A DOOR HANDLE OR KNOB WITH AN ADDITIONAL SPRING DEVICE

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a door handle assembly which comprises a backplate, a shaft rotatably mounted on the backplate, a square section spindle or like element which extends from a lock housing and which can be connected to the shaft, and a complementary spring arrangement which includes a spring and a holder therefore and which when activated assists in returning the handle and holding the same in its intended starting position.

The complementary spring arrangement of such door handle assemblies has an important function, particularly in those cases where the square section spindle carries a large and heavy handle. The centre of gravity of the handle is located at some considerable distance from the journal shaft and the weight of the handle means that a comparatively high load is constantly exerted on the return spring located in the lock housing. A complementary spring arrangement is able to ensure that the normal return spring will not be worn out too quickly and that the handle will always be positioned correctly, even when the handle is heavy.

BACKGROUND PRIOR ART

In the case of heavy door handles of the kind meant here, which require the provision of a complementary or auxiliary spring arrangement, particular demands are placed on the aesthetic design of the actual door handle and of the backplat Normally the backplate is secured in place with the aid of screws, although this solution is not particularly satisfactor from an aesthetic aspect. AU-B-16814/76 (Gainsburg Hardware)

provides an example in this regard. There is a desire, however, to avoid the use of such screws.

It is essential, however, to secure the backplate in position, since a backplate which is movable on the handle is unsatisfac¬ tory and imparts to the door handle assembly an unacceptable construction as a whole.

CB-A-2 090 908 (Chadd Casting Company) describes a door handle assembly which comprises two backplates, of which one is fitted onto a separate part and thereafter locked by means of a locking ring, which is screwed onto a boss belonging to said part. This door handle assembly also employs the use of screw fasteners and the large number of components involved render the assembly complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the belief that the aforesaid drawback can be removed in a surprising and simple manner especially in the case of large ar.ά heavy door handles which require the provision of a co plexentary spring arrangement and where the need for a satisfactory, substantial handle and backplate construction is particularly great.

In its widest aspect the present invention is mainly characterized in that the complementary spring device and/or its holder is constructed to forrr. a guide which when the backplate is moved towards and against the spring device engages the backplate and prevents it from rotating when the handle is turned or otherwise manipulated.

Thus, the invention requires no separate parts or special manufacturing operations which might otherwise render the backplate or the complementary spring arrangement more expen¬ sive. The backplate may be of standard design. The

invention can be applied with different types of door handles and backplates, but affords a particular advantage in the case of backplates which are not screwed onto the door to which the handle assembly is fitted.

In practice the complementary spring holder will preferably comprise a plate which is attached to the lock housing and which presents a part which is bentthrough 90 and a recess on the inwardly located surface of the backplate.

Backplates of the kind referred to here are normally provided with a centrally located square or elongated-rectangular reces and in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the inventi the aforesaid plate will include two parts which are bent through 90 and which engage respective opposite defining wall of said square or elongated-rectangular recess in the handle.

The plate which has two bent parts will preferably carry a complementary spring device of U-shaped or inverse U-shaped configuration, with straight legs which closely abut and engage the square section spindle when the handle is turned.

Despite having small dimensions, such a spring device will exert considerable force on the square section spindle and therewith fulfill general requirements in an advantageous manner.

An exemplifying embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lock housing which is fitted in a door and from which there extends a

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square section spindle which co-acts with a complementary spring arrangement, and a relatively heavy handle which is provided with a backplate and which is intended for attach¬ ment to the spindle.

Figure 2 is a partially cut away rear view of the parts shown in Figure 1 when fitted together.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A heavy and solid door handle 1 has a shaft 2 which is rotatably mounted on a backplate 3 and presents an inner square profile or hollow 2a by means of which the shaft can be fitted onto a square section spindle 4 extending from a lock housing 5 in a door 6.

The backplate 3 lacks the provision of screw holes and is provided with an inner square recess 3a.

For the purpose of relieving the load on the normal handle- return spring (not shown), there is provided a complementary spring arrangement which acts on the spindle 4. Screwed to the lock housing 5 is a plate 8 which has two parts 8a which are bent or folded through 90° and which carry or hold a spring cevice 9 of inverse U-shape with straight legs 9a which tightly abut respective side surfaces of the square section spindle 4. Khen the handle is turned to open the door, the legs 9a bow outwards and immediately return the handle to its starting position when the handle is released. The complementary spring device is also effective in holding the handle precisely in its intended starting position and therewith relieves the standard return spring from the load otherwise exerted by the heavy handle on the spring.

As will be seen from Figure 2, the bent parts 8a of the plate

8 are configured and positioned to engage respective opposite defining side walls of the square recess 3a in the backplate 3, so as to hold the backplate securing screws.

In an alternative arrangement an immovable part of the spring device - which may therewith have a different configuration - assists in guiding the backplate so that the backplate is held immovable in position.

The handle shaft 2 and the square section spindle 4 are held together in a conventional manner, by means of a cotter pin (not shown) located in hole 2b in the shaft 2.