US3548618A - Pop-out handle and locking device - Google Patents

Description

Dec- 22; 1970 R. 'L. DAUENBAUGH 3,543,613

POP-OUT HANDLE AND LOCKING DEVICE Filed March 10, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1970 R. L. DAUENBAUGH 3,548,618

POP-CUT HANDLE AND LOCKING DEVICE Filed March 10, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet z $2 2 M./' 10 I v 1 -az7 United States Patent Us. c1. 70-208 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pop-out handle and locking device for use in the door of a vending machine or other enclosure having a housing with an enlarged escutcheon secured in the door of the enclosure and provided with two parallel passages therebehind; one passage housing a tumbler lock and the other passage housing a rearwardly extending spindle with the inner end of the spindle extending beyond the housing and terminating in locking means cooperating with complementary strike means in the enclosure. A reciprocable handle is received in a recess in the escutcheon when retracted and has an 01fset hub received in the passage housing the spindle with the spindle extending into the hub; and the spindle and hub having clutching means engaged when the handle is projected so that the handle and spindle rotate together. The handle covers the tumbler lock when in the recess and has a bushing therein aligned with the lock to allow entrance of a key to actuate the lock and release the handle.

The present invention relates to a pop-out handle and locking device and more particularly to a locking device for use on vending machines and other enclosures.

To inhibit an unauthorized person from gaining access to the interior of a cabinet or enclosure, many commercially available vending machines do not have a handle which can be gripped and manipulated to open the door and gain access to the interior of the cabinet, but are only provided with a key-operated lock or a nested handle cam-type lock assembly where the key-operated tumbler lock is housed within the nested handle. However, these prior lock assemblies do not fill the variety of special applications which occur, and many times the authorized personnel would forget and leave the key in the locking device so that the keys were stolen and frequent lock changes were necessary. The present invention relates to a lock assembly which overcomes these prior difiiculties and solves the encountered problems.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a pop-out handle and locking device having an extended travel, spring-biased pop-out handle and a mating housing assembly capable of receiving a wide variety of key locking devices and providing for ease of removal and replacement or substitution of tumbler locks in the assembly. A housing has a pair of parallel passages therein with one passage receiving the tumbler lock and the other passage housing a spindle. A handle has an offset hub received in the passage housing the spindle with the handle portion received in a recess in the housing escutcheon and covering the tumbler lock. Thus, the locking device is mounted in the housing and is not incorporated as an integral part of the handle.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a pop-out handle and locking device where the handle is movable between a retracted position retained in the housingand an extended position where the hub of the handle and the spindle are in clutching engagement. The handle is spring-biased outwardly and is provided for extended travel beyond the biasing movement Patented Dec. 22, 1970 so as to fill a variety of special applications as Well as standard applications where a handle of this design has not been commercially available.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a pop-out handle and locking device where authorized personnel are prevented from leaving their key in the locking device. The handle incorporates a security bushing therein aligned with the tumbler lock in the housing when the handle is retained in the escutcheon recess to allow access of a proper key to the tumbler lock. Once the key locking device has been unlocked to release the handle, key removal from the locking device must be made with the device in the locked position only. Further, the key must be removed from the locking device before the handle can be pulled out to engage the clutching arrangement and actuate the latching device of the vending machine or other enclosure.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pop-out handle and locking device of the present invention with the handle retracted into the housing.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the pop-out handle and locking device with the handle shown in projected or extended position in dotted lines.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the handle released and partially projected or extended from the housing.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the handle fully projected.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of the handle and hub.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross sectional view of the housing alone taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the driver.

Referring more particularily to the disclosure in the drawings wherein is shown an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 discloses a pop-out handle and locking device 10 having a housing 11 received in a door 12 with a reciprocable handle 13 in the housing. A generally cylindrical spindle 14 is located in the housing 11 and extends through and beyond the rear end of the housing to terminate in an inner end 15 for suitable latching means. The latching means may be the threaded portion 16 having flattened sides 17 which will engage with a threaded nut secured in the enclosure for the door 12 or the end 15 may support any of the latching means shown in U.S. Pats. Nos. 3,213,654; 3,285,043; or 3,302,434.

