Abstract:
A handle and a valve actuated by the handle. The handle includes first and second handle portions offset from one another in one or two directions and joined by a linking portion. Offset handle portions allow one handle portion to be aligned with the centerline of the valve, or to be placed on an opposite side of the valve from the other handle portion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/073,401 filed on Jun. 18, 2008. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention concerns handles for manually actuated devices such as valves, and especially for valves positioned such that the valve is readily accessible from only one side. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is often the case that manually operated devices, such as valves, are mounted within a structure wherein access to one side of the valve is blocked. A test and drain valve for a fire suppression sprinkler system in a building is an example of such a valve. Test and drain valves are often mounted on riser pipes in building stairwells and connect the riser pipe to a test line and the test line to a drain line. It is desired to position the drain line toward the warmer core of the building and away from colder outer walls to avoid freezing of the drain line in cold weather. For drain lines on opposite sides of a building, this means that the orientation of the valve connectivity will be mirror images of one another, with left and right reversed. 
         [0004]    Often the test and drain valves are positioned adjacent to a wall or other building structure, with one side of the valve facing the wall or structure and the other side facing away therefrom. The valve controls, such as the actuation handle for opening and closing the valve, as well as the test/drain selector, are usually located on one side of the test and drain valve. For those valves positioned on the side of the building where the valve controls are on the side of the valve which faces away from the building structure, there is no problem with actuation of the test and drain function of the valve. The handle is visible on the one side of the valve, the handle being rotatable to open and close the valve to effect a test of the sprinkler system. However, for all such valves installed on the opposite side of the building, the valve controls will be on the side of the valve which faces the building structure. The controls are not readily visible, and access to them is limited by the orientation of the valve and the adjacent building structure. To actuate the test and drain function of such a valve, which must be done periodically, a technician is required to reach around behind the valve, grip the actuation handle and rotate it to open and close the valve. 
         [0005]    For some reason, technicians become confused and have difficulty operating valves wherein the actuation handle is on the side of the valve which is not visible. A mirror image test and drain valve would be advantageous in this situation so that manual valve operation appears the same whether on one side of the building or the opposite side. It is, however, uneconomical to manufacture and install handed test and drain valves, so a single type of test and drain valve is most often installed in both applications, which results in limited access to controls of those valves positioned on one side of the building and all of the confusion which that entails. 
         [0006]    It would be advantageous to have an actuation handle which helps avoid this confusion, thereby avoiding the need for handed valves. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The invention concerns a handle for actuating a device. The handle comprises a first handle portion attachable to the device. The first handle portion is located in a first plane. A second handle portion is located in a second plane substantially parallel to and offset from the first handle portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane. The second handle portion is manually grippable. A linking portion connects the second handle portion to the first handle portion. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the second handle portion is also offset from the first handle portion in a direction substantially parallel to the first plane. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment of a handle for actuating a device, the handle comprises a first handle portion attachable to the device. The first handle portion is located in a first plane. A second handle portion is located in a second plane offset from the first handle portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane. The second handle portion is manually grippable. A linking portion connects the second handle portion to the first handle portion. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the first and second planes are substantially parallel to one another. In another embodiment, the second handle portion is offset from the first handle portion in a direction substantially parallel to the first plane. 
         [0011]    The invention also encompasses a valve comprising a housing having first and second sides oppositely disposed, and a centerline positioned therebetween. A closing member is mounted within the housing, the closing member being movable between an open position and a closed position. A valve stem is attached to the closing member and projects from the first side of the housing. Rotation of the valve stem moves the closing member between the open and the closed positions. A handle is mounted on the valve stem for manually opening and closing the valve. The handle comprises a first handle portion located in a first plane and attached to the valve stem and a second handle portion located in a second plane offset from the first plane and aligned with the centerline of the housing. A linking portion connects the second handle portion to the first handle potion. 
