SUBJECT

The invention relates to a door handle assembly as well as a door lock and a system for access control at a door.

BACKGROUND

Door locks, door handle assembhes and systems for access control at a door are each known as such from practice. A known door lock comprises for instance a door handle assembly and a lock housing. The lock housing may then be provided with an actuator, such as an electric motor, to bring a bolt of the lock housing to an unlock position. The actuator may for instance be wirelessly controlled via an electronic control mechanism. In that manner, a door lock can be unlocked without use of a physical key. Instead of the physical key, for instance an electronic signal transmitter such as a smartphone may be used, which can send an unlock signal to the control mechanism. The operation of the signal transmitter may then for instance be automatically remotely managed, for instance by communication with a server. This provides many advantages, such as facilitating the management of (variable) access rights and augmenting user convenience. In environments such as hotels and in renting scenarios this can be particularly advantageous, because the management, including issue and collection, of physical keys can thus be made superfluous.

A disadvantage of known solutions is that a considerable amount of energy is needed to have the bolt moved to the unlock position by the actuator. That energy is then provided by either a battery or a cabled connection with the electricity grid. A battery runs down fast due to the high energy consumption and therefore has to be replaced often, which is disadvantageous. A cabled connection has other drawbacks, such as a drastic and complex installation process. SUMMARY

An object of the current invention is to solve at least one of the above-mentioned problems at least partly. In particular, the object is to enable operation of the bolt of a door lock via a door handle to be deactivated and activated in an electronic manner, with the electric energy consumption being limited to a minimum.

According to an aspect of the invention, to this end, a door handle assembly is provided according to claim 1. The door handle assembly comprises a first door handle and a first spindle which extends along a spindle axis, wherein the spindle is nonrotatably connected with the first door handle and is couplable with a spindle hole of a door lock. Further, the door handle assembly comprises a second door handle and a second spindle nonrotatably connected therewith, which extends along the spindle axis mentioned. The door handle assembly comprises an electrically operable coupling mechanism which is configured for, in a coupling position, connecting a second door handle nonrotatably with a first door handle and, in a release position, releasing the rotation of the second door handle with respect to the first door handle. With such a door handle assembly, the operation of the bolt of a conventional lock can in an advantageous manner be made operable, or not operable, via the second door handle. In the coupling position of the coupling mechanism, the mechanical energy of a user can be used via the second door handle for unlocking the door lock. Access from the side of the second door handle can be secured by bringing the electrically operable coupling mechanism in the release position. In particular, it has been found that in the door handle assembly according to the invention considerably less energy is needed for bringing the coupling mechanism to the coupling position than for, in a known door lock, having a bolt moved by an actuator, while, further, corresponding advantages can be provided, such as facilitation of access management. Due to the lower energy consumption, for instance, a battery has to be replaced less often, which can make management of the door lock provided with a door handle assembly according to the invention simpler and more efficient and which can reduce the chance of problems due to, for instance, batteries running down. Moreover, the door handle assembly according to the invention can be retrofitted on existing door locks, thereby providing the extensive functionality of electronic access management without the whole door lock having to be replaced. In fact, only a new door handle assembly needs to be mounted. The invention is of special advantage when the door lock on which the door handle assembly is mounted is of the "antipanic lock" type, more particularly when the door lock is of the "self-locking antipanic lock" type. An antipanic lock is a lock which is generally provided with a dead bolt which is operable from the inside with the door handle. In the event of fire, a fleeing person does not have to unlock the dead bolt with a key first, but can unlock the dead bolt by operation of the door handle. A self-locking panic lock is a lock where the dead bolt automatically slips into the lock position when the door falls into the groove. To that end, typically, an operating bolt is provided which, upon the door falling into the groove, is pressed in and thus operates the dead bolt operating mechanism for bringing the dead bolt into the lock position. Self-locking antipanic locks are known as such and are for instance used in hotel rooms.

The invention therefore also concerns a method for adapting an antipanic lock, in particular a self-locking antipanic lock. The method comprises attaching to a lock housing of the antipanic lock a door handle assembly according to the invention.

