GB2282632A

GB2282632A - Lockable handle

Info

Publication number: GB2282632A
Application number: GB9319392A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence James Dolman
Original assignee: Feneseal Ltd
Current assignee: Feneseal Ltd
Priority date: 1993-09-20
Filing date: 1993-09-20
Publication date: 1995-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2013-09-20
Also published as: GB2282632B; GB9319392D0

Abstract

A door or window handle 11 is provided with a locking mechanism in the form of an L-shaped locking member 23 that sits within the handle. One limb 22 of the L-shaped member has a head 24 that can project from the handle in order to lock the handle to a base to prevent relative rotation between the handle and the base. The other limb 25 of the member projects along the under surface of an arm of the handle and can be operated as the arm is gripped to slide the first limb 22 into the arm and so release the mechanism for rotation relative to the base. The base may be connected to the handle by a member (76, Figure 6 not shown) which allows relative rotation between the handle and base but prevents relative axial movement therebetween. <IMAGE>

Description

HANDLES The invention relates to handles, and in particular to lockable handle mechanisms for doors and windows.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a lockable handle mechanism comprising a body mountable for pivotal movement about an axis, an arm projecting from the body and operable manually to effect said pivotal movement, and a locking member having first and second parts, the first part being carried by the body for sliding movement between an operative position in which a portion of the part projects from said body and an inoperative position, the second part extending along an under-surface of the arm and being operable on gripping of the arm to move the first part between said operative and said inoperative positions.

In this way, the handle can be readily unlocked for pivotal movement while it is being gripped for such pivotal movement.

The locking member may be spring biased towards said operative position, movement to said inoperative position being resisted by said spring bias.

Preferably, t:- first part is slidable in a path lying in a plane including the pivot axis of the body. In this case, the axis and said path are preferably mutually inclined.

The body may be pivotally connected to, and rotatable relative to, a base, the base including a part which, when the first part is in the operative position, engages the projecting end of the first part to prevent rotation of the body and the handle relative to the base.

The base part may comprise a recess for receiving said end of the first part.

The first part preferably includes an enlarged head for receipt in said recess.

The body may carry a lock operable to hold the said locking member in the operative position.

The first and the second parts may be interconnected in the form of an L-shaped member, one limb of said L-shape forming the first part and the other limb of said L-shape forming the second part.

The body preferably includes a surface from which projects a drive member for rotating a drive rod as the handle is rotated.

The drive member may comprise a socket coaxial with the axis of rotation of the mechanism and extending normal to the plane of said surface.

In an alternative embodiment, the base may include a passage formed by two relatively rotatable connected annular members having mutually inclined intersecting axes, one member being for non-rotatable connection to a mounting and the other member being non-rotatably connected to the body so that the body is rotatable about an axis skewed relative to the axis of the first member.

The drive member may, in this case, comprise a drive shaft having one end connected to the body and extending through said members with a universal joint between the ends thereof to transmit drive from the mechanism.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a handle mechanism comprising a body and an arm, the body including an inner surface and an outer surface with a hole extending therethrough and being in alignment with a hole in the body, a connecting member extending through said base hole and into said handle hole and being connected to the body, the connecting member including a radially protecting surface engaging the inner surface of the base to allow relative rotation between the handle and the base about the common axis of the bores but to prevent relative axial movement therebetween.

The following is a more detailed description of some embodiments of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through a first lockable handle mechanism showing a locking member of the mechanism in an operative position; Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 but showing the locking member in an inoperative position; Figure 3 is a plan view from above of a base member for mounting the handle mechanism; Figure 4 shows the locking member of the handle mechanism of Figures 1 and 2 in end elevations and a side elevation; Figure 5 is a similar view to Figures 1 and 2 but showing the addition to the handle mechanism of a skewed mounting; Figure 6 is a cross-section through a second lockable handle mechanism showing a locking member of the mechanism in an aperature position; and Figure 7 is a cross-section of a plastics moulding of the second mechanism and forming a washer, a spring, a locking head and a hooked end Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the handle mechanism comprises a body 10 and an arm 11. The body 10 and arm 11 are formed from first and second castings 12,13.

The first casting 12 forms an upper portion lla of the arm 11 and then curves downwardly to form an upper portion lOa of the body 10 and depending spaced side walls lob. A drive member 14 provided with a square cross-section socket 15 depends from the end of the upper portion lOa.

The second casting 13 forms a lower portion llb of the arm 11 which ends in a downwardly projecting wall 16 leading to a flat end plate 17. The end plate 17 is provided with two spaced apertures 18,19. The drive member 14 extends through the first of the apertures 18. The wall 16 forms, with the side walls lOb of the first casting and the end plate 17, a closed chamber within the mechanism.

