Planar Spring Handle Return Mechanism for Flush Door Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for return actioning a handle often project significantly from the door plane, causing aesthetic and design issues, and require additional machining operations to fit within standard door configurations, especially when handling large or heavy handles.
Innovation Solution
A device with a discoid body of reduced thickness, incorporating a planar coil spring and a driving disk that rotates within a shaped hole, allowing minimal projection and easy mounting, housed entirely within a standard door thickness without additional machining, utilizing a shaped hole and radial projections for precise positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the return actioning means is placed inside the lock, then the handle can be returned to rest position, but the device projects significantly from the door plane causing aesthetic issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the return actioning mechanism from a three-dimensional projection outward from the door to a two-dimensional planar configuration that integrates with the door surface. The spring mechanism is arranged to act within the plane of the door, eliminating the need for significant outward projection while maintaining the handle return function.
Solution Approach 2:
The return actioning means is nested within the existing lock structure and door thickness, utilizing the available space efficiently. The spring mechanism is housed within the lock body or door thickness, allowing the mechanism to be contained without adding external projection.
2Shape
If the device is made with reduced thickness to fit within covering rose, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but additional machining operations are required to widen the door hole
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to utilize the existing standard hole in the door for handle installation purposes. The shaped hole accommodates both the handle pin and the return actioning mechanism without requiring separate or additional machining operations, making the installation process universal and straightforward.
Solution Approach 2:
The body is designed with a shaped hole that has specific local geometric characteristics to accommodate the spring mechanism and driving disk. This localized shaping allows the device to fit within standard door thickness while providing the necessary internal space for the return actioning components.
3Reliability
If the device is mounted beforehand on the hub of the handle, then the handle can be returned to rest position, but the mounting process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional components: a body with shaped hole, a driving disk with central hole for the handle pin, and a spring mechanism. This segmentation allows for easier assembly and mounting, as each component can be installed independently and then assembled together, reducing the overall mounting complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving disk is designed with a central hole that directly receives the handle pin, allowing the handle itself to serve as part of the mounting mechanism. The spring mechanism is pre-assembled within the body, reducing the number of separate mounting operations required.
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
Enables the return actioning of handles with minimal projection beyond the door plane, fitting within standard covering roses and avoiding additional door modifications, while maintaining ease of assembly and aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
a spring interposed between said body and the driving disk, which acts on the latter to return said at least one handle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A device (1) for return actioning a handle (8) comprising: - a body (2) with a central hole (20), to be mounted on a door (10); - a driving disk (3), placed in said body (2) and having a central hole (30) apt to house a pin (11) connected to at least one handle (8) located on one side of the door (10), said driving disk (3) being able to rotate through a limited angle inside said body (2); - a spring (4) interposed between said body (2) and the driving element (3), which acts on the latter to return said at least one handle (8); - means (5, 24) apt to restrain said driving body (3) and said spring (4) to said body (2), wherein said spring (4) is a planar axial coil spring housed in an annular seat (21) of said body (2), which can be applied completely outside the plane of the door, said hole (30) of the driving disk (3) being shaped so as to couple with said pin (11) or with a hub (80) of said at least one handle (8).