Door handle

Abstract

A door handle with a door-side output shaft and a handle facing away from the door, the output shaft and handle having a common rotational axis and being connected via an electromechanical clutch, may be particularly compact and may have a particularly low energy intake for shifting the clutch by providing the output shaft with a recess on the side facing towards the handle, in which a coupling element is displaceably mounted; by providing the door handle with a receiving area for the coupling element 40 opposite to the recess; and by arranging a linear drive in the handle, the linear drive acting on the coupling element in order to move the coupling element in the axial direction so far out of the recess that the coupling element engages both into the recess as well as into the receiving area in order to close the clutch, and the coupling element is moved out of the receiving area back into the recess in order to open the clutch.

Claims

1. A door handle device configured to actuate the locking mechanism of a door, the door handle device comprising a handle and an output shaft, the output shaft and the handle having a common rotation axis and connected with one another via an electromechanical clutch, wherein the electromechanical clutch is disposed in one of the first and second orientations along the rotation axis, the second orientation being a reverse of the first orientation, the output shaft has, on a side thereof facing towards the handle, which is connected to the output shaft via the electromechanical clutch, a recess configured to receive a coupling element, and the handle, which is connected to the output shaft via the electromechanical clutch, has a receiving area configured to receive the coupling element, said receiving area arranged opposite to the recess, and a linear drive, at least a portion of which is disposed in a hollow of the handle, said linear drive configured to act on the coupling element to displace the coupling element in axial direction to close the clutch, such that said coupling element engages in both the recess and the receiving area, and to displace the coupling element (a) out of the receiving area into the recess to open the clutch, when the clutch is disposed in the first orientation, or (b) out of the recess into the receiving area to open the clutch, when the clutch is disposed in the second orientation.

2. The door handle device according to claim 1, wherein the output shaft is rotatably mounted in a recess of said handle at an end thereof that faces the door.

3. The door handle device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling element is biased in at least one of a direction of the handle and a direction of the output shaft at least in a case when the clutch is open.

4. The door handle device according to claim 1, further comprising a rosette configured for attachment at a door leaf, wherein said rosette overlaps the handle and is connected with the handle via a return spring to bias the handle towards a position in which the handle is closed.

5. The door handle device according to claim 1, wherein the handle has a hollow shaft at an end thereof facing the door, said hollow shaft accommodating at least a section of the output shaft and at least a part of the linear drive.

6. The door handle device according to claim 5, wherein the handle has a union nut and a handpiece, non-rotatably connected with the hollow shaft, said handpiece having two legs arranged at an angle with respect to each other, said handpiece further having at least two half-shells which, when held together by the union nut, fixate an attachment portion of the hollow shaft therebetween.

7. The door handle device according claim 6, further comprising a sleeve disposed to hold together ends, of the at least two half-shells, that face away from the door when the handle is attached to the door, wherein said ends open in said sleeve.

8. The door handle device according to claim 6, wherein at least one battery for energy supply of the door handle is positioned in at least one of the two legs.

9. The door handle device according claim 8, further comprising a sleeve disposed to hold together ends, of the at least two half-shells, that face away from the door when the handle is attached to the door, wherein said ends open in said sleeve.

10. The door handle device according to claim 1, wherein the linear drive has at least one control member, said at least one control member is supported by and configured in the handle to displace axially and to rotate, wherein the at least one control member abuts the coupling element and is configured to displace said coupling element axially, wherein the at least one control member has a thread, in which at least one of a radial pin and a threaded section engages, said at least one of the radial pin and the threaded section is rigidly connected with the handle, wherein upon rotation of the at least one control member about its longitudinal axis, said at least one control member is displaced axially relative to the handle, and a spring element connecting a coaxial drive wheel with the at least one control member such that upon rotation of the drive wheel either the at least one control member is entrained or, in case of the at least one control member being blocked from moving axially, the spring element is loaded.

11. The door handle device according to claim 10, further comprising a lock control in the handle to exchange data with at least one electronic key, during an operable cooperation of the handle with the at least one electronic key, to identify a locking authorization of the at least one electronic key based on the data, and to close the clutch in case of a given locking authorization, and otherwise to keep the clutch open or to open the clutch.

12. The door handle device according to claim 1, further comprising a lock control in the handle to exchange data with at least one electronic key, during an operable cooperation of the handle with the at least one electronic key, to identify a locking authorization of the at least one electronic key based on the data, and to close the clutch in case of a given locking authorization, and otherwise to keep the clutch open or to open the clutch.