By adapting an antipanic lock in the above-mentioned manner, in an efficient manner a door lock according to the invention can be obtained and installed, whereby a lock housing of the antipanic lock, optionally with associated physical key, can be reused while the lock housing remains attached for instance in a respective door. In the adaptation, for instance an existing door handle assembly of the antipanic lock can be replaced with a door handle assembly according to the invention.

Further advantageous elaborations of the invention are provided by the measures of the dependent claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinbelow, the invention is further explained on the basis of exemplary embodiments and drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. la shows an isometric view of a door lock according to an exemplary embodiment;

Fig. lb shows a side view of the door lock of Fig. la on a side of the second door handle;

Fig. lc shows a side view of the door lock of Fig. la on a side of the first door handle;

Fig. 2a shows a cross section of the door lock of Fig. la along the lines II -II in Figures lb and lc;

Fig. 2b shows a magnified representation of a framed detail of Fig. 2a indicated with B;

Fig. 3a shows a cross section of the door lock of Fig. la along the line III -III in Fig. 2b;

Fig. 3b shows a partly opened isometric view of the door lock of Fig. la;

Fig. 4a shows an isometric view of a portion of the door lock of Fig. la;

Fig. 4b shows a different isometric view of the portion shown in Fig. 4a;

Fig. 5a shows an isometric view of a portion of the portion shown in Fig. 4a; Fig. 5b shows an isometric view of a portion of the portion shown in

Fig. 5a;

Fig. 6a shows a portion of a second spindle and a coupling element of the door lock of Fig. la, wherein the second spindle and the coupling element are uncoupled from each other; and

Fig. 6b shows a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 6a, in the relative position shown in Fig. 6a.

The drawings are schematic. In the drawings, like or corresponding elements are denoted with the same or corresponding reference numerals.

Figs la-lc show a door lock 2 provided with an example of a door handle assembly according to the invention. The door handle assembly includes a first door handle 6 and a first spindle 14 which extends along a spindle axis K. The first spindle 14 is nonrotatably connected with the first door handle 6 and is couplable with a spindle hole of the door lock 2.

Further, the handle assembly includes a second door handle 8 and a second spindle 16 nonrotatably connected therewith, which extends along the spindle axis K mentioned. The door handle assembly further includes an electrically operable coupling mechanism 12 which is configured for, in a coupling position, connecting a second door handle 8 nonrotatably with a first door handle 6 and, in a release position, releasing the rotation of the second door handle 8 with respect to the first door handle 6. All this will be further explained hereinafter.

When the door handle assembly is mounted on a lock housing 4 of a door lock as shown in Figures la-lc and 2a-2b, the first door handle 6 is on a first side of the lock housing 4 and the second door handle 8 is on a second side, located opposite the first side, of the lock housing 4. As is visible in Figures la-lc, the door lock 2 further includes a bolt 10 which, via a bolt operating assembly (not shown) which is in the lock housing 4, is connected with the first door handle 6, so that by operation of the first door handle 6 the bolt 10 is bringable from a lock position to an unlock position. The first door handle 6 and the second door handle 8 are each operable by a rotation around a spindle axis K (see Fig. la) in a door handle operating direction D (see Figs lb-lc). It will be clear that a door handle in this connection is also understood to mean, for example, a doorknob substantially operable as a door handle, the doorknob being generally known as a functional equivalent of a door handle. The bolt 10 comprises, for example, a catch bolt and/or a dead bolt. Figs lb-lc show both a larger dead bolt and a smaller catch bolt.

Due to the bolt 10 being operatively connected with the first door handle 6, the connection of the second door handle 8 with the first door handle 6 in the couphng position can thus make it possible for the bolt 10 to be operable via the second door handle 8. Due to this connection being absent in the release position and due to the coupling mechanism 12 being electrically operable, the bolt’s being operable or not via the second door handle 8 can be controlled by means of the electrically operable coupling mechanism 12. For bringing the bolt 10 to the unlock position, thus mechanical energy of the user may be applied, while the access from the side of the second door handle 8 can be simultaneously controlled electronically. In this way, the electric energy consumption of a door lock can be lowered while preserving the advantages of electronic access control at a door.

