Removable magnetic door handle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021363780-A1
Application number	US-202016915377-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2020
Priority date	May 21, 2020
Publication date	Nov 25, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A handle assembly for an access panel is described and includes a support structure including upper and lower supports attached to the access panel, each of the upper and lower supports comprising a top face and a bottom face; a handle for selectively engaging with the support structure, the handle comprising a grip portion and upper and lower flanges extending perpendicularly from the grip portion, each of the upper and lower flanges comprising a top face; and a retention mechanism for retaining the handle in contact with the support structure with a combination of magnetic and mechanical force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A handle assembly for an access panel comprising:
a support structure including upper and lower supports attached to the access panel, each of the upper and lower supports comprising a top face and a bottom face; a handle for selectively engaging with the support structure, the handle comprising:
a grip portion; and
upper and lower flanges extending perpendicularly from the grip portion, each of the upper and lower flanges comprising a top face; and
a retention mechanism for retaining the handle in contact with the support structure with a combination of magnetic and mechanical force.

2 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises a pair of magnets and a keyed slot.

3 . The handle assembly of claim 2 , wherein each of the magnets comprises a rare earth magnet.

4 . The handle assembly of claim 2 , wherein a first magnet of the pair of magnets is disposed in the top face of the upper flange and wherein a second magnet of the pair of magnets is disposed in the bottom face of the upper support.

5 . The handle assembly of claim 2 , wherein the keyed slot comprises a protrusion in one of the top face of the upper flange and the bottom face of the upper support and a corresponding slot for receiving and retaining the protrusion disposed in the other one of the top face of the upper flange and the bottom face of the upper support.

6 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises a first retention mechanism for retaining the top face of the upper flange in contact with the bottom face of the upper support and a second retention mechanism for retaining the top face of the lower flange in contact with the bottom face of the lower flange.

7 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism inhibits movement of the handle in a direction normal to a plane of the access panel.

8 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism inhibits movement of the handle in a downward direction absent application of a predetermined force.

9 . An access panel comprising:
at least one handle assembly connected to the access panel, the at least one handle assembly comprising:
a support structure including upper and lower supports attached to the access panel, each of the upper and lower supports comprising a top face and a bottom face;
a handle for selectively engaging with the support structure, the handle comprising:
a grip portion; and
upper and lower flanges extending perpendicularly from the grip portion, each of the upper and lower flanges comprising a top face; and

a retention mechanism comprising a pair of magnets and a keyed slot for retaining the handle in contact with the support structure.

10 . The access panel of claim 9 , wherein each of the magnets comprises a rare earth magnet.

11 . The access panel of claim 9 , wherein a first magnet of the pair of magnets is disposed in the top face of the upper flange and wherein a second magnet of the pair of magnets is disposed in the bottom face of the upper support.

12 . The access panel of claim 9 , wherein the keyed slot comprises a protrusion in one of the top face of the upper flange and the bottom face of the upper support and a corresponding slot for receiving and retaining the protrusion disposed in the other one of the top face of the upper flange and the bottom face of the upper support.

13 . The access panel of claim 9 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises a first retention mechanism for retaining the top face of the upper flange in contact with the bottom face of the upper support and a second retention mechanism for retaining the top face of the lower flange in contact with the bottom face of the lower flange.

14 . The access panel of claim 9 , wherein the keyed slot inhibits movement of the handle in a direction normal to a plane of the access panel.

15 . The access panel of claim 9 , wherein the pair of magnets inhibits movement of the handle in a downward direction absent application of a predetermined force.

16 . An aircraft comprising:
an access panel; at least one handle assembly connected to the access panel, the at least one handle assembly comprising:
a support structure including upper and lower supports attached to the access panel, each of the upper and lower supports comprising a top face and a bottom face;
a handle for selectively engaging with the support structure, the handle comprising:
a grip portion; and
upper and lower flanges extending perpendicularly from the grip portion, each of the upper and lower flanges comprising a top face; and

a retention mechanism comprising a pair of magnets and a keyed slot for retaining the handle in contact with the support structure.

17 . The aircraft of claim 16 , wherein each of the magnets comprises a rare earth magnet and wherein a first magnet of the pair of magnets is disposed in the top face of the upper flange and wherein a second magnet of the pair of magnets is disposed in the bottom face of the upper support.

18 . The aircraft of claim 16 , wherein the keyed slot comprises a protrusion in one of the top face of the upper flange and the bottom face of the upper support and a corresponding slot for receiving and retaining the protrusion disposed in the other one of the top face of the upper flange and the bottom face of the upper support.

19 . The aircraft of claim 16 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises a first retention mechanism for retaining the top face of the upper flange in contact with the bottom face of the upper support and a second retention mechanism for retaining the top face of the lower flange in contact with the bottom face of the lower flange.

20 . The aircraft of claim 16 , wherein the keyed slot inhibits movement of the handle in a direction normal to a plane of the access panel and wherein the pair of magnets inhibits movement of the handle in a downward direction absent application of a predetermined force.

Assignees

• Bell Textron Inc

Inventors

• Amante William Anthony
• Koppa Siddalingappa Arunkumar
• Bansal Darpan

Classifications

• B64C1/1461

  Structures of doors or surrounding frames · CPC title

• B64C29/0033

  the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage · CPC title

• E05B47/0038

  using permanent magnets · CPC title

• E05B2001/0023

  being movable into a non-operating position, e.g. foldable towards the mounting plane · CPC title

• E05B1/0015 Primary

  Knobs or handles which do not operate the bolt or lock, e.g. non-movable; Mounting thereof · CPC title