AU2012258302B2 - Handle and lock assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a handle and lock assembly (10) including a support base (12) capable of being fitted to a door or the like, a handle (11) being mounted on and rotatable about the support base (12). The assembly (10) includes a shaft (17) extending from the handle (11) for connection with a latching mechanism, and a cylinder recess (19) in the handle (11) for receiving a lock assembly (21). The handle (11) can be locked by a locking bolt (72) adapted to enter into one of a plurality of apertures (80) in the base (12), so as to provide an interference between the handle (11) and the base (12) to prevent rotation of the handle (11) with respect to the base (12) when in a locked position. The locking bolt (72) can be released from the aperture (80) when the lock assembly (21) is turned through a predetermined angle to an unlocked position. The handle (11) can be locked in one or more positions relative to the support base (12). The lock assembly (21) is secured to the handle (11) by a screw. Access to the screw can be blocked by a blocking cam (31) driven by a drive cam (70) between a first position when the lock assembly (21) is in a locked position wherein the blocking cam (31) blocks access to the screw, and a second position when the lock assembly (21) is in an unlocked position wherein the blocking cam (31) allows for a tool to access the screw. WO 2007/033399 PCT/A1T2006/000646 c'J

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: TNBT HOLDINGS PTY LIMITED Actual Inventors: MICHAEL GERARD LLOYD & WILLIAM GERARD SIMS & SIMON JAMES BUTT Address for Service: Chrysiliou IP Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 114-115 Biztek, 20 Dale Street Brookvale Sydney NSW 2100 Invention Title: Handle And Lock Assembly The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: oAparents\applications\22988.dockr WO 2007/033399 PCT/AU2006/000646 Handle and Lock Assernbly Technical Feld This invention relates to a handle and look assembly, More particularly, the invention -relates to a handle and lock assembly'where the handle, such as a T handle, is locked t through locking means and which provides for improvements in the ability to re-key the lock in sita and to set the handle and look assembly in the desired position. Although the description below may refer specifically to T handles, the invention is not necessarily limited thereto and any other handle including asymmetric handles (such as lever handles) are also contemplated, where by suitable adaptation the invention may also 1o be employed. Background ef the Invention T handle and look assemblies are particularly useful in tilting garage door applications and the like. They are also useful in many applications such as lockable storage cabinets and cupboards in workshops and elsewhere. The T handle assembly is fitted to the exterior of 15 the door and generally a square shaft extends through the door to the other side. The square shaft normally drives a secondary locking mechanism, A look is included in the T handle assembly to prevent unauthorlsed opening of the door. It is desirable for a T handle and lock assembly to be versatile in so fAr as it may be required to have the T handle-rotate either 90* or 180* and either clockwise or 20 anticlockwise between the open and closed positions for the handle, depending on the particular application. There are thus four different rotations possible. It also follows that the locking mechanism should be versatile to allow locking and unlocking easily when any of the four rotations is selected, bearing in mind that the handle itself may also be set to any required orientation as to th6 starting position, eg horizontally or perpendicularly ns It is also desirable to be able to re-key the lock mechanism in the field, without the need to remove the entire handle assembly. This is particularly relevant where cables are used in garage door applications and the like as these would be disturbed by removing the whole handle assembly, causing the refitting of the handle assembly to be much more complicated. It would be simpler if only the look mechanism itself could be removed 3o leaving the rest of the handle assembly in place. 1 WO 2007/033399 PCT/AU2006/000646 Object of the Invention It is therefore an object of the present invention, at least in one aspect, to provide a handle and lock assembly which is easily convertible in situ so as to provide rotation ofthe handle either clockwise or counter clockwise through either 90" or J80 and which provides easy , looking and unlocking irrespective of the selected orientation of the handle. It is a further object of the present invention, at least in some embodiments, to provide a handle and lock assembly which allows for easy removal of the look Mechaniemn for the purpose of re-keying the lock without the need to remove the whole handle asseJnbly. These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description. 10 At the very least, the invention provides an alternate arrangement to presently known .handle and lock assemblies, Disclosure of the Ivenflon According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handle and lock assembly including a support base capable of being fitted to a door or the like, a handle i mounted on and rotatable about the support base, a shaft extending from the handle for connection with a latching mechanism for keeping the door closed and a cylinder recess in the handle for receiving a lock assembly, characterised in tt the assembly includes a locking bolt adapted to enter into one of a plurality of apertures in the base, so as to provide an interference between the handle and the base to prevent rotation of the handle 20 with respect to the base when in a looked position, and wherein means am provided to release the bolt from the aperture when the lock assembly is turned through a predetermined angle to an unlocked position. Preferably, the handle is a T-handle: Preferably, the handle may be locked in any one of four rotational positions relative the 2r support base, ie in each of the two perpendicular or the two horizontal positions. For each apparent perpendicular or horizontal position it will be appreciated that there are in fact two positions being the mirror image or inverse positions for the handle in that orientation. In order to achieve these four possible looked positions, it will be necessary to provide at least foir corresponding apertures