Closure fasteners – Knobs
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-21
2001-01-30
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Closure fasteners
Knobs
C292S336300, C292SDIG006, C292SDIG003
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179352
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a handle lock which is primarily designed as a child-proof handle lock.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Child fatalities resulting from ingestion of poisons or overdoses of other substances are common enough to take adequate precautions to prevent children from access to contents of cupboards.
As far as the Applicant is aware this has been achieved in the past by do it yourself arrangements or by elaborate arrangements which usually involve two separate or simultaneous actions which are beyond the capabilities of a child.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide handle lock which is simple in construction and has a minimum of moving parts but which, at the same time, requires consecutive actions which are beyond the capability of a child.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention a handle lock includes a handle portion and a plate portion, the latter being attached to a door at the lock of the door, the handle being slidable in the plate between a first and second position and is also connected to a lock releasing element; releasable rotation preventing means between the handle and he plate when the handle is in its first position, such means being released when the handle is in its second position thereby permitting rotation of the handle, the sliding movement of the handle being controlled by abutment means displaceable by a finger-operable agency associated with the handle.
The second position of the handle is preferably push position but it will be appreciated that it may alternatively be a pull position. The releasable rotation preventing means may comprise a formation in one of the handle or plate which coacts with a corresponding formation in the other in the first position and which is displaced from the corresponding formation by the movement from the first to the second position.
In one form of the invention one formation is a pin and other a corresponding recess, which is biased to the first position, preferably by spring means.
The abutment means may take the form of one or more spring-loaded elements fixed to one of the handle or plate, the ends thereof abutting a surface in the other, for example, the element/s may be fixed to the plate and their ends abut a surface in the handle. The elements may comprise leaf springs biased to their abutment position.
Release of the abutment means may be provided by pins extending through the handle and which are actuable by finger-and-thumb pressure.
In operation, the finger-and-thumb pins are depressed thereby releasing the abutment and permitting the handle to be pushed to its second position. This releases the rotation-prevention means so that the handle can be rotated to activate the lock releasing element. This involves three consecutive steps—finger and thumb pressure, a push, and a rotation. It is believed that such a sequence is beyond the ability of a child's mind until an age of responsibility where ingestion of any substance or breakage of any article within reach in a cupboard is no longer a natural finction.
The plate may include a spring which will automatically rotate the handle back to the re-engagement of the rotation-prevention means, and the handle will then be returned to its first position by virtue of the spring in the handle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2117947 (1938-05-01), Rome et al.
patent: 2478304 (1949-08-01), Mulsow
patent: 3937504 (1976-02-01), McElroy
patent: 5029916 (1991-07-01), Chiu
patent: 5516163 (1996-05-01), Baker
patent: 5564759 (1996-10-01), McNutt
patent: 5577780 (1996-11-01), Justice
patent: 5947535 (1999-09-01), Baker
Browne Lynne H.
Walsh John B.
Young & Thompson
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