NL2025376B1 - Universal hands-free operable door handle attachment device - Google Patents

Abstract

A door handle attachment device 1 comprises a lever bar extension with a proximal end portion 9’ that is configured for projecting from a lever bar 2 of a door handle and 5 connection elements for fitting the lever bar extension to the lever bar and to a spacer 3 of the door handle. The lever bar extension comprises a primary fitting part that is configured to be fitted to the lever bar, and the lever arm extension comprises a distal end portion 9 that is configured to form a secondary fitting part to be fitted to the spacer. The primary fitting part is provided along an intermediate section of the lever bar extension. The primary fitting part 10 comprises first and second spaced apart support points 15 at opposing sides of the intermediate section to be supported at spaced apart positions on top of and/or sideways against the lever bar. + Fig. 1 15

Description

P34541NLOO/RR Title: Universal hands-free operable door handle attachment device

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device to be attached to door handles, providing a possibility to avoid using ones hand palm and fingers for operating such door handles.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Rooms as in houses, offices, buildings, toilets are commonly closed with a door, in which a deadbolt locks the door to a doorpost/frame. The deadbolt is usually part of a door locking mechanism, and a rotation of a door handle makes the deadbolt move in and out.

The door handle is usually designed as a hooked lever, containing a spacer that extends substantially in a horizontal x-direction perpendicular to a front face of a door and holding a lever bar that extends in an y-direction perpendicular to said x-direction, for a user to be able to rotate the door handle around said x-direction at about 50-60 mm relative to a front face of the door. This spacer also provides a fitting to a square door axle, that operates the deadbolt as part of the door locking mechanism. The lever bar is usually integrally fitted on one end to the spacer, with a length of around 100-130 mm, usually parallel to the front face of the door and horizontal positioned when not operated.

Adding a force on the lever bar, it needs to overcome a spring in the lock, connected to the deadlock. The spacer then rotates over around 30 degrees, and so does the door axle. The door locking mechanism converts the rotational movement of the door handle and door axle into a linear movement of the deadbolt, such that the deadbolt, is no longer blocking the door to swing open. By pushing or pulling the door an opening can be created to pass.

By releasing the door handle the spring pushes the deadbolt outside again, as well as it puts a rotation force on the door axle, such that the door handle is returning into its starting position.

To operate the door handle, the lever bar is grabbed with the palm of the hand, locked by the fingers. Studying all kind of door handles, the spacer is usually regular round or square, and slightly conical. The lever bar may have a variety of shapes. For example square, round, conical, oval, with wood, or designed as a wing. A mutual property is a surface of the lever bar facing an operator, that is to be grabbed by a hand palm. This is usually comfortable rounded over the width of the hand palm, avoiding an uncomfortable feeling when a user applies the lever.

-2- Nowadays people are more and more aware and concerned of passing bacteria and viruses by using door handles, specifically in public areas. Avoiding direct contact with bare fingers and hand palms, people have become creative, for example by use of paper, cloth, elbow, lower arm, their feet or even just waiting for another person to appear and open the door.

From the state of the art various door handles are known which aim to provide solutions such that the door handle no longer has to be gripped with one’s hand palm or fingers.

For example WO-2006/018499A1 shows a door handle that is to be used with a lower arm, a wrist or a back of the hand of a user, such that the hand palm — applying the door handle can be kept faced towards the operator. This door handle replaces a standard door handle by a much longer parallel lever. Due to the length and required mass, likely the return spring in the standard door locking mechanism is not strong enough to operate the deadbolt and provide enough force to place the door handle back in genuine position, after releasing the door handle. To use this door handle an additional spring and bearing need to be added. During opening of the door by pulling, due to the way the door handle needs to be operated, the door is swinging towards the operator and the operator cannot stand aside the door, but needs to step backwards, and not in front of the opening. If the door opening is wide enough, the operator releases the door handle and needs to first round the door to be able to stand in front of the opening. If the door has a door closer, time is running out, and which may specifically be uncomfortable if the operator needs more time to round the door and pass.

