AU2019201464B2

AU2019201464B2 - Spindle for latch assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2019201464B2
Application number: AU2019201464A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Dean Grant Beardmore; Bryan Hugh Marshall
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 2018-03-22
Filing date: 2019-03-04
Publication date: 2025-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-04
Also published as: NZ751279A; AU2025213658A1; AU2019201464A1

Abstract

C:\Interwo n\NRPortbl\DCC\PLW\1852515 IL.docx-/03/2019 - 18 ABSTRACT A spindle for a latch assembly, the spindle comprising: an elongate shaft having a handle engaging end portion and a latch-engaging end portion; retention means at the latch-engaging end portion to provide an interference fit between the latch-engaging end portion and a receiving opening in a hub of the latch assembly; and a stop provided on the shaft and configured to abut against a portion of the hub defining said receiving opening to restrict insertion of the latch-engaging end portion into the hub. 1/6 N N Lu 0 0 (0~ ra..

Description

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SPINDLE FOR LATCH ASSEMBLY

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to spindles for latch assemblies.

Background to the invention

[0002] A spindle in a latch assembly connects a door handle to a latch or lock mechanism. Rotation of the door handle rotates the spindle, which actuates the latch mechanism within the latch hub to retract the door latch and allow the door to be opened.

[00031 A privacy latch set allows one door handle (typically the external door handle) to be locked, while the other door handle operates the latch as normal. The lock may be disengaged via a designated mechanism such as a snib, coin release, or push button lock, or via the internal handle. Each door handle of the privacy set must be able to rotate independently of the other, so a split spindle or a pair of spindles must be used.

[0004] Each part of the split spindle (or each of the pair of spindles) is generally held in place within the latch hub by a spring positioned between the door handle and the spindle to bias the spindle towards the latch hub. While this configuration allows the privacy latch set to be installed on doors of different thicknesses, it also makes the installation process awkward, as the installer must keep various unsecured components aligned while assembling the door handles.

[0005] In this context, there is a need for improved spindles designed to facilitate the installation process.

Summary

[00061 According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spindle for a latch assembly, the spindle comprising:

an elongate shaft having a handle-engaging end portion and a latch-engaging end portion; retention means provided at the latch-engaging end portion to provide an interference fit between the latch-engaging end portion and a receiving opening in a hub of the latch assembly; and a stop provided on the shaft and configured to abut against a portion of the hub defining said receiving opening to restrict insertion of the latch-engaging end portion into the hub.

[00071 The retention means may comprise at least one protuberance provided at the latch engaging end portion.

[0008] The protuberance may comprise elongate ribs extending between the stop and an end of the latch-engaging end portion.

[0009] The latch-engaging end portion may have a quadrilateral cross-sectional shape, wherein the ribs are positioned at each comer of the quadrilateral.

[0010] The at least one protuberance may be configured such that the protuberance deforms progressively as the latch-engaging end portion is inserted into the receiving opening.

[0011] The at least one protuberance may undergo plastic deformation as the latch engaging end portion is inserted into the receiving opening.

[0012] The retention means may comprise an elongate slot provided at the latch-engaging end portion, and a cross-sectional width of the latch-engaging end portion may be configured to be wider than a corresponding opening width of the receiving opening, such that the latch engaging end portion behaves like a slotted spring pin.

[0013] The spindle may further comprise fastener-engaging means at the handle-engaging end portion.

[0014] The fastener-engaging means may comprise a groove configured to receive an end of a set screw rotationally fixing a handle to the spindle.

[0015] The groove may be elongate and may extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft of the spindle, wherein said end of the set screw is receivable anywhere along a length of the groove.

[00161 The fastener-engaging means may comprise an aperture configured to receive an end of a set screw rotationally fixing a handle to the spindle.

[00171 The stop may comprise a flange extending around a perimeter of the shaft.

[0018] The spindle may be of unitary construction.

[0019] The spindle may be manufactured of a polymer.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a latch assembly comprising:

a hub within a latch mechanism, the hub comprising two receiving openings on opposed sides thereof, each configured to receive a spindle, and

two spindles as described above, each spindle configured, when installed within the hub, to actuate the latch mechanism upon rotation of the spindle.

[0021] The latch assembly may be configured such that, when installed, each spindle rotates independently of the other spindle to independently actuate the latch mechanism.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a door handle assembly comprising:

the latch assembly as described above, and

two handles, each handle configured to be mounted to said handle-engaging end portion of a spindle.

