Two position door handle with push-push mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021363781-A1
Application number	US-202016915268-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 attached to the access panel; a handle engaging with the support structure, the handle comprising a grip portion and upper and lower flanges extending perpendicularly from the grip portion; and a retention/extension mechanism for retaining the handle in a first position and for transitioning the handle to a second position after pressure is applied to and subsequently released from the handle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A handle assembly for an access panel comprising:
a support structure attached to the access panel; a handle engaging with the support structure, the handle comprising:
a grip portion; and
upper and lower flanges extending perpendicularly from the grip portion; and
a retention/extension mechanism for retaining the handle in a first position and for transitioning the handle to a second position after pressure is applied to and subsequently released from the handle.

2 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first position is a closed position in which a front face of the grip portion is substantially parallel with a front face of the access panel and the second position is an open position in which the handle is extended from the front face of the access panel such that the grip portion is accessible to be grasped by a user's hand.

3 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first position is an open position in which the handle is extended from the front face of the access panel such that the grip portion is accessible to be grasped by a user's hand and the second position is a closed position in which a front face of the grip portion is substantially parallel with a front face of the access panel.

4 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the extension/retention mechanism is associated with at least one of the upper and lower flanges.

5 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the extension/retention mechanism is associated with the lower flange.

6 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower flanges include tunnels for receiving guide bolts each having a head end and a distal end and wherein the head end of each of the guide bolts is retained within one of the tunnels and the distal end of each of the guide bolts is connected to the support structure.

7 . The handle assembly of claim 6 further comprising compression springs for biasing the guide bolts to an extended position corresponding to an open position of the handle assembly.

8 . The handle assembly of claim 6 , wherein the support structure comprises a C-channel.

9 . The handle assembly of claim 8 further comprising holes in the support structure for receiving the distal ends of the guide bolts and nuts for securing the distal ends of the guide bolts to the support structure.

10 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the extension/retention mechanism comprises a cam and follower mechanism.

11 . An access panel comprising:
at least one handle assembly connected to the access panel, the at least one handle assembly comprising:
a support structure integrated into to the access panel, the support structure comprising a C-channel;
a handle engaged with the support structure, the handle comprising:
a grip portion; and
upper and lower flanges extending perpendicularly from the grip portion; and
a retention/extension mechanism for selectively transitioning the handle between open and closed positions responsive to pressure applied to and subsequently released from the handle and for maintaining the handle in a current position absent pressure applied to the handle in a direction normal to a plane of the access panel.

12 . The access panel of claim 11 , wherein in the open position the handle is extended from the front face of the access panel such that the grip portion is accessible to be grasped by a user's hand and in the closed position a front face of the grip portion is substantially parallel with a front face of the access panel.

13 . The access panel of claim 11 , wherein the upper and lower flanges include tunnels for receiving guide bolts each having a head end and a distal end and wherein the head end of each of the guide bolts is retained within one of the tunnels and the distal end of each of the guide bolts is connected to the support structure.

14 . The access panel of claim 13 further comprising compression springs for biasing the guide bolts to an extended position corresponding to an open position of the handle assembly.

15 . The access panel of claim 11 , wherein the extension/retention mechanism comprises a cam and follower mechanism.

16 . An aircraft comprising:
an access panel; a support structure integrated into the access panel; and a handle engaging with the support structure, the handle comprising:
a grip portion; and
upper and lower flanges extending perpendicularly from the grip portion; and
a retention/extension mechanism for retaining the handle in a first position and for transitioning the handle to a second position after pressure is applied to and subsequently released from the handle.

17 . The aircraft of claim 16 , wherein the first position is a closed position in which a front face of the grip portion is substantially parallel with a front face of the access panel and the second position is an open position in which the handle is extended from the front face of the access panel such that the grip portion is accessible to be grasped by a user's hand.

18 . The aircraft of claim 16 , wherein the first position is an open position in which the handle is extended from the front face of the access panel such that the grip portion is accessible to be grasped by a user's hand and the second position is a closed position in which a front face of the grip portion is substantially parallel with a front face of the access panel.

19 . The aircraft of claim 16 , wherein the upper and lower flanges include tunnels for receiving guide bolts each having a head end and a distal end and wherein the head end of each of the guide bolts is retained within one of the tunnels and the distal end of each of the guide bolts is connected to the support structure, the handle assembly further comprising compression springs for biasing the guide bolts to an extended position corresponding to an open position of the handle assembly.

20 . The aircraft of claim 16 , wherein the extension/retention mechanism comprises a cam and follower mechanism.

Assignees

• Bell Textron Inc

Inventors

• Amante William Anthony
• Koppa Siddalingappa Arunkumar

Classifications

• E05B5/006

  essentially defining a completely closed surface together with the wing · CPC title

• E05B5/003 Primary

  Pop-out handles, e.g. sliding outwardly before rotation · CPC title

• E05B85/107

  Pop-out handles, e.g. sliding outwardly before rotation · CPC title

• E05B1/0015

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

• B64C1/1461

  Structures of doors or surrounding frames · CPC title