US3808850A

US3808850A - Locking handle assembly

Info

Publication number: US3808850A
Application number: US00231329A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Walters
Original assignee: BMR Security Products Corp
Current assignee: SECURITY DEVICES Inc A CORP OF CONNECTICUT; BMR Security Products Corp; Esmet Inc
Priority date: 1972-03-02
Filing date: 1972-03-02
Publication date: 1974-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-07

Abstract

A locking handle assembly which includes a tubular mechanism within a longitudinal through passage of a handle. A locking plate having at least one opening is contained within a cavity of the handle and in a predetermined position of the handle, the locking plate opening is aligned with the through passage. The lock mechanism is insertable within the handle for removably securing the handle to the locking plate when the lock mechanism is inserted into the opening of the locking plate.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Walters [451 May 7, 1974 [54] LOCKING HANDLE ASSEMBLY 2,427,909 9/1947 Howell 70/216 [75]' Inventor: Russell W. Walters, Whitehall, Pa. Primary Examirier Joseph H McGlynn [73] Assignee: BMR Security Products Corp, Assistant Examiner-Richard P. Tremblay Reading, Pa. Attorney, Agent, or Firm- Male'son, Kimmelman and 221 Filed: Mar. 2, 1972 Rainer [21 l April-No.1 231,329 [57] I ABSTRACT A locking handle assembly which includes a tubular [52] US. Cl .1. 70/215, 70/224, 292/118, mechanism within a longitudinal t ug p ag of a I 292/1316 46 handle. A locking plate having at least one opening is [51] Int. Cl. E05b 13/10, E050 19/10 contained within a cavity of the handle and in p [58] Field of Search ..'70/21'5,' 216, 217, 95, 96, termined position of the handle. the locking plate 70/97 98 99 100, 213 214 opening is aligned with the through passage. The lock mechanism is insertable within the handle for remov- 5 References Ci ably securing the handle to the locking plate when the UNITED STATES PATENTS lock mechanism is inserted into. the opening of the locking plate. 9l6,826 3/1909 Baldwin 70/99 1 1,994,142 4/1930 20 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Madsen 160/190 minnow 7:574 3.808.850

SHEEI 1 [1F 3 LOCKING HANDLE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The field of the invention relates to locking systems contained within a handle.

2. Prior Art Lock assemblies contained within handles are known in the art. However, in some prior assemblies, a person turning the handle with substantial force, as for example by using a lever, could break the lock. In these assemblies, the force resistance area of the lock was not sufficient to overcome such manual attack.

In other prior assemblies, the bolt forming the locking member was not concealed. In these cases, the bolt could be jimmied out of engagement with a locking plate thereby releasing the lock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A locking handle assembly having a concealed actuating member adapted to be operably coupled to a locking and unlocking device. Th eassembly includes a handle having a longitudinally extended passage. A locking plate is disposed within a cavity mined position to removably secure the handle to the locking plate. The concealed actuating member is fixed to the rear side of the handle and extends perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective of the handle and locking plate;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the tubular lock mechanism which is inserted within the handle;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional representation of the locking handle assembly taken along the sectional line 33 of FIG. i

FIG. 4 is-a cross-sectional view of the locking handle assembly taken along the section line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the locking handle assembly partially in exploded representation showing the handle assembly in cooperation with a truck door assembly in a locked position; and,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the locking handle assembly showing the handle assembly in cooperation with a truck door assembly in an unlocked position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to- FIGS. 1-4, there is shown locking handle assembly 10 which in combination provides a total locking system having the advantage of being secure from outside attack or manipulation since the entire locking mechanism is enclosed and concealed by handle 20. As will be described, the locking procedure is dependent upon two separate and distinct mechanisms which act independent of the other. In this manner, the portion of assembly 10 which must take up any manipulative shear load will have no direct cooperation with the portion of assembly I0 which constrainsthe entire mechanism within handle 20.