Due to the two door handles 6, 8 being each provided with an own respective spindle 14, 16, the operability of the bolt 10 can be arranged differently per door handle.

In an embodiment, of which an example is shown in the figures, the first spindle 14 and the second spindle 16 are rotatable with respect to each other about the spindle axis K when the coupling mechanism 12 is in the release position. In further elaboration of this embodiment, the second spindle 16 may extend at least partly within the first spindle 14. In addition, the second spindle 16 may then in both directions of the spindle axis K extend beyond the first spindle 14 (see Fig. 5a).

Extending at least partly within the first spindle 14 provides as an advantage that the combination of first and second spindles 14, 16 substantially fits in the same space as that in which a known single spindle of a known door lock fits, so that such a space substantially does not have to be adapted. When the second spindle 16 reaches beyond the first spindle 14 in both directions of the spindle axis K, the coupling mechanism 12 can act on the second spindle 16 on the side of the first door handle 6, so that a compact coupling mechanism 12 can be realized which, moreover, is located substantially on the side of the first door handle 6, on which side the mechanism 12 is better shielded from improper access from the side of the second door handle 8.

In an embodiment, a portion 18 (see Figs. 2b, 5a) of the second spindle 16 that extends in a direction of the spindle axis K beyond the first spindle 14 is configured to be connected by the coupling mechanism 12 with the first door handle 6.

As described, with this, a compact and safe coupling mechanism may be realized that is located wholly on the first side of the lock housing 4. Sabotage from the second side of the lock housing 4, which second side is mostly an outer side or, in the case of a hotel room, the hallway side of the door, is thereby made considerably more difficult.

In an embodiment, the electrically operable coupling mechanism 12 includes a coupling element 20 which is movable from a release position to a coupling position, where the coupling element 20 in the coupling position connects the second door handle 8 nonrotatably with the first door handle 6, and where the coupling element 20 in the release position releases the rotation of the second door handle 8 with respect to the first door handle 6.

Figs. 2a-2b, 3a, 4a-5b show the coupling element in such a coupling position; Figs. 6a-6b show the coupling element in such a release position. Such a coupling element 20 offers the possibihty of mutually connecting the two door handles 6, 8 mechanically, so that thereupon mechanical user energy can be transmitted via the second door handle 8 to the first door handle 6 and via the first spindle 14 thereupon onto the bolt operating mechanism for the purpose of operation of the bolt 10.

In an embodiment, the coupling element 20 comprises a pin 20 which is connected with the first door handle 6 in a manner displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the spindle axis L, and which is arranged to be received, in its coupling position, in a hole 22 of the second spindle 16.

In this manner, a compact and strong pin-hole connection between the door handles 6, 8 can be formed.

In an embodiment, the hole 22 is in the portion 18 of the second spindle 16 that extends in a direction beyond the first spindle 14. With this feature too, it is accomplished that the coupling mechanism 12 can be on the first side of the lock housing 4.

In an embodiment, the coupling mechanism 12 includes an electrically operable actuator 24, for example an electric motor, which is arranged to move the coupling element 20 through electric energization of the actuator 24 from the release position to the coupling position. The coupling mechanism 12 is additionally arranged to move the coupling element 20 automatically from the coupling position back to the release position when the electric energization mentioned thereupon ceases.

Such an electrically operable actuator 24 enables electric operation of the coupling mechanism. The automatic return movement then offers extra safety: when, for instance, the power supply of the actuator 24 is sabotaged, the coupling mechanism thus automatically returns to the most safe position, that is, the release position.

In an embodiment, the coupling mechanism 12 is provided with a spring element 26 with which the electrically operable actuator 24 is connected to the coupling element 20, where the spring element 26 is configured to move the coupling element 20 under spring tension from the coupling position to the release position, at least when the electric energization ceases.

Such a spring element 26 may for instance be brought to an increased spring tension by the actuator 24 bringing the coupling element to the coupling position, and is then maintained at a spring tension by continuous energization (for instance without movement) of the actuator 24. As soon as the actuator is not electrically energized anymore, the spring tension of the spring element 26 can be used to move the coupling element 20 automatically back to the release position. In this manner, a safe coupling mechanism 12 with a relatively limited electric energy consumption can be furnished.

