US3367698A

US3367698A - Locker handle assembly

Info

Publication number: US3367698A
Application number: US538766A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sr William Paul Walker
Original assignee: Penco Products Inc
Current assignee: Penco Products Inc
Priority date: 1966-03-30
Filing date: 1966-03-30
Publication date: 1968-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 1985-02-06

Description

Feb. 6, 1968 w. P. WALKER. SR 3,367,598

LOCKER HANDLE ASSEMBLY Filed March 50, 1966 2 sheetswsheet 1 f? I l L42 L}.:

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Feb. 6, 1968 J w. P. WALKER, SR 3,367,698

LOCKER HANDLE AS SEMBLY Filed March so, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,367,698 LQCKER HANDLE ASSEMBLY William Paul Walker, Era, King of Prussia, Pa., assignor to Peace Products Inc., Oaks, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 538,766 6 Claims. (Cl. 292-18S) ABSTRAET OF THE DISELDSURE Steel lockers of the type used in gymnasiums and schools have swinging doors locked by a handle assembly and a sliding latch mechanism. The present invention provides an improved locker handle assembly for actuating the latch mechanism, wherein the locker handle rotates within a base enclosure whereby the assembly is protected from abuse such as force from kicking, and unauthorized entry into the locker is prevented.

This invention relates to a handle and latch actuating assembly for use on locker cabinets and the like having a swingable door, and more particularly to a handle means actuating a latching mechanism upon movement of the handle means, the cabinet being provided with a suitable lock associated therewith either built in with the mechanism or in the form of a padlock.

The handle and latch assembly of this invention, while not intended to be limited to the same, is particularly applicable to lockers such as are found in school gymnasiums and the like where it must be capable of withstanding sharp blows or kicks from books or other similar objects. Such handles must also present no exposed elements or parts which would aid in the dismantling or prying apart of the handle assembly.

It is therefore an object with this invention to provide a handle and latch assembly that is capable of withstanding efforts to forcefully enter the cabinet once the assembly is in a locked position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a handle and latch assembly that is mounted to the door in such a manner as to conceal all fasteners and operating parts in order to discourage and prevent one from breaking into the cabinet.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a handle and latch actuating assembly for opening the door of a locker cabinet wherein the latching mechanism is actuated upon the natural pulling movement of a handle means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a handle and latch assembly that returns the latching mechanism to a latched position upon release of the handle means thereby allowing the door to be merely pushed shut to re-engage the latching mechanism Without requiring movement of the handle means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide latches for the door mounted for movement to unlatch the door in response to actuation of the latching mechanism and for movement independent of the mechanism to latch the door when the door is closed, so as to provide a smooth and automatic door closing operation without requiring movement of the handle means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a means for locking the latching mechanism against relative movement in order to provide a lock for the cabinet.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a locking means that is incapable of locking the latching mechanism in an unlatched position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a means for locking the latching mechanism against rela- 3,367,698 Patented Feb. e, was

tive movement whether the door is opened or closed, the cabinet being latched and locked when the door is closed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a handle and latch assembly that not only resists breakage but is simple to operate and economical to manufacture.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a handle and latch assembly and latch mechanism constructed from a minimum number of parts.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the following description of the drawings wherein like numbers designate like parts.

FIGURE 1 is -a partial perspective view of a locker cabinet showing the handle and latch assembly of this invention aflixed thereto.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the handle as seen from the front of the locker.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary right side view of the handle taken along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2 omitting the latch mechanism.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the latch mechanism taken along the lines 44 of FIGURE 2 with the locker door in a closed position.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view of the inside of the locker door, the door frame having been broken away to reveal the latching mechanism in a latched and locked position.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 6- 6 of FIGURE 5, showing the handle and latch assembly in a latched position.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 with the handle and latch assembly in an unlatched position.

With reference to the drawings and in particular with reference to FIGURE 1, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the handle and latch assembly of this invention applied to a locker cabinet 10. The cabinet has a swingable door 11 hinged to the cabinet at 12 and provided with keepers 13 on the frame 14 of the door adapted to be engaged by the latch mechanism on the door. On the outside of the front of the door is a handle 15 and a key operated lock 50.