Assembly 10 includes handle 20 which has a longitudinally extended through passage 50. Locking or strike plate 30 is contoured for disposition within annular cavity 60 of handle 20 for providing'securement between handle 20 and plate 30. Tubular lock mechanism 40, as shown in an exploded view in FIG. 2, is insertable within handle 20 in cooperation with through passage 50 of handle 20 as is clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As will be described in detail, mechanism 40 includes two basic portions, one of which is relatively movable for insertion into openings a or 70b tov removably secure handle 20 to locking plate 30 when handle 20 has been moved to one of two predetermined positions.

Handle 20 includes elongated handle portion at a lowermost end as shown in FIG. 1, which is longitudinally directed and connected in one piece fashion to upper handle casing 90. Longitudinally directed handle element 80 is, in operation, rotated manually by an operator in order to drive torque bar or shaft about an axis substantially normal to the longitudinal direction defined by the extension of handle portion 80. Shaft 100 is rigidly secured to handle 20 through shaft pin 105, bolting -or some like means not important to the invention. Therefore, manual rotation of handle 20 causes a corresponding rotation of shaft 100. Shaft rotation will cause a corresponding motion to open or close an external assembly as will be described in de tail. Through, passage 50 extends the entire length of handle element 80 and opens intoannular cavity 60.-

Annular cavity 60 formed within upper handle casing 90 has a contour substantially defined as the segment of a circular opening as is clearly shown in FIG. 1. Additionally, cavity 60 has an opening width approximately equal to the width of locking mount which correspondingly is shaped in the manner of a circular segment in order to fit within and mate withthe walls formed by cavity 60. All portions of handle 20 are constructed of stainless steel, hardened steel or other like material not important to the inventive concept. The only consideration of material importance being that the chosen materials be able to withstand the applied force loads as well as not being corrosive to the environment within which they operate.

Locking. plate 30 has a pluralityof bolting mounts for attachment of plate 30 to some external assembly. Plate 30 is relatively fixed to the external mount and handle 20 'is rotated with respect to the stationary plate 30. Locking mount 110 extends from the base surface of plate 30 in a manner substantially perpendicular to the flattened base, as is clearly shown in FIG. I.

cavity 60 of handle 20. When mount 110 is inserted into cavity 60, handle 20 may be rotated about an axis defined by the elongation of shaft 100 which extends through opening of locking plate 30. The diameter of opening 130 is greater than the largest width dimension of shaft 100, which in the case shown in FIG. 1 is the diagonal distance of shaft 100. Y

Openings

70a and 70b are displaced from each other on locking mount 110 and have a diameter substantially equal to but not less than the diameter of through passage 50. In this manner, tubular lock mechanism 40 will pass through passage 50 and either impinge on the solidportion of locking mount 110 or when

openings

70a, 70b are aligned with passage 50, then a portion of mechanism 40 may pass through openings 70 a orv 70b in order to releasably secure handle 20 to locking plate 30. Locking mount 110 issecured to plate 30 by bolts, by welding, by one piece formation or like means. In construction, locking plate 30 is made of high strength steel or some like material which can absorb the load forces involved without degradation of structural integrity when the system is in operation.

- As is shown in FIG. 3, when handle 20 is mounted to locking plate 30, angle 140 is formed between the longitudinal extension of handle element 80 and the horizontal plane of plate 30. Angle 140 is in the order of approximately and has been made assmall as possible in order to minimize the ability of forcing implements to be wedged between plate 30 and element 80.

