GB2596778A

GB2596778A - Foot handle

Info

Publication number: GB2596778A
Application number: GB2007699.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Purdom Hans
Original assignee: Linear Building Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: Linear Building Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2020-05-22
Filing date: 2020-05-22
Publication date: 2022-01-12
Also published as: GB202007699D0

Abstract

The foot handle assembly 12 comprises a step plate 14 mountable on a door 10, a lever assembly 16 mountable between a handle and the door to engage a latch spindle (e.g. using a square hole), and a link 18 connecting the step plate and lever assembly. The lever assembly may comprise a bar with a first end engaging the spindle. A second end may engage the link which may be a bar or rod and/or adjustable in length. One or both link end connections may be threaded and/or pivotal. The step plate may be a flanged steel member, optionally slidably mounted on the door. The lever assembly may comprise a housing, optionally including a wear plate, a guide plate to limit rotation (e.g. generally circular with a missing sector), and/or may act as a mounting plate for a door handle. In use the lever assembly may lie flat against a door.

Description

Foot Handle The present invention relates to a foot operated handle or foot handle for use to open the latch of a door by using a foot rather than a hand.

Foot handles are useful in various environments, such as hospitals or offices. Typically this would be where either the operator of the door cannot touch the door handle for fear of contamination, for example a surgeon who has already sterilised his hands, or a nurse or doctor in an isolation ward, or because the hands of the operator are otherwise occupied, for example due to them carrying something such as files or books.

Known foot handles include passive foot handles and active foot handles. Passive foot handles may comprise a flanged member screwed to the base area of a door for allowing a foot to grip the flange for pulling on the door. Being passive, this device cannot operate a latch of the door as it is merely for allowing the operator to grip the door with the sole of their foot to allow the door to be pulled by the operator. It is thus best suited to a free-swinging door without a latch. Active foot handles are also known. They also comprise a flanged member screwed to the door at the foot of the door, but the flanged member is an operable step plate that can slide relative to the door on a mount thereof, so that it can be activated by the foot. It has a string or wire attached thereto for attaching at its other end to the free end of a lever of a door handle (the door handle that would operate the latch of the door if operated by the hand of the operator). With this arrangement, when the step plate is trodden on, it can move downwards to pull the string likewise downwards, which in turn pulls the lever of the door handle downwards for operating the latch. The door can then be opened by pulling or pushing on the step plate as the latch has been opened.

One problem associated with such an active foot handle is that the string or wire can fall loose on the lever, thus rendering it potentially ineffective. Also, the position of the loop of the string or wire on the lever will dictate the amount of rotation that can be provided to the lever, and thus regular adjustment of the foot handle assembly may be required, such as readjusting the length of the string or wire or the position of the loop thereof on the lever. This arrangement is also less suitable for a frequently used locations as it is easily dislodged from the lever by operators that use their hand on the handle, and will be uncomfortable for those operators to use. Furthermore it is not suitable for door knobs, rather than lever handles.

The present invention seeks to provide an alternative arrangement for a foot handle for a door latch.

According to the present invention there is provided a foot handle assembly comprising an operable step plate, a lever assembly, and a link (or linking mechanism or linking member, bar or rod) connecting the operable step plate to the lever assembly, wherein the operable step plate is for mounting towards a base of a door, and the lever assembly is for mounting between the handle and the door for operably engaging with the spindle of the door latch. By operably engaging with the spindle of the door latch, rather than with the door handle, the shape of the door handle, be it a lever or knob, makes no difference to the usability of the foot handle assembly.

As most spindles have a square section, in most examples the lever assembly comprises a square hole for engaging therewith.

In some embodiments the lever assembly comprises a bar, the bar engaging the spindle at its first end -the fulcrum end. Preferably the free end of the bar is then attached to the link, for example by a pivotal connection.

In some embodiments the link comprises a link bar. The bar may be self-supporting and as such may be a solid or tubular length material with a round, square or rectangular section. In some embodiments it would be made of either metal or plastic.