The handle 15, as best shown in FIGURES 3 and 6 is constructed from a single piece of a suitably die cast alloy that has been chrome plated for purposes of its appearance. The handle is composed of a plate portion 16 and an enlarged outer rim 17 extending vertically along the front of the handle and up over the top to provide a gripping surface for operating the handle. The handle is operatively associated with a base plate 18 that is also suitably constructed from a single piece of die cast alloy carrying pivot point 20, integral therewith, adapted to be engaged by pivot slot 21 in the plate portion of the handle 15. The base plate 18 includes a bifurcated portion 22 extending outwardly from the base creating a slot 23 between the two portions. On each portion is a hole 24 aligning with a hole 25 in the plate 16 of the handle when the latch assembly is in a latched position as shown in FIGURE 6.

In assembly the handle is inserted through the slot 23 in the base plate so that the pivot slot 21 in the handle plate engages the pivot point 20, the handle plate 16 extending through an opening 23' in the base plate cooperating with the slot 23 between the bifurcated portions 22. Integrally attached to the handle plate and extending through the base plate 18 is a yoke portion 26 and a limit or stop arm 27. The assembled handle and base plate is then secured around a suitable opening 28 in the door of the locker, the part of the handle plate extending beyond the base plate being inserted through this opening.

Attached to the door prior to inserting the handle is a rubber or suitable elastic element 29 snap fitted on to the door to provide a cushioning for the limit of travel of the handle plate. The handle assembly is secured to the door in such a manner that the yoke 26 of the handle plate will engage a pin 30 of the latching mechanism which is to be described below. The hook portion of the limit arm 27 of the handle plate engages the inside of the rubber bumper 2 when the handle is pulled to an open position as shown in FIGURE 7 thus acting as a limit or stop for the handle.

The base plate 18 is securely attached to the door by first engaging the tab 31 at the bottom of the plate inside of the door at the bottom of the opening 32, a stud 33 integrally attached to the base plate passing through a hole in the door to which is threaded a self-threading nut 34. It can now be seen that once the handle assembly is secured to the door that it is held flush with the same providing no projecting surface under which a tool could be applied to jimmy off the mechanism. Additionally no securing element such as a pivot pin, screw, bolt, etc. is exposed which would aid in the removal of the mechanism from the cabinet. Additionally two lugs 28 are provided on the base plate on either side of the handle plate which extend through the opening 28 in the door of the locker. These lugs make the locker handle substantially kickproof by protecting the stud 34 against shearing due to the application of sharp blows to the handle assembly.

When the handle is in a closed position, the handle plate covers up all openings that extend into the interior of the latching mechanism thus preventing one from gaining access to the mechanism with a tool through these openings. The top of opening 28 in the door prevents the handle plate 16 from being lifted upward out of the pivot 28 after the assembly has been secured to the door.

The vertical latch mechanism operated by the pivotal movement of the handle plate 17 acting against pin 30 consists of bar 35, with the pin 36 connected across two sides of the bar as shown in FIGURE 4. The latch bar is secured within the frame work 37 of the door by suitable tubular spring clips 36 secured to the frame 37 of the door and extending through the door, the clips extending through slots 38 in the latch bar. The frame 37 extends around and protects the latch mechanism from being tampered with by the insertion of tools through the doorjamb as shown in FIGURE 4.

The latch mechanism consists of latches or finger clips 39 suitably made of nylon or other relatively frictionless material having a depending portion 40 adapted to fit within openings 41 in the keepers 13. Within the body of the clip is a well 42 containing a tubular spring 43 which functions as an aid in installing the clips and also keeping them in the proper position for latching the door. In assembly the clip is inserted through an opening 44 in the latch bar from the right in FIGURE 6 and pushed upwardly to the position shown in phantom, the edge 45 of the bar at the top of the opening 44 extending into a slot 4-6 and engaging the top of spring 43. The spring is compressed until the lip 47 of the clip can pass over the bottom edge 48 of the opening. The spring then pushes the clip back into the operating position between the

edges

45 and 48 as shown in full in FIGURE 6. The slot 46 in the clip extends across the width of the clip and limits the range of movement of the clip to the vertical direction only as it slides with respect to the latch bar in opposition to the spring as described with respect to the closing operation.

Upon pivotal movement of the handle plate outwardly, the yoke 26 of the handle plate moves upwardly against the pin 30 causing vertical movement of the entire latch bar. As shown in FIGURE 6, this raises the latch 39 up and out of engagement with the keepers 13 allowing the door to be swung open by one and the same movement of the handle. It can be seen that the stop arm 27 limits the amount of vertical travel of the latch bar as shown in FIGURE 7.

After the door has been opened and upon release of the handle, the handle and the latching mechanism will fall back to a closed position due to their own weight.