The second casting 13 is also provided with a slot 20 at an inner end of the lower arm portion lib and extending into the wall 15.

The wall 16 and the upper body portion lOa form between them a guideway 21 which receives one limb 22 of an L-shaped locking member 23, which is shown in more detail in Figure 4. As seen in that Figure, the limb 22 is provided with an enlarged head 24 at its free end and a shoulder 31 intermediate its ends. The second limb 25 subtends at a slightly obtuse angle with the first limb 22. As seen in Figure 4, the second limb 25 is broader than the first limb 22 and has a downwardly hooked end 26.

Referring now to Figure 1 and 2 again, when installed in the handle, the guideway 21 holds the first limb 22 aligned with the second aperture 19 in the end plate 17.

The second limb 25 extends into the slot 20 in the undersurface of the arm 11. A leaf spring 27 acts between the end of the first limb 22 remote from the head 24 and the upper portion lia of the arm 11 to bias the locking member into the position shown in Figure 1 in which the head 24 projects through the aperture 19 and the second limb 25 lies within the slot 20.

The upper body portion 10a is provided with a mounting 28 which carries a cylinder lock 29 that can be rotated by a key (not shown) to move a stop 30 into and out of a locking position in which it engages the shoulder 31 as seen in Figure 1.

The handle mechanism is mounted on a base 32 shown in Figure 3. The base 32 is generally rectangular in plan with two screw holes 33 by which the base may be mounted to a surface. Each screw hole is surrounded by a rectangular recess 34.

The base 32 is also provided with a hole 35 through which the drive member 14 projects. The free end of the drive member 14 is then deformed outwardly to prevent relative axial movement between the drive member 14 and the base 32 and to mount the handle mechanism on the base 32 for rotation about the axis of the drive member 14.

When so mounted, the handle can be rotated to a position in which the aperture 19 is aligned with one or other of the recesses 34 in the base 32. When in this position, and with the locking member 23 in the operative position shown in Figure 1, the head 24 projects into the adjacent recess 34 to prevent rotation between the handle mechanism and the base.

As the arm 11 is gripped, the second limb 25 can be squeezed simul aneously to move the second limb 25 into the arm 11 and consequently slide the first limb 22 in the guideway 21 against the bias of the leaf spring 27 so retracting the head 24 into the chamber formed in the body 10 and releasing it from engagement with the recess 34.

In this way, the handle mechanism is released for rotation relative to the base 32.

The handle mechanism described above with reference to the drawings is designed principally for use with a window, when the drive member 14 will receive a square cross-section drive bar in the socket 15. The drive bar (not shown) will in turn drive a latch or locking mechanism.

In certain installations, rotation of the handle mechanism may be limited by the proximity of surrounding parts of the window or door. In this case, the modification shown in Figure 5 may be used. In this modification, the drive member 14 is replaced by two relatively rotatably connected annular members 36,37 having inclined intersecting axes. One annular member 36 is connected to the upper body portion 10a by a screw (not shown) extending into a threaded bore 45 in the portion 10a. The member 36 projects through the aperture 18 in the end plate 17, terminating in an outwardly directed flange 38 which co-opeates with an inwardly directed flange 39 on the second annular member 37, to provide the rotatable mounting.A cup 40 fits within the first annular member 38 and receives a rod 41 having at its free end a ball 42 which forms a universal joint with the end of a drive shaft 43.

In this way, the handle mechanism is mounted for a rotation about an axis 44 which is inclined to the axis 45 of the drive shaft. This means, that when the handle mechanism is rotated, the handle can move clear of any proximate door or window parts. The annular member 36 has the advantage over the drive member 14 that it does not require a deferring operation (which may be difficult in the limited space available and which, if not correctly done, may lock the handle to the base 32).

It will be appreciated that the locking part (the limb 22) and the grippable part (the limb 25) need not be formed together. They could be formed separately and then connected or they could be interconnected by a mechanism that converts movement of the part 25 into movement of the part 22.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the second handle mechanism comprises a body 50 and an arm 51 formed together in a single casting. The body 50 comprises a mounting boss 52 and two spaced parallel side walls one of which is shown at 53 projecting from the boss 52 and each having first and second side edges one pair of which are designated 54, 55. The first and second edges 54, 55 of each side wall 53 intersect at right angles and the edges of one wall 53 are in register with the edges of the other wall, as viewed in Figure 6.

The two first edges 54 thus form a first rectangular opening and the two second edges 55 thus form a second rectangular opening, with the first and second rectangular openings being at right angles to one another.

The boss 52 has an under surface 56 which is generally co-planar with the second edges 55 which is provided with an annular bore 57 extending into the boss 52 in a direction normal to said surface 56 and terminating in a threaded hole 58.