However, in another arrangement, the link may comprise a string or wire, and as such is not self-supporting.

In some embodiments the link connects with lever assembly at one end thereof, for example at the pivotal connection. For example, the bar may screw thread into one part of the pivotal connection. In another embodiment it may be a socketed connection, with a perpendicularly extending grub screw in the wall of the connector retaining the shaft of the link in a socket in the connector.

In some embodiments the link has a second end connected to the operable step plate. The second end's connection can be a fixed or non-pivotal connection, rather than a pivotal connection, although it might likewise be a pivotal connection. For example, the bar may screw thread into a connection member of the operable step plate. In another embodiment it may be a socketed connection, with a perpendicularly extending grub screw in the wall of the connector retaining the shaft of the link in a socket in the connector.

The length of the bar might be adjustable. This could be by virtue of the above two threaded connections, or just one thereof. Alternatively the bar itself may have an adjustable length. In another arrangement, or in an additional way of using this arrangement, instead of adjusting the length of the bar, the position of the operable step plate on the door might be adjustable, or adjusted during the installation thereof thereon.

As the operable step plate will be being stepped on by operators, it is likely to be made of a significantly rigid material such as steel. To increase its stiffness, it can be made with gussets. These can be made easily if the component is being pressed from a sheet material. Such an arrangement makes it low cost. However, it could instead be an injection moulded product, with or without such reinforcing gussets, or it could be made by other manufacturing processes, such as 3D printing or additive manufacturing.

In some embodiments the operable step plate comprises a mount for mounting on the door and a flanged member slidably mounted thereon, the link connecting to the flanged member.

In some embodiments the lever assembly comprises a pivotal member and a guide plate, the pivotal member being rotatably mounted relative to the guide plate, and the guide plate providing a guide for the rotation of the pivotal member to limit the degree of rotation of the pivotal member. These limits can be such that in one extreme of rotation the latch of the door on which the foot handle assembly is mounted is in a latching state, whereas at the other extreme of rotation the latch is in an open state. Preferably the axis of rotation for the pivotal member lies perpendicular to the surface of the door to which the lever assembly is mounted.

The lever assembly may also comprise a housing, potentially comprising a door engaging first member and a cover.

The cover may be arranged to be an outer finish for the door, or it may be arranged for receiving a door handle and rose over the top of it, or just the door handle. In another arrangement the cover may be integrated with a rose of a door handle.

The door engaging first member may be the guide plate. Alternatively the guide plate may be a separate component or part of the inside of the cover.

The lever assembly may comprise one or more wear plate to provide a wear-resistant bearing surface for the pivotal member. Preferably the wear plate is a phosphor bronze wear plate as that will provide minimal resistance to the pivotal motion and long-term wear resistance. Teflon (RTM) or PTFE could also be suitable materials for such wear plates, as could other low friction, wear resistant materials.

Preferably the guide plate is generally circular with a central hole and a sector removed therefrom around the hole, within which the pivotal member resides.

The guide plate, and housing and wear plates where provided, can have further apertures provided therein for mounting the lever assembly to the door using screws. Preferably these are spaced at 90 degree intervals around the lever assembly. However, they may be positioned to align with typical screw positions of door knobs to allow the screws of the door knob to be used both for mounting the door knob and the lever assembly to the door, or additional holes may be provided for such screws of a door handle.

In some embodiments, for example where the door handle fits to a door using a separate mounting plate, the lever assembly is sized and shaped to generally resemble that mounting plate so that the handle fits to the door using the lever assembly as its mounting plate. In other embodiments, the door handle may not have its own rose, instead simply connecting directly to the spindle, be either incorporating an integral spindle or via a grub screw. The lever assembly will then function as the rose of the handle.

The present invention also comprises a kit of parts comprising an operable step plate, a lever assembly and a link, the operable step plate, lever assembly and link being able to be assembled to form the foot handle assembly described above.

