Patent Description:
Door handles are used to provide controlled access to buildings and rooms around the world. Typically, a door handle arrangement will comprise a handle on either side of the door leaf which are interconnected by a spindle. Rotation of either handle rotates the spindle which in turn disengages a latch bolt from a door frame thereby allowing the door to open. Latch bolts are typically spring-loaded so as to latch when a door is closed without further rotation of the handles, which are also typically biased into a rest position.

Often door handles and/or the doors they are employed on comprise one or more locking mechanisms to help restrict access. The locking mechanisms can prevent a door from opening by directly engaging with the door frame, or by preventing the operation of the door handle.

Door handles and associated locking mechanisms are prone to attack by malicious actors trying to obtain unauthorised access to a building. Such attacks may take any form but will typically include some from mechanical forcing to break the handle, locking mechanism or integrity of the door itself.

One particular type of attack commonly employed for doors which prevent rotation of the spindle which operates the latch bolt when locked is to forcibly remove the external handle to provide access to the spindle. Once the handle and the locking mechanism is removed, rotation of the spindle to release the latch bolt and allow access may be readily achieved.

The above type of attack is particularly useful for doors with electronic locks. These types of electronic locks tend to be configured to prevent rotation of the spindle rather than using a deadbolt or the like.

<CIT> discloses a spindle apparatus comprises a spindle body portion having a first end and at least a second end. At least a first stop means is provided on the spindle body portion between the first and at least second ends to prevent or substantially prevent movement or removal of the spindle body portion in at least a first direction when fitted to a handle mechanism in use. The spindle body portion includes weakened means and/or resilient biasing means at or adjacent the first stop means to allow the spindle body portion to deform, break and/or bend when force is applied to the spindle body portion in use above a pre-determined threshold.

The present invention seeks to provide a door handle with improved security.

The present invention provides a door handle arrangement according to the appended claims.

A door handle arrangement is provided the door handle arrangement comprising: a first door handle for use on a first side of a door; a second door handle for use on a second side of the door; a spindle for connecting between the first and second door handles, wherein rotating either or both of the first or second door handles rotates the spindle;
characterised in that either the first or second door handle comprises a spindle lock which is movable between a stowed position in which the spindle is free to rotate and an engaged position in which the spindle lock prevents rotation of the spindle, and wherein the spindle lock is configured to move between the stowed position and engaged position upon removal of the second door handle from the door.

The provision of a spindle lock which is activated upon removal of an external handle increases the security of the door handle arrangement as it prevents the rotation of the spindle following the removal of the second door handle.

The spindle may engage with a door latch mechanism. The latch mechanism may be configured to secure the door within a frame and be operable using the handles to rotate the spindle. The door handle arrangement may be configured to disengage the second handle and the spindle when in a locked condition. Disengaging the second handle and spindle prevents the door being opened using handle.

The spindle lock may comprise a lock-plate. The lock-plate may be movable between the stowed position and the engaged position. The lock-plate may comprise an aperture through which the spindle passes. The spindle may be rotatably received within the aperture when the lock-plate is in the stowed position and may be rotatably restrained by the lock-plate when in the engaged position.

The aperture may comprise a rotation portion in which the spindle is rotatably received in the stowed position and a lock portion in which the spindle is rotationally locked in the engaged position. The lock-plate may be held in a vertical orientation in use and may be vertically movable between the stowed and engaged positions. The rotation portion of the aperture may vertically displaced from the lock portion. The lock portion may be located above the rotation portion and above the spindle when in the stowed position. As such, moving the lock-plate vertically downwards from the stowed position to the engaged position may move the lock-plate such that the relative location of the spindle moves from the rotation portion to the lock portion.

The rotation portion of the aperture may comprise curved lateral edges which correspond to a rotation portion of the spindle. The lock portion of the aperture may comprise lateral edges which correspond to a lock portion of the spindle. The lateral edges of the lock portion may be parallel and may correspond to the shape and size of the spindle.

The spindle may comprise a first width at a first axial location and a second width at a second axial location. The first width may be received within the rotation portion of the aperture and the second width may be received in the lock portion of the aperture.

The spindle may comprise a collar. The collar may comprise the first width and the second width. The collar may comprise a body having the first width, the second width and a third width in axial series. The third width may be an end flange. The third width may be wider than the aperture in the lock-plate. The third width may limit the axial movement of the spindle in relation to the lock-plate.

The second width may be provided by a narrowing of the collar body. The narrowing of the collar body may be provided by slots provided in the flanks of the body. The second width may correspond to the separation of the edges of the lock portion of the lock-plate aperture so as to be received therein when the lock-plate is in the engaged position.

The spindle and lock-plate may be configured to move axially relative to one another such that lock portions of the lock-plate and spindle may be aligned upon removal of the second handle. The spindle may be configured to axially shift from the first axial location to the second axial location upon removal of the second handle from the door.

The door handle arrangement may further comprise a biasing member which is configured to urge the spindle towards the second handle. The spindle may be restrained between the first handle and the second handle during normal use with the biasing member in a compressed state. Following removal of the second handle, the spindle may be released such that the biasing member can move the spindle.

