GB2465838A - Display handle - Google Patents

Abstract

A door or draw front comprising a body with a first substantially planar surface with an aperture extending there through, a display device mounted to the body having a second substantially planar surface and adapted to receive a label wherein the display device is adapted to move from a first position where the first and second planar surfaces are substantially coplanar to a second position allowing at least partial access through the aperture and biasing means for biasing the display device towards the first position. Access through the aperture acts as a handle for a user to grip. The display device may pivot on a hinge placed below the aperture and be biased by a spring and a transparent material may be used to form part of the display.

Description

--

DISPLAY HANDLE

The present invention relates to a display handle and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to a display handle for a drawer.

In a set of drawers, for example a filing cabinet, it is aesthetically desirable that the front surfaces of the drawers present a planar surface. This is also desirable to prevent items, such as clothing, from becoming caught on parts of the drawer that extend beyond the main surface.

In a metal filing cabinet this can be achieved by having push-release catches fitted to the drawers. This type of catch holds the drawer in a closed position until sufficient force is applied against a biasing spring to release the catch which then allows the drawer to open. It is generally the case that drawers of this type are provided with two catches one on each side which both must be released in order for the drawer to open. Drawers of this type have the disadvantage that it is not immediately apparent when presented with a new drawer as to how it should be opened.

Even if it is apparent that the drawer has a push-release mechanism, it is generally the case that the mechanism operates best if the drawer is pressed close to the catch.

As a result, for very wide drawers it can be necessary to use two hands to release the drawer.

In order to provide a drawer of this type with an indication of the contents of the drawer it is generally necessary to use a magnetic sheet material that sticks itself to the drawer front. Such an addition to the drawer front can be aesthetically unsatisfactory which is particularly disadvantageous for this type of drawer where their aesthetic function is of great significance.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome the above described disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the present invention there is provided a door or draw front comprising:-a body having a first externally facing substantially planar surface, said surface having an aperture extending therethrough; at ieast one display device mounted to said body, having a second substantially planar surface and adapted to receive at least one sheet material, said sheet material being externally visible externally of said planar surface, wherein at least one said display device is adapted to move between a first position in which said first and second surfaces are substantially coplanar and a second position allowing at least partial access through said aperture; biasing means for biasing at least one said display device towards said first position.

By providing a drawer front with a display device mounted in the body so that at least part of the display device is coplanar with the body and is biased towards that coplanar position, the advantage is provided that an aesthetically pleasing planar surface that can utillse a low cost closure mechanism and is easy to operate whilst incorporating a simple display device making labelling the drawers simple, economical, easily changed, aesthetically pleasing and optional can be manufactured. In particular, the drawer can use the simplest closure mechanisms, for example, the type that utillses rollers that the runner of the draw must lift over in order to open. Such mechanisms require a pulling force to be applied to the drawer which in turn reguires some form of recess to form a puilable handle thereby requiring a handle on the drawer front or the use of an indentation in the side of the drawer which means that rows of cabinets cannot be placed next to each other. The display device used in the present invention allows easy changing of drawer labels and simple paper labels oan be used which can be printed from a computer thereby allowing aesthetically pleasing labels to be produced. If labels are not required it is also straightforward to provide an aesthetically pleasing second surface that matches the first surface thereby making the handle almost invisible, except for the outline of the junction between the first and second surfaces.

The draw-front may further comprise cover means, attached to a third surface of said body opposing said first surface, for substantially covering said display device and said biasing means.

In a preferred embodiment the display device comprising a transparent sheet forming at least part of said second surface.

In another preferred embodiment the display device is pivotally mounted to a hinge.

In a further preferred embodiment an axis of said hinge extends below said aperture.

