Door handle assembly
United States Patent Strickler, III et al.  
 [451 Apr. 15, 1975 DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY Inventors: Tom Gilmore Strickler, III; William Allen Hays, Jr., both of 500 Broadway B1dg., St. Louis, Mo. 63102 Filed: Sept. 5, 1973 Appl. No.1 394,608  
 US. Cl. 70/149; 70/221; 70/279; 70/282; 292/169; 292/144; 292/336.5  
 Int. Cl E05b 47/02; E05b 63/22 Field of Search 70/149, 221, 279, 282; 292/164, 169, 144, 201, 336.5, DIG. 27  
 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS David 292/144 Brauning 292/337 Hays 70/282 Primary ExaminerAlbert G. Craig, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael Kovac [57] ABSTRACT Latching apparatus for controlling latching and release of a door relative to a door frame is disclosed including push/pull handle members which operate electrical latch control means and rotatable handle elements associated with the push/pull handle members for mechanically operating the latch control means.  
 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPRI 515175 3. 877, 263  
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 DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY SUMMARY or THE INVENTION Rotatable handle or door knob elements are commonly used to mechanically engage and disengage a latch member relative to a door frame. Because it is necessary for the user to grasp and rotate the door offer or knob, the design of the handles or knobs is limited. The mechanical components of rotatable handle or door knob elements also include many different and complex parts which are expensive and difficult to fabricate.  
  The need for security in homes and other industrial establishments highlights yet another limitation of existing rotatable handle or door knob elements. Substantial modifications of existing door latching apparatus would be required in order to offer security alarm systems for unauthorized opening of doors. Even if moditied to include the security alarm components, existing rotatable handle or door knob elements are still subject to the inherent limitations mentioned in the precedinig paragraph. I  
  In US. Pat. No. 3,360,970 which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, there is disclosed a push/pull door handle assemblywhich overcomes the aforementioned limitations of existing rotatable handle or door knob elements. The present invention is an improvement over such patent and discloses commercial embodiments of both a push/pull and/or rotatable handle mechanism as well as a locking knob for a door handle assembly.  
  It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved push/pull handle mechanism&#39;and/or rotatable door handle assembly.  
  Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved security alarm system in conjunction with a door handle assembly. I  
  Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved locking knob for a door handle assembly.  
  Other objects and advantages of the present invention include easy to manufacture and easy to operate door handle assembly designs which are of simplified construction and also inexpensive to fabricate as compared with existing designs.  
  These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are attained by providing a latching apparatus for controlling latching and release of a door relative to a door frame including latch members in the door and being normally disposed in latching relationship within a latch receiving recess in the door frame, the latch member being mounted for sliding movement toward and away from the latch receiving recess and being connected to latch control means, at least one handle member mounted for sliding movement inthe opening direction of the door and including a shaft element which is mounted substantially normal to the latch member, the shaft element including a lug portion extending radially from the shaft for engagement with a switch in the door which is connected to a control circuit which operates the latch control means in order to withdraw the late]: member from the latch receiving recess of the door frame. The handle member may also be mounted for rotatable movement in order to position the lug portion relative to a foot element associated with the latch control means for mechanically disengaging the latch member from the latch receiving recess of the door frame.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a reduced in size fragmentary perspective view of a door handle assembly which is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;  
  FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the latching apparatus of the door handle assembly shown in FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the door handle assembly and latching apparatus of the present invention;  
  FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially in section, showing the assembled relationship of the components of the door handle assembly;  
  FIG. 5 is a fragmentary end elevational view as viewed from the left hand side of FIG. 4;  
  FIG. 6 is an end elevational view, partially insection, of the door locking knob in locked position;  
  FIG. 7 is an end elevational view, partially in section, of the door locking knob shown in unlocked position; and  
  FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the control circuit which is used with the door handle assembly of the present invention.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS There is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings a door handle assembly 10 which is installed in a door 12. The door handle assembly includes a latching member 14 which projects from one end 16 of the door for latching engagement and disengagement relative to a latch receiving recess (not shown) in a door frame (not shown) as will be readily understood.  
