1 TITLE A Handle Assembly FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to handle assemblies used for operating door and window locks, and in particular to handle assemblies where the handle is biased towards one or more rest positions. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Handles are widely used for operating door and window locks. Typically, the handle operates in conjunction with a lock tongue retracting mechanism so that when the handle is rotated from a closing position to an opening position by a user, the rotation of the handle causes the lock tongue retracting mechanism to retract the lock tongue, thereby allowing the door or window to be opened. Lever type handles are one form of handle commonly used for this purpose. Handle assemblies have also previously been provided, including some with lever type handles, in which the handle is biased towards one or more neutral or rest positions. An example of one such assembly is shown in Figure 1. In many biased lever type assemblies such as the one shown in Figure 1, one end of the lever handle I (or a portion thereof) extends into the escutcheon 2. The escutcheon 2 typically comprises an elongate housing for mounting and/or containing the components of the lever assembly. The portion 3 of the lever that is inside the escutcheon is typically rectangularly shaped. Alternatively, the portion of the lever inside the escutcheon may have a rectangular component mounted thereon. The inside of the escutcheon also houses a slideable block 4. One or more coil springs 5 typically extend between one face of the block and an upstanding portion of the escutcheon. Thus, the block is connected to the escutcheon in a slideable and spring-biased manner. The opposite face of the block (i.e. the face of the block on the opposite side from the springs) defines a contact face 6. The contact face is typically flat and oriented normal to the direction of the block's sliding motion. The contact face 6 contacts with the rectangular portion 3 of the handle.
2 When a user applies force to the lever to rotate it away from a rest position as shown in Figure 1 (for example when the lever is operated to open the door or window), this causes the rectangular portion 3 to rotate and push against the contact face 6 of the block. In particular, as the lever rotates, a corner of the rectangular portion 3 presses against the contact face of the block, sliding the block back against the bias of the springs 5. With further rotation, the corner of the rectangular portion 3 also begins to slide transversely along the flat contact face of the block (as shown by arrow 7). Conversely, when the force applied by the user is removed, the springs 5 cause the block to push back against the corner of the rectangular portion, thereby causing the rectangular portion to rotate in the opposite direction to return the lever to the rest position. It is also known to provide two sliding blocks inside the escutcheon, one block positioned on either side of the rectangular portion of the handle. In these two-block versionseach operates in a similar or identical way to the single block described above. An example of a two block assembly is shown in Figure 2. In the biased lever assemblies described above, the lever typically has four rest positions. The four respective rest positions are defined by the positions where the side edges of the rectangular portion 3 rest flat against the contact face(s) of the block(s). The four rest positions of the lever typically correspond to the longitudinal and transverse axes of the escutcheon, i.e. with the lever oriented vertically upwards, vertically downwards, horizontally left and horizontally right, with respect to the escutcheon. When the above lever assemblies are assembled with a lock tongue retracting mechanism and mounted to a door or window, it is generally only possible to rotate the lever by a small amount (rarely more than 35'-40'). This amount is typically dictated by the maximum operating range of the lock tongue retracting mechanism. Therefore, in use, it is generally not possible to rotate the lever far enough to move it between rest positions. However, before the handle assembly is assembled with the lock tongue retracting mechanism, it generally is possible to rotate the lever between the rest positions. Furthermore, prior to assembly with the lock tongue retracting mechanism, it is generally possible to rotate the lever through 3600 (i.e. all the way 3 around indefinitely) with respect to the escutcheon, in either direction. This has the benefit that, before the assembly is assembled with the lock tongue retracting mechanism and installed on the door or window, the lever can be selectively oriented transverse to the escutcheon facing one way or the other. Consequently, lever assemblies of this kind are typically able to be used as both lefi-handed and right handed door or window levers. This is useful in many situations, including where the same kind of handle assembly is to be used on both the inside and outside of the door or window. Another benefit is that, prior to installation, the lever can be rotated into substantial alignment with the escutcheon (i.e. with the lever oriented upwardly or downwardly substantially parallel to the escutcheon's longitudinal axis) for compact storage or packaging. However, the biased lever handle assemblies described above also suffer from a number of disadvantages. Several of the disadvantages arise from the flat contact face 6 of the slideable block 4. Because the contact face of the block is flat, the resistive force that the block provides against the rotation of the rectangular portion 3 (i.e. the restorative moment that tends to rotate the handle back to the rest position) is maximum at the point where the handle begins to rotate away from the rest position. This is because, at that point, the block pushes directly back against the leading corner of the rectangular portion. However, with further rotation of the handle, the component of the block's restorative force and the consequent moment which acts to return the handle to the rest position is reduced because of the orientation of the rectangular portion of the handle with respect to the block. Hence, the effective restorative force applied by the block decreases with increasing rotation of the handle away from the (each) rest position. This is undesirable because, if the user applies a constant force (or more accurately a constant moment) to the handle throughout the handle's ark of rotation, the handle will accelerate as it moves away from the rest position due to the progressively lessening opposing restorative force. This can cause the user to operate the handle with excessive force, or to over rotate the handle, causing excessive stress on or damage to the lock tongue retracting mechanism and other associated components of the lock.