[0023] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of installing the door handle assembly as described above to a door, the method comprising:

inserting the latch mechanism of the door handle assembly into the door, inserting said latch-engaging end portion of the spindle described above into a receiving opening of the hub until said stop abuts against the portion of the hub defining said receiving opening, wherein the latch-engaging end portion is retained in the hub via interference fit due to said retention means, and mounting a handle to said handle-engaging end portion of the spindle.

[0024] The latch-engaging end portion of the spindle may be retained within the receiving opening of the hub via said retention means, such that no spring or biasing mechanism for biasing the spindle towards the receiving opening is required.

[0025] According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a pair of spindles for a latch assembly, each spindle comprising:

an elongate shaft having a handle-engaging end portion and a latch-engaging end portion; and

spindle engaging means at the latch-engaging end portion to engage with complementary spindle engaging means of the other spindle, the spindle engaging means configured to axially align the two spindles with each other and within a receiving opening in a hub of the latch assembly while permitting rotational movement between the two spindles about the longitudinal axes of the spindles.

[0026] The spindle engaging means may comprise a snap-fit connection.

[00271 The spindle engaging means may comprise a lug extending from an end of the latch-engaging end portion of one spindle and a complementary recess within an end of the latch-engaging end portion of the other spindle.

[0028] Each spindle may further comprise a stop provided on the shaft and configured to abut against a portion of the hub defining said receiving opening to restrict insertion of the latch-engaging end portion into the hub.

[0029] According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a latch assembly comprising: a hub within a latch mechanism, the hub comprising two receiving openings on opposed sides thereof, each configured to receive a spindle, and the pair of spindles as described above, each spindle configured, when installed within the hub, to actuate the latch mechanism upon rotation of the spindle.

[00301 The latch assembly may be configured such that, when installed, each spindle rotates independently of the other spindle at said spindle engaging means to independently actuate the latch mechanism.

[00311 According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a door handle assembly comprising:

the latch assembly described above, and

[0032] According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of installing the door handle assembly described above to a door comprising:

inserting the latch mechanism of the door handle assembly into the door,

providing the pair of spindles as described above,

inserting said latch-engaging end portion of each spindle into one of two opposed receiving openings of the hub,

engaging the two spindles to each other via the spindle engaging means, whereby both spindles are retained in the hub, and

mounting a handle to said handle-engaging end portion of each spindle.

[0033] The latch-engaging of each spindle may be retained within the receiving opening of the hub via said engagement with the other spindle, such that no spring or biasing mechanism for biasing the spindle towards the receiving opening is required.

Description of drawings

[0034] The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a door handle assembly (with door removed to more clearly illustrate the assembly) comprising the spindle according to one embodiment;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the door handle assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the spindle;

Figure 4 is an end view of the spindle;

Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the door handle assembly of Figure 1, shown without details of the latch mechanism around the hub;

Figure 6 is illustrates a pair of spindles according to a second embodiment; and

Figure 7 illustrates a pair of spindles according to a third embodiment.

Detailed description

[0035] With reference to the drawings, a spindle 10 for a latch assembly 100 comprises an elongate shaft 2 having a handle-engaging end portion 4 and a latch-engaging end portion 6. Retention means 8 at the latch-engaging end portion 6 provides an interference fit between the latch-engaging end portion and a receiving opening 12 in a hub 14 of the latch assembly 100. A stop 16, provided on the shaft 2, is configured to abut against a portion of the hub 14 defining the receiving opening 12, to restrict the distance the latch-engaging end portion 6 is inserted into the hub 14.

[0036] The retention means 8 may comprise any suitable feature for providing and/or increasing the interference fit or friction fit between the spindle and the opening 12 in the hub. Preferably, to accommodate for manufacturing tolerance, retention means 8 comprises a physical element provided at latch-engaging end portion 6, ie it does not merely involve sizing of the latch-engaging end portion 6 relative to the opening 12 to create an interference fit.

Accordingly, the latch-engaging end portion is preferably sized to be smaller than the receiving opening 12 to satisfy manufacturing tolerance requirements, and it is the retention means 8 at the latch-engaging end portion which provides the interference fit.

