Handle mechanism

Abstract

Handle mechanism provided for mounting in an opening extending wholly through a door, the handle mechanism comprising a first plate for closing the opening at the position of a first side of the door, a second plate for closing the opening at the position of a second side of the door and an intermediate plate placed between the first and second plates, wherein the first and the second plate are each connected via spring means to the intermediate plate so that each of the first and the second plate are movable substantially against the intermediate plate by an external force, wherein the intermediate plate is provided for movable placing in the door so as to increase an overall space for movement of each of the first and the second plate.

Claims

1. Handle mechanism provided for mounting in an opening extending wholly through a door, the handle mechanism comprising a first plate for closing the opening at the position of a first side of the door, a second plate for closing the opening at the position of a second side of the door and an intermediate plate placed between the first and second plates, wherein the first and the second plate are each connected via spring means to the intermediate plate so that each of the first and the second plate are movable substantially against the intermediate plate by an external force, wherein the intermediate plate is movable in the door so as to increase an overall space for movement of each of the first and the second plate.

2. Handle mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate plate is retained in a guide, which guide limits the space for movement of the intermediate plate such that said overall space for movement is limited to a predetermined maximum.

3. Handle mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the door is at least partially hollow creating a cavity at the position of the opening, and wherein the handle mechanism comprises a frame in order to at least partially fill said cavity.

4. Handle mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said frame comprises said guide.

5. Handle mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said frame is provided for the purpose of covering an inner side of the opening such that the door can be operated via said frame when the first or second plate is pressed inward.

6. Handle mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the frame is substantially rectangular and comprises at least four elements, each forming a side of the rectangle.

7. Handle mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the frame has guide surfaces for guiding the first and second plates, these guide surfaces being at least partially movable under the influence of a force in order to thus allow mounting of the first and second plates.

8. Handle mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second plates comprises a surface provided to lie in the plane of the side of the door for the purpose of closing the opening, which surface preferably has the same colour and texture as the side of the door.

9. Handle mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second plates have dimensions greater than dimensions of the opening at the position of the side of the door such that these plates are provided so as to come to lie against an edge of the opening in the door.

10. Handle mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door is a sliding door, and wherein each of the first and second plates are movable on two opposite sides by an external force such that the handle can be operated for sliding of the door in two directions.

11. A method for mounting a handle mechanism in an opening extending wholly through a door, the method comprising; providing a first plate for closing the opening at the position of a first side of the door, a second plate for closing the opening at the position of a second side of the door and an intermediate plate placed between the first and second plates, wherein the first and the second plate are each connected via spring means to the intermediate plate so that each of the first and the second plate are movable substantially against the intermediate plate by an external force, wherein the intermediate plate is movable in the door so as to increase an overall space for movement of each of the first and the second plate; placing the intermediate plate in said opening; placing the first and second plates through respectively the opening at the position of a first side of the door and the opening at the position of the second side of the door.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the door is at least partially hollow creating a cavity at the position of the opening and the handle mechanism comprises a frame in order to at least partially fill said cavity, and wherein the method further comprises placing at least a part of the frame before placing the intermediate plate.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein placing of the first and second plates comprises applying an external force which at least partially moves guide surfaces of the frame in order to thus place the first and second plate through the opening.

14. A door with an opening extending wholly through the door, the door comprising a handle mechanism provided for mounting in the opening, the handle mechanism comprising a first plate for closing the opening at the position of a first side of the door, a second plate for closing the opening at the position of a second side of the door and an intermediate plate placed between the first and second plates, wherein the first and the second plate are each connected via spring means to the intermediate plate so that each of the first and the second plate are movable substantially against the intermediate plate by an external force, wherein the intermediate plate is movable in the door so as to increase an overall space for movement of each of the first and the second plate.

15. The door as claimed in claim 14, wherein the intermediate plate is retained in a guide, which guide limits the space for movement of the intermediate plate such that said overall space for movement is limited to a predetermined maximum.

16. The door as claimed in claim 15, wherein the door is at least partially hollow creating a cavity at the position of the opening , and wherein the handle mechanism comprises a frame in order to at least partially fill said cavity.

17. The door as claimed in claim 16, wherein said frame comprises said guide.

18. The door as claimed in claim 17, wherein said frame is provided for the purpose of covering an inner side of the opening such that the door can be operated via said frame when the first or second plate is pressed inward.

19. The door as claimed in claim 17, wherein the frame is substantially rectangular and comprises at least four elements, each forming a side of the rectangle.

