Abstract:
The invention provides a lockable closure device for a closure that is adapted to selectively cover at least a portion of an opening. The lockable closure device comprises a first handle adapted for provision on one side of the closure, a second handle for provision on the opposite side of the closure, and a connection means by which the handles are pivotally connected relative to the closure such that the first handle may be disposed in a first position in which the second handle cannot be moved, and in a second position in which the second handle can be moved. There is also provided a closure having one or more of said lockable closure devices coupled thereto.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a lockable closure device. More particularly, the invention relates to a locking latch handle. The invention has particular application to a hatch in a marine environment. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Various closure devices presently exist for locking a leaf element, such as a door or a window, in place to cover an opening. Door latch mechanisms typically include a spindle that is coupled to handles on either side of the door, such that when one or other of the handles is rotated, the spindle also rotates. The spindle is also coupled to a slidable latch or bolt that is adapted to engage a recess in the door frame. Turning of the spindle is translated into lateral movement of the latch which causes the latch to leave the recess and allows the door to be opened. Traditionally, door latch mechanisms have been used in combination with a separate locking mechanism to prevent unauthorised or undesired access through the opening. Such arrangements have generally required the use of some form of key. 
         [0003]    In certain applications, it is desirable for the opening to be lockable/unlockable from one side only. For example, it is generally desirable for a bathroom door to be lockable only from the inside. Various devices have been devised to achieve this task. At their simplest, these include manually, directly slidable bolts provided on one side of a door. However, more sophisticated arrangements have evolved in which the locking mechanism is incorporated in or integrated in the door latch mechanism to avoid the need for a separate locking mechanism. These locking mechanisms generally include manual switches or buttons. When the door is closed, it may be locked by pressing the switch or button which causes the spindle of the door latch mechanism to become lockably engaged with a locking member coupled to the switch or button. Thus, it is no longer possible to rotate the door handle and so the latch of the door latch mechanism is fixed in the recess, thereby preventing any movement of the door. To unlock the door, the same or a different button or switch must be pressed to disengage the locking member from the spindle. 
         [0004]    These arrangements have themselves been developed such that it may be possible to unlock the door, on the side on which it was locked, by simply turning the door handle on that side in a conventional manner, without having to press a switch or button. Clearly, such arrangements are beneficial in that a step is omitted, simplifying operation for users. 
         [0005]    Further developments have enabled the locking action of the locking mechanism to be actuated using the door handle. For example, WO-A-04/07877 describes such a door locking mechanism which is adapted to lock by rotation of the door handle in a particular manner. Whilst this may simplify the locking action, the mechanism described is rather complex and requires activation of a trigger to allow the handle to be rotated again (i.e., for the door to be unlocked). This complicates the process of opening a locked door and also the mechanisms used to perform the task. 
         [0006]    WO-A-00/71841 and WO-A-02172985 describe door locking mechanisms that use cam arrangements to enable both the locking and unlocking actions to be effected by rotation of one of the door handles in particular manners. Namely, when a door is closed, it may be looked by rotating the handle in a first direction. Subsequent turning of the handle in the opposite direction allows the door to be unlocked and opened. These mechanisms simplify the locking/unlocking actions for a user, but do so at the expense of using complicated arrangements. This complicates and increases the cost of manufacture and also increases the chances of mechanical problems with the mechanism, particularly in view of the complex arrangements of springs that are used. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is an object of the invention to provide a lockable closure device that at least mitigates some or all of the aforementioned problems. 
         [0008]    Alternatively, it is an object of the invention to at least provide a useful choice. 
         [0009]    According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a lockable closure device for a closure that is adapted to selectively cover at least a portion of an opening. The lockable closure device comprises a first handle adapted for provision on one side of the closure, a second handle for provision on the opposite side of the closure, and a connection means by which the handles are pivotally connected relative to the closure such that the first handle may be disposed in a first position in which the second handle cannot be moved, and in a second position in which the second handle can be moved. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the device is adapted so that movement of the first handle between the first and second positions is effected by rotation thereof. In a first direction from the first position to the second position, and in a second, opposite direction from the second position to the first position. 