Tubular lock mechanism 40 includes a standard cylinder lock -1 50, well known in the art, which is operated by insertion and rotation of key 160. Rotation of key 160 forces an insertion or retraction of locking pin 170 ina direction normal to the longitudinal axis of cylinder lock 150. Cylinder lock 150 is insertable'within lock tube 180 which includes a longitudinally directed through opening 200 having a diameter substantially shown in FIG. 2. When cylinder lock 150 is inserted within lock tube 180, pin 170 extends through the outer wall of tube 180 with pin 170 aligned with opening 190. Further, when lock tubel80, in assembly, is inserted into through passage 50 of handle element 80, then pin 170 is also aligned with recess or detent 210 in handle as shown in FIG. 3. In operation, tube 180 and lock 150 are positionally aligned with recess 210, then key 160 actuation of lock 150 extends pin 170 into recess 210 or retracts pin 170 into the wall of tube 180. With pin 170 extended into recess 210, lock tube 180 is positionally fixed or constrained with respect to handle 20. With pin'l70 retracted, tube 180 is no longer constrained withrespect to the handle.

Plug member 220 formed as a disk has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of passage 200 and is insertable therein. Plug opening 230 defines a diameter opening passing from one peripheral surface to an opposing boundary surface. Opening 2 30receives pin 240 which passes through and is force fitted in wall openings 250 of tube 180. In this manner, member 220 is positionally fixed with respect to tube 180. Pin 240 has a length less than or equal'to the diameter of the outer walls-of the lock tube 180. Therefore, when pin 240 is inserted, pin 240 acts against both plug 220 and the walls of tube 180 to maintain plug 220 in one position with respect to tube 180.

Helical spring element 260 having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of opening 200 is inserted into lock tube 180. Spring 260 is compressivelydisplaced on a lower surface of member 220 in the longitudinal direction defined by the extension of tube 180 as is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

Lock insert 270 includes lock insert head end 280 which is cylindrically shaped having a diameter substantially equal to the outer wall diameter of lock tube 180. Insert 270 is divided by shoulder 290 into two cylindrical members having unequal diameters. Insertable cylinder portion 300 of insert 270 has a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of tube 180. This permits insert 270 to be slideably insertable within passage 200. Chamfer 310 formed on the most forward portion of head 280 is used for ease of passage into

openings

70a or 70b when alignment is not perfectly equal to the width of annular cavity extends in the longitudinal direction through the wall of tube 180. Slot 320 has a width slightly greater than pin 330. Pin 330 is force fitted in end 300 and extends less than the outer diameter wall of tube 180. Therefore, as shown, roll pin 330 is positioned to extend from opposing surfaces of end 300 within slot 320 and acts as a longitudi nal guide for lock insert 270 when it is displaced longitudinally with respect to lock tube 180. Therefore, in construction, spring element 260 is compressively loaded when inserted into tube 180 between lock insert base surface 350 on one end and on a base surface of member 220 on an opposing end. Further, spring 260 is always under compression loading so that lock insert 270 is forced to an extreme forward position of slot 320 when there are no loads acting on insert 270.

Lock tube rear slot 360, passes longitudinally through the wall of lock tube 180 at a rear end thereof. Slot 360 has a longitudinal length substantially equal to but slightly greater than the width of annular cavity 60 in order that mechanism 40 may be fully retracted from within mount 110. Set screw 370 is inserted through the wall of handle portion into slot 360 and permits movement of mechanism 40 within handle 20 throughout the length of slot 360 when pin 170 is retracted; This allows partial displacement of mechanism 40.

In assembly, plate 30 is mounted adjacent casing in a manner such that mount is with cavity 60.

Openings

70a or 70b arenot necessarily aligned with passage 50. When locking pin 170 is inserted into detent 210, spring 260 is compressed: further than the normal free bias condition against surface 350 when head end 280 forces itself against a solid portion of locking mount 110. Lock insert 270 is moved in a rearward direction as guided bypin 330 within slot '320. Rotation of handle 20 slideably moves the head end of lock insert 270 around the periphery of locking mount 110 until insert 270 is aligned with

openings

70a or 70b at which point the compressively loaded lock insert is forced-into openings 700 or 70b. This forms a removable securement between handle 20 and locking plate 30. In order to remove lock insert 270 from engagement with

openings

70a or 70b, key is inserted and turned in lock 150 and pin is retracted from recess 210. Tube mechanism 40 isthen pulled out of handle portion 80 the length of slot 360 which is sufficient to remove head 270 from engagement with openings 700 or 70b.