The housing 11 includes an exposed enlarged escutcheon or face plate 18 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) with a recess or pocket 19 therein, and a pair of parallel rearwardly extending cylindrical pockets or walls 21 and 22 intersecting together at 23 (FIG. 1) to form a common intermediate wall 24. The rear surface 25 of the face plate 18 is provided with threaded openings 26 adapted to receive screws 27 to secure the housing 11 within the door 12 of the enclosure. The non-circular housing portion defined by the cylindrical walls 21 and 22 is conformably received in a mating mounting hole in the door 12, and this housing configuration resists forcible twisting of the entire unit to unlock the door.

The cylindrical wall 21 defines a generally cylindrical passage 28 extending therethrough opening at one end into the recess 19, and having an annular groove 29 within the passage adjacent the recess 19 and a shoulder 31 adjacent the rear open end of the wall 21. The passage 28 receives a tumbler lock 32 of any suitable type which is actuated by a key 33 and has a rotatable plug (not shown) to actuate and withdraw a spring-biased lock bolt 34 extending laterally from the lock 32 to normally project through the end 35 of a slot 36 formed in the common wall 24 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. The elongated slot 36 in the wall 24 extends from the pocket 19 to the end 35 to allow the withdrawal or insertion of the tumbler lock 32 and lock bolt 34 into the passage 28, the tumbler lock having a rear shouldered end 37 abutting the shoulder 31 to properly position the lock 32 in the passage. A retaining ring 38 is received in the annular groove 29 to position and hold the tumbler lock 32 within the passage 28.

The cylindrical wall 22 defines a cylindrical passage 39 opening at one end into the pocket 19 and terminating at the opposite end in a rear wall 41 having a central circular opening 42 therein. Mounted in the opening 42 is the reduced end 43 of the rotatable spindle 14, the reduced end 43 forming a shoulder 44 engaging the inner edge defining the opening 42 and having a groove spaced from the shoulder 44 to receive a retaining ring or washer 45 closely adjacent the rear wall 41 to restrain the spindle 14 against axial movement. The reduced end 43 of the spindle extends rearwardly from rear wall 41 for any suitable length to form the inner end depending on the latching means utilized.

The spindle 14 extends forwardly in the passage 39 to terminate at the pocket 19 in an enlarged head having a flange 46 and a polygonal head 47 slightly smaller than the flange 46 but larger than the spindle diameter. The lock bolt 34 extends through the slot 36 into the passage 39 toward but spaced short of the spindle 14. Also, the passage 39 includes a short channel 48, as clearly seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, utilized to aid aligning the handle 13 in the housing prior to complete closing.

The handle 13 includes a generally rectangular gripping portion 49 adapted to be conformably received in the recess 19 and an offset hub 51 located toward one end 52 of the portion 49 and extending rearwardly from the gripping portion to enter the passage 39. The gripping portion 49 also has an opening 54 positioned toward the opposite end 53 of portion 49 and adapted to be aligned with the passage 28. Rotatably mounted within the opening 54 is a security bushing 55 which has a keyway 56 (see FIG. 1) therethrough identical to the keyway in the tumbler lock 32 for a purpose to be later described. The bushing 55 has an outer flange 57 cooperating with a shoulder 58 in the opening 54, and a retaining ring 59 on the inner end of the bushing retains the housing in the opening.

The hub 51 is slightly tapered rearwardly for ease of movement within the passage 39 and has an inwardly tapered chamber 61 therein open at the rear end 62 of the hub and terminating short of the outer surface of the gripping portion in a reduced diameter pocket 63 housing a compression spring 64. The spindle 14 extends into the chamber 61 with the flange 46 positioned closely adjacent the pocket when the handle 13 is fully retracted into the housing 11.

In the open end 62 of the hub 51 is formed a polygonal recess 65 defined by a shoulder 66 to separate the recess from the generally cylindrically tapered chamber 61. A generally annular groove 67 spaced from the shoulder 66 is provided to receive a retaining ring 68 for a driver 69. The driver 69 (see FIG. 9) has a polygonal portion 71 conformably received in the recess 65 and a shoulder 72 separating the polygonal portion of the driver from a forwardly extending generally cylindrical portion 73. The driver has a central polygonal passage 74 there- 4 through adapted to conformably receive the polygonal head 47 on the spindle 14.

The driver 69 is held in the polygonal recess between the shoulder 66 and the retaining ring 68, and the flange 46 on the enlarged head of the spindle 14 will engage the cylindrical portion 73 of the driver to prevent removal of the spindle from the hub. Forwardly of the shoulder 66 is a lateral opening which is generally aligned with the end 35 of the slot 36 to receive the end of the lock bolt 34 when the handle is fully retracted as seen in FIG. 3. The bolt 34 has a camming surface 34 on the end to cam the bolt inwardly upon retraction of the handle 13 into the housing. Also, a rib 76 is formed on the hub 51 adjacent the gripping portion 49 and on the opposite side of the hub from the security bushing to be conformably received in the channel 48 to properly align the handle in the housing before final closing movement.