In an embodiment, the spring element 26 is furthermore configured to convert a rotational movement of the electrically operable actuator 24 into a translation movement of the coupling element 20.

Such an arrangement is efficient and robust and the parts can be produced at relatively low cost.

In an embodiment, the electrically operable actuator 24 comprises a rotor 28 which, by electric energization of the actuator 24, can be moved from a passive position to an active position, with the spring element 26 being further configured to move the rotor 28 under spring tension from the active position to the passive position, at least, when the electric energization is lost.

Figs. 5a-5b show the rotor in the active position. The passive position and the active position differ for instance by a rotation of the rotor of about 90 degrees.

In this manner, upon loss of the electric energization, for instance due to an empty battery or by sabotage, the actuator 24 is automatically and quickly returned into a safe initial position. In an embodiment, the electrically operable coupling mechanism 12 is provided with an electric energy source 30 (see Fig. 3b), for instance at least one battery 30, for electric energization of the coupling mechanism 12.

Such a battery supply makes the supply of energy via, for instance, a connection with the electricity grid superfluous.

In an embodiment, the electrically operable coupling mechanism 12 is provided with an electronic signal receiver 32 (see Fig. 3b) to wirelessly receive a coupling signal from a nearby electronic signal transmitter. The coupling mechanism 12 is then additionally configured to enter the coupling position in response to receiving of the coupling signal.

Such wireless communication can augment the ease of use of the lock provided with the door handle assembly, allowing the second door handle 8, for instance, to be automatically coupled to the first door handle 6 if a user carrying a respective signal transmitter with him comes close to the lock 2.

In an embodiment, the coupling mechanism 12 is configured to enter the release position after, preferably as soon as, receiving of the coupling signal ends.

In that manner, improper access can be counteracted, for instance when a user with a signal transmitter leaves the door lock 2 following an earlier approach.

Apart from a door handle assembly, the invention also furnishes a door lock 2, of which an example is shown in Figs la-c and 2a-2b. As has already become clear from the foregoing, the door lock 2 includes a lock housing 4 having a bolt 10 movably arranged therein. The lock housing 4 is provided with a rotatable spindle hole which, via a bolt operating mechanism, is coupled with the bolt 10 for operating the bolt 10. The door lock 2 is provided with a door handle assembly according to the invention. The first spindle 14 is nonrotatably received in the spindle hole of the lock housing 4. The first door handle 6 is on a first side of the lock housing 4 and the second door handle 8 is on a second side of the lock housing 4. The second side is located opposite the first side of the lock housing 4.

Such a door lock 2 has the advantages which have been described hereinabove in the discussion of the door handle assembly.

In an embodiment, the door lock 2 is an antipanic lock, preferably a self-locking antipanic lock.

A lock housing of an antipanic lock can make it possible for the bolt 10 to be substantially always operable via the first door handle 6.

In an embodiment, the coupling mechanism 12 is substantially on the first side of the lock housing 4, as shown in Fig. 3b.

In this manner, the coupling mechanism 12 can be shielded from improper access or sabotage from the side of the second door handle 8. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, as shown, the coupling mechanism 12 is, for instance, in a shield, preferably an inner shield, of the door lock 2, so that the coupling mechanism 12 is shielded and is not conspicuous upon view of the door.

In an embodiment, the lock 2 is provided with a key (not shown) to bring the bolt 10, at least from the second side of the lock housing 4, from the lock position into the unlock position, substantially independently of the position of the coupling mechanism 12.

Figs lb-lc show how the lock is, for instance, provided with a lock cylinder 34 in which the key can be received so that the bolt 10 can thereupon, via the cyhnder, be brought into the unlock position.

Such a key provides an alternative, additional possibility of unlocking the lock. Thus, the lock, if necessary, can still be unlocked if the coupling mechanism for some reason cannot be operated or if a user, for instance, prefers a physical key. So, this offers extra possibilities for use of the door lock.