         [0012]    In one valve embodiment, the first and second planes are oriented substantially parallel to one another. The second handle portion may be further offset from the first handle portion in a direction substantially parallel to the first and second planes. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment of a handle for actuating a device, the handle comprises a first handle portion having a first end attachable to the device and a second end oppositely disposed from the first end. A second handle portion is offset from the first handle portion in spaced relation so as to be positionable on an opposite side of the device from the first handle portion. A linking portion having a first end attached to the first handle portion and a second end attached to the second handle portion joins the two handle portions. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the second handle portion comprises a first end rotatably attachable to the device, and a second end, oppositely disposed from the first end of the second handle portion. The second end of the second handle portion is grippable for rotation of the handle. The linking portion may be attached at a position between the first and second ends of the first and the second handle portions. 
         [0015]    The invention further encompasses a valve comprising a housing having first and second sides oppositely disposed. A closing member is mounted within the housing. The closing member is movable between an open position and a closed position. A valve stem is attached to the closing member and projects from the first side of the housing. Rotation of the valve stem moves the closing member between the open and the closed positions. A first handle portion has a first end which is attached to the valve stem and a second end oppositely disposed from the first end. A second handle portion is positioned on the second side of the housing. The second handle portion has a first end which may also be attached to the housing, and a second end, oppositely disposed to the first end. The second handle portion is rotatable about an axis, which may be coaxially aligned with the valve stem. The handle also includes a linking portion having a first end attached to the first handle portion and a second end attached to the second handle portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of a handle according to the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a valve using the handle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an opposite side view of the valve shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the valve shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of another embodiment of a handle according to the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a valve using the handle shown in  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is an opposite side view of the valve shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]      FIG. 1  shows an example of an offset handle  10  according to the invention. Handle  10  comprises a first handle portion  12 , a second handle portion  14 , and a linking portion  16  connecting the second handle portion  14  to the first handle portion  12 . The first handle portion is attachable to a device, such as a valve (not shown) for which the offset handle  10  acts as an actuator. To this end, the first handle portion may have an opening  18  which can receive a portion of the device, for example, a valve stern which is rotatable by the handle for opening and closing the valve. The second handle portion is grippable to permit manual rotation of the handle. Second handle portion  14  may have a cover  20  to enhance friction or act as a shield or cushion against sharp edges which may cut or otherwise injure a person actuating the device to which the offset handle is attached. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first handle portion  12  is located in a first plane  22  and the second handle portion is located in a second plane  24 . Second plane  24  is preferably, though not necessarily, parallel to the first plane  22  and is offset from the first plane in a direction  26  substantially perpendicular to the first plane. The linking portion  16  is oriented transversely to the first and second planes  22  and  24 . The planes  22  and  24  are imaginary and provide convenient references to describe the location and orientation of the first handle portion  12  relative to the second handle portion  14  and the linking portion. 
         [0026]    With reference again to  FIG. 1 , it is shown that the second handle portion  14  may be offset from the first handle portion in a direction  28  which is substantially parallel to the first plane  22 . 
         [0027]    Exemplary use of the offset handle  10  according to the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5  as an actuating handle for a test and drain valve assembly  30 , shown in phantom line. As shown in  FIG. 3 , valve assembly  30  comprises a housing  32  mounted on a connection segment  34  which is attached in fluid communication with a riser pipe (not shown) of a fire suppression sprinkler system (also not shown). Offset handle  10  is attached to a valve stem  36  of a valve  38 . The valve stem  36  is attached to a valve closing member, such as a ball for a ball valve located within the housing  32 , and rotation of the stem via offset handle  10  opens and closes the valve  38 , allowing or preventing water from the connection segment  34  to flow through the housing to a test and drain valve  40  also positioned within the housing  32 , the test and drain valve being controlled by a selector  42 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows a side  44  of the test and drain valve assembly  30  on which the offset handle is mounted, along with the other valve controls.  FIG. 4  shows the opposite side  46  of the test and drain valve assembly. When the test and drain valve assembly is mounted on a riser pipe with side  44  facing away from a building structure, such as a wall, a technician has little or no difficulty setting the test and drain selector  42  to “test” or “drain” and then opening the valve  38  by rotating the offset handle  10  to allow water to flow from the connection segment  34  to the test and drain valve  40 . However, for those situations wherein the side  46  is mounted facing away from the wall, the offset handle  10 , which actuates valve  38 , is on the opposite side of the valve assembly as shown in  FIG. 4 . For some reason, when a conventional handle (i.e., a handle which is not offset) is used under these conditions, technicians become confused as to which way to rotate the handle to open or close the valve  38  which controls the flow of water to the test and drain valve  40 . Applicants have found that if the grippable portion  14  of the handle is offset so as to substantially align with the center line  48  of the housing  32  as shown in  FIG. 5 , then there is little or no confusion as to how to operate the valve. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrates a dual linked handle embodiment  50  according to the invention. Handle  50  comprises a first handle portion  52 . First handle portion  52  has a first end  54  which is attachable to a device, such as a valve. In this embodiment, first end  54  has an opening  56  shaped to receive a valve stem. First handle portion  52  also has a second end  58  disposed oppositely from the first end. Second end  58  is intended to be gripped, and may have a cover  60  to cushion the grip of a user and protect against cuts or other injury from sharp edges. 