Considering the operation of this locking device, the handle 13 is normally retracted within the housing 11, as seen in FIG. 3, with the handle covering the passage 28 containing the tumbler lock 32 and the spring 64 is fully compressed between the pocket 63 and the flange 46 on the end of the spindle. Assuming that the rear end 15 of the spindle has latching means which engages complementary means in the enclosure to retain the door 12 closed, a proper key 33 provides authorized personnel access to the interior of the cabinet or enclosure.

To open the door 12, the key 33 is inserted through the keyway 56 in the rotatable security bushing 55 and into the aligned keyway in the tumbler lock 32 to properly actuate the tumblers therein. The key 33 is provided with an enlarged head 77 and an elongated shank 78 of a length suflicient to extend through the security bushing 55 and into the tumbler lock 32 with sufficient distance between the bushing 55 and the head 77 to allow a partial projection of the handle 13 from the housing 11. The key is rotated to retract the lock bolt 34 from the opening 75 and release the handle 13. The compression spring 64 biases the handle 13 forwardly relative to the spindle 14 but is of limited strength to cause only a partial projection of the handle 13 out of the housing 11 as limited by the head 77 of the key 33 engaging the outer flange 57 of the bushing 55 (see FIG. 4).

To fully project the handle, the key 33 must be rotated to normal locking position, as shown in FIG. 3, and withdrawn from the tumbler lock 32. Upon withdrawal of the key, the handle 13 is manually pulled forward, limited by the flange 46, to allow the clutching device of the driver 69 and the polygonal head 47 to engage, allowing the handle to rotate with the spindle (see FIG. 5) to operate the latching device of the door or closure on the vending machine or other enclosure and allowing the authorized service personnel to enter to restock, collect money or take other appropriate action.

To relock the door 12, the door is swung to a generally closed position so that the latching device on the spindle 14 can engage the complementary strike means in the enclosure (not shown), and with the handle 13 and spindle 14 having the clutching device engaged, the handle is rotated with the spindle to return the latching device to its latched position. The handle 13 is then depressed until the driver 69 and the polygonal head 47 of the clutching device are disengaged, and the handle then may be freely rotated until the gripping portion is properly aligned with the pocket 19 and the rib 76 aligned with the channel 48.

Upon further inward movement of the handle 13, the inner end 62 of the hub 51 engages the camming surface 34 of the spring-biased lock bolt 34 to cam the bolt inward until the handle is fully retracted into the housing, at which time the bolt 34 drops into the lateral opening 75 in the hub. Also, the compression spring 64 is again fully compressed between the pocket 63 and the flange 46 of the spindle 14.

As previously stated, the latching means on the exposed end of the spindle can be (1) the screw threaded portion 16 cooperating with a threaded nut retained in the enclosure, (2) a swing bolt secured on the portion 16 and flattened sides 17 to engage a strike or flange in the enclosure, (3) a cam pin in the spindle engaging a camming strike in the enclosure, or (4) other suitable or conventional latching means.

An added security feature of this structure is the use of the security bushing 55 in the handle 13. This free spinning bushing has a key section or keyway 56 therein that matches and is aligned with the keyway of the tumbler lock 32, which the handle and bushing 55 cover with the handle in retracted, locked position (see FIGS. 1 and 3). The use of this bushing 55 makes it very difficult to apply a lock picking torque to the rotatable plug in the tumbler lock, which torque is necessary to the picking of the individual lock tumblers.

Another advantage of this locking device is the improved ease of maintenance and service convenience of the lock in the housing. The tumbler lock 32 and lock bolt 34 may be easily and quickly removed for repair or replacement from the front of the door without opening the door 12 or disturbing the inner workings of the vending machine or other enclosure in any way. To remove the tumbler lock 32, the key 33 is inserted in the keyway in the security bushing 55 and lock 32 and rotated to withdraw the bolt 34 and release the handle 13 to the position of FIG. 4. The key 33 is then rotated to the locked position and withdrawn from the lock 32 and bushing 55, and the handle 13 is rotated to uncover the passage 28.

