AU705705B2 - Door handle mounting assembly - Google Patents

Description

DOOR HANDLE MOUNTING ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a door knob/handle operating assembly.

Assemblies of the aforementioned type are commonly secured to internal doors of domestic dwellings, commercial buildings or any other similar establishment. The assemblies normally comprise a handle/knob on at least one side of the door rotatably fixed to an operating bar which passes into the door and operates a latch mechanism when the handle/knob is turned. If the assembly is to be used to open or close a door from both sides, then a handle/knob would be arranged at either end of the operating bar. Generally a face plate is provided to surround and overlie the door openings to provide a visually pleasing appearance and also to assist with retention of the handle/knob to the operating mechanism. Such a face plate would be provided on one or both sides of the door depending on whether one or two door :**handle/knobs are employed. The shape or appearance of the face plate can be 15 generally circular, oval, rectangular or any other desired configuration, however, some means is required to allow fixing of the face plate to the door.

S One conventionally used method is to simply use a plurality of individual screw fasteners to permit the face plate to be mounted directly to the door.

While this is operationally satisfactory, the number of screw fasteners normally required increases the length of time involved in installation of the assembly.

Moreover, the screw fasteners remain on permanent view and in some configurations, detract from the overall appearance of the assembly. In other known arrangements a mounting plate is fixed to the door by threaded or screw fasteners which either connect directly to the door itself or alternatively pass through larger openings in the door and connect with a similar mounting plate on the other side of the door. The face plate has then been amended to the mounting plate by various methods. One common method was to provide an upstanding spigot on the mounting plate with an external screw thread formed thereon, the face plate having a portion with a corresponding internal screw thread so that the respective mounting plate could be fastened by rotating the face plate to threadably engage same on the mounting plate. Such arrangements do have some practical disadvantages in that the thread engagement parts have relatively large diameters with a small axial dimension making them tedious to install and easy to damage by cross threading the thread engagement parts. Moreover, they also tend to loosen during use such that the face plate may ultimately become detached if it is not continually retightened. Other previously proposed arrangements include click on connection means operable between the mounting plate and the face plate but these also have some practical disadvantages including difficulty in achieving a tight connection, particularly if the face plate is circular, and difficulty in removal of the face plate if it is ultimately necessary to service the assembly in any way.

Currently the most common assembly arrangement type using a hidden mounting plate is the aforementioned screw thread connection system. Prior Australian Patent Application No. 90490/91 discloses an arrangement of the aforementioned kind seeking to overcome some of the problems discussed above. In this arrangement, the mounting plate and the face plate are connected by a bayonet type fitting wherein axially extending headed projections fit into respective key hole slots and upon relative rotation between the two plates, the plates are thereby connected together. Again this system is believed to work well but is likely to be more expensive to produce than a simple thread connection arrangement due to the number of manufacturing and assembly steps involved.

A first objective therefore of the present invention is to provide an assembly of the aforementioned kind which is simple and therefore inexpensive to produce and moreover is easy to install and robust in operation.

A further preferred objective of the present invention is to provide an assembly of the aforementioned kind which is easy to install, robust in operation and which will not unintentionally disassemble itself.

Throughout this specification the term "handle" is used to indicate a door operating member and includes knobs, levers and any other similar item adapted to be gripped and moved to open or close a door.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a handle mounting assembly for a door, said assembly including a mounting plate fixable to the door and a face plate adapted for cooperation with a door opening handle and with said IIIIIIIIIIIIIW mounting plate, said mounting plate having a central section which, in use, extends away from said door to define a cavity between said door and said central section, a central aperture extending through the central section of said mounting plate, said central aperture having a continuous edge zone with at least two lateral edge regions facing inwardly toward a central axis of the assembly, each said lateral edge region defining a ramp surface that in use is inclined outwardly from said door extending in a direction towards the face plate, said face plate including a central portion having laterally located ramp surfaces facing outwardly from said door, each said face plate ramp surface being positioned to engage a said mounting plate ramp surface upon relative rotation of said mounting plate and said face plates about the central axis.

Preferably, the respective ramp surfaces have complementary angles of inclination. Conveniently each of the ramp surfaces on the face plate are formed by one edge of a groove formed in a laterally projecting lug, the groove being angled relative to the central axis. Preferably, the mounting plate is formed from sheet metal so that the lateral edge regions are formed by portions of the sheet metal surrounding the central aperture.

