GB2264861A - Two-part handle. - Google Patents

Abstract

A handle for a window, door or like closure is formed of a first section 10 and second section 11, preferably of moulded plastics material. Section 10 has a mounting portion which engages a boss 23 to rotatably couple the handle to a base 22. <IMAGE>

Description

"A Handle and Handle Mounting" This invention relates to a handle and handle mounting.

The present invention has particular application for handles which are commonly mounted with doors, windows and like closures to effect latching and unlatching of the closure. Such handles are mountable via a base to the closure with the handle being restrained against axial movement relative to the base but able to be rotatable about an axis of rotation which extends generally at right angles to the base. An axle extending from the handle can connect with a latching mechanism to actuate same. Means are provided for indexing the position of the handle.

It is an object of the invention to provide a handle construction which is of two piece construction yet in its finished state gives the appearance of being formed in a one piece construction.

The invention provides on one broad aspect a handle formed of two sections, a first section having a mounting portion adapted for mounting the first section with a structural element such as a door, window or the like and a second section which is mounted to the first section to form the completed handle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a handle mounting which includes an improved means of indexing the position of the handle.

Broadly in one aspect of the invention there is provided a handle mounting of the type which includes a base element by which the handle can be mounted to a structural element such as a door, window or the like closure, said mounting arrangement comprising a connector located in a cavity in said base element, a spring element mounted with said connector, the spring element being restrained against rotational movement relative to the connector, a plurality of recesses in the cavity or spring element and at least one projection in the spring element or cavity as the case may be, said projection engaging in a said recess but upon a torsional force being applied to the shaft the resilient nature of the spring element permits the projection to move from the recess and as a consequence of rotation of the shaft engage in a next said recess.

In the following more detailed description of the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 depicts in a perspective exploded manner a handle and mounting arrangement according to the invention, Figure 2 is a sectioned side view of the arrangement shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective of an arrangement similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 but illustrating a connector and spring element, Figures 4 and 5 are sectioned views of the base, connector and spring element combination of Figure 3, Figure 6 is sectioned elevation view of a base according to a further embodiment with a cover plate mounted thereon, Figure 7 shows the handle, a shaft and other components of a further embodiment of mounting arrangement, and Figure 8 is a perspective exploded view of handle and the mounting arrangement of Figure 7.

According to conventional construction the handle can be of cast construction and fixed to a square cross section shaft. This shaft engages in the mounting such that when the base is attached to a closure (such as a door, window or like closure) the shaft engages with a latching arrangement. Thus as the handle is turned the shaft rotates to actuate the latching arrangement. As is known from prior handle mounting arrangements of this general type an indexing means is provided for indexing the position of the handle. Alternatively the handle itself can provide a nib or the like for latching purposes.

According to the preferred form of the invention handle H is formed as a two piece construction which in the assembled state has the appearance of being fashioned in one piece from a single material. In other words the handle has the appearance of a conventional solid one piece cast handle.

Handle H (as shown in Figures 1 and 2) is thus of moulded construction (preferably of a plastics material) and formed from two sections 10 and 11. Handle section 10 provides a mounting portion 12 through which a bore 13 is formed. Extending integrally from mounting portion 12 is a lower handle section 14. The mounting portion 12 has a turret 15 through which bore 13 extends and a cavity 16.

Handle section 11 is essentially a cover which fits over mounting portion 12 and lower handle section 14. Within handle section 11, however, there is a tapped bore 17.

Thus when handle section 11 is fitted to handle section 10 tapped bore 17 is axially aligned with bore 13.

Preferably handle section 11 fits to section 10 by the return or lip 18 slipping into (or under) the bulbous end 18a of lower handle section 14. More particularly a central rib 19 provides at the distal end of section 10 an overhang 20 and a return 21 of section 11 fits hereunder. Alternatively a snap lock type fitting can be employed.

The handle H and base element 22 are combined by the handle sections 10 and 11 being coupled together. Boss 23 is then introduced through flanged washers 24 and 25, which locate either side of opening 28 in base 22, so that the grooved or castellated end 49 thereof fits into corresponding grooves (not readily seen in the drawings) in cavity 16. The mounting portion 12 is thus prevented from rotational movement relative to boss 23. A screw 27 is then passed through an opening in the end wall of boss 23 so as to pass through bore 13 and screw into tapped bore 17. This couples boss 23 and handle H together and also serves to maintain the handle sections 10 and 11 together.

