Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B13/00—Devices preventing the key or the handle or both from being used
  • E05B13/002—Devices preventing the key or the handle or both from being used locking the handle
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B13/00—Devices preventing the key or the handle or both from being used
  • E05B13/001—Covers preventing access to handles or keys
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B63/00—Locks or fastenings with special structural characteristics
  • E05B63/0056—Locks with adjustable or exchangeable lock parts

Definitions

• the present disclosure is directed to a door handle lock specifically configured for a lever-style door handle.
• Such locks are generally removably coupled to a door handle and they are designed to "childproof the door, i.e. to prevent young children from being able to open the door.
• Door handle locks are widely available for use with knob- style door handles. Some door handle locks exist for use with a lever-style door handle, but many suffer from also locking the other side of the door handle. Thus, when in a locked position, they prevent access through the door from either side of the door.
• a lever door handle lock includes a base configured to be coupled to a door and a housing coupled to the base, the housing being configured to substantially enclose a lever door handle attached to the door.
• the handle lock also includes a locking member coupled to the housing.
• the locking member has an unlocked position and a locked position. In the unlocked position, the housing is rotatable relative to the base to permit rotation of a lever door handle enclosed within the housing, and in the locked position, the housing is substantially fixed relative to the base to prevent rotation of a lever door handle enclosed within the housing.
• the door handle lock also includes an actuator coupled to the housing, where the actuator is configured to move the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position.
• a lever door handle lock includes a base configured to be coupled to a door, the base including at least one notch, a housing coupled to the base, the housing configured to at least partially enclose a lever door handle attached to the door, and a locking member coupled to the housing.
• the locking member has an unlocked position and a locked position. In the unlocked position, the housing is rotatable relative to the base to permit rotation of a lever door handle enclosed within the housing, and in the locked position, a portion of the locking member is moveable into the at least one notch in the base such that the housing is substantially fixed relative to the base to prevent rotation of a lever door handle enclosed within the housing.
• the door handle lock also includes an actuator coupled to the housing, where the actuator is configured to move the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position.
• a lever door handle lock includes a base configured to be coupled to a door, a housing coupled to the base, the housing configured to substantially enclose a lever door handle attached to the door, and a locking member positioned within the housing, the locking member pivotally coupled to the housing.
• the locking member has an unlocked position and a locked position. In the unlocked position, the housing is rotatable relative to the base to permit rotation of a lever door handle enclosed within the housing, and in the locked position, the housing is substantially fixed relative to the base to prevent rotation of a lever door handle enclosed within the housing.
• the door handle lock further includes an actuator coupled to the housing, where the actuator is configured to move the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position.
• the locking member is configured to not affect the movement of an opposing lever door handle positioned on an opposite side of the door.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lever door handle lock according to one embodiment
• FIG. 2 is a top view of the lever door handle lock shown in FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a front view of the lever door handle lock shown in FIG. 1;
• FIG. 4 is an exploded assembly view of the lever door handle lock shown in FIG. l ;
• FIGS. 5 and 6 are exploded assembly views of a door handle lock from a right perspective view and a left perspective view;
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a lever door handle lock according to one embodiment with the housing partially cut away to show a locking member in a locked position;
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a lever door handle according to one embodiment with the housing partially cut away to show a locking member in an unlocked position;
• FIG. 9 is a rear view of the lever door handle shown in FIG. 7 with the locking member in a locked position
• FIG. 10 is a rear view of the lever door handle shown in FIG. 8 with the locking member in an unlocked position;
• FIG. 11 is a front view of a lever door handle according to one embodiment with the housing shown partially cut away to show a door handle enclosed by the housing;
• FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the lever door handle shown in FIG. 11 with the housing shown partially cut away to show the door handle enclosed by the housing;
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a locking member according to one embodiment
• FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a portion of the housing of a lever door handle lock according to one embodiment
• FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a lever door handle lock according to another embodiment
• FIG. 16 is a top view of the lever door handle lock shown in FIG. 15;
• FIG. 17 is a front view of the lever door handle lock shown in FIG. 15;
• FIG. 18 is an exploded assembly view of the lever door handle lock shown in FIG. 15;
• FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a lever door handle lock according to one embodiment with a partial cut-away view to show a locking member in a locked position;
• FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a lever door handle according to one
• FIG. 21 is a rear view of the lever door handle shown in FIG. 19 with the locking member in a locked position;
• FIG. 22 is a rear view of the lever door handle shown in FIG. 20 with the locking member in an unlocked position;
• FIG. 23 is a front view of a lever door handle according to one embodiment with a front portion of the housing removed to show a door handle enclosed by the housing;
• FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the lever door handle shown in FIG. 23 with a front portion of the housing removed to show a door handle enclosed by the housing;
• FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a locking member according to one embodiment.
