Door hardware, such as handlesets, locksets, and the like, are typically mounted at a borehole extending through a door, adjoined with a crossbore within which a latch is positioned. On opposite sides of the door, an interior assembly and an exterior assembly may be mounted. Each assembly may include, for example, a mechanical lock core actuatable via a key, a manual turn piece, or a handleset.
Typically, a plate extends across the borehole on either side of the door, and fasteners, such as bolts or other hardware, extend through the borehole. Additionally, a torque blade extends through the borehole, attached to the handles, turnpiece, and/or lock core to interact with the latch. In some instances, the plate may be formed to have a decorative exterior. In other instances, a decorative exterior plate may cover a base plate on either side of the borehole. This decorative exterior plate, or decorative plate (where no base plate is utilized), is referred to herein as a decorative plate or trim plate.
A wide variety of decorative exterior appearances may be utilized for the decorative plate. Typically, the decorative plate is integrated into a handleset or lockset at the time of manufacturing, either as part of the assembly for connection through the borehole, or by attaching a decorative exterior plate to the base plate. Accordingly, to change and aesthetic appearance of the door hardware, the entirety of the handlesets or locksets will be replaced. This includes the lock core, as well as the decorative base plate(s) on both the interior and exterior sides of the door, the manual turnpiece on the interior side of the door, and the like. In the case of a handleset, typically the handleset and any decorative plates are all replaced at the same time.
In some instances, it may be desirable to make a comparatively minor change to the aesthetic appearance of a handleset or lockset. For example, an appearance of the decorative trim plates that surrounds a lock core or a spindle may be desired to be modified, without changing the appearance of the handle, or without changing the lock core (thereby avoiding having to rekey a different lock core). To achieve such aesthetic changes, some handlesets and locksets allow for removal of the entire handleset or lockset assembly from a door, and separation of the decorative plate from the base plate. The handleset or lockset may then be reinstalled on the door at the borehole with a new decorative plate. However, such removal and reinstallation, as well as changing of the decorative plate, is not without difficulty. This is because often the decorative plate is mounted to the base plate in a particular manner that may not be readily interchangeable with other types of decorative plates (e.g., due to mismatched placements of fasteners holding the decorative plate to the main plate, and the like). Furthermore, it is often the case that an initial installation of handlesets or locksets may utilize a relatively unadorned decorative plates. Still further, in circumstances where there is no separable decorative exterior plate and base plate, there is limited ability to change the exterior appearance of the door hardware.
In general, a trim surround is installable around a trim plate of a door latching assembly. The trim surround may have a shape complementary to and installable around an outer perimeter of a trim plate. The trim surround can have a front edge and a rear edge, and a flange extending radially inwardly from the rear edge. The trim surround may be ring shaped to be complementary to a round trim plate of the door latching assembly. The flange may extend inwardly of the trim plate such that the flange retains the trim surround in place around the trim plate when the door latching assembly is mounted to a door.
In a first aspect, a door latching assembly is provided. The door latching assembly includes an actuating mechanism including at least one of a mechanical lock assembly or a handle. The actuating mechanism includes a retention portion and an axial portion, the axial portion extending into a borehole of a door when installed at the door, and including a rotatable portion. The door latching assembly further includes a trim plate surrounding an aperture sized to allow the axial portion of the actuating mechanism to extend therethrough, the trim plate being sized to cover the borehole of the door on which the door latching assembly is installed, the trim plate having an exposed front face and an inner flange positioned to interface with the retention portion of the actuating mechanism. The door latching assembly further includes a trim ring having a shape complementary to and installable around an outer perimeter of the trim plate, the trim ring having a front edge and a rear edge, the trim ring including a flange extending radially inwardly from the rear edge to a position inward toward the rotatable portion of the actuating mechanism on a side of the trim plate opposite the exposed front face.
In a second aspect, a door latching assembly includes an actuator including a retention portion and an axial portion that is rotatable relative to the retention portion. The door latching assembly also includes a trim plate surrounding an aperture sized to allow the axial portion of the actuator to extend therethrough, the trim plate having an exposed front face. The trim plate is positioned to interface with the retention portion of the actuator. The door latching assembly also includes a base plate including a threaded cylindrical protrusion extending through the trim plate. The door latching assembly includes a trim surround having a shape complementary to and installable around an outer perimeter of the trim plate, the trim surround having a front edge and a rear edge. The trim surround includes a flange extending radially inwardly from the rear edge to a position inward from an outermost edge of the trim plate on a side of the trim plate opposite the exposed front face.