Preferably the angle of inclination of said ramp surfaces is relatively low and preferably in the range of 10 to 100. More preferably the angle of inclination of the ramp surfaces is in the range of 1.50 to 50. Conveniently the central aperture is oblong in shape so as to accommodate opposed laterally extending lugs on the face plate in one relative rotational position of the face plate and the mounting plate, the internal longer opposed side edges of said oblong central aperture forming the inclined ramp surfaces.

By the arrangement thus described, all that is required for this assembly is a face plate and a mounting plate. The face plate may be formed by conventional die cast methods now used for similar known products of this type.

The mounting plate can be formed from sheet metal by simple stamping or other metal forming techniques which are inexpensive. Connection of the two parts is achieved by a simple twisting movement without danger of damage to the parts as may occur with conventional machine thread connections as discussed above with reference to the prior art. The arrangement of this invention may be compared to a coarse thread arrangement but has the advantage of the mounting plate being formable from a springy material such as sheet metal which will assist in preventing any tendency for the two plates from rotating in use to a detachable position. Moreover, it is possible to arrange the angle of the ramp surfaces such that they will tend to tighten during use rather than the reverse.

Preferably retainer means may be provided to resist relative rotation between the mounting plate and the face plate when said face plate is operatively connected to said mounting plate. Conveniently said retainer means includes at least one first retention member formed on either the face plate or said mounting plate cooperable with the other said plate or said door, a said first retention member being forced into resilient interengagement with the other said plate or said door upon relative rotation of said face plate and said mounting plate towards said operatively connected position. The or each said first retention member is preferably cooperable with a second retention means on the other said plate. The or each said first retention member may be a spring member. Preferably the or each said spring member is formed by a leaf spring member extending in a circumferential direction. In an alternative arrangement the spring member may be formed by a resilient material or by a coiled spring.

When a leaf spring member is used, the leaf spring member is conveniently integrally formed from a flange zone of the mounting plate. In one preferred embodiment, the or each said leaf spring member is formed by an element connected at one end with the flange zone of the mounting plate and having a free end adapted to flex in a direction normal to said flange zone. In a second preferred embodiment, the or each said leaf spring member is formed by a circumferentially extending portion of said flange zone separated from the remainder of said flange zone except for two opposed end portions, said leaf spring member being a sufficient length whereby a mid section thereof is capable of flexing in a direction normal to the remainder of said flange zone. Conveniently the leaf spring member thus formed is deformed to be position above the remainder of said flange zone.

Conveniently at least portions of said leaf spring member have a concave configuration facing downwardly. Preferably said portions having a concave configuration facing downwards are located adjacent to the opposed ends connected to the remainder of the flange zone.

Conveniently, one of the leaf spring member or the retention member includes a plurality of serrations transverse to a circumferential direction.

Preferably the serrations increase in depth from one circumferential end in the "..."direction of relative rotation of said face plate and said mounting plate towards said first position. The leaf spring member or retention member without the serrations has a detent part cooperable with the serrations when the two plates 15 are relatively rotated towards the first position. In a preferred arrangement, the retention member(s) is/are formed on the face plate and include the series of serrations as aforesaid.

The aforesaid further aspect of the present invention may be used with either a conventional screw threaded connection between the mounting plate and the face plate or with the novel connection arrangement as disclosed in this 0°°°specification.

*Preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a mounting plate in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a section view along line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section view along line B-B of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section view along line C-C of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a top plan view of a face plate cooperable with the mounting plate of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a section view along line D-D of Figure Figure 7 is a partial detail view looking in direction W (Figure 6); 6 Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing an alternative preferred embodiment of mounting plate; Figure 9 is a section view along line B-B of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the area X shown in Figure 8; Figure 11 is a perspective view of a handle and face plate cooperable with the mounting plate in Figure Figure 12 is a view similar to figure 1 showing a still further preferred embodiment of mounting plate; Figure 13 is a side elevation view of the mounting shown in figure 12 viewed in direction X.

Figure 14 is a view similar to figure 6 showing an alternative preferred form of retention means acting between the face plate and the door; Figures 15 and 16 are views similar to Figure 14 showing alternative preferred forms of retention means acting between the face plate and the door 15 or the mounting plate.

