Technical field

The present document relates to a door handle and/or door locking arrangement for arrangement on a door, especially adapted for arrangement on a wall of a door, wherein a door may comprise one wall or several walls with a distance between each other.

Background

Door handle or locking arrangements may be arranged on a doublewalled door, as seen in many different contexts in industrial applications, for instance.

Doors in different applications may require different kind of fittings for locking and/or handling, and in many cases, there is a need for a reliable door arrangement and also convenient to assemble on a door.

Doors which comprise two walls arranged with a distance between the walls, forming a door inner space between the walls are known to be used in air conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration or in cabinet applications. Such doors may often use a handle or locking component on at least one side of a door. In such case, there is also a need for a door handle or locking arrangement for installation on only one side of a door in a double walled door.

Since the door wall or walls may be thin, the door wall or walls may be deformed when subjected to assembling a locking and/or handle mechanism, thus excessive force may be needed in order to secure a handle and/or locking mechanism to a door wall.

When attaching a handle or locking mechanism on one side of a wall on a double walled door, there is a risk of damaging the walls of the door in order to achieve an effective attachment to the door wall.

Consequently, there is a need for a door handle or locking arrangement for a door wall (e.g. of a double-walled door) that prevents the door wall from being deformed. Further, there is a need for a door arrangement that is flexible and convenient to install. Further, there is a need for such a door arrangement that may be arranged on a preassembled door.

Summary

It is an object of the present disclosure, to provide an improved door handle and/or door locking arrangement for assembling on a door wall of a door.

According to a first aspect of the invention, this is achieved by providing a door handle and/or locking arrangement for arrangement on a door comprising at least a first wall. The arrangement comprises a housing configured to be arranged at an outer side of the first wall, and comprising a hollow protruding part configured to, when in use, extend through an opening in the first wall, the protruding part having a base portion closest to the housing and a tapering cross section extending from the base portion towards an opposite end of the protruding part; a rotational operation member arranged in a recess of the housing and rotatable relative to the housing, the rotational operation member comprising a door handle and/or a door locking bracket; an expander sleeve comprising at least one slit, wherein the expander sleeve is configured to at least partly enclose and engage with the protruding part; and a shaft in fixed rotational engagement with the rotational operation member and rotatable relative to the housing and the protruding part, wherein the shaft extends from the rotational operation member through the protruding part and the expander sleeve. The shaft is configured to, when in use, be fastened to the rotation member by a fastening means such that when being arranged to the first wall, the shaft is moved axially towards the rotational operation member thereby exerting an axial force on the expander sleeve causing the expander sleeve to move towards the housing and to expand radially due to the engagement with the protruding part such that it abuts an inner side of the first wall. In one embodiment, a first wall may preferably be a thin door wall, or a door wall of a double walled door. A double walled door may comprise two thin door walls, arranged at a distance from each other creating a space between.

The door handle and/or locking arrangement may be used for applying a handle on the door. The door handle and/or locking arrangement may also be used for applying a locking mechanism on a door.

On a door, it may be preferable to make as few throughgoing holes through the entire door as possible. This may be for sealing, safety and/or insulation reasons, or the like. Providing a door with a locking arrangement with more than one locking point, at which locking points locking mechanisms are configured to lock the door to a door frame, may in known solutions require a plurality of throughgoing holes through the door. Using the door handle and/or locking arrangement according to the present invention may reduce the need of throughgoing holes or openings through the door. If having a double walled door, a door handle and/or locking arrangement, or several, may be arranged fixed to only one of the door walls, thereby avoiding a throughgoing hole. Still, the operational function of the door handle and/or door locking bracket may be preserved.

By arranging such door handle and/or locking arrangement on a thinwalled door, the door handle and/or locking arrangement may be firmly arranged on the door without the risk of deforming the door and at the same time provide a well functional rotation point for a door arrangement. The rotation point may be for rotation of a door handle and or for a door locking mechanism. Further, by providing the expander sleeve, expanding radially when the shaft is moved axially towards the rotational operation member, the door handle and/or locking arrangement may be arranged on a door wall to which access is granted to only one side thereof. Hence, the housing may be arranged at an outer side of the first wall of the door. The shaft and the expander may be inserted through an opening in the first wall. The opening may thereby be adapted in size to the cross-sectional size of the expander sleeve and/or the shaft. By providing an expansion of the expander in the radial direction after insertion through the opening, the expander may be prevented from being removed through the opening, thereby fixing the housing to the first wall and enabling a stable arrangement of the rotation point of a door handle and/or locking mechanism.