20. The door as claimed in claim 17, wherein the frame has guide surfaces for guiding the first and second plates, these guide surfaces being at least partially movable under the influence of a force in order to thus allow mounting of the first and second plates.

21. The door as claimed in 14, wherein at least one of the first and second plates comprises a surface provided to lie in the plane of the side of the door for the purpose of closing the opening, which surface preferably has the same colour and texture as the side of the door.

22. The door as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first and second plates have dimensions greater than dimensions of the opening at the position of the side of the door such that these plates are provided so as to come to lie against an edge of the opening in the door.

23. The door as claimed in claim 14, wherein the door is a sliding door, and wherein each of the first and second plates are movable on two opposite sides by an external force such that the handle can be operated for sliding of the door in two directions.

Description

(1) In the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sliding door with invisible handle according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a front view and a cross-sectional view of an opening in a door;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of a handle mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention mounted in an opening;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a handle mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention; and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a plane section of a handle mechanism according to an embodiment according to the invention.

(7) The same or similar elements are designated in the drawing with the same reference numeral.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a door 1 mounted on a rail system 2 to enable sliding in two directions 3 and 4. The door has an opening provided for the purpose of operating the door. When a user wishes to slide the door in direction 3, the user will use surface 5 at the opening as stop in order to exert a force on the door in direction 3. Similarly, the user wishing to move the door in direction 4 will use surface 6 of the opening as stop surface on which to exert a force in order to move the door in direction 4. This shows that, in order to enable operation of a sliding door in two directions 3 and 4, two opposite stop surfaces 5 and 6 must also be provided. The invention provides a handle mechanism with which an invisible handle can be formed which gives access to two opposite stop surfaces 5 and 6.

(9) Although the handle mechanism has been developed particularly for sliding doors and for the purpose of forming an invisible handle, it will be apparent that the handle mechanism is also applicable to conventional doors, to gates, to hatches and other elements provided for the purpose of closing a space.

(10) Invisible handle is defined within the context of this invention as a handle which is visually assimilated into the surface in which the handle is placed. It will be apparent here that the handle is visually discernible, and so is visible, but that the visual distinction between the surface and the handle is minimal. Although the handle mechanism according to the invention is highly suitable for forming invisible handles, the invention is not limited thereto. The handle mechanism according to the invention can likewise be applied for the purpose of forming a visible handle, for instance a handle with a colour greatly differing from the colour of the surface into which it is incorporated.

(11) FIG. 2 shows an opening which extends wholly through a door and is suitable for placing of a handle mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention. The opening is substantially rectangular with two upright edges 5 and 6 having a height 7. The opening also has a width which is preferably smaller than the height. The height 7 of the opening is chosen here such that upright surfaces 5 and 6 are large enough to be operated in simple manner. The height 7 is preferably greater than 5 cm, more preferably greater than 10 cm, most preferably greater than 15 cm. The height 7 is further preferably smaller than 30 cm, more preferably smaller than 25 cm, most preferably smaller than 20 cm. The door is preferably hollowed out at the position of the opening, thereby creating a cavity with dimensions 8 which are greater than the dimensions of opening 7. Such a cavity can be made via a cutter 9 as shown in FIG. 2. The thus created cavity provides space for components of the handle mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(12) FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of a door 1 in which a handle mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention is placed. The handle mechanism comprises a first plate 10, a second plate 11 and an intermediate plate 12. First plate 10 is provided for the purpose of closing an opening through door 1 at the position of a first side of the door. Second plate 11 is provided for the purpose of closing the opening through door 1 at the position of the second side of the door, wherein the second side lies opposite the first side of the door. Intermediate plate 12 is provided for placing between first plate 10 and second plate 11.

(13) First plate 10 is connected via spring means 13 to a first side of intermediate plate 12. Second plate 11 is likewise connected via spring means 13 to another side of intermediate plate 12. First plate 10, second plate 11 and intermediate plate 12 are preferably placed floating in door 1. Floating is defined as not being fixedly connected to door 1 in any way.

(14) First plate 10 is connected via spring means 13 to intermediate plate 12 such that first plate 10 can be pressed substantially against intermediate plate 12 by an external force F1 FIG. 3B shows here how force F1 is exerted on the left-hand side of first plate 10, whereas exerting a similar force on the right-hand side of first plate 10 will cause a movement of first plate 10 toward intermediate plate 12 on the right-hand side. Spring means 13 are provided here in order to press the first plate away from intermediate plate 12 and thus press it against an inner edge of the opening in door 1 in order to close it. Second plate 11 is connected in wholly similar manner to intermediate plate 12 via spring means 13.

