mani: a handle for all hands by margret s johannsdottir from usa

i recently completed a renovation project centered on the concept of “aging in place,” and decided to continue with that concept when designing this door handle lever. by ensuring that a tight grip is not necessary to operate this lever handle, i made certain that mani would be useable for all people with any kind of physical limitations, and would therefore be americans with disabilities act (ada) compliant. it is a simple, functional design, and unique in that the client can select the material for the handle, according to their personal taste. mani can be offered in wood that integrates into the door, rubber in modern colors (which also provides for an easier grip), glass, laminated glass with fabric insert, as well as the more traditional stainless steel or polished brass. the rosette is square and made of stainless steel; it has two attention-drawing stripes in the same color as the handle. with the metal handle clients can choose to keep the stripe or not. this door handle will enhance any door.

for the chassis (both inside and outside), cylinder, spindle, lever catch and all other mechanical parts, the customary metal materials shall be used. the lever is one piece and made of different materials that meet the lever catch at the stainless steel rosette. as aforementioned, the lever can be made of a variety of materials, according to personal taste, durability, and coordination with the door itself, with a fire-retardant material recommended if a wood handle is selected. the shape of the lever is rectangular with the wider side facing the ceiling for ease of maneuvering, and its edges are beveled. as you can see in the plan view, the lever lines up with the outer edges of the rosette for aesthetics. the mani door handle is designed for the north american market for 2 1/8” hole, door thickness is standard 1 3/8” – 1 ¾”, will be available in backsets of 2 3/8” - 2 ¾”. all measurements are in inches.

i created a perspective of my design using the computer program sketchup. this image does not feature the beveled edges, due to “technical difficulties,” but shows the shape and dimensions of the design well nonetheless.