The present invention also provides a door comprising a foot handle assembly and a latch, the latch having a spindle extending between front and rear surfaces of the door, and the foot handle assembly comprising an operable step plate mounted at a base area of the door, a lever assembly engaging with the spindle of the latch, and a link connecting the operable step plate to the lever assembly. As with the first aspect of the present invention, by operably engaging with the spindle of the door latch, rather than with a door handle for the latch, the shape of the door handle, be it a lever or knob, or even the presence or not of that door handle, makes no difference to the usability of the foot handle assembly.

In preferred examples, the components of the lever assembly lie against or closely adjacent to a front or rear surface, extending no more than 15 mm outwardly therefrom.

In some embodiment a pivotal member of the lever assembly either lies against a front or rear surface of the door, or a wear plate thereagainst, or is located closely adjacent thereto, to prevent inadvertent access between the lever assembly and the door by fingers of an operator.

In some embodiments the side of the pivotal member facing towards the door extends no more than 10 mm away from the door, and more preferably no more than 5 mm away from the door.

Preferably the door also comprises a door handle in the form of a lever or knob, also attached or connected to the spindle to allow the latch to be operated by an operator with his hand. In this arrangement, the door handle will typically fit over the lever assembly, or at least a part thereof. The door handle can have a rose, which rose may have a slot formed therein for accommodating the lever assembly. Alternatively, the lever assembly comprises a housing for covering over a pivotal member thereof, such as the bar, which housing has a slot formed in a side thereof for allowing the pivotal member to extend out thereof for connection to the link.

The foot handle assembly may also be as described above.

These and other features of the present invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a door featuring the foot handle assembly of the present invention, Figure 2 shows a front elevation of the door of figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 show an operable step plate of the foot handle assembly in greater detail; Figures 5 to 7 show a lever assembly of the foot handle assembly in greater detail, Figures 8 to 12 show a flanged member of the operable step plate in greater detail, the flanged member having a top part onto which a link between the operable step plate and the lever assembly can be connected using a suitable connector; Figures 13 and 14 show a mount of the operable step plate in greater detail, for mounting the operable step plate to the door; Figures 15 and 16 show a wear plate of the lever assembly in greater detail; Figures 17 and 18 show a pivotal member of the lever assembly, the pivotal member comprising a bar onto which the link can be connected with a suitable connector, and Figure 19 shows a typical prior art door knob and latch arrangement that can be mounted in or on a door and operated using the present invention.

Referring first of all to figures 1 and 2 there is shown a door 10 having fitted thereto a foot handle assembly 12 of the present invention. The foot handle assembly 12 comprises three main components -an operable step plate 14, a lever assembly 16 and a link 18 joining together the operable step plate 14 and the lever assembly 16.

The link, in its simplest form, is a bar or rod, also known as a tie rod. It can have a solid or tubular section.

This door 10 also comprises a deadlock 28, although that is not a required component of the invention. It is nevertheless preferred that the link 18 is routed, as shown herein, between the lever assembly 16 and the operable step plate 14 in a manner that does not foul the operation of the deadlock 28. Therefore the link is preferably situated to the other side of the lever assembly than the edge of the door featuring the latch operated thereby.

As can be seen, the operable step plate 14 is mounted towards the bottom of the door 10, whereas the lever assembly 16 is mounted to the door 10 at a conventional door handle position -typically around 90 to 120cm from the bottom edge of the door. The link (or rod part thereof) is thus roughly 70 to 110cm long, although for some doors the height would be shorter or longer, as not all latches are fitted at the same height.

