Handle Assembly Technical Field

This invention relates to a handle assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to a handle assembly where the handle is secured in a recess within the assembly, providing a flush appearance when locked.

Background of the Invention

Handle assemblies are commonly useful in door applications and the like, including many other applications such as lockable storage cabinets and cupboards. The handle assembly is fitted to the exterior of the door. Unauthorised attempts to open the door can take place by turning the protruding handle by force.

It is desirable for a handle assembly to allow the handle to be secured in a recess within the assembly when locked, providing a flush appearance and reducing opportunities for unauthorised attempts to open the door.

Object of the Invention It is therefore an object of the present invention, at least in one aspect, to provide a handle assembly which allows the handle to be secured in a recess within the assembly when locked, providing a flush appearance and preventing or reducing opportunities for unauthorised attempts to open the door.

It is a further object of the present invention, at least in some embodiments, to provide a handle astembly where the handle can be released from the recess by remote control or manually ^" y a key.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description. At the very least, the invention provides an alternate arrangement to presently known handle assemblies. Disclosure of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handle assembly including a support base, a handle mounted on the support base and a recess for receiving the handle, wherein the assembly includes a catch means adapted to lock the handle within the recess in a locked position and actuating means attached to the catch means and including a material adapted to contract when activated.

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Preferably, the handle is rotatable in relation with respect to the support base, so as to operate a tongue or latch or other means for releasing a door on which the assembly of the invention may be mounted. Optionally, the handle assembly may include a spring means adapted to push the handle up (away from the recess) when in the unlocked position. In a preferred emodiment, the handle is held at one end in the recess and able to pivot so that the other end is free of the recess when unlocked.

The support base may take any suitable form. Preferably, the recess is centered in the support base and shaped to snugly receive the handle in the locked position.

The catch means may take any suitable form but preferably resembles or is based on the fastener illustrated in International Patent Application PCT/AU03/00759, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In an especially preferred embodiment, the assembly of the invention includes release means for enabling release of the handle by use of a key.

Preferably, the release means is a cam adapted to be turned by a key to cause the catch means to release the handle. It is preferred that the key can be turned through 180 degrees and can be removed in the locked or unlocked positions.

Preferably, the catch means is biased to the locked position by suitable means such as a torsion spring.

It is preferred that the actuating means includes a smart memory alloy material, such as a smart memory alloy wire known as nitinol.

The actuating means may be activated remotely. Preferably, the actuating means is activated by radio frequency or Bluetooth devices.

In this preferred embodiment of the invention, a typical cylinder style lock is employed, the lock being mounted in a supporting chassis (for insertion into a cylinder recess of the handle assembly). It is further preferred that the lock is a pin tumbler or disk tumbler lock, although other types of locks may also be suitable.

In this embodiment, a key inserted into the cylinder will drive the cam to rotate and push the catch means out of the way, and in turn release the handle from the recess to the unlocked position. The key can be returned to its original position which will drive the cam to rotate in another direction and release the catch means, and in turn allow the handle to be pushed back into the recess to the locked position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described in connection with the following non-limiting embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the handle assembly of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a drive cam;

Figure 3 is a longitudal cross sectional view of the handle assembly through the line A-A of Figure 1, showing the handle assembly in a locked position;

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to that in Figure 3 but showing the handle assembly in an unlocked position;

Figure 5 is a rear plan view of part of the handle assembly with the drive cam, a catch means and Smart Memory Alloy (SMA) wires shown diagrammatically in relation thereto, illustrating that when the handle is in the locked position, ie in me recess, the drive cam is not in contact with the catch means and the SMA wires are relaxed; Figure 6 is a magnified detail of part of the right hand side of Figure 3, with the drive cam and the catch means depicted in Figure 5, illustrating that when the handle is in the locked position, ie within the recess, the drive cam is not in contact with the catch means;

Figure 7 is a magnified detail of part of the right hand side of Figure 4, with the drive cam and the catch means depicted in Figure 5, illustrating that when the handle is in the unlocked position, ie out of the recess, the drive cam pushes the catch means out of its way;

Figure 8a, b & c are closer views of part of the right hand side of Figure 3, with the SMA wires and the catch means depicted in Figure 5, illustrating the movement of the handle from a locked position to an unlocked position; Figure 8d, e & f are views of part of the right hand side of Figure 3, illustrating the movement of the handle from an unlocked position back to a locked position; and

Figure 9 is a rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of Figure 1.

