Abstract:
A semi-truck door latch handle cover has a rear plate which is positioned rearwardly of and connected to a front plate by a curved connector segment. The cover may have a lip extending rearwardly from the front plate along an edge opposite the connector segment. The front plate is thus positionable to overlie the vehicle latch handle with the lip engaged with the latch handle, and the rear plate positioned rearwardly of the vehicle latch handle, the cover being sufficiently resilient as to permit temporary deformation when the cover is attached to the latch handle. The rear plate may have vertically extending wings which contribute to the positioning of the cover with respect to latch flanges. The lip may extend around three sides of the front plate. Alternatively, a cover without a lip may have a resilient clip extending form the rear plate which connects to a latch axle pin.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to truck latch handles in general, and to decorative covers for truck latch handles in particular. 
     The modern semi truck is a refined master of the road. Combining vast load-hauling power, fuel efficient aerodynamics, and driver comfort, these trucks spread across country carrying all types of loads in all weather. Whether as employees operating one vehicle of a corporate fleet, or as owner operators, the drivers of semis are skilled operators of complicated machines who are acquainted with the many aspects of the truck, and often take personal pride in the vehicle&#39;s appearance and performance. 
     These trucks are offered by the manufacturers with a number of factory options which enable the purchaser to configure the vehicle to suit his desires. However, due to economies of scale, the number of factory options is by necessity limited. Hence, the discerning truck operator will seek out attractive accessories to configure the appearance of his vehicle in a distinctive and pleasing fashion. 
     The door latch of a truck is a focal point of operator and spectator attention, and, due to its frequent use, is generally not painted, but finished with chrome plating or other brightwork. What is needed is a truck accessory which provides a simple and economical modification to a latch handle which permits an operator to nondestructively modify the appearance of his vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The vehicle door latch handle cover of this invention is fabricated from a bendable metal, such as brass, and has a front plate which has a side to side first width. A rear plate is positioned rearwardly of and connected to the front plate by a curved connector segment. In one embodiment, the rear plate has a side to side second width which is less than the first width. A lip extends rearwardly from the front plate along an edge spaced from the connector segment. The front plate is positionable to overlie the vehicle latch handle with the lip engaged with the latch handle, and the rear plate positioned rearwardly of the vehicle latch handle, the cover being sufficiently resilient as to permit temporary deformation when the cover is attached to the latch handle. The rear plate may have upwardly and downwardly extending wings which contribute to the positioning of the cover with respect to latch flanges. Moreover, the cover may have upper and lower lip elements which contribute to the positioning of the cover over the latch. Alternatively, the cover may have a resilient clip which attaches to the latch handle axle pin. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover for a vehicle latch handle that is easily attachable. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a cover for a vehicle latch handle which can be removed without damage to the door handle. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cover for a vehicle latch handle which securely attaches to the handle without interfering with handle operation. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a decorative cover for the latch handle of a semi truck. 
     Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a semi-truck having a vehicle door latch handle outfitted with the decorative cover of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of a cover of this invention shown in relation to a door latch and handle. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the decorative cover of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of the cover of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the cover of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the cover of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment vehicle door latch handle cover of this invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a left side elevational view of the cover of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of the cover of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the cover of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 11 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment vehicle door latch handle cover of this invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the door latch handle cover of FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 13 is a rear elevational view of an alternative embodiment latch handle cover of this invention having a rear clip. 
     FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the latch handle cover of FIG. 13, taken along section line  14 — 14  and shown in position on a latch handle. 
     FIG. 15 is a rear elevational view of another alternative embodiment latch handle cover of this invention having a rear clip. 
     FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the latch handle cover of FIG. 15, taken along section line  16 — 16  and shown in position on a latch handle. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1-16, wherein like numbers refer to similar parts, a semi truck  18  is shown in FIG. 1 having a door latch handle cover  20  of this invention attached to a door latch handle  22  in a latch assembly  24 . Semi truck door latch handles  22  may take on various configurations for different models of trucks manufactured by different manufacturers. However, most configurations feature a latch handle  22 , as shown in FIG. 2, which is formed from a steel stamping which is painted, enameled, or chrome plated. The latch handle  22  has an upper flange  26  and a lower flange  28  through which an axle pin  30  extends vertically and is fixed to the handle. Some type of spring, for example a coil spring  32 , is connected between the axle  30  and the latch housing  34  of the door latch assembly  24 . The axle pin  30  has a protruding camming arm  36  at its lower end which engages a latch member  38  such that rotation of the handle  22  about the axle  30  causes the latch member to disengage from a striker located on the semi truck body. The dimensions and mechanisms of semi truck latch assemblies may vary, but will consistently have the rotatable handle  22  within a housing  34 . 