The biasing member may be located between the spindle and the first door handle. The biasing member may be located between a terminal end of the spindle and an opposing surface of the first handle. The biasing member may be a helical spring.

The movement of the lock-plate may be gravity driven. That is, the lock-plate may be configured to move between the stowed and engaged positions under gravitational force, i.e. fall. Alternatively or additionally, the lock-plate may be driven by a biasing member such as a spring.

The movement of the lock-plate may be achieved automatically upon axial alignment of the lock portions of the aperture and spindle following an axial shift of the spindle.

The second handle may comprise a back-plate which is attached to the first handle by a plurality of fixings. The first handle may comprise a back-plate which is attached to the back-plate of the second handle. The attachment of the first and second back-plates may be achieved with a plurality of fixings. The fixings may be bolts, e.g. M6 bolts. The bolts may be received in threaded portions of the first or second handle back-plates. The back-plate may comprise or be attached to a handle body. The handle body may provide structural support or rigidity to the door handle. The plurality of fixings may connected the handle body and/or the back-plate.

The first handle may be attached to the first side of the door independently of the second handle. The first handle may be attached to the second handle and to the door. The second handle may be attached only to the first handle. The attachment of the first handle may be achieved with a plurality of fixings. The fixings may extend through the first handle back-plate. The fixings may be adjacent to the spindle. The fixings may comprise one or more screws or bolts. The fixings may provide a secondary fixing to maintain the first door handle in place following the removal of the primary fixings and/or the second handle.

The spindle may comprise a frangible portion. The frangible portion may be configured to break upon a shear or torsional force above a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold may be above the force experienced in normal use. The predetermined threshold may be representative of a force experienced when the second door handle is forcibly removed or when the spindle is forced following engagement of the spindle lock. The frangible portion may be aligned with the second side of the door or the back-plate of the second hand. The positioning of the frangible portion may limit the amount of spindle which is exposed and graspable following a shearing of the spindle.

The frangible portion may comprise a narrowed section of spindle. The narrowed section may be provided by one or more peripheral grooves, slots or cuts. The frangible portion may extend fully around the spindle.

The collar may be a separate component from the spindle and may be attached to the spindle, for example, when the door handle arrangement is being assembly. The collar may be attached to the spindle via a grub screw or some other fixing.

The door handle arrangement may further comprise a primary spindle lock which is operable to selectively rotatably lock the spindle by a user. The primary spindle lock may be primary mechanism for locking the door by a user in normal use, i.e. when the first and second handles are attached to the door. In such a case, the spindle lock may be referred to as a secondary spindle lock.

The door handle arrangement may comprise a disengagement mechanism which disengages the second handle and spindle so as to prevent rotation of spindle by the second handle when in a locked state.

The door handle arrangement may further comprise an electronically operated lock. The electronically operated lock may be configured to prevent rotation of the spindle when locked. The electronic lock may be configured to operate the disengagement mechanism.

Also described is a door comprising the door handle arrangement as described herein. The door may comprise an in use internal side and external side. The first side of the door handle arrangement may comprise the internal side and the second side may be the external side.

Also disclosed herein is a kit of parts comprising the door handle arrangement described herein. The kit of parts may comprise a plurality of spindles having different lengths. The kit of parts may comprise a plurality of handling housings and/or fixings of different sizes.

The present description also describes a back-plate for a door handle. The back-plate may be for attachment to a door and/or a second door handle, in use. The back-plate may comprise an aperture for receiving the spindle of a door handle arrangement in use. The back-plate may further comprise an elongate aperture for receiving a lock cylinder.

The lock aperture (i.e. the aperture for receiving the lock) may be configured to receive a lock cylinder in a plurality of locations relative to the spindle aperture (i.e. the aperture for receiving the spindle) such that the back-plate can be used with different sized latch mechanisms. Hence, for example, the back-plate may be utilised with latch mechanisms having one of a plurality of PZ spacings. The PZ spacing is a known reference in the art and may be taken to be the distance between the centre of the follower which receives the spindle and the centre of the lock cylinder.

The back-plate may be utilised with a latch mechanism having a PZ spacing of two or more sequential measurements taken from the group comprising: <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. The lock aperture may be configured to receive a euro lock cylinder.

The elongate lock aperture may comprise a length and a width. The length of the lock aperture is configured to receive a euro lock cylinder with a PZ spacing of at least two dimensions taken from the group comprising: <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. The length of the lock aperture may be greater than <NUM> and, optionally, greater than <NUM> but less than <NUM>.

The lock aperture may comprise a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion may comprise a width and a length. The upper portion may comprise a width and a length. The width of the lower portion may be between <NUM> and <NUM>. The width of the upper portion may be between <NUM> and <NUM>.

The back-plate may comprise or be attached to a handle body. The handle body may be configured to provide structural support and rigidity to the door handle. The handle body may comprise a lock aperture which corresponds to the back-plate lock aperture. The handle body may have a thickness which is greater than the thickness of the back-plate.

The back-plate and/or handle body may be configured to receive an outer handle housing. The handle housing may be attached to the handle body or back-plate via one or more fixings. The fixings may comprise one or more clip fastenings or one or more screws (such as a grub screw, for example).