The shaft may have a substantially circular cross-section along the longitudinal extension of the shaft. An advantage of having a substantially circular cross-section may be that the shaft may be installed with little effort, considering the matching shape of an opening of the first door. The expander sleeve may be configured to have an unexpanded state and an expanded state. In the expanded state the expander may have expanded radially compared to the unexpanded state following a movement of the shaft axially towards the rotational operation member. By expanding radially, it may be meant that the cross-section of the expander sleeve increases on at least a portion of the expander sleeve.

By providing the expander sleeve that may expand radially when the shaft is moved axially, it may be provided that when such door handle and/or locking arrangement is arranged to a door, such that the shaft and the expander may extend through an opening in the first wall, the radially expanded expander sleeve may provide that the expander sleeve and the shaft may not be removed through the opening. The expander sleeve may abut an inner side of the first wall when expanded, thereby preventing the door handle and/or locking arrangement from being removed from the door, but still enable the shaft to rotate relative to the housing together with the rotational operation member. The inner side of the first wall may be the side opposite of the outer side at which the housing may be arranged.

The housing and the expander sleeve together form a cross- connection wherein the housing is tightly arranged on the first wall by clamping the first wall between the housing and the expander sleeve. The shaft interacts with the expander sleeve when being axially moved such that the expanded expander engages with the first wall.

The shaft and the rotational operation member may be interlocked by means of interlocking means, establishing a connecting interface. The interlocking means may for instance be provided as grooves and corresponding projections on the outer surface of the shaft and an inner surface of the housing, respectively. These interlocking means may provide that rotation of the shaft relative to the rotational operation member is prevented. When the shaft may be operated to move axially towards the housing, rotation of the shaft relative to the rotational operation member may be prevented. At the same time, the shaft and the rotational operation member are rotatable relative to the housing.

The interconnection between the shaft and the expander sleeve may be configured such that a movement of the shaft axially towards the rotational operation member causes an axial movement of the expander sleeve towards the housing, wherein such movement causes the expander sleeve to expand radially. By being radially expandable it may be meant that at least a portion of the expander is capable of expanding radially. This is provided by said slit in the expander sleeve. In one embodiment, the expander may have a first longitudinal end portion configured to face towards the housing. By being radially expandable when the shaft moves axially towards the housing, it may be meant that the first longitudinal end portion of the expander sleeve is expanded radially. A second longitudinal end portion, being opposite of said first longitudinal end portion, may be unaffected in radial expansion when the shaft moves axially towards the housing.

The expander sleeve may be made of a material that allows for a flexibility in shape and/or size in at least the radial direction. The material and/or shape of the expander may be adapted to enable radial expansion of at least a portion of the expander.

The protruding part may be adapted to extend through the first door wall when arranged thereto. The protruding part is configured to provide radial expansion of the expander when the shaft is moved axially towards the housing.

The expander sleeve may contact the protruding part such that the expander is radially expanded. The protruding part may stabilize the housing in the position on the door wall. The arrangement of the door handle and/or locking arrangement to the door may thereby be fixed. The protruding part may have a shape interacting with the expander sleeve to cause the expander sleeve to radially expand when the shaft is moved axially towards the housing.

Additionally, there may in one embodiment be an index pin provided, extending from a back surface of the housing through an index pin opening through the first wall of the door to guide the housing in the right position while mounting the door handle and/or locking arrangement. An advantage, besides enabling a precise fitting to a first door, is that the housing may be retained in a fixed position on the first door wall. By being kept in a fixed position on the first door wall, it is meant that the housing is being prevented from rotating relative to the door.