     The axle or hinge pin extends upwardly and downwardly through the housing to mount the handle for rotation on the housing. A portion of the hinge pin which extends through the housing has a camming arm mounted thereto for actuating a door opening mechanism. The latch is opened by reaching behind the handle and swinging it outwardly. In a first type of cover, the latch handle cover meets several conditions in order to be held fixedly to the latch. It wraps around three sides of the latch: the hinge edge of the handle on one side facing the housing, the front surface of the handle, and the handle edge opposite the hinge edge. However, in this type of cover, in order to avoid the cover being removed during operation of the latch, the latch cover must extend behind the handle to cover the entire operating surface of the handle. The operating surface of the handle is that portion of the back surface where force to open the latch is applied. If the latch cover does not extend over the operating surface, the user&#39;s fingers which drag across the operating surface when the latch is opened would have a tendency to remove the latch cover. 
     The latch handle cover  20  is formed from cut and bent sheet metal selected for its ornamental appearance properties. In a preferred embodiment the cover  20  is formed of 0.032 inch thick brass sheet. Although other materials may be employed, the attachment of the cover  20  to the handle  22  relies on the elastic deformation or resilience of the metal used. The unitary cover  20 , as shown in FIGS. 2-6, is formed from a single piece of sheet metal and has a generally rectangular front plate  40  which overlies the latch handle  22 . A rear plate  42  is positioned rearwardly of the front plate  40 , and has a side to side width which is less than the front plate. The rear plate  42  is connected to the front plate  40  by a curved connector segment  44 , best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. When used with a latch handle  22  having rearwardly extending flanges  26 ,  28 , the cover  20  is preferably provided with a top wing  46  which extends upwardly from the rear plate  42 , and a bottom wing  48  which extends downwardly from the rear plate. As shown in FIG. 4, the wings  46 ,  48  are angled at about 45 degrees from a center segment  50  of the rear plate, so that they extend rearwardly as well as upwardly or downwardly. The connector segment  44  and rear plate  42  taper, as shown in FIG. 5, as they extend toward the wings  46 ,  48 . The wings  46 ,  48  serve to resiliently position the rear plate within the latch handle  22  between the flanges  26 ,  28 . 
     The front plate  40  has a lip or side element  52  which extends from an edge of the front plate which is parallel to the connector segment  44 . The side element  52  is about ⅜ inch wide, and extends rearwardly and inwardly toward the connector segment, as shown in FIG.  6 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the cover  20  is dimensioned to be assembled on a particular make of door latch handle. Installation of the cover  20  requires no tools, and does not require any permanent or non-reversible change to the manufacturer&#39;s original equipment. The cover  20  is positioned alongside the latch handle  22 , and the rear plate  42  is positioned rearward of the handle. The front plate  40  passes over the front of the handle  22  until the cover side element  52  passes over the side edge  80  of the handle, as shown in FIG.  6 . The edge  80  is usually radiused, which provides cam action to bend the side  80  outwardly as it is pressed into place. Once in place, the side element returns to its original orientation with respect to the cover front plate  40 . The side element  52 , which is inclined, then locks the cover  20  to the handle  22 . The latch handle  22  is then engaged between the cover side element  52  and the connector segment  44  in the side to side direction. Top to bottom direction movement is restricted by the engagement of the wings  46 ,  48  within the handle flanges  26 ,  28 . 
     Once installed the cover  20  is securely in place, and is difficult to remove without a tool, thereby reducing the likelihood that the cover could be removed inadvertently due to vibrations or shock, or by theft. To remove the cover  20 , a sharp implement, such as a hook tool, can be inserted between the front of the handle  22  and the cover front plate  40 , in the vicinity of the side element  52 , and pivoted to free the side element from its engagement with the handle. Once the side element  52  is released, the cover  20  may be pivoted about the connector segment, and removed from the handle. The cover  20  is suited for door latches of many Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks. 
     Because the cover is readily removable, it may be installed by a driver on a particular truck, and then removed if the driver acquires a new truck or is reassigned. The cover does not need to be fastened to the door latch handle with any penetrating fasteners. 
     Two alternative embodiment covers are shown in FIGS. 7-12, which are adapted for other latch handle configurations. The cover  82  shown in FIGS. 7-10 has a rear plate  84  with no wings. The rear plate  84  extends from a connector segment  86 . The side element  92  is of a height that is less than the height of the front plate  88 . The cut-aways  90  at the connection between the side element  92  and the front plate  88  provide additional clearance around the door handle in situations where the fit between the door handle  22  and the housing  34  is tight. Such a cover is suited for many door latches on Pacar Corporation trucks. 