The handle housing may comprise a lock aperture for receiving the lock cylinder. The handle housing lock aperture may correspond to the lock cylinder such that the lock cylinder is snugly received therein. The handle housing lock aperture may be smaller than the lock aperture of the back-plate or handle body. Thus, the handle housing may be configured to receive a lock cylinder at a single predetermined PZ spacing, whereas the back-plate and handle body may be configured to receive a lock cylinder at various PZ spacings. The handle housing aperture may have dimensions corresponding to a Euro lock cylinder.

The handle housing may comprise a plurality of parts which are separately mounted to the handle. The handling housing may be configured to cover an area of the handle which is local to the position of the lock cylinder. The handle housing may be configured to cover the handle body and back-plate below the handle.

Also described is a door handle comprising: a handle; a latch mechanism comprising a latch bolt and a dead bolt; a spindle connecting the handle and the latch mechanism such that the latch bolt is operable via a rotation of the handle; a lock cylinder operable to deploy the dead bolt; and, a back-plate for attachment to a door. The back-plate may comprise an aperture for receiving the spindle and an aperture for receiving the lock cylinder. The lock aperture may be configured to receive the lock cylinder in a plurality of locations relative to the spindle aperture such that the back-plate can be used with different sized latch mechanisms.

Also described is a door handle or door handle arrangement as disclosed herein in combination with a plurality of handle housings. The handle housings may each comprise a lock aperture configured to receive a lock cylinder. The position of the lock aperture may vary between each of the plurality of handle housings. In doing so, handle or handle arrangement may be configured to receive a lock cylinder in a plurality of positions whilst being provided with a suitable handle housing.

It will be appreciated that, where possible, any feature or combination of features disclosed or claimed herein may be combined with any other feature or combination of features, whether or not explicitly described.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments and the inventive concept. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details or with known equivalents of these specific details, that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and that the present invention may be practiced in a variety of alternative embodiments. It will also be appreciated that well known methods, procedures, components, and systems may have not been described in detail.

<FIG> shows a door handle arrangement <NUM> according to an embodiment. The door handle arrangement <NUM> comprises a first handle <NUM>, a second handle <NUM> and a spindle <NUM> extending therebetween. The handles <NUM>, <NUM> each comprise handle levers <NUM>, <NUM> which may take any suitable form known in the art (including door knobs, for example). The spindle <NUM> is attached to each of the first <NUM> and second <NUM> handles so as to be rotatable about a spindle axis <NUM> upon rotation of either or both of the first <NUM> and second <NUM> handle levers. The handle arrangement <NUM> is for use with a convention door <NUM> (see <FIG>) which may be received within an opening or frame of a building and used in a conventional manner. Given the conventional nature of the door, it is not shown nor described further.

Although the construction of the door <NUM> is largely immaterial, the door handle arrangement <NUM> is particularly, though not exclusively, useful for external doors. As such, the first handle <NUM> may be considered to be and referred to as an internal handle and the second handle <NUM> may be considered to be and referred as an external handle, in some embodiments.

The spindle <NUM> is operably engaged with a latch mechanism <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) such that rotating the spindle <NUM> with either of the first <NUM> or second <NUM> handle levers operates the latch mechanism such that the door <NUM> can be opened.

The door handle arrangement <NUM> may be provided in a "locked" state in which the external handle <NUM> is disengaged from the spindle <NUM> such that rotating the handle lever <NUM> does not cause the rotation of the spindle <NUM>. When provided in an "unlocked" state, the external handle lever <NUM> may be engaged with the spindle <NUM> such that rotating the external handle <NUM> rotates the spindle <NUM> and operates the latch. It will be appreciated that the terms "locked state" and "unlocked state" are used here in relation to the respective decoupling and coupling of the handle lever <NUM> to the spindle <NUM> to render the handle as being operable to disengage the door latch, rather than engaging or disengaging a lock per se.

The engagement between the spindle <NUM> and the handle levers <NUM>, <NUM> may be achieved via an electronic drive which is operatable via an electronic access key. As such, the door handle arrangement <NUM> may be provided with an electronic reader <NUM> which is configured to a read an electronic access key presented by a user. An example of an electronic drive is provided in <FIG> which is described below. It will be appreciated that other means of engaging the handle lever <NUM> and spindle <NUM> may exist, and the handles <NUM>,<NUM> may comprise some other form of engagement in which the spindle <NUM> is held in place to prevent rotation when the door <NUM> is in a locked condition.

In an effort to improve the security of door handle arrangements in which controlling the rotation of the spindle <NUM> is central to the security and locking function of the door <NUM>, the handle arrangement <NUM> comprises a spindle lock <NUM> which is operable upon removal of the handle <NUM> and/or handle lever <NUM>. Hence, should the handle lever <NUM> be removed or otherwise damaged so that access to the spindle <NUM> is achieved, then the spindle lock <NUM> may automatically engage to prevent direct rotation of the spindle <NUM> from the exterior side of the door <NUM>, thereby preventing unauthorised opening.

The spindle lock <NUM> may be incorporated on an internal side, e.g. a secure side, of the door <NUM> such that it is not possible to access the spindle lock <NUM> if the handle <NUM> on the opposing side is removed.