[00371 The retention means 8 may comprise, for example, one or more protuberances provided at the latch-engaging end portion 6. In one embodiment, as shown more clearly in Figures 3 and 4, the protuberance may comprise elongate ribs extending between the stop 16 and an end of the latch-engaging end portion 6. In the illustrated example, the latch-engaging end portion 6 has a quadrilateral cross-sectional shape, and the ribs are positioned at each comer of the quadrilateral. While the cross-sectional shape of the latch-engaging end portion 6 is necessarily non-circular, it may be any polygonal shape corresponding to the shape of the receiving opening 12. The ribs or other protrusions (eg bump, collar, rim) 8 may be positioned at any part of the latch-engaging end portion 6 suitable for creating the interference fit. However, it is envisaged that where the retention means 8 are positioned at corners of the polygon, they may be more easily filed down, if necessary to ensure the latch-engaging end portion 6 fits within the receiving opening 12.

[0038] In some embodiments, the protuberance is configured such that it is able to deform progressively as the latch-engaging end portion 6 is inserted into the receiving opening 12, thereby allowing insertion but retaining the spindle in the receiving opening once inserted. This may be achieved by configuring the size of the protuberance (eg narrow, small in height) and/or material properties of the protuberance (eg flexible). The protuberance may undergo plastic deformation as the latch-engaging end portion 6 is inserted into the receiving opening.

[0039] In another example, the retention means 8 may comprise slotted spring pin features at the latch-engaging end portion 6. An elongate slot (not shown) may be provided along one face or along each of two opposed faces of the latch-engaging end portion, and the cross-sectional width of the latch-engaging end portion across the two opposed faces that do not comprise the slot may be configured to be slightly wider than a corresponding opening width of the receiving opening 12. The slot (not shown) allows for some flex and compression as the latch-engaging end portion 6 is inserted into the receiving opening 12, but once inserted, the latch-engaging end portion biases back against the internal walls of the receiving opening 12 to create the interference fit. A chamfer may be provided at the end of the latch-engaging end portion 6 to facilitate starting insertion of the latch-engaging end portion 6 into the receiving opening 12.

[0040] Preferably, the retention means 8 is integrally formed during manufacture of the spindle 10, ie the spindle is preferably of unitary construction, for increased efficiency and reduced costs. However, the retention means 8 may alternatively be provided as a separate component, for example as an elastomeric sleeve or O-ring, mounted (removably or otherwise) to the latch-engaging end portion. The elastomeric feature may provide the interference fit by increasing the size of the latch-engaging end portion 6 and/or the coefficient of friction between the latch-engaging end portion 6 and the receiving opening 12.

[0041] Additionally, if required for increased stability during installation, engaging means 24a may be provided at the latch-engaging end portion 6 of the spindle 10 to reversibly engage with complementary engaging means 24b on the latch-engaging end portion of another spindle. The spindles may thereby be detachably mounted together during installation. In one example as illustrated in Figure 6, a lug may be provided on one spindle, to be received in a complementary recess of another spindle. However, it is envisaged that in preferred embodiments, the retention means 8 is sufficient to securely and stably retain the spindle in the latch hub during assembly, obviating the need for engagement means 24. This way, two identical spindles 10 may be used in the latch assembly.

[0042] The stop 16 may comprise any feature projecting outwardly of the shaft 2 and configured to abut against the portion of the hub 14 framing the receiving opening 12. In the illustrated example, the stop 16 comprises a flange extending around the perimeter of the shaft. The stop 16 may comprise any other protuberance (eg rib, bump, ledge) sized to engage the hub and restrict the distance that the latch-engaging end portion 6 is inserted into the receiving opening 12. The stop 16 may alternatively comprise a stepped difference in size along the shaft, ie the latch-engaging end portion 6 may be smaller in cross-section than the adjacent portion of the shaft, such that this larger adjacent portion abuts against the hub 14. Provision of a stop 12 is particularly important where a pair of spindles 10 is used for a privacy latch set. The stop 16 ensures that each spindle is only inserted a predetermined distance into the hub 14, and therefore operates the latch mechanism independently of the other spindle.

[00431 The spindle 10 may further comprise fastener-engaging means 18 at the handle engaging end portion 4 for fixing the handle 22 to the spindle. In the illustrated example (shown more clearly in Figures 3 and 5), the fastener-engaging means 18 comprises a groove configured to receive a set screw 20 which rotationally fixes the handle 22 to the spindle. The groove is elongate and extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 2 of the spindle 10, so that the set screw 20 may be received anywhere along the length of the groove. This enables the spindle 10 to be used on doors of different thicknesses.

