Door Handle Stop Body with Radial Locking Balls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stop bodies for door and window handles face challenges such as cumbersome assembly, limited load capacity, and inability to securely hold or return handles to their starting position, especially with angled or heavy handles.

Innovation Solution

A stop body design featuring a guide bushing with radially displaceable locking balls and a compression spring, allowing for axially fixed and rotatable handle mounting, with the guide bushing being axially and rotatably movable to ensure secure and durable attachment, and a return spring mechanism for automatic handle return.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the handle is pre-assembled with the stop body at the factory, then assembly on site is simplified, but the assembly becomes cumbersome and requires special positioning tools

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device is divided into separate components: locking balls in the guide bushing and a locking groove in the handle. This segmentation allows the handle to be pre-assembled with the stop body at the factory, while the locking mechanism engages automatically on site without requiring special positioning tools or complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If pre-assembled handles are used, then assembly is faster, but packaging space increases and storage becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly speedVSAvoidpackaging volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The handle assembly is segmented into the handle itself and the separate locking device components (locking balls and groove). This allows the handle to be packaged compactly without the locking mechanism, reducing packaging volume. The locking device components are small and can be packaged separately, enabling faster assembly on site while minimizing storage and shipping space requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If radially elastically extendable support flange sections are used as locking device, then the handle can be fixed, but the load capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle fixationVSAvoidload capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism uses spherical locking balls that engage with a circumferential locking groove. The spherical shape of the locking balls allows them to be pressed radially inward by compression springs to engage securely with the groove, providing reliable fixation while withstanding high pulling and torsional forces. The curved contact surfaces distribute loads effectively, enabling the handle to withstand significant forces without limiting load capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Reliability

If a snap ring is used as locking means, then the handle can be fixed, but a great deal of force is required to spread the snap ring

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle fixationVSAvoidinstallation force
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism uses spherical locking balls instead of a snap ring. These balls are pressed radially inward by compression springs to engage with the locking groove. The spherical shape and spring mechanism allow the locking balls to be compressed with relatively small forces and then snap into the groove, providing secure fixation without requiring the high spreading forces needed for snap rings. The springs maintain constant radial pressure to keep the locking balls engaged.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

5Reliability

If locking balls pressed by compression spring are used, then reliable fixation is achieved, but the guide bushing must be displaceable axially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle fixationVSAvoidguide bushing mounting
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide bushing is designed to be axially displaceable within the stop body, allowing the compression springs to press the locking balls radially inward to engage with the locking groove. This dynamic mounting arrangement enables the locking mechanism to function reliably while the guide bushing can move axially during assembly and operation. The axial displacement capability is integrated into the overall design, allowing the guide bushing to be mounted on the stop body in a manner that permits this movement without adding excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates quick and easy assembly, provides reliable and stable handle fixation, and enhances long-term durability by allowing easy removal and secure repositioning of handles, even with heavy or frequently used handles.

Implementation Method 1

the locking balls mounted in the guide bushing are pressed by the compression spring in the axial direction against the inclined surface in such a way that the locking balls are subjected to a resulting force radially to the axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression spring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the guide bushing being acted upon in the axial direction by a compression spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression spring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2924197B1End stop body for door and/or window handles
Publication Date: 2017.09.27 HOPPE AG
  • EP2924197B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2924197B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2924197B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A stop body (10) serves to axially fix and rotate a handle (20) which has a circumferential locking groove (23) on a neck section (22) that engages with the stop body (10). For this purpose, the stop body (10) has a base body (30) which is provided with a through-hole (34) centered on an axis (D), a guide bushing (50) for the neck section (22) of the handle (20), wherein the guide bushing (50) is arranged in the through-hole (34) of the base body (30), and a locking device (70) which releasably secures the handle (20) in the base body (30). The locking device (70) advantageously has locking balls (75) which are arranged to be radially displaceable with respect to the axis (D) in the guide bushing (50). This is mounted so as to be displaceable in the axial direction (A) within the through-opening (34) of the base body (30), wherein the guide bushing (50) is acted upon in the axial direction (A) by a compression spring (80).Furthermore, the base body (30) is provided with a circumferential inclined surface (35), wherein the detent balls (75) mounted in the guide bushing (50) are pressed by the compression spring (80) in the axial direction (A) against the inclined surface (35) such that the detent balls (75) are subjected to a resultant force (F) radially to the axis (D). A particular embodiment of the stop body provides that the guide bushing (50) is also rotatably mounted about the axis (D) within the through-opening (34) of the base body (30) against a spring force.