<FIG> show the door handle arrangement <NUM> of <FIG> with the handle housings <NUM>, <NUM> removed to reveal the back-plates <NUM>, <NUM> of each handle <NUM>, <NUM>, and a spindle lock <NUM> according to one embodiment. The handle levers <NUM>, <NUM> and spindle <NUM> are as previously presented in <FIG> and not described again here. <FIG> shows a view of the spindle lock <NUM> as being part of the internal door handle <NUM>, with <FIG> showing the spindle engagement on the external handle <NUM>.

The spindle lock <NUM> is shown in more detail in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> shows the spindle lock <NUM> in the stowed position, <FIG> shows the spindle lock <NUM> in the engaged position, <FIG> show the principal components of the spindle lock <NUM> with <FIG> showing an exploded view, <FIG> showing the stowed position from the internal handle side, and <FIG> showing the engaged position from the internal handle side. <FIG> show a cross section of the internal handle <NUM> to better illustrate the operation of the spindle lock <NUM>.

The spindle lock <NUM> may comprise a spindle lock-plate <NUM> which is movable relative to the spindle <NUM> between a stowed position and an engaged position. The spindle lock-plate <NUM> is configured to move vertically downwards in relation to the spindle <NUM> when transitioning between the stowed and engaged positions. In the described embodiment, the movement of the lock-plate <NUM> is enabled by an axial shift in the position of the spindle <NUM> and is gravity driven. In some embodiments, the lock-plate <NUM> may be additionally or alternatively spring actuated such that a spring is used to drive the lock-plate into the engaged position when the spindle and lock-plate are suitably aligned. This may be desirable to provide a more definitive actuation, for example.

The lock-plate <NUM> may comprise an aperture <NUM> into which the spindle <NUM> can be received in the stowed and engaged positions. The aperture <NUM> may include multiple portions which correspond to the rotatable and engaged configurations of the lock-plate <NUM>. Hence, the aperture <NUM> may comprise a rotation portion <NUM> in which the spindle <NUM> may be rotatably received in the stowed position, and a lock portion <NUM> in which the spindle <NUM> is fixedly received when in the engaged position such that the spindle <NUM> is prevented from rotation.

A rotation portion <NUM> of the lock-plate aperture <NUM> may comprise a circular peripheral wall such that the spindle <NUM> might be rotatably received therein. Hence, as can be seen, there are first and second curved lateral edges which are located on the outside of and concentrically aligned with the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the spindle when the lock-plate <NUM> is in the stowed position.

The lock portion <NUM> of the aperture <NUM> may comprise lateral edges which correspond to but are slightly wider than the spindle cross-section such that the spindle <NUM> can be readily received therein when the lock-plate <NUM> falls under gravity and prevented from rotating about axis <NUM>. As can be seen, the spindle <NUM> is square sectioned in the described embodiment, which lends itself to the engaging portion of the aperture having parallel sides but this need not be the case and other configurations of spindle <NUM> and aperture <NUM> are possible.

An optional third portion <NUM> of the aperture <NUM> may also be provided to accommodate one or more fixing bolts in both the stowed and engaged positions. As shown, the third portion may comprise an elongate vertically oriented slot which may extend from the rotation portion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the lock-plate <NUM> may be provided in a vertical orientation and generally parallel to the door leaf and/or the back-plate <NUM> of the door handle <NUM>. The lock-plate <NUM> may comprise a plate of a suitable size and shape for it to fit slidably within the outer handle housing <NUM> whilst having suitable rigidity to prevent the spindle <NUM> rotating when in the locked position. In the example shown, the plate <NUM> is generally rectangular with its major axis in the vertical orientation.

The lock-plate <NUM> may be located within the handle housing <NUM> or an internal housing structure which surrounds the lock-plate <NUM> to prevent rotation relative to the handle <NUM> when in the engaged position. In one embodiment, the handle <NUM> may comprise a handle body <NUM>, which includes a chamber in which the lock-plate <NUM> is slidably received. An example of handle body <NUM> can be seen in <FIG>, in which a lock-plate chamber <NUM>' is provided around the base of the handle lever <NUM>.

As noted above, the lock-plate <NUM> may be configured to be movable between the stowed position and the engaged position and this may be achieved using gravity. In order to assist with a smooth transition, the handle arrangement <NUM> may comprise one or more guide members. The guide members may also include an axial limiter to prevent the axial movement of the lock-plate <NUM> relative to the back place <NUM>. The guide members may be appended from back-plate <NUM> or an adjacent structure such as the walls of the handle housing <NUM> or an internal housing structure (not shown). In some embodiments, the width of the lock-plate <NUM> may be chosen to correspond to a surrounding enclosure, e.g. the handle housing <NUM>, such that the outer edges of the plate <NUM> are guided during the downward sliding motion. However, the lock-plate <NUM> may be guided solely by the engagement with spindle.

The guide members may comprise lateral tracks which prevent excessive lateral movement and/or one or more linear bearing tracks which reduce the contact area between the lock-plate <NUM> and surrounding structures such as the back-plate <NUM>. Hence, as can be seen best in <FIG>, the arrangement may comprise linear bearing tracks <NUM> which are provided between the lock-plate <NUM> and the back-plate <NUM>. The bearing tracks may be narrow vertical strips which provide a small contact area.