The invention further provides a door (not shown) with electronic access control, where the door is provided with a door lock 2 according to the invention, and a building provided with such a door, for example an outside door or an inside door of the building.

A door may for instance be fitted with a door lock 2 according to the invention substantially in a manner in which usually a door is fitted with a known door lock.

With such a door, the above-mentioned advantages can be provided.

The invention further provides a system for access control at a door. The system comprises a door lock 2 according to the invention, where the electrically operable coupling mechanism 12 of the door lock 2 is provided with an electronic signal receiver 32 to wirelessly receive a coupling signal from a nearby electronic signal transmitter, where the coupling mechanism 12 is configured to enter the coupling position in response to receiving of the coupling signal. The system further comprises an electronic signal transmitter (not shown), preferably a Bluetooth low-energy transmitter, which is configured to wirelessly transmit the coupling signal to the electronic signal receiver 32 of the coupling mechanism 12, at least when the signal transmitter is near the door lock 2.

The electronic signal transmitter may for instance be part of a smartphone or of another electronic device, preferably a device which a user carries along, or at least can carry along, with him.

With such a system, the above-mentioned advantages can be provided.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises: an authentication mechanism for verifying an identity of a user of the electronic signal transmitter; and a validation mechanism for validating a door-associated access right of the user. The authentication mechanism and/or the validation mechanism is or are, for instance, in the coupling mechanism 12, in the signal transmitter and/or in a server which is in communication with the coupling mechanism 12 and/or the signal transmitter.

Such an arrangement of the system makes automated access management, for instance remotely, possible, while at the same time user convenience and safety can be promoted.

The invention further provides a method for adapting an antipanic lock, in particular a self-locking antipanic lock. The method for adapting comprises attaching to a lock housing 4 of the antipanic lock a door handle assembly according to the invention. After carrying out of this method, the door handle assembly and the lock housing 4 together form a door lock 2 according to the invention.

With such a method, an antipanic lock can be adapted to provide the above-mentioned advantages, while the lock housing 4 of the antipanic lock, for instance, can be maintained, which can save time, money and disturbance.

The invention further provides a method for access control at a door which is provided with a door lock 2 according to the invention, wherein the electrically operable coupling mechanism 12 of the door lock 2 is provided with an electronic signal receiver 32 to wirelessly receive a coupling signal from a nearby electronic signal transmitter, wherein the coupling mechanism 12 is configured to enter the coupling position in response to receiving of the coupling signal.

The method for access control comprises: wirelessly transmitting a coupling signal to the electronic signal receiver 32 of the coupling mechanism 12 of the door lock 2; receiving of the coupling signal by the electronic signal receiver 32; and entering of the coupling position by the coupling mechanism 12 in response to receipt of the coupling signal.

In an embodiment, the method for access control further comprises entering of the release position by the coupling mechanism 12 after, preferably as soon as, the receipt of the coupling signal ends. With such methods, the above-mentioned advantages can be provided.

As follows from the above, the invention provides a door handle assembly which, applied to a door lock, yields a door lock having a lower electric energy consumption, while preserving advantages of electronic door lock operation.

It will be clear that the invention is not limited to the embodiments and examples described, and that variations and combinations are possible that fall within the appended claims. For instance, the coupling mechanism may be wholly or partly arranged elsewhere than on the side of the first door handle. The coupling mechanism may comprise a pin and/or other means to provide a coupling between the door handles. A door lock according to the invention may or may not comprise an antipanic lock and a door handle assembly according to the invention may or may not be suitable for attachment to a lock housing of an existing antipanic lock.

List of reference signs

2. Door lock

4. Lock housing

6. First door handle

8. Second door handle

10. Bolt

12. Electrically operable coupling mechanism

14. First spindle

16. Second spindle

18. Portion of the second spindle that extends in the direction of the spindle axis beyond the first spindle 20. Coupling element

22. Hole

24. Electrically operable actuator

26. Spring element

28. Rotor

30. Electric energy source

32. Electronic signal receiver

34. Lock cylinder

D. Door handle operating device

K. Spindle axis