In a third aspect, a trim ring is disclosed that is installable around a circular trim plate of a door latching assembly, the trim ring having a predetermined outer diameter and a front face. The trim ring includes a cylindrical body having a front edge, a rear edge, and a radially outward surface having a decorative pattern formed thereon, as well as a flange extending inwardly from the rear edge on a side opposite the front face of the circular trim plate.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of the present disclosure and therefore do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The drawings are not to scale and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements.
Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.
As briefly described above, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a trim piece useable in conjunction with door latching assemblies, such as handlesets and locksets, as well as such door latching assemblies or other actuating assemblies that incorporate such a trim piece. The trim piece is constructed to be retained around a trim plate of a handleset or lockset by having an interior footprint that is complementary to the trim plate (e.g., by being circular or cylindrical, and of a same diameter as the outer diameter of the trim plate), and may include decorative indicia along at least an outer surface. The trim piece may be referred to as a “surround” and can be used to change an overall aesthetic appearance of the handleset or lockset, while maintaining a trim plate in a visible location that surrounds a latch actuator (e.g., a mechanical lock core, a turnpiece, handle, or the like).
In example aspects, the trim piece may take the form of a trim ring having an inner diameter that is complementary to an outer diameter of a trim plate of the handleset or lockset. The trim ring may also include a flange that may be retained between the trim plate and a door, such that the trim ring is maintained against the door. Once the trim ring is installed, all or at least a portion of an outward-facing surface of the trim plate of a handleset or lockset may remain visible. The trim ring forms a revised overall appearance of the handleset or lockset.
In further example aspects, the actuating assembly may be non-pivotable, and may simply represent a handle or pull knob that may be used on door hardware.
In accordance with various examples, the use of a complementary trim piece that may be easily installable in addition to an existing trim plate provides adjustability of the aesthetic appearance of such a handleset or lockset, while maintaining simplicity of construction.
Referring first to
In the example shown, the handleset assembly 20 includes an interior portion 22 and an exterior portion 24. Each of the interior portion 22 and exterior portion 24 includes a handle 26, 28, respectively. The handles 26, 28 are each rotatable, to rotate a central spindle, connected to a torque blade (not shown). The rotation of the spindle and torque blade operates to selectively extend or retract a latch 30 positioned within the crossbore 31, such that the latch 30 is selectably extendable outward from an edge 16 of the door 10.
Similarly, the lockset assembly 40 includes an interior portion 42 and an exterior portion 44. In this arrangement, the interior portion 42 includes a manual turnpiece 46 and the exterior portion includes a mechanical lock cylinder 48. The manual turnpiece 46 is rotatable by a user to selectively extend or retract a latch 50 (e.g., a deadbolt) positioned within a crossbore 51 that extends to meet a borehole at which the lockset assembly 40 is mounted, and allows extension of the latch from the edge 16 of the door 10.
In the example shown, the door latching assemblies as shown, including both the handleset assembly 20 and the lockset assembly 40, have trim plates, also referred to as decorative plates. Such trim plates cover the borehole and surround a central, rotatable portion of the respective assembly (e.g., a spindle to which the handles 26, 28 attach, or a spindle/torque blade mechanically attached to the manual turnpiece 46 and/or the mechanical lock cylinder 48). Although shown in
Furthermore, although both a handleset assembly 20 and a lockset assembly 40 are shown in the example seen in
Now referring to
In the example shown, the exterior assembly 102 includes a mechanical lock assembly 104, including a mechanical lock cylinder 106 and a retention structure 108. The mechanical lock cylinder 106 is retained within the retention structure 108, and is attachable to a torque blade (not shown). When a valid key is inserted into the mechanical lock cylinder 106, that mechanical lock cylinder is rotatable relative to the retention structure 108, to rotate the torque blade and actuate a latch or deadbolt. The retention structure 108 has a front face 110 that is, in the example shown, circular. In alternative examples, the front face 110 may be of different shapes or sizes.
A trim plate 112 surrounds the retention structure 108, and is sized to cover a borehole (e.g., borehole 60, as seen in
In the example shown, the trim plate 112 includes a central aperture 113 within which the mechanical lock assembly 104 is received. Specifically, the trim plate 112 has an aperture 113 having a diameter sufficient to receive the retention structure, but of a smaller diameter than the front face 110 of the retention structure. Optionally, as shown, an axially extending protrusion 111 may surround the front face 110 as well, providing further alignment and retention between the trim plate 112 and the mechanical lock assembly 104.
