Handles

Abstract

 Handles are provided, the visually outer surfaces of which are formed from at least three components held together in an assembled condition, at least two of the components differing in colour. The components are preferably formed from a plastics material moulded to the required form.

Description

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0001] THIS INVENTION relates to handles for cupboard doors, drawers and the like.

[0002] It is desirable that the handle on drawers, doors and the like should aesthetically compliment the environment in which these closures are located. Thus for example in a kitchen where a particular colour scheme is utilized throughout it is important that the handles match the colour scheme. This is not a problem where a single colour is used but where two or three colours or a distinctive stripe are incorporated into the design it is generally only possible to duplicate this theme in the handles by hand painting the individual handles. Clearly this is unsuitable for mass production.

[0003] It is an object of this invention to provide handles and handle components suitable for utilizing in the aforementioned type of application where numerous colour combinations of handles can easily be obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] According to the invention there is provided a handle, the visually outer surface of which is formed from at least three components connectable together and held so connected when operatively mounted in position, at least two of the components differing in colour.

[0005] Further there is provided for the handle to be a rounded knob type handle comprising first, second and third components, the first component having means for attaching it to a surface, the second and third components being of annular shape, the means in use passing through the centre of the second and third components.

[0006] The means may be in the form of a hollow shaft adapted to receive a screw fastener to attach it to a surface.

[0007] Alternatively the handle may comprise a substantially "U" shaped handle having two free ends, the handle formed of at least three "U" shaped strips connectable together, the two free ends adapted to be attached to a surface. The operatively outer strips may include peg and socket type connectors which pass through the central strip and engage each other to connect the handle together.

[0008] Further there is provided for at least one component to include connection means for connecting it to other components of the handle. Connection means may be located in two or more components, the connection means interconnecting in use to hold the components together. The connection means on two components may together comprise a peg and socket type connection means. The connection means on one component may clip together with a connection means on another component.

[0009] The handle may of course be formed from more than three components.

[0010] It will be appreciated that an important aspect of the invention is that the handle components will be available in different colours and thus a handle having a multiple colour combination may be assembled using different coloured components.

[0011] It is envisaged that the components will be manufactured from a suitable plastics material using a suitable moulding technique.

[0012] These and further features of the invention will be made apparent from the description of three embodiments thereof given below by way of examples.

BRIEF DESCIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] 

Fig. 1 shows an exploded cross-sectional side view of a knob type handle according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows an assembled side view of the handle of Figure 1,

Fig. 3 shows a side view of a "U"-shaped handle, and

Fig. 4 shows an exploded plan view of the "U"-shaped handle of Figure 3.

Fig. 5 shows a side view of a side component of the handle shown in Figures 3 and 4,

Fig. 6 shows an end view of the component shown in Figure 5,

Fig. 7 shows an exploded cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of invention, and

Fig. 8 shows an assembled side view of the handle of Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, a rounded knob type handle is shown composed of three parts namely a base 1, an intermediate part 2, and cap 3.

[0015] The peripheral rim 4 of the base 1 is adapted to fit against the outer surface 5 of a panel 6 to which the handle will be attached in use. The base has a circular recess 7 formed in the operatively outer face thereof and a circular rim 8 on the intermediate part fits into this recess. The intermediate part is of hollow hemispherical shape and the cap 3 engages with the operatively outer rim of the intermediate part The cap is of similar hollow hemispherical shape and the rim 10 of the cap includes an inner lip 11 which locates inside the rim 8 of the intermediate part.

[0016] A hollow shaft 12 is integrally formed with the inner surface of the cap 3 and is axially aligned with the cap. This shaft 12 fits through a hole 13 formed in the centre of the intermediate part and locates against the floor of the recess 7 in an assembled condition.

[0017] In use a self-tapping screw 14 will pass through the panel 6 and engage in the hollow passage in the shaft 12 thereby holding the handle in an assembled condition and holding the handle to the panel.

[0018] It will be understood that each of the handle parts may be coloured differently. Clearly the handle will take on a different visual impression if the cap is coloured differently from the intermediate part, than if they are coloured the same. It is envisaged that purchasers will be able to select each of the components from different colour stocks thereby allowing the purchaser to choose the colour of handle to suit the particular colour scheme of the panel on which the handle will be used.

[0019] In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 6 the handle 20 is a "U" shaped handle having two screw fasteners 21 for fastening it to a panel (not shown).

[0020] The handle 20 is comprised of five parts, namely two outer parts 22, a centre part 23, and two shim-like spacers 24. The centre part includes a hole 25 in each free end thereof for receiving the screw fasteners 21. The two outer parts 22 each have two inwardly projecting pegs 26 and two inwardly projecting sockets 27. The pegs and sockets are in mirror image positions on opposite sides of the outer parts such that when the two parts face towards each other, as shown in Figure 4, the pegs of one part match with the sockets of the other part. The pegs fit tightly within the sockets thereby enabling a mating connection to be achieved for holding the handle in an assembled condition. The spacers 24 and the centre part 23 each have holes 28 through which the sockets can pass. Thus, with the sockets located in these holes 28 and the pegs 26 firmly located in the sockets the handle will be held in an assembled condition.

[0021] It is envisaged that it will be most attractive if the spacers are coloured a different colour from the centre and outer parts. This will create the effect of a striped handle which will aesthetically compliment a two-colour colour scheme. It will probably be most attractive if the colour scheme of the handle is symmetrical, although it is not essential that this be so.

[0022] The handle shown in Figures 7 and 8 is of the rounded knob variety, much like that of Figures 1 and 2 but with two additional ring-like parts 30 and 31 which can be used to provide two circular stripes for the assembled handle. These two parts 30 and 31 each include a recess 33 in which an adjacent part locates in the assembled condition.

[0023] Many variations to the above described embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. Clearly, the form of the handle can differ from the handles described herein. The invention discloses a handle which is both simple to assemble and which allows a variety of colour combinations in a handle to be achieved without necessitating complicated and expensive manufacturing techniques which would be required to manufacture multiple colour single component handles.

Claims

1. A handle the visually outer surface of which is formed from at least three components connectable together and held so connected when operatively mounted in position, at least two of the components differing in colour.

2. A handle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handle is of the rounded knob type comprising first, second and third components, the first component having means for attaching it to a surface, the second and third components being of annular shape, the means in use passing through the centre of the second and third components.

3. A handle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means is in the form of a hollow shaft adapted to receive a screw fastener to attach it to a surface.

4. A handle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handle is of substantially "U"-shaped form having two free ends, the handle formed of at least three "U"-shaped strips connectable together, the two free ends adapted to be attached to a surface.

5. A handle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one of the components includes connection means for connecting it to other components of the handle.

6. A handle as claimed in claim 5 wherein two of the components include connection means which, when the handle is assembled, interconnect to hold the handle assembled.

7. A handle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the connection means on the two components comprise a peg and socket type connection means.

8. A handle as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the connection means on the two components clip together.

9. A handle as claimed in claim 4 wherein the operatively outer strips include inwardly facing peg and socket type connectors which, in an assembled condition, pass through the central strip and connect with each other to hold the handle in an assembled condition.

10. A handle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the components are manufactured from a plastics material.

11. A component for a handle as claimed in any preceding claim.

Drawing