Figure 16A is a detailed view looking in direction Y of Figure 16; and Figures 17 and 18 are views similar to Figure 14 showing still further preferred forms of retention means acting between the face plate and the mounting plate.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the mounting plate 10 is conveniently manufactured from metal plate having an outer circumferential flange 11 with spaced openings 12 to allow passage of screw threaded fasteners enabling plate 10 to be fixed to one side of a door with its central axis 13 centred on the rotational axis of the door handle operating members (not shown). The door handle operating members normally comprise a knob or handle on one or both sides of the door with a rotational movement transmission bar (commonly square in cross section) connecting the or both knob/handles to a latch mechanism mounted within the door. The mounting plate 10 has a central section 14 domed to form a cavity 15 between the central section and the plane of the surface 16 of the outer flange 11 adapted in use to be engaged against the door surface. The central section 14 has an oblong opening 17 formed in it with lateral opposed side edges 18,19. As is best seen in Figures 2 and 3, each of the side edges is inclined relative to the plane of the surface 16 by a relatively small angle preferably about 2.50. This angle may be varied in the range of to 100, preferably 1.50 to 50 In a possible alternative embodiment, each of these inclined side edges 18, 19 might also include surface serrations for cooperation with the face plate 20 as described hereinafter.

As shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the face plate 20 of this invention comprises an outer cover flange 21 which may be circular or any other shape according to the desired appearance. The plate 20 includes a central aperture 21 adapted to cooperate with a door handle or knob (not shown) having a central axis 22 which is coincident with the axis 13 of the mounting plate when the plates 10 and 20 are operably connected. Surrounding the central aperture 30 is an axially extending cylindrical part 23 integrally formed with the face plate 20 and having diametrically opposed lugs 24,25 extending therefrom.

:i Each lug 24,25 has a groove 26 formed therein, the groove being angled 15 relative to the plane of the outer edge 27 of the cover flange 21. The angle and direction of inclination of each groove 26 is approximately equal to the angle of inclination of a respective one of the edges 18,19 of the mounting plate 10. As shown in Figure 6, the groove 26 is conveniently also angled in a radial direction relevant to a plane perpendicular to the axis 22, the angle of inclination being from the outer edge of the lugs 24,25 towards the outward directed face 28 of the face plate 20. Although the drawings illustrate a groove ~26, it should also be appreciated that this feature may be formed as a ledge where the ledge is effectively the lower edge 29 of the groove 26.

As illustrated the shape and length of the oblong opening 17 in the mounting plate 10 is such as to allow the lugs 24,25 to fit into the opening when appropriately located. Thereafter twisting the face plate 20 about the axis 22/13 allows the grooves 26 to engage on the edges 18,19 of the opening 17 in a similar manner to a screw thread connection. The inclined angle of the edges 18,19 and the groove 26 is selected so that full engagement occurs over about a 900 relative movement. Moreover, the angle of inclination and the slight flexibility in the edges 18,19 ensure that the parts do not rotate back to a disengagable position unless they are positively forced in this direction. In the aforementioned alternative embodiment, the groove 26 might also be formed with serrations to cooperate with the surface serrations on the edges 18, 19.

These interengaging serrations may be designed so that it is easier to rotate the face plate 20 in an engaging direction rather than in a disengaging direction while still allowing for the possibility of rotation in both directions if sufficient force is applied. The serrations may be formed when each part is originally formed so that they should not increase the cost of production of the device.

Figure 8 illustrates an alternative form of mounting plate similar to Figure 1 and wherein like features have been given the same reference numbers as in Figure 1. In this embodiment the outer flange 11 of the mounting plate 10 has a leaf spring member 40 formed therein extending circumferentially with a detent or projection 41 formed at its free end although it might also be formed along its length. Conveniently the apertures and leaf spring in the mounting plate can be formed by a single stamping operation. The leaf spring is angled relative to the S 15 remainder of the flange 11 so that the detent or projection 41 is located axially above the flange 11.

Figure 11 illustrates a face plate 20 assembled with a handle 42.

