US2800350A - Safety latch control handle - Google Patents

Description

Jllly 23, 1957 M. s. KEELER u 2,800,350

SAFETY LATCH CONTROL HANDLE Filed Aug. 9, 1956 Y zalm.. n 'a l SAFETY LAT CH CONTROL HANDLE Miner S. Keeler' Il, Grand Rapids, Mich., assigner to Keeler Brass Company, Grand Rapids, h ich.

Application August 9, 1956, Serial No. 602,995

7 Claims. (Cl. 292-3363;)

This invention relates to a safety latch control or operating handle adapated for use on the inner side of an automobile door or the like and quite generally designated by the automotive industry as the remote control handle.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a safety remote control handle which may be selectively adjusted to a normal free operating position or to a locked position and when in such position is diicult, if not impossible, to be operated by a child and at the same time when in unlocked position can be manipulated in the same manner as the now widely used types of latch control handles.

Second, to provide a control handle for latches having the above advantages which may be very economically produced and installed and associated with the types of latch, the control parts of which are now in extensive use.

Third, to provide a latch control handle having these advantages which may be greatly varied in ornamental design to harmonize with other hardware or inish of a motor vehicle.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary inside view of a motor vehicle body and door thereof, mainly conventionally shown, and with the latch control handle of my invention in operative relation to control parts indicated by dotted lines, the handle being shown in latch operating position by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on a line corresponding to line 2 2 of Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the position permitting adjustment to locked position being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary inside view of the handle proper.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

It is a matter of common knowledge that a considerable number of children have been injured and even some children killed as a result of their opening the door of an automobile.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a control handle for latches which may be adjusted to a locked position and when in that position it is very diicult for a child to operate to disengage the latch.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents a Vehicle body, 2 a door thereof viewed from the inside. The latch is conventionally indicated at 3 by dotted lines and the remote control rod therefor is indicated at 4, see also Fig. 2. 5 indicates the crank of a Window operating mechanism which, however, forms no part of this invention. 6 represents the inner panel of the door.

The control rod 4 is eccentrically connected to the actuated member 7, quite generally called an adaptor, by

tent 0 means of the coupling member 8 of the adaptor. The details of this connection are not illustrated and may desirably be of widely used types. The actuated member 7 has an axial bore 9 opening inwardly to receive the stern 10 of the coupling member 8, the stem being secured by means of the pin 11. The actuated member is provided with diametrically opposed radial recesses'12 and 13 with which the lug 14 and the combined bolt and stop element 15 of the handle 16 are releasably engaged.

The actuated member has a reduced portion 17 rotatable in the hole 18 provided therefor in the panel 16. It is further rotatably supported by the bearing 19 provided therefor in the inwardly projecting flange 20 of the bezel 21 which is iixedly secured to the panel by the screws 22.

The ilange 20 is provided with a keeper recess 23 with which the lock element 15 of the handle may be engaged. It is also provided with a segmental recess 24 in which the lock element 15 may be disposed for limited oscillating movement, the ends of the recess 2S constituting stops limiting the oscillating movement of the handle. The handle is retained upon the actuated member permitting such oscillation and also axial movement of the handle as is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In the embodiment illustrated the handle is provided with an outwardly facing bore-like chamber or recess 26 which has an inwardly projecting flange 27 constituting a seat for the coil spring 23. The outer end of the spring is in thrust supported engagement with the head 29 of a screw 30 tapped into the outer end of the actuated member. Thus arranged the spring acts to yieldingly urge the handle member inwardly while permitting its outward axial movement suiiciently to disengage the lug 14 and the lock element 15 from the keeper recess 23 and the segmental recess 24 allowing the handle to be rotated while supportedly resting on the iiange of the bezel until the lock element aligns with the keeper recess 23 and is engaged therewith by the thrust of the spring 28. When in this locked position the handle cannot be rotated or actuated to disengage the latch. However, when the handle is in the position illustrated in full lines in the drawing shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the handle may be operated in a manner that is common in remote latch control handles.

The handle cannot be released from locked position without an axial pull on the handle suiiicient to disengage the bolt element from the keeper and then while so disengaged rotating the handle to bring the lock element out of alignment with the keeper and it would be ditlicult and extremely unlikely for a child under the age of discretion to do that. However, when the latch control is adjusted to latch operating position it may be manipulated in the well understood manner to release the latch. The handle grip 31 may be of any desired design to harmonize with other hardware.

As stated, I have not illustrated the details of the latch as my device may be installed or operatively associated with various latches now very extensively used in the automotive vehicle'industry. Such latches are of the type which engage automatically when the door is closed and may be released from the inside of the door by a remote control handle.