(15) Spiral springs are preferably applied as spring means. Alternative spring elements such as leaf springs are however also applicable in the invention. Four independent spring elements are preferably provided between first plate 10 and intermediate plate 12, and four further spring means 13 between second plate 11 and intermediate plate 12. Each spring element is preferably placed here close to a corner of the substantially rectangular first plate 10 and second plate 11. Spring means 13 are preferably connected to only one of first plate 10 and intermediate plate 12 (in the case of spring means 13 between first plate 10 and intermediate plate 12) or to only one of second plate 11 and intermediate plate 12 (in the case of spring means 13 between second plate 11 and intermediate plate 12). Securing spring element 13 to only one of the two plates between which the spring element acts gives the spring element the freedom of movement to exert its pushing force. The spring element will hereby not come to lie in a twisted position, or at least less easily so.

(16) Each of first plate 10 and second plate 11 are preferably provided with a finishing layer 14. Finishing layer 14 is formed here such that it lies in line with side 15 of door 1. Finishing layer 14 preferably has the same colour and texture as side 15 of door 1. Finishing layer 14 hereby ensures that first and second plates 10, 11 are visually assimilated into surface 15 of door 1, and thereby forms invisible handles.

(17) Intermediate plate 12 is mounted movably in door 1. The space for movement of intermediate plate 12 is preferably limited. In FIG. 3 the movement limitation is formed by guides 28. Guides 28 form a groove of a predetermined length 16. Intermediate plate 12 is provided so as to engage in groove 28. Intermediate plate 12 preferably has protrusions complementary in shape and size to groove 28 so that the protrusions of the intermediate plate can move in groove 28. The movement of intermediate plate 12 can alternatively be limited by modifying the thickness of intermediate plate 12. Making intermediate plate 12 thicker will likewise make it possible to limit the overall space for movement of first plate 10.

(18) FIG. 3B shows the effect of the movement of intermediate plate 12 when an external force F1 is applied by the movement of first plate 10. The overall space for movement of first plate 10 is the sum of the space for movement between first plate 10 and intermediate plate 12 plus the space for movement (on one side) of intermediate plate 12. First plate 12 can hereby move over a distance 18 which is greater than half the thickness 19 of the door. By limiting the space for movement of intermediate plate 12 it is possible to prevent first plate 10 detaching from the door through the opening. Applying a force F1 to first plate 10 does after all cause this first plate 10 to tilt (as shown in FIG. 3B). This tilting results in a clearance in direction 21. The clearance 21 becomes greater here as the space for movement 18 of first plate 10 becomes greater, i.e. the greater the angular displacement, the greater the clearance in direction 21. When this clearance in direction 21 becomes greater than the projecting portion 20 of first plate 10 relative to the opening in door 1, the plate can move outward through the opening. In order to prevent this, the space for movement 18 of first plate 10 is limited to a predetermined space for movement, wherein correct functioning of the handle mechanism can be guaranteed. The predetermined space for movement will particularly take into account the clearance in direction 21 which occurs as a result of tilting first plate 10 inside the space for movement, such that the clearance does not become greater than projecting portion 20.

(19) The first plate has dimensions greater than the dimensions of the opening, first plate 10 and second plate 11 preferably have a length greater than the height 7 of the opening in door 1. The first and second plates 10, 11 hereby have a projecting portion 20 relative to the opening. This projecting portion prevents first plate 10 and second plate 11 being able to move outward through the opening. This projecting portion 20 further ensures a correct positioning of the first plate and second plate, in particular of the finishing layer 14 thereof; relative to surface 15 of door 1.

(20) A frame 17 is preferably provided in the cavity of the door. This frame 17 can comprise the guides 28 for limiting the space for movement of intermediate plate 12. FIG. 4 shows different frame elements 17 and 23. Frame elements 23 are preferably placed here in the upright direction and frame elements 17 are placed on an upper and lower side of the handle mechanism. FIG. 4 shows a section (in the case of normal placing of a handle mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention in a door opening) along the horizontal plane. Upright frame elements 23 are therefore shown in cross-section, while frame element 17 is shown in front view. Frame element 17 of FIG. 4 is the same frame element as shown in schematic cross-section in FIG. 3B. FIG. 4 shows frame element 17 having in a central zone the guide 28 which is formed as an opening in frame 17. A protrusion of intermediate plate 12 can move in this opening over a distance 16 which is defined by the size of opening 28. Guide surfaces are formed adjacently of opening 28. These guide surfaces, which are not shown in FIG. 3B, hold the first and the second plate 10, 11 in place, at least in direction 21. These guide surfaces of frame element 17 prevent the first and second plates 10, 11 moving through the opening during normal use of the handle mechanism.