Another device is shown from DE-20.2016.106.324-U1. This is also a complete door handle, that is configured to replace standard door handles. This device seems an alternative design of such a standard door handle, with more or less the same outer measurements, and also containing a spacer and a lever bar. As with the standard door handle people already used more ways to operate the door handle, included by elbow, this device seems more suitable to be applied by the elbow. To rotate the door handle and pulling and/or pushing the door is now pending on the upper arm and shoulder action, which becomes much more difficult, compared to the old fashion use of the hand and forearm mussels.

US-2.238.513 Shows also an alternative door handle to be fitted as replacement for commonly fitted door handles, and also using existing door locking mechanisms. The lever bar has a slightly downwardly directed hook to accommodate the forearm, in which the face of the hand palm is towards the operator. Due to the shape of the door handle the operator needs to step back applying the door handle during the pulling action of opening a door, as the door swings towards the operator, and the operator cannot step aside, as then the lever bar would be released.

23.

US-8.522.482 shows a device with a complete new bearing/spring housing for a door handle, such that time consuming replacement is necessarily. This device uses magnets to position an arm-bar, and the door handle apparently is not fitted to operate commonly used door locking mechanisms.

US-6.289.557 shows also a door handle device with a bearing housing that is configured to replace an existing door handle supporting a spring in a door locking mechanism — if any. The door handle device needs to be applied with the forearm or elbow, without having to make a rotation movement. The device does not need to be pulled down or lifted, such that commonly used door locking mechanisms cannot be applied in combination.

DE-20.2015.006.126 shows a door handle device replacing a standard door handle, to be applied also with the forearm. The device is drafted as to be fitted directly to a square axle of a standard door locking mechanism.

A Belgium company named Materialise on their website (materialise.com) shows a hands free door handle attachment device. In one embodiment a plastic plate is fitted with 4 screws and nuts to the door handle lever bar in such a way that the plate mainly gets to project straight upwardly. The plate forms a hook behind which a forearm can be placed, while at a same time being placed to rest on top of a lever bar and spacer of the door handle, and while having the hand palm facing towards the operator. In another embodiment a similar shaped upwardly projecting plastic plate portion is clamped with a snap fit from above onto the lever bar, whereas the door handle attachment device further comprises an integrally formed distal end portion that is clamped with a snap fit from below onto the spacer.

The functioning of both those door handle attachment device embodiments however leaves to be improved. For example, if the door needs to be opened towards the operator, the operator is — similar to some of the abovementioned door handles - positioned behind the door, and needs to step backwards, further behind the door, during operating the door handle. Further it is noted that the door handle attachment device is suitable only for a straight, round, non-conical lever bar with a one size diameter, and that it is costly to self- manufacture by means of 3D-printing, and needs bolts and tools for its mounting to a door handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to overcome the abovementioned disadvantages at least partly or to provide a usable alternative. In particular the present invention aims to provide a user-friendly and economic door handle attachment device that is usable in combination with all kinds of existing door handles and that can be operated by users in various ways at least

-4- including ways that include pulling and pushing doors open and that do not require direct gripping or contact with one’s hand, such that a spreading of diseases, like bacteria and/or viruses, via door handles can be minimized or fully prevented.

According to the present invention this aim is achieved by a door handle attachment device according to claim 1. The door handle attachment device comprises a lever bar extension with a proximal end portion that is configured for projecting from a lever bar of a door handle, and connection elements for fitting the lever bar extension to such a lever bar and to a spacer of such a door handle. The lever bar extension comprises a primary fitting part that is configured to be fitted to the lever bar, and a distal end portion that is configured to form a secondary fitting part to be fitted to the spacer. According to the inventive thought the primary fitting part is provided along an intermediate section of the lever bar extension, wherein the primary fitting part comprises a first and second spaced apart support point at opposing sides of the intermediate section of the lever bar extension that are configured to be supported at spaced apart positions on top of and/or sideways against the lever bar.

