GB2194137A - A handle for assembly to luggage, or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A handle 1 comprises a handle member 2 with a grip portion 10 and dependent limbs 11 pivotally connected to a base member 3 by means of inwardly facing boss portions 12 at the free ends of the limbs 11 engaging respective seatings 19 at the opposed ends of the base member 3. The base member 3 has at least two spaced apart formations 15 on the underside for securing the handle 1 to the wall 4 of an article. The formations each comprise a pillar 15 terminating in a spigot 16 of reduced external cross-section to provide an abutment shoulder 17. In use the spigots 16 are inserted through complementary aligned openings in the wall 4 which seats against the abutment shoulders 17 and the tails 16a of the spigots are clinched onto the wall 4 on the opposed side of the opening. Alternatively (Fig. 5) the formations each comprise a socket 21 adapted to receive the shank 24 of a nail 23 or the like inserted through the wall 4. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A handle for assembly to articles such as luggage, containers, boxes or the like This invention concerns a handle for use and assembly to articles such as luggage, containers, boxes or the like.

It is already known to provide handles which are moulded from plastic materials for attachment to a wall of a suitcase, containers or boxes, and in most types of known handles there are several component parts which have to be assembled together and thereafter secured by some fixing device to or through the wall.

It is an object of this invention to provide a handle which can be simply assembled and secured to the wall of the article to which it is to be fixed.

According to this invention, we provide a handle having a moulded handle member having a central portion with dependent limbs at each end from which opposed inwardly directed boss portions extend, a base member arranged to be received between the two limbs and having a seating at each end for locating and receiving a respective boss portion to assemble the handle member to the base member for relative pivotal movement, the base member having at least two spaced apart formations which are arranged to extend substantially normal to a wall of an article to which the handle is to be secured and which are adapted for securing the handle to the wall.

By this invention, the handle has two members which are assembled together by means of the seatings in the base member which receive and locate the boss portions of the handle member, and the base member has integral formations which are used to secure the handle to the wall of the article.

In this way assembly of the handle is simplified by the provision of a common base member to which the limbs of the handle member are connected while subsequent mounting of the assembled handle is facilitated by the provision of integral formations on the base member. As a result many of the disadvantages and problems of known kinds of handles are obviated.

The base member of the invented handle is preferably a moulding of plastics material with the formations integrally formed therewith on the underside. By using a plastics moulding for the base member, the risk of damage or corrosion or other effect resulting from the use of metal is avoided.

In one construction, each formation comprises a respective pillar terminating in a hollow spigot adapted to extend through a respective opening in the wall of the article with the free end of the spigot being adapted for forming over onto the underlying face of the wall to secure the base member together with the handle member assembled thereto to the wall.

By this arrangement no separate fixing device is required for securing the assembled handle to the wall thereby further simplifying mounting of the invented handle.

Conveniently the base member is moulded from a plastics material which permits coldforming of the spigot to secure the assembled handle to the wall. In this way, a simple coldforming tool for clinching the spigots is all that is required after a simple assembly operation of the two handle members.

Each spigot is preferably of reduced outer cross-- section relative to the associated pillar to provide an abutment shoulder against which the wall of the article abuts on assembly to limit insertion of the spigot. In this way the base member is accurately located prior to the clinching operation and the wall of the article is clamped around the peripheral edge of the opening between the abutment shoulder and the clinched tail of the spigot.

In another construction, each formation comprises a respective socket adapted to receive a respective fixing device such as a stud or nail inserted through the wall from the other side to secure the base member together with the handle member assembled thereto to the wall.

Each socket preferably has an outer end face against which the wall of the article abuts on assembly and the fixing device has a shank and an enlarged head to limit insertion of the shank into the socket. As a result, the wall is clamped between the end face of the socket and the head of the fixing device.

Advantageously, the shank of each fixing device is formed with outwardly directed barbs or the like which are inclined towards the head to facilitate insertion into and prevent withdrawal from the associated pillar.

Conveniently, each boss portion has an annular formation which engages with a complementary formation in the seating. The interengagement of these formations of the boss and seating locate each boss within the respective seating to ensure that the limbs of the handle member cannot be displaced out of engagement with the base member under load.

Preferabiy, the formation on each boss portion is an annular recess and the seating of the base member includes a complementary rib formation for engagement with the recess.

The base member may be common to a wide range of handle member of selected or different designs, provided that the spacing and position of the opposed boss portions of the handle member is maintained the same.

By such an arrangement, economies in tooling and production may be achieved.