In one embodiment, the protruding part may be substantially tubular. The shaft is configured to extend through the protruding part. The shaft, the expander sleeve and the protruding part of the housing may be coaxially arranged, such that the shaft extends through both the expander and the protruding part.

The protruding part has a cross-section that tapers from a base portion of the protruding part closest to the housing towards an opposite end portion. The protruding part may thereby be formed as a truncated cone with its widest base attached to the housing. The tapering form of the protruding part may be tapering continuously, or step-wise.

The expander sleeve may be adapted to be inserted through an opening in the first wall. The cross-section of the expander may, in an unexpanded state, be adapted to be of substantially the same size as the opening in the first wall. The base portion of the protruding part may, in one embodiment, have a cross-section of substantially the same size as the expander sleeve in the unexpanded state. By having a substantially same size as the opening in the first wall, the protruding part may be adapted to extend through the wall.

The base portion of the protruding part on a housing may have substantially the same size as an opening in the first wall through which the protruding part is configured to extend, and the expander sleeve may be pressed towards the inner side of the first wall but may not be pressed through the opening. The expander sleeve may be forced to be pressed towards the inner side of the first wall and not through the opening due to the increasing cross-section of the protruding part towards the base portion. Since the protruding part tapers from the base portion towards the opposite end portion, a portion of the expander sleeve that may be pressed towards the first wall through which the protruding part extends may be guided by the protruding part towards the inner side of the first wall when radially expanding.

The first longitudinal end of the expander sleeve, which may be pressed towards an inner side of the first wall, may substantially surround the protruding part at that first wall.

The increasing cross-section of the protruding part in a direction towards the base portion may thereby guide the first longitudinal end of the expander towards the inner side of the first wall, causing a radial expansion of the cross-section of the expander at the first longitudinal end.

When the expander reaches the inner side of the first wall, it may be forced into contact with the inner side of the first wall by the protruding part.

The first longitudinal end of the expander is provided with at least one slit. In one embodiment, there may be more than one slit formed, forming several pieces of flexible flanges. The one or more slits may enable the expander to radially expand at the first longitudinal end.

By providing the first longitudinal end of the expander sleeve with at least one slit, the first longitudinal end may be flexible in a radial direction. Thereby, when the first longitudinal end is pressed towards the inner side of a door wall, the first longitudinal end may expand in a radial direction along with the increasing cross-sectional area in the direction towards the first wall. In that way the first longitudinal end may be forced to contact the inner side of the first wall instead of extending through an opening in the first wall.

In one embodiment, the shaft comprises a first end and a second end, and the second end is configured to press against a second longitudinal end of the expander sleeve such that the expander sleeve is moved axially towards the housing when the shaft is moved axially towards the rotational operation member. The second end of the shaft may be a longitudinal end of the shaft facing away from the housing or the rotational operation member. The first end of the shaft may be a longitudinal end facing towards the rotational operation member. The second longitudinal end of the expander sleeve may be an end of the expander sleeve facing away from the housing. The expander sleeve may have a first longitudinal end opposite said second longitudinal end. The expander sleeve may be moved towards the housing when the shaft is moved axially towards the rotational operation member. This movement may cause the radial expansion of the expander sleeve due to its engagement with the protruding part.

In an embodiment, the second end of the shaft may comprise a circumferentially protruding portion pressing towards the second longitudinal end of the expander sleeve opposite said first longitudinal end of the expander sleeve. When the shaft is moved axially towards the rotational operation member, the first longitudinal end of the expander sleeve may thereby be pushed towards the inner side of the first door wall when radially expanding.

The expander sleeve and the circumferentially protruding portion of the shaft may form a substantially uniform cross-section along a longitudinal axis of the shaft. An advantage is that the shaft is able to exert pressure from the circumferentially protruding portion onto the expander in an axial direction towards the housing. The circumferentially protruding portion may in one embodiment be rotatable relative to the expander sleeve both before, during and after the axial force on the expander sleeve has caused the expander sleeve to expand radially.