[0044] In another example, the fastener-engaging means 18 may comprise one or more apertures configured to receive the set screw. A row of apertures may be provided along the length of the handle-engaging end portion 4, to provide different positions for fastener engagement depending on the thickness of the door.

[0045] As discussed above, the spindle 10 is preferably of a unitary construction. The spindle may, for example, be moulded or cast of any suitable material, eg a metal or a polymer. In one example, the spindle is moulded of a glass-reinforced nylon.

[0046] In another embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 7, the engaging means 24a, 24b may be provided instead of retention means 8 for retaining the spindle within the hub of the latch assembly. That is, a pair of spindles 10' may be provided, each spindle having spindle engaging means 24a or 24b at its latch-engaging end portion 6 to engage with complementary spindle engaging means 24a or 24b of the other spindle. Other than the provision of spindle engaging means 24a, 24b to replace the retention means 9, the spindles 10'of this embodiment may be substantially similar to the spindles 10, ie the spindles10'may optionally comprise the stop 16 and fastener-engaging means 18 as described above.

[00471 The spindle engaging means 24a, 24b are preferably configured to axially align the two spindles 10'with each other within the receiving opening in the hub of the latch assembly 100 while permitting rotational movement between the two spindles 10'about the longitudinal axes of the spindles. Preferably, the spindle engaging means comprises a snap-fit connection for ease of manufacture and installation. The spindle engaging means may comprise, for example, a lug 24a extending from an end of the latch-engaging end portion of one spindle and a complementary recess 24b within an end of the latch-engaging end portion of the other spindle. By connecting the spindles to each other during installation, both spindles may be retained within the hub without the need for a biasing mechanism such as a spring, thereby facilitating the installation process. The spindles may be used in a privacy latch set since the spindles are rotatably connected at the spindle engaging means 24a, 24b and can rotate independently of each other.

[0048] Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a latch assembly 100 comprising a latch mechanism (not shown) and hub 14 having two receiving openings 12 on opposed sides of the hub, each configured to receive a spindle 10. The latch assembly 100 further comprises two spindles 10 of the kind described above, each spindle configured, when installed within the hub 14, to actuate the latch mechanism upon rotation of the spindle 10. Alternatively, the latch assembly 100 may further comprise a pair of spindles 10'. It will be appreciated that the latch hub and latch mechanism may comprise any suitable arrangement eg a cylindrical lock or a mortise lock.

[0049] The latch assembly 100 may be a privacy latch set, configured such that each spindle 10 rotates independently of the other spindle to independently actuate the latch mechanism. By configuring the latch set and the insertion distance of the spindle (as determined by the location of the stop 16) to ensure independent operation of each spindle, two identical spindles 10 may be utilized, thereby saving on manufacturing costs and circumventing installation errors.

[0050] Alternatively, the spindle 10 may be used for a passage set, where the handles operate in unison to actuate the latch mechanism. The insertion distance (as determined by the location of the stop 16) of each of the pair of spindles 10 may be configured so that both spindles actuate the same latch mechanism. Alternatively, the spindles may comprise engaging means 24 as discussed above at the latch-engaging end portion 6 to engage with complementary engaging means on another spindle. The spindles 10 may thereby be connected to each other to function as a single spindle.

[0051] Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a door handle assembly 200 comprising the latch assembly 100 (including spindles 10 or 10' as described above) and two handles 22, each handle configured to be mounted to the handle-engaging end portion 4 of a spindle 10. It will be appreciated that the handles 22 may be of any suitable arrangement eg door knobs or lever handles.

[0052] Embodiments of the present invention are also directed to a method of installing the door handle assembly 200 to a door comprising steps of inserting the latch mechanism and hub 14 of the door handle assembly into the door and inserting the latch-engaging end portion 6 of the spindle 10 into the receiving opening 12 of the hub 14 until the stop 16 abuts against the portion of the hub defining the receiving opening. At this stage, the latch-engaging end portion 6 is securely retained in the hub 14 via the interference fit provided by the retention means 8. The handle 22 may then be mounted to the handle-engaging end portion 4 of the spindle 10 and to the door. Installation is simplified because the spindle is securely retained in the hub via the retention means 8, such that springs or other biasing mechanisms for biasing the spindle 10 towards the receiving opening 12 are not required. Accordingly, the installer does not need to hold on to an unsecured spindle in order to maintain alignment of the spindle with the hub and the handle while mounting the handle to the door.