Thus this arrangement leads to a two piece handle which in the finished product has the appearance of being of solid construction but without the manufacturing expense of forming a solid one piece handle. Also the mounting arrangement is simple in construction yet provides a very effective and secure fixing of handle to base accompanied by smooth and wear resistant rotational movement of the handle on the base.

While in the illustrated form the handle section 11 includes a male arrangement which fits into a female arrangement of handle section 10 this can be reversed so handle section 10 has a male arrangement which engages with a female arrangement of handle section 11.

In the illustration in Figure 1 a key opening K is shown, however, openings through which mechanical fasteners can pass to amount base 22 to a structural element (e.g. door, window etc) are not apparent.

Generally it is proposed that they be covered by inserts (not shown).

As an alternative the arrangement shown in Figure 6 can be used. According to this arrangement a cover 29 having a downturned periphery 30 engages over upstanding wall or land 36 of base 22. An opening 33 in cover 29 locates with washer 25 which has a peripheral lip 34 extending on an incline from the outer edge of the flange of washer 25. The cover is thus located in place on base element 22 by wall/land 36 and washer lip 34 so as to cover the entire surface of wall/land 36 including openings 37.

Mechanical fastenings can be engaged through openings 37 in the base 22 by prising cover 29 up at its edges so that it clears wall/land 36 of base 22 and can be rotated it so as to move clear of the tops of openings 37. This prising up action is possible due to a degree of movement permitted by the spring action of the lipped periphery 34 of washer 25 and aided by the oversize nature of opening 32 relative to the wall defining opening 38.

The alternative arrangement in Figure 3 shows the handle H coupled to base 22 in an indexing arrangement.

As disclosed previously an opening or cavity 38 is formed in base 22. Depending on the actual construction method used to form the base 22 (e.g. casting or pressing) the cavity 38 will include an integral end wall 39 (see Figures 4 and 5) or a fitted piece forming an end wall.

The handle H and its mounting with base 22 is essentially in accordance with the arrangements illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. However, the end shoulder portion 40 of boss 38 incorporates four slots, grooves or the like 41 which are set at 900 apart relative to the axis of rotation of boss 23. As shown in Figures 4 and 5 ridges 43 of a spring element 42 (made of a suitable material such as acetyl) engage in grooves 41 with the result that spring element 42 rotates with boss 23. Projections 44 of spring element 42 correspondingly engage in recesses 45 in the wall surface 46 of cavity 38 (see Figure 7) when the handle is indexed into position and ride along wall 46 (see Figure 8) when the handle is moving between indexed positions.

Accordingly the handle can be indexed into positions 900 by the spring action detent.

A further form of the invention is shown in Figures 7 and 8. Boss 23 is formed by a cylindrical body portion 50 through which extends a central bore 51 of a crosssection which is complementary to that of a shaft S.

Thus when the shaft is fitted through the connector substantially no relative rotational movement between the shaft and boss 23 can take place.

Diametrically opposed and extending longitudinally along the outer wall surface of body 50 are grooves, slots or the like 52. Projecting from one end of body 50 is a flange 54 which is preferably of circular peripheral shape with the diameter thereof being less than that of cavity 38.

Spring element 42 (formed of a suitable material such as acetyl) is of annular shape. Projecting from the inner wall surface thereof are diametrically opposed ridges 43 which conform with the general dimensions of the slots, grooves or the like 52. Thus the spring element 42 can be slid over body 50 such that the ridges 43 engage in the grooves 52. Thus spring element 42 is not able to rotate on body 50.

Projecting outwardly from spring element 42 are projections 44.

Formed in the wall surface 46 of cavity 38 are a plurality (as illustrated four) of recesses 45. These have a shape and dimensionally correspond with projections 44. Thus boss 23 with the spring element 42 mounted thereon can be slid into cavity 38 such that projections 44 engage in a pair of opposing recesses 45.

It will be appreciated that to achieve this projections 44 project beyond the peripheral edge of flange 54.

As shown in Figure 8 a connector piece 56 includes a projecting portion 55 into which end 57 of shaft S can locate and be axially restrained by assembly screw 58.