In the example shown, the trim plate 112 has a radially outward surface 116 that extends generally perpendicularly to the front surface 114. When installed at a door (e.g. at the door 10), the front surface 114 of the trim plate 112 is spaced apart from the surface of the door 10 by a distance defined by width of the surface 116 in an axial direction of the mechanical lock assembly 104. The mechanical lock assembly 104 extends into the borehole 60, in the example shown by a distance greater than the width of the surface 116, for engagement with latch 50 via a torque blade (not shown).
In the example shown, a trim surround 120 may be provided, and may be selectively installed around the outward surface 116 of the trim plate 112. Specifically, the trim surround 120 may have an interior shape complementary to an exterior shape of the trim plate 112.
In the example shown, the trim surround 120 takes the form of a trim ring, having a generally cylindrical shape to match the generally circular shape of the trim plate 112. The trim surround 120 has an outer radial surface 122, including a decorative pattern 124 formed thereon. In alternative embodiments, the trim surround 120 may take another shape complementary to an outer perimeter shape of the trim plate 112, e.g., being square, rectangular, ovoid, or some other shape.
In the example shown, the trim surround 120 is made from a metal material, such as a metal alloy, and the decorative pattern 124 is formed in the material. The material may be selected to match, or be complementary to, the appearance of the trim plate 112 itself. In the example shown, the decorative pattern 124 comprises a knurling pattern; however, other decorative patterns may be used as well.
As seen best in the cross-sectional view of the exterior assembly 112 shown in
Although in
Referring now to
The portion 202 includes a trim plate 212 that has a front surface 214, similar to the trim plate 112. The trim plate 212 has a radially outward surface 216 that extends generally perpendicularly to the front surface 214 (depending on the exact shape and/or curvature of any decorative features on the front surface). When installed at a door, the front surface 214 is spaced apart from the surface of the door by a distance defined by a width of the surface 216 in an axis of rotation of the handle 204.
The trim plate 212 has an aperture 213 through which the handle 204 is attached to central spindle 206, which may extend therethrough. The trim plate is retained over the mounting plate 208 using a retention portion, such as a retention nut 219. The retention nut 219 is threaded over the threaded exterior surface 211 of the cylindrical central protrusion 210, and surrounds the spindle 206 and/or handle 204. While the handle 204 and spindle 206 may rotate to actuate the latch 30, the retention nut 219 remains unrotated once installed. In the example shown (specifically, as seen in
As with the lockset 100 of
In the example shown, the trim surround 220 takes the form of a trim ring, having a generally cylindrical shape to match a generally circular shape of the trim plate 212. The trim surround 220 can have an outer radial surface 222, including a decorative pattern 224 formed thereon. As above, the trim surround may be made from a metal material, such as a metal alloy, and the decorative pattern 224 is formed in the material. The decorative pattern 224 may comprise a knurling pattern, or other types of patterns as noted above.
In the example shown, specifically as seen in
In some examples, the front edge 228 extends from the door such that it is spaced apart from the surface of the door by a distance that is the same as that of the front surface 214 of the trim plate, thereby forming a coextensive front surface. That is, a distance from a surface of the flange 230 on which the trim plate 212 resides to the front edge 228 is a same distance as the depth of the trim plate. In other examples, the front edge 228 may extend a different distance as compared to the front surface 214. The spindle 206 extends into the borehole 80 for engagement with latch 30 via a torque blade (not shown).
Although, in the examples shown, a handle 230 is shown on one side of a handleset, other types of grippable features may be provided. For example, knobs and the like may be provided on one or both sides of a handleset 200, in a manner consistent with the present disclosure. Furthermore, in some instances, only one side (e.g., either an interior assembly or an exterior assembly) of a handleset or lockset might be configured to receive such a trim surround, while in other instances, both sides may be configured to receive the same or different types of trim surround pieces.
Referring to
In the example shown in
Notably, both the configurations seen in
As with the variants seen in
The description and illustration of one or more embodiments provided in this application are not intended to limit or restrict the scope of the invention as claimed in any way. The embodiments, examples, and details provided in this application are considered sufficient to convey possession and enable others to make and use the best mode of claimed invention. The claimed invention should not be construed as being limited to any embodiment, example, or detail provided in this application. Regardless of whether shown and described in combination or separately, the various features (both structural and methodological) are intended to be selectively included or omitted to produce an embodiment with a particular set of features. Having been provided with the description and illustration of the present application, one skilled in the art may envision variations, modifications, and alternate embodiments falling within the spirit of the broader aspects of the general inventive concept embodied in this application that do not depart from the broader scope of the claimed invention.
The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/371,269, filed on Aug. 12, 2022, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63371269 | Aug 2022 | US |