4 The flat face also causes a corresponding problem as the handle returns from the deflected position to the rest position. For the reasons as outlined above, as the handle rotates back towards the rest position, the effective restorative force (moment) provided by the spring-biased block 4 increases. This means that, if the user simply lets the handle go while it is deflected, rather than simply settling gently back into the rest position, the increasing restorative force may cause the handle to snap back. This may also result in undue impacts and damage to the lock components. Another problem with the biased lever handle assemblies described above is that, whilst it is necessary for the slideable block to slide back and forth within the escutcheon, it is often also possible for the slideable block to rotate or pivot somewhat inside the escutcheon. This is undesirable because it can result in the sides of the block scraping against the walls of the escutcheon causing unnecessary resistance and/or vibration in the handle's action. It can also dramatically reduce the lifespan of the assembly, and in particularly severe instances, the rotation of the block within the escutcheon may cause the block to become jammed against the side walls of the escutcheon thereby jamming the handle assembly. Furthermore, rotation of the block can cause the handle to hang off angle when in the rest position. Yet another problem with the above-mentioned handle assemblies is that it is not generally possible to alter the springs which connect the slideable blocks to the escutcheon. It may often be desirable to replace the springs with alternative springs or other components of different stiffness so as to modify the assembly to operate with levers of varying sizes and weights. It will be clearly appreciated that mere reference herein to background material does not constitute an admission that that background material, or any other material, forms part of the common general knowledge in the relevant field, or is otherwise admissible as prior art, whether in Australia or in any other country. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a handle assembly that may at least partially ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages, or provide a useful or commercial choice.
5 In a first broad form, the present invention resides in a handle assembly comprising a body, a handle that is rotatable with respect to the body, a drive member which is rotatable by rotating the handle, and a movable shuttle member, wherein the shuttle member has a contact face in engagement with the drive member and is biased so as to urge the drive member towards a rest position, wherein the contact face has an apex. Preferably, the apex portion on the contact face of the shuttle member will also have one or more tapering portions depending therefrom, and the tapering portions may alter the effective orientation of the contact face with respect to the drive member at the engagement between the two. As a result, with this form of the invention, the restorative force (moment) that the shuttle provides against the rotation of the drive member may not necessarily be maximum at the point where the drive member (and the handle) begins to rotate away from the rest position. It may also help to prevent the effective restoring force (moment) from decreasing immediately after the drive member moves away from the rest position, and thus reduce the likelihood of the user accidentally applying excessive force to the lock components when operating the handle. In some more specific embodiments, the first broad form of the invention may reside in a handle assembly comprising a body, a handle that is rotatable with respect to the body, a drive member which is rotatable by rotating the handle, and a movable shuttle member, wherein the shuttle member has a contact face in engagement with the drive member, the shuttle member is biased so as to urge the drive member towards a rest position, and the contact face has an apex, and the handle assembly also has alignment means which allows the shuttle member to move linearly with respect to the body but which substantially prevents rotation of the shuttle member with respect to the body, wherein the alignment means comprises one 6a or more ridges, edges or projections on the shuttle member which engage with corresponding aligning features on the body. In a second broad form, the present invention resides in a handle assembly comprising a body, a handle that is rotatable with respect to the body, a drive member that is rotatable by rotating the handle, and a shuttle member, wherein the shuttle member has a contact face in engagement with the drive member and is biased so as to urge the drive member towards a rest position, wherein the shuttle member is provided with alignment means allowing the shuttle member to move linearly with respect to the body but substantially preventing rotation of the shuttle member with respect to the body. This form of the invention may therefore help to overcome or at least reduce the problems associated with the rotation of the slidable block in previous assemblies. In