     The cover  94  shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 has a front plate  96  with a connector segment  98  which is of a height that is less than the height of the front plate. The rear plate  108  extends from the connector segment  98 . The cover  94  has a side element  100  which is part of a continuous lip  102  which encircles three sides of the front plate  96 . The lip  102  includes an upper element  104  and a lower element  106  which restrict vertical movement of the cover  94  with respect to the handle to which it is attached. Such a cover is suited for many door latches on Pacar Corporation trucks. 
     Alternative latch handle covers are illustrated in FIGS. 13-16 which use a resilient clip structure which engages with the handle axle pin  30  rearward of the door latch handle  22 . Such covers have the advantage that they are adaptable to mounting on a wider variety of door handle shapes. The latch handle cover  120 , shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, as with the covers disclosed above, is formed from cut and bent sheet metal such as brass. The unitary cover  120  is formed from a single piece of sheet metal having a generally rectangular front plate  140  which overlies the latch handle  22 . A rear plate  142  is positioned rearwardly of the front plate  140 . The rear plate  142  is connected to the front plate  140  by a curved connector segment  144 . The cover  120  has a top wing  146  which extends upwardly from the a center segment  150  of the rear plate  142 , and a bottom wing  148  which extends downwardly from the rear plate, to engage with rearwardly extending flanges  128  on the handle. 
     The cover  120  has a resilient clip  147  which extends from the center segment  150  of the rear plate  142  and which is positioned to engage the cylindrical axle pin  30  when positioned on the latch handle  22 . The clip  147  has a wide center tab  160 , with two adjacent side tabs  162 . The tabs  160 ,  162  are formed with a curvature such that the curvature of the center tab is opposite to the curvature of the side tabs; i.e., as shown in FIG. 14, so that the center tab  160  opens rearwardly, and the side tabs open frontwardly. Each tab  160 ,  162  has an entry element  164 , which is a narrow strip of metal folded back and away from the location of the axle pin. The entry elements  164  provide a curved cam like surface which assists the entry of the axle pin  30  between the center tab  160  and the side tabs  162  when the cover  120  is attached to the latch handle  22 . The rear plate  142  may extend parallel to the front plate  240 . Or, if additional spring force is required, the rear plate  142  may extend at an angle or have its spacing from the front plate adjusted. 
     Installation of the cover  120  requires no tools, requiring the user to simply slide the rear plate behind the latch handle  22 , and the front plate  140  in front of the door handle. The clip  147  on the rear plate  142  engages the axle pin  30  and secures the cover  120  to the handle  22 . The clip  147  prevents the side to side movement of the cover, wings  146 ,  148  prevent its up and down movement, and the engagement of the front plate with the front surface of the handle restricts rotation of the cover about the axle pin  30 . To remove the cover  120 , a pointed instrument can be introduced between the curved connector segment  144  and the door handle, and pressure applied to pull the clip out of engagement with the axle pin  30 . 
     The front plate  140  is selected of dimensions such that, although a majority of the latch handle is covered, it need not necessarily entirely cover the latch handle. Thus a variety of latch handles produced by different manufacturers can be accommodate by a single latch handle cover part. Furthermore, because the part is symmetrical about a horizontal side to side axis, the same part can be applied to right-handed and left-handed latch handles. 
     The cover  220 , shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 has a different clip  247 , which in some instances will more readily be attached to a latch handle. The cover  220  has a front plate  240 , connected by a curved connector segment  244  to a rear plate  242  having a center segment  250  from which a top wing  246  and a bottom wing  248  extend. The wings  246 ,  248  may engage against rearwardly extending flanges  228  of the handle  22 . The clip  247  is a single rearwardly opening concave tab  260  which is terminated by a folded entry element  264 . The tab  260  is formed such that it, in its undeflected condition, it would intersect with the axle pin  30 . When the cover  220  is attached to the handle  22 , the tab  260  rides up frontwardly of the pin, and exerts a retaining force on the pin  30 , holding the cover in place. Removal of the cover  220  is in the fashion discussed with respect to the cover  120 . The covers  120 ,  220  are suited, for example, for many door latches on Mack, Western Star and Ford Trucks. 
     As shown in the table below, the covers of this invention may be employed with a variety of common door latch handles. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 latch cover call-out 
               
               
                 Door latch handle manufacturer&#39;s part number 
                 number 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Kenworth 35833-000 
                 20, 120, 220 
               
               
                 Kenworth K294-411 
                 82 
               
               
                 Kenworth OHLA 04 
                 94 
               
               
                 Peterbilt 20-01079-L 
                 20, 120, 220 
               
               
                 Peterbilt OHLA-04 
                 94 
               
               
                 Mack 20QX42M 
                 120, 220 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     It should be noted that the cover of this invention provides many decorative opportunities for customizing a semi truck door handle. In addition to plain brass, the sheet metal from which the cover is formed may be decorated with cloisonne, with engraving, or with embossing. 
     It is understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.