The body 50 also includes a top wall 59 which closes the upper edges of the side walls 53 and connects with the handle 52. The top wall 52 carries a cylinder lock 60 which projects into the space between the side walls 53, and which includes a locking lug 61. The cylinder lock is operated by a key 62.

The arm 51 has an inverted U-shaped cross-section in planes normal to the length of the arm 51. A wall 63 extends across this U-shaped cross-section about twothirds the way along the arm 51 from the free end. The purpose of this wall 63 will be described below.

The body 50 and the arm 51 carry a one-piece plastics moulding 64 shown in more detail in Figure 7. The moulding 64 comprises an annular washer 65 provided with an annular rebate. The washer 65 is connected to a spring portion 66 of inverted U-shape which in turn is connected to one end of a locking member 67 which is generally rectangular in plan view and wedge-shaped in side elevation, as seen in Figures 6 and 7. A locking projection 68 extends upwardly from the locking member 67. The opposite end of the locking member 67 is connected by a tongue to one end of an elongated rectangular connecting member 69 whose other end is connected to a grippable limb 70.

The moulding 64 is arranged on the body 50 and the arm 51 with the washer 65 on the boss surface 56 and arranged around the bore 57. The spring portion 66 and the locking member 67 lie in the second rectangular opening between the side edges 55. The connecting member 69 extends along the first rectangular opening between the first side edges 54. The member 67 engages these side edges 54 and is guided by them for sliding movement in a direction parallel to the side edges 54.

The limb 70 is located beneath the arm 51 and a tongue 71 on the limb 70 engages the wall 63 to locate the limb 70 relative to the arm 51.

In the unstressed position of the moulding 64 shown in Figure 6, the locking member 67 projects from the second rectangular opening and the limb 70 is spaced downwardly from the arm 51.

In use, the body 50 is connected to a base 72 shown in Figure 6. The base 72 is generally rectangular in plan with two screw holes 73 by which the base 72 may be mounted to a surface. Each screw hole 73 is surrounded by a rectangular recess 74. The base 72 is also provided with a central hole 75.

A connecting member 76 projects through the hole 75 and the washer 65 into the bore 57 in the boss 52. The connecting member 76 is generally annular with outwardly directed flange 77 at one end and an inwardly tapering end wall 78 at the other end. The end wall 78 is provided with a screw hole 79.

The flange 77 engages the under surface of the base 72 and the screw hole 79 is in register with the threaded hole 58 in the boss 52 with a screw (not shown) extending through the screw hole 79 and engaging in the threaded hole 58 to connect the body 50 to the base 72 for relative rotation between the parts about the common axis of the hole 75 and the bore 58. The washer 65, located between the base 72 and the under surface 56 of the boss 52 and engaging in the base hole 75, reduces the friction during such rotation.

Since these parts can be manufactured to great precision, easy and accurate connection between the base 72 and the boss 52 is ensured and a mounting of predetermined rotational stiffness can readily be produced.

When connected in this way, and as seen in Figure 6, the body 50 can be rotated by the arm 51 to a position in which the locking member 67 is in register with and enters one of the rectangular recesses 74 provided in the base 72. When in this position, engagement between the locking member 67 and the base 72 prevents relative rotation between the body 50 and the base 52 thus locking the two parts together.

In this position, the lock 60 can be operated by the key 62 to rotate the locking lug 61 into the position shown in Figure 6 in which the locking lug 61 engages the locking projection 68 on the locking member 67. This therefore prevents the locking member 67 being moved from the locking position.

When the locking lug 61 is rotated out of engagement with the locking projection 68, the limb 70 can be gripped as the arm 51 is gripped to move the limb 70 into the arm 51. This movement is guided by engagement of the tongue 71 with the wall 63 and by engagement of the member 67 with the side edges 54. As a result of this movement, the locking member 67 is raised out of engagement with the rectangular recess 74 against the spring force provided by the U-shaped spring portion 66.

The arm 51 and the body 50 can then be rotated relative to the base 72 to operate a locking mechanism via a drive rod 80 projecting into the connecting member 76.

In order to re-lock the handle to the base 52, the limb 70 must be gripped and slid into the arm 51 and the handle rotated back to the position shown in Figure 6. If the limb 70 is then released, the restoring force provided by the U-shaped spring portion 66 moves the locking member 67 back into the position in which it engages the recess 74 with corres aiding downward movement of the connecting member 69 and the limb 70.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 can be modified for canted operation in the manner of the handle shown in Figure 5.

In addition, the connecting member 76 could be omitted and the drive member 14 be substituted of the kind described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

The parts formed by the moulding 64 need not be formed in one piece; they could be formed separately or in groups that interconnect. In addition to, or as a alternative to the U-shaped spring portion 66, the spring may be provided between the limb 70 and the under surface of the handle 52.

