[0001] The invention relates to a handle for a closure, particularly an espagnolette handle
for a closure such as a window.
[0002] It is advisable to provide for such a handle to be lockable, for security reasons,
whilst being readily manipulated by one hand. Such prior handles do not usually provide
a combination of these facilities.
[0003] It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.
[0004] According to the invention there is provided a lockable handle for a closure, comprising
a latch which is operable under finger or thumb pressure.
[0005] The latch may comprise a manually operable depressible mechanism which can be operated
to unlock the handle for operating the closure.
[0006] The manually depressible mechanism may comprise means normally biassed to engage
the handle and lock it, and means to depress the biassed means to allow the handle
to be operated.
[0007] The biassed means may comprise latch means which may be urged into engagement with
the handle by resilient means, and the means to depress the biassing means may comprise
a plunger which may be operable by thumb pressure.
[0008] There may be an escutcheon plate in which the resilient means and latch means may
be mounted, and the latch may engage in a facing orifice of the handle in the locked
position of the handle.
[0009] The latch may have a curved cam surface at its free end for facilitating movement
of the handle thereover when the handle is moved from an open to the locked position.
[0010] The lockable handle may include lock means to lock the plunger in at least one operative
position.
[0011] The lock means may be situated in the plunger.
[0012] The lockable handle may include a cover plate for a securing means of the escutcheon
plate.
[0013] It will be understood that the handle extends to a closure including a lockable handle
as hereinbefore described mounted thereon.
[0014] A lockable handle for an espagnolette of a window is diagrammatically illustrated,
by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a handle according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a side view of a locking bolt of the handle of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a side view of a plunger of the handle of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the plunger, taken on arrow 'A' on Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a second handle according to the invention;
Fig. 6 is an underneath view of the handle of Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a part fragmentary view of the handle of Fig. 5 showing an escutcheon plate
removed;
Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the handle of Fig. 5 is an open or unlocked position
of the closure;
Fig. 9 is an underneath view showing the handle of Fig. 5 in an open or unlocked position
of the closure;
Fig. 10 is a side elevational view showing the handle of Fig. 5 in the open position
of Figs. 8 and 9;
Fig. 11 is a plan view of a third handle according to the invention; and
Fig. 12 is a side elevational view partly in phantom of the handle of Fig. 12.
[0015] Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, a lockable handle 1 for an espagnolette
fastening has a hand-grip part 2 offset from a boss or body 3 in which a plunger 4
is mounted in a suitable bore. The boss 3 mounts a rod 5, from a nose 6, for connection
with the espagnolette, which rod 5 passes through an escutcheon plate 7. The bottom
of the boss 3 adjacent the escutcheon plate 7 is closed by a plate which has a hole
through which a finger 8 of the plunger can pass. The plunger 4 is normally arranged
so that a spring 9 bearing on the plate keeps the plunger 4 raised so the finger 8
is clear of the hole, and so that the opposite end 4
a projects out of the boss 3 adjacent the hand-grip part 2. The plunger is held captive
in the bore.
[0016] The escutcheon plate 7 mounts a locking bolt 10 under pressure of resilient means
such as a coil spring 12, the bolt 10 being usually clear of the escutcheon plate
7 as shown, and being generally square, with a chamfered edge, cam surface or corner
11 near the 'nose' 6.
[0017] In the open condition shown, the bolt 10 projects out of the escutcheon plate 7.
To close a closure to which the handle 1 is fitted, the hand-grip part 2 is gripped
and turned in the direction 'X', Fig. 1, so that the boss 3 rides over the chamfered
edge part 11 and forces the bolt 10 into the escutcheon plate 7 against the spring
until the hole and bolt 10 are aligned, when the bolt is urged into the hole by a
spring 12, thus holding the handle locked shut.
[0018] In order to open the closure, the plunger 4, 4
a is depressed so that the plunger 8 engages the bolt 10 and pushes it level with or
below the plane of separation between the bottom and face of the plate so that it
is just clear thereof. The handle can then be turned to the position shown.
[0019] Referring to Figs. 5 to 10 of the drawings, there is shown an espagnolette handle
10 which is a lockable handle for a closure, comprising a handle with hand grip means
102 and a manually operable depressible mechanism 103 which can be operated to unlock
the handle 102 for operating the closure (not shown).