As will be described later, the lever assembly 16 engages with a spindle 30 of the door's latch mechanism 32-i.e. the spindle 30 that operates a latch 34 of the door 10. An example of a spindle 30 for operating a latch 34 of a door 10 can be seen, for example, in figure 19. Figure 19 shows an example of a pair of prior art door handles 36, 38, a prior art latch 34, and a prior art spindle 30 for connecting together the two door handles 36, 38 for allowing both of the handles 36, 38 to operate the latch 34. This particular prior art version of door handle/latch mechanism is one of many possible versions that can operate with the present invention. This particular one has a fixed spindle 30 on a first of the two door handles 36, 38, which first handle 36 has a rose 40 for fitting against one side of the door 10, with the spindle 30 extending therefrom and extending perpendicular through the door 10 and through the working mechanism of the latch 34. It thus can provide operation of the latch 34 upon turning the first handle 36. This first handle 36 in this prior art example is a door knob that also has a cylinder lock 42 incorporated therein, which is optional, but which could potentially replace the deadlock 28 shown in figure 2 as the cylinder lock could disable the operation of the handle, and thus the latch 34, and thus, when used with the present invention, the operation of the foot handle assembly 12 as well, rendering less useful the provision of a deadlock. Nevertheless, a deadlock can also be provided for further security if desired.

This prior art example of door handle/latch mechanism 32 has for its second handle 38 both a door handle 38 with rose 40 and a mounting plate 44 for screwing onto the other side of the door 10 and onto which the rose 40 of the second handle 38 can clip or be fastened, as known in the art. In this arrangement the spindle 30 extends through the door and through the mounting plate 44 and into the second handle 38.

For engagement between the second handle 38 and the spindle 30, the second handle 38 has an appropriately shaped (usually square) hole 46 for allowing rotation of the second handle 38 to rotate the spindle 30 (when the first handle 36 is not locked by its cylinder lock 42) and thus the second handle 38 can also operate the latch 34 for opening the latch's catch 48 from a strike 50 that will be provided on the doorframe (not shown).

Referring next to figures 5 to 7, 17 and 18 various components of the latch assembly 16 of the present invention are shown. As can be seen in figures 5 and 6, the latch assembly 16 comprises a mounting plate 144, which can be for replacing the mounting plate 44 of the above prior art door handle/latch mechanism 32, for example. In alternative prior art door handle/latch mechanisms, there may not be a mounting plate 44 to replace. The latch assembly's mounting plate 144 is then simply inserted between the second handle and the door. There can also be uses of the present invention where no door handle is provided on its respective side of the door (or even on the other side, if the door is only to be operable from the one side). In these circumstances the lever assembly can simply be provided without a handle over the top thereof, the door latch only then being operated by the foot handle assembly on that side of the door.

In the illustrated embodiment, the latch assembly's mounting plate 144 has an outer casing or housing and internal working components. In this embodiment the outer casing or housing 52 has four holes 54 therein for allowing it to be screwed to the surface of the door 10 via one or more of the holes. These four holes are shown to be equally spaced around the housing. Fewer or more holes may be provided, depending upon the desired appearance thereof, or for compatibility with any holes provided in a rose of a door handle to be fitted thereover.

In the centre of the housing 52 is a further aperture 56 through which can be seen a square hole 58 of an internal pivotal member 60, as more clearly shown in figure 7 and 17. This pivotal member 60 is a bar with a first end 72 having the square hole 58 and a second end, which in this embodiment has a further hole 62 for enabling connection of that end of the bar to the link 18.

A suitable connector 64 for that second end is shown in figure 5, which connector provides a pivotal connection between the link 18 and the pivotal member 60. It has a pivotal hub and a threaded connection 70, the pivotal connection being attached to the further hole 62, and the threaded connection 70 connecting to the link or rod 18.

The first end 72 has a generally circular outside shape in this preferred example as it is arranged to rotate within a guide plate 74. A preferred guide plate 74 is shown in figure 7. The guide plate 74 in this embodiment comprises a generally circular (arcuate) plate member with three holes therein, which align in this embodiment with three of the holes in the housing 52 so that fixation of the housing to the door likewise fixes rotation of the guide plate 74 relative to the door. The generally circular plate member, however, is arcuate as it has an absent section or quadrant, which serves to provide rotational freedom, or pivoting movement for the pivotal member 60 of the latch assembly. That rotation will be between a first position, as shown in figure 7, in which the latch is locked, and a lowered position in which the latch is open.