rate and distinct from locking assembly or cylinder lock 150. Further, tubular lock mechanism 40 and lock insert 270 are housed within upper handle casing 90 within a chamber formed by annular cavity 60 and are thus protected from external manipulation or attack. This fact in cooperation with the concept that when tubular lock mechanism 40 is pushed into handle portion 80, the lower end of lock 150 is flush with the lowermost end of handle 20, providing protection of locking handle assembly from other external attack.

ln addition, lock insert 270 as has been shown, functions within locking tube 180 by means of the compressive stresses of spring element 260. When partially withdrawn from handle into an unlocked position, the entire mechanism 40 still forms an integral unit pulling lock insert 270 free of

openings

70a or 70b within locking mount 110. From an unlocked position, locking tube 180 may be pushed into a locked position by forcing locking pin 170 into alignment with and received by recess 210. At that time, if lock insert 270 is aligned with one or the other of

holes

70a or 70b, then such passes therethrough and handle 20 is constrained to locking plate 30. However, if lock insert 270 is not in such an aligned positional relationship, then lock insert 270 is compressively displaced in a rearward direction against the compressive forces of spring 260. This compression continues to increase until pm 170 is captured by recess 210. Lock insert 270 is thus pushed against a solidwall section of locking mount 110 while cylinder lock 150 locks mechanism 40 to handle 20. Handle 20 may still be rotated until lock insert 270 is aligned with one or the other of

openings

70a, 70b wherein insert 270 enters the openings and is captured. in this manner, tubular lock mechanism 40 acts in the same way or what is commonly referred to as a dead bolt mechanism.

Thus, it will now be understood that locking handle assembly 10 is very secure against external attack. Any prying or forceable turning of handle 20 while in one of the locked positions applies a shear load force which is taken up by lock insert head 280 in combination with locking mount 110 and such is able to withstand high shear loads. In actual practice, such combinations have, withstood structural loading in excess of 4,000 pounds, for example, while maintaining the necessary structural integrity. Further, handle end portion 80 provides a means where handle 20 does not have to be gripped completely by the hand of 'an operator but can be forced into a locked or unlocked position by rotating the handle portion 80 with the palm of the hand. Application of force to handle portion 80 is sufficient for rotation to a predetermined position, thus alleviating the possibility of injury to the knuckles of an operator.

In a typical embodiment, locking handle assembly 10 may be mounted to roll type or louver doors 380 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. This type door is many times mounted on truck bodies and is commonly used in the soft drink distribution. Louver doors 380 are mounted to door frames 390 within channels 400 in order that each of roll doors 380 may be slideably opened as shown in FIG. 6. Louver frames 410 having channel sections 420 receive each of roll doors 380 in removable securement to act as a guide so that the doors 380 do not open by themselves when they are in a closed position. Handles 430 are provided in order that doors 380 may be manually actuated to an open or closed posltion.

Cam actuator assembly 450 is mounted to locking handle assembly 10 for actuation of a system to maintain louver doors 380 in a locked position as shown in FIG. 5 and an unlocked position as shown in FIG. 6.

' Assembly 10 is mounted to cam actuator assembly 450 by insertion of shaft 100 into opening 460. having a peripheral contour similar to shaft 100 but sufficient in dimension to receive the shaft. The contour of both shaft 100 and opening 460 must be square, rectangular, or some like shape such that a rotation of shaft 100 will manifest itself in alike rotation or displacement of cam member 470. Therefore, handle 20 is effectively cou pled to cam 470 and a rotation of handle 20 causes a similar rotation of member 470.

