GB2437167A

GB2437167A - Door handle assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2437167A
Application number: GB0706899A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Joyce
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-04-10
Filing date: 2007-04-10
Publication date: 2007-10-17
Also published as: GB0706899D0

Abstract

There is described a door handle assembly comprising a handle member 39 rotatable on a backplate 37 and the backplate being formed with an aperture 45 which, when the assembly is secured to the door, abuts the surface of the door and allows access of a key to a lock. The position of the aperture avoids the need for a lock to project above the door surface and so helps to protect the lock against attack should the backplate be forcibly removed. There is also described a door provided with a door handle assembly.

Description

Door Handle Assembly

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to door handle assemblies and especially, though not exclusively, door handle assemblies of the type in which a handle member is mounted on, and for rotation relative to, a backplate which is secured to the door. The assembly may include a further handle member, and backplate, which is positioned on the other side of the door and the two backplates may be fastened together by, for instance, screws in order to secure the entire assembly to a door.

Background to the invention

A door handle assembly is known which comprises a handle member mounted on, and for rotation relative to, a backplate. The backplate includes a peripheral flange on that side of the plate remote from the handle. The flange engages the surface of the door and so as to separate the plate from the contact with the door. Located in a space defined by the plate and the flange is a part of the element which allows the handle to be secured to the backplate and rotate relative thereto.

The backplate further includes an escutcheon which is a hole, of keyhole shape, into which extends, when the door handle assembly is in place on a door, an end of a barrel of a lock. Typically the escutcheon is a hole having a round head portion and, depending downwardly therefrom, a shank portion.

The known door handle assembly typically comprises a pair of door handtelbackplate :. 25 arrangements, the members of the pair being for location on opposite sides of the door.

The two backplates of the assembly are secured together by means of screws entering * S** through holes in one of the backplates (typically used on the interior of the door) and entering threaded screw receiving elements extending from the inner surface of the plate of the other backplate. In this way the backplate used on the outer side of the door does not have screw holes extending therethrough, thereby providing a pleasing external :.f:' appearance but also a relatively secure device which cannot be interfered with simply by ** removing the screws.

ft will be appreciated that, in the above described known door handle assembly, the escutcheon is, when the assembly is located on a door, spaced from the door by the flange of the backplate. As a result, the barrel of the lock extends, within the space

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defined between the plate of the backplate and the flange, beyond the surface of the door. One disadvantage of such an assembly is that it is possible for a would-be intruder to lever the external backplate away from the door, thereby exposing the end of the barrel of the lock. The lock barrel may only extend beyond the surface of the door by about half a centimetre but this is sufficient to enable the intruder to grip the barrel with an appropriate wrench and to force the lock out of the door, thereby allowing the intruder to gain entrance to the building.

We have now developed a novel door handle assembly which overcomes or mitigates

the disadvantage of prior art assemblies.

Statements of the Invention

Thus, according to the present invention there is provided a door handle assembly comprising a handle member and a backplate, the handle being rotatable relative to the backplate, said backplate being formed with an aperture which, when the assembly is secured to the door, abuts the surface of the door and allows access of a key to a lock.

The door handle assembly of the invention may be substantially as descnbed above under the heading uBackground to the invention except that the backplate is profiled so that that part of the plate accommodating the escutcheon or the round hole is positioned such that, In use, the escutcheon abuts the surface of the door. As a result, in the case of the escutcheon the barrel of the lock, which extends into the escutcheon, only emerges from the surface of the door by one or two mm, a distance insufficient to allow an intruder to get sufficient purchase, using a wrench, to enable the door barrel to be :. 25 extracted from the door. In the case of the round hole, the external end of the barrel lock engages the rear of the backplate allowing the external end of the barrel lock to be flush with the door frame. * *. S. * S...

The door handle assembly may be made of metal or any other suitable material. The door handle assembly of the invention may be used in connection with various types of doors, including wooden and aluminium doors. A preferred door is made of a suitable plastics material, for instance, polyvinylchloride. Indeed, it is a further aspect of the present invention that we provide a door fitted with a door handle assembly as hereinbefore described.

Preferably the backplate has a flanged portion accommodating the end of the door handle. The round hole or the escutcheon may then be provided in an unflanged portion of the backplate which, in use, will abut the surface of the door. The unflanged portion of the backplate may extend from the flanged portion to the end of the backplate.