  As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the door handle assembly 10 includes diamond-shaped door handle and support plates 18, 20, respectively on one side of the door to indicate the design versatility of the present invention as will become apparent.  
  Reference is now made to FIGS. 2-8 of the drawings for a specific description of the door handle assembly 10 and its mechanical and electrical components.  
  As is best seen in FIGS. 2-3 of the drawing, the latch member 14 is connected to a link 22 which connects the latch member to the latch control means in the form of the solenoid 24. The link 22 is mounted for slidable movement within the retainer tube 26 and is connected at one end by the reversely curved end 28 of the connecting link 22 which engaged a T-shaped extension 30 of the latch member 14. The other end of the connecting link 22 is joined to a solenoid core 32 which is slidably received within the solenoid 24.  
  Also integrally attached to the connecting link 22 in the cut out portion of the retainer tube 26 is a foot element 34 which is used for mechanically engaging and disengaging the latch member 14 relative to the latch receiving recess (not shown) as will become apparent.  
  On each side of the door 12, there is provided a handle and support plate. As shown on FIG. 1 of the drawing, the handle and support plate are identified by the numerals 18, 20 respectively. Similarly, on the reverse side of the door there is provided a handle 36 and support plate 38 as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Each of the support plates 20, 38 are designed to be fixedly mounted relative to the door 12, as best seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings, for mounting the handle members 18, 36 for push/pull and/or rotatable movement relative to one another. Support plate includes apertures 40 for receiving screws 42 which are threadably associated relative to internally threaded projections 44 extending from the inside face of the support plate 38. In this way, the support plates 20, 38 extend from opposite sides of the door 12 and/or are fixedly attached to one another.  
  Each of the support plates 20, 38 respectively also include openings 46, 48 for receiving a common shaft element 50 which extends between the support plates 20, 38. The common shaft element 50 is a hollow tube which is also aligned relative to through apertures 52, 54 of the handle members 18, 36 respectively. More specifically, the common shaft element 50 has one end thereof in force fit aligned relationship to the through aperture 54 of the handle member 36 while the other end of the common shaft element 50 is fixed to the handle member 18 in aligned relationship to the through aperture 52 thereof. Thus, the handle members 18, 36 are fixed to the common shaft element 50 for movement therewith. The openings 46, 48 of the support plates 20, 38 respectively allow the common shaft element 50 to move in slidable and/or rotatable relationship thereto.  
  In order to control latching release and engagement of the latching member 14 relative to the latch receiving recess (not shown), there is provided as part of the shaft element 50 a collar element 56 which is capable of being positioned in engaged or disengaged relationship to the common shaft element 50 as will become apparent. The collar element 56 is spring biased by the collar return spring 58 which also encircles the common shaft element 50 and which spring urges the collar element 56 against the inside face of the support plate 38 as is shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. Extending from the collar element 56 is a lug portion 60 which extends radially from the collar element 56 as well as the shaft element 50 with which it is associated. The lug portion 60 is usefully employed in the electrical and/or mechanical operation of the latch member 14 as will now be described.  
  On the inside face of support plate 38 there is a snap action switch 62 including a lever 64 which is aligned relative to the lug portion 60. The lug portion 60 normally bears against lever 64 to retain the switch in open condition. Upon movement of the handle members 18 or 36 in the opening direction of the door 12, the lug portion 60 is moved out of engagement with the lever 64 of the snap action switch 62 in order to complete the control circuit, such as illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings for energizing the solenoid coil 24. The solenoid coil 24 when activated retracts the solenoid core 32 within the solenoid coil 24 for moving the connecting link 22 and thereby the latch member 14 from the latch receiving recess (not shown).  
  As best seen in FIG. 4 of the drawing, the handle member 18 is capable of being pulled in the opening direction of the door to position the lug portion 60 relative to the lever arm 64 of the snap action switch 62. The handle member 36, on the other hand, can be pushed in order to position the lug portion 60 in engaging relationship relative to the lever arm 64 of the snap action switch. As a result, a&#39; push-pull door handle mechanism is provided for operating a latching apparatus in a&#39;door assembly.  