• Applicant developed a unique handle lock configured for use with a lever- style door handle. As noted above, Applicant recognized that many of the existing
• lever door handle locks suffer from locking the door from both sides. Thus, in a locked position, not only does the lock prevent access through the door from one desired side, but it also undesirably prevents access through the other side of the door. Typically, such locks are used to "childproof and it is only desirable to have the door locked from one side (i.e. the side of the door where the child is located).
• one aspect of the invention is directed to a lever door handle lock with a locking member that is configured to not affect the movement of an opposing lever door handle positioned on an opposite side of the door.
• Applicant also recognized that some of the existing commercially available lever door handle locks are either difficult to operate and/or less effective at preventing a child from opening the door.
• other aspects of the invention are generally directed to a handle lock with an improved configuration that is easy for an adult to mount and/or operate, and/or is effective at preventing a child from opening the door.
• the lever door handle lock may include two primary components, a base and a housing.
• the base may be coupled to a door and the housing is coupled to the base and may enclose at least a portion of a lever door handle that is attached to the door.
• the housing In an unlocked position, the housing may be rotatable relative to the base such that the door handle can be rotated to open the door in its normal fashion.
• the housing In a locked position, the housing may be stationary relative to the base such that the stationary housing prevents movement of the door handle to prevent the door from being opened.
• the handle lock 100 has a base 10 which is configured to be coupled to a door (not shown), and a housing 30 which is configured to be coupled to the base 10.
• the housing 30 may be configured to substantially enclose a lever style door handle 200 (see FIGS. 11-12) that is attached to the door.
• the housing 30 may be configured to enclose only a portion of a door handle.
• the handle lock 100 has a locking member 80 which is configured to be coupled to the housing 30.
• the locking member 80 is movable between at least two positions, which may be defined as a first unlocked position (see FIGS.
• the lock 100 further includes an actuator 60 coupled to the housing 30. The actuator is configured to move the locking member 80 from the locked position to the unlocked position.
• the base 10 may be configured to be coupled to a door in a variety of ways, as the invention is not limited in this respect.
• an adhesive may be used to secure the base 10 to a door, such as a double- sided tape.
• a fastener such as, but not limited to, screws or nails may be used.
• the base 10 includes a plurality of components, including a mounting plate 12 which may be configured to be directed coupled to a door, and a collar 14 which is configured to be coupled to both the mounting plate 12 and the housing 30.
• the collar 14 is substantially annular- shaped, but other shapes are also contemplated.
• the mounting plate 12 may include one or more latches 16 which mate with corresponding slots 18 in the collar 14 to attach the collar 14 to the mounting plate 12. As shown, the mounting plate 12 and the collar 14 may each include an opening such that they can be placed around the door handle. It should also be appreciated that in another embodiment, the base 10 may be made of one component, and in another embodiment, the base 10 may be made of more than two components, as the invention is not so limited.
• the base 10 is fixed relative to the door and the door handle 200, and the housing 30 is rotatable relative to the base 10.
• the base 10, and in particular, the collar 14 of the base 10 includes an annular lip or flange 22 that is configured to engage with the outer rim 42 of the housing 30 such that the housing 30 can rotate relative to the base 10.
• the housing 30 may be configured to be rotatable relative to the base 10, and the invention is not so limited.
• the base 10 may include at least one feature that is configured to interact with the locking member 80 to prevent rotation of the housing 30 relative to the base 10 when the locking member 80 is in the locked position. As shown in FIGS. 5-6, in one
• the base includes at least one notch 20, and in the locked position, at least a portion of the locking member 80 is moveable into the notch 20 to prevent movement of the housing 30 relative to the base 10.
• the locking member 80 includes a pin 84 configured to selectively engage the notch 20.
• the locking member 80 is pivotally coupled to the housing 30 and the locking member 80 pivots between the locked position and the unlocked position. As shown in FIGS. 4-6, 13 and 14, the locking member 80 may pivot about pivot pin 82. As also shown in FIGS. 4-6 and 14, the housing 30 may include one or more circular recesses 40 configured to receive the pivot pin 82 such that the locking member 80 is pivotally attached to the housing 30. In another embodiment, it is also contemplated that the locking member moves linearly between the locked position and the unlocked position. It is also contemplated that the locking member 80 is configured to move both linearly and pivotally between the locked position and the unlocked position, as the invention is not necessarily so limited.
• the actuator 60 moves the locking member 80 from the locked position to the unlocked position.
• the actuator 60 is linearly slideable relative to the locking member 80 to adjust the position of the locking member 80.
• the actuator 60 may be linearly slideable relative to the locking member 80 to pivot the locking member 80 from the locked position to the unlocked position.