some more specific embodiments, the second broad form of the invention may reside in a handle assembly comprising a body, a handle that is rotatable with respect to the body, a drive member that is rotatable by rotating the handle, and a shuttle member, wherein the shuttle member has a contact face in engagement with the drive member and is biased so as to urge the drive member towards a rest position, and the handle assembly also has alignment means which allows the shuttle member to move linearly with respect to the body but which substantially prevents rotation of the shuttle member with respect to the body, wherein the alignment means comprises one or more ridges, edges or projections on the shuttle member which engage with corresponding aligning features on the body. In a third broad form, the present invention resides in a handle assembly comprising a body, 6b a handle that is rotatable with respect to the body, a drive member that is rotatable by rotating the handle, and a movable shuttle member, wherein the shuttle member has a contact face in engagement with the drive member and is also provided with one or more biasing means that enable the shuttle member to urge the drive member towards a rest position, characterised in that the biasing force provided by one or more of the biasing means may be selectively varied. Varying the stiffness of one or more of the biasing means may help to enable the assembly to operate with handles of different sizes or weights, or to vary how "stiff' the handle is to operate. It will be appreciated that different embodiments of the invention may operate in accordance with any one of the broad forms described above, or in accordance with a combination of two or more of the broad forms. Various features of the invention which may form part of any one of the broad forms described above, or any combination of those broad forms, will now be described. It is anticipated that the body of the present assembly will be similar to the elongate escutcheons used with previous devices, although a wide range of other body configurations or shapes may alternatively be used. The body may comprise a casing having the necessary shape and features to enable the various components of the assembly and the associated lock to mount and function therein. For example, the escutcheon will typically have an aperture therein for receiving the end of the lever handle. Optionally, another aperture may also be provided to allow the key barrel of the associated lock to be accessible from outside the body. It will typically therefore be made from metal or some similarly strong and robust material. The body will preferably be constructed so that when the assembly is installed on a door or window, 7 the body provides a strong and enclosed casing to prevent tampering with or forcing of the internal workings of the assembly or the lock. The body may be provided with whatever holes, apertures, tabs or other features are necessary to enable screws, rivets or other fasteners to to securely attach the body to the door or window. Certain other features of the body will be described with reference to further features of the invention below. The handle is the component of the assembly that is operable by the user (typically by hand, but automatic or machine driven operation is also possible) to operate the lock. It is envisaged that the present assembly will usually operate with lever-type handles. This is because the assembly provides some benefits that can only be realised when lever handles are used and not when knobs or other round handles are used. For example, many embodiments of the invention may function as described above to operate optionally as either left-handed or right-handed door levers. This may allow the same kind of lever handle assembly to be used on both the inside and the outside of a door or window. Also, many embodiments may be adapted so that, prior to installation, the lever can be pivoted into a rest position that is substantially aligned with the body of the assembly for convenient and compact packaging or storage. However, no particular limitation is meant in relation to the kind of handle that may be used with the present invention, and the invention could also operate with a wide range of other forms of handles, such as conventional rounded door knobs, ergonomically shaped grips and other actuators. Furthermore, some of the benefits provided by the invention may be realised irrespective of what kind of handle is used. As explained above, the handle is to be rotatable with respect to the body. This is so that the handle can extend into or through the body and rotate to operate the lock tongue retracting mechanism, without rotating the body (which will generally be fixedly secured to the door or window). The handle may therefore be provided with means for engaging with a lock tongue retracting mechanism and/or other components of a lock. For example, the handle may have an aperture for receiving a spindle. Spindles are commonly used with many forms of lock tongue retracting mechanisms. Those skilled in this field will be familiar with lock tongue retracting mechanisms and methods for mounting handles in engagement with them, and so the 8 means by which the handle engages with the lock tongue retracting mechanism requires no further explanation. The handle assembly also has a drive member that is rotatable by rotating the handle. The drive member may comprise a portion of the handle, a separate component attachable to the handle or even a component that is totally separate from the handle but which is operated by the handle via an intermediate mechanism. However, in preferred embodiments the drive member will be a component that is attachable to a portion of the handle that is located within the body. Therefore, in these embodiments the drive member is mounted to a portion of the handle and rotates with the handle. Further features of the drive member will be described below. The assembly further comprises a shuttle member