I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations of my invention as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody oradapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A control handle for latches and the like comprising a rotatable actuated member having diametrically opposed laterally opening recesses, a handle associated with said actuated member for axial movement relative thereto and having diametrically disposed lugs engaged with said recesses in said actuated member, one of said 3 lugs being of a radial width exceeding that of the depth of the recesses and constituting a bolt and stop element, said handle having an outwardly opening recess aligned with said actuated member, said handle recess having an internal flange, a coily spring seated-ontsaidiiange, a thrust member carriedI by said-actuated member nfor: supporting the outer end of said spring whereby -the springl acts .toyieldingly urge the handle to actuated member-engaging position, and a relatively iixed bezel havingA an inturned flange through which said actuated member projects, said bezel flange having a keeper recesswith which said bolt element may be engaged'when aligned-therewith and also having a segmental recess spaced angularly -relative to said keeper recess and` adapted to receivesaidi bolt element when the handle is adjusted to-unlocked position, the ends ,of said second' recess constituting'stops limiting the oscillating movement of the lhandle and of the lactuated member.

2. A control handle for latches and the like comprising a rotatableV actuated member having diametrically opposedv laterally openingV recesses, a handle associated with said .actuated member for axial movement relative thereto and having .diametrically disposed lugs engaged with said recesses in said actuatedmember, one of said lugs being of a radial width exceeding that of the depth of the recesses and constituting abolt and stop element, spring means acting `to releasably hold said handle in engagement with said actuated member, and a relatively iixed bezel having an inturned flange through which said actuated member projects, said bezel flange having a keeper recess with which said bolt element may be engaged when aligned therewith and also having a segmental recess and adapted to receive saidbolt element when the handle is adjusted to unlocked position, the

ends of said second recess constituting stops limiting the oscillating movement of the handle and of the actuated member.

3. A control handle for latches and the like comprising a rotatable actuated member having a laterally opening recess therein, a handle associated with said actuated member for axial movement relative thereto and having a bolt and stop element engaged with said recess and projecting therefrom, a relatively iixed bezel having a keeper with which said bolt element may be engaged when aligned therewith and also angularly spaced stops angularly spaced relative to said keeper and adapted to receive saidV bolt element between them when lthe handle is adjusted to unlocked position, said handle ybeing, cham-V recess therein, a handle associated with said. actuated' member for axial movement relative thereto and'having a bolt and stop element engaged with said recess andprcjecting therefrom, a relatively iixed bezel having a keeper withwhich saidl bolt element may be engaged when aligned therewith and also angularlyspacedstops' defining a segmental opening between the stops with the opening angularly spaced relative to. said keeper and adapted to receive said bolt element betweenl them when the handle is adjusted to unlocked'position, and'spring means acting to urge saidhandle axially inwardlyand releasably engage said bolt element-with said keeper when the handle is positioned to align the bolt therewith and to releasably position said bolt element between and in coacting relation to said angularly spaced stops when the handle is rotated to align the bolt element with the opening in the bezel between said stops.

5. A control handle for latches and the like comprising a rotatable actuated member, a handle associated with said actuated member for axialmovement relative thereto and having a bolt and stop element slidably engaged with said actuated member and projecting radially therefrom, a relatively fixed bezel having a keeper with which said bolt element may be engaged when aligned therewith to lock the handle against rotative movement while so engaged and also having angularly spaced stops spaced angularly relative to said keeper and adapted to receive said bolt element between them when the handle is adjusted to unlocked position, said handle having a spring supporting seat, a coil spring disposed on said seat, and a thrust member carried by 'said actuated member supportedly engaging the outer end of said spring whereby the spring acts to yieldingly urge the-handle inwardly.

6. A control handle for latches and the like comprising a rotatable actuated member, a handle associatedwith said actuated member for' axial movement relative thereto and having a boltl and stop element slidably engaged with said actuated member and projectingradially therefrom, a relatively fixed bezel having a keeper with which said bolt element may be engaged when aligned therewith to lock the handle against rotative movement while so engaged and also having angularly spaced stops defining a segmental opening between the stops with the opening spaced angularly relative to said keeper and adapted to receive said bolt element between them when the handle is adjusted to unlocked position, and spring means acting t0 urge said handle axially inwardly and releasably engage said bolt element with said keeper when the handle is positioned to align the bolt therewith and to releasably position said bolt element between and in coactingrelation to said angularly spaced stops when the handle is rotated'to align the bolt element with the opening inthe bezel between said stops.

7. A control handle for latches andthe like comprising a rotatable actuated member, a handle associated with said actuated member for axial movement relative thereto and having a bolt and stop element slidably engaged with said actuated member and projecting radially therefrom, av keeper fixed relative to said actuated member with which said.bolt element may be engaged when aligned l therewith, spaced stops fixed relative to said actuated member and defining a segmental space spaced relative to said keeper and adapted to receive said bolt element between them when the handle is adjusted to unlocked position, and spring means actingto urge said handle axially inwardly and releasably engage said boltelement with said keeper when the handle is positioned to align the bolt therewith and to releasably position said bolt element vbetween and in coacting relation to said angularly spaced stops when the handle is rotated to align the bolt element with the opening between said' stops.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS V1,776,881 Birdsall Sept; 30, 1930 2,046,342 Muck'et al. July 7, 1936 '2,219,626 Johnson Oct. 29, 1940 2,298,559 Fredholm Oct. 13,V 1942 2,742,314 Santos Apr. 16, 1956

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