In this embodiment, the first position is such that an upper surface of the bar engages a face of the guide plate 74 to prevent further upward movement of the pivotal member 60. The second position is instead angled downwardly from that first position so as to operate the latch of the door 10.

As the movement of the pivotal member is to operate the latch, the square hole 58 needs to be fitted onto the spindle 30 of the provided latch.

Although this guide plate 74 is preferred to be included in the present invention, the present invention can likewise function without the guide plate as the spindle will itself provide a rotation axis for the pivotal member 60.

A groove can be provided in the rose of the handle, where provided, or the housing 52, as shown in figure 5, for providing physical stops for the range of motion of the pivotal member 60.

It is also plausible for the pivotal member to not have hard stops at the first (latch closed) and second (latch open) positions thereof, such as those discussed above, as the latch itself will have a finite range of rotation for its spindle. Likewise the operable step plate will only have a finite range of movement during use of the foot handle assembly 12 as it would hit the floor, but preferably it is prevented from hitting the floor as to hit the floor would make it more difficult to pull open the door with one's foot. For that reason the operable step plate can also have hard stops.

Referring next to figure 15 and 16, a preferred yet optional additional feature of the lever assembly 16 is shown. This feature is a wear plate which can fit between the guide plate and either the door or the housing, or both, for reducing the amount of wear on the door or the housing through operation of the pivotal member 60.

In this embodiment the wear plate bears against the pivotal member 60 as the pivotal member 60 is pivoted between its latch open and latch closed states. With this arrangement, by making the wear plate from a wear resistant and low friction material, such as phosphor bronze or one of various polymers such as PTFE or Teflon 0, the lever assembly can be provided with minimal resistance to such motion, and also with a minimal need for servicing or periodic lubrication.

This wear plate has a similar shape to the housing in this embodiment, in this embodiment that being a round disc with the four holes for the screws and the central hole for the spindle.

The wear plate is preferably made to be relatively thin -typically between 0.4 and 2 mm -to ensure it can be accommodated within the housing without greatly increasing the depth of the lever assembly 16 -which is ideally no more than 15mm thick.

Referring finally to figures 3,4, 8 to 12 and 13 and 14, an example of the operable step plate will now be further described.

Whereas the lever assembly is connected to the link by a pivotal connector, as relative rotation between the link and the pivotal member avoids stressing the link and the pivotal member, that is not necessarily so useful for the operable foot plate. This is due to the length of the link relative to the direction of operation of the operable step plate, which are generally aligned. As a result, relative rotation between the link and the operational step plate is generally minimal, unlike with the pivotal member 60 of the lever assembly. Nevertheless, to facilitate fabrication, or to reduce the variety of components, and to allow the parts to be packaged more compactly, in this embodiment a pivotal connection is provided. Therefore, in this embodiment, the operable step plate 14 comprises a flanged member 20 having a top 76 at which a further connector 78 is mounted via another hole. The further connector 78, as with the connector between the link and the lever assembly 16, has a threaded connection 80 and a pivotal hub 82. As mentioned above, however, the pivotal connection is not important so this may be a fixed connection rather than a pivotal connection. It can even be an integral connection so that the link and the flanged member are one piece, although that makes the component more complex to manufacture, so it is less preferred.

The flanged member 20, more clearly shown in figures 8 to 12, is slidably attached by pins or bolts 84 to a mount 22, which mount 22 can be screwed to the side of the door 10. As the pins or bolts fit through slots, they serve to limit the degree of sliding possible for the flanged member 20.

Referring to figure 13 and 14, the mount 22 is shown in greater detail. The mount 22 has two holes 86 for the pins or bolts 84, and holes 88, 90 for counter sunk screws for attachment of the mount to the door. In this embodiment there are four holes 88, 90 for screwing the mount 22 to the door.

Although four screws are shown in this embodiment for attaching the mount to the door, it is possible that fewer or more screws might be used.