  Where power may beinterrupted to the control circuit, it is possible through the design of the aforementioned components to achieve a mechanical disengagement of the latch member 14 relative tothe latch receiving recess (not shown). More particularly, it will be seen that the common shaft element 50 and its collar element 56 is mounted for rotatable movement within the openings 46, 48 of the support plates 20, 38 respectively. Rotatable movement of the handle members 18 or 36 in&#39;a given direction causes the lug portion 60 to mechanically engage the foot element 34 of the,connecting link 22 in order to mechanically withdraw the latch member 14 from the latch receiving recess (not shown). Thus, the design provides a push/pull and/or rotatable handle mechanism in an extraordiharily simple, easy to fabricate and inexpensive design.  
  As a further feature of the present invention, there is provided a key lock for one of the handle members and a door knob locking and unlocking device for association with the aforementioned components. As best seen in FIGS. 3-4 of the drawings, the opening 54 of the handle member 36 is aligned with the hollow section of the common shaft element 50 in order to receive a key lock mechanism 66 therein. The key lock mechanism 66 can be a commercially purchased component and preferably includes a rotatable shaft 68 with pin ele-&#39; ment 70 extending therethrough. Insertion of the appropriate key within the key lock mechanism 66 and rotation of the key causes rotation of the shaft 68 and the pin element 70 extending therethrough for interengagement with a portion of a locking knob now to be described.  
  The locking knob 72, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, is designed to extend into the through opening 52 of the handle element 18 and within&#39;the aligned hollow section of the common shaft element 50. The locking knob 72 includes an end finger engaging portion 74 for rotating the locking knob 72. The locking knob 72 is partially rotatably mounted within the door handle assembly and includes a recess 76 which receives a cotter element 78 and which fixedly mounts the locking knob 74 relative to the handle member 18 and thus prevents withdrawal therefrom. The locking knob 72 further includes a cam recess 80 having a ball 82 associated therewith for locking and unlocking the handle elements 18, 36 relative to the collar element 56. This is best&#39;seen in FIGS. S-7 of the drawings.  
  In the locked position as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the locking knob 72 has the ball at the upper end of the cam recess 80 so that the ball 82 is positioned in the deepest part of the cam recess 80 in order that it does not engage within the aperture 84 in the collar element 56. Thus, when the handles 18 or 36 are moved in the opening direction of the door and/or rotated, the collar element 56 is not connected to the shaft element 50 and there can be no disengagement of the lug portion 60 from the lever arm 64 of the switch 62 or engagement with the foot element 34 of the connecting link 22. Rotation of either of the handle elements 18 or 36 simply provides a partial rotation of the locking knob 72, but with no relative change of the ball in the deepest part of the cam recess 80 as seen in the phantom linesshown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. When the locking knob 72 is rotated relative to the handle element 18, the ball 82 is positioned in the shallowest part of the cam recess 80 as seen in FIG. 7 of the drawings in order to cause the ball 82 to be positioned within the aperture 84 of the collar element 56 for interengagement therewith. This enables the collar element 56&#39; to be fixedly attached to the common shaft element 50 in order to permit disengagement of the lug portion 60 from the lever arm 64 of the switch 62 or engagement with the foot element 34 of connecting link 22 upon push/pull and/or rotatable movement respectively of the handle members 18, 36.  
  The locking knob 72 also has a pin 84 projecting from the forward end thereof for engagement with the pin 70 mounted on the rotating shaft 68 of the key lock mechanism 66. This provides the necessary interengagement between the key lock mechanism 66 and the locking knob 72 in order to lock and unlock the door handle assembly from the outside and inside of the door 12.  
  The locking knob 72 also includes a handle return spring 86 which enables the handles to be returned by spring force to their normal at rest position.  