As the handle is not fully withdrawn, the clutching device is not engaged so that rotation of the handle 13 does not rotate the spindle 14. The retaining ring 38 is removed, and the tumbler lock 32 is withdrawn from the passage 28 with the lock bolt 34 moving forwardly in the slot 36 until the tumbler lock 32 is free of the housing 11. To return or replace the tumbler lock 32 in the passage 28, the above operations are reversed; with the tumbler lock 32 being inserted until the shouldered end 37 abuts the shoulder 31 in the passage 28, the retaining ring 38 is returned to the groove 29, and the handle is rotated and retracted to locked position.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. A pop-out handle and locking device comprising a housing including an escutcheon having a handle pocket therein and rearwardly extending cylindrical walls defining a pair of parallel passages opening into the handle pocket, a tumbler lock received in one of the passages and the other passage having a rear wall defining a central opening therein, an elongated rotatable spindle secured in and extending through the opening and into said other passage to terminate in an enlarged head adjacent the handle pocket, the opposite end of the spindle terminating at a point spaced rearwardly of said rear wall, a handle reciprocable relative to said housing between retracted and projected positions and having a gripping portion adapted to be received in said handle pocket and an offset rearwardly extending hub extending into said other passage, said hub being hollow and receiving the spindle and enlarged head, resilient means in said hub between the gripping portion and the enlarged head of the spindle, clutching means on said hub and spindle, and locking means actuated by said tumbler lock and cooperating with said handle to retain the handle in retracted position, said gripping portion covering the tumbler lock when the handle is in retracted position.

2. A pop-out handle and locking device as set forth in claim 1, in which said gripping portion has an opening aligned with said tumbler lock, and a security bushing received and freely rotatable in said opening and having a keyway therethrough correspondng to and adapted to be aligned with a keyway provided in the tumbler lock.

3. A pop-out handle and locking device as set forth in claim 1, in which said resilient means is a relatively light spring capable of projecting said handle part-way out of the housing when released, said hollow hub having a pocket defining a closed end of the hub adjacent said gripping portion, said pocket receiving said spring.

4. A pop-out handle and locking device as set forth in claim 1, in which said clutching means includes a driver retained in the rear end of said hub and having a polygonal opening therethrough, said spindle extending through said polygonal opening and having a complementary polygonal portion on said enlarged head, said clutching means engaging when said handle is substantially fully advanced.

5. A pop-out handle and locking device as set forth in claim 1, in which said cylindrical walls intersect to provide a common intermediate wall, and said locking means includes a spring-biased lock bolt positioned in and actuated by actuation of said tumbler lock, said lock bolt extending through said intermediate wall into said other passage, and said hub having an opening therein adapted to receive the projected end of the lock bolt when the handle is in retracted position.

6. A p0p-out handle and locking device as set forth in claim 5, in which said intermediate wall has an elongated slot opening at one end in said handle pocket and terminating at the opposite end in alignment with said lock bolt to allow the lock bolt to be biased into said other passage.

7. A pop-out handle and lockin device as set forth in claim 6, in which said one passage has a shoulder adjacent the rear end thereof and an annular groove adjacent said handle pocket, said tumbler lock having a stepped rear end cooperating with said shoulder, and a retaining ring in said groove retaining said tumbler lock in said one passage, said elongated slot allowing removal of said tumbler lock and lock bolt from the forward end of said housing upon removal of said retaining ring.

8. A pop-out handle and locking device as set forth in claim 4, in which said hub terminates in an open rear end having a polygonal recess at the end terminating in a shoulder separating the polygonal recess from the generally cylindrical hollow chamber, said driver having a polygonal exterior surface received in the polygonal re cess and a cylindrical portion received in said chamber and separated by a shoulder cooperating with the shoulder defining the recess, and a retaining ring received in a groove in the polygonal recess to retain the driver there 9. A pop-out handle and locking device as set forth in claim 4, in which said enlarged head of the spindle includes the polygonal portion of a larger cross section than said spindle, and an enlarged end flange of a larger cross section than said polygonal portion to prevent disassembly of the hub from the spindle.

10. A pop-out handle and locking device as set forth in claim 1, in which said handle is provided with an extended path of travel between retracted and projected positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,534,584 4/ 1925 Fredrick 70208X 2,117,943 5/ 1938 Clinker 70-208 2,131,033 9/1938 Barrington et al 70-20'8 2,394,719 2/ 1946 Schoch 70-208 3,111,833 11/ 1963 Dettrner 70208X MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner A. G. CRAIG, JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 70-37l

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