The biasing means may comprise at least one spring.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drawer front viewed from a first side; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the drawer front of figure 1 viewed from the opposite side and below; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the drawer front shown in figure 2, viewed from the same direction; Figure 4 is sectional view of the drawer front along the iine A-A; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a door of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to figures 1 to 4, a drawer front 10 has a body 12 that has a first surface 14. This first surface 14 is substantially planar and faces externally of a set or cabinet of drawers (not shown) . In the example shown in figure 1 the first surface is planar across the whole of the front of body 12, although It will he apparent to the skilled person that this need not always be the case. The first surface 14 has an aperture 16 extending therethrough.

The drawer front 10 also includes a display device 18 that has a second surface 20 that is also substantially planar. The display device 18 is mounted to a third surface 22 of body 12 via a steel bracket 24. The third surface 22 is an internal surface of body 12 and is on the opposite side to first surface 14. Bracket 24 has apertures 26 that allow hinges 28 to pivotally mount display device 18 to bracket 24.

A display device 18 is able to move between a first position, as shown in figure 1, in which the second surface of display device 18 is substantially coplanar with first surface 14 of body 12. In the second position, shown in figure 2, the display device is pushed inwardly and pivots around an axis of hinges 28 allowing an operator to place their hand slightly inside the drawer grasp, or at ieast hook their fingers around the upper edge 30 of aperture 16 and apply a pulling force to the drawer. The display device 18 is biased towards the first position, shown in figure 1, by a biasing means in the form of a spring 32, which is shown in figure 3 as a coil spring but many other biasing devices inciuding the springs could egually be used.

The display device 18 is adapted to receive a label 34 that can be seen through the transparent second surface 20 of display device 18 which is partially or entirely formed from a transparent material such as Perspex. Also attached to third surface 22 is cover plate 36 that acts to protect the display device 18 spring 32 and label 34. The cover plate 36 also acts as a stop preventing display device 18 being pivoted too far around hinge 28. The cover plate 36 is also provided with an aperture 38 through which the display device 18 partially extends when it is fully in the second position.

This allows the label 34 to be slid cut of the display device 18 and be replaced. The display device 18 has edge portions that engage further edge portions 42 of aperture 16 to prevent display device 18 being biased beyond the first position in which the first and second surfaces are coplanar.

The bracket 24 is welded to third surface 22 and the display device 18 pivotally connected to bracket 24 using hinges 28. The cover plate 36 is attached to bracket 24 using screws or bolts (not shown) that extend through apertures 44 and into apertures 46.

When the drawer front is mounted to a drawer a user simply pushes against the second surface 20 of display device 18 which causes display device 18 to pivot around hinge 28 expcsing edge 30 under which the operator can hook their fingers and apply pulling force to the drawer. When the operator removes their hand the spring 32 biases the display device back to the first position. In the event that the drawer does nut need to be marked with a label, the label 34 can be replaced with a sheet material that matches the colour of first surface 14.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. For example, this type of handle can be used on other forms of drawer front, not just filing cabinets and can be used on other doors such as cupboards. An example of this can be seen in figure 5.

Claims (7)

1. Claims 1. A door or draw-front comprising:-a body having a first externally facing substantially planar surface, said surface having an aperture extending therethrough; at least one display device mounted to said body, having a second substantially planar surface and adapted to receive at least one sheet material, said sheet material being externally visible externally of said planar surface, wherein at least one said display device is adapted to move between a first position in which said first and second surfaces are substantially coplanar and a second position allowing at least partial access through said aperture; biasing means for biasing at least one said display device towards said first position.
2. 2. A draw-front according to claim 1, further comprising cover means, attached to a third surface of said body opposing said first surface, for substantially covering said display device and said biasing means.
3. 3. A draw-front according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said display device comprising a transparent sheet forming at least part of said second surface.
4. 4. A draw-front according to any one cf the preceding claims, wherein said display device is pivotally mounted to a hinge.
5. 5. A draw-front according to claim 4, wherein an axis of said hinge extends below said aperture.
6. 6. A draw-front according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said biasing means comprises at ieast one spring.
7. 7. A draw or door front substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.