AU2019202339A1

AU2019202339A1 - A handle

Info

Publication number: AU2019202339A1
Application number: AU2019202339A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christopher Metcalfe; Bruce Reid
Original assignee: Lucentt Ltd
Current assignee: Lucentt Ltd
Priority date: 2018-04-04
Filing date: 2019-04-04
Publication date: 2019-10-24

Abstract

Described herein is a handle. More specifically, a moulded handle for fitting to coffins /caskets comprising two components. A base unit for receiving fasteners to fix the base unit to a sidewall of a casket and a cover unit configured to mount on the base unit to at least in part form a hand grip portion and conceal the fasteners used to fix the base unit to the sidewall of the casket. )

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

Described herein is a handle. More specifically, a handle for fitting to coffins /caskets.

BACKGROUND ART

Coffin or casket handles are fixed to the side surfaces of the coffin to enable the coffin to be readily carried and generally handled.

It is common practice in the casket industry to use handles that are either integral with the casket or typically fixed to the coffin.

In general, the handles are either bolted from the inside of the casket or integral with the casket as the weight of the casket requires strong handles to be used.

Another criteria discerning in the choice of the handles in the casket industry is their aesthetic look. The handle design must be in good taste and ideally give consumers a variety of designs.

US 945,050 discloses a casket handle and more particularly to the construction of the bar or gripping 20 portion of the handle. The bar comprises additional parts and separate pieces of the handle bar by which the parts of the bar are assembled and held together. Bars of this type are formed of metal tubes, but from a manufacturing point of view can be difficult when it is desired to form these tubes in any ornamental or unusual form.

As above, handle bars on a burial casket may be utilised during a burial service by pall bearers to lift and 25 carry the casket. Many caskets are provided with swing bar type handle bars, so that the bars swing outwardly first. Swing hardware permits the pall bearer to grasp the handle without engaging the casket shell while also permitting the casket to fit into limited space for storage. However, typical swing hardware may feel loose and unsteady and may prove to be noisy when the handle bar is pivoted. Also, typical swing hardware is mounted from the outside of the casket with bolts which protrude into the interior of the casket shell. The ends of the bolts may be a safety hazard for a funeral director.

US 2007/009485 relates to a handle hardware assembly for attaching a handle to the sidewall of a casket. The hardware assembly comprises a lifting arm and clevis each having a pair of pivot arms or flanges. Each clevis pivot flange has a protrusion which is engageable with three radially spaced

2019202339 04 Apr 2019 depressions of a corresponding lifting arm pivot arm. The selected depression the protrusion is engaged in determines the fixed position of the handle relative to sidewall of the casket. Also, a bolt is insertable from inside the casket such that the sharp end of the bolt is between the clevis pivot flanges to avoid injury to a funeral director or others.

However, a disadvantage of fasteners or bolts that are required to be insertable from inside the casket is that it is time consuming during manufacture as separate apertures have to be drilled into the casket and aligned with the corresponding fastener during assembly.

US 1,087,687 relates to handles particularly applicable to caskets, where the construction of handle has a hanger or bail that is moved into an assembled position from the front face of the attaching plate. The attaching screws or other members for fastening the plate to the box serve to support the trunnions of the hanger arms, and to prevent their dislocation relative to the trunnion sockets. The attaching plate minimises the danger of breaking away the socket portions at the respective ends of the latter, in which the hanger arms are fastened, and the connection of the hanger to the plate is secure and effective.

However, a disadvantage of the fasteners or attaching screws as above is that the heads of which are open to view and can thus be somewhat unsightly in an industry where aesthetic appeal is paramount. In terms of aesthetic appeal, it would also be advantageous to have a casket handle that is readily available with differing colours, finishes and configurations without having to modify the fixing means.

As should be appreciated, from the above it would be advantageous to provide a handle which is easy and quick to install, allows for differing colors and finishes and does not have fasteners that are exposed to view or at least may provide the public with a choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the handle and uses thereof will become apparent from the ensuing description that is given by way of example only.

SUMMARY

Described herein is a handle. More specifically, a moulded handle for fitting to coffins /caskets comprising two components. A base unit for receiving fasteners to fix the base unit to a sidewall of a casket and a cover unit configured to mount on the base unit to at least in part form a hand grip portion and conceal the fasteners used to fix the base unit to the sidewall of the casket.

In one aspect there is provided a handle comprising:

a hand grip portion;

a base unit which has apertures for, in use, receiving fasteners to fix the base unit to a surface;

a cover unit configured to mount on the base unit to at least in part form the hand grip portion and to conceal the apertures (and any fasteners associated therewith) from view, and wherein, an attachment means is configured such that during the cover unit being placed in position on

2019202339 04 Apr 2019 the base unit, the cover unit becomes fixed to the base unit.