13. A door handle device configured to actuate the locking mechanism of a door with a handle and an output shaft, the output shaft and the handle having a common rotation axis and connected with one another via an electromechanical clutch, wherein the electromechanical clutch is disposed in one of the first and second orientations along the rotation axis, the second orientation being a reverse of the first orientation, wherein the output shaft has, on a side thereof facing towards the handle that is connected to the output shaft via the electromechanical clutch, a recess configured to receive a coupling element, wherein the handle, which is connected to the output shaft via the electromechanical clutch, has a receiving area configured to receive the coupling element, said receiving area arranged opposite to the recess; a linear drive, at least a portion of which is disposed in a hollow of the handle, said linear drive configured to act on the coupling element to displace the coupling element in axial direction to close the clutch, such that said coupling element engages in both the recess and the receiving area, and to displace the coupling element (a) out of the receiving area into the recess to open the clutch, when the clutch is disposed in the first orientation, or (b) out of the recess into the receiving area to open the clutch, when the clutch is disposed in the second orientation, and wherein the linear drive has at least one control member, said at least one control member is supported by and configured in the handle to displace axially and rotate, wherein the at least one control member abuts the coupling element and is configured to displace said coupling element axially, wherein the at least one control member has a thread, in which at least one of a radial pin and a threaded section engages, said at least one of the radial pin and the threaded section being rigidly connected with the handle, wherein upon rotation of the at least one control member about a longitudinal axis thereof, said at least one control member is displaced axially relative to the handle; and a spring element connecting a coaxial drive wheel with the at least one control member such that upon rotation of the drive wheel either the at least one control member is entrained or, in a case of the at least one control member being blocked from moving axially, the spring element is loaded.

14. The door handle device according to claim 13, further comprising a lock control in the handle to exchange data with at least one electronic key, during an operable cooperation of the handle with the at least one electronic key, to identify a locking authorization of the at least one electronic key based on the data, and to close the clutch in case of a given locking authorization, and otherwise to keep the clutch open or to open the clutch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the invention will be described by way of example, without limitation of the general inventive concept, on examples of embodiment and with reference to the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1a shows a perspective view of a door handle.

(3) FIG. 1b shows the door handle of FIG. 1a in the front view.

(4) FIG. 2a shows a longitudinal section of the door handle along the plane A-A.

(5) FIG. 2b shows a detail of FIG. 2a.

(6) FIG. 3a shows a longitudinal section of the door handle along the plane B-B.

(7) FIG. 3b shows a detail of FIG. 3a.

(8) While the invention can be modified without changing its scope and take alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a door handle 1, here in the form of a door lever. The door handle 1 has a handle 10 being pivotable about a rotation axis 2, with a door-side first leg 11, the longitudinal axis 2 of which is oriented in approximately orthogonal direction with respect to a door leaf (when mounted on the door), and with a second leg 12 angled with respect to the first leg. The region in which the first and second legs meet at an angle consists of two half-shells 13, 14 being held together by a nut 15, located on the door side with respect to the half-shells 13, 14 and a sleeve 16 of the second leg 12, located on the other side. As indicated, the handle 1 may have a receiving area for a square shaft 17, to non-rotatably couple the door handle with the nut of a mortise lock. A rosette 18 may be provided to fasten and mounting the door handle 1 to a door leaf and protect the clutch (which will be described in more detail below) against manipulation. An output shaft 30 (cf. FIGS. 2a to 3b) is covered by the handle 10, which output shaft 30 acts on the (illustrated as) square shaft 17, i.e. it is connected with the square shaft 17 in a manner permitting transmission of a rotational movement. To be more precise, the rotational movements about the longitudinal axis 2 are transmitted. In contrast thereto, tilting moments applied orthogonally to the longitudinal axis 2 are preferably at least substantially absorbed from the bearing of the handle 10 by the rosette 18, and are introduced into the door leaf. A clutch is located between the handle 10 and the output shaft 30, in order to non-rotatably connect the handle 10 with the output shaft 30 by means of a lock control (clutch closed) or in order to uncouple both (clutch open). Preferably, the handle 10 rests on the rosette 18 via a return spring 19, thus, the door handle does not hang down when the clutch is open. The rosette 18 may preferably be fastened to the door leaf from the inner side of the door, or may be fixed otherwise with same.