In order to engage with the lock-plate <NUM>, the spindle <NUM> may be comprise an external profile which corresponds to the aperture portions <NUM> and <NUM> when placed at different axial positions. Hence, the spindle <NUM> may comprise a first section which is configured to be received by the rotation portion <NUM> when the spindle <NUM> is in a first axial position, and a second section which is configured to engage with the lock portion <NUM> when the spindle <NUM> is in a second axial position.

In order to provide the first and second sections of the spindle <NUM>, the spindle <NUM> may further comprise a lock-plate collar <NUM> which is attached to the spindle <NUM> to provide a mechanical fixture with which the lock-plate <NUM> can engage. The provision of a collar <NUM> makes the fabrication of the spindle <NUM>, which may otherwise be conventional, more straightforward.

The collar <NUM> may comprise a body <NUM> which comprises portions which are shaped and sized to correspond and engage with the lock-plate <NUM> in the different operative states, i.e. the stowed and engaged configuration, as discussed above. Hence, the collar body <NUM> may comprise a rotation portion <NUM> for engaging with the rotation portion <NUM> of the lock-plate <NUM>, and a lock portion <NUM> for engaging with the lock portion <NUM> of the lock-plate <NUM>.

The rotation portion <NUM> and lock portion <NUM> of the collar <NUM> may be provided on axially displaced parts of the body <NUM>. Hence, when the collar <NUM> and lock-plate <NUM> are in a first axial location relative to each other, the rotation portions of the collar <NUM> and lock-plate <NUM> are engaged and the spindle <NUM> can rotate, and when the collar <NUM> is a second axial position relative to the lock-plate <NUM>, the engagement portions are aligned so that rotation of the collar <NUM> and spindle <NUM> is prevented.

The collar <NUM> shown in <FIG> comprises a cylindrical body <NUM> which extends from an end flange <NUM>. The cylindrical body <NUM> comprises a central through-bore <NUM> which corresponds to the spindle <NUM> such that the collar <NUM> can be mounted on the spindle <NUM> and secured by a grub screw (or other suitable fixing means) which is received within a threaded bore <NUM>.

The rotating portion <NUM> of the cylindrical body <NUM> is distal to the end flange <NUM> and comprises a round transverse cross-section such that it can be rotatably received within the rotation portion <NUM> of aperture <NUM>. The axial length of the rotating portion <NUM> may be greater than thickness of the lock-plate <NUM>.

The lock portion <NUM> may be provided by a second width which is narrower than the rotation portion <NUM>. The lock portion <NUM> may comprise parallel sidewalls and be located proximal to the end flange <NUM>, in between the rotation portion <NUM> and end flange <NUM>. The width of the lock portion <NUM> corresponds to the width of the lock portion <NUM> of the aperture <NUM> such that when the collar <NUM> is received within the lock portion <NUM> of the aperture <NUM> it can no longer rotate about the spindle axis of rotation.

The lock portion <NUM> may be provided by slots which are recessed into the flanks of the otherwise cylindrical body <NUM> of the collar <NUM>. The radial depth of the slots may be sufficient to extend to and expose the central bore <NUM> and spindle <NUM> such that the lock-plate <NUM> may directly engage with the spindle <NUM> when in the engaged position.

The end flange <NUM> may comprise a diameter which is greater than the width of the aperture <NUM> in the lock-plate <NUM>. The flange <NUM> may act to limit the axial movement of the spindle <NUM> in relation to the lock-plate <NUM>.

In order to trigger the movement of the lock-plate <NUM>, the spindle <NUM> may be movable along its axis <NUM> between an operating/rotatable position and a locked position. The spindle <NUM> may be held and axially contained between the handles <NUM>, <NUM> in the operating position in a conventional manner. Hence, when the door handle arrangement <NUM> is operating normally and both door handles <NUM>, <NUM> are in position and attached to the respective sides of the door <NUM> the spindle <NUM> cannot move axially.

Upon removal of one of the handles, e.g. the external handle <NUM>, the spindle <NUM> may be configured to shift axially away from the internal handle <NUM> such that the lock portion <NUM> of the spindle collar <NUM> is axially aligned with the lock-plate <NUM>. When suitably aligned, the lock-plate <NUM> is able to fall under gravity from the stowed position to surround the spindle <NUM> and prevent rotation.

In order to provide the axial movement, the door handle arrangement <NUM> may comprise a biasing member which is configured to axially move the spindle <NUM> upon removal of the external handle <NUM>. The biasing member may be any suitable resiliently deformable member which can urge the spindle from the operable, rotating position, to a second axial position in which the lock-plate <NUM> can engage with the spindle <NUM> in the engaged position. The biasing member may act directly or indirectly on the spindle <NUM> and may act, for example, on the spindle collar <NUM>. In some embodiments, relative axial shift between the spindle <NUM> and the lock-plate <NUM> may be achieved by moving the lock-plate rather than the spindle <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, there is shown handle <NUM>, the spindle <NUM>, lock-plate <NUM>, spindle collar <NUM>, handle lever <NUM> and a biasing member <NUM> which is configured to axially shift the spindle <NUM> when the external handle, not shown, is removed.

