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US 5,961,194 AGranted
Retractable handle for telecommunications equipment cabinet and method of operation thereof
AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.
InventorKevin G. Shaw
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
For use with a cabinet having a door, a retractable handle and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the retractable handle includes: (1) a handle grip having first and second extensions projecting therefrom and passing through corresponding first and second apertures in the door and (2) a spring structure, coupling the first and second extensions to the door, that bears against the first and second extensions to urge the handle grip toward a retracted position and, when the handle grip is subjected to a pulling force, compresses to allow the handle grip to move toward an extended position.
Claims17
A retractable handle for use with a cabinet door having first and second apertures therethrough, comprising:
- a handle grip having first and second extensions projecting therefrom, said first and second extensions having respective first and second free ends capable of passing through said first and second apertures respectively from an outer surface of said door;
- first and second compression springs radially disposed about said first and second extensions respectively;
- a first bushing radially disposed about said first extension and having a first hollow portion configured to contain said first compression spring therein, said first bushing effectively extending said first aperture, thereby to cause said first extension to remain substantially normal to said outer surface as a pulling force is applied to said handle grip, said first compression spring being contained within said first hollow portion when said handle grip is in an extended position;
- a second bushing radially disposed about said second extension and having a second hollow portion configured to contain said second compression spring therein, said second bushing effectively extending said second aperture, thereby to cause said second extension to remain substantially normal to said outer surface as a pulling force is applied to said handle grip, said second compression spring contained within said second hollow portion when said handle grip is in said extended position;
- a first spring retainer coupled to said first free end and restraining a second end of said first compression spring, said first compression spring bearing against said first extension and said first bushing;
- and
- a second spring retainer coupled to said second free end and restraining a second end of said second compression spring, said second compression spring bearing against said second extension and said second bushing, said first and second compression springs cooperating to urge said handle grip toward a retracted position and, when said handle grip is subjected to a pulling force, compressing to allow said handle grip to move toward an extended position.
4 more elements
A method of gaining access to an interior of a cabinet having a door, comprising:
- subjecting a retractable handle grip to a pulling force, said handle grip having first and second extensions with first and second free ends projecting therefrom and capable of passing through corresponding first and second apertures in said door and through corresponding first and second bushings having first and second hollow portions configured to contain said first and second compression springs therein, respectively, when said handle grip is in an extended position, said first and second bushings radially disposed about said first and second extensions, respectively, said first and second bushings effectively extending said first and second apertures, respectively, thereby to cause said first and second extensions to remain substantially normal to an outer surface of said door as a pulling force is applied to said handle grip;
- and
- compressing first and second compression springs radially disposed about said first and second extensions and captured between first and second spring retainers, respectively, and said first and second bushings, respectively, to allow said handle grip to move toward an extended position.
A telecommunications equipment cabinet, comprising:
- top, bottom, side and rear walls, coupled together to form a box with an open front for containing telecommunications equipment;
- a door, hingedly mounted to one of said side walls, that closes to block said open front, said door having first and second apertures therethrough and a retractable handle to allow said door to be opened, said retractable handle including:
- a handle grip having first and second extensions projecting therefrom, said first and second extensions having respective first and second free ends, respectively, capable of passing through said first and second apertures respectively from an outer surface of said door,
- first and second compression springs radially disposed about said first and second extensions respectively;
- a first bushing radially disposed about said first extension and having a first hollow portion configured to contain said first compression spring therein, said first bushing effectively extending said first aperture, thereby to cause said first extension to remain substantially normal to said outer surface as a pulling force is applied to said handle grip, said first compression spring being contained within said first hollow portion when said handle grip is in an extended position;
- a second bushing radially disposed about said second extension and having a second hollow portion configured to contain said second compression spring therein, said second bushing effectively extending said second aperture, thereby to cause said second extension to remain substantially normal to said outer surface as a pulling force is applied to said handle grip, said second compression spring being contained within said second hollow portion when said handle grip is in said extended position;
- a first spring retainer coupled to said first free end and capturing a second end of said first compression spring, said first compression spring bearing against said first extension and said first bushing;
- and
- a second spring retainer coupled to said second free end and capturing a second end of said second compression spring, said second compression spring bearing against said second extension and said second bushing, said first and second compression springs cooperating to urge said handle grip toward a retracted position and, when said handle grip is subjected to a pulling force, compressing to allow said handle grip to move toward an extended position.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.