The shape of the protruding part may provide that the expander expands radially when the shaft is moved axially towards the rotational operation member. The at least one slit at the first longitudinal end of the expander may allow the expander to expand at the first longitudinal end, such as to achieve a larger cross section than when not expanded. In one embodiment, the rotational operation member and the shaft may comprise respective shoulder members configured to interact to provide a releasable fixation of the shaft to the rotational operation member. Such fixation may be a rotational fixation. In an embodiment wherein the housing comprises a shoulder member, the shoulder member may be arranged at an inner surface of the tubular protruding part. Such shoulder member may then interact with the shoulder member of the shaft, arranged on an outer side of the shaft. The shoulder member on the shaft may in one embodiment comprise a rubber ring arranged in a circumferential recess on the shaft. The rubber ring may protrude from the surface of the shaft to constitute a shoulder member. The arranging procedure of the door handle and/or locking arrangement to a door may thereby be facilitated. The housing may easily be locked to the shaft.

In one embodiment, the door handle and/or locking arrangement may be provided with fixating means which is configured to prevent axial movement between the shaft and the rotational operation member. The fixating means may thereby, in a fixing state, prevent the shaft from being moved axially relative to the rotational operation member. It may further provide that the shaft and the rotational operation member are rotationally fixed to each other. This may thereby further prevent the expander from expanding or contracting following axial movement of the shaft unless a force necessary to release the fixating means is applied.

In one embodiment, the fixating means may comprise a screw and inner threads may be provided in the shaft configured to engage with said screw. The inner threads may be provided at a first longitudinal end of the shaft arranged at the rotational operation member. Operation of the screw may cause the shaft to move axially relative to the rotational operation member.

The screw may further be used for securing the door handle and/or door locking bracket of the rotational operation member in place. The advantage of using a screw is that an axial force may be applied on the arrangement to secure the assembled parts, such as the rotational operation member and the shaft, towards each other. In other embodiments, other means may be used for operating the movement of the shaft relative to the housing and/or to secure parts of the rotational operation member, such as a snap function that in an open state enable movement of the shaft relative to the rotational operation member, and in a locked state prevents the same.

An advantage of using a screw, by inserting the screw through the rotational operation member, is that the screw head may be accessible from the outside of the door. This may facilitate the control of the movement of the shaft from the outside of the first door wall.

The rotational operation member is arranged in a recess of the housing. A part of the housing forming a bottom of the recess may, when the door handle and/or locking arrangement is arranged to a door, and the shaft is moved axially towards the rotational operation member to cause the expander sleeve to expand and abut the inner side of the door wall, be clamped between the rotational operation member and the outer side of the first wall. The housing may thereby be fixed to the door at the same time as the rotational operation member with the door handle and/or door locking bracket is rotatable relative to the housing and the door.

The door handle and/or locking arrangement may be assembled on a door, which further comprises a second door wall. The advantage of providing a door handle and/or locking arrangement according to any of the embodiments on a preassembled, double-walled door is that installation can be carried out with little effort and without the need of access to the interior of the doubled-walled door when arranged the door handle and/or locking arrangement to one of the door walls. The door handle and/or locking arrangement may be installed on one side of a double walled door, with the only need of an opening in a first door wall.

As an option, the door handle of the rotational operation member may be comprise a locking function providing a locking state in which the door handle and rotational operation member are not rotatable relative to the housing and the door. This may be provided by an opening in the door handle through which a locking cylinder is received. The locking cylinder may control the locking function of the handle and lock arrangement by means of a key.