As shown, the biasing member <NUM> may be located between an axial end face of the spindle <NUM> and a corresponding opposing surface of the handle <NUM>. The opposing surface may be provided directly by the handle lever <NUM>, or by an ancillary structure such as the fixing bolt <NUM> which attaches the handle lever <NUM>, as shown. Other surfaces of the handle may provide a contact surface for the biasing member <NUM>.

As shown, the biasing member <NUM> may comprise a helical spring or other suitable spring member. The spring <NUM>, which is best seen in <FIG>, may be a conical spring which is concentrically aligned with the longitudinal and rotational axis of the spindle <NUM>. As such, when the door handle arrangement <NUM> is in the normal operating condition, the spring member <NUM> is compressed by the external handle <NUM> urging against the distal end of the spindle <NUM>. When the engagement between the external handle <NUM> and the spindle <NUM> is removed, for example, with the removal of the external handle <NUM> from the door <NUM>, the spindle <NUM> is no longer restrained and is urged forwards towards the external side of the door <NUM> by the spring <NUM>, as shown by arrow <NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG>. The movement continues until the end flange <NUM> of the collar <NUM> contacts the lock-plate <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. At this point, the lock portion of the collar <NUM> is aligned with the lock-plate <NUM> which is free to slide downwards, as shown by arrow <NUM> in <FIG>.

In some embodiments, the spindle <NUM> may comprise a frangible portion such that it might break when an excessive shear or torsional force is applied to it. The frangible portion may be configured such that the spindle <NUM> breaks as the external handle <NUM> is forcibly removed or following the engagement of the lock-plate <NUM>. In the example shown in Figures 1a-3c, the frangible portion <NUM> comprises a notch or groove which introduces a mechanical weakness. The notch or groove may be provided on some or all sides of the spindle <NUM>, as required.

The location of the frangible portion <NUM> may be selected so as to reduce the amount of spindle <NUM> which protrudes from the external surface of the door <NUM> or back-plate <NUM> once broken. Hence, the frangible portion <NUM> may be located substantially flush or axially within with the external handle back-plate <NUM> or skin of the door once the <NUM> spindle <NUM> is in the extended axial position. In some embodiments, the frangible portion <NUM> may be located proximal to the latch gear inside the door <NUM>.

The back-plates <NUM>, <NUM> of the handles <NUM>, <NUM> may be attached to the door directly using appropriate fixings and/or by connecting the back-plates <NUM>, <NUM> using interconnecting bolts <NUM>. As can be seen in <FIG>, there may at least three bolts <NUM> extending between the two back-plates <NUM>, <NUM> with one towards each end and one provided within a mid-portion. The bolts <NUM> may be any suitable size to provide the necessary strength but will typically be M5 or M6 bolts. The position and number of bolts <NUM> may vary between embodiments.

As noted above, the lock-plate <NUM> may comprise an aperture <NUM> configured to accommodate one of the fixing bolts <NUM> in both the stowed and engaged positions thereby allowing the positioning of the bolts as required.

In addition to the back-plate connecting bolts <NUM>, the internal door handle <NUM> may comprise additional fixings to attach the internal back-plate <NUM> to the internal skin of the door <NUM>. The additional fixings may be distributed about the back-plate <NUM> and be local to the spindle <NUM> such that the internal back-plate <NUM> is provided with additional security should the connecting bolts <NUM> be broken or the external back-plate <NUM> be removed. The provision of additional fixings may allow the internal back-plate <NUM> and lock-plate to be retained in place should the external back-plate be removed. In the absence of the additional fixings <NUM>, removal of the interconnecting bolts <NUM> would leave the internal back-plate <NUM> and spindle <NUM> unattached and removable, thereby allowing the spindle to be turned or removed and an improvised spindle to be used.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, there is provided two additional fixing points <NUM> below the spindle <NUM> and one fixing point <NUM> above, but is not a limitation and a greater or fewer number of fixings <NUM> may be provided. The vertical position of the additional fixings may be between the spindle <NUM> and the mechanical deadbolt and/or between the spindle <NUM> and the electronic reader <NUM>, but the positions may vary from those shown.

The additional fixings <NUM> may comprise conventional bolts or screws which are received by the internal skin of the door <NUM>.

The spindle engagement mechanism <NUM> is shown in further detail in <FIG>. The spindle engagement mechanism <NUM> is operable to couple the external handle <NUM> to the spindle <NUM> such that rotating the handle <NUM>, rotates the spindle <NUM>. The way in which this is achieved may vary between embodiments, however, in the embodiment shown in <FIG> the spindle engagement comprises a bolt 44a which is movable from a stowed position in which the bolt 44a does not engage with the spindle <NUM>, to an engaged position in which the bolt 44a engages with the spindle and the handle <NUM>. <FIG> shows an aperture <NUM> in a collar <NUM> of the external handle lever <NUM>. The collar <NUM> is attached to the handle lever <NUM> so as to be rotatable therewith. The aperture <NUM> is configured to receive the bolt 44a which is moved radially inwards towards the spindle <NUM> when actuated. The bolt 44a is received within a bolt hole in the spindle <NUM> so as to rotatably couple the handle collar <NUM> and spindle <NUM> together. Hence, once engaged, rotating the handle lever <NUM> causes the spindle <NUM> to rotate.