  The control circuit which is preferably used in connection with the door handle assembly of the present invention is the voltage doubler circuit shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings. The voltage doubler circuit enables Class 2 power normally associated with doorbell mechanisms to be multiplied from 16 volt rating up to and including about 48 volts for operating the solenoid. More specifically, the voltage doubler circuit includes a transformer T1 having the input winding 88 connected to a safety switch S1 and the output winding 90 connected with two filter capacitors C1, C1 in series shunting the solenoid 24. Each of the filter capacitors C1, C1 is coupled to diode elements D1, D1 which are connected in the circuit to the output winding 90 of the transformer. A supply capacitor C2 is connected in parallel with the two filter capacitors C1, C1 for supplying voltage to the solenoid 24 when the switch 62 is closed completing the control circuit. The voltage doubler circuit of FIG. 8 is, therefore, a preferable circuit in the environment of the door handle assembly of the present invention.  
  From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a unique push/pull and/or rotatable door mechanism which achieves heretofore I unobtainable electrical and mechanical functions in a door handle assembly.  
 We claim:  
  1. Latching apparatus for controlling latching and release of a door relative to a door frame, comprising a latch member disposed in the door and being normally disposed in latching relation within a latch receiving recess in the door frame, said latch member being mounted for sliding movement toward and away from the latch-receiving recess and being connected to electrical latch control means, at least one handle member mounted for sliding movement in the opening direction of the door and including a shaft element which is mounted substantially normal to said latch member, said shaft element including a lug portion extending ra dially therefrom for engagement with a switch in said door which is connected in a control circuit with the electrical latch control means in order to withdraw the latch member from the latch-receiving recess of the door frame when the handle member is moved in the.  
 opening direction of the door to cause the lug portion of said shaft element to contact the switch and complete the control circuit.  
 &#39; 2; The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a pair ofpush-pull handle members disposed on opposite sides of the door including support plates which support each of said handle members for movement in the openingdirection of the door, said shaft element being rnoun&#39;ted relative, to said haridle members and support plates in&#39; order to&#39;serve as a common shaft element therebetwe&#39; en, and said switch being mounted on an inside face of one of said support plates for engagement by the lug portion of said shaft element in response to movement of one of said handle members in the opening direction of the door.  
  3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said latch member includes a latch which is connected to a link mounted for slidable movement between said latch and said electrical latch control means, said link including a foot element which extends substantially normal to the movement of said link, said handle members and said common shaft element being mounted for rotatable movement relative to the handle support plates, and the lug portion being disposed for engaging the foot element of the link in order to withdraw the latch from the latch-receiving recess when one of said handle members and said shaft element is rotated in a given direction.  
  4. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said common-shaft element is hollow and is mounted to said handle members in aligned relationship to openings extending through said handle members, one of said handle members having a key lock mechanism mounted in its opening and extending partially into the common shaft element, said other handle member having locking knob means mounted in its opening and extending partially into the common shaft element, said key lock mechanism and said locking knob means having interengaging portions within the hollow common shaft element.  
  5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said shaft element includes a tubular element fixed to said handle members and a collar which is slidably mounted on said tubular element, and said locking knob means being partially rotatably mounted within said shaft element and including a cam recess having a ball associated therewith, said ball being trapped by said tubular element within said cam recess, said ball being mounted for movement within said cam recess for engagement into and out of a complementary shaped aperture provided in said tubular element for selectively connecting and disconnecting the slidable collar relative to said tubular element.  
  6. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said control circuit is a voltage doubler circuit including a transformer having the output winding thereof connected with two filter capacitors in series shunting the electrical latch control means, each of said filter capacitors coupled to diode elements which are connected in the circuit to the output winding of said transformer, and a supply capacitor connected in parallel with said two filter capacitors for supplying voltage to said electrical latch control means when said switch is closed completing said control circuit.  
  7. A door handle assembly for controlling latching and release of a door relative to a door frame, said assembly including solenoid actuated latching member disposed in the door for sliding movement into and away from a latch receiving recess in the door frame, a pair of push-pull handle members disposed on oppo- 8 the handle members is moved in the opening direction of the door, said lug portion being disposed to engage a foot portion provided on the latching member in order to mechanically remove the latching member from the latch receiving recess upon rotation of one of said handle members.