Arranged on the inner surface of the cover flange 21, two retainer members 43 are provided at diametrically opposed positions so that one of the members will engage the leaf spring member 40 when the face plate 20 is engaged with the mounting plate 10 of Figure 8. When the plates 10, 20 are relatively rotated the leaf spring member 40 and the retainer members are resiliently urged against one another. The retainer members 43 have a plurality of radially extending serrations 44 which conveniently increase in axial depth from an entrance end 45 of the retainer members 43 to the circumferentially opposite end 46. The serrations 44 are arranged to cooperate with the detent or projection 41 on the leaf spring 40 so as to resist (but not prevent) rotational movement when interengaged. There are a number of possible variations on the arrangements disclosed in Figures 8 to 11. Firstly, the serration 44 could be formed on the leaf spring (or springs) 40 with a cooperating detent or projection 41 on the retainer member (or members) 43. Secondly, only one leaf spring 40 and one retainer member 43 could be used but this would restrict the relationship of the plates 20 when they are being assembled. A further possibility might be to have two diametrically opposed leaf springs 40 on the mounting plate 10 with only one retainer member 43 on the face plate 20. A still further possibility, but less preferred because of manufacturing difficulties, would be to arrange leaf spring(s) on the face plate 20 with cooperable retainer members on the mounting plate Referring now to Figure 12 a further preferred embodiment of mounting plate 10 is shown capable of cooperation with the face plate configuration shown in Figure 11. In this embodiment a leaf spring member 50 is formed by creating a circumferential dividing line or gap 51 such that the spring member 50 is connected to the remainder of the flange zone 11 by two opposed ends 52 and 53. As shown in Figure 13, the spring member 50 is deformed so that a mid o zone 54 is displaced upwardly from the base surface 16. Furthermore the :*under surface of the spring member 50 includes concave sections 15 conveniently adjacent to the ends 52, 53. The length of the spring member and/or the provision of the concave sections 55 is such that the mid zone 54 can flex in a direction normal to the flange zone 11. Conveniently the mid zone 54 also includes a radial ridge formation 56 capable of cooperating with the serration 44 on the face plate 20 (as shown in Figure 11). The mounting plate is preferably formed by simple stamping or pressing operations.

Figures 12, 13 and 8 also illustrate an arrangement for locating the e mounting plate 10 when a larger through opening exists in the door. In such a situation, threaded bolt structures pass from one mounting plate through the door to connect with a similar mounting plate on the other side, the bolt structures passing through openings 60 in the mounting plate 10. For location purposes, at least two (and preferably three space permitting) circumferentially extending location tabs 61 are provided. The radially outer edge 62 of each tab preferably forms a circular arc conveniently on the same radius as the larger opening in the door. Each location tab 61 us conveniently bent down at an angle of about 150 so that the outer edge 62 will fit within the door opening and locate on a circumferential face thereof. When no such opening exists, the tabs 61 are capable of being faced back up into the plane of the flange 11 when normal screw threaded fasteners fix the plate 10 to the door (passing through openings 12).

Figures 14 to 18 illustrate various alternative preferred methods of retaining the face plate 20 in its desired operative position. In Figure 14, a resilient ring type member 63 is located in a peripheral groove 64 in the edge face 27 of the face plate 20. The O ring member 63 is sufficiently resilient so as to apply a spring face between the face 24 and the door when installed so as to restrict rotation of the face plate 20 towards a delatched position. The ring member 63 also serves to minimize damage to the door or its paint work. In Figure one or more lugs 65 may be integrally formed with the skirt 21 of the face plate ***having an internal bore 66 receiving a resilient material member 67 therein.

.**Again the member (or members) 67 are arranged to create a resilient face :i between the door or the mounting plate 10 (when installed) to resist delatching S 15 rotation of the face plate 20. Figures 16 and 16A show arrangements similar to Figure 15 except that the member 67 is replaced by a member 68 having fingers 69 adapted to engage, when installed, the mounting plate 10 or the door surface. The fingers 69 are conveniently angled as shown so as to make it easier to rotate the plate 20 towards an installed position rather than in a reverse direction towards a delatched position. Figure 17 show an arrangement somewhat similar to Figures 15 and 16 except that in this case the lug 65 and bore 66 houses a coil spring 70 and detent ball 71. As illustrated the mounting plate 10 may be provided with a series of openings 72 into which the detent ball may engage so as to resist (but not prevent) rotation of the face plate 20 towards the delatched position. In an alternative arrangement, the openings 72 might be replaced by a ratchet arrangement (similar to Figure 11) where in it is easier to rotate the face plate 20 towards an installed position rather than in a reverse direction. Figure 18 illustrate a still further possible arrangement where a tab 73 on the mounting plate is engageable with a surface 74 on the face plate. A permanent blue patch adhesive is provided on one (or both) surface so that a limited breakaway force is provided. Thus delatching rotation is opposed but not prevented. It will of course be appreciated that similar adhesive patches 11 might be applied in other interengagable areas, such as for example, the groove 26 and engaging edge surfaces of the mounting plate By the arrangements described above, a simple assembly is provided which is easily mounted and secured without likelihood of damage to the respective parts and in a manner which prevents disengagement by normal use. Moreover only two principal parts are required which can be easily and inexpensively produced.