[0020] The handle 102 has an enlarged part 104 in which is housed captive in a bore under
spring pressure a manually depressible means in the form of a plunger 105. The handle
102 is connected
via a pivot axis 106 with an escutcheon plate 107 which is secured in use via securing
means such as screws (not shown) in screw holes 108 with a closure such as a casement
window. Between a boss 109 and one screw hole 108 is a latch 110 which is mounted
in an orifice 111 of the escutcheon plate 107 under pressure of a biassing means such
as a spring, the spring being between a plate 112 of the escutcheon plate 107 and
the underside of the latch 110. The latch 110 has a curved cam surface 113 to facilitate
riding of a follower 114 of the handle over the latch 110 to depress it into the hole
111 until it can spring into a hole 115 in the handle 102 when the holes 111 and 115
become aligned axially to lock the handle closed.
[0021] To open the handle, or unlock it, it is only necessary to depress the plunger 105
in the Fig. 5 position in which the latch 110 is in the hole 115, being aligned therewith,
and turn the handle so that when the plunger 105 depresses the latch to or below the
plane of separation between the handle and escutcheon plate, the handle can be turned,
to operate locking mechansim of the closure connected with the axis.
[0022] When the handle is returned to the locked position, the latch automatically latches
into the hole to lock the handle closed. The other hole 108 is covered by a plate
117 to seek to obviate removal by a vandal.
[0023] Referring now to Figs. 11 and 12, the handle 201 shown is identical to the embodiments
shown in Figs. 5 to 10 so like parts are identified by like numerals. The handle 201
is modified in that the plunger 105 is itself lockable by a key (not shown) in either
the open or closed condition of the handle 201. This is accomplished by the enlarged
part 104 or boss surrounding the bore 202 in which the plunger 105 is captive having
two spaced slots or recesses 203 and 204 corresponding to the open or closed position
of the handle. The plunger 105 incorporates a key slot 205 and barrel 206 which has
a cam for retracting a slide 207 which is mounted transversely in a blind slot 208
in the plunger under pressure of resilient means such as a coil spring 209. The slide
is normally urged by the spring to engage either the recess or the slide so that depending
on whether the plunger is depressed or not, the plunger is locked in one or other
position of the handle, that is locked or unlocked. When the key is inserted in the
key slot 205 and turned, it in turn turns the barrel 206 to rotate the cam and act
on the slide 207 to retract it to the left (as viewed) out of the particular recess
203 or 204 in which the slide is received so that the handle 201 can be operated to
open or close the closure.
[0024] The lock may be spaced from the plunger in the handle and arranged to lock it in
the open and/or closed condition.
[0025] It will be understood that there may only be the lower (as viewed) recess 204 so
that the handle 201 can be locked in the closed position. Both the embodiments provide
additional security, and ease of use.
[0026] The handles shown herein can have a locking nib, instead of the rod 5 or 106 for
an espagnolette.
1. A lockable handle for a closure, characterised by a latch (10, 110) which is operable
under finger or thumb pressure.
2. A lockable handle according to Claim 1, characterised by the latch (10, 110) comprising
a manually operable depressible mechanism (4, 105, 10, 110) which can be operated
to unlock the handle (1, 101, 201) for operating the closure.
3. A lockable handle according to Claim 2, characterised by the biassed means (10,
110) comprising latch means which is urged into engagement with the handle by resilient
means (12), and by means to depress the biassing means comprising a plunger (4) which
is operable by thumb pressure.
4. A lockable handle according to Claim 3, characterised by an escutcheon plate (7,
107) in which the resilient means (12) and latch means (10, 110) are mounted, the
latch engaging in a facing orifice of the handle (1, 101, 201) in the locked position
of the handle.
5. A lockable handle according to Claim 4, characterised by a curved cam surface (11,
113) of the latch (10, 110) for facilitating movement of the handle (1, 101, 201)
thereover when the handle is moved from an open to the locked position.
6. A lockable handle according to Claim 5, characterised by lock means (205) to lock
the plunger (105) in at least one operative position.
7. A lockable handle according to Claim 6, characterised in that the lock means (205)
is situated in the plunger (105).
8. A lockable handle according to Claim 7, characterised in that the lock means (205)
comprises a key-operable barrel (206) and a retractable slide (207), and in that the
handle (102) includes a blind recess (203, 204) in which is slide (207) is receivable.
9. A lockable handle according to any preceding claim, characterised by a cover (117)
for a securing means (108) of the escutcheon plate.
10. A closure including a lockable handle as hereinbefore described mounted thereon.