In one embodiment, the rotational operation member may further comprise a rod connection member. The rod connection member may be configured to provide a connection to another door handle and/or locking arrangement on the same door by means of a connection rod.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a door locking system comprising a door having a first door wall, and at least two door handle and/or locking arrangements according to any of the embodiments above, wherein the at least two door handle and/or locking arrangements being arranged to the first wall and interconnected by at least one rod attached to the respective rod connection members. Without the need of having access to the interior of the door, a locking system may easily be arranged to a door having a first wall. A first door handle and/or locking arrangement may comprise a door handle and be arranged at a suitable position on the door to be operated by a user. A second door handle and/or locking arrangement may comprise a door locking bracket configured to, in a locked state, engage with a door frame to lock the door. The rod may extend between the rod connection members of the two door handle and/or locking arrangements such that a rotational operation of the door handle causes a rotational operation of the locking bracket. Operation of the door handle may thereby operate the locking bracket to lock the door. The door locking system may further comprise a third door handle and/or locking arrangement, comprising a second door locking bracket and connected to the first door handle and/or locking arrangement comprising the door handle. Operation of the door handle may thereby cause operation of both locking brackets. The two arrangements comprising locking brackets may be arranged at a top and bottom of the door respectively in order to lock the door towards the door frame at those two locations. Further additional door handle and/or locking arrangements with door locking brackets and connected to the door handle may be provided. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for assembling a door handle and/or locking arrangement to a door comprising at least a first wall, the method comprising the steps of arranging a housing at an outer side of the first wall, the housing comprising a protruding part, the housing being arranged such that the protruding part extends through an opening in the first wall, the protruding part having a base portion closest to the housing, at said opening, and a tapering cross section extending from the base portion towards an opposite end of the protruding part; arranging a rotational operation member in a recess of the housing, the rotational operation member being rotatable relative to the housing and comprising a door handle and/or a door locking bracket; arranging a shaft to extend through the opening, through protruding part and through an expander sleeve at least partly enclosing and engaging with the protruding part; and by means of a fixating means, connect the shaft to the rotational operation member in a rotationally fixed manner such that the shaft is rotatable relative to the housing and the protruding part. The step of connecting the shaft to the rotational operation member causes the shaft to move axially towards the rotational operation member, thereby exerting an axial force on the expander sleeve causing the expander sleeve to expand radially due to the engagement with the protruding part such that it abuts an inner side of the first wall. The door handle and/or locking arrangement may be a door handle and/or locking arrangement according to any of the embodiments presented above.

In one embodiment, the method may further comprise a step of moving the shaft and the expander sleeve towards the housing such that the protruding part is at least partly enclosed by the expander sleeve, and a first longitudinal end of the expander sleeve is pushed towards an inner side of the first wall, such that the first longitudinal end of the expander sleeve achieves a larger cross-section than the opening in the first wall.

Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the present solution will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which:

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a door locking arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a door handle and/or locking arrangement for arrangement on a door according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3a-b schematically illustrates perspective views of a door handle and/or locking arrangement to be arranged on a door according to embodiments of the invention;

Fig. 4a schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a door handle and/or locking arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4b schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the door handle and/or locking arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of two door handle and/or locking arrangements according to an embodiment of the invention.

Description of Embodiments

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrates a door handle and/or locking arrangement 100 according to the invention. The door handle and/or locking arrangement 100 comprises a housing 110, a shaft 130 having a first end 135 and a second end 136 thereof, and an expander sleeve 160. The housing 110 is arranged on an outer side 222 of a first door wall (illustrated in figs 4a and 4b). The shaft 130 extends through the expander sleeve 160, and into a rotational operation member 170. The expander sleeve 160 has a first longitudinal end portion 161 facing towards the back surface 115 of the housing 110. The first longitudinal end portion 161 extends to at least partly surround a protruding part 111 at the back surface 115 of the housing 110.

The shaft 130 is adapted for extending through the expander 160 and through a first wall 220 of a door, to be rotationally fixated to the rotational operation member 170. The fixation to the first wall 220 is further explained in figs 4a and 4b. The shaft 130 is rotationally fixed to the rotational operation member 170. The rotational operation member 170 is arranged in a recess 116 in the housing 110 (seen in fig. 3a). The rotational operation member 170 is rotatable relative to the housing 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the rotational operation member 170 comprises a locking bracket 171. When in use, the locking bracket 171 is configured to engage with a door frame, thereby locking the door to the door frame. The rotational operation member 170 may in another embodiment alternatively or additionally comprise a handle that is rotatable relative to the housing 110 together with the rotational operation member 170.