(10) The functioning of the door handle is explained by way of the two sections A-A and B-B, i.e. of FIGS. 2a to 3b: The door handle 1 has an output shaft 30 on the door side, which is rotatably mounted in a hollow shaft 50 of the handle 10. The output shaft 30 and the hollow shaft 50 have a common rotational axis 2 and may be non-rotatably coupled to each other via the clutch (or decoupled, if the clutch is open). The output shaft 30 is non-rotatably connected with the square shaft 17, as illustrated. The hollow shaft 50 is non-rotatably connected with the handle 10. In the example shown, the hollow shaft 50 has an attachment portion 52 by which it is fixed between the two half-shells 13, 14.

(11) The output shaft 30 has a recess 31 on its side facing towards the hollow shaft 50. In the recess 31 sits a coupling element 40. The coupling element 40 is axially displaceable but not freely rotatable. The coupling element 40 is for example (circularly-)cylindrical and has a cam 401 on at least one side (two cams 401 are shown) which engages (engage) in a (each) complementary groove of the recess 31. Alternatively, the coupling element 40 may have at least one flattened portion which interacts with a complementary flattened portion of the hollow shaft 50 and the output shaft 30. It is only important that the coupling element 40 may (depend-ent on its position) generate a torque-transmitting form-fit connection with the hollow shaft 50 and/or with the output shaft 30. The cylindrical part of the coupling element 40 is arranged coaxially with the rotation axis.

(12) The hollow shaft 50 has a receiving area 51 opposite to the recess 31. The receiving area 51 is also complementary to the form of the coupling element 40. If the coupling element 40 is displaced into the receiving area 51 in axial direction to an extent that the coupling element 30 engages both in the recess 31 and in the receiving area 51, the hollow shaft 50 and thus the handle 10 are non-rotatably connected with the output shaft 30, i.e. the clutch is closed. Therefore, the output shaft 30 is taken upon actuation of the handle, and the rotation movement is transmitted to the square shaft 17. In other words, the rotation of the handle is transmitted via the clutch to the output shaft.

(13) When the coupling element 40 as shown is pushed back into the recess 31 of the output shaft 30 so far that it no longer engages with the receiving area 51 of the hollow shaft, the clutch is open. In the open state of the clutch, upon actuation of the door handle, the rotation is not transmitted to the output shaft 30.

(14) The adjustment of the coupling element 40 is preferably carried out by means of a control member 41. The control member 41 as shown is rotatably mounted and is configured to be axially displaceable in the hollow shaft 50 on a rod 54. The control member 41 has a thread-shaped slot 42 (more generally: a thread 42) into which a pin 53 engages radially as a complementary threaded section, said threaded section 53 is connected at least substantially rigid to the handle 10 via rod 54. In the example shown, the rod 54 is held by a gear block 61; other fastenings are also possible. It is only important that the rod 54 and the control member 41 can be rotated relative to each other about the longitudinal axis 2. Upon rotation of the control member 41 about its longitudinal axis 2, said control member is either pushed forward in the direction towards the output shaft 30 according to the rotational direction, by interaction of the threaded section 53 and the thread 42, or is pushed back in the opposite direction. If the control member 41 is pushed forward, it pushes the coupling element 40 against the force of a spring 32 (which spring rests against the bottom of the recess 31) so far into the recess 30, that the coupling element 40 is not engaged with the receiving area 51; the clutch is now open. The control member has reached one of its two end positions, namely its open end position. If the control member 41 is rotated back and thereby retracted, the coupling element 40 follows the control member 41 into the receiving area 51 of the hollow shaft 50 due to the spring 32, wherein the spring 32 is at least somewhat relaxed; the clutch is closed. The control member 41 now has reached the other end position, the so-called closed end position.

(15) To displace the control member 41 axially, it is rotatably driven about its longitudinal axis 2. For this purpose, a motor 45 driven by a lock control (not shown) drives a drive wheel 44 via a preferably self-locking gear, the drive wheel 44 being arranged preferably coaxially with regard to the control member 41. The drive wheel 44 thereby entrains a first end of a spring element 43 (at least indirectly). The other, second end of the spring element 43 is (at least indirectly) attached to the control member 41 such that upon rotation of the drive wheel 44 the control member 41 is rotated, provided that the coupling element is not blocked. Therewith, the adjusting element 41 and thus also the coupling element 40 are axially displaced due to the threaded section 53 engaging axially into the thread. If, however, the control member is axially blocked, the spring element 43 is loaded by the rotation of the both ends against each other. Once the blockage is relieved, the control member 41 follows the rotation of the drive wheel 44, wherein the spring element is relaxed again.

