Patent Application
20130069290
The present invention is generally related to door handles, and more particular to a spring device for a door handle so that the door handle can be turned clockwise or counter-clockwise to open/close a door and the door handle is automatically restored to its original position after turning.
Conventionally, in order to restore a door handle back to its original position after being turned to open or close a door, a spring mechanism is installed inside the door handle. For each type of door handle, usually the spring mechanism has to be designed specifically for the door handle and cannot be applied to other types of door handles, effectively reducing the applicability of the spring mechanism. Additionally, conventional door handles can only be turned clockwise but not the other way around. This would be quite inconvenient when turning the door handle with both hands full.
Therefore, a major objective of the present invention is to provide a spring device for configuring with a door handle so that the door handle can be turned clockwise or counterclockwise to open/close a door and the door handle is then automatically restored to its original position after turning.
The spring device contains an upper plate, a lower plate, and a base sandwiched between the upper and lower plates. The base has a major opening and a side opening for accommodating a first elastic element and a second elastic element, respectively. The first elastic element has its two ends fixed to two positioning posts on the lower plate. A rotational seat also positioned in the major opening of the base has an arm fixed to a central part of the first elastic element. The upper and lower plates are then riveted together to house the other components inside to form the spring device.
The upper and lower plates have corresponding and aligned locking holes for riveting by pins.
The rotational seat has a rib on a side opposite to the arm and the rib has a notch for the embedding of a protrusion on the second elastic element so that the rotational seat is accurately positioned when it is restored to its original position after turning.
The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
The lower plate 2 has a central hole 21, two locking holes 22, and two slots 23 corresponding to and aligned with the central hole 11, the locking holes 12, and the blocking pieces 13 of the upper plate 1. The lower plate 2 also has a pair of opposing and cylindrical positioning posts 24.
The base 3 has a major opening 31 for the accommodation of the first elastic element 4. A p-shaped side opening 32 is connected to a side of the major opening 31 for the accommodation of the second elastic element 6.
The first elastic element 4 contains a number of helical torsion springs series-connected into a planar arc shape. When it is twisted to one lateral side, the first elastic element 4 will return to its original shape after release. The two ends of the first elastic element 4 are threaded by the two positioning posts 24.
The rotational seat 5 contains an axial through channel 53, an arm 51 extended from a side, and a rib 52 protruding from an opposing side. The rib 52 has inwardly indented notch 521
The second elastic element 6 is p-shaped and has a protrusion 61 from the straight segment of the p shape.
To assemble the spring device, the center of the first elastic element 4 is fixedly joined to the arm 51 of the rotational seat 5. Then, the upper plate 1, the base 3, and the lower plate 2 are stacked so that the top and bottom sides of the rotational seat 5 are exposed out of the central holes 11 and 21 of the upper and lower plates 1 and 2, respectively. In the meantime, the blocking pieces 13 of the upper plate 1 are received by the slots 23 of the lower plate 2. Finally, the spring device is assembled after the positioning holes 12 and 22 are riveted together by pins.
As also shown in
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