Claims

1. A lockable handle mechanism comprising a body mountable for pivotal movement about an axis, an arm projecting from the body and operable manually to effect said pivotal movement, and a locking member having first and second parts, the first part being carried by the body for sliding movement between an operative position in which a portion of the part projects from said body and an inoperative position, the second part extending along an under-surface of the arm and being operable on gripping of the arm to move the first part between said operative and said inoperative positions.

2. A handle mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the locking member is spring biased towards said operative position, movement to said inoperative position being resisted by said spring bias.

3. A handle mechanism according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first part is slidable in a path lying in a plane including the pivot axis of the body.

4. A handle mechanism according to claim 3 wherein the axis and said path are preferably mutually inclined.

5. A handle mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the body is pivotally connected to, and rotatable relative to, a base, the base including a part which, when the first part is in the operative position, engages the projecting end of the first part to prevent rotation of the body and the handle relative to the base.

6. A handle mechanism according to claim 5 wherein the base part comprises a recess for receiving said end of the first part.

7. A handle mechanism according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the first part includes an enlarged head for receipt in said recess.

8. A handle mechanism according to any one of claims I to 7 wherein the body carries a lock operable to hold the said locking member in the operative position.

9. A handle mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the first and second parts are interconnected in the form of an L-shaped member, one limb of said L-shape forming the first part and the other limb of said L-shape forming the second part.

10. A handle mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the body includes a surface from which projects a drive member for rotating a drive rod as the handle is rotated.

11. A handle mechanism according to claim 10 wherein the drive member comprises a socket coaxial with the axis of rotation of the mechanism and extending normal to the plane of said surface.

12. A handle mechanism according to claim 10 wherein the body includes a passage formed by two relatively rotatable connected annular members having mutually inclined intersecting axes, one member being for non-rotatable connection to a mounting and the other member being non-rotatably connected to the body so that the body is rotatable about an axis skewed relative to the axis of the first member.

13. A handle mechanism according to claim 12 wherein the drive member comprises a drive shaft having one end connected to the body and extending through said members with a universal joint between the ends thereof to transmit drive from the mechanism.

14. A handle mechanism comprising a base and an arm, the base including an inner surface and an outer surface with a hole extending therethrough and being in alignment with a hole in the handle, a connecting member extending through said base hole and into said handle hole and being connected to the handle, the connecting member including a radially projecting surface engaging the inner surface of the base to allow relative rotation between the handle and the base about the common axis of the bores but to prevent relative axial movement therebetween.

15. A handle mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A lockable handle mechanism comprising a body mountable for pivotal movement about an axis, an arm projecting from the body and operable manually to effect said pivotal movement, and a locking member having first and second parts, the first part being carried by the body for movement between an operative position in which a portion of the part projects from said body and an inoperative position, the second part extending along an under-surface of the arm and being operable on gripping of the arm to move the first part between said operative and said inoperative positions.

5. A handle mechanism according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first part is pivoted by the second part between said operative and inoperative positions.

6. A handle mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the body is pivotally connected to, and rotatable relative to, a base, the base including a part which, when the first part is in the operative position, engages the projecting end of the first part to prevent rotation of the body and the handle relative to the base.

7. A handle mechanism according to claim 6 wherein the base part comprises a recess for receiving said end of the first part.

8. A handle mechanism according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the first part includes an enlarged head for receipt in said recess.

9. A handle mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the body carries a lock operable to hold the said locking member in the operative position.

10. A handle mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the first and second parts are interconnected in the form of an L-shaped member, one limb of said L-shape forming the first part and the other limb of said L-shape forming the second part.

11. A handle mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the body includes a surface from which projects a drive member for rotating a drive rod as the handle is rotated.

12. A handle mechanism according to claim 11 wherein the drive member comprises a socket coaxial with the axis of rotation of the mechanism and extending normal to the plane of said surface.

13. A handle mechanism according to claim 11 wherein the body includes a passage formed by two relatively rotatable connected annular members having mutually inclined intersecting axes, one member being for non-rotatable connection to a mounting and the other member being non-rotatably connected to the body so that the body is rotatable about an axis skewed relative to the axis of the first member.

14. A handle mechanism according to claim 13 wherein the drive member comprises a drive shaft having one end connected to the body and extending through said members with a universal joint between the ends thereof to transmit drive from the mechanism.

15. A handle mechanism comprising a base and an arm, the base including an inner surface and an outer surface with a hole extending therethrough and being in alignment with a hole in the handle, a connecting member extending through said base hole and into said handle hole and being connected to the handle, the connecting member including a radially projecting surface engaging the inner surface of the base to allow relative rotation between the handle and the base about the common axis of the bores but to prevent relative axial movement therebetween.

16. A handle mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.