(16) If the drive wheel 44 is driven to open the clutch, i.e. to push forward the control member 41, it may occur that at the same time the handle 10 is actuated. In this case, the coupling element 40 is clamped between the output shaft 30 and the hollow shaft 50 and thereby blocks an axial displacement of the control member 41. The coupling element is jammed. Therefore, only the spring element 43 is tensioned by the rotation of the drive wheel 44, i.e. kinetic energy is stored as potential energy in the spring element 43. If the handle 10 is released, the clamping of the coupling element 40 is relieved, i.e. the control member 41 being pre-loaded by the spring element 43 can push the coupling element 40 out of the receiving area 51 and thus into the open-position.

(17) Likewise, it may occur that the clutch is open when the door handle is actuated. In this case, the receiving area 51 of the hollow shaft 50, i.e. of the handle is rotated against the recess 31 of the output shaft 30, and the coupling element 40 cannot engage with the receiving area 51 even if the control member 41 is retracted. The coupling element 40 is not able to follow the control member 41, despite the biasing of the bias spring 32. Once the door handle is released, the grooves of the recess 31 and the receiving area 51 align, such that the coupling element 40 engages in the receiving area 51 of the hollow shaft 50, thereby closing the clutch.

(18) Preferably, the drive wheel 44 is a partly toothed gear, i.e. the drive wheel has at least a first toothed region and a second non-toothed region, wherein the non-toothed region is disposed in the imaginary extension of the toothed region. For adjusting the first end of the spring element 43 being at least indirectly entrained by the drive wheel, an output element (e.g. a screw (see FIG. 2a), a gear rack, or other gear) being driven by motor 45 engages in the toothed region of the drive wheel 44. The toothed region is arranged on the drive wheel in a manner that the toothing no longer engages in the output element, as soon as the first end of the spring element 43 has reached one of its two end positions. In the first end position, the control member is spring-loaded in the direction of its closed end position and in the other end position it is spring-loaded towards its open end position. To adjust the control member 41 between its respective end positions, it is sufficient to drive the motor for a sufficiently long time period with the corresponding rotation direction. Once the entrained end of the spring element 43 has reached its desired end position, the output element and the drive wheel 44 disengage. Thus, the motor 45 can be operated time-controlled, and sensors for detecting an end position of the first end of the spring element are not necessary. It is sufficient to determine the time constant for controlling the motor to be big enough. If the desired end position of the entrained first end of the spring element 43 has been reached and the drive wheel 44 and the driven element are not engaged with each other, the control member is now spring-loaded in the direction of its respective end position and the last tooth of the toothed region is correspondingly pushed against the complementary toothing of the output element by the spring element 43. If the control member 41 is to be shifted into the other end position, it suffices to drive the motor 45 again for a sufficiently long time period, but with the reverse direction. Again, the teeth engage in one another until the entrained end of the spring element 43 has reached its second end position. Now, the control member is spring-loaded in the direction of its corresponding (different) end position, and due to the spring-load, the first tooth of the toothed region fits closely to the complementary toothing of the output element. Therefore, the drive wheel 44 would again be entrained by the output element with a repeated reversal of rotation direction of the motor 45.

(19) The door handle has been described by way of an example, in which an open clutch the coupling element is seated in the output shaft and the linear drive is integrated in the handle. This the output shaft to be kept relatively short, which makes an attack difficult. In principle, the clutch can be rotated by 180 . Then the coupling element 40 would sit in the handle in case of the open position. Independently of this, the linear drive may be arranged in the handle, or in or at the output shaft. An essential advantage of the invention is that the rosette does not accommodate any elements being necessary for switching of the clutch. Further it should be noted, that door handle can as well have the form of a door knob. In this case the second leg is omitted and the first leg is thickened to thereby provide a handle.

(20) It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this invention is believed to provide a door handle. Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(21) 2 rotation axis/longitudinal axis 10 handle 11 first leg 12 second leg 13 upper half-shell 14 lower half-shell 15 union nut 16 sleeve 17 square shaft 18 rosette 19 return spring 30 output shaft 31 recess of the output shaft 32 bias spring 40 coupling element 401 cam 41 control member 42 slot/thread 43 spring element, e.g. coil spring 44 drive wheel 45 motor 50 hollow shaft 51 receiving area 52 attachment portion 53 pin/threaded section 54 rod 61 block gear