In this foot handle assembly 12, the flanged member 20 is arranged to slide relative to the mount 22 guided by the pins or bolts 84 which lie in slots 92 in the flanged member 20. Thus, an operator can use his foot to push the flanged member downwardly to slide it along with the link 18 in the downward direction for operation of the pivotal member and thus the lever assembly for opening the latch of the door through rotation of the spindle with the pivotal member 60.

As is common within door latches, the latch will typically be a sprung latch, so upon releasing the flanged member with his foot, the latch will tend to revert to its latched state, thus pulling upward the flanged member 20 and the link 18 through a resulting upward rotation of the pivotal member 60.

The provision of the low friction wear plates helps ensure this reset occurs. However, where needed, a spring return mechanism, as well known in door handles generally, can be incorporated into the latch assembly, or the operable foot plate can have a return spring fitted to it.

Referring then again to figures 8 to 12, an example of a flanged member is shown. In this embodiment the flanged member 20 has the two slots 92, which extend parallel to one another in a vertical direction. Above that is a nub 94 at the top 76 of the flange member 90 with a hole therein at which the further connector 78 will be connected. These all lie in a first planar component of the flange member 20.

Extending perpendicular to that first planar component as a base member 96. The base member 96 extends perpendicular to the door, in use, to step away from the door to provide an opportunity for engagement by the operator. To provide a grip in that base member 96, an upward step 98 is provided at its outer end. The step 98 extends upwardly and perpendicular to the base member 96 to give an upper edge on which the foot of the operator can grip the flanged member 20. Other designs of flanged member will naturally be possible for providing a grip on which an operator can place his foot, or the toes thereof.

This embodiment is pressed from a sheet of steel and to provide additional rigidity between the first planar component and the base member 96, two gussets 100 are formed across the junction of those two planar members. Although optional, such gussets provide significant rigidity to the flanged member 20, which allows it to accommodate the likely forces that a user will operate it with.

Finally, referring again to figures 1 and 2, the link 18 is provided between the two connectors 64, 68. In this embodiment the link is a rod. The use of a rod, rather than something more flexible such as a string or a wire, is preferred as it offers greater integrity to the product.

In some embodiments, the pins or bolts 84 for the sliding of the flanged member may be provided with a low friction coating or treatment to ensure the resistance to sliding of the flanged member 20 relative to the mount 22 is minimised. For example they may have a sleeve on theory outsides, or the slots may be sleeved. Furthermore, low friction discs or pads may be provided over the screws used to mount the mount to the door, or elsewhere on the mount or on the back of the flanged member, again to provide a low friction interface between the mount 22 and the flanged member 22. This again minimises the resistance to operation of the foot handle assembly during both its own use by an operator and if the door handles on either side of the door are operated.

This then allows unimpeded operation of the door latch by a user, either whether using the door handles or the foot handle assembly.