Alternatively, it may occupy a mid-portion of the backplate, flanged portions being provided on each side of the escutcheon bearing portion.

As a further alternative, the entire periphery of the backplate may be provided with a flange and the round hole or the escutcheon is located in a recessed part of the actual plate of the backplate.

The round hole or the escutcheon may be provided with its own peripheral flange, extending away from the handle of the assembly, which assists in the correct location of the backplate on the door.

It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that a profiled backplate may be provided separately for use in conjunction with a door handle assembly of the invention.

Thus, according to a yet further aspect f the invention we also provide a profiled backplate for use in conjunction with a door handle assembly as hereinbefore described.

Brief description of the drawings

The accompanying drawings are as follows: Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a known door handle assembly; Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the door handle assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a door handle * S..

* assembly of the invention; Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of the door handle assembly of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a door handle *55 assembly of the invention; Figure 6 is a bottom perspective view of the door handle assembly of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a top perspective view of a third embodiment of a door handle assembly of the present invention; Figure 8 is a bottom perspective view of the door handle assembly of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a partial bottom perspective view of a door handle assembly similar to that shown in Figure 5 but showing a modification thereto.

Figure 10 Is a top perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a door handle assembly of the invention Figure 11 is a bottom perspective view of the door handle assembly of Figure 10

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a known door handle assembly I comprises a handle member 3 which is mounted on, and for rotation relative to1 a backplate 5. Backplate 5 is provided with an escutcheon 7 which is a keyhole shaped hole having a round head part 9 and, extending therefrom a shank part 11.

Backplate 5 of door handle assembly I includes a peripheral flange 13 extending around the whole of the edge of the plate part 15 of the backplate 5 on that side of the face part 15 which is remote from handle member 3. In use it is the free edge of flange 13 which engages the surface of the door once the assembly is secured to the door.

Also shown in Figure 1 is a barrel lock 17 which has a sectional shape corresponding to that of escutcheon 9. With a door handle assembly located on a door the barrel lock 17 extends within the door, the end 19 terminating within the escutcheon 7, the snug fitting of the end 19 of barrel 17 within escutcheon 7 providing rigidity to the overall assembly in *. its location on the door. This rigidity is enhanced by engagement of the other end of : lock barrel 17 with a corresponding door handle assembly on the other side of the door.

30 Referring In particular to Figure 2, the underneath view of the door handle assembly 1 shows the fitting of the handle member 3 to the backplate 5 by means of an end arrangement 21 which forms part of, and is fixed rotationally with, handle member 3 Which is located within the space defined by flange 13 and plate 15 of the backplate 5.

Integral with backplate 5 and extending between opposed walls of flange 5 are two upstanding tugs 23 and 25. Each of these lugs is hollow having a threaded interior. Lug is located adjacent handle end 21 and lug 25 is located beyond escutcheon 7 on that side remote from handle 3.

In use the door handle assembly shown in Figure 1 is one part of a pair of such arrangements, the members of the pair being for opposite sides of the door. The other member of the pair is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 except that tugs corresponding to lugs 23 and 25 extend through the backptate and are unthreaded. This allows screws to be inserted through that backplate, its corresponding tugs and into threaded engagement with tugs 23 and 25 of backplate 5 of assembly 1. By tightening these screws, the pair of door handle assemblies will be brought into secure engagement with the door to which they are affixed.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, a second embodiment of a door handle assembly 31 differs from the assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 in a number of respects. The peripheral flange 33 extends only about half of the plate 35 of backplate 37. This half including the handle 39 as well as lug 41. The other half of backplate 37 is stepped from the flanged half so that its inner surface 43 is in the same plane as the edge of flange 33. This other half includes escutcheon 45 and a further lug 47 which is of smaller length than lug 45 so that the ends of the two tugs lie in the same plane.

As can be clearly seen in Figures 3 and 4 the plate portion of backplate 35 is stepped so that the first mentioned portion will, when the assembly is located on a door, be spaced :.:: from the door by the flange 33, as in the known door handle assembly. However, the second portion WIfi abut against the surface of the door. The barrel of the lock is of such : a length that its end will extend into escutcheon 45, but not beyond its front surface so that the amount of barrel projecting from the surface of the door is relatively small, perhaps of the order of I or 2 mm. In contrast to the situation with the known door assembly, therefore, removal of the backplate away from the door will not enable a would-be intruder to get access, using a wrench or other device, to sufficient of the lock barrel to be able to extract it from the door.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings, a second embodiment of a door handle assembly In accordance with the present invention is similar to that descnbed with reference to Figures 3 and 4 except that the peripheral flange 51 extends round the whole of the backplate 53. Recessed into backplate 53 is the escutcheon 55.

