GB2243646A

GB2243646A - Door handle return mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2243646A
Application number: GB9109658A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neville Dearden; Simon Vincent Harby Roberts
Original assignee: Smith Widdowson & Eadem Limite
Current assignee: Smith Widdowson & Eadem Limite
Priority date: 1990-05-04
Filing date: 1991-05-03
Publication date: 1991-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-03
Also published as: GB9109658D0; GB2243646B; GB9010116D0

Abstract

The mechanism comprises a housing formed by two plate-like members 2, 3 secured together, having co-axial central openings 4, 5, a rotatable member 6 located between the plate-like members 2, 3, and having a boss 7 to each side to extend into respective centre openings 4, 5 in the plate-like members, two diametrically opposed grooves 8, 9 on the inner face of each plate-like member co-operating to form channels and two springs 12, 13, one located in each channel, and extending in opposite directions from attachment points to opposite sides of the rotatable member to anchor points at the ends of the channels. Each plate-like member is provided at its outer periphery with notches to enable the mechanism to locate behind a wide variety of cover plates. <IMAGE>

Description

DOOR HANDLE RETURN MECHANISM This invention relates to door handle return mechanism.

Hitherto, door handle return mechanisms have, for the most part, been located behind a support plate for a handle, and have incorporated a rotatable member to-be engaged either by a stub shaft on the handle, or a shaft extending through a door to handles on either side of the door, the rotatable member having been connected to a return spring anchored by its other end to the cover plate. Operation of the handle causes a moment to be applied to the mechanism as the spring is put into tension, and the inevitable wear that takes place by repeated operation can result in slack in the mechanism and a sufficient degree of play, for the handle not to be fully returnable to its position of rest. Equally, such mechanism is inevitably handed and consequently can only be employed in a restricted range of products.

Also known is mechanism let into a door. Here again a spring extends from an anchor to a rotatable member to be engaged by a shaft extending through the door, with the attendant problem mentioned above, and additionally the overall thickness of the mechanism results in a considerable weakening of the door at the position where the mechanism is let into the door.

It will be evident from the above that mechanism secured to a handle cover plate, and mechanism let into the door are each of a design dedicated to their own particular intended use, i.e., mechanism for securing to a cover plate cannot be inset in a door and vice versa.

It is the object of the present invention to provide door handle return mechanism that avoids those disadvantages mentioned above and provides for universal application.

According to the present invention, door handle return mechanism comprises a housing formed by two plate-like members suitably secured together, having co-axial central openings, a rotatable member located between the plate-like members, and having a boss to either side to extend into a respective centre opening in the plate-like members, two diametrically opposed grooves on the inner face of each plate-like member positioned to lie beyond the periphery of the rotatable member, respective grooves in the plate-like members cooperating to form a channel for a spring1 and two springs, one located in each channel, and extending in opposite directions from attachment points to opposite sides of the rotatable member to anchor points at the ends of the channels.

Preferably co-operating stop means are provided on the rotatable member and the inner faces of the plate-like members to limit the rotational movement of the rotatable member.

By providing two springs acting oppositely at the periphery of the rotatable member, damaging moments are eliminated and replaced by a couple, thereby avoiding to a substantial degree any wear on the mechanism during prolonged and repeated use. Equally importantly, the juxtaposition of the rotatable member and the springs, and the forming of the inner faces of the plate-like members to combine to house the springs and the rotatable member results in the ability to employ relatively thin plates, resulting in an overall thickness of the assembled mechanism drastically reduced in comparison with all prior art constructions, and once assembled, the mechanism can be secured either behind the cover plate of a door handle, or can be inset into a door, and when inset, maintain the integrity of the door to a substantial degree.

To enhance further the universal application of the door handle return mechanism of the invention, it is preferred that the plate-like members of the invention are of circular configuration, and that a number of co-operating notches are provided in their peripheries for selective engagement of a wide variety of standard exposed and concealed fixing means for the handles and the cover plates, and permit door handles to each side of the door to be bolted together by engaging in appropriate recesses in the periphery of the return mechanism.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of door handle return mechanism in accordance with the invention, with one plate removed for clarity; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the inner face of the other plate; and Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation on the line III-III of Figure 1 with the rotatable plate removed for clarity.

In the drawings, a door handle return mechanism 1 is formed by two co-operating plate-like members 2, 3 having coaxial central openings 4, 5. The two plate-like members 2, 3 when secured together provide a generally circular cavity within which is located a rotatable member 6, the rotatable member 6 having a boss 7 to each side to extend into the respective openings 4, 5 in the plates 2, 3. Each plate-like member is provided with two diametrically opposed grooves 8, 9 beyond the periphery of the cavity for the rotatable plate, one plate-like member having in its peripheral grooves 8, 9 a respective location peg 10, 11 to which is secured a respective spring 12, 13.The opposite ends of the respective springs 12, 13, extend to and are secured to, a respective locating peg 14, 15 on the rotatable plate, the springs 12, 13 then lying in channels formed by the co-operation between the respective grooves 8, 9, in the plate-like members 2, 3.

At the opposite end of each channel 8, 9 a respective stop member 16, 17 is provided to be engaged by a respective projection 18, 19 to opposite sides of the rotatable plate and hence limiting the degree of possible rotational movement of the rotatable member.

As is apparent from Figure 3, a door handle return mechanism of extremely narrow section is provided well suited to its location behind a support plate for a handle, or inset in a door. Thus with a handle to either side of the door in conventional manner, the stub shaft (not shown) of the handles extends through a correspondingly shaped bore in the boss 7 of the rotatable plate.

Thus by providing two springs 12, 13, acting oppositely at the periphery of the rotatable plate, damaging moments are eliminated and replaced by a couple, thereby avoiding to a substantial degree any wear on the mechanism during prolonged and repeated use. Equally advantageous is that the nature of the relatively thin plate-like members 2, 3 and hence the overall thickness of the mechanism, enables the mechanism to be fitted to a door or behind a plate in one or the opposite disposition and then to enable either left hand or right hand operation of the door handle to suit its intended use.

Particularly when it is the case of handle return mechanism being located behind a cover plate, a number of different means of locating conventional return mechanism are provided to the rear of the cover plate. To enhance further the universal application of the door handle return mechanism of the invention, each plate-like member 2, 3 is provided at its outer periphery with a series of corresponding and differently shaped notches and whereby to enable the mechanism of the invention to locate behind a wide variety of existing cover plates.

Claims

1. A door handle return mechanism comprising a housing formed by two plate-like members suitably secured together, having co-axial central openings, a rotatable member located between the plate-like members, and having a boss to either side to extend into a respective centre opening in the plate-like members, two diametrically opposed grooves on the inner face of each plate-like member positioned to lie beyond the periphery of the rotatable member, respective grooves in the plate-like members co-operating to form a channel for a spring, and two springs, one located in each channel, and extending in opposite directions from attachment points to opposite sides of the rotatable member to anchor points at the ends of the channels.

2. A door handle return mechanism as in Claim 1, wherein co-operating stop means are provided on the rotatable mmeber and the inner faces of the plate-like members to limit the rotational movement of the rotatable member.

3. A dovr handle return mechanism as In CIa In- m c O'- Claim 2, wherein the plate-like members are of circular configuration, and a number of co-operating notches are provided in their peripheries for selective engagement of a wide variety of standard exposed and concealed fixing means for the handles and the cover plate.

4. A door handle return mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.