The actuation mechanism for the bolt 44a is provided by a worm drive <NUM> which is driven by a small electric motor <NUM>. When the motor <NUM> is energised, the rotor 49a rotates the worm drive <NUM> which moves an actuator body <NUM> downwards towards the collar <NUM> so as to drive the bolt 44a into the collar <NUM> and spindle <NUM>. The actuator body <NUM> is shown with the reduced separation in <FIG>. The actuator body <NUM> comprises a shoe portion 50a which provides a runner against which the bolt 44a can slide during the rotation of the handle lever <NUM> such that the bolt 44a is continually urged into the collar <NUM> and handle lever <NUM>. Once the actuator body <NUM> is retracted, the bolt 44a is urged radially outwards by a spring housed within the collar <NUM> thereby disengaging the handle lever <NUM> and spindle <NUM>.

The operation of the motor <NUM> may be controlled via an electronic key (not shown) which may be presented to the reader <NUM> by a user. The reader <NUM> may be configured to communicate with the key via any suitable short range protocol such as Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE, (RTM) or Near Field Communication, NFC, which are well known in the art. It will be appreciated that a reader <NUM> may also be provided on the internal handle <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>) and that a power source in the form of batteries or the like may also be incorporated in the handle arrangement <NUM>. A cable <NUM> may connect the external and internal handles <NUM>, <NUM> to transmit signals or power therebetween.

The electronic access key may be provided in the form of a key fob or mobile phone as well known in the art.

Returning to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the door handle arrangement <NUM> may comprise a conventional latch bolt which is operable via the door handle to open and close the door. The door may also comprise a deadbolt which is operable with a mechanical key or thumb-turn. Hence, as can be seen in <FIG>, the first handle <NUM> may comprise an aperture <NUM> for presenting the barrel of a conventional cylinder lock such that the door <NUM> is lockable with a mechanical key or thumb turn. In the example shown, the mechanical lock is operable from the first <NUM>, internal handle only, but this is not a limitation and a mechanical lock may be additionally or alternatively operable via the second handle <NUM>.

A typical latch mechanism <NUM> which may be used with the door handle arrangement <NUM> is shown in <FIG> and includes a latch bolt <NUM> and a dead bolt <NUM> housed within a lock case <NUM> (which may be referred to as a latch mechanism housing). The latch bolt <NUM> is repeatably retractable via the follower <NUM> which receives the rotatable spindle <NUM>. A lock cylinder <NUM> is operably connected to the deadbolt <NUM> and is exposed through the aperture <NUM> on the internal door handle housing <NUM> and/or the external door handle housing <NUM>.

The cylinder lock <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be a Euro lock cylinder (which may be referred to as a pin tumbler lock) and may comprise a body portion 920a, which houses spring loaded driver pins, and a barrel 920b which houses key pins. Rotating the barrel with a suitable key turns an internal cam (not shown) thereby actuating the dead bolt <NUM>.

In a conventional handle, the cylinder <NUM> passes readily but snugly through a suitably sized aperture within the back-plate and is exposed externally through an aperture in the outer casing of the door handle. A typical handle housing aperture <NUM> may be seen in <FIG>, for example.

In order to accommodate different markets and requirements, it is known to provide latch mechanisms <NUM> of different sizes. The size of a latch mechanism <NUM> may vary in different dimensions such as the casing height, casing depth, backset, which is the distance between the centre of the follower <NUM> and the front of the case <NUM>, and the so-called PZ spacing, which is the distance between the centre of the follower <NUM> and the centre of the lock cylinder <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> with the reference sign 'PZ'. Typically, PZ spacings comprise a plurality of conventional dimensions included in the group comprising: <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, but others may be possible. As such, door handles and latch mechanisms are conventionally selected to have corresponding dimensions at the point of purchase. However, this results in manufacturers and stockists having to provide multiple different door handles and latch mechanisms.

<FIG> shows a door handle arrangement <NUM> in which a portion of the outer handle housing <NUM> of the internal handle <NUM> has been removed to reveal a handle body <NUM> which is mounted to the back plate <NUM>. It will be appreciated that the rear side of the back-plate <NUM> which abuts the door <NUM> corresponds to that shown on the opposing external door handle <NUM>.

The body <NUM> and back-plate <NUM> each comprise a cylinder aperture <NUM> which is configured to receive a lock cylinder <NUM> at various spacings from the spindle centre <NUM> (which is shown in <FIG> and <FIG>). Hence, the door handle <NUM> may be used with different lock mechanisms <NUM> having different PZ spacings.

In order to accommodate latch mechanisms <NUM> with various PZ spacings, the cylinder aperture <NUM> is generally elongate and may have a lower portion <NUM> and an upper portion 1050U. The lower portion <NUM> may be configured to receive the body 920a of the lock cylinder <NUM>. The upper portion 1050U may be configured to receive the barrel 920b. Hence, when a lock cylinder <NUM> is located within the lowest possible position, the body 920a of the cylinder will sit fully within the lower portion <NUM> such that external surfaces of the handle body <NUM> and back-plate <NUM> are closely spaced in relation to the cylinder body 920a, and the barrel portion 920b of the lock <NUM> sits in the lowest possible position in the upper portion 1050U.

