In locksets, removable knobs and levers are usually attache by a steel plate or catch. The catch is positioned within a steel sleeve, commonly referred to as a spindle, and oriente perpendicu- lar to the longitudinal axis of the spindle. The catch is spring loaded (or biased in one direction) such that a leading edge of the catch projects through an opening in the spindle and extends beyond the outer diameter of the spindle.

To attach the knob to the spindle, the catch is pressed inwardly into the spindle (under spring load) and the knob is inserted over the spindle until a slot in the knob is aligned with the catch. In a free condition and with the force of the spring, an edge of the catch extends back out of the spindle and engages the slot in the knob. This edge, when engaged into the knob slot, axially retains the knob to the lock chassis. Depressing the catch allows removal of the knob.

Lock manufacturers use a variety of designs to achieve this spring load that provides the bias to the catch. One common design uses a section of straight music wire that is first"woven"through three holes in the spindle and fed through a hole in the catch and then finally detented or deformed such that it exerts a spring load to the catch. Another design is illustrated in U. S. Patent No.

4,342,478 which discloses a wire form spring that exerts a load from the inside diameter of the spindle to the catch.

One problem with known catch designs is the complex operations necessary to install the catch, either during manufacturing or in the field in the event the wire breaks. Frequently, these known

designs do not lend themselves to automation.

The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present handle catches. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directe to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of the present invention, this is accomplished by providing a handle connector mechanism for connecting a door handle to a tubular sleeve comprising: a connector mounted for movement radially of the tubular sleeve to a door handle connecting position, the connector comprising a flat plate-like member having a tongue extending in a first direction from the flat plate-like member and two spring members attache to the flat plate-like member proximate the tongue.

The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a handle assembly illustrating the handle catch of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the handle catch shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a plan view of a commonly used lock spindle; FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 5 showing the handle catch installe in the spindle ; FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 4 also

showing the handle catch installe in the spindle ; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the handle catch being inserted into the spindle; and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the handle catch depressed to allow removal of the handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of part of lockset illustrating a handle 10, either a lever (as show) or a knob, attache to a lock spindle 30 with the handle catch 20 of the present invention being used to attach either the lever 10 or a knob to the tubular spindle 30. The lever 10 contains a catch slot 12 for accepting the catch tongue 29 of the handle catch 20. The catch tongue 29 extends through a corresponding slot 32 in the spindle 30 and into the catch slot 12.

FIG. 3 illustrates a typical roll formed spindle 30 having a joint seam 37. The handle catch 20 is inserted through installa- tion slot 34 with the catch tongue 29 extending through spindle catch slot 32. Preferably, the handle catch 20 is used with a seamless laser cut spindle 30, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 through 7.

The handle catch 20 is self contained, i. e., it requires no further motive or biasing force to snap into place other than those parts which are integral in its construction. As shown in the FIGURES, the handle catch 20 is constructed of a base or flat plate-like catch body 28 with a centered odd shaped hole or aperture 24. The aperture 24 is shaped such that the lever 10 can not be removed (i. e., the handle catch 20 can not be depressed to release the handle 10) when the locking device is in the locked position using a key operated cylinder 14 having a flat locking bar 16 extending through the aperture 24.

Extending from the catch body 28 is a tongue 29 which fits into the handle slot 12. On the front side of the tongue 29, towards the lever 10, is an angular surface 31 that permits the lever 10 to be slid over the top of the catch 20 to the point that the catch 20 and the catch slot 12 align themselves where the catch 20 is biased by springs into engagement with the slot 12.

Extending from the catch 20, in the region where the tongue 29 extends from the catch body 28 are two springs 22. Preferably, the springs are formed from 302 stainless steel which was chosen for its non-rusting and spring constant characteristics. Each spring 22 consists of a straight portion 22a attache to the catch 20 and a curved portion 22b. The combination of the straight portion 22a and curved portion 22b increases the spring force on the inside of the spindle 30. Preferably, spring slots 23 are EDM'd (electrical discharge machine) in the catch 20. After the springs 22 are inserted into the slots 23, they are laser welded (preferably on one side only) to the catch 20. The spring resistance between the spindle 30 and the handle catch 20 created by the springs 22 coming in contact with the inside cylindrical walls of the spindle 30 prevent accidental disengagement of the catch 20 from the lever 10 and creates a situation where the handle catch 20 must be deliber- ately disengaged from the lever 10 to remove the lever 10 from the spindle 30.

Preferably, the base of the catch body 28 contains a plurality of relieved areas 26. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, these relieved areas 26 accommodate the free ends of the springs 22 during installation of the catch 20 into the spindle 30 (FIG. 6) and during installation or removal of the lever 10 when the catch 20 is depressed to release the catch tongue 29 from the lever 10 (FIG. 7). Note that in FIG. 6, the springs 22 are fully depressed during installation, but the long length of the springs 22 allows minimum deflection of the springs 22 and therefore low fatigue.

FIG. 7 further shows a smooth line of contact between the springs 22 and the spindle 30. The high angle of contact generates positive return pressure.

Preferably, the thickness of the springs 22 is no greater than the thickness of the handle catch 20, i. e., the springs lies within the same plane that the handle catch 20 lies in.