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A handle mounting assembly for a door, said assembly including a mounting plate fixable to the door and a face plate adapted for cooperation with a door opening handle and with said mounting plate, said mounting plate having a central section which, in use, extends away from said door to define a cavity between said door and said central section, a central aperture extending through the central section of said mounting plate, said central aperture having a continuous edge zone with at least two lateral edge regions facing inwardly toward a central axis of the assembly, each said lateral edge region defining a ramp surface that in use is inclined outwardly from said door extending in a direction towards the face plate, said face plate including a central portion having laterally located ramp surfaces facing outwardly from said door, each said face plate ramp surface being positioned to engage a said mounting plate ramp surface upon relative rotation of said mounting plate and said face plates about the central axis.

2. A handle mounting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the ramp surfaces having complementary angles of inclination.

3. A handle mounting assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the angle of inclination of the ramp surfaces is between 1 and 100.

4. A handle mounting assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein each of the ramp surfaces on the face plate are formed by one edge wall of a groove formed in a lug laterally projecting from said central portion, said groove being inclined at an acute angle to a plane perpendicular to the central axis.

Claims (10)

1. 6. A handle mounting assembly according to any one of claims 1 to wherein the central aperture in oblong in shape.
2. 7. A handle mounting assembly according to claim 6 when appended to claim 4 wherein a pair of said lugs are provided diametrically opposed relative to said central axis.
3. 8. A handle mounting assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein retainer means is provided to resist relative rotation between said mounting plate and said face plate when said face plate is operatively connected to said mounting plate.
4. 9. A handle mounting assembly according to claim 8 wherein said retainer means includes at least one first retention member formed on either the face plate or said mounting plate cooperable with the other said plate or said door, a said first retention member being forced into resilient interengagement with the other said plate or said door upon relative rotation of said face plate and said mounting plate towards said operatively connected position. A handle mounting assembly accordingly to claim 9 wherein the or each said first retention member is cooperable with a second retention means on the other said plate.
5. 11. A handle mounting assembly according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the or each said first retention member is a spring member.
6. 12. A handle mounting assembly according to claim 11 wherein the or each said spring member is formed by a leaf spring member extending in a circumferential direction.
7. 13. A handle mounting assembly according to claim 12 wherein the or each said leaf spring member is integrally formed from a flange zone of said mounting plate located outwardly of said central section.
8. 14. A handle mounting assembly according to claim 13 wherein the or each said leaf spring member is formed by an element connected at one end with the flange zone of the mounting plate and having a free end adapted to flex in a direction normal to said flange zone. A handle mounting assembly according to claim 13 wherein the or each said leaf spring member is formed by a circumferentially extending portion of said flange zone separated from the remainder of said flange zone except for two opposed end portions, said leaf spring member being of sufficient length whereby a mid region thereof is capable of flexing in a direction normal to the remainder of said flange zone.
9. 16. A handle mounting assembly according to any one of claims 13 to wherein one of the or each leaf spring member or the second retention means includes a plurality of serrations transverse to a circumferential direction.
10. 17. A handle mounting assembly according to claim 16 wherein said serrations increase in depth from one circumferential end of the serrations to the other. DATED this 16th day of February, 1999 BLACK DECKER INC WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA SKP:JC DOC 2 AU1480395.WPC ABSTRACT The present specification relates to a convenient means of mounting a door handle assembly to a door such that the assembly will not inadvertently loosen during use, the assembly comprising a mounting plate (10) to be fixed to the door and a face plate (20) to be mounted to the mounting plate the mounting plate having an upraised central section (14) having an aperture (17) therethrough, the face plate (20) having laterally extending lugs (24, 25) with grooves (26) adapted to engage with edges (18, 19) of the aperture (17) upon relative rotation of the face plate and the mounting plate, the grooves (26) and the aperture edges (18, 19) being inclined relative to the door surface when installed, said assembly further having retention means (40, 50, 43) cooperable between the face plate (20) and the mounting plate (10) to resist but not prevent relative rotation so as to loosen the connection between the two plates (10, oo* *I 0 0