IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,523,971
Granted Patent B2
US 7,523,971 · App. 11/149,745 · Granted Apr 28, 2009

Spindle assembly with captive spring for use in a door handle assembly

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,523,971
App. No.
11/149,745
Granted
Apr 28, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A door handle assembly includes a spindle assembly having a first spindle and a second spindle. The first spindle has a shaft portion located between a first head portion and a first coupling end. The shaft portion has a first hub drive portion configured to engage a first hub portion of a split hub when inserted into the split hub in a first direction. The second spindle has a second head portion, a second hub drive portion and a second coupling end. The second coupling end is configured to slidably engage the first coupling end of the first spindle. The second hub drive portion is configured to engage a second hub portion of the split hub when inserted into the split hub in the first direction. A retainer device is attached to the shaft portion of the first spindle. A spring is captively positioned between the first head portion of the first spindle and the retainer device.

Claims (55)

1. A door handle assembly, comprising:

a latch mechanism having a split hub, said split hub having a first hub portion and a second hub portion, each of said first hub portion and said second hub portion being configured to independently operate said latch mechanism;

first and second door handles;

a spindle assembly including:

a first spindle operatively connected to said first door handle, having a shaft portion located between a first head portion and a first coupling end, said first head portion having a larger cross section than the shaft portion, said shaft portion having a first hub drive portion, said first hub drive portion being configured to engage said first hub portion when inserted into said split hub in a first direction;

a second spindle operatively connected to said second door handle, having a second head portion, a second hub drive portion and a second coupling end, said second coupling end being configured to slidably engage said first coupling end of said first spindle to provide independent rotational engagement of said first spindle with said second spindle, said second hub drive portion being configured to engage said second hub portion when inserted into said split hub in said first direction;

a retainer device attached to said shaft portion of said first spindle; and

a spring positioned over said shaft portion of said first spindle between said first head portion of said first spindle and said retainer device attached to said shaft portion of said first spindle, said first head portion restraining said spring on said first spindle to be captive between said first head portion cross section and said retainer device.

2. The door handle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a door handle having an operator portion, and a shank extending from said operator portion, said shank having a cavity that slidably receives said first head portion of said first spindle, said spring engaging said shank to position said first hub drive portion of said first spindle relative to said first hub portion and to position said second hub drive portion of said second spindle relative to said second hub portion.

3. The door handle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a door handle having an operator portion, and a shank extending from said operator portion, said shank having a cavity that slidably receives said first head portion of said first spindle, said spring engaging said shank to bias said spindle assembly with respect to said latch mechanism in a first direction.

4. The door handle assembly of claim 3 , wherein said spring forces said retainer device of said spindle assembly into engagement with said latch mechanism.

5. The door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said shaft portion and said first head portion of said first spindle have common orthogonal dimensions and have at least one different diagonal dimension.

6. The door handle assembly of claim 2 wherein said shaft portion and said first head portion of said first spindle have common orthogonal dimensions and have at least one different diagonal dimension, wherein said common orthogonal dimensions define a generally rectangular structure in cross-section, and wherein said shaft portion has beveled corners at said diagonal dimension, thereby defining said first head portion of said first spindle.

7. The door handle assembly of claim 6 , wherein said rectangular structure is a square structure.

8. The door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein said retainer device attached to said shaft portion of said first spindle has a peripheral groove, and said retainer device is a C-clip that engages said peripheral groove.

9. The door handle assembly of claim 1 ,

wherein said first door handle has a first operator portion, and a first shank extending from said first operator portion, said first shank having a first cavity that receives said first head portion of said first spindle for common rotation with said first spindle about a rotational axis to operate said latch mechanism; and

wherein said second door handle has a second operator portion, and a second shank extending from said second operator portion, said second shank having a second cavity that receives said second head portion of said second spindle for common rotation with said second spindle about said rotational axis to operate said latch mechanism independently from said first door handle.

10. A spindle assembly, comprising:

a first spindle having a shaft portion located between a first head portion and a first coupling end, said first head portion having a larger cross section than the shaft portion, said shaft portion having a first hub drive portion;

a second spindle having a second head portion, a second hub drive portion and a second coupling end, said second coupling end being configured to slidably engage said first coupling end to provide independent rotational engagement of said first spindle with said second spindle;

a retainer device attached to said shaft portion of said first spindle; and

a spring positioned over said shaft portion of said first spindle between said first head portion of said first spindle and said retainer device attached to said shaft portion of said first spindle, said first head portion restraining said spring on said first spindle to be captive between said first head portion cross section and said retainer device.

11. The spindle assembly of claim 10 , wherein said shaft portion and said first head portion of said first spindle have common orthogonal dimensions and have at least one different diagonal dimension.

12. The spindle assembly of claim 11 , wherein said common orthogonal dimensions define a generally rectangular structure in cross-section, and wherein said shaft portion has reduced cross-section corners at said diagonal dimension, thereby defining said first head portion of said first spindle.

13. The spindle assembly of claim 12 , wherein said reduced cross-section corners are one of beveled, rounded and a smaller square.

14. The spindle assembly of claim 12 , wherein said rectangular structure is a square structure.

15. The spindle assembly of claim 10 , wherein a retainer device attached to said shaft portion of said first spindle has a peripheral groove, and said retainer device is a C-clip that engages said peripheral groove.