Thus the invention relates to a door handle attachment device that can be fitted to all kinds of shapes and dimensions of commonly used door handles, while at a same time being able to make use of commonly used door locking mechanisms to which those door handles are already connected. The invention advantageously provides a three point supported lever bar extension that can easily and quickly be retrofitted to already present door handles, such that a three point matching arises therewith, and such that the door handle gets transformed into one that is suitable to have a forearm, wrist and/or back of a hand gently and easily laid down therein for operating the door handle while avoiding the use of the hand palm and fingers, and while being able to first exert a rotational opening force on the door’s locking mechanism and then a pushing or pulling force on the door for having it swung open.

Owing to the fact that the door handle attachment device can be fitted to a door handle at said three points, a triangle fitting is obtained that is a strong fitment, and thus assures an extension of the lever bar of the door handle that feels solid and safe. One of the support points is configured to be supported at the spacer of the door handle, that is to say close to the front face of the door. The other two support points are positioned spaced at opposing sides of the lever arm extension and are configured to be supported at the spaced apart positions along the door handle lever bar. Thus together a strong balanced triangle support is created.

To achieve the two fitting points widely spread along the length of the door handle lever bar, and also suitable to accommodate a variety in shapes of door handles, for example

-5. round, square bended, conical, such that the device becomes a universal fitting, the device preferably may include two brackets providing these two support points to fit to the lever bar.

In a preferred embodiment the brackets as part of the door handle attachment device — together delimit a hollow in vertical direction to the top and a hollow in horizontal position away from the face of the door. This makes it possible that the support points of the brackets are formed by outer parts of the brackets, such that the triangle forces are not interfered.

The door handle attachment device can be fitted to the lever bar by all kinds of connection elements, like fasteners, clamping screws or bolts, tensionable wires or bands or adhesive tape. One of the preferred fittings is the use of tie-wraps.

In a preferred embodiment the door handle attachment device comprises a sine wave curved lever bar extension starting with a downwardly projecting distal end portion that gradually transits into a convex upper portion, that gradually transits into a concave lower portion, that gradually transits into an upwardly projecting free proximal end portion. The concave lower portion forms a comfortable curved rounding that makes it possible for a user to either exert a pushing either a pulling force with for example its forearm in both directions directly onto the door handle attachment without having to directly come in contact with the door handle or the front face of the door itself at all.

In a further preferred configuration this curved rounding has a distance between a lowest point inside the concave lower portion and highest points of the adjacent convex upper portion and upwardly projecting free proximal end portions of around 55/60 mm, with a comfortable width of around 85 mm to fit the forearm in. In addition thereto the elongate lever bar extension may have such a length dimension, seen in top view, in a horizontal direction (away from the front face of the door in a mounted position) between its distal and proximal end portions, that an operator is able to put a forearm or wrist comfortable in the curved rounding either with the hand palm facing the door, or facing the operator, while the lever bar extension and the forearm resting upon it can rotate freely without contact and friction alongside the front face of a door in a mounted position during the opening and swinging of the door.

In a further preferred embodiment the lever bar extension for a large part, and in particular with at least its concave lower portion, and more in particular also with its convex upper and/or upwardly projecting free proximal end, are positioned to project away, seen in top view, from a front face of the door and the door opening within 90 - 125 degrees. One of

-6- the preferred angles is 115 degrees. This makes it possible to apply the device and makes it possible to put the forearm in with the hand palm facing towards an operator, in case the door needs to be pushed open, or with the hand palm in the direction of the front face of the door, in case the door opens towards the operator.

The door handle attachment device thus advantageously provides the possibility to open the door towards the aperator, by pulling, such that the door can swing alongside the operator, and in addition using the forearm mussels too. This makes it possible to release the door handle and directly pass a created opening of the door.

In addition the door handle attachment device also provides the possibility to open the door, by pushing, as during the opening of the door, the lever bar extension will maintain being positioned in a same orientation to for example the operator's forearm, including round the moment the door handle usually is released. This releasing for that reason is more comfortable.

One of the preferred materials for the door handle attachment device of a polymer plastic, such that the additional weight to the bar can be limited, such that the door lock mechanism will not be progressively worn. For example, when using PC/ASA the device can be kept lightweight, in particular even less than 50 gram. This makes it not necessarily to replace a return spring of the locking mechanism by a stronger one to increase force, or to add an additional spring and/or bearing provision in addition to the already fitted standard door locking mechanism.

