Safety mechanism for door handle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9834956-B2
Application number	US-201214371924-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2012
Priority date	Jan 11, 2012
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

A mechanism for selectively coupling a first moving part with a second moving part. The mechanism includes and engaging member that is movable between a detent position, a uncoupled position, and a coupled position in which the load transferring surface is within the aperture. A biasing member biases the engaging member into the detent position or coupled position. The engaging member overrides the biasing force and moves out of the detent position into the uncoupled position when first and second moving parts move relative to each other. When the engaging member is in the coupled position, the first and second moving parts are coupled for movement together. One embodiment of the invention is a child safety door handle rotating on a spindle. Other embodiments include water faucets, stove or burner controls, or any other rotatable or movable parts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A door latching apparatus comprising
a latching mechanism configured to be mounted on a door, the latching mechanism including a latching member having extended and retracted positions relative to the door for releasably securing the door relative to an adjacent structure, and the latching mechanism including a pivoting member operably connected to the latching member such that pivotal movement of the pivoting member about an axis moves the latching member between the extended and retracted positions, the pivoting member having therein an aperture defined by a wall,
a handle manually pivotable about the axis, the handle including a hub surrounding a portion of the pivoting member, the hub having therein an opening, and
a safety mechanism including a manually movable cam member having a detent surface and a driving surface, the cam member movable relative to the hub between an inner position, an outer position and an intermediate position between the inner and outer positions, and the mechanism also including a first spring exerting on the cam member a force biasing the cam member in the direction from the intermediate position to the inner position, and a second spring exerting on the cam member a force biasing the cam member in the direction from the inner position to the intermediate position, the first and second springs having spring forces such that the cam member is in the intermediate position absent external forces,
wherein, when the cam member is in the intermediate position, the cam member extends partially into the aperture such that if the handle is pivoted relative to the pivoting member, engagement between the detent surface and the wall causes the cam member to move against the force of the spring to the outer position,
wherein, when the cam member is in the outer position, the cam member is withdrawn from the aperture such that pivotal movement of the handle does not cause pivotal movement of the pivoting member, and
wherein, when the cam member is in the inner position, the cam member extends fully into the aperture such that if the handle is pivoted relative to the pivoting member, the driving surface of the cam member engages the wall and pivotal movement of the handle causes pivotal movement of the pivoting member.

2. Apparatus comprising
a pivoting member pivotable about an axis and configured to be operably connected to a device to be operated, the pivoting member having therein an aperture defined by a wall,
an actuating member manually pivotable about the axis, the actuating member including a hub surrounding a portion of the pivoting member, the hub having therein an opening, and
a safety mechanism including a manually movable cam member having a detent surface and a driving surface, the cam member movable relative to the hub between an inner position, an outer position and an intermediate position between the inner and outer positions, and the mechanism also including a first spring exerting on the cam member a force biasing the cam member in the direction from the intermediate position to the inner position, and a second spring exerting on the cam member a force biasing the cam member in the direction from the inner position to the intermediate position, the first and second springs having spring forces such that the cam member is in the intermediate position absent external forces,
wherein, when the cam member is in the intermediate position, the cam member extends partially into the aperture such that if the actuating member is pivoted relative to the pivoting member, engagement between the detent surface and the wall causes the cam member to move against the force of the spring to the outer position,
wherein, when the cam member is in the outer position, the cam member is withdrawn from the aperture such that pivotal movement of the actuating member does not cause pivotal movement of the pivoting member, and
wherein, when the cam member is in the inner position, the cam member extends fully into the aperture such that if the actuating member is pivoted relative to the pivoting member, the driving surface of the cam member engages the wall and pivotal movement of the actuating member causes pivotal movement of the pivoting member.

3. A mechanism for selectively coupling a first moving part with a second moving part such that the first and second moving parts move together, the second moving part having an aperture, the mechanism comprising:
an engaging member carried by the first part, the engaging member having a detent surface and a load transferring surface, the engaging member being movable between a detent position in which the detent surface is within the aperture of the second moving part, a uncoupled position in which the engaging member is fully retracted from the aperture, and a coupled position in which the load transferring surface is within the aperture;
a biasing member acting with a biasing force on the engaging member to bias the engaging member into the detent position; and
an actuating member for manually actuating the engaging member to overcome the biasing force of the biasing member and move the engaging member into the coupled position such that the first and second moving parts are coupled for movement together;
wherein relative movement of the first moving part and second moving part with the engaging member in the detent position results in a component of force acting against the biasing force, such that the biasing force is overcome and the engaging member rides out of the aperture in the second moving member, into the uncoupled position.

4. The mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the first moving part comprises a handle and the second moving part comprises a spindle on which the handle is supported, the handle and spindle rotating about a concentric axis of rotation.

5. The mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the handle includes a lever; wherein the lever is in a horizontal condition when the engaging member is in the detent position; and wherein the biasing force is sufficient to maintain the engaging member in the detent position under at-rest torque applied to the lever under the influence of gravity.

6. The mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the engaging member includes a cam member that defines the detent surface and load transferring surface, and a stem having a first free end extending through a portion of the first moving part and an opposite second end that is attached to the cam member; wherein the stem defines a stem axis; and wherein movement of the engaging member between the detent, coupled, and uncoupled positions is in a direction parallel to the stem axis.

7. The mechanism of claim 6 , wherein movement of the engaging member from the detent position to the uncoupled position is in an opposite direction from movement of the engaging member from the detent position to the coupled position.

8. The mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the first moving part and second moving part are rotatable about a common pivot axis; wherein the stem axis is perpendicular to the pivot axis; wherein movement of the engaging member from the detent position to the uncoupled position is radially away from the pivot axis; and wherein movement of the engaging member from the detent position to the coupled position is radially toward the pivot axis.

9. The mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the engaging member includes a button mounted to the first end of the stem.

10. The mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the engaging member moves in a first direction from the detent position to the uncoupled position and in a second direction, opposite the first direction, from the detent position to the coupled position; and wherein the biasing member includes first and second springs app

Assignees

• Hogan Michael P
• Schlage Lock Co Llc

Inventors

• Hogan Michael P

Classifications

• F24C15/024

  Handles · CPC title

• Y10T292/1016

  Cam · CPC title

• E05B13/10

  formed by a lock arranged in the handle · CPC title

• E05B55/06

  the handle being disconnected {(E05B13/101, E05B47/0676 take precedence)} · CPC title

• E05B2015/0448

  Units of springs; Two or more springs working together · CPC title