The present invention has therefore been described above purely by way of example. Modifications in detail may be made to the invention within the scope of the claims as appended hereto.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A foot handle assembly comprising an operable step plate, a lever assembly, and a link connecting the operable step plate to the lever assembly, wherein the operable step plate is for mounting towards a base of a door, and the lever assembly is for mounting between the handle and the door for operably engaging with the spindle of the door latch.
2. The foot handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the lever assembly comprises a square hole for engaging the spindle.
3. The foot handle assembly of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lever assembly comprises a bar with two ends, the bar engaging the spindle at its first end.
4. The foot handle assembly of claim 3, wherein the second end is attached to the link.
5. The foot handle assembly of claim 4, wherein the attachment is a pivotal connection.
6. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the link comprises a bar or rod.
7. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the link comprises a solid or tubular length of material with a constant round, square or rectangular section along substantially all of its length.
8. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the link is made of either metal or plastic.
9. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the link connects with the lever assembly at one end thereof with a screw threaded connection.
10. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a second end of the link is connected to the operable step plate with a screw threaded connection.
11. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second end's connection to the operable step plate is a pivotal connection.
12. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the link is adjustable.
13. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operable step plate comprises a foot operated flanged member made of steel.
14. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operable step plate comprises at least one gusset to increase its stiffness.
15. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operable step plate comprises a mount for mounting on the door and a flanged member slidably mounted thereon, the link connecting to the flanged member.
16. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever assembly comprises a pivotal member and a guide plate, the pivotal member being rotatably mounted relative to the guide plate, and the guide plate providing a guide for the rotation of the pivotal member to limit the degree of rotation of the pivotal member.
17. The foot handle assembly of claim 16, wherein the guide plate is generally circular with a central hole for a first end of the pivotal member, and with a missing sector around the hole, within which the pivotal member extends from the central hole.
18. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever assembly comprises a housing and a pivotal member for pivotally mounting therein.
19. The foot handle assembly of claim 18, wherein the housing comprises a door engaging first member and a cover.
20. The foot handle assembly of claim 19, wherein the door engaging first member is either a guide plate for the pivotal member or a wear plate.
21. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever assembly comprises a pivotal member and one or more wear plate to provide a wear-resistant bearing surface for the pivotal member.
22. The foot handle assembly of claim 21, wherein the wear plate is a phosphor bronze wear plate.
23. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever assembly has apertures provided therein for mounting the lever assembly to the door using fixing elements such as screws.
24. The foot handle assembly of claim 23, wherein the apertures are positioned to align with apertures for screw positions of a door knob to be used therewith to allow the screws of the door knob to be used both for mounting the door knob and the lever assembly to the door.
25. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever assembly is sized and shaped to fit inside the rose of a door handle.
26. The foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a door handle fits to the door over the lever assembly by using the lever assembly as its mounting plate.
27. A kit of parts comprising an operable step plate, a lever assembly and a linking mechanism, the operable step plate, lever assembly and linking mechanism being able to be assembled to form the foot handle assembly of any one of the preceding claims.
28. A door comprising a foot handle assembly and a latch, the latch having a spindle extending between front and rear surfaces of the door, and the foot handle assembly comprising an operable step plate mounted at a base area of the door, a lever assembly engaging with the spindle of the latch, and a link connecting the operable step plate to the lever assembly.
29. The door of claim 28, wherein the lever assembly lies flat against either a front or rear surface of the door.
30. The door of claim 28, wherein the components of the lever assembly lie against or closely adjacent to a front or rear surface, extending no more than 15 mm outwardly therefrom.
31. The door of any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein a pivotal member of the lever assembly either lies against a front or rear surface of the door, or a wear plate thereagainst, or is located closely adjacent thereto, to prevent inadvertent access between the lever assembly and the door by fingers of an operator.
32. The door of claim 31, wherein the side of the pivotal member facing towards the door extends no more than 10 mm away from the door.
33. The door of any one of claims 28 to 32, further comprising a door handle in the form of a lever or knob, also attached or connected to the spindle, over the lever assembly.
34. The door of claim 33, wherein the door handle has a rose, which rose has a slot formed therein for accommodating the lever assembly.
35. The door of any one of claims 28 to 34, wherein the lever assembly comprises a housing for covering over a pivotal member thereof, which housing has a slot formed in a side thereof for allowing the pivotal member to extend out thereof for connection to the link.
36. The door of any one of claims 28 to 35, wherein the lever assembly comprises a pivotal member that has one extreme of rotation in which its interaction with the spindle will leave the latch of the door in a latching state, whereas at a second extreme of rotation the interaction leaves the latch in an open or non-latching state.
37. The door of any one of claims 28 to 36, wherein the axis of rotation for a pivotal member of the lever assembly lies perpendicular to the surface of the door to which the lever assembly is mounted.
38. The door of any one of claims 28 to 37, wherein the foot handle assembly is the foot handle assembly of any one of claims 1 to 26, or is formed from the kit of claim 27.