EP0420823A2

EP0420823A2 - Handle for doors, furniture pieces and the like, provided with an elastomeric outer coating

Info

Publication number: EP0420823A2
Application number: EP90830341A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Patrizio Fazzini; Angelo Brambilla; Marco Corti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-09-28
Filing date: 1990-07-20
Publication date: 1991-04-03
Also published as: EP0420823A3; IT216887Z2; IT8921822V0

Abstract

There is disclosed a handle for doors, furniture pieces, suit-cases, beauty-cases, bags and the like, which comprises an elastomeric outer coating thereon made of a material having good resiliency properties.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a handle for doors, furniture pieces, suit-cases, beauty-cases, bags and the like, including an elastomeric outer coating thereon.
As is known, handles for the above mentioned applications usually comprise a handle body of elongated shape which operates as a lever arm and extends perpendicularly from a rotary shaft adapted to drive the operating elements of a lock.
These known handles are conventionally made of a comparatively rigid material.
Thus, such a handle presents frequently sharp edges and/or corners which are susceptible to wound persons contacting the handle.
Moreover, the gripping of a hand on such a handle is susceptible to provide a disagreable feeling because of the characteristics of the material forming the handle or the surface finishing of the handle and/or its perimetrical shape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing handle at least the gripping portion of which is suitably coated.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a handle which is substantially free of any injuring portions.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a handle which can be gripped in a safe and comfortable way.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a handle which can be used for doors, furniture pieces, suit-cases, beauty-cases, bags and the like and which can be easily made by quick and simple molding operations of elastomeric materials.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a handle for doors, furniture pieces, suit-cases, beauty-cases, bags and the like, characterized in that said handle comprises a gripping handle portion including a thermoplastic material bar element, of a substantially elongated shape, on at least an edge of which there is applied an elastomeric material coating.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Further characteristics and advantages of the handle according to the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive,embodiment thereof, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the handle according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the handle according to the invention; and
Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the handle according to the invention substantially taken along the line III-III of Figure 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, the handle according to the invention, indicated generally at the reference number 1, comprises a gripping handle portion 2, formed perpendicularly to the rotary shaft3, axially of which there is provided a housing seat for the square operating element 4 of a lock.
This handle gripping portion comprises a bar or rod element 5, of elongated shape, shich is preferably made of a thermoplastic material together with the mentioned rotary shaft or stem.
In this connection it should be apparent that the bar or rod element can also be made of a metal material or of a suitable alloy or other materials and can have any suitable shapes.
On one edge of the mentioned rod or bar element, in particular, there is provided, according to the invention, a coating layer 6 comprising a suitable elastomeric material, such as a thermoplastic rubber.
Advantageously, this elastomeric material resilient coating layer can be made together with the rod element forming the rigid body of the handle by a co-molding method.
More specifically, the resilient coating layer coats either partially or fully the above mentioned handle rigid body, which can have any suitable shape. The mentioned coating resilient layer will have a color equal to that of the rod or bar element or in contrast therewith.
In this connection it should be also mentioned that the rod or bar element has preferably an enlarged and rounded edge 5′.
From the above disclosure and the accompanying drawings it should be apparent that the handle according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.
While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the disclosed embodiment is susceptible to several modifications and variations, all of which will come within the spirit and scope of the appended Claims.

Claims

1. A handle for doors, furniture pieces, suit-cases, beauty-cases, bags and the like, characterized in that said handle comprises a gripping handle portion including a thermoplastic material bar element, of a substantially elongated shape, on at least an edge of which there is applied an elastomeric material coating.

2. A handle, according to Claim 1, characterized in that the gripping portion of the handle is formed perpendicularly to a rotary shaft, axially of which there is provided a seat for housing an operating square element of a lock, the rod or bar element forming said gripping portion being made by molding a thermoplastic material together with said rotary shaft.

3. A handle, according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the coating layer formed on an edge of said rod or bar element comprises an elastomeric material, e.g. a thermoplastic rubber.

4. A handle, according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that said coating layer is made together said rods element or after the making of said rod element by a co-molding method and can have either a like or a different color from the color of said rod element.

5. A handle, according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that said rod or bar element is provided with an enlarged and rounded edge.

6. A handle, according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that said rod or bar element can have any suitable shape.

7. A handle, according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that a resilient coating layer coats either partially or fully said gripping portion of the handle.

8. A handle, according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that said resilient coating layer has a color like that or different from that of said rod or bar element.

9. A handle, according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that said elastomeric resilient layer covers raised or projecting portions of said handle.