Linkage bar 480 is pivoted to cam member 470 at pivot point 490 on one end and is pivoted to upper cam 510 at pivot point 500 as is shown. In this manner, rotation of cam 470 causes a substantially vertical displacement of linkage bar 480 which in turn results in rotary actuation of uppercam 510..Upper cam 510 is rigidly mounted to locking shaft 520 through bolts, weldor some like means not important to theinventive concept. Door cams 530 are rigidly fastened to locking shaft 520 and extend the length of shaft 520 for contacting each of doors 380. As shown, each door 380 includes a pair of cams 530 which may be rotated into the path of travel of a corresponding door 380 when such is displaced within respective channels 400. Door cams 530 are partially U-shapedin cross-section having one extended arm shorter than the other. This contour permits each of cams 530 to be secured to locking shaft 520 onthe extended arm portion 540 while at the same time providing a stop recess .550 for arresting the travel of doors 380 as shown in FIG. 5. v

Additionally, spring 560 mounted adjacent actuator assembly 450 compressively'loads a bottom surface of cam member 470, as shown in FIG. 5. Spring 560 provides a compressive bias on cam member 470 at all times in order to drive element 470 into a predetermined angular displacement which in turn forces assembly 10 into either a lock or unlock position dependent on whether mechanism 40 is aligned with

openings

70a or 70b of lock mount 110. Therefore, when.

mechanism 40 within passage is not aligned with one or the other of

openings

70a or 70b, it can be seen that spring 560 drives cam 470 into a position where

openings

70a or 70b are ableto receive lock insert 270. In this, manner, when mechanism 40 is inserted into passage 50 of handle 20 and locking pin X70 is received in recess 210, lock insert 270 is forced into openings 70a i or 70b by displacement of cam member 470.

What is claimed is:

1. A locking handle assembly having a concealed actuating member adapted to-be operably coupled to a locking and unlocking device, comprising:

a. a handle having a longitudinally extending passage which enters into a cavity formed in said handle, said handle having a front side facing an operator and a rear side facing away from said operator, said handle adapted for rotation by said operator to define a plane of rotation;

a locking plate disposed within said cavity and having at least one opening for alignment with said passage when said handle is in a predetermined position;

c. lock means disposed within said passage and including insert means biased to tend to insert'into said locking plate opening when said handle is in said predetermined position; and,

d. said concealed actuating member fixed to said rear side of said handle and extending perpendicular to said plane of rotation of said handle.

2. The locking handle assembly of claim 1 in which said concealed actuating member extends in a direction away-from the operator of said handle.

3. The locking handle assembly of claim 2 in which said lock means includes a lock housing having cylinder lock means for locking into a detent in said passage whereby when said cylinder lock means is unlocked from said detent said lock housing may be pulled out thereby retracting said lock insert means from said locking plate opening.

4. The locking handle assembly of claim 3 in which said concealed actuating member comprises a shaft secured to said handle, the axis of said shaft defining the axis of rotation of said handle and an extension of the shaft axis being bounded by said cavity.

5. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 3 where said handle encloses said locking plate and said cavity in a closed contour boundary surface for protecting said locking plate and said tubular lock means when inserted into said locking plate from manipulation external said handle.

6. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 3 where said handle is formed in a one piece construction comprising'a member longitudinally extending from a casing having said cavity formed therein. 7

7. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 6 where said longitudinally extending member includes said passage passing therethrough in a longitudinally extended direction.

8. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 3 where said cavity is annularly shaped in cross-sectional area substantially perpendicular to an axis defining a movement plane of said handle. I 9. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 8 where said annularly shaped cavity includes a width opening having a predetermined dimension and where said passage enters into said cavity adjacent the geometric center of said cavity.

10. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 9 where said locking plate disposed within said cavity is annularly shaped having a width substantially equal said cavity width for slideable insertion of said locking plate within said cavity.

11. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 3 where said tubular lock means includes lock insert means longitudinally movable with respect thereto for insertion into said locking plate opening when said handle is in said predetermined position.

12. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 11 where said tubular lock means includes a cylinder lock having a locking pin for insertion into a detent formed within a wall of said passage for constraining said tubular lock means to said handle while permitting said longitudinal movement of said lock insert means.

15. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 14 where said means for preventing removal includes a longitudinally extended slot formed within said tubular lock means having a longitudinal dimension greater than said cavity formed within said handle and means to engage said slot to prevent removal beyond said predetermined distance.

16. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 3 including means operably coupled to said assembly for locking and unlocking movable doors.

17. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 16 where said operable means includes means for intersecting the travel path of a member external said assembly, saidintersection means responsive to a rotational movement of said handle.

18. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 17 where said intersection means includes cam means secured to said handle for rotative'displacement responsive to said handle rotation.

19. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 18 where said cam means includes:

a. a cam secured to said handle being rotationally movable;

b. at least one locking cam movable into and out of the travel path of said external member; and,

0. link means connecting said cam and said locking cam for responsively rotating said .locking cam when said cam is rotationally displaced.

20. A locking handle assembly, comprising:

a. a handle having 'a longitudinally extending passage which enters into a cavity formed in said handle;

b. a locking plate disposed within said cavity and having at least one opening for alignment with said passage when said handle is in a predetermined position;

c. tubular lock means disposed within said passage for insertion into said locking plate opening when said handle is in said predetermined position;

d. means operably coupled to said assembly for .locking and unlocking movable doors and including means for biasing rotation of said handle to said predetermined position for insertion of said tubular lock means into said locking plate opening.

Claims

1. A locking handle assembly having a concealed actuating member adapted to be operably coupled to a locking and unlocking device, comprising: a. a handle having a longitudinally extending passage which enters into a cavity formed in said handle, said handle having a front side facing an operator and a rear side facing away from said operator, said handle adapted for rotation by said operator to define a plane of rotation; b. a locking plate disposed within said cavity and having at least one opening for alignment with said passage when said handle is in a predetermined position; c. lock means disposed within said passage and including insert means biased to tend to insert into said locking plate opening when said handle is in said predetermined position; and, d. said concealed actuating member fixed to said rear side of said handle and extending perpendicular to said plane of rotation of said handle.

2. The locking handle assembly of claim 1 in which said concealed actuating member extends in a direction away from the operator of said handle.

6. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 3 where said handle is formed in a one piece construction comprising a member longitudinally extending from a casing having said cavity formed therein.

8. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 3 where said cavity is annularly shaped in cross-sectional area substantially perpendicular to an axis defining a movement plane of said handle.

9. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 8 where said annularly shaped cavity includes a width opening having a predetermined dimension and where said passage enters into said cavity adjacent the geometric center of said cavity.

13. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 12 where said tubular lock means is positionally located entirely internal said handle when said locking pin is inserted within said detent of said handle.

14. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 3 including means for preventing removal of said tubular lock means from said handle beyond a predetermined distance in said longitudinally extended direction but sufficient to allow removal of said tubular lock means from said locking plate opening.

17. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 16 where said operable means includes means for intersecting the travel path of a member external said assembly, said intersection means responsive to a rotational movement of said handle.

18. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 17 where said intersection means includes cam means secured to said handle for rotative displacement responsive to said handle rotation.

19. The locking handle assembly as recited in claim 18 where said cam means includes: a. a cam secured to said handle being rotationally movable; b. at least one locking cam movable into and out of the travel path of said external member; and, c. link means connecting said cam and said locking cam for responsively rotating said locking cam when said cam is rotationally displaced.

20. A locking handle assembly, comprising: a. a handle having a longitudinally extending passage which enters into a cavity formed in said handle; b. a locking plate disposed within said cavity and having at least one opening for alignment with said passage when said handle is in a predetermined position; c. tubular lock means disposed within said passage for insertion into said locking plate opening when said handle is in said predetermined position; d. means operably coupled to said assembly for locking and unlocking movable doors and including means for biasing rotation of said handle to said predetermined position for insertion of said tubular lock means into said locking plate opening.