16. The spindle assembly of claim 10 , wherein said second coupling end of said second spindle is attached to said first coupling end of said first spindle.

17. A method of forming a spindle assembly for use with a latch mechanism, comprising:

providing a first spindle having a shaft portion located between a first head portion and a first coupling end, said first head portion having a larger cross section than the shaft portion, said shaft portion having a hub drive portion;

providing a second spindle having a second head portion, a second hub drive portion and a second coupling end, said second coupling end being configured to slidably engage said first coupling end to provide independent rotational engagement of said first spindle with said second spindle;

positioning a spring over said shaft portion of said first spindle between said first head portion of said first spindle and a retainer device attached to said shaft portion of said first spindle, said first head portion restraining said spring on said first spindle to be captive between said first head portion cross section and said retainer device;

slidably engaging said first coupling end of said first spindle with said second coupling end of said second spindle: and

attaching said second coupling end of said second spindle to said first coupling end of said first spindle.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising forming said shaft portion and said first head portion of said first spindle to have common orthogonal dimensions and to have at least one different diagonal dimension.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said common orthogonal dimensions define a generally rectangular structure in cross-section, and wherein said shaft portion has reduced cross-section corners at said diagonal dimension, thereby defining said head portion of said first spindle.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said rectangular structure is a square structure.

21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising forming a peripheral groove in said shaft portion of said first spindle to receive said retainer device.

22. A method of assembling a door handle assembly, said door handle assembly including a latch mechanism having a split hub, said split hub having a first hub portion and a second hub portion, each of said first hub portion and said second hub portion being configured to independently operate said latch mechanism; a first door handle having a first operator portion, and a first shank extending from said first operator portion, said first shank having a first cavity; and a second door handle having a second operator portion, and a second shank extending from said second operator portion, said second shank having a second cavity, said method comprising:

providing a spindle assembly including a first spindle, a second spindle, a retainer device, and a spring positioned over a shaft portion of said first spindle between a first head portion of said first spindle and said retainer device attached to said shaft portion of said first spindle, said first head portion having a larger cross section than the shaft portion, said first head portion cross section restraining said spring on said first spindle to be captive between said first head portion cross section and said retainer device;

sliding a first coupling end of said first spindle within a second coupling end of said second spindle;

sliding a second head portion of said second spindle of said spindle assembly through the split hub;

inserting said first head portion of said first spindle in said first cavity of said first shank of said first door handle;

engaging said spring of said spindle assembly with said first shank of said first door handle to position a first hub drive portion of said first spindle relative to said first hub portion and to position a second hub drive portion of said second spindle relative to said second hub portion.

23. The method of claim 22 , within after said second head portion of said spindle assembly passes through said split hub, said second head portion of said second spindle is received in said second cavity of said second door handle.

24. A door handle assembly, comprising:

a latch mechanism having a split hub, said split hub having a first hub portion and a second hub portion, each of said first hub portion and said second hub portion being configured to independently operate said latch mechanism;

first and second door handles;

a spindle assembly including:

a first spindle having a shaft portion located between a first head portion and a first coupling end, said first head portion having a larger cross section than the shaft portion, said shaft portion having a first hub drive portion, said first hub drive portion being configured to engage said first hub portion when inserted into said split hub in a first direction;

a second spindle having a second head portion, a second hub drive portion and a second coupling end, said second coupling end being configured to slidably engage said first coupling end of said first spindle to provide independent rotational engagement of said first spindle with said second spindle, said second hub drive portion being configured to engage said second hub portion when inserted into said split hub in said first direction;

a retainer device attached to said shaft portion of said first spindle; and

a spring positioned captive between said first head portion cross section of said first spindle and said retainer device attached to said shaft portion of said first spindle,

wherein said first coupling end of said first spindle fits within said second coupling end of said second spindle.

Assignments (9)
NOTICE OF SUCCESSOR AGENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST (INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY) REEL/FRAME 036131/0272 Recorded Jun 5, 2018
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 046301/0425 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 22, 2016
From: KWIKSET CORPORATION
To: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 039116/0293 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2015
From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036131/0272 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC., A CORP. OF FLORIDA; KWIKSET CORPORATION; LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.; PRICE PFISTER, INC.; ROV HOLDING, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; ROVCAL, INC.; ROVCAL, INC., A CORP. OF CALIFORNIA; RUSSELL HOBBS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; SALIX ANIMAL HEALTH, LLC; SEED RESOURCES, L.L.C.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC. AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO ROVCAL, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TELL MANUFACTURING, INC.; TETRA HOLDING (US), INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TETRA HOLDINGS (US), INC.; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE
Reel/Frame 036102/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2015
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
To: RUSSELL HOBBS, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; TOASTMASTER INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; ROVCAL, INC.; TETRA HOLDING (US), INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; SEED RESOURCES, L.L.C.; PRICE PFISTER, INC.; KWIKSET CORPORATION; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.; LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; TELL MANUFACTURING, INC.; SALIX ANIMAL HEALTH, LLC
Reel/Frame 036052/0845 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2013
From: PRICE PFISTER, INC.; KWIKSET CORPORATION; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 029731/0589 →
PATENT ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2012
From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
To: KWIKSET CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029537/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2012
From: PRICE PFISTER, INC.; KWIKSET CORPORATION; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 029538/0186 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2012
From: NEWFREY LLC
To: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 029510/0820 →