         [0030]    Handle  50  also includes a second handle portion  62  positioned in spaced relation to the first handle portion  52 . This relationship permits the first and second handle portions to be positioned on opposite sides of a device, as described below for an example valve. Second handle portion  62  has a first end  64  which is attachable to a device. In this embodiment, first end  64  has an opening  66  shaped to receive a trunnion to permit rotation of the second handle portion. Second handle portion  62  also has a second end  68  disposed oppositely from the first end. Second end  68  is intended to be gripped, and may have a cover  70  to cushion the grip of a user and protect against cuts or other injury from sharp edges. 
         [0031]    A linking portion  72  has a first end  74  attached to the first handle portion  52  and a second end  76  attached to the second handle portion  62 . The linking portion  72  forces the handle portions to move together when one or the other is moved. To facilitate simultaneous rotation of the handle portions  52  and  62 , the center of rotation  78  of the first handle portion  52 , as defined by the position of opening  56 , may be aligned with the center of rotation  80  of the first handle portion, allowing the handles to rotate simultaneously about the same axis, for example, the axis of rotation of a valve stem. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show an example dual linked handle  50  used on a test and drain valve assembly  82 , shown in phantom line. The  FIGS. 7 and 8  show the valve assembly  82  from opposite sides  84  and  86 , thereby showing the handle portions  52  and  62  on each side of the valve assembly.  FIG. 8  shows the first end  54  of first handle portion  52  attached to a valve stem  88  of a valve  90  located within a housing  92  of the valve assembly  82 . When the valve assembly  82  is mounted with side  86  facing away from a wall or other building structure ( FIG. 8 ), side  86  is readily accessible and the valve  90  may be easily opened or closed by manually gripping and rotating the first handle portion  52 . The first handle portion is attached directly to the valve stem  88 , and provides the required control over the valve, rotating a valve closing member (not shown) between an open and a closed position. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  shows the first end  64  of second handle portion  62  attached to a trunnion  94  extending from housing  92  of the valve assembly  82 . The axis  96  of the trunnion is coaxially aligned with the axis  98  of the valve stem  88  (see  FIG. 8 ). When the valve assembly  82  is mounted with side  84  facing away from a wall or other building structure ( FIG. 7 ), side  84  is readily accessible and the valve  90  may be easily opened or closed by rotating the second handle portion  62 . The second handle portion rotates about the trunnion  94  and is attached indirectly to the valve stem  88  through the linking portion  72  which connects the second handle portion to the first. Thus, when the second handle portion  62  is rotated about the trunnion  94  the linking portion  72  forces the first handle portion  52  to rotate the valve stem  88  and open or close the valve. The dual linked handle  50  thereby allows the valve assembly  82  to be easily operated from either side without confusion, and permits a standard valve  90  with a single valve stem to be used in the valve assembly. 
         [0034]    The handles according to the invention permit valves and other devices to be operated without confusion from either side, thereby reducing potential mistakes and avoiding the need for left and right handed devices.