In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 1 , the rotational operation member 170 optionally further comprises a rod connection member 175. The rod connection member 175 is configured to rotate with the rotational operation member 170, thereby being rotatable relative to the housing 110 and the door when in use. The rod connection member 175 is configured to receive a rod for connecting the door handle and/or locking arrangement 100 with an additional door handle and/or locking member arranged on the door. A rotational movement of the rotational operation member 170 is thereby transferred to a corresponding rotational movement in the other door handle and/or locking arrangement. One of the door handle and/or locking arrangements may comprise a door handle to be operated by a user. The rotational movement of the door handle may then be transferred to one or more other door locking arrangements comprising a locking bracket. For fixing the door arrangement 100 to a door, a fixation member is used. The fixating member may be formed as a screw 13. The screw 13 is inserted through the rotational operation member 170 and the housing 110 and to be received in the inner threads 134 (seen in fig 2b) of the shaft. An index pin 118 is provided on the back surface 115 of the housing 110. The index pin 118 is adapted to extend through an index pin opening (not illustrated) through a first door wall. The index pin 118 prevents the housing 110 from rotating relative to the door 200. This further provides that a door handle or locking bracket that may be installed to the rotational operation member 170 is rotatable relative to the housing 110.

Figs 3a and 3b illustrate the door arrangement excluding the rotational operation member 170 from two different perspective views. Fig 3a shows the expander sleeve 160, having at least one slit 163, coupled with the shaft 130, which are ready to be arranged to the housing 110. The shaft 130 presents inner threads 134, adapted for engagement with a screw 13 (seen in fig 4a and 4b).

Fig 3b shows the housing 110, the shaft 130 and the expander sleeve 160, all coupled together to form a door arrangement 100. The expander sleeve 160 is in an unexpanded state.

The shaft 130 and the rotational operation member 170 are interlocked by means of interlocking means, establishing a connecting interface. The interlocking means may be provided as grooves and corresponding projections on the outer surface of the shaft 130 and an inner surface of the housing, respectively. These interlocking means may in one embodiment provide that rotation of the shaft relative to the rotational operation member 170 is prevented. An operation of the screw 13 thereby provides an axial movement of the shaft 130 and not a rotation of the shaft 130. As seen in figs 3a and 3b, the shaft 130 is at least partly enclosed by the expander 160, when assembled.

The shaft 130 further comprises a second end 136, which is circumferentially protruding around the longitudinal axis of the shaft 130, creating a cross-section part which is larger than the cross-section extending along the majority of the total length of the shaft.

When assembled, as seen in fig 3b, the first longitudinal end 161 of the expander 160 abuts the protruding part 111. The expander sleeve 160 and the first end 135 of the shaft form an outer surface substantially having the same circumference and cross section, as seen from the first end 161 of the expander sleeve 160 towards the second end of the shaft 136.

The protruding part 111 of the housing encloses the first end 135 of the shaft in an assembled state and is arranged in a manner such that a base portion 112 of the protruding part 111 abuts the first end 161 of the expander sleeve 160. The cross-sectional area of the protruding part 111 decreases in a direction towards the second end 162 of the expander sleeve 160.

Fig 4a and 4b illustrate the door arrangement 100 being installed on a door 200. The door 200 comprises a first wall 220, having an outer side 222, an inner side 221 and an opening 223; an optional second wall 230 having an outer side 232, an inner side 231 ; and the inner space 210 between the two walls 220, 230. More precisely, fig 3a illustrates the state wherein the door handle and/or locking arrangement 100 is inserted through the opening 223 in the first door wall 220.

The housing 110 is together with the shaft 130 and the expander sleeve 160 arranged to the door 200 by being moved in a direction C through the opening 223 in the first door wall 220.

The housing 110 comprises the recess 116 and the protruding part 111. The protruding part presents a base portion 112 and an end portion 113 thereof. The protruding part 111 tapers from the base portion 112 towards the end portion 113. The protruding part 111 is formed as a hollow tube. A portion of the rotational operation member 170 is illustrated in figs 4a and 4b, arranged in the recess 116 of the housing 110. The rotational operation member 170 lies against a bottom of the recess 116.

At an inner surface of the protruding part 111 there is arranged a shoulder 114. The shoulder 114 is configured to interact with a shoulder on the outer surface of the shaft 130. In the illustrated embodiment the shoulder on the shaft 130 is provided by a rubber ring 131 arranged in a circumferential recess 132 on the shaft 130. When the shaft 130 has been moved towards the housing 110 as illustrated in fig. 4b, the two shoulders interact to a releasable fixation the shaft 130 to the housing 110.