(21) The guide surfaces of frame element 17 preferably take a movable form. FIG. 4 shows how the guide surfaces are formed at least partially by tongues 22 which can be bent by a force F2 (shown in FIG. 3B) so as to displace the guide surface. By applying a considerable force F2 more clearance is in this way created in direction 21 for the first or second plate 10, 11. The plates can in this way be moved through the opening under the influence of force F2, for instance for the purpose of assembling or disassembling the handle.

(22) FIG. 4 further shows that first plate 10 has dimensions 27 in its width direction which are substantially equal to the horizontal dimensions of the openings in door 1. A projecting portion is not therefore formed since the plate cannot move through the opening of the door anyway owing to the projecting portion in the upright direction as shown in FIG. 3.

(23) FIG. 4 shows how the upright frame elements 23 are provided with a surface 24 which improves operation of the handle. Inner surface 24 thus has a concave form which has a convex rounding at the edge of the opening in order to thus greatly enhance the grip of fingers on surface 24. The form of surface 24 of frame elements 23 further functions as stop for first plate 10 and second plate 11 in order to position these plates correctly relative to the opening in door 1.

(24) FIG. 4 further shows that the frame consists of eight elements (six of which are shown and two of which are invisible due to the direction of view of the cross-section). The frame is formed on each side of the door by four elements, being two upright frame elements 23 and two end frame elements. Constructing the frame from eight frame elements has advantages in respect of assembly. The frame can thus be constructed at the position of one side of the door, after which the intermediate plate is placed. The other side of the door can then be provided with frame elements in order to thus confine the intermediate plate in its space for movement. A frame can alternatively also be constructed from only four frame elements, two upright frame elements and two end frame elements.

(25) FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a section of the handle mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The figure shows the different frame elements 17 and 23. The figure shows here that frame elements 23 engage via a hook part 23 in grooves 26 of frame elements 17. In this simple manner the frame can be constructed with strict tolerances in respect of size. FIG. 5 shows that frame element 17 comprises groove 28 and also comprises the tongues at the position of reference numeral 29. As alternative to tongues for forming a movable guide surface, frame element 17 can be formed from an elastic material and take a form such that the guide surface is moved by a force F2.

(26) FIG. 5 further shows that upright frame elements 23 have an inner surface 24 over a distance 30 which is smaller than the opening 7 in the door. Opening 7 in the door is then in turn smaller than the outer dimensions of the first plate, whereby a projecting portion 20 is formed.

(27) During placing of the handle mechanism according to the invention frame elements 17 will typically be placed first through the opening in the door. Frame elements 23 will subsequently be mounted and connected to the end frame elements 17. Springs 13 are further connected either to the first and second plate or to the intermediate plate, or in other manner such that spring elements 13 can extend between first plate and intermediate plate and between second plate and intermediate plate. The intermediate plate will further be placed, preferably with protrusions in grooves 28, in order to define the space for movement of the intermediate plate. The first plate and second plate are then mounted through the opening in the door by applying a force F2.

(28) The operation of the handle mechanism according to the invention is mainly described above via first plate 10. The handle mechanism according to the invention is however preferably formed symmetrically relative to a plane of symmetry extending at the position of the intermediate plate. Second plate 11 thus functions in identical manner to first plate 10. Door 1 can hereby be opened from two sides. This is because the handle mechanism reacts in the same way on the two sides of door 1.

(29) The handle mechanism according to the invention is preferably also manufactured symmetrically relative to an upright plane lying transversely relative to the plane of the door. The operation of the handle mechanism when the door is opened in a first horizontal direction is hereby identical to the operation of the handle mechanism when this door is moved in the other horizontal direction. As a result of the specific construction of the handle mechanism, preferably the symmetry, two similar stop surfaces 5, 6 are formed on either side of the door. The door can thus be moved in two directions from either side. The handle mechanism is further preferably formed symmetrically around a lying plane. This greatly simplifies the manufacture of the handle mechanism since this symmetry makes it irrelevant how a plate is mounted (right way up or upside down), and this also reduces the number of different components required to construct a handle mechanism according to the invention. The handle mechanism is most preferably formed symmetrically around the three different planes of symmetry.

(30) The invention is described above on the basis of exemplary embodiments which are not intended to be limitative of the invention but intended solely to provide a better understanding of the protected invention. The scope of protection is not therefore affected by the description or by the figures, and is defined solely by the appended claims.