Universal multipoint lock door handle Description

The present invention relates to door handle assemblies and particularly but not exclusively to replacement assemblies for use on uPVC door frames. Typically, handle assemblies mounted onto uPVC doors have a handle arranged to be moveable upwardly from a neutral position in order to actuate multiple latches positioned at various points along the edge of the door (multipoint-lock), and downwardly from a neutral position in order to disengage the said latches and actuate a central latch to allow the door to open. Typically both the outer and inner door handles function in this way such that the door can be opened and locked from either side.

According to the invention there is provided a door latch mechanism comprising; a spindle for passing through a door; a rotatable handle adapted to fit on one end of the spindle; a face plate through which the handle passes, the faceplate being shaped so that a cavity is defined between the face plate and the door; and a removable retainer held within the cavity and adapted to act between the handle and an internal surface of the face plate to prevent rotation of the handle.

The invention enables, at the installer's discretion, to fix the position of one the handles such that it cannot be used to actuate the latch or multipoint lock. It is envisaged that typically the invention will be particularly applicable for use with the handle on the outside of a door such that the once the door is shut it cannot be open from the outside without a key.

The retainer, which may take a plate like form, preferably defines an aperture which enables the retainer to fit over the handle. The retainer may define tabs which project into the aperture to engage with a slot formed within the handle.

In order that the spindle can be turned by the opposing door handle to actuate the latch and/or lock mechanism the spindle should be able to rotate relative to the door handle. To this end the spindle may comprise two parts which are free to rotate about one another. The spindle itself may be used to secure the retainer in position. In order to do this the spindle may be provided with a threaded portion which threads into the handle, such that the retainer is itself retained between a flange of the spindle and the cover.

In order that that the handle can be used with a typical quadrilateral cross sectioned

spindle and to receive the threaded portion of the spindle, the handle may have a socket having an inner wall whose shape can be consider has being defined with having opposing portions defined by an arc of a circle and being threaded, and opposing portions which are defined by portions of perimeter of the non-circular cross sectioned spindle.

It is usual that one of the cover plates, usually the one designated for the inside of the door, is fastened to the door by screws or other fasteners which extend through screw holes formed in the face of the cover and which extend either into the door or into a fixing plate behind the cover. The inventor has hit upon an alternative solution which provides a cleaner, more attractive finish and therefore according to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a door mechanism comprising a handle mount adapted to receive a handle rotatably; means for securing the handle mount to the door, and a cover having an opening through which the handle and a threaded part of the mount passes; and a threaded ferule which extends around the handle and threads onto the threaded part of the mount thereby securing the mount to the cover.

Preferably the mount comprises a spring action which allows movement of the handle in opposite directions from a neutral position. The mount may also be is designed to be held in optional positions relative to the cover such that the neutral position is optionally horizontal or vertical. This allows the handle to be easily reorientated for left or right handedness or for vertically alignment where the user is likely to struggle to pull the handle upwards. In a preferred embodiment, the mount is secured to the door by way of a fixing plate which is held generally flush to the door. Securing to the fixing plate rather than the cover, provides a stronger anchor point for the handle and biasing means which increases the lifespan of the assembly from damage caused by components working loose from repeated use.

Occasionally it may necessary to replace the door handle assembly such as when the existing assembly has broken or perished. Although manufactures have standardised the distances between the keyhole and the spindle, no such standard has been forthcoming for the spacing between the fasteners which extend through the door in order to retain the handle assembly against the door. As a consequence it is often difficult to find a replacement assembly which can be assembled without requiring the need to drill additional holes in the door. This is an inconvenience, but can also lead to the unsightly existing holes being exposed if the cover of the new assembly is smaller in some respect than the existing assembly.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a door mechanism for use with a multipoint latch or locking mechanism comprising two handles which are

rotatable and coupled to a spindle to actuate the latch or locking mechanism, and two plates positionable on opposite sides of the door, each plate having an aperture through which the handle or spindle may pass and each defining at least one slot through which a fastener can pass to secure the plates to the door. The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective of a door handle assembly suitable for use on a u PVC door;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective of the inside subassembly of the door handle assembly of figure 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective of the inside subassembly of the door handle assembly of figure 1 illustrating more clearly the inward facing sides of the components;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective of the outer side subassembly of the door handle assembly of figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a simplified side elevation of the free end of the handle of the inside subassembly.

Referring to Fig 1 there is shown a pair of substantially congruent fixing plates 10, 13 arranged to be positioned on opposite sides of a door (not shown). Each plate 10, 13 defines two slots 1OA, 1OB, 13A, 13B defined at upper and lower portions of each plate, apertures 1OC, 13C for receiving the spindle 22 and apertures 10D, 13D to align with and provide access to the keyhole of the locking mechanism housed within the edge of the door.

Plate 13 is additionally provided with four smaller apertures 13E spaced in a square configuration about aperture 13C, and with four tabs 13F which extend inwardly from the face of the plate 13.

Plate 10 is additionally provided with a number of screw holes 1OE located at upper, middle and lower portions of the plate 10 for a purpose to be described below.

The inside subassembly comprises a face plate 15, generally 'U' shaped handle 17, and biasing assembly 18-21. The face plate 15 has an inwardly extending peripheral rim 15A having screw holes 15B so as to define a cavity with the door for housing the biasing assembly 18-21. The plate 15 defines apertures 15C and 15D corresponding to apertures 13C and 13D of the fixing plate 13.