One of the preferred configurations is the use of an antibacterial additive to the material itself or as a coating, such that bacterial grow may come to a stop, due the fact that the surface doesn't allow the bacteria to adhere and/or survive.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention are stated in the dependent subclaims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention shall now be explained in more detail below by means of describing some exemplary embodiments in a non-limiting way with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

-7- Figure 1: Showing the door handle attachment device (1) that comprises an elongate sine wave curved lever arm extension positioned as being fitted on a lever bar (2) of a door handle and on a spacer (3) also of the same door handle. A face of the door is indicated as (4), a deadbolt (5) as part of a door locking mechanism, and a door handle plate as (6).

Figure 2: Showing the complete door handle attachment device (1) without a door handle or door. The door handle attachment device (1) comprises opposing sideways projecting hooked brackets (7) to be supported on top of and sideways against the lever bar (2) of the door handle. The brackets (7) are positioned at an intermediate position along the device (1). Each bracket (7) has a hole (8) in it, that is configured to clamp the door handle attachment device (1) at first and second support points firmly against the lever bar (2) of the door handle by means of suitable connection elements, for example first and second tie- wraps. A downwardly projecting distal end portion (9) of the sine wave curved lever arm extension is configured to be supported on top of and sideways against the spacer (3) of the door handle, and is configured to clamp the door handle attachment device (1) at a third support point firmly against the spacer (3) of the door handle by means of a suitable connection element, for example a third tie-wrap.

Figure 3: Showing a side view, and specifically the sine waved shape of a forearm rest surface of the lever arm extension. The downwardly projecting distal end portion (9) gradually transits into a convex upper portion (10) of the sine waved shape, which gradually transits into a concave lower portion (11), which gradually transits into an upwardly projecting free proximal end portion (9°). The portions (10), (11) and (2) are configured to form a curved hollow rounding that matches a wrist and/or back of a hand palm and/or a forearm to be placed therein.

Figure 4: Showing a top view of the device, indicating an angle (12) between an imaginary longitudinal centre line that extends through the portions (10), (11), (9) of the lever arm extension and the front face of the door (4).

Figure 5: Showing a top view, with the three support points for the device (1) on top of and against the door handle. The first and second support points are indicated as (15), are provided as forwardly projecting side wall parts underneath the hooked brackets (7), and are configured to rest on top of and/or sideways at spaced apart positions against the lever bar (2). The third support point is indicated as (13), is provided as concave semi-circular hollow underneath the downwardly projecting distal end portion (9), and is configured to rest on top of and against the spacer (3) of the door handle. The three support points combine in an

-8- imaginary triangle (14) that is indicated with dotted lines. Thus the primary and secondary fitting parts comprise: first and second outer support points (15) as part of the brackets (7) alongside the intermediate section of the lever arm extension, and a front inner support point (13) as part of the distal end portion (9).

Figure 6: Showing a bottom view, such that it can be seen that the front inner support point (13) is provided with a hole, to put for example the tie-wrap through, for clamping the device (1) to the spacer (3). The brackets (7) are demonstrated and specifically their concavely hollow shaped side walls that lie in between their first and second support points (15) and that is indicated with imaginary lines (18), to accommodate and guarantee that the matching of the brackets (7) to the lever bar (2) of the door handle are the first and second outer support points (15) of the brackets (7).

Figure 7: This figure shows a preferred position and orientation of a forearm of an operator if the door (4) needs to be pushed for opening. Arrow (16A) is indicating the forward swinging opening direction of the door (4). The back of a wrist (18) then can be used for pushing to the device (1) in the direction of the arrow (16A), while the hand palm (17) then can be kept directing to the operator.

Figure 8: This figure shows a preferred position and orientation of a forearm of an operator if the door (4) needs to be pulled for opening. Arrow (16B) then is indicating the backward swinging opening of the door (4). The back of the wrist (18) is pulling the device (1) in the direction of the arrow (16B), while the hand palm (17) then can be kept directing to the door (4).