[00531 Where spindles 10' are provided, the method of installing the door handle assembly 200 to the door comprises the steps of inserting the hub 14 of the door handle assembly into the door, inserting the latch-engaging end portion of each spindle 10'into one of two opposed receiving openings 12 of the hub 14, engaging the two spindles 10'to each other via the spindle engaging means 24a, 24b, whereby both spindles are retained in the hub 14. A handle 22 may then be mounted to the handle-engaging end portion 4 of each spindle 10'.

[0054] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

[0055] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavor to which this specification relates.

[00561 Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A spindle for a latch assembly, the spindle comprising: an elongate shaft having a handle-engaging end portion and a latch-engaging end portion; retention means provided at the latch-engaging end portion to provide an interference fit between the latch-engaging end portion and a receiving opening in a hub of the latch assembly; and a stop provided on the shaft and configured to abut against a portion of the hub defining said receiving opening to restrict insertion of the latch-engaging end portion into the hub.

2. The spindle of claim 1, wherein the retention means comprises at least one protuberance provided at the latch-engaging end portion.

3. The spindle of claim 2, wherein the protuberance comprises elongate ribs extending between the stop and an end of the latch-engaging end portion.

4. The spindle of claim 3, wherein the latch-engaging end portion has a quadrilateral cross-sectional shape, and wherein the ribs are positioned at each corner of the quadrilateral.

5. The spindle of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the at least one protuberance is configured such that the protuberance deforms progressively as the latch-engaging end portion is inserted into the receiving opening.

6. The spindle of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the at least one protuberance undergoes plastic deformation as the latch-engaging end portion is inserted into the receiving opening.

7. The spindle of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retention means comprises an elongate slot provided at the latch-engaging end portion, and wherein a cross-sectional width of the latch-engaging end portion is configured to be wider than a corresponding opening width of the receiving opening, such that the latch-engaging end portion behaves like a slotted spring pin.

8. The spindle of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising fastener-engaging means at the handle-engaging end portion.

9. The spindle of claim 8, wherein the fastener-engaging means comprises a groove configured to receive an end of a set screw rotationally fixing a handle to the spindle.

10. The spindle of claim 9, wherein the groove is elongate and extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft of the spindle, and wherein said end of the set screw is receivable anywhere along a length of the groove.

11. The spindle of claim 8, wherein the fastener-engaging means comprises an aperture configured to receive an end of a set screw rotationally fixing a handle to the spindle.

12. The spindle of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop comprises a flange extending around a perimeter of the shaft.

13. The spindle of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spindle is of unitary construction.

14. The spindle of any one of the preceding claims, manufactured of a polymer.

15. A latch assembly comprising: a hub within a latch mechanism, the hub comprising two receiving openings on opposed sides thereof, each configured to receive a spindle, and two spindles of any one of claims 1 to 14, each spindle configured, when installed within the hub, to actuate the latch mechanism upon rotation of the spindle.

16. The latch assembly of claim 15, configured such that, when installed, each spindle rotates independently of the other spindle to independently actuate the latch mechanism.

17. The latch assembly or claim 15 or claim 16, each spindle comprising: spindle engaging means at the latch-engaging end portion to engage with complementary spindle engaging means of the other spindle, the spindle engaging means configured to axially align the two spindles with each other and within a receiving opening in a hub of the latch assembly while permitting rotational movement between the two spindles about the longitudinal axes of the spindles.

18. A door handle assembly comprising: the latch assembly of any one of claims 15 to 17, and two handles, each handle configured to be mounted to said handle-engaging end portion of a spindle.

19. A method of installing the door handle assembly of claim 17 to a door comprising: inserting the latch mechanism of the door handle assembly into the door, inserting said latch-engaging end portion of the spindle of any one of claims 1 to 14 into a receiving opening of the hub until said stop abuts against the portion of the hub defining said receiving opening, wherein the latch-engaging end portion is retained in the hub via interference fit due to said retention means, and mounting a handle to said handle-engaging end portion of the spindle.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the latch-engaging end portion of the spindle is retained within the receiving opening of the hub via said retention means, such that no spring or biasing mechanism for biasing the spindle towards the receiving opening is required.

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