in the base. Preferably these will each be conveniently ac located at 90" with respect to the next aperture. Given that the shape of the base of a 2 WO 2001/033399 PCT/AU2006/000646 convention T handle design is often narrower in one dimension, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the four apertures are more preferably located in an "X" arrangement, rather than in a "+" arrangement, the diagonals drawn between opposite apertures being oriented at 45* to the perpeddicular. In this way, the material of the s support base in the regions where the apertures are created is thus maximised on average, ie the apertures are located in identical regions of the base (except for orientation) irrespective of the fact that the base may itself have a shape where the vertical and horizontal axes are of unequal length, Otherwise, if a simple "+" arrangement were - utilised in such a base, two of the four apertures would be located in regions where there is 1o less material, which may weaken the base, and hence the resultant strength of the lock assembly, in those regions. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a typical cylinder style lock is employed, the look being mountedin a supporting chassis (for insertion into the cylinder recess of the handle). It is further preferred that the lock is a pin number look, although is other types oflocks-may also be suitable. In the preferred fonn of the invention, the axis of the look is offset from the axis of the chassis, Preferably, the looking bolt is caused to enter into one of the apertures, and to be released therefrom when the look is rotated, by a drive cam so shaped for that purpose. The drive cam will be preferably caused to rotate directly by means oflugs located on the end of the 20 lock mechanism in known fashion, The drive cam will thus preferably be driven by known means utilising the standard features of a typical cylinder style look, In this embodiment, a key inserted into the cylinder will driye the drive cam to rotate and engage with a lu ok the locking bolt to drive the locking bolt in and out of the aperture between locked and unloclked positions. When the key is removed, tumbler pins in the 23 cylinder (in the case of a pin tumbler lock) will drop and lock the cylinder, and in turn prohibit movement between the handle and the base. It will be readily appreciated that, in the preferred embodiment thus described, the handle may thus be looked in any one of the four orientations with respect-to the base. Irk other words, once the initial orientation is chosen, this arrangement allows for the handle to be ao locked in either the closed or open position with respect to the mechanism which is operated by the handle. It will siniply be a matter of determining the -relevant stop positions for each application, so.that for each preselected initial position, the handle will be allowed to turn either clockwise or antiolockwise through either 901 or 180-. 3 WO 2007/033399 PCT/AU2006/000646 Preferably this is achieved by means of a repositionable stop plate, having lugs extending therefrom for that purpose, which lugs come into contact with stop mean located preferably in A hollow region of the support base. Preferably the lugs are so arranged that the four different stop positions are ahieved through the use of a single plate positioned as G required. Such a plate will preferably have two lugs both extending from the same side of the plate and located 900 apart about the periphery of the plate, With a third lug located at a further 90" angle therefrom but extending in the opposite direction. Such a plate, in operation with fixed stop points in the base, will allow for all. four possible stop positions. in Preferably the stop plate is attached to the end of handle portion of the assembly in a region where the shaft is supported by and extends from the handle assembly, ie preferably within a hollow region of the base. In a further aspect of the invention there is provided means to easily re-key the lock in the field. In this aspect, the invention provides a handle and lock assembly including a 1! support base capable of being fitted to a door or the like, a handle being-mounted on and rotatable about the support base, a shaft extending from the handle for connection with a latching mechanism, and a cylinder recess in the handle for receiving a lock assembly, wherein the- lock assembly is secured by a screw which is inaccessible when the lock assembly is in a locked position wherein a means blocks access to the screw, and a second 2o position when the lock assembly is in an unlocked position wherein the means allows for a tool to access the screw. In a preferred embodiment, the lock assembly has a subassembly including a look and a ,chassia is secured to the handle by means of securing means being a screw. When the screw is accessible, it allows the subassembly chassis to be removed from the handle s assembly without disinantling the whole assembly. Tlie means for allowing limited access to the screw is preferably provided by a blocking cam driven by the aforementioned drive can, the blocking cam moving between a first position where it allows for a tool to be passed through a hole in the subassembly chassis and into the head of the screw for subsequent removal, and a scoond position when the 3 lock is brought to thd looked position wherein it blocks access to the screw. A suitable tool would be an Allen key for oxaip le. Rotating the tool will undo the screw and allow for removal of the subassembly. 