Advantages of the above include a handle that is moulded for ease of manufacture. The apparatus comprises a base unit with apertures that allow the fasteners to be directly fixed to the external sidewall of the casket for quick installation. This compares with fasteners or bolts that are required to be insertable from inside the casket are time consuming during manufacture as separate apertures have to be drilled into the casket and aligned with the corresponding fastener during assembly. The fasteners or attaching screws are concealed from view which is important in an industry where aesthetic appeal is paramount. In terms of further aesthetic appeal, a variety of cover units are offered with differing colours, finishes and configurations that all can directly mount on the unitary base unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the handle and uses thereof will become apparent from the following description that is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an upper isometric view of the handle incorporating the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of the handle shown in Figure 1 when viewed from below;

Figure 3 illustrates an exploded side isometric view ofthe handle of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 illustrates a top plan view;

Figure 5 illustrates a side elevation view;

Figure 6 illustrates a bottom plan view;

Figure 7 illustrates an end elevation view; and

Figure 8 illustrates a longitudinal cross section view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As noted above, described herein is a moulded handle for fitting to coffins /caskets comprising two components. A base unit for receiving fasteners to fix the base unit to a sidewall of a casket and a cover unit configured to mount on the base unit to at least in part form a hand grip portion and conceal the fasteners used to fix the base unit to the sidewall of the casket.

For the purposes of this specification, the term 'about' or 'approximately' and grammatical variations thereof mean a quantity, level, degree, value, number, frequency, percentage, dimension, size, amount, weight or length that varies by as much as 30, 25, 20,15,10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1% to a reference quantity, level, degree, value, number, frequency, percentage, dimension, size, amount, weight or

2019202339 04 Apr 2019 length.

The term 'substantially' or grammatical variations thereof refers to at least about 50%, for example 75%, 85%, 95% or 98%.

The term 'comprise¹ and grammatical variations thereof shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will 5 be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements.

The term 'coffin' or grammatical variations thereof may be interchangeable with the term 'casket' and the invention has been devised primarily for fitting to coffins/caskets. However, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the handle may have other applications.

The terms 'cover' and 'cover unit' or grammatical variations thereof may be used interchangeably.

The term 'spigot' or grammatical variations thereof refers to a small peg on the internal portion of the cover unit, especially for insertion and engagement of the corresponding apertures of the base unit.

In one aspect there is provided a handle comprising:

a hand grip portion;

a cover unit configured to mount on the base unit to at least in part form the hand grip portion and to conceal the apertures (and any fasteners associated therewith) from view, and wherein, an attachment means is configured such that during the cover unit being placed in position on the base unit, the cover unit becomes fixed to the base unit.

In one embodiment, the base unit and cover unit may combine to form the hand grip portion.

The base unit may comprise a pair of spaced apart mounting sections which incorporate openings, and wherein mounting sections being joined by an intermediate section which in part may form the hand grip portion.

The cover unit may be substantially hollow and configured such that when the cover unit is positioned 25 on the base unit the cover unit covers the mounting sections.

In preferred embodiments, the base unit or cover unit may include an array of spaced apart apertures and the other of the cover unit or base unit (as the case may be) may include an array of spigots which are positioned to engage in the apertures during the cover unit being positioned on the base unit.

Preferably, the spigots may fit into the apertures in an interference fit so that the cover unit is fixed to 30 the base unit.

The handle may be substantially elongate and the base unit may have a spaced apart pair of parallel longitudinally extending flanges between which are provided the array of apertures. In this way, the spigots may fit into the apertures.

2019202339 04 Apr 2019

Preferably the flanges are reinforced by a plurality of spaced apart lateral webs. In this way, the webs give the base unit rigidity and prevent the sidewalls of the handle from flexing in use.

In preferred embodiments, the spigots project from an internal surface of the cover unit.

A step or landing platform may extend around the periphery of the base unit. In this way, when the 5 cover is located in position on the base unit, the peripheral edge of the cover locates in the step such that the cover unit forms a flush fit with the base unit and prevents users' hands from jamming or being 'pinched' in use.

The base unit may include at least three mounting openings or apertures at each end of mounting sections of the handle to receive fasteners, wherein a single opening is located above two laterally spaced apart openings. This configuration prevents rotational motion of the handle in use.

The embodiments described above may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features.

Further, where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which the embodiments relate, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

WORKING EXAMPLE

The above described handle and uses thereof are now described by reference to a specific example.

EXAMPLE

With reference to the drawings, there is shown a handle 10 incorporating the invention. The handle 10 is primarily intended for mounting to a funeral coffin/casket.

The handle 10 is, in its illustrated form, elongate and consists of a base unit 11 and a cover 12. In the preferred form of the handle 10, the base unit 11 and cover 12 are manufactured from plastics material. In the preferred method of construction the base unit 11 and cover 12 are each injection moulded.

The base unit 11 has a pair of spaced apart mounting sections 13 which are joined by an intermediate section 14. As will be apparent from the following, the intermediate section 14 forms part of the hand grip portion 15 of the assembled handle 10.

Each mounting section 13 has a plurality of suitably positioned and configured openings 16 through which fasteners (not shown) can engage to fix the base section 11 onto a surface such as that of sidewalls of a coffin, casket or other structure.

Longitudinally along the length of the base unit 11 there are a series of spaced apart apertures

2019202339 04 Apr 2019 preferably in the form of openings or bores 17. These apertures 17 open upwards relative to the flat undersides 18 of the mounting sections 13.