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Best Methods for Carrying out the Invention

It will be readily appreciated that the views in the various Figures are not all drawn to the same scale.

Turning to the Figures generally and to Figure 1 in particular, there is shown handle assembly 10, having handle 12, rotatably mounted in support base 14.

At the end of handle 12 is lock mechanism 16 which causes drive cam 20 (not shown in this Figure) to lock and unlock handle 12. Drive cam 20 with projecting flange 22 is shown in Figure 2.

Lock mechanism 16 is supported in subassembly chassis 60, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Lock mechanism 16 is preferably a typical cylinder style lock, such as a pin tumbler or disk tumbler lock.

Figure 3 shows handle assembly 10 in a locked position, with handle 12 resting within recess 18. Handle 12 is locked by catch means 30. When catch means 30 is actuated, handle 12 is released, as shown in Figure 4. One end of shaft 28 is connected to handle 12 and the other end is connected to a common locking means (not shown) including a suitable bolt, latch or the like, so as to lock and unlock a door.

Figures 6 and 8a show enlarged views of handle 12 locked by catch means 30. Pawl 32 of catch means 30 engages lug 34 of handle 12 so as to hold handle 12 in the locked position. Catch means 30 is biased to the locked (straight up) position by torsion spring 24.

As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, compression spring 25 is adapted to push handle 12 up when in the unlocked position.

Pawl 32 of catch means 30 can be caused to disengage lug 34 of handle 12 by two options. The first option is shown in Figure 7, where drive cam 20 rotates until flange 22 pushes catch means 30 out of its straight up position and in turn causes pawl 32 to disengage lug 34. Movement of drive cam 20 is activated by a key (not shown) through lock mechanism 16. It will be apparent from the detail of Figure 7 that drive cam 20 causes catch means 30 to move between its locked and unlocked (ie engagement and disengagement) positions. This is facilitated by co-operation between flange 22 of the

17633 drive cam 20 and the bottom part 33 of catch means 30, drive cam 20 having a i 80 degree angular movement between the locked and unlocked positions.

The second option is shown in Figures 8a, b & c, which illustrate the movement of the handle from a locked position to an unlocked position. The bottom part 33 of catch means 30 is pulled by means of contraction of Smart Memory Alloy (SMA) wires 40 in direction of arrow B, causing catch means 30 to pivot about pivot bar 41 (see Figure 5) so pawl 32 disengages lug 34 of handle 12. After handle 12 is released from recess 18, handle 12 can be used to open the door in the usual manner. Catch means 30 is adapted to be biased to return to its original straight up locked position. To lock the door, handle 12 needs to be turned to align with recess 18 and then pushed back into recess 18. Referring to Figures 8d, e & f, which illustrate the movement of the handle from an unlocked position back to a locked position. Particularly in Figure 8e, it can be seen that in the course of descending, lug 34 of handle 12 pushes catch means 30 out of its way until pawl 32 re-engages lug 34. Figure 5 shows the arrangement of drive cam 20, bottom part 33 of catch means 30, torsion spring 24, SMA wires 40 and SMA actuator 70. Bottom part 33 of catch means 30 is connected to a pair of SMA wires 40. Catch means 30 is biased by torsion spring 24 to the locked position for handle 12. To release handle 12 from recess 18, catch means 30 may be forced to be out of its upright (locked) position by being pulled by the SMA wires upon actuation or pushed by flange 22 as a result of rotation of drive cam 20 caused by turning of the key. SMA actuator 70 is adapted to be switched on and off by remote control, such as Bluetooth or radio frequency devices.

Figure 9 is a rear view of handle assembly 10 showing the arrangement of drive cam 20, bottom part 33 of catch means 30 and SMA wires 40. The embodiment described in the drawings is for the purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limiting on the scope of the invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Industrial Applicability The invention in its various aspects provides a handle assembly having means to secure the handle in a recess and in turn lock a door. Unlocking the handle can be achieved by conventional key locking mechanism or by remote control.