Glossary of Door Hardware Terms
Back-to-back Handle
A handle set, often a pull handle or T-bar handle, where the handles are mounted on either side of a door and are fixed to each other.
Inline Door Handle
A door handle where the lever is directly in line with the key cylinder.
Lever/lever Door Handle
A set of door handles with a lever on both the interior and exterior side of the door.
Lever/pad Door Handle
A handle set featuring a lever on the inside and a fixed pad on the exterior.
Patio Handle
Hardware specifically designed for patio doors, which may be sliding or French-style.
Sprung Door Handle
A handle with an internal spring mechanism that returns the handle to a horizontal position when released.
Pull Handle
A non-latching handle that is pulled to open or close a door.
Easy Clean Hinge
A type of friction stay that allows a casement window sash to slide toward the centre, enabling access for cleaning the outer pane from inside.
Egress Hinge
A safety hinge that allows a window to open to a full 90-degree angle, providing a clear opening for emergency exit.
Restrictor Hinge
A safety hinge that limits how far a window can be opened, commonly used for child safety. It often requires a two-handed action to bypass.
Inline Handle
A window handle design where the spindle is directly in line with the handle's lever. It can be used for both left- and right-handed espag windows.
Offset (or Cranked) Handle
A window handle with a bent or "cranked" lever. The offset provides extra clearance, which can be useful on larger window profiles.
Tilt and Turn Handle
A specialised handle used to operate tilt and turn window mechanisms.
Cockspur Handle
An older type of handle that uses a "spur" to latch onto a plastic wedge or keep. Abacus stocks cockspur handles for both repair and new installations.
Sash Lift
A handle attached to the bottom rail of a sliding sash window to assist in raising the sash.
Trickle Vent
A small, adjustable vent fitted to the window frame that provides background ventilation even when the window is closed.
Packers
Small plastic or rubber shims used during installation to adjust the alignment of hinges or to increase the "stack height" of a friction hinge.
