IP Library Granted Patent US 12680334
Granted Patent B2
US 12680334 · App. 18/904,331 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Recessed door handle control

Inventor: Avi Shoshan (Las Vegas, NV)
Assignee: Panda Windows and Doors Operations LLC
E05B5/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680334
App. No.
18/904,331
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A handle for sliding panels has a handle shell with a recess, where the handle shell is fixedly attached to a slidable panel. A clutch is housed within the handle shell, and an elongated square bar is in mechanical communication with the clutch. The elongated square bar extends outward from the handle shell and into the panel. A retractable handle is housed in the recess, the retractable handle having a circular hinge with a slot that provides a hinged and rotatable attachment to the clutch.

Claims (46)

1 . A handle for sliding panels comprising:

a handle shell with a recess, the handle shell fixedly attached to a slidable panel;

a clutch housed within the handle shell;

an elongated square bar in mechanical communication with the clutch, the elongated square bar extends outward from the handle shell and into the panel; and

a retractable handle housed in the recess, the retractable handle having a circular hinge with a slot that provides a hinged and rotatable attachment to the clutch;

wherein the clutch comprises:

a square bar holder that is fixedly attached to the elongated square bar;

a bar holder in which the square bar holder sits and is free to rotate, the bar holder having opposing winglets, each of the opposing winglets having a ball bearing that is inwardly biased toward the square bar holder by a ball helical spring;

a hook biased by a torsion spring in a default engaged position with the slot of the circular hinge of the retractable handle; and

wherein the square bar holder has rounded indents on opposing sides that interact with the ball bearings to provide a locking action when the ball bearings are positioned in the rounded indents;

wherein the handle shell has a cavity that is shaped to correspond to the shape of the bar holder with opposing winglets so as to hold the bar holder in a stationary position when the retractable handle is rotated; and

wherein when the elongated square bar and square bar holder are rotated the ball bearings are pushed away and compress the helical springs allowing the square bar holder to rotate.

2 . The handle of claim 1 wherein the recess of the handle shell further comprises a finger well to enable the retractable handle to be pulled outward by a user via an end nub on a proximal end of the retractable handle.

3 . The handle of claim 1 further comprising a top screw plate and a bottom screw plate that form a channel groove that retains the circular hinge that actuates within the groove when the retractable handle is rotated; and

wherein the circular hinge is attached to the square bar holder such that rotation of the retractable handle actuates the square bar holder and the elongated square bar as well when the ball bearings are not engaged with the square bar holder.

4 . The handle of claim 1 wherein the bar holder is made of a plastic including nylon.

5 . The handle of claim 1 wherein the retractable handle further comprises a finger push fixedly attached to a push bar.

6 . The handle of claim 5 wherein when the finger push is actuated toward the circular hinge the push bar disengages the hook from the slot of the circular hinge of the retractable handle.

7 . The handle of claim 1 wherein the retractable handle further comprises a grip area.

8 . The handle of claim 1 wherein the sliding panels are at least one of window panels or door panels.

9 . A sliding panel system comprising:

one or more sliding panels and a set of one or more tracks on which the one or more panels slide on with a set of wheels;

a gear box that raises and lowers the set of wheels of the one or more sliding panels;

at least one handle shell with a recess, the handle shell fixedly attached to at least one slidable panel;

a clutch housed within the handle shell;

an elongated square bar in mechanical communication with the clutch and the gearbox, the elongated square bar extends outward from the handle shell and into the panel; and

a retractable handle housed in the recess, the retractable handle having a circular hinge with a slot that provides a hinged and rotatable attachment to the clutch;

wherein the clutch comprises;

a square bar holder that is fixedly attached to the elongated square bar;

a bar holder in which the square bar holder sits and is free to rotate, the bar holder having opposing winglets, each of the opposing winglets having a ball bearing that is inwardly biased toward the square bar holder by a ball helical spring;

a hook biased by a torsion spring in a default engaged position with the slot of the circular hinge of the retractable handle; and

wherein the square bar holder has rounded indents on opposing sides that interact with the ball bearings to provide a locking action when the ball bearings are positioned in the rounded indents;

wherein the handle shell has a cavity that is shaped to correspond to the shape of the bar holder with opposing winglets so as to hold the bar holder in a stationary position when the retractable handle is rotated; and

wherein when the elongated square bar and square bar holder are rotated the ball bearings are pushed away and compress the helical springs allowing the square bar holder to rotate.

10 . The system of claim 9 wherein the recess of the handle shell further comprises a finger well to enable the retractable handle to be pulled outward by a user via an end nub on a proximal end of the retractable handle.

11 . The system of claim 9 further comprising a top screw plate and a bottom screw plate that form a channel groove that retains the circular hinge that actuates within the groove when the retractable handle is rotated; and

wherein the circular hinge is attached to the square bar holder such that rotation of the retractable handle actuates the square bar holder and the elongated square bar as well when the ball bearings are not engaged with the square bar holder.

12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the retractable handle further comprises a finger push fixedly attached to a push bar.

13 . The system of claim 12 wherein when the finger push is actuated toward the circular hinge the push bar disengages the hook from the slot of the circular hinge of the retractable handle, and rotation of the retractable handle will not rotate the square bar leaving the panel in a raised or lowered position when the retractable handle is placed back in the recessed position in the handle shell.

14 . The system of claim 9 wherein the bar holder is made of a plastic including nylon.

15 . The system of claim 9 wherein the retractable handle further comprises a grip area.

16 . The system of claim 9 wherein the sliding panels are at least one of window panels or door panels.

17 . A method of using system of claim 9 comprising:

lifting the retractable handle housed in the recess of the handle shell; and

rotating the retractable handle by 180 degrees to raise or lower the panel.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein if a finger push on the retractable handle is pushed the panel will remain in a raised or lowered position when the retractable handle is placed back in the recessed position in the handle shell.