with a contact face that engages with the drive member. The shuttle member is movable and biased so as to urge the drive member (and hence the handle) towards a rest position. More specifically, the shuttle member will preferably be a component that is movable within the body and which is in engagement with the drive member so that the rotation of the drive member caused by rotation of the handle also deflects the shuttle member against its bias. In some preferred forms of the invention, the shuttle member may be adapted for sliding movement within the body, and may be provided with alignment means to substantially prevent rotation of the shuttle whilst still allowing the said reciprocating sliding movement of the shuttle (i.e. movement forward and back). The alignment means will typically comprise one or more ridges, edges, projections or other features on the shuttle which may engage with corresponding rails, tracks, or other aligning features on the body. The one or more ridges, edges, projections or other features on the shuttle may slide along, beside, in or otherwise in accordance with the corresponding rails, tracks or other aligning features on the body. Where the body comprises a substantially elongate escutcheon, the features on the shuttle and the body described above may be oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body so that the shuttle member slides back and forth in the longitudinal direction. The shuttle is provided with one or more biasing means to enable it to bias the drive member. The one or more biasing means may comprise one or more coil springs, although no particular limitation is meant in this regard and a wide range of other 9 biasing means may be used, such as compressible rubbers, elastomers, leaf springs, piston-cylinder type air springs, etc. Where the biasing means comprises one or more biasing components (for example one or more coil springs or one or more compressible elastomers), the shuttle may be provided with one or more apertures, each adapted to receive a portion of one said biasing component. Preferably, each aperture will be in the form of a slot adapted to snugly receive the portion of the biasing component. Each biasing component may be inserted into a slot with a portion of the component extending proud of the slot. The end of the component that extends proud of the slot may abut with and press against a fixed feature on the body. The fixed feature may therefore provide a solid immovable barrier for the biasing component(s) to push against. In use, the biasing component(s) will generally be mounted in compression so that it/they tend to push the shuttle member away from the barrier, but also so that rotation of the handle and the drive member pushes the shuttle member back towards the barrier against the bias. One of the benefits associated with the receiving slot(s) in the shuttle member which receive the biasing component(s) (e.g. springs/rubbers etc) is that the biasing component(s) can easily be removed from the slot(s) without the need for cutting clips, welds or other fasteners or connectors which would otherwise be required to maintain the springs in position between the shuttle member and the barrier. This means that the biasing component(s) can easily be replaced with alternative component(s) of different stiffnesses to enable the assembly to operate with handles of different sizes or weights. Alternatively, the effective stiffness of the spring(s)/rubber(s) (or other biasing component(s)) may be varied by using the same spring(s)/rubber(s) but altering the depth of each slot in the shuttle member (e.g. by providing inserts that can be placed in the slots to reduce the slots' effective depth). Altering the depth of the slot changes the amount that the biasing means (spring/rubber) is compressed or "pre-loaded" when inserted into the assembly. Changing the amount of pre-load compression authors the biasing force. The greater the level of pre-load compression, the greater the consequent biasing force. It will be clearly appreciated that some embodiments of the invention may operate with a pair of shuttle members, or even several shuttle members, although it is envisaged that one or two shuttle members will be most common. Where two shuttle 10 members are used, the design of each shuttle member will typically be the same so that the respective shuttle members effectively mirror each other in operation. However, the invention can also operate with a pair of shuttle members where the design and functioning of each of the respective shuttle members is different. Each shuttle member in the present handle assembly has a contact face that engages with the drive member to urge the drive member towards a rest position. A rest position is a position whereby the drive member rests against the contact face of the shuttle in a stable manner (i.e. where the forces applied by the contact face to the drive member are balanced so that no moment is created to rotate the drive member). In contrast, when the drive member is moved away from a rest position, the contact face of the shuttle member may push back against the drive member so as to create a restoring moment that urges the drive member to rotate back towards a stable rest position. The contact face of the shuttle member and the drive member, respectively, should be shaped so as to together define at least one rest position for the drive member (and therefore the handle). In existing assemblies, this is achieved by providing the slidable block 4 with a flat face that is oriented perpendicular to the direction of the block's sliding motion, and by providing the rectangular portion 3 with four flat faces that can rest against the flat face of the block in a stable manner so as to define the four rest positions. However, as described above, there are a number of disadvantages associated with this arrangement. It is therefore preferable for the contact face of the shuttle and the perimeter contacting edge of the drive member, respectively, to be