         [0011]    Thus, the closure may be locked (to the second handle on the opposite side of the closure) by rotating the first handle to the first position in the first direction and unlocked by rotating the first handle to the second position in the second direction. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the device is adapted so that the angle of rotation between the first and second positions is approximately 20°. 
         [0013]    Other angles are within the scope of the invention but angles of this approximate value are preferred because they provide a good visual indication that the first handle is in the locked or unlocked position whilst not requiring much movement by a user to make the transition. Thus, a user is not greatly inconvenienced when locking or unlocking the first handle, thereby providing for quick and easy operation for a user. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the device is adapted so that the first handle may be disposed in a third position in which the closure may be opened or removed to allow access therethrough. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the device is adapted so that the first handle may be disposed in the third position by rotation thereof. More preferably, the first handle may be disposed in the third position by rotation thereof from the first position in the first direction, or by rotation thereof from the second position in the first direction. 
         [0016]    Thus, the first handle may be moveable from the first position to the third position in one movement, which corresponds to transitioning the closure device from being locked to unlocked and then capable of being opened. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the device is adapted such that rotation of the first handle between the first and second positions is about a first axis and rotation of the first handle between the second and third positions is about a second axis, different from the first axis. Preferably, the first axis is parallel to the second axis. Preferably, any rotation of the second handle is about the second axis. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the device comprises latch means adapted to engage a fixed member. Preferably, the fixed member comprises a portion of, or is fixedly coupled to, a wall defining the opening. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the latch means is coupled to the first handle. More preferably, the latch means is fixedly coupled, or integral, to the first handle so that rotation of the first handle causes rotation of the latch means. 
         [0020]    According to a second aspect, there is provided a closure having one or more lockable closure devices according to the first aspect coupled thereto. 
         [0021]    Preferably, the closure is further coupled to hinging means. 
         [0022]    Further aspects of the invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following description which provides at least one example of a practical application of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    One or more embodiments of the invention will be described below by way of example only and without intending to be limiting with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show alternative exploded perspective views of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a plan view of an embodiment in a first, looked and latched configuration; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  in a second, unlocked but latched configuration; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  shows a plan view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5  in a third, unlocked and unlatched configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]      FIG. 1  is an assembled view of lockable closure device  10  coupled to closure  11  according to an embodiment of the invention, Device  10  includes three main parts. Namely, inside handle  13 , main body  15  and optional outside handle  17 . Inside handle  13  comprises latch  19  that is adapted to engage fixed means (not shown—see  FIGS. 4 to 6 ) that are provided in fixed relation relative to the opening which is to be selectively covered by closure  11 . When latch  19  is engaged with the fixed means, movement of closure  11  is inhibited, whereas it is possible when first handle  13  is moved so that latch  19  disengages the fixed means. 
         [0030]    According to preferred embodiments, closure  11  is a hatch, such as a hatch suitable for marine environments/applications. More particularly, closure  11  may be for or included on a boat. 
         [0031]    Hinge means (not shown) may be provided on a side of closure  11 , such that closure  11  may pivot to selectively cover/uncover the opening. Alternatively, a plurality of lockable closure devices  10  may be coupled to a single closure such that the combination of devices  10  inhibits removal of closure  11  from the opening. For example, for a substantially rectangular closure  11 , two devices  10  may suffice if they are coupled adjacent to opposite faces thereof. However, in some circumstances, it may be preferable to couple at least one device  10  to each side of closure  11 , assuming it is of a substantially polygonal configuration. The invention is not limited to polygonal closures. Moreover, the skilled man would be aware of how to modify the number and spacing of devices  10  around a closure depending on the size and configuration of closure  11 , as well as on the desired integrity and security of the seal between closure  11  and the wall of the opening, and it is therefore intended that all such modifications be included within the scope of the claims. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are exploded views of device  10  of  FIG. 1  from different perspectives. These Figures serve to show the internal workings of main body  15 . Outside handle  17  comprises, or is fixedly coupled to, spindle  21  that fits in an aperture provided in closure  11  so that spindle  21  (and hence outside handle  17 ) may rotate in a direction substantially perpendicular to spindle  21  and/or substantially perpendicular to at least the proximate portion of closure  11 . An end portion of spindle  21 , distal from outside handle  17 , is in the form of a square male section. 