Hence with the door open and the mechanism in a closed position one need merely shut the door with a minimum of force wherein it will automatically assume a latched position. This is caused by the depending portion 40 of the latches 39 riding up the bevelled front edge 49 on the keepers 13, the latches moving upwardly against the pressure of the springs 43. When the clips reach the top of the keeper, the spring again forces them back down into the slot 41 of the keeper and hence into a latched position. It can be seen that the clips move relative to the latch bar and that there is no movement of the latch bar or handle. Thus it is not necessary to pivot the handle again when it is desired to close the door.

While only one clip is shown in the drawings, it will be understood that any number can be secured to the latch bar with cooperating keepers on the door frame. Three such latches would be provided for the locker cabinet in FIGURE 1.

Because the latches can move independently of the door, the lock for the latch mechanism can be engaged while the door is in an open position permitting the door to be locked in addition to be latched when the door is closed. A bumper or suitable resilient element 55 is secured to the side of the door frame 14 to cushion the door as it is closed.

The door may be locked by a key lock mechanism 50 suitably secured at 51 to the inside of the door merely leaving a means for operating the lock exposed on the front of the door. The lock would operate a bolt 52 adapted to engage within a slot 53 on the side of the latch bar only when the latch bar was in a closed position, thereby preventing vertical movement of the latch bar. Alternatively the shackle of a padlock 54 may be inserted through the aligned holes 24 and 25 in the base plate and handle plate respectively when the handle is in closed position in order to lock the cabinet. As with the key lock, the latching mechanism can only be secured against movement when it is in a closed or latched position, even though the door itself may be opened or closed wit-h respect to the cabinet at the time the mechanism is placed in such a locked position.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the present invention provides a handle and latch assembly for a locker door that is resistant to unlawful entry, simply constructed and easy to install. The assembly allows the door to be unlatched and opened upon the mere pulling of a handle and requires only that the door be pushed shut to return the door to a latched position without causing movement of the handle and latch assembly. Furthermore the latching mechanism can be locked wit-h the door open or closed, the door assuming a latched and locked position when the door is merely pushed shut.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A handle and latch actuating assembly for a swingable door provided with a latching mechanism, wherein said assembly comprises a base plate adapted to be rigidly secured to the door having an opening therein adapted to register with an opening in the door, said plate including an outwardly extending portion that is bifurcated to provide a slot therein cooperating with the opening in the plate, the base plate including a pivot integral therewith and disposed within the slot of the plate, the pivot mounting a handle plate in the slot extending through the openings in the plate and the door, a protective portion integral with the outwardly extending portion that is bifurcated and substantially enclosing the handle plate at the lower end of the slot, said pivot integral with said protective portion, means for limiting the range of pivotal movement of the handle plate through these openings, and latch actuating means integral with the handle positioned inwardly of the door, wherein pivotal and outward movement of the handle plate simultaneously actuates the latching mechanism, releasing the door and allowing it to be swung open.

2. A handle and l-atch actuating assembly according to claim 1, including aligned apertures on both sides of the slot of the base plate, a similar shaped aperture within the pivotal handle plate, said apertures aligning for insertion of the shank of a padlock when the handle is in a closed position, said lock thereby preventing movement of the handle plate and actuation of the latching mechanism.

3. A handle and latch actuating assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a latch bar operatively connected to said latch actuating means at an intermediate point, the latch bar extending upwardly and downwardly from said assembly mounted for slidable movement with respect to the door, latches mounted to the latch bar, and keepers adapted to be engaged by the latches, wherein pivotal and outward movement of the handle actuates the latch bar causing the latches to slide out of engagement with their keepers thereby allowing the door to be opened.

4. A handle and latch actuating assembly according to claim 3, including a lock means mounted on the inside of the door accessible for operation only from the front of the door engageable with the latch bar to prevent relative movement thereof in order to place the door in a locked position.

5. A handle and latch actuating assembly according to claim 3, wherein the latches are mounted for slidable movement against a resilient element with respect to the latch bar, the keepers including an inclined leading edge causing the latches to slide up and into engagement with the keepers when the door is closed without necessitating movement of the latch bar.

6. A handle and latch actuating assembly according to claim 5, wherein the latches are mounted for slidable movement vertically within apertures in the latch bar, the resilient element comprising a spring disposed within a well in the latch acting between the latch and an edge of the aperture, wherein the latch slides in opposition to the spring as it rides up the edge of the keeper, the spring forcing the latch back down into engagement with the keeper when the door is closed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,294,009 2/1919 Williams 292--148 X 1,594,650 8/1926 Vance. 2,063,806 3/ 1936 Baker et 2.1. 2,518,141 8/1950 Hiler.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

I. R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner.