GB2298234A

GB2298234A - A handle assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2298234A
Application number: GB9607778A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Mayes
Original assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Current assignee: Securistyle Ltd
Priority date: 1994-11-01
Filing date: 1994-11-01
Publication date: 1996-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2014-11-01
Also published as: GB2298234B; GB2295190B; GB9607778D0; GB2295190A; GB9422009D0

Abstract

A handle assembly for a door or window comprising a fixing plate, a handle mounted on the fixing plate for rotation about a pivot axis and a locking device for interacting between the handle and the fixing plate to prevent rotation of the handle about the pivot axis, wherein the locking device comprises a movable portion which is carried by the fixing plate, the movable portion including locking means for engaging the handle when the locking device is in its active position such that the handle is prevented from moving in a direction perpendicular to and away from the fixing date. The handle assembly of the present invention affords greater security to a door or window. Persons are prevented, by way of the locking device, from unauthorised movement of the handle about the pivot axis and in a direction perpendicular and away from the fixing plate.

Description

A HANDLE ASSEMBLY This invention relates to handle assemblies, and in particular to a lockable handle assembly for a door, window or the like.

There are currently a large number of different types of handle assembly on the market and many of these operate on the same principle. Known handle assemblies typically comprise a base, a handle pivotably mounted on the base and locking means for preventing rotational movement of the handle. The locking means is usually provided by a plunger and an aperture, the aperture being sized so as to accommodate the plunger. Typically, the plunger is spring mounted in the handle and engages the aperture which is provided in the base. Alternative designs teach that the plunger may be spring mounted in the base with a corresponding aperture being provided in the handle. These prior art designs serve to prevent rotation of the handle about the fixing plate upon actuation of the locking means.

The prior art assemblies, whilst adequately performing the purpose for which they were designed, suffer from a number of problems that could seriously jeopardise the security of a door/window fitted with such an assembly. In the prior art assemblies, the locking means are only designed to prevent rotational movement of the handle about the fixing plate, thereby preventing an espagnolette system driven by the handle from being activated, for example. However, a problem has been noted that the prior art locking means are prone to failure upon the application of a force in a direction perpendicular to and away from the fixing plate.

This force serves to raise the handle to such an extent that the plunger comes out of engagement with the aperture thereby allowing the handle to rotate. There is a need in the art, therefore, for a handle assembly which, whilst preventing an unauthorised rotation of the handle about the fixing plate, also prevents movement of the handle in a direction perpendicular to and away from the fixing plate.

It is the primary aim of the present invention, therefore, to provide a handle assembly that can be locked to prevent the handle of the assembly from both rotating about the fixing plate and moving in a direction perpendicular to and away from the fixing plate.

It is a secondary aim of the present invention to provide a locking handle that is easy to manufacture and assemble, easy to operate and reliable in that operation.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a handle assembly for a door or window comprising a fixing plate, a handle mounted on the fixing plate for rotation about a pivot axis and a locking device for interacting between the handle and the fixing plate to prevent rotation of the handle about the pivot axis, wherein the locking device, when in its active position, prevents the handle from moving in a direction perpendicular to and away from the fixing plate.

The locking device may comprise a movable portion which is carried by the handle or the fixing plate, the movable portion including locking means for engaging the other of the fixing plate and the handle when the locking device is in its active position.

In one embodiment, the movable portion may be mounted in the handle and comprise a cam or cam follower for receiving a cam follower or cam respectively associated with the fixing plate.

As an alternative, the movable portion may be mounted in the fixing plate and comprise a cam or cam follower for receiving a cam follower or cam respectively associated with the handle.

The cam may be substantially "L"-shaped or may be inclined at an angle to the fixing plate so that the movable portion is drawn into the fixing plate upon activation of said locking device.

In another embodiment, the movable portion may be threaded to engage a threaded portion of the handle or the fixing plate when the locking device is in its active position.

In other embodiments, the movable portion includes two locking means which, when the locking device is moved into its active position, grip both the handle and the fixing plate to prevent the handle from moving in a direction perpendicular to and away from the fixing plate. The locking means may interact with the handle and the fixing plate in the same way. Alternatively, the locking means may interact with the handle and the fixing plate in a different way.

Throughout these embodiments, the locking device may be actuated by way of a key and may include a barrel lock to lock the device in its active position. Further, the locking means may be spring mounted.

Specific embodiments of the present invention are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a handle assembly in its closed and unlocked position and is shown as being attached to a door or window.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the handle assembly in its open position.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the handle assembly in its closed position.

Figures 4a and 4b are cross-sectional views along the line I---I of Figure 3 showing the handle assembly in its unlocked and locked closed position respectively.

Figures 5 to 7 show various alternative embodiments of the locking member according to the present invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a handle assembly (1) of the present invention. The handle assembly (1) comprises a fixing plate (3) and a handle (4) comprising a handle body (5) and a handle grip (7). Within the handle body (5) there is provided a locking member (9). The handle assembly (1) is shown as being attached to a door or window (11) and is shown in its closed and unlocked position.

Figures 2 and 3 show the handle assembly (1) in its open position and its closed position respectively. The fixing plate (3) is provided with at least two fixing apertures (15) in its top surface (13). Figure 2 also shows a base engagement aperture (17) which engages with the locking member (9) when the handle (4) is in its closed position and the locking member (9) is actuated. Once closed and locked, the handle (4) is prevented from (i) rotation about the plate (3) and (ii) movement in a direction perpendicular to the top surface (13) of the plate (3).

Figures 4a and 4b show sectional views along the line I---I of Figure 3. Figure 4a shows the handle assembly (1) in its closed and unlocked position. Figure 4b shows the handle assembly (1) in its closed and locked position.

The locking member of Figure 4 comprises a barrel lock (19) which is capable of engagement with lugs (21) provided on an interior wall of the base engagement aperture (17). The barrel lock (19) comprises an interior locking section (23) and an outer sleeve portion (25), the interior locking section (23) being rotatably located within the outer sleeve portion and suitable for actuation by a key (33) or other actuation member. The interior locking section (23) is provided with an enlarged end portion (35) which is attached to or formed integrally with the interior locking section (23). One or more helical springs (not shown) are provided within the handle body (5). The springs act on an interior wall (27) of the handle body (5) and on the barrel lock (19) to return the barrel lock (19) to its unlocked position when the handle assembly (1) has been unlocked with the key (33).

The enlarged end portion (35) is provided with means for engaging the lugs (21). Preferably, at least two lugs (21) are provided within the base engagement aperture (17) of the fixing plate (3) but other numbers of lugs (21) may alternatively be provided. An increased number of lugs (21) increases the strength of the locking system.

Figures 5 to 8 show various embodiments of the locking member (9) of the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 5, the locking member (9) and base engagement aperture (17) may be seen. The outer sleeve portion (25) is shown engaged with the interior locking section (23). A key (33) is shown engaged with the locking member (9). The interior locking section (23) is engaged with the enlarged end portion (35). The enlarged end portion (35) has at least one "L"-shaped aperture (37) formed therein. The "L"-shaped aperture (37) is sized so as to accept the lug (21) when the locking member (9) is pushed in a direction indicated by arrows (39).

The various components of the locking member (9) may be formed individually and joined together by known means (glue, retaining pins, etc.) or, alternatively, the interior locking section (23), outer sleeve portion (25) and enlarged end portion (35) may be formed integrally from a single piece of suitable material, such as a plastics material.

To lock the embodiment of Figure 5, the locking member (9) is pushed in a direction indicated by arrow (39) so that the lugs (21) engage the "L"-shaped aperture (37). The locking member (9) is then turned a quarter or half-turn in a direction indicated by arrow (41) to lock securely the lug within the "L"-shaped aperture (37). The handle (4) is then prevented from rotation about the fixing plate (3) and from movement in a direction perpendicular to the top surface (13) of the fixing plate (3). To unlock the locking handle (1), the key is turned in a direction opposite to that indicated by arrow (41) and the spring means (not shown) within the handle body (5) serves to withdraw the lugs (21) from the "L"-shaped aperture (37).

Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of locking member (9) of the present invention. The locking member (9) comprises the outer sleeve portion (25), the interior locking section (23) and the enlarged end portion (35). Both the outer sleeve portion (25) and the enlarged end portion (35) have cam tracks (43) formed therein. The cam tracks (43) have an angle of inclination which determines the extent to which the locking member (9) enters the base engagement aperture (not shown) and may be varied accordingly at the time of manufacture. The cam tracks (43) may be formed in vertical alignment (as shown) or, they may be rotationally displaced from each other. Once again, although the invention will perform satisfactorily with one set of cams and corresponding cam tracks (43), two sets are preferred.

Essential to the operation of this embodiment are a second set of cams (not shown) which are positioned so as to engage the upper cam track entrance upon actuation of the locking member (9).

To lock the locking member of this embodiment, pressure, in a direction indicated by arrow (45), is applied to the locking member (9). The application of this force causes both the upper and lower sets of cams to enter their respective cam tracks. The locking member (9) is then turned a quarter or half-turn by way of the key (33) in a direction indicated by arrow (47). Upon turning the key (33), the cams progress up their respective cam tracks (43) and the locking member (9) is drawn into the fixing plate (3) by an amount corresponding to the cam track inclination.

To unlock the locking member (9), the key (33) is turned in a direction opposite to that of arrow (47) and the locking member (9) is withdrawn into the handle body (5) by way of the cam track inclination. Helical springs (not shown) are provided to withdraw the locking member (9) into the handle body (5).

Referring now to Figure 7, a third embodiment of the locking member (9) according to the present invention is shown. The locking member (9) comprises the outer sleeve portion (25), the interior locking section (23) and the enlarged end portion (35). The enlarged end portion (35) is provided with a threaded portion (49) at an end furthest from the outer sleeve portion (25). The base engagement aperture (not shown) is provided with a similar threaded portion (not shown) which is capable of engaging the threaded portion (49) of the enlarged end portion (35).

To lock the locking member (9) of this embodiment, mild pressure is first applied to the locking member (9), in a direction indicated by arrow (51) and against the action of spring means (not shown), so as to bring the two threaded portions into abutment. The key (33) is then turned a full turn or more in a direction indicated by arrow (53) so as to engage the two threaded portions. Turning of the key (33) in the opposite direction disengages the threaded portions and the spring means (not shown) causes the locking member (9) to withdraw into the handle body (5).

It will, of course, be evident that the invention described herein has been described only by way of example, and that various modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, the various embodiments of this invention may be provided with any number of cams and corresponding cam tracks, although testing has shown that the use of two cams and two cam tracks is sufficient.

The embodiments of Figures 5 to 7 are the preferred embodiments. However, various combinations and permutations of these embodiments will be obvious to the skilled man in the art. For example, the locking member of Figure 5 may be adapted by placing a second t'L"-shaped aperture on the outer sleeve portion (25). Obviously, a second lug will have to be provided in the handle body (5).

Similarly, with reference to Figure 7, a second threaded portion may be provided on the outer sleeve portion for engagement with a similar threaded portion provided on the interior of the handle body (5).

As an additional alternative, the embodiment of Figure 6 may be replaced with a single cam track provided in the enlarged end portion (35).

In addition to the above, all of the locking mechanisms of the various embodiments may be reversed. For example, instead of providing an aperture in the locking member for engagement with lugs in the base, the aperture may be provided in the base for engagement with lugs provided on the locking member.

Alternatively, the enlarged end portion (35) may be of hollow construction with a threaded portion provided on the interior thereof. A spring mounted body may be provided in the base, the spring mounted body having a threaded portion for engagement with the threaded portion of the enlarged end portion (35).

Numerous other arrangements of the invention will be obvious to the man skilled in the art once the foregoing description has been studied.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A handle assembly for a door or window comprising a fixing plate, a handle mounted on the fixing plate for rotation about a pivot axis and a locking device for interacting between the handle and the fixing plate to prevent rotation of the handle about the pivot axis, wherein the locking device comprises a movable portion which is carried by the fixing plate, the movable portion including locking means for engaging the handle when the locking device is in its active position such that the handle is prevented from moving in a direction perpendicular to and away from the fixing date.

2. A handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the movable portion comprises a cam or cam follower for receiving a cam follower or cam respectively associated with the handle.

3. A handle assembly according to claim 2, wherein said cam is substantially "L"-shaped.

4. A handle assembly according to claim 2, wherein the cam is inclined at an angle to said fixing plate so that said movable portion is drawn into said handle upon activation of said locking device.

5. A handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein said movable portion is threaded to engage a threaded portion of the handle when the locking device is in its active position.

6. A handle assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the movable portion includes two locking means which, when the locking device is moved into its active position, grip both the handle and the fixing plate to prevent the handle from moving in a direction perpendicular to and away from the fixing plate.

7. A handle assembly according to claim 6, wherein the two locking means interact with the handle and the fixing plate in the same way.

8. A handle assembly according to claim 6, wherein the two locking means interact with the handle and the fixing plate in a different way.

9. A handle assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said locking means is spring loaded.

10. A handle assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said locking device is activated by way of a key.

11. A handle assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said locking device includes a barrel lock to lock the device in its active position.