Control and guiding device for manually operating a handling unit, and modular construction kit for making such devices of different configuration

A device for manually maneuvering a handling unit, comprising:

• at least two mounting structures arranged in side-by-side parallel disposition and configured for attachment to a handling unit, each of the mounting structures having incorporated therein a control mechanism which includes keys, actuated from outside, for activating a movement of the handling unit;
• a closed planar handle frame connectable to the mounting structures and configured to allow an operator to actuate at least one of the keys with a thumb, wherein the handle frame includes a substantially horizontal first cross member having opposite axial ends, a pair of elongate grip elements in parallel relationship, one of the grip elements extending transversely to the first cross member and having one end detachably connected to one of the axial ends, and the other of the grip elements extending transversely to the first cross member and having one end detachably connected to other one of the axial ends, and a second cross member in parallel relationship to the first cross member and having axial ends, with one of the grip elements detachably connected with its other end to one of the axial ends of the second cross member, and the other of the grip elements detachably connected with its other end to other one of the axial ends of the second cross member;
• and
• connectors for detachably mounting the grip elements to the first and second cross members, each of the connectors having at least one protrusion for insertion in a complementary receptacle of the mounting structures, wherein the protrusion of one of the connectors projects in a same direction as the protrusion of each of the other connectors and extends in parallel relationship to the protrusion of each of the other connectors,
• wherein the cross members, the grip elements, the mounting structures and the connectors are selected from a plurality of cross members, grip elements, mounting structures and connectors of varying lengths to thereby establish a construction kit to allow construction of the handle frame with a desired configuration.

A modular construction kit for making a device for manually maneuvering a handling unit, comprising:

• a plurality of mounting structures of varying configuration and configured for attachment to a handling unit, whereby some of the mounting structures have incorporated therein a control mechanism for activating a movement of the handling unit, and some of the mounting structures are devoid of a control mechanism;
• a plurality of cross members of varying configuration;
• a plurality of elongate grip elements of varying configuration;
• a plurality of connectors of varying configuration for connecting a one of the cross members with two of the grip elements to thereby construct a handle frame of desired configuration;
• and
• a plurality of retainers configured for application with the cross members and releasably attaching a selected one of the cross members to a selected one of the mounting structures, wherein each of the retainers is configured to allow displacement of the selected cross member in axial direction and thereby effect a positional adjustment of the grip elements with respect to the keys, before securely fixing the cross member to the mounting structure.

A device for manually maneuvering a handling unit, comprising:

• at least one mounting structure configured for attachment to a handling unit;
• a control mechanism connected to the mounting structure and including keys, actuated from outside, for activating a movement of the handling unit;
• and
• a handle frame connectable to the mounting structure and configured to allow an operator to actuate at least one of the keys with a thumb,
• wherein the handle frame includes at least one cross member having opposite axial ends, a pair of elongate grip elements, one of the grip elements extending transversely to the cross member and having one end detachably connected to one of the axial ends, and the other of the grip elements extending transversely to the cross member and having one end detachably connected to the other one of the axial ends, and fastening means for releasably attaching the handle frame to the mounting structure, wherein the fastening means includes a fastener configured to allow displacement of the cross member and thereby effect a positional adjustment of the grip elements with respect to the keys, before securely fixing the cross member to the mounting structure.

A modular construction kit for making a device for manually maneuvering a handling unit, comprising:

• at least one mounting structure supporting a control mechanism for activating a movement of the handling unit;
• a plurality of cross members of varying configuration;
• a plurality of elongate grip elements of varying configuration;
• a plurality of connectors of varying configuration for connecting a one of the cross members with two of the grip elements to thereby construct a handle frame of desired configuration;
• and
• a plurality of fasteners for allowing releasable attachment of a selected one of the cross members to the mounting structure, wherein each of the fasteners is configured to allow displacement of the selected cross member and thereby effect a positional adjustment of the grip elements with respect to the keys, before securely fixing the cross member to the mounting structure.