Fig 4b illustrates the door handle and/or locking arrangement being fully fixed to the first door wall 220. When the screw 13 is inserted in a direction C in the shaft 130, having inner threads 134, the arrangement 100 is brought into a fully fixed position through the opening 223 to the first door wall 220.

In fig. 4b the housing 110 abuts the outer surface 222 of the first door wall 220. The shaft 130 is moved in the direction towards of the first wall 220 by engagement with the screw 13. In another embodiment, the screw 13 may be replaced by other means for operating the movement of the shaft 130.

The second longitudinal end 162 of the expander sleeve 160 is engaged with the protruding portion 137 of the second end 136 of the shaft 130 and thereby, the first longitudinal end 161 of the expander 160 is forced towards the housing 110 and expands radially when the shaft 130 is moved axially towards the housing 110. The protruding portion 137 of the shaft 130 abuts an axial end surface of the second longitudinal end 162 of the expander 160, thereby pushing the expander 160 in direction towards the housing 110. Since the base portion 112 of the protruding part 111 substantially fills the entire opening 223 in the first door wall 220, the first longitudinal end 161 of the expander 160 is prevented from reaching the opening 223 when being radially expanded. The protruding part 111 will be in contact with the first longitudinal end 161 of the expander 160.

Furthermore, due to slits 163 at the first end 161 of the expander 160, the first longitudinal end 161 is flexible in radial direction such that the first longitudinal end 161 can expand along with the increasing cross-sectional area of the protruding part 111 and in the expanded state has a circumference larger than the opening 223 of the first door wall 220. Thereby, the door handle and/or locking arrangement 100 is prevented from moving further towards and through the opening 223. The door handle and/or locking arrangement 100 is thereby fixated to the first door wall 220.

When the screw 13 causes the shaft 130 to move towards the rotational operation member 170, the rotational operation member 170 is also pressed towards the housing 110 at the bottom of the recess 116. The housing 110 is thereby at least partly clamped between the rotational operation member 170 and the outer side 222 of the first door wall 220 due to the expander sleeve 160 abutting the inner side 221 of the first door wall 220. The screw 13 extends through the rotational operation member 170 and engages with the shaft 130 such that the rotational operation member 170 and the shaft 130 are drawn towards each other.

As seen in figs 3a, 4a and 4b, the shaft 130 is provided with a rubber ring 131. The rubber ring 131 has a slightly larger cross-sectional area than the rest of the shaft. The rubber ring 131 provides a shoulder on the outer surface of the shaft 130. On the inner surface, the protruding part 111 , has a shoulder 114, raising from the rest of the inner surface. The shoulders 114 and the rubber ring 131 together form a snap catch. When the housing 110 is moved towards the direction C, and the shaft 130 is moved towards the rotational operation member 170, the shoulder 114 will reach contact with the rubber ring 131 . By providing some extra force, the user will force the protruding part 111 such that the shoulder 114 passes the rubber ring 131 . Thereby, extra force is also needed to remove the protruding part 111 and the housing 110 from the shaft 130.

Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment wherein a door arrangement 100 is coupled with another door arrangement 100’ through a double walled door 200, wherein there is an inner space 210 between the door walls 220, 230.

The door arrangements 100, 100’ are assembled on a first door wall 220 and on a second door wall 230 respectively, and the shafts 130, 130’ in the two door arrangements 100, 100’ are connected by means of a connector shaft 180. This further provides a connection between rotational operation members 170, 170’ of the two arrangements 100, 100’. The connector shaft 180 is attached between the second end 136 of a shaft 130 of a first door arrangement 100 and on a second end 136’ of a shaft 130’ of a second door arrangement 100’.

The connector shaft is received into an inner cavity 138, 138’ of the shaft 130, 130’, by attaching the first end 181 of the connector shaft 180 into the inner cavity 138 of a first shaft 130 and a second end 182 of a connector shaft 180 into the inner cavity 138’ of a second shaft 130’. In alternative embodiments, the connector shaft 180 may be attached to the respective shafts 130, 130’ in other ways.

