Lockable latch handle assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11085206-B2
Application number	US-201815882155-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2018
Priority date	Jan 29, 2018
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

A lockable latch handle assembly for enclosures such as truck tool boxes comprises the combination of a key cylinder, and a latch handle that may be secured by a padlock to the front wall of the box, to collectively prevent opening of latches that secure the lid of the box in a closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
an enclosure having walls interconnected to form an interior and a lid movable between open and closed positions relative to said interior;
an operating rod adapted to move at least one latch to an unlatched position, said at least one latch being adapted to be mounted to one of said lid and a wall of said enclosure;
a handle assembly, comprising:
(i) a latch handle movable between a first position and a second position;
(ii) an actuator connected to said latch handle, said actuator being movable to a contact position in alignment with said operating rod, said actuator when in said contact position being movable with said latch handle from said first position to said second position wherein said actuator causes said operating rod to move the at least one latch to the unlatched position;
(iii) locking structure extending from said wall of said enclosure into engagement with said latch handle, said locking structure being effective to prevent movement of said latch handle to said second position;
(iv) a slide plate connected to and movable with said latch handle and said actuator, said slide plate being formed with a number of elongated slots; and
(v) a key cylinder connected to said slide plate and said actuator, said actuator being formed with an arm, said key cylinder being effective to move said actuator between a bypass position wherein said arm is out of alignment with said operating rod and the contact position wherein said arm aligns with said operating rod.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said locking structure comprises a face plate fixed to a wall of said enclosure, said face plate being formed with a shelf having at least one opening.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said latch handle is formed with at least one slot and a key opening, said latch handle being positionable on said shelf so that at least one of said slot and said key opening aligns with said at least one opening in said shelf.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said locking structure further comprises a padlock having a shackle insertable through one of said slot and said key opening in said latch handle and said opening in said shelf of said face plate to secure said latch handle to said shelf.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said face plate is connected to said wall by a number of fasteners, each of said fasteners passing through said wall and extending through one of said elongated slots in said slide plate, said slide plate being connected to said fasteners in such a way as to permit movement of said slide plate relative to said face plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which a bushing is located within each of said slots in said slide plate, said slide plate being movable along a bushing seal plate mounted to said wall of said enclosure.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 further including a number of spacers located between said latch handle and said slide plate, said wall being formed with an opening through which said spacers extend from said latch handle to said slide plate.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a return spring connected between said slide plate and one of said fasteners, said return spring exerting a spring force on said slide plate which causes said latch handle to move from said second position to said first position.

9. An apparatus comprising:
an enclosure having walls interconnected to form an interior and a lid movable between open and closed positions relative to said interior;
an operating rod adapted to move at least one latch to an unlatched position, said at least one latch being adapted to be mounted to one of said lid and a wall of said enclosure;
a handle assembly, comprising:
(i) a latch handle movable between a first position and a second position, said latch handle being formed with a key opening and at least one slot;
(ii) an actuator connected to said latch handle, said actuator being movable to a contact position in alignment with said operating rod, said actuator when in said contact position being movable with said latch handle from said first position to said second position wherein said actuator causes said operating rod to move the at least one latch to the unlatched position;
(iii) a face plate mounted to and extending from said wall of said enclosure into engagement with said latch handle, said face plate being formed with at least one opening;
(iv) a padlock having a shackle insertable through one of said key opening and said at least one slot in said latch handle and into said opening in said face plate, said shackle being movable to a locked position to secure said latch handle to said face plate and thereby prevent said latch handle from moving from said first position to said second position; and
(v) a key cylinder connected to said actuator, said actuator being formed with an arm, said key cylinder being effective to move said actuator between a bypass position wherein said arm is out of alignment with said operating rod and the contact position wherein said arm aligns with said operating rod.

10. An apparatus comprising:
an enclosure having walls interconnected to form an interior and a lid movable between open and closed positions relative to said interior;
an operating rod adapted to move at least one latch to an unlatched position, said at least one latch being adapted to be mounted to one of said lid and a wall of said enclosure;
a handle assembly, comprising:
(i) a latch handle movable between a first position and a second position;
(ii) a slide plate connected to said latch handle, said slide plate being movable with said latch handle;
(iii) a key cylinder mounted to said slide plate;
(iv) an actuator connected to said key cylinder, said key cylinder being effective to move said actuator to a contact position in alignment with said operating rod, said actuator when in said contact position being movable with said latch handle from said first position to said second position wherein said actuator causes said operating rod to move the at least one latch to the unlatched position;
(v) locking structure extending from said wall of said enclosure into engagement with said latch handle, said locking structure being effective to prevent movement of said latch handle to said first position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said slide plate is formed with a number of elongated slots, said locking structure being mounted to said wall by a number of fasteners, each of said fasteners passing through said wall and extending through one of said elongated slots in said slide plate, said slide plate being connected to said fasteners in such a way as to permit movement of said slide plate relative to said locking structure.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which a bushing is located within each of said slots in said slide plate, said slide plate being movable along a bushing seal plate mounted to said wall of said enclosure.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 further including a number of spacers located between said latch handle and said slide plate, said wall being formed with an opening through which said spacers extend from said latch handle to said slide plate.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 further including a return spring connected between said slide plate and one of said fasteners, said return spring exerting a spring force on said slide plate which causes said latch handle to move from said second position to said first position.

Assignees

• Werner Co

Inventors

• Harrison Craig

Classifications

• Y10T292/1043

  Swinging · CPC title

• Y10T292/1077

  Cam · CPC title

• Y10T292/0954

  Padlock or seal catch · CPC title

• Y10T292/0845

  Push or pull rod · CPC title

• Y10T292/1028

  Sliding catch · CPC title