Besides the shown and described embodiments, numerous variants are possible. For example the dimensions and shapes of the various parts can be altered. Also it is possible to make combinations between advantageous aspects of the shown embodiments. Instead of using plastic other kinds of materials can be used.

It is noted that the feature of the sine wave shaped lever bar extension can also advantageously be used in combination with other types of primary and/or secondary fitting parts for door handle attachment devices. Then also an advantage can be achieved of the concave lower portion forming a comfortable curved rounding that makes it possible for a user to either exert a pushing either a pulling force with for example its forearm in both directions directly onto such a door handle attachment without having to directly come in contact with a door handle itself or with a front face of a door itself at all. In particular the sine

-9- wave shaped lever bar extension then also may start with a downwardly projecting distal end portion that gradually transits into a convex upper portion, that gradually transits into a concave lower portion, that gradually transits into an upwardly projecting free proximal end portion. More in particular a centre line through an intermediate section and proximal end portion of the sine wave shaped arm rest surface, seen in top view, then is configured to lie at an angle of between 90 - 125 degrees, in particular about 115 degrees, relative to a front face of a door to which the door handle gets attached in a mounted position. Further it is noted that the feature of the sine wave shaped lever arm extension can also advantageously be used for direct integration in a design for a door handle itself, that is to say a door handle that includes a fitting part that is configured to be connected directly to a door axle such that a deadbolt as part of a door locking mechanism can be operated, which door handle itself then gets to comprise the inventive sine wave shaped arm rest surface as integral part of a combined spacer and lever bar. Then also an advantage can be achieved of the concave lower portion forming a comfortable curved rounding that makes it possible for a user to either exert a pushing either a pulling force with for example its forearm in both directions directly onto such a door handle without having to directly come in contact with the door handle itself or with a front face of a door itself at all. In particular the sine wave shaped combined spacer and lever bar then may start with a downwardly projecting distal end portion that gradually transits into a convex upper portion, that gradually transits into a concave lower portion, that gradually transits into an upwardly projecting free proximal end portion. More in particular a centre line through an intermediate section and proximal end portion of the sine wave shaped arm rest surface, seen in top view, then is configured to lie at an angle of between 90 - 125 degrees, in particular about 115 degrees, relative to a front face of a door to which the door handle gets attached in a mounted position.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and therefore will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

Claims (11)