The handle 17 is formed with a free end 17A into which is formed a shaft 17B of generally square cross section so as to receive a spindle 22, and a diametrical slot 17C.

As can be seen in Fig 1 and Fig 2, the biasing assembly comprises a retaining block 18, torsion spring 19, actuating ring 20 and circlip 21. The retaining block 18 has on its outer side an annular projection 18A with threaded outer wall 18B. On the side opposite the annular projection 18A, the block 18 is machined or casted to define a substantially cylindrical recess and two radially opposed openings. The recess is partly delimited by peripheral walls 18C having opposing concave faces. Each wall 18C is bevelled at each end to form shoulders 18D.

An actuating ring 20 defines two tabs 2OA extending from the periphery of the ring 20 and two tabs 2OB which are radially opposed extending inwards towards the centre of the ring.

To assemble, the block 18 is located over a free end of handle 17A such that the free end of the handle 17 protrudes into the recess of the block 18. The torsion spring 19 is located within the cylindrical recess such that its free ends 19A protrude into one of the openings and rest against opposing shoulders 18D. The actuating ring is located over the spring with tabs 2OB locate within diametrical slot 17C of handle 17B. The biasing assembly is the retaining onto the handle 17 by circlip 21. The biasing assembly 18-21 and handle 17 can be mounted onto the inner fixing plate 13 by way of four screws which pass through holes 13C and are anchored into screw holes 18E in walls 18C. The handle may be orientated in any one of four orientations angled apart by 90 degrees at the decision of the assembler. This may be for left or right handed, or optionally upwardly or downwardly Turing to Fig 4, the outside sub-assembly comprises face plate 4 which is congruent to face plate 15 and handle 1, washers 3, 5 and 6, circlip 6 and retaining plate 23. retaining plate 23 defines an opening 23A into which protudes two diametrically opposed tabs 23B.

Also shown in Fig 4 is a spindle 22. The spindle 22 has a square cross sectioned portion 22A with a bifurcated end. Rigidly connected to the opposite end extends a narrower portion having a substantially circular cross section upon which is mounted and retained a fastener 22B having a male threaded portion 22C and a head 22D having a width relative to the remainder of the spindle. The fastener 22B has a hollow cylindrical bore to be mounted onto the narrower portion such that the fastener and square cross sectioned portion can rotate relative to one another.

Handle 1 has a free end IA into which is formed a shaft IB. As illustrated in Fig 5 the shape of the wall shaft is formed by a combination of two bore shapes centred about a coincidental axis. A square sized to accept the square end of spindle 22 and a circle having a diameter which is greater than the width/height of the square but less than the distance between the square's diagonally opposing corners. The portions of the shaft wall defined by the circle are formed with a thread. This enables the shaft IB to optionally receive either the square sectioned spindle or to be fastened to the male thread 22C. Handle end IA further defines a diametric slot 1C which extends through the outer walls of the handle 1. To assemble the handle onto the plate 4, locating washer 3 is passed over free end IA of handle 1 followed by the plate 4 and washers 5 and 6. The handle 1 and plate 4 are secured together by circlip 7. The handle is free to rotate about the plate 4 which enables it to be position for either the right or left sides as required. A regular square cross-sectioned spindle can then , be located within shaft IB to allow actuation of a latch or locking mechanism.

On occasion where it is desired to lock the handle in a single position the retaining plate 23 is placed over handle 17A such that tabs 23B locate within slot 1C and the retaining plate sides having a resistant fit with peripheral rim 4A. Rotation of the handle relative to the cover plate 4 is restricted by impingement of the retaining plate 23 against the peripheral rim 4A. The retaining plate 23 is prevented from working free from the handle 1 by flange 22D of spindle 22 which impinges against the retaining plate 23 upon screwing thread 22C into shaft IB. Portion 22A of spindle 22 is being free to rotated about the fastened portion 22B and handle 1 can . be inserted into shaft 17B t To fit the whole assembly to the door, the fixing plate 10 is fitted to cover plate 4 using machine screws 11 which pass through screw holes 1OF and are anchored into bosses 4E of the cover plate 4.

The fitting plate 10, cover 4 and handle 1 are positioned such that apertures 13C, 13D align with the hole for the passage of the spindle and keyhole respectively. The inner fixing plate 13 complete with handle 1 and biasing assembly 18-21 is position against the opposite side of the door and held in place by fittings 8, 9, 12, and 14. Slots 1OA, 1OB, 13A and 13B allow the position of the fittings to be adjusted relative to plates 10, 13 dependent upon the position of the fitting holes formed to support the existing handle assembly to the door. The inner face plate 15 is mounted over the end of handle 17 and positioned against the fixing plate 13. The face plate 15 is secured in position by a retaining ring 16 having a female thread 16A which is passed over handle 17 and threaded onto outer wall 18B of the annular

projection 18A. Additional fixing may be provided by screws which pass through screw holes in the peripheral rim 15A and into holes formed in tabs 13E.

The biasing assembly 18-21 allows handle 17 to be rotated either clockwise or anticlockwise until one of tabs 2OA impinges against shoulder 18D. Upon release of the handle 17, torsion spring 19 causes the handle to return to its neutral position.