US 7,520,543 B2
Door handle assembly
William A. Purdy, Richton Park, Ill. (US); and Chad Anderson, Ypsilanti, Mich. (US)
Assigned to Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, Ill. (US)
Filed on Aug. 23, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/508,622.
Application 11/508622 is a continuation of application No. 11/397374, filed on Apr. 04, 2006.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/680921, filed on May 13, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2006/0284430 A1, Dec. 21, 2006
Int. Cl. E05B 3/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 292—336.3  [292/DIG. 31] 2 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A door handle assembly comprising:
a handle pivot housing comprising handle engaging-walls defining a handle pivot cavity therebetween, at least one of said handle-engaging walls comprising an integrally formed boss extending into said handle pivot cavity;
a main handle comprising an arm having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said arm is integrally formed with a pivot joint defining a pivot axis closer to said proximal end than said distal end, said pivot joint rotatably securing to said boss, said pivot axis extending between said handle engaging-walls and substantially transverse to said arm, said main handle further comprising a counterweight housing extending from said proximal end;
a cap secured to said main handle that also moves with said handle during operation of said handle when said handle is moved from a closed position to an open position and vice versa, said cap including a first end and a second end positioned over said distal end of said arm, said cap being made of a different material than said main handle; and
a counterweight positioned in said counterweight housing, said counterweight and said distal end of said arm being positioned on opposite sides of said pivot axis, wherein said counterweight further comprises a fin extending upwardly therefrom such that said fin abuts said first end of said cap so as to secure said cap onto said main handle.