In the illustrated embodiment of the handle a pair of spaced apart parallel flanges 19 extend longitudinally for substantially the length of the base unit 11. The flanges 19 are preferably braced by lateral webs 20. As can be seen from Figure 3 these webs 20 preferably extend between the flanges 19.

In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, every second web 20 between the flanges 19 is provided with a bore which forms the aperture 17. Preferably the web 20 nearest each end of the base unit 11 is provided with a bore 17 as is illustrated in Figure 8.

In the preferred form of the handle 10, the underside of the intermediate section 14 is contoured to 10 provide a finger grip profile indicated generally by reference numeral 21.

The cover 12 is generally hollow and has a pair of end cover sections 22 which are configured to fit over and substantially cover the mounting sections 13 of the base unit 11. The mounting sections 13 and end cover sections 22 are shaped to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Spanning between the end cover sections 22 is a handle section 23 which fits over the flanges 19 and webs 20 of the base unit 11.

The edges 24 of the handle section 23 are configured to conform with the grip profile 21 of the base unit 13.

In the preferred form of the handle 10, a step 25 extends around the periphery of the base unit 11.

When the cover 12 is located in position on the base unit 11 the peripheral edge 26 of the cover 12 locates in the step 25. As can be seen from Figures 1, 2 and 4 to 7 this results in a unitary appearance save for the line denoting the inter-engagement of the peripheral edges 26 of the cover 12 and base unit

11.

In use the base unit 11 will be fixed in position to the surface of a coffin, casket or other structure by the use of fasteners (such as screws for example) located through the mounting openings 16 in the respective mounting sections 13 and screwed into the coffin /casket. Once the base unit 11 is fixed in place the cover 12 is positioned over the base unit 11 and pushed onto the base unit 11, so that the peripheral edge 26 thereof fits into the peripheral step 25 of the base unit 11.

Within the cover 12 are an array of a plurality of downwardly projecting spigots 27 which correspond in spacing and position to the array of apertures (bores) 17 in the base unit 11. Consequently when the cover 12 is introduced to the base unit 11 and pushed down into position thereon the spigots 27 enter into the apertures 17.

The cover 12 is preferably substantially attached to the base unit 11 in a fixed manner. Thus, the spigots 27 and openings/bores 17 are configured such that the spigots 27 are held in the apertures 17. This can be achieved by way of an interference fit, snap lock engagement or other suitable means. In this way, no adhesive is required to retain the cover 12 on the base unit 11.

Preferably, the fitting of the spigots 27 into the apertures 17 is such that the spigots 27 are captured in

2019202339 04 Apr 2019 place whereby the cover 12 cannot be readily removed from the base unit 11.

The handle 10 is easy and quick to install because once the base unit 11 has been fixed in place the cover unit 12 is simply positioned and pushed onto the base unit 11. In doing so, the cover unit 12 becomes substantially fixed in place and conceals the fasteners from view.

It is envisaged that in the funeral industry a funeral home, undertaker etc. can have a supply of standard base units 11 and a supply of cover units 12 of differing colours, finishes, configurations etc. In this way a particular cover 12 can be selected depending on differing appearance and/or aesthetic requirements.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims herein.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. There is provided a handle comprising: a hand grip portion;

a base unit which has apertures for, in use, receiving fasteners to fix the base unit to a surface; a cover unit configured to mount on the base unit to at least in part form the hand grip portion and to conceal the apertures (and any fasteners associated therewith) from view, and wherein, an attachment means is configured such that during the cover unit being placed in position on the base unit, the cover unit becomes fixed to the base unit.
2. The handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base unit and cover unit combine to form the hand grip portion.
3. The handle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the base unit comprises a pair of spaced apart mounting sections which incorporate openings, and wherein the mounting sections being joined by an intermediate section which in part form the hand grip portion.
4. The handle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover unit is substantially hollow and configured such that when the cover unit is positioned on the base unit, the cover unit covers the mounting sections.
5. The handle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base unit or cover unit includes an array of spaced apart apertures and the other of the cover unit or base unit includes an array of spigots which are positioned to engage in the apertures during the cover unit being positioned on the base unit.
6. The handle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the spigots fit into the apertures in an interference fit so that the cover unit is fixed to the base unit.
7. The handle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle is substantially elongate and the base unit has a spaced apart pair of parallel longitudinally extending flanges between which are provided the array of apertures.
8. The handle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the flanges are reinforced by a plurality of spaced apart lateral webs.
9. The handle as claimed in claim 5 and claim 6, wherein the spigots project from an internal

2019202339 04 Apr 2019 surface of the cover unit.
10. The handle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base unit includes a step or landing platform that extends around the periphery of the base unit such that the peripheral edge of the cover locates in the step to form a flush fit with the base unit.
11. The handle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base unit includes at least three mounting openings or apertures at each end of mounting sections of the handle to receive fasteners, wherein a single opening is located above two laterally spaced apart openings.
12. A handle substantially as here before described and with reference to the accompany Figures 1 to 8.