         [0033]    Locking bush  22  sits on a portion of spindle  21  abutting the inside wall of closure  11 . Means are provided for maintaining locking bush  22  in a fixed position relative to closure  11  so that it does not rotate as other components of device  10  rotate. In the embodiment shown, these means comprise one or more holes provided in closure  11 , each of which is adapted to mate with a corresponding pin provided on locking bush  22  such that locking bush  22  is unable to rotate about the same axis as spindle  21 . Alternatively, one or more pins could be provided on closure  11 , each of which mates with a hole provided in locking bush  22 . The skilled man would also be aware of other means, including adhesives, that may be used to lock locking bush  22  against rotation (relative to closure  11 ) as other components of device  10  rotate and it is intended that all such means be included within the scope of the invention. 
         [0034]    Crank  23  sits on locking bush  22  with the square male section of spindle  21  mating with a female square recess (see  FIG. 3 ) provided in crank  23 . Thus, crank  23  is directly rotationally coupled to outside handle  17  such that rotation of outside handle  17  causes substantially the same rotation of crank  23  and vice versa. Crank  23  is coupled to outside handle  17  using, for example, screw  24  that engages a hole (see  FIG. 2 ) In the and of the square male section of spindle  21 . To allow for different thicknesses of closure  11 , the length of engagement of the square male section of spindle  21  and the female square recess in crank  23  may, for example, be varied accordingly. Alternatively, the thickness of locking bush  22  and/or the thickness of crank  23  and/or the length of other portions of spindle  21  may be varied. 
         [0035]    Inside handle  13  fits over crank  23  and locates on boss  25  (see  FIG. 2 ) of offset feature  26  of crank  23 . More particularly, boss  25  of crank  23  (see  FIG. 2 ) nests in circumferential boss  27  provided inside of inside handle  13  (see  FIG. 3 ). Inside handle  13  is preferably coupled to crank  23 , such as by screw  28  which passes through circumferential boss  27  and engages an aperture provided in boss  25  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0036]    Crank  23  further includes raised boss  29  which is provided with visual indicator means  30  (see  FIG. 2 ). Visual indicator means  30  preferably comprises a coloured spot that cooperates with window  31  to indicate to a user whether device  10  is locked (i.e., whether outside handle  17  may be rotated). 
         [0037]    The inside of inside handle  13  comprises a number of functional elements (see  FIG. 3 ). Detents  32  and  33  are adapted to cooperate with ribbed protrusion  34  on crank  23  so as to provide a user with a positive feel as to when device  10  transitions from being looked to being unlocked, and vice versa. More particularly, when protrusion  34  is engaged in detent  32 , device  10  is locked, with rotation of outside handle inhibited. On the other hand, when protrusion  34  is engaged in detent  33 , visual indicator means  30  is visible through window  31  and device  10  is unlocked such that closure  11  may be opened using outside handle  17  (as well as inside handle  13 ). Delimiting means  35  are provided to limit the angle of rotation of crank  23  relative to inside handle  13  in either direction (although from the perspective of  FIG. 3 , it is only possible to see one half of delimiting means  35 ). Preferably, the angle of rotation is limited to 20°, which corresponds to the preferred extent of movement required for inside handle  13  to transition device  10  from being locked to being unlocked and vice versa. 
         [0038]    The inside of inside handle  13  also includes first rib  36  and similar, second rib  37  (see  FIG. 3 ). Ribs  36  and  37  cooperate with first slot  38  and second slot  39  (see  FIG. 2 ) of looking bush  22 , and first groove  41  and second groove  42  of crank  23  to enable device  10  to perform the locking/unlocking functions, as well as enable latch  19  to disengage from the fixed means. 