The connector shaft 180 rotationally fixedly connects the shafts 130, 130’, such that the shaft 130 of a first door arrangement 100 is rotationally engaged with the shaft 130' of a second door arrangement 100’.

When assembled between the door arrangements 100, 100’, the connector shaft 180 enables an axial movement between the shafts 130, 130’. Since the two shafts 130, 130’ will move away from each other when the two door arrangements 100, 100’ are assembled to the respective door walls 220, 230, the connector shaft 180 is attached to the shafts 130, 130’ in such a way that an axial movement of the respective shaft 130, 130’ relative to the connector shaft 180 is enabled. Such axial movement may be enabled without rotational movement of the shafts 130, 130’ relative to the connector shaft 180.

In the embodiment of having two door arrangements 100, 100’ interconnected via the shafts 130, 130’ and the connector shaft 180, the housing 110, 110’ of each door handle and/or locking arrangement 100, 100’ may be configured to engage with the respective shaft 130, 130’ such that, when assembled, the shaft 130, 130’ is rotatable relative to the housing 110, 110’. The shaft 130, 130’ may be rotationally fixed relative to interlocking means arranged on the rotational operation member 170, 170’, thereby enabling operation of e.g. a screw 13 to move the shaft 130, 130’ axially relative to the rotational operation member 170, 170’ and to radially expand the expander 160, 160’. When assembled, the shaft 130, 130’ and the interlocking means may in this embodiment be rotatable relative to the housing 110, 110’, thereby enabling rotational movement of one shaft 130 to be transferred to the other shaft 130’ via the connector shaft 180.

If a first handle (not illustrated) is attached on the rotational operation member 170 of the first door arrangement 100, the connector shaft 180 enables transmission of rotation from the first handle to the second door arrangement 100’ and/or a second handle (not illustrated) attached to the rotational operation member 170’ of the second door handle and/or locking arrangement 100’. Such handles may be attached to the shaft 130, 130’ and interlocking means such that each handle is rotatable together with the interlocking means and the shaft 130, 130’ relative to the housing 110, 110’.

The connector shaft 180 therefore enables a pair of door arrangements 100, 100’ assembled on a door 200 to be rotationally engaged to each other, such that a rotation of the first handle is transmitted via the connector shaft 180 to the corresponding door handle and/or locking arrangement 100’ and handle on the second door wall 230.

Firstly, when assembling two door arrangements 100, 100’ on a door 200, the first door arrangement is assembled first as described in figs 4a and 4b, with an exception of coupling the connector shaft 180 to the second end 136 of the shaft 130 before assembling the first door handle and/or locking arrangement 100 to the first door wall 220.

The housing 110 is together with the shaft 130 and the expander 160 arranged to the door 200 by being moved in a direction C through the opening 223 in the first door wall 220.

Secondly, the second door arrangement 100’ is arranged respectively by moving the housing 110’ together with the shaft 130’ and the expander 160’ in a direction C’ through the opening a second door wall 230’, such that the second end 136’ of the second shaft 130’ is coupled with the connector shaft 180.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims. ig references

13, 13’ screw

100, 100’ door handle and/or locking arrangement

110, 110’ housing

111 , 11 T protruding part

112, 112’ base portion

113, 113’ end portion

114, 114’ shoulder

115, 115’ back surface of the housing

116, 116’ recess (of the housing)

118, index pin

130, 130’ shaft

131 rubber ring, shoulder

132, 132’ recess

134 inner threads

135, 135’ first end of the shaft

136, 136’ second end of the shaft

137, 137’ circumferentially protruding part of the shaft

138, 138’ inner cavity of the shaft

160, 160’ expander

161 , 16T first longitudinal end portion of the expander

162, 162’ second longitudinal end portion of the expander

163 slit

170, 170’ rotational operation member

171 locking bracket

175 rod connection member 180 connector shaft

200 double walled door

220 first door wall

221 inner side of the door wall 222 outer side of the door wall

223, 223’ opening

230 second door wall

231 inner side of the door wall

232 outer side of the door wall