• FIGS. 7-10 illustrate the interaction between the actuator 60 and the locking member 80 in some embodiments will now be discussed in greater detail.
• FIGS. 7 and 9 illustrate the lock 100 in a locked position
• FIGS. 8 and 10 illustrate corresponding views of the lock 100 in an unlocked position.
• the housing 30 is shown partially cut away to illustrate the components therein.
• the actuator 60 moves from its position shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, away from the pivot pin 82 of the locking member 80, and toward its position shown in FIGS. 8 and 10
• the locking member 80 rotates in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot pin 82, with respect to the front views shown in FIGS. 7-8.
• this counterclockwise movement of the locking member 80 causes the locking pin 84 on the locking member 80 to move from a locked position within the notch 20 in the base 10 to an unlocked position outside of the notch 20.
• the housing 30 is rotatable relative to the base 10, thus, unlocking the lock 100.
• the locking member 80 rotates in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin 82, with respect to the front views shown in FIGS. 7-8.
• this clockwise movement of the locking member 80 causes the locking pin 84 to move back into the notch 20, thus locking the lock 100 and preventing rotation of the housing 30 relative to the base 10.
• the locking member 80 is biased in the locked position.
• the locking member may include a spring 88 configured to bias the locking member in its locked position.
• the locking member 80 may be biased in various ways, including, but not limited to leaf springs, helical springs, flip springs and living hinges. It is also contemplated that the locking member may be biased in the unlocked position.
• the actuator may be arranged such that the actuator can move the locking member both from the locked position to the unlocked position, and from the unlocked position to the locked position.
• the actuator may include a button 60 and a track 62.
• the end of the track 62 may include an arm 64 that is configured to interact with the locking member 80.
• the locking member 80 may include a first end, which may be configured as a locking pin 84 to interact with the base 10.
• the locking member 80 may also include a second end configured to interact with the arm 64 of the actuator 60.
• the locking member 80 pivots about a pivot pin 82 that is positioned between the first end and the second end of the locking member. As shown, the pivot pin 82 may be approximately equally spaced between the first and second ends of the locking member 80.
• the second end of the locking member 80 includes a ramp 86 which is configured to interact with the arm 64 of the actuator 60.
• the first end of the locking member 80 may include a locking pin 84 configured to engage the base 10 in the locked position, and may for example, interact with a notch 20 on the base.
• one aspect of the invention is directed to a lever door handle lock with a locking member that is configured to not affect the movement of an opposing lever door handle positioned on an opposite side of the door.
• Many conventional doors are arranged such that the two door handles move together. Thus, locking one side locks the other side.
• the locking member 80 is configured to not affect the movement of an opposing lever door handle positioned on an opposite side of the door. As shown in FIGS. 7-10, in a locked position, the locking member 80 is configured to prevent movement of the door handle 200. However, the locking member 80 is configured such that rotation of a door handle on the other side of the door will move the locking member 80 into the unlocked position such that the door can be opened.
• the actuator 60 may be configured to linearly slide relative to the locking element 80.
• the actuator 60 is configured to be moveable in at least two directions to move the locking member 80 from the locked position to the unlocked position.
• the two directions may be substantially perpendicular to each other.
• the actuator 60 may be configured as a button which must be both pressed in a direction perpendicular to the track 62 and slid in a direction
• the actuator 60 is configured to include multiple components such as a cam and a cam follower. Such a configuration may enable an adult to readily lock and unlock the locking member 80 with one hand. It is also contemplated that such a configuration which requires the actuator 60 to be moved in two different directions would be more difficult for a young child to operate. It should be appreciated that other types of actuators are also contemplated as the invention is not necessarily limited in this respect.
• the actuator 60 is positioned on a rear side of the housing 30. In this respect, the actuator may not be readily visible from the front of the lock 100, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. It is contemplated that such a configuration would prevent a young child from attempting to move the actuator 60 to unlock the door.
• a lever door handle lock 300 includes an actuator 160 which moves in a direction perpendicular to the length of the housing 130.
• the actuator moves in a direction along the length of the housing.
• the actuator may be configured to move in a direction other than shown in the illustrated
• the actuator may move at an angle relative to the housing length that is other than a ninety degree angle.
• the actuator may move along a curved path. In still further embodiments, the actuator may move only in and out of the housing such that the actuator does not move relative to the height or length of the housing.
• FIGS. 15-17 show one embodiment of a housing 130, a base 110, and the actuator 160.
• An exploded view of the lock 300 is shown in FIG. 18.
• the locking arrangement operates in a similar manner to the embodiments described above.
• a locking member 180 is pivotally coupled to the housing 130 and the locking member 180 pivots between a locked position and an unlocked position about a pivot pin 182.
• the actuator 160 is linearly slideable relative to the locking member 180 to adjust the position of the locking member 180. For example, movement of the actuator may pivot the locking member 180 between the locked position and the unlocked position.