4 WO 2007/033399 PCT/AU12006/000646 On the other hand, when the lock is in the looked position, the drive cam will have driven the blocking cam to the second position and blocked the'passageway between the hole and the screw, thereby effectively preventing removal of the sub assembly. The blocking cam may also protrude through a cutout in the handle, thereby providing secondary means of s stopping the removal of the subassembly. While it is preferred that the further aspect of the invention is combined with the first aspect, each aspect may be heed independently. Brief description of the DrawinIs The invention will now be described in connection with ihe following non-limiting 1o embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view ofa preferred embodiment of the handle and lock assembly of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the handle assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the handle assembly through the line B-B of Figure 2 1s showing the looking bolt looking the handle to the support base by vitueof the locking bolt entering the respective aperture in the base; Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the handle assembly through the line B-B of Figure 2 showing the locking bolt free of the aperture so that the handlo is free to rotate within the base; 20 Figure 5 is an exploded rear perspective view of the lock subassembly with the drive-cam and the locking bolt shown diagrammatically in relation thereto, illustrating that when the locking bolt is in the looked position, ie in the aperture, the blocking cam1 is aligned with and covers the screw access hole; Figure 6 is an exploded rear perspective view of the lock subassembly with the drive cam 26 and the locking bolt depicted in Figure.5, Illustrating that when the looking bolt is in the unlocked position, ie out bf the aperture, the blocking cam is no longer blocking the access hole for the look subassembly screw; and Figures 7 to 14 are pairs of drawings showing firstly a rear perspective view of the handle assembly and secondly a rear end view of the handle assemble, each pair respectively 5 WO 2007/033399 PCT/AU2006/000646 illustrating how a 90* clockwise turn, 90* anti clockwise turn, 180* anti clockwise turn, and 180" clockwise turn may be achieved by re-positioning the stop plate. - Bst.Methods for Carrying out the Invention e It will be readily appreciated that the views in the various Figures are not necessarily drawn to the same scale. Turning to the Figures generally and to Figure fin particular where the handle assembly is shown in exploded view, there is shown a handle and look assembly generally referenced 10 which has a handle 11 rotatably mounted in support base 12. 1n At the end ofthe handle 11 is located bolt 72 drivenby drive cam 70. A shalt 17 is located in the handle 11. A spring pin 18 is located in a hole of shaft 15 ofthe handle 11 to prevent the square shaft 17 from falling out of the handle assembly 10. The lock mechanism 21 is supported in sub assembly chassis 30. The lock 21 is preferably a typical cylinder style lock, is A key not (shown) may be inserted in the lock 21 in the usual manner so as to turn the barrel 39 thereof. Rotating the barrel 39 causes the Jugs 40 to rotate which in turn causes rotation of the drive cam 70, as a result of contact between the lugs 40 of the look mechanism 21 and a corresponding lug 41 located on the drive cam 70. Lock barrel 39 retums to its starting position after rotation to the looked position or vice versa, that is to ao say the barrel positions are identical whether in the locked or unlocked positions allowing tor removal of the key in both situations. Although not illustrated, a pin inay be inserted to prevent the barrel 39 from completing the full circle to the start position, when moving to the unlocked position, thereby preventing the key from being left in the lock 21 in the unlocked position. In this way, for the key to be removed the barrel 39 must be returned to 2s tie locked position, so' that the handle 11 may not be inadvertently left open. This is a security feature required in some applications. A blocking cam 31 is fitted about the end ofthe lock mechanism 21 and is provided with a finger 32, which serves to block access hole 33 in the chassis 30i when the lock 21 is in the locked position. 6 WO 2007/033399 PCTAU2006/000646 As shown in Figures 3 and 4, apertures 80 for partially receiving the locking bolt 72 are located at 90" intervals around the inner surface 29 of the support base 12, It will be observed that by adopting positions for the apertures 80 in an "x" arrangement, rather than '+' arrangement, the amount of material in the base 12 about each aperture 80 is optimised. 6 The engagement of the locking bolt 72 with one ofthe apertures 80 is illustrated in Figure 3 while Figure 4 shows that the looking bolt 72 is released from the aperture 80. It will be apparent from the detail of Figures 5 and 6 that it is the dxive cam 70 which causes the blocking cam 31 to move between its locked and unlocked (ie blocking and unblocked) positions. This is facilitated by co-operation between partial flanges on the 10 drive cam 70 and blocking cam 31 respectively, resulting in only a small angular movenient of the latter as the drive cam 70 completes its almost complete revolution between the locked and unlocked positions (and vice versa). Figure 5 shows that when the locking bolt 72 is in the apertue 80 (locked position), the finger 37 of the blocking cam 31 is aligned with and-covers the screw access hole 33 (not 15- shown). Figure 6 shows that when the locking bolt 72 is out of the aperture .80 (unlocked position), the finger 32 of the blocking cam 31 is no longer blocking the screw access hole 33. A stop plate 45 is attached to the inner hollow region of the support base 12 by means -of screws 47. A spring washer 48 is located beneath repositionable stop plate 49 which is a 20 ring from which three lugs 50, 51, 52 extend, two in one direction and one in the other. The lugs 50, 51, 52 are oriented 904 radially with respect to each other about the repositionable stop plate 49. A study of the four different pairs of Figures, namely 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and -13-14 shows how the plate 49 may be located by means of screws 60 to achieve rotation of the handle in a 900 clockwise tum, 90* anti clockwise turn, 1800 anti 25 clockwise turn, and 180" clockwise turn respectively. In each case one or two of the lugs 50, 51, 52 will be stopped by contacting either end 54, 55 of stop plate 45. The embodiment described'in the drawings is for the purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limiting on the scope of tlhe invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit so and scope of the invention, 7 WO 2001/033399 PCT/AU2006/000646 IndustrialApplicability The invention in its various aspects provides a handle and lock assembly having means to lock the handle in any one of four possible positions with respect to its rotation about the support base therefor. The invention also provides means to assist in the easy removal of 5 the lock assembly from a handle and look assembly to allow the access to the lock so that it may be te-keyed. The assembly is also provided with a stop plate with a repositionable stop plate so that any one of the four start and stop positions may 'be chosen as required depending upon the application.