The invention will now be described with reference to two exemplary embodiments of a handle as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a part sectional view of a first embodiment of a handle according to the present invention shown secured to a wall of an article; FIGURE 2 is a cross-section of Figure 1 taken on line 2-2; FIGURE 3 is a schematic underneath view of the handle assembly as shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 4 is a part sectional view of the base member of the handle prior to assembly and securing; and FIGURE 5 is a part sectional view of a second embodiment of a handle according to the present invention shown secured to a wall of an article.

With reference to the first embodiment of the invented handle shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, the handle 1 comprises a handle member 2 and a base member 3. The handle 1 is shown fixed to a wall 4 which would typically be of a box, container or suitcase or other piece of luggage. In known manner the wall 4 would be of suitable strong material, and commonly it might be of fibreboard with suitable outer and inner coverings or finishes.

The handle member 2 is generally of Ushape in side view as shown in Figure 1 and has a central grip portion 10 from which dependent side limbs 11 extend. Each limb 11 is similar and adjacent each free end is formed with an inwardly facing boss portion 12 of substantially circular section with the opposed boss portions being co-axial. Each boss portion 12 is formed with an annular groove 13 spaced from the free end.

The handle member 2 is preferably a onepiece moulding of plastics material. However, the shape and profile of the handle member can be chosen as desired and can be of any suitable style.

The base member 3 is also a moulding of plastics material. The member 3 is of elongate form and of a length to be received between the adjacent faces of the opposed side limbs 11. The base member 3 has a body generally of U-shape in section having opposed parallel side walls 14. Spaced inwardly from each end of the member 3 on the underside between the side walls 14 there is an integral pillar 15 from which depends a hollow spigot 16 extending normal to the wall 4 of the article.

The pillars 15 are of semi-hollow form each having an internal recess 15a that is co-axial with the associated spigot 16.

Each spigot 16 has a substantially cylindrical outer wall of reduced cross-section relative to the associated pillar 15 and defines therewith an annular abutment shoulder 1 7 co-planar with the substantially flat underside face 18 of the side walls 14 of the base member 3. The spigots 16 project beyond the underside face 18 and terminate in free tails 1 6a for a purpose to be described later.

Each end of the base member 3 outward from the pillar 15 is open and of inverted Ushape as shown in Figure 2. Each open end provides a U-shaped seating 19 into which a respective one of the boss portions 12 may be received.

Each seating 19 includes a rib 20 which projects inwardly and is complementary in section to the annular groove 13 of each boss portion 12. Each seating 19 is open to the underside face 18 of the base member 3 to enable the boss portion 12 of the handle member 2 to be entered through the opening with the rib 20 being aligned with the relative position of the annular groove 13 so as to locate the boss portion 12 within the seating.

A substantial circumferential length of the rib 20 is arcuate being concentric with the annular groove 13 so that the handle member 2 is mounted and located on the base member 3 for pivotal movement about the common axis through the centres of the opposed boss portions 12.

As will now be appreciated, the handle comprising the handle member 2 and the base member 3 may be quickly and easily assembled together without any special tools, and the same base member may be used for a wide range of handle designs.

To secure the assembled handle to the wall 4, suitable sized openings are made first to the required registration in the wall 4 to receive the spigots 16 with the free tail ends 1 6a of the spigots projecting through the openings to the inside of the wall remote from the assembled handle. The flat underside face 18 of the base member 3 engages the outer face of the wall 4 with each abutment shoulder-17 engaging the outer face of the wall around the peripheral edge of the associated opening.

The tail end 16a of each spigot is then clinched over onto the inner fale of the wall 4 by pressure deformation to overlie the marginal edge of the wall around the opening and to clamp the wall between the spigot tail 1 6a and the abutment shoulder 17. A suitable press tool for such clinching operation would be used to be centered in the spigot 16 and the pillar 15 for location, and then a load would be applied to achieve the radially outwards deformation of the tail 1 6a and clinching onto the marginal edge of the opening.

On the inner face of the wall 4 and as shown in Figure 3, the finish to the secured handle is neat and unobtrusive and no metal parts or dangerous sharp edges are left exposed.

The spigots 16 are integral with the base member 3 and the minimum number of spigots is two for adequate distribution of load and support. However, more than two spigots could be provided if desired.

Once the assembled handle 1 is so secured to the wall 4, then the handle member 2 cannot be separated from the base member 3 as the flat underside face 18 of the base member is in engagement with the outer face of the wall 4 so that the underside opening at each seating 19 is closed and the boss portions 12 cannot be pulled axially out of the seatings 19 due to the inter-engagement of the complementary rib 20 and groove 13.

Tests have been made on the clinched securing of the assembled handle to a typical wall material, and very high loadings of over 150 Ibs. per square inch have been maintained.

The plastics material used for the handle member and the base member is preferably a moulding grade of polypropylene which is suitable for cold-forming of the spigots and has acceptable load and strength characteristics.