shaped in a way that ameliorates or reduces these disadvantages. It will clearly be appreciated that the shuttle member and the drive member, respectively, may be provided with a wide range of different shapes that reduce or ameliorate the problems associated with the flat contact faces described above. All such shapes are contemplated to fall within the scope of the present invention. In one preferred shape, the contact face of the shuttle member is provided with an apex. The apex may also have one or more tapering or sloped portions depending therefrom. The one or more tapering portions may be planar or curved, but at least some of each tapering portion should slope away from the apex. In other words, there should be a I1 small angle between the tapering portion (or the sloped part thereof) and the plane perpendicular to the shuttle's direction of sliding motion. If the tapering portion is curved, the size of the angle may be different on different parts of the tapering portion. In some preferred embodiments, the apex portion may be located toward the centre of the shuttle's contact face. This may help to define a pair of tapering portions depending from either side of the apex. These depending tapering portions may be substantially symmetrical or asymmetrical depending on the intended force (moment) variation throughout the handle's arc of rotation. In these embodiments, the drive member may be shaped so as to define at least two protrusions that can rest against the respective tapering portions when the drive member is in the rest position. By providing a pair protrusions on the drive member which respectively rest on either side of the apex when in the rest position, the force imparted to one respective protrusion by the corresponding tapering portion may balance the force imparted by the other tapering portion on the other protrusion. These two forces therefore cancel the moment that would otherwise tend to rotate the drive member. Hence, by providing a pair of protrusions on the drive member that can rest on either side of the apex on the contact face of the shuttle, the contact face and the drive member together define a rest position for the drive member (and hence the handle). In particularly preferred embodiments, the drive member may be provided with a number of protrusions capable of resting on either side of the shuttle's apex, so as to define a number of rest positions. For instance, the drive member may be configured so as to define four rest positions and the four rest positions will preferably correspond to the positions of the handle wherein the handle is oriented horizontally left, horizontally right, vertically upwards and vertically downwards with respect to the body. In these embodiments, the drive member may be substantially rectangular, but with a rounded protruding bulge on each corner. Preferably, the portions of each edge of the drive member between the protruding bulges on the corners may be sufficiently recessed such that those portions do not contact with the contact face of the shuttle, and in particular with the apex, when the bulges rest on either side of the apex.
12 The contact face of the shuttle member and the perimeter edge of the drive member, respectively, may also be shaped so as to prevent the shuttle member from rising up with respect to the drive member. This may help prevent the shuttle member from rising out of its position in the body and riding over the top of the drive member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One particular nonlimiting embodiment of the present invention will now be described, for the purposes of illustration only, with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatical representation of a previous handle assembly which biases the handle to rest positions; Figure 2 is diagrammatical representation of another existing biased handle assembly comprising two slideable blocks; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the embodiment of the present invention presently described; Figure 4 contains magnified views of the drive member and shuttle member in a rest position; Figure 5 contains magnified views of the drive member and the shuttle member in a deflected position; Figure 6 shows a number of views of the shuttle member; and Figure 7 shows a number of views of the drive member. BEST MODE The embodiment of the handle assembly presently described is generally indicated by reference numeral 10 in Figures 3-5. Figure 3 shows, inter alia, the following components of assembly 10, namely a body in the form of escutcheon 12, a handle in the form of a lever 14, a drive component 16, and a pair of shuttles 18 that are adapted to receive and be biased by elongate helical springs 20. The operation of these components will be described further below. The assembly 10 also comprises a pair of shuttle retaining clips 22 for securing the shuttles to the escutcheon, and a handle retaining ring 24 for securing the handle to the escutcheon. The assembly 10 can therefore be assembled as follows. The shank portion 26 of lever 14 is first inserted through the receiving aperture 28 in the 13 escutcheon. Next, with the shank portion 26 of the handle extending through to the inside of the escutcheon, the handle retaining ring 24 is mechanically pressed over shank portion 26 and the resilient flaps 30 on retaining ring 24 press against the round body of the shank beyond the circlip groove detail 32 to secure the retaining ring on the shank. When the retaining ring is mounted to the shank in this way, the flat back circumferentially surface 36 of the retaining ring is received in and presses against the circular indent 34 on the inner face of escutcheon. This pressing fit firmly secures the handle within the receiving aperture 28, allowing it to rotate therein, but prevents it from being pulled out or from rattling in and out. The springs 20 are then loaded into the spring receiving slots 38 in the shuttles, and the shuttles (containing the springs) are then inserted into