• FIGS. 19, 21, 23 and 24 show the lock 300 in a locked position
• FIGS. 20 and 22 show corresponding views of the lock in an unlocked position. As the actuator 160 moves downwardly from its position shown in FIGS.
• the locking member rotates in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin 182 with respect to the front views shown in FIGS. 19 and 20.
• This clockwise movement of the locking member 180 causes a locking pin 184 to move from the locked position within a notch 120 to the unlocked position outside of the notch 120, similar to the operation of the embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 1- 14.
• the actuator 160 may include an arm 164 which pushes on the locking member to bring about the rotation.
• arm 164 which pushes on the locking member to bring about the rotation.
• a squeeze actuator may be used such that two actuator components are moved toward one another simultaneously to move the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position.
• the locking member 180 may be biased toward the locked position, for example by a spring 188 as shown in FIG. 25, or by any other suitable means.
• the actuator 160 may require a force and/or movement toward the inside of the housing 130.
• the actuator may include a button that needs to be pushed before the actuator is linearly moveable to push on the locking member. The requirement that the actuator 160 be moved in two different directions may make actuation by a young child more difficult.
• a button or other push-type actuator may be used alone to move the locking element.
• one or more breakoff assemblies 202 may be included, as shown in FIG. 21 by way of example.
• the breakoff assemblies may be formed with any suitable material, such as metal or plastic, and include score lines or cutouts which allow an installer to selectively remove one or more breakoff portions 204.
• the installer can adjust the internal dimensions of a mounting plate 112 to suitably fit the rose of the door handle. For example, when installing the mounting plate 112 around a circular door handle rose, the installer can remove breakoff portions from the mounting plate 112 until the mounting plate fits around the rose, and then the remainder of the breakoff assemblies can be used to center the mounting plate 112.
• the mounting plate can then be mounted with screws through holes 114, double-sided tape, or any other suitable mounting method.
• breakoff assemblies While four breakoff assemblies are shown in FIG. 21, one, two, three, or five or more breakoff assemblies may be used in some embodiments.
• the breakoff assemblies may permit the installer to fit the mounting plate 112 around a non-circular rose or other door handle component.
• the breakoff portions may be curved such that they follow the contour of a door handle rose. For example, each breakoff portion could have a radius of curvature that would match a door handle rose.
• the housing 30 may be configured in a variety of ways, as the invention is not necessarily limited in this respect.
• the housing 30 includes at least a first portion 34 and a second portion 36 which are configured to together substantially receive a lever door handle 200. Such a configuration may more easily enable the housing to substantially enclose the handle 200.
• the first portion 34 may form a top portion and the second portion 36 may form a bottom portion which may, for example, snap together.
• the housing 30 further includes a third portion 38 which is configured to be removably coupled to the first and second portions 34, 36 to selectively access a portion of the lever door handle when the housing 30 encloses the handle 200.
• the third portion 38 may be configured to align with a key hole (not shown) on the door 200, such that the key hole can be accessed even when the lock 100 is coupled to the door handle 200.
• the housing 30 may include one or more features designed to assist a user operating the lock 100.
• the housing 30 may include at least one flange 32 configured for a user to grip when the housing 30 is being rotated.
• the housing 30 may also include one or more internal ribs for strength.
• the lever door handle lock 100 is configured to be used with both a lever door handle that is configured to pivot in a clockwise direction and a lever door handle that is configured to pivot in a counterclockwise direction (i.e. with double doors, one door handle is configured to pivot in one direction and the door handle on the other door is configured to pivot in the opposite direction).
• the lock 100 is versatile and can be used with either type of door handle.
• one or more portions of the lock 100 are configured with features that are configured to be a substantially mirror image of another feature such that the components can be rotated around depending upon the orientation of the door handle.
• the base 10 may include at least two notches 20.
• one notch 20 is configured to interact with the locking member 80, and the other notch is configured to interact with the locking member 80 if the lock 100 was oriented in the opposite direction.
• the first portion 34 of the housing 30 may be configured to be a substantially mirror image of the second portion 36 of the housing 30.
• the second portion 36 of the housing 30 may include a circular recess 40 configured to receive the pivot pin 82 to pivotally attach the locking member 80 to the housing 30.
• a similar recess 40 may be provided on the first portion 34 of the housing 30 to receive the pivot pin 82 if the lock 100 was oriented in the opposite direction.
• the flanges 32 may be located on both portions 34, 36 of the housing 30.
• the above described components of the lever door handle lock may be made of a variety of different materials.
• one or more components are made from plastic.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)

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• 2013
  • 2013-01-09 WO PCT/IB2013/000987 patent/WO2013114224A2/fr not_active Ceased

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