the further member is a keeper shaft secured to a backplate which also mounts the spindle operating member for angular movement relative thereto.

11. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 7 to , wherein the further member is a keeper shaft having a crank disc secured to its end remote from the slot therein, the crank disc being joined by a rod to an actuator to effect rotation of the keeper shaft for disengagement from the locking element.

12. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the transverse extension is a square or rectangular plate, the end of which remote from the stem engages in the slot in the further member in said locking position.

13. An assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the locking part is T-shaped having said locking element in a stepped bore in its longer limb, with a slotted end of the stem extending into a bore in the shorter limb, a compression spring around the stem acting between said extension and a step in said stepped bore to bias the locking element towards the spindle operating member, away from which the slot in the further member faces, sliding movement of the locking element being effected by a member slidably disposed in said bore in said shorter limb and passing through said slot in the stem, the member having a cam surface which engages a surface of said slot as it slides therethrough to either lift or lower the locking element in said longer limb.

14. An assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein a compression spring is around said member and has one end bearing against a shoulder in the bore in the shorter limb and its other end bearing against a push button on an end of the member and protruding from said bore in the shorter limb, so that normally the member is biased to a position where^' the extension of the locking element blocks said opening in the locking part.

15. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 14, wherein the locking part is biased to move in a direction away from the further element when not engaged therewith.