The lower portion may have a width which is narrower than the upper portion and may correspond to the width of the lock cylinder body 920a. For a Euro lock, this dimension may be <NUM> with enough clearance to allow the lock to be readily received. The upper portion 1050U may have a width which corresponds to the width of the barrel portion <NUM> of the lock cylinder <NUM>, which, for a Euro lock, is approximately <NUM>.

The transition between the lower <NUM> and upper 1050U portion is provided by a curved shoulder. The curved shoulder may have a radius which matches the radius of the lock barrel 920b, but this is not a limitation.

The height of a standard Euro lock cylinder is <NUM>. Hence, the aperture <NUM> which is configured to accommodate various Euro lock PZ spacings will be greater than <NUM>. In the exemplary spacings noted above, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, meaning the overall height of the aperture may be anywhere between <NUM> and <NUM>. To allow each of the positions to be accommodated. However, this it is not necessarily the case that the aperture <NUM> may only be sized to accommodate a select number of the possible PZ spacings. In the most extreme case, this would require the aperture <NUM> to be long enough to accommodate two of the adjacent spacings in the group comprising <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. Hence, the smallest height for a Euro lock may be <NUM>, which would accommodate a PZ spacing of <NUM> and <NUM>.

The height of the lower portion <NUM> may correspond to the height of the lock cylinder 920a. The height of the upper portion 1050U will be determined by the required PZ spacings.

It will be appreciated that the shape of the aperture <NUM> may vary between embodiments and will depend on the shape of the lock in question. In the example of <FIG>, the shape of the aperture <NUM> broadly corresponds to a Euro lock cylinder profile with an elongated upper portion. However, this is not a limitation. It will be appreciated that the lock cylinder may be maintained in place by the latch casing and may not forcibly contact the back plate or handle body. However, minimising the aperture such that it corresponds to the shape of the lock allows the strength of the handle which is beneficial, particularly local to the fixings.

In order to provide a finished door handle <NUM>, the outer handle housing <NUM> is required to have a lock aperture <NUM> (see <FIG>) in the correct position and having the correct size to snugly receive the lock cylinder <NUM>. <FIG> includes various outer handle housings 10a-10e for the door handles <NUM>, <NUM>, each with a cylinder aperture 6a-6e located to suit a particular latch mechanism <NUM> with a given PZ spacing. In the embodiment shown, the outer handle housings 10a-10e are for the conventional PZ spacings provided above. The dashed line <NUM> shows the position of the spindle centre with the lines PZ1-PZ5 showing the relative PZ spacings for each handle housing 10a-10e. It will be appreciated that the elongate lock aperture <NUM> is shown by the dashed line.

Thus, the present invention contemplates providing a single door handle to suit multiple different latch mechanisms having different PZ dimensions. It will be appreciated that the present invention may be applied to any suitable door handle and is not limited to a door handle having the aforementioned spindle lock or electronic lock. Indeed, the invention may be used with a conventional door handle and latch mechanism where there is a desire to provide a single handle for multiple latch sizes. Further, the handle arrangement <NUM> may not incorporate the elongate aperture <NUM> disclosed herein.

The handle housings 6a-6e shown in <FIG> are configured to cover the lower half of the door handle only (from the handle downwards). Hence, the upper edge of the handle housings 6a-6e are shaped to mate with a corresponding edge of the handle lever <NUM> as provided, for example, by the rose 12a. However, this is not a limitation and the handle housings 6a-6e may be full covers in some embodiments, or further reduced in vertical dimensions so as to only cover a smaller portion of the handle <NUM> which is local to the lock aperture 6a-6e.

The handle housings 6a-6e may be attached to the door handle <NUM> by any suitable means. In the embodiment show in <FIG>, the housings 6a are attached by using a fixing in the form of a grub screw <NUM> which is received through a hole 53a-53e in the bottom of the housing 6a-6e, and a two part clip fastener which may comprise one or more pips (not shown) on the inside of the housing 6a-6e which is received within a corresponding depression <NUM> on the handle body <NUM>, or vice versa.

It will be appreciated that the different covers shown in <FIG> may be provided with a single door handle such that the number of door handles which are required to be manufactured and stocked by a retailer may be reduced, whilst still providing flexibility in relation to the latch mechanisms which may be employed with the handle.

Claim 1:
A door handle arrangement (<NUM>) comprising:
a first door handle (<NUM>) for use on a first side of a door (<NUM>);
a second door handle (<NUM>) for use on a second side of the door (<NUM>);
a spindle (<NUM>) for connecting between the first (<NUM>) and second door handles (<NUM>), wherein rotating either or both of the first (<NUM>) or second door handles (<NUM>) rotates the spindle (<NUM>);
wherein either the first (<NUM>) or second door handle (<NUM>) comprises a spindle lock (<NUM>) which is movable between a stowed position in which the spindle (<NUM>) is free to rotate and an engaged position in which the spindle lock (<NUM>) prevents rotation of the spindle (<NUM>),
characterised in that the spindle lock (<NUM>) is configured to move between the stowed position and engaged position upon removal of the second door handle (<NUM>) from the door (<NUM>).