The present invention relates to a handle, preferably a D-ring handle, having a tab. The tab can be pushed to hingedly rotate the handle from a storage position, where the handle is in contact with a housing member, to a position where the handle can be turned to actuate a latch, or similar mechanism.
D-ring handles, or handles of a similar construction, are often used in association with emergency vehicles, such as fire trucks and ambulances. The handles are located on doors and cabinet faces so that when a handle is lifted and turned, the door, or similar member is unlatched, and it can be opened. The D-ring construction is preferred for use with such vehicles because the D-ring can be turned or rotated more easily by a person wearing a glove, such as a fireman. A gloved hand can easily grab the D-ring to rotate it.
The D-ring typically is located within a housing member, which has an outer flange and a recessed faceplate. The D-ring will rest against the recessed faceplate member, which makes it difficult for a person, especially one who is wearing a glove, to slip their fingers behind the D-ring. Difficulty in slipping fingers behind the D-ring makes it difficult to hingedly rotate the D-ring so it is substantially perpendicular to the faceplate. As mentioned, once the D-ring is in a substantially perpendicular position, it can be rotated in a circular or semi-circular path to unlatch a door.
For the above reasons, it has been known to form a D-ring, whereby the curved leg portion of the D-ring is angled outward. This creates a larger space between the D-ring handle and the faceplate. A person wearing gloves can then more easily slip a finger behind the curved leg portion of the D-ring to hingedly rotate it outward to a substantially perpendicular position and then turn the handle.
The curved leg of the D-ring, which angles outward, is suitable for use; however, even with the curved leg, it often remains difficult for a person to slip a gloved finger behind the D-ring, making it difficult to hingedly rotate the D-ring to a position substantially perpendicular to the faceplate. In addition, it is advantageous to allow the leg to remain flush, or in contact, with the faceplate when not in use. For these reasons, it is desired to have a D-ring handle that can be easily gripped, rotated outward, and turned by a person wearing gloves, but which remains flush, or in contact, with the faceplate when not in use. It is especially desired to have a D-ring that can be easily moved to a substantially perpendicular position, without the necessity of slipping a finger behind the leg to pry it away from the faceplate.
The present invention relates to a handle member having a tab. Preferably, the handle is a D-ring member having a leg and a base. The handle member is hingedly connected to a faceplate member and can be moved to actuate a latch. Preferably, the handle is turned in a circular, or semi-circular direction. When not in use, the handle will be in a resting position, whereby it is in contact with, and substantially coplanar to, the faceplate. Upon pushing the tab, the handle is hingedly rotated from the resting position to a position substantially perpendicular to the faceplate. This allows the handle to then be turned in a circular, or semi-circular path to actuate a latch or similar member.
The present invention is advantageous over other D-ring handles, because it has a tab that can be pushed to easily move the handle from a resting position to a position, whereby the handle can be actuated. The present invention is also advantageous because the leg of the handle or D-ring handle does not have to have a curved outward construction. Instead, it can be placed in a resting position that is flat against the faceplate.
The present invention relates to a handle member well-suited for use with emergency vehicles. The handle will rotate hingedly, and can be turned to actuate a latch, or similar member. Preferably, the handle is a D-ring handle 10 mounted in a housing, shown in
The faceplate, or substrate 14, will fit into a cut out found in a door or similar member. Preferably, the substrate member 14 is a faceplate having a flange 16 and a recessed face member 18. The faceplate has an outer edge 17 that is of any of a variety of shapes and dimensions. The D-ring 10 can be rotated in a circular, or semicircular path to actuate the movement of a latch or similar member so that a door can be unlatched and opened. As would be expected, the D-ring 10 does not have to rotate in a circular, or semi-circular path. Instead, it could move in any direction or path which allows the latch to be actuated.
The D-ring handle 10 is formed from a D-shaped ring member having a curved leg 20 and a base 22, shown in
The base member 22 has a front face 24, shown in
The D-shaped ring member 10 is hingedly, and rotatably, connected to the substrate member 14 as shown in
An alternative embodiment of the invention, shown in
If the D-ring 10 does not have an integral construction and, instead, the curved leg 20 is hingedly affixed to the base member 22, the pin 34, shown in
In a further embodiment in which the curved leg is hingedly affixed to the base member, the base member is a rectangular shaped rod having a pin integrally attached to each end of the rod. The pins of the rectangular rod are inserted in the holes at each end of the curved leg to hingedly attach the rectangular rod to the curved leg.
The tab member 12 is integrally attached to the top edge 40 of the base 22, shown in
Preferably, the D-ring handle is made from metal, such as stainless steel; however, other types of metals or solid materials can be used, such as aluminum, zinc, or plastic.
Thus, there has been shown and described a D-ring handle, which fulfills all the objects and advantages sought therefor. It is apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that many changes, variations, modifications, and other uses and applications for the D-ring handle are possible, and also such changes, variations, modifications, and other uses and applications, which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention, are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20030182763 A1 | Oct 2003 | US |