the escutcheon so that the round spigots 40 on the escutcheon extend through the elongated spigot receiving apertures 42 in the shuttles. The spigot receiving apertures 42 in the shuttles are elongated in order to allow the shuttles to slide up and down within the escutcheon even with the round spigots 40 inserted through the apertures 42. The shuttle retaining clips 22 are then pressed onto the ends of the spigots 40 to secure the shuttles to the escutcheon. It will be appreciated that the large cutaway portion in each of the shuttles prevents the retaining clips 22 from inhibiting the sliding movement of the shuttles. When the springs and shuttles are mounted to the escutcheon as described above, the ends of the springs that extend out of the slots 38 in the shuttles push against upstanding barrier portions 44 on the escutcheon. Barrier portions 44 each have a pair of locating recesses 46 therein for positively locating the ends of the springs. On each of the shuttles 18, the side of the shuttle that contacts with and slides along the inner face of the escutcheon is provided with a pair of rails 50. The outside of each of the rails 50 meets closely against and slides along a corresponding track 52 on the inner face of the escutcheon to ensure smooth sliding movement of the shuttle, but prevent rotation thereof. The drive component 16 is also mounted to the assembly at the same time as the shuttles and springs. However, whereas the shuttles are slidably positioned on the inside of the escutcheon, the drive member is mounted securely on the shank portion 26 of the lever. It can be seen from Figure 3 that drive member 16 is provided with a 14 pair of inwardly facing block-like lugs 54 which are received within correspondingly shaped cutout slots 56 in the shank. The engagement of the lugs 54 in the slots 56 prevents the drive member from rotating on the end of shank independently of the lever. The drive member is also provided with a lip 58 on its inner cylindrical face. Lip 58 is adapted to be pushed over the corresponding ridge detail 32 on the end of shank 26 to prevent drive member 16 from sliding back off the end of the shank. Once assembled, the drive member 16 is located between and in contact with both of the shuttles 18. More specifically, the drive member 16 is provided with four sides and two of the opposed sides rest in contact with the respective corresponding contact faces 60 of the shuttles. Reference is now made to the Figures 6-7 in which the shuttle and the drive member are shown more clearly. It can be seen from Figure 6 that the contact face 60 of each shuttle 18 has a central apex 62 with a pair of substantially flat tapering portions 64 depending slopingly therefrom. It can also be seen from Figure 7 that each of the sides of the drive member 16 has a substantially flat recessed central portion 68, and on either side of each respective flat recessed portion is a protruding bulge 70 forming an enlarged corner of the component. Turning now to Figure 4 which shows the assembly in one of the rest positions, it can be seen that in the rest position, the contact faces of the respective shuttles press against the enlarged rounded corners of the drive component. Importantly, the apex portion of each contact face is located between the enlarged rounded corners, and because the central flat portion on each side of the drive component is recessed, the apex portion does not come into contact with the drive component when in the rest position. Consequently, in the rest position, the tapering portions of the shuttles push against the rounded corners of the drive component, and because of the relative orientation of the drive component with respect to the shuttles, the forces imparted on the drive component by the shuttles balance each other and thereby cancel any moment that would otherwise tend to rotate the drive component. Conversely, when an operating torque is applied to the handle thereby causing the handle and the drive component to rotate as shown in Figure 5, the rotation of the drive component causes two of the diagonally opposed corners to push against and slide transversely along the contact faces of the shuttles. This drives the shuttles back 15 against the bias of the springs. When the operating torque is removed, the spring force causes the shuttles to push back against the diagonally opposed corners, rotating the drive component and the handle back into the rest position of Figure 4. When the handle assembly is not connected to a lock tongue retracting mechanism, it is possible to rotate the handle and the drive component between rest positions. This is done by rotating the drive component sufficiently to cause the rounded corners to slide up and over the apex on the contact face. If the operating torque is removed after this point, then the shuttle's restoring force will cause the drive component to continue rotating until it eventually settles in a second rest position displaced 900 from the first rest position. It will be appreciated that the lever can be rotated into the other rest positions by further "over-rotation". Because of the angle at which the enlarged corners of the drive component contact with the tapering portions on contact faces as they move away from a rest position, the maximum restorative force (moment) imparted to the drive component by the shuttles occurs after the corners initially move away from the rest position, but before the corners reach the apex. This helps to provide the benefits outlined above. Finally, it can be seen from Figure 3 that the shank portion 26 of the lever has a square socket 72 therein. Socket 72 is adapted to receive the spindle of a conventional lock tongue retracting mechanism so that operation of the lever causes the lock tongue of the lock to retract allowing the door or window to be opened in the normal manner. It will be appreciated that numerous other variations and modifications can be made to the particular embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.