It is envisaged that in certain applications for the handle, the free ends of the spigots may be used to pierce the hole or opening through the wall material prior to the clinching operation.

It is also envisaged that for certain materials used for articles, it may be useful to place a spiked or spire washer over the spigot tail prior to clinching to prevent relative movement between the spigot tail and the material on and after clinching.

Referring now to the second embodiment of an invented handle according to the present invention shown in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings, the handle is similar to the first embodiment above-described and where appropriate like reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts.

In this second embodiment, the handle member 2 and base member 3 are each one piece mouldings of plastics material pivotally connected together by the engagement of the inwardly facing boss portions 12 at the free ends of the limbs 11 of the handle member 2 with the seatings 19 at the ends of the base member 3 as previously described.

Spaced inwardly from each end of the base member 3 on the underside between the side walls 14 there is an integral socket 21 having a blind cylindrical bore 22 extending normal to the wall 4 of the article. The outer end face 21a of each socket 21 is substantially coplanar with the flat underside face 18 of the base member 3 for engagement with the wall 4 of the article.

To secure the assembled handle 1 to the wall 4, guide openings are made first in the wall 4 to the required registration with the bores 22 of the sockets 21 and the base member 3 positioned on the outer face of the wall 4 with the bores 22 aligned with the guide openings.

A respective nail 23 or like fastener having a shank 24 and an enlarged head 25 is then inserted through each guide opening on the inner face of the wall 4 to engage the shank 24 in the aligned bore 22 of the socket 21 on the outer face to clamp the wall 4 between the head 25 and the outer end face 21a of the socket 21.

As shown, the shank 24 of each nail 23 is formed with a plurality of external barbs consisting of axially spaced circumferential ribs 26 for engagement with the material of the wall 4 and the socket 21. As shown, the ribs 26 have front faces 26a inclined towards the nail head 25 to facilitate insertion of the shank 24 through the wall 4 into the aligned bore 22 and rear faces 26b extending normal to the shank axis to prevent subsequent withdrawal of the shank 24.

It is envisaged that in certain applications for the handle, the free ends of the nail may be used to pierce the guide openings in the wall for location of the base member on the wall prior to driving the nails through the wall into the aligned bore of the sockets.

It is also envisaged that the barbs on the nail shank may be of any suitable shape and configuration for retaining the shank in the socket. In some applications, the socket may have internal barbs such as ribs for co-operating with the shank of the nail to retain the shank in the socket. Such internal socket barbs may be additional to or replace the external nail barbs.

From the foregoing description of two preferred embodiments of the invented handle, it will be appreciated that various design changes or modifications can be made to accomodate special applications or styles of handle without departing from the concept of the two-part handle assembly and it's integral formations for use in securing the assembled handle to an article giving the advantages in manufacture, assembly and use of the handle.

Claims (15)

1. A handle having a moulded handle member having a central portion with dependent limbs at each end from which opposed inwardly directed boss portions extend, a base member arranged to be received between the two limbs and having a seating at each end for locating and receiving a respective boss portion to assemble the handle member to the base member for relative pivotal movement, the base member having at least two spaced apart formations which are arranged to extend substantially normal to a wall of an article to which the handle is to be secured and which are adapted for securing the handle to the wall.

2. A handle according to Claim 1 wherein the base member is a moulding of plastics material with the formations integrally formed on the underside.

3. A handle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each formation comprises a respective pillar terminating in a hollow spigot adapted to extend through a respective open ing in the wall of the article with the free end of the spigot being adapted for forming over onto the underlying face of the wall to secure the base member to the wall.

4. A handle according to Claim 3 wherein each spigot is of reduced outer cross-section relative to the associated pillar to provide an abutment shoulder against which the wall of the article abuts on assembly.

5. A handle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each formation comprises a respective socket adapted to receive a respective fixing device inserted through the wall from the other side to secure the base member to the wall.

6. A handle according to Claim 5 wherein each fixing device has a shank for reception in the socket and an enlarged head for engagement with the other side of the wall.

7. A handle according to Claim 6 wherein the shank of each fixing device is formed with outwardly directed barbs or the like for retaining the shank in the associated socket.

8. A handle according to Claim 7 wherein the barbs are inclined towards the head to facilitate insertion of the shank into the associated socket.

9. A handle according to any one of Claims 5 to 8 wherein each socket has an outer end face against which the wall of the article abuts on assembly.

10. A handle according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein each boss portion has an annular formation which engages with a complementary formation in the seating.

11. A handle according to Claim 10 wherein the complementary annular formations comprise a rib and a groove.

12. A handle according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein there are two spaced apart formations for securing the handle to the wall.

13. A handle according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the handle member is a moulding of plastics material.

14. A handle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A handle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.