To assemble a handle to shaft S with the base element the projecting portion 55 is located through opening 38 with a nylon or the like washer 61 separating the connector piece 56 from face to face contact with base element 22 A washer 62 is located on end 57 of shaft S followed by the spring element 42, boss 23 and a nylon or similar washer 62. This assembly is located into cavity 38 whereupon end 57 engages in projecting portion 55 and is held therein by assembly screw 58 being screwed into the tapped bore 62 in end 57. A handle having a suitably shaped recess therein can then be positioned on connector piece 56 whereupon attaching screw 63 is used to fasten the handle to the connector piece.

Thus a turning force applied to the handle results in a torsional force in the shaft. This is transmitted via boss 23 to the spring element 42. Due to the essentially shallow nature of recesses 45 and the resilient nature of spring element 42 the projections 44 will tend to retract and slide sideways out of the recesses and along the surface of wall 46 until they drop into the next most adjacent recess 45. In this manner the handle is indexed into positions 900 apart by a spring action detent.

The indexing arrangement according to the embodiments disclosed herein differ from known indexing means which employ a fixed spring engaged in a rotatable boss which is furnished with diametrically opposed recesses. The construction of the present invention enables a smaller spring element to be used which is less expensive to produce. Also the spring element is completely contained within the width of the base. Furthermore the nature and number of elements which comprise the mounting are such that it is believed advantages in overall cost of manufacture and assembly, reliability and operation will be achieved.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form as being particularly applicable to mounting of handles for closures it is anticipated that the arrangement will have applications in many other situations where a rotatable indexing arrangement is required.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS:

1. A handle for a door, window or like closure formed of two sections, a first section having a mounting portion adapted for mounting the first section with a structural element in the form of a door, window or like closure and a second section which is mounted to the first section to form the completed handle.

2. A handle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the first and second sections are of moulded plastics.

3. A handle as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein a lower handle section extends from the mounting portion, said section having an upper handle section which is mountable with said lower handle section and includes a cover section which forms a cover over said mounting position.

4. A handle as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 further including a boss which is engageable in said mounting portion and is fastened therein by a mechanical fastener extending into said mounting portion and engaging with said second section.

5. A handle as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the boss is of flanged truncated conical form and has at least one groove or projection which is engageable with a corresponding projection or groove respectively in a cavity in said mounting portion.

6. A handle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 attached to a base by a mounting arrangement comprising a connector located in a cavity in said base, a spring element mounted with said connector, the spring element being restrained against rotational movement relative to the connector, a plurality of recesses in the cavity or spring element and at least one projection in the spring element or cavity as the case may be, said projection engaging in a said recess but upon a torsional force being applied to the handle the resilient nature of the spring element permits the projection to move from the recess and as a consequence of rotation engage in a next said recess.

7. A handle as claimed in Claim 6 wherein said base includes an upper surface from which said handle projects, there being a cover extending over said base to cover openings through which mechanical fasteners can be passed to fix said base to a structural element, said cover being retained in place by resilient means whereby the cover can be manipulated so as to be movable to uncover said openings.

8. A handle as claimed in Claim 6 or 7 wherein the connector includes a turret portion which engages in a recess or cavity in the handle and is fastened therein by a mechanical fastener engaged through the turret and into said second section, said mechanical fastener forming means whereby said second section is locked to said first section.

9. A handle as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the turret includes castellations which engage in a complementary shaped part of said recess or cavity.

10. A handle mounting of the type which includes a base element by which the handle can be mounted to a structural element such as a door, window or the like closure, said mounting arrangement comprising a connector located in a cavity in said base element, a spring element mounted with said connector, the spring element being restrained against rotational movement relative to the connector, a plurality of recesses in the cavity or spring element and at least one projection in the spring element or cavity as the case may be, said projection engaging in a said recess but upon a torsional force being applied to the handle the resilient nature of the spring element permits the projection to move from the recess and as a consequence of rotation engage in a next said recess.

11. A handle mounting as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the handle is formed by a first section having a mounting portion and a lower handle portion which extends therefrom, and a second section which includes an upper handle portion and a cover which respectively engage with and extend over said lower handle portion and the mounting portion.

12. A handle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompany drawings.

13. A handle and mounting combination substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.