         [0039]    Operation of the invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 6 .  FIG. 4  shows device  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention in a locked, latched configuration. In  FIG. 4 , handles  13  and  17  are aligned and closure  11  is in a closed position with latch  19  engaged against a fixed means, such as a slot in a frame  45  around the opening. When inside handle  13  is oriented as shown in  FIG. 4 , outside handle  17  is looked. Therefore, in this position, a user attempting to rotate outside handle  17  to open closure  11  would not be able to do so and visual indicator means  30 , through window  31 , provides a visual indication that the device is locked. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in the locked configuration of  FIG. 4 , rib  37  is engaged in first slot  38  and first groove  41 , thereby looking outside handle  17  from being rotated. 
         [0040]    When inside handle  13  is moved from the position shown in  FIG. 4  through arc A (preferably 20°) to the position shown in  FIG. 5 , outside handle  17  does not move, but device  10  transitions from a locked, latched state to an unlocked, latched state and visual indicator means  30  now shows that device  10  is unlocked. More particularly, during the rotation through arc A, raised boss  29  ( FIG. 2 ) moves from abutting one extent of delimiting means  35 , to the other, with circumferential boss  27  of inside handle  13  rotating about boss  25  of crank  23 . At the same time, rib  37  disengages from first slot  38  and first groove  41  and rib  36  engages second slot  39  and groove  42 . 
         [0041]    From this position, continued rotation of inside handle  13  in a clockwise direction converts to rotational movement about spindle  21  (as opposed to the previous rotation about boss  25 ). Moreover, the presence of rib  36  in groove  42  and raised boss  29  in delimiting means  35 , results in the two handles being directly rotationally coupled about spindle  21  so that latch  19  may be moved to disengage from the fixed means to arrive at the configuration shown in  FIG. 6  by turning either handle  13 ,  17 . The extent of this rotational movement is set by the angular extent of second slot  39  in locking bush  22  since rib  36  moves in this slot during the rotation and hence its movement is limited by the end walls of slot  39 . As indicated in  FIG. 6 , visual indicator means  30  continues to show that device  10  is unlocked. In the position shown in  FIG. 6 , latch  19  is disengaged from frame  41 , allowing closure  11  to be opened. 
         [0042]    Conversely, starting with closure  11  in an open position with handles  13  and  17  in the configuration shown in  FIG. 6 , transitioning to the configuration shown in  FIG. 5  is effected by moving closure  11  into a closed position and rotating either handle  13  and  17  in an anticlockwise direction (as viewed from the perspective of  FIGS. 4 to 6 ). If outside handle  17  is rotated to its maximum extent anticlockwise, device  10  transitions to the configuration shown in  FIG. 5 , with closure  10  in an unlocked but latched configuration. Thus, it is not possible to lock the device  10  from the outside. On the other hand, if inside handle  13  is rotated to its maximum extent anticlockwise, device  10  transitions to the locked and latched configuration, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Using inside handle  13 , arriving at the position shown in  FIG. 5  and also determining when device  10  is locked, is facilitated by the positive feel provided by detents  32  ad  33  in combination with protrusion  34 . Visual indicator means  30  also provides an indication through window  31  when device  10  switches from being unlocked to being locked. 
         [0043]    Therefore, according to the present invention, the user need only turn the inside handle in a seemingly conventional manner to lock or unlock device  10 . A locking button or other device is not required to be pushed or activated by the user. 
         [0044]    As stated above, outside handle  17  is optional. A dome cap, for example, may be provided in place of handle  17 . 
         [0045]    Throughout the detailed description, references have been made to “inside” and “outside” relative to closure  11 . It would be clear to one of skill in the art that the locking handle (i.e., inside handle  13 ) could be provided on either side of closure  11 . Thus, a handle similar to inside handle  13  could be provided outside of a closure, with a corresponding handle similar to outside handle  17  being provided inside of the closure. It is intended that such modifications be included within the scope of the invention. 
         [0046]    Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense, that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”. 
         [0047]    Wherein the foregoing description reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. 
         [0048]    It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore, intended that such changes and modifications be included within the present invention.