Escutcheon 55 is located within a relatively small surrounding area of backplate 53 which lies in the same plane as the free end of flange 51 so that, when assembled, this portion 57 of the backplate will abut against the surface of the door.

Referring to FIgures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings, a third embodiment of a door handle assembly in accordance with the present invention is similar to that shown in Figures 5 and 6 except that the peripheral flange 61 extends around the backplate 63 other than in the region of escutcheon 65 where the plate itself is located in the same plane as the free end of flange 61, this portion of the plate being stepped to adjacent portions above and below the escutcheon by means of sloping sections 67 and 69.

Again the escutcheon is positioned so that, when the door handle assembly is secured to a door it abuts the surface of the door.

Referring to Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings, a fourth embodiment of a door handle assembly in accordance with the present invention is similar to that shown In Figures 7 and 8 except that a round hole 80 is provided in place of an escutcheon.

The round hole 80 is positioned so that, when the door handle assembly is secured to a door it abuts the surface of the door. As with Figures 7 and 8 the peripheral flange 81 extends around the backplate other than in the region of the round hole 80. Referring to Figure lIthe round hole 85 has a flange 86 facing rearward from the face of the backplate 87 which extends around most of the round circle. A gap 881$ left in the circle to engage the shank portion of the end of the barrel lock. A reinforcing bar 89 is provided both to provide strength to the backplate but also to frustrate as far as possible attempts to compromise the lock by drilling through the backplate. The reinforcing bar 89 is designed to provide strength and also to deflect a drill bit used In any attempt to : *.* compromise the lock by drilling. *.,

Referring now to Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings, this partial perspective view of 1:'> a door handle assembly 71 Is similar to the embodiment shown In Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings. It is modified slightly, however, in that escutcheon 73 is provided with a peripheral flange 75 which helps with a correct and positive location of the backplate 71 being secured to a door. Furthermore, use of flange 75 allows the lock barrel to be positioned such that its end is flush with the surface of the door so that no length of barrel is accessible to the would-be intruder. This modification can be applied to any of the above described embodiments of the invention. a. * * * a.. ***. * S S... * S. S. S *SS. a S..

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Claims

CLAIMS

1. A door handle assembly comprising a handle member and a backplate, the handle being rotatable relative to the backplate, said backplate being formed with an aperture which, when the assembly is secured to the door, abuts the surface of the door and allows access of a key to a lock.

2. A door handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the handle is mounted on the backplate.

3. A door handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the aperture is a keyhole in an escutcheon.

4. A door handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the aperture is a round hole.

5. A door handle assembly according to claims I or 2, wherein the backplate has a flanged portion accommodating the end of the door handle.

6. A door handle assembly according to claim 3, wherein an unflanged portion of the back plate, within which the escutcheon is provided, extends from the flanged portion to the end of the backplate.

7. A door handle assembly according to claim 3, wherein the unflanged portion :. 25 occupies only a portion of the backplate. S...

8. A door handle assembly according to claim 3, wherein the entire periphery of the ::::. backplate is provided with a flange and the escutcheon is located in a recess part of the actual plate of the backplate.

9. A door handle assembly according to claim 4, wherein an unflanged portion of the backplate, within which the round hole is provided, extends from the flanged portion to the end of the backplate.

10. A door handle assembly according to claim 4, wherein the unflanged portion occupies only a portion of the backplate.

11. A door handle assembly according to claims 5, 6, 7 and 8, wherein the escutcheon is provided with a peripheral flange which extends in a direction away from the handle of the assembly.

12. A door handle assembly according to claims 9 and 10, wherein the round hole is provided with a peripheral flange which extends in a direction away from the handle of the assembly.

13. A door handle assembly according to claim I induding a barrel lock.

14. A door fitted with a door handle assembly according to claim 1.

15. A profiled backplate for use in conjunction with a door handle assembly according to claim 1.

16. A door handle assembly according to claim I and substantially as described herein.

17. A door handle assembly substantially as described herein with reference to either Figures 3 and 4, Figures 5 and 6, Figures 7 and 8 and Figures 10 and 11, or any of these but including the modification shown in Figure 9. * *** ***. * * *.** * S. S. * *5*S

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