Patent Publication Number: US-6709034-B2

Title: Sliding door handle having an integral push button locking mechanism

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved sliding door handle having an integral push button locking mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Sliding doors are often locked by complex locking mechanisms that comprise many internal moving parts and thus are subject to disrepair. Also, the frame of sliding doors are not of a sufficient size to receive large and secure locking mechanisms. Therefore, there is a need for a mechanism to lock sliding doors that is secure, ergonomically efficient, simple to use, and requires only a minimal number of internal moving parts to withstand everyday wear and tear. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a sliding door handle having an integrated push button locking mechanism that is secure, efficient, durable, and easy to use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved sliding door handle assembly having a spring operated integral push button locking mechanism. Specifically, the improved sliding door handle assembly is comprised of a handle assembly including an upper handle section and a lower handle section, and a push button assembly. The upper handle section is recessed so as to incorporate the push button assembly and includes an opening for insertion of a cylindrical locking pin. The locking pin is spring-biased so as to move between a first position for locking the handle and a second position for unlocking the handle. The lower handle section is curved to facilitate gripping the door handle. 
     The push button assembly includes a housing member and a push button member. The housing member has an opening to receive a push button member that is movable so as to engage and disengage the locking pin for locking and unlocking the handle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved sliding door handle, and sliding doors; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of an improved sliding door handle; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an improved sliding door handle; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an improved sliding door handle; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an improved sliding door handle; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the push button assembly of the improved sliding door handle in an unlocked position; and 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the push button assembly of the improved sliding door handle in a locked position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1 through 7 show an improved sliding door handle  50  having a handle assembly  10  and push button assembly  40 . 
     The handle assembly  10  is comprised of an upper handle section  12  and a lower handle section  14 . The upper handle section  12  is recessed so as to incorporate push button assembly  40 . The upper handle section  12  includes a seat  13  for receiving the push button assembly  40 . The seat  13  has a shape complementary to that of the push button assembly  40 . The seat  13  further includes a first horizontal section  15  and a fist vertical section  17 . The first vertical section  17  has a retaining section  19  and a through-hole opening  20  for securing push button assembly  40 , as shown in FIG. 5 The upper handle section  12  also includes two equidistant screw holes  16  and  18  vertically above and below through opening  20  for securing the push button assembly  40  to upper handle section  12  of handle assembly  10 . 
     Push button assembly  40  includes a cylindrical shaft  22  which fits into central hole  20  of upper handle section  12 . Shaft  22  is comprised of an outer section  22   a  which acts as a locking pin and an inner section  22   b  which is enclosed in push button assembly  40 . Spring  24  fits over inner section  22   b  and is compressible onto stop member  26 . Stop member  26  is comprised of an outer section  26   a  that surrounds outer section  22   a  of shaft  22  and an inner section  26   b  that surrounds inner section  22   b  of shaft  22 . The inner section  26   b  is integrally comprised of a vertical plate member  26   c  which is secured to upper handle section  12  by screws being inserted through holes  26   d  and  26   e  of plate member  26   c.    
     Lower handle section  14  curves out to facilitate the gripping of handle assembly  10 . 
     Push button assembly  40  is comprised of housing member  42  and push button housing  30  which includes a recess  30   b  for receiving locking member  40   f . Housing member  42  is rectangularly shaped with an internal cavity  40   a  and screw holes  40   b  and  40   c  so as to secure push button assembly  40  to handle assembly  10 . Housing member  42  has an opening  40   d  to insert push button housing  30 . The top section  46  of housing member  42 , has a rectangular opening  48  which contains a vertically movable, rectangular button  40   e  which acts as the release for unlocking handle assembly  50  when depressed. Integral with rectangular button  40   e  and on the bottom portion  44  of opening  40   d  there is a vertically movable locking member  40   f  which moves upwardly to engage recess  30   b . This activates the locking of handle assembly  50  when locking member  40   f  is in the upper position. Opening  40   g  is aligned with opening  40   d.    
     Push button housing  30  has a depression for receiving a person&#39;s thumb and is horizontally inserted into opening  40   d  of push button assembly  40 . Housing  30  contains an interior chamber  30   a  and locking slot  30   b  on its bottom section  32  which holds aforementioned locking member  40   f  when push button housing  30  is depressed, thus locking handle assembly  50 . 
     A latitude of modification, change, and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.