Claims (10)

1. A handle and look assembly including: a support base capable of being fitted to a door or the like; a handle being mounted on and rotatable about the support base; a shaft extending from the handle for connection with a latching mechanism; and a cylinder recess in the handle for receiving a lock assembly, characterised in that the assembly includes a locking bolt adapted to enter into one of a plurality of apertures In. the base, so as to provide- an 10 interference between the handle and the base to prevent rotation of the handle with respect to the base whenin a locked position, and wherein means are provided to release the looking bolt from the aperture when the lock assembly is tumed through a predetermined angle to an unlocked position. is

2. The handle and look assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking bolt is adapted to be driven by a drive cam, and the locking bolt is adapted to be released therefrom when the drive cam is rotated.

3. The handle and lock assembly of claim 2, wherein the drive cam is shaped such-that the drive cam is adapted to rotate with the lock assembly to cause the looking bolt to 20 enter or be released from the aperture,

4. The handle and look assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the look assembly is secured to the handle by a screw.

5. The handle and look assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the apertures are located in an 'X" arrangement. 26

6. The handle and lock assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5. wherein the handle is adapted to be locked in one.or more positions relative to the support base 9

7. The handle and lock assembly of claim 6, wherein the handle is adapted to be locked in the one or more positions relative to the support base by means of a stop plate.

8. The handle and lock assembly of claim 7, wherein the stop plate includes at least one lug extending from the one side of the plate and at least one lug extending from the opposite side of the plate.

9. The handle and lock assembly of claim 4 as depended on claim 2, wherein a blocking cam is adapted to block access to the screw, being adapted to be driven by the drive cam between a first position when the lock assembly is in a locked position wherein the blocking cam blocks access to the screw, and a second position when the lock assembly is in an unlocked position wherein the blocking cam allows for a tool to access the screw.

10. The handle and lock assembly of claim 9, wherein the tool is an Allen key. 10