-10- CONCLUSIES-10- CONCLUSIONS 1. Deurkrukbevestigingsinrichting voor montage op een deurkruk, omvattende: - een hefboomverlenging met een proximaal eindgedeelte dat is geconfigureerd om uit te steken vanaf een hefboom van de deurkruk; en - verbindingselementen voor het bevestigen van de hefboomverlenging aan de hefboom en aan een afstandshouder van de deurklink, waarbij de hefboomverlenging een primair montagedeel omvat dat is geconfigureerd om te worden gemonteerd op de hefboom, en waarbij de hefboomverlenging een distaal eindgedeelte omvat dat is geconfigureerd om een secundair montagedeel te vormen bestemd om te worden gemonteerd op de afstandshouder, gekenmerkt doordat, het primaire montagedeel is voorzien langs een tussensectie van de hefboomverlenging, waarbij het primaire montagedeel een eerste en tweede op afstand van elkaar gelegen steunpunt aan tegenoverliggende zijden van de tussensectie van de hefboomverlenging omvatten die zijn geconfigureerd om te worden ondersteund op uit elkaar gelegen posities bovenop en / of zijdelings tegen de hefboom.A door handle mounting device for mounting on a door handle, comprising: a lever extension having a proximal end portion configured to protrude from a lever of the door handle; and connecting elements for attaching the lever extension to the lever and to a spacer of the door handle, the lever extension comprising a primary mounting portion configured to be mounted on the lever, and the lever extension comprising a distal end portion configured to forming a secondary mounting portion for mounting on the spacer, characterized in that the primary mounting portion is provided along an intermediate section of the lever extension, the primary mounting portion having a first and second spaced abutment on opposite sides of the intermediate section of the include the lever extension configured to be supported at spaced positions on top and/or laterally against the lever. 2. Deurkrukbevestigingsinrichting volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de eerste en tweede op afstand van elkaar gelegen steunpunten van het primaire montagedeel elk geconfigureerd zijn om samen met de eerste en de tweede van de verbindingselementen de hefboomverlenging met zijn eerste en tweede op afstand van elkaar gelegen steunpunten van bovenaf tegen de hefboom te klemmen.The door handle mounting device of claim 1, wherein the first and second spaced abutments of the primary mounting member are each configured to, in conjunction with the first and second of the connecting members, extend the lever extension with its first and second spaced abutments of clamp it against the lever at the top. 3. Deurkrukbevestigingsinrichting volgens conclusie 1 of 2, waarbij het distale eindgedeelte naar beneden toe uitsteekt en waarbij het secundaire montagedeel een derde steunpunt omvat dat is geconfigureerd om te worden ondersteund bovenop en / of zijdelings tegen de afstandshouder.The door handle mounting device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the distal end portion extends downwardly and wherein the secondary mounting portion includes a third abutment configured to be supported on top of and/or laterally against the spacer. 4. Deurkrukbevestigingsinrichting volgens conclusie 3, waarbij het derde steunpunt van het secundaire montagedeel is geconfigureerd om samen met een derde van de verbindingselementen de hefboomverlenging van bovenaf vast met het derde steunpunt tegen de afstandshouder te klemmen.The door handle mounting device of claim 3, wherein the third abutment of the secondary mounting member is configured to, together with a third of the connecting elements, clamp the lever extension from above with the third abutment against the spacer. 5. Deurkrukbevestigingsinrichting volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het primair montagedeel een eerste en tweede beugel omvat, die in tegenoverliggende richtingen zijwaarts uitsteken van de tussensectie van de hefboom.A door handle mounting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the primary mounting portion comprises first and second brackets projecting laterally from the intermediate section of the lever in opposite directions. -11 --11 - 6. Deurkrukbevestigingsinrichting volgens conclusie 5, waarbij de eerste en tweede steunpunten worden gevormd door naar voren en / of naar beneden uitstekende wanddelen van de eerste en tweede beugels.Door handle mounting device according to claim 5, wherein the first and second support points are formed by forwardly and/or downwardly projecting wall parts of the first and second brackets. 7. Deurkrukbevestigingsinrichting volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de verbindingselementen worden gevormd door tie-wraps.A door handle fastening device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting elements are formed by tie wraps. 8. Deurkrukbevestigingsinrichting volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de hefboomverlenging een sinusvormig armondersteuningsvlak omvat.A door handle mounting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever extension comprises a sinusoidal arm support surface. 9. Deurkrukbevestigingsinrichting volgens conclusie 8, waarbij het naar beneden toe uitstekende distale eindgedeelte geleidelijk over gaat in een convex bovengelegen gedeelte van het sinusvormige armondersteuningsvlak, waarbij het convexe bovengelegen gedeelte geleidelijk overgaat in een concaaf ondergelegen gedeelte van het sinusvormige armondersteuningsvlak, waarbij het concave ondergelegen gedeelte geleidelijk overgaat in het naar boven toe uitstekende proximale eindgedeelte.The door handle mounting device of claim 8, wherein the downwardly projecting distal end portion transitions smoothly into a convex upper portion of the sinusoidal arm support surface, the convex upper portion transitions smoothly into a concave lower portion of the sinusoidal arm support surface, the concave lower portion gradually merges into the upwardly projecting proximal end portion. 10. Deurkrukbevestigingsinrichting volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij een middellijn door de tussensectie en het proximale eindgedeelte, gezien in bovenaanzicht, ligt op een hoek tussen 90 - 125 graden, in het bijzonder ongeveer 115 graden, ten opzichte van een denkbeeldige lijn die zich uitstrekt door de eerste en tweede steunpunten.A door handle mounting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a diameter through the intermediate section and the proximal end portion, viewed in plan, is at an angle between 90 - 125 degrees, in particular about 115 degrees, with respect to an imaginary line extending extending through the first and second abutments. 11. Deurkrukbevestigingsinrichting volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de hefboomverlenging is gemaakt van kunststof.A door handle mounting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever extension is made of plastic.