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US 6,783,163 B2Granted
Floating receiving mechanism for a handle assembly and handle assembly including same
AssigneeRandall C. Hansen
InventorDennis Sadler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A floating receiving mechanism is disclosed for use with a handle assembly including a base member defining a central opening therethrough, and a substantially U-shaped keeper having a base portion defining a central opening therethrough and two arms extending from the base portion. The keeper is attached to the base plate so that the keeper central opening is substantially aligned with the base plate central opening and so that the keeper is slidable laterally relative to the base plate. The keeper is configured for releasably retaining an extending portion of the handle assembly. The extending portion may be a member such as a keeper stud. Other receiving mechanisms and related handle latch assemblies are also disclosed.
Claims49
A floating receiving mechanism for use with a handle assembly comprising:
- a base plate fixedly mounted to a first surface, the base plate defining a central opening and at least two side openings therethrough, the side openings and central opening being spaced from the first surface, the side openings located on opposite sides of the central opening;
- and
- a keeper defining a central opening therethrough, the keeper being attached to the base plate via connection members extending from the keeper through the side openings so that the keeper central opening is substantially aligned with the base plate central opening, each connection member being sized so as to be slidable laterally in a respective side opening and so that each connection member is entirely spaced from and does not contact the first surface to thereby allow the keeper to move laterally relative to the base plate and the first surface, the keeper configured for releasably retaining an extending portion of the handle assembly and for movement relative to the base plate and the first surface during receipt of the extending portion to compensate for misalignment between the extending portion and the base plate.
A floating receiving mechanism for use with a handle assembly comprising:
- a base member fixedly mounted to a first surface, the base member defining a central opening therethrough and slots located on opposite sides of the central opening, the slots and central opening being spaced from the first surface;
- a substantially U-shaped keeper having a base portion defining a central opening therethrough and two arms extending from the base portion, the keeper being attached to the base member via connection members extending from the keeper through the slots and entirely spaced from and not in contact with the first surface so that the keeper central opening is substantially aligned with the base member central opening and so that the keeper is slidable laterally relative to the base member and the first surface, the keeper configured for releasably retaining an extending portion of the handle assembly and for movement relative to the base plate and the first surface during receipt of the extending portion to compensate for misalignment between the extending portion and the base plate.
A handle latch assembly comprising:
- a handle assembly including a rotatable member actuatable by a handle, the handle assembly mountable on a first surface and having an extending portion;
- and
- a receiving mechanism for releasably securing the extending portion, the receiving mechanism mountable on a second surface movable relative to the first surface, the receiving mechanism including a base member defining a central opening theretbrough and fixably mounted to the second surface;
- a substantially U-shaped keeper having a base portion defining a central opening theretbrough and two arms extending from the base portion, the keeper being attached to the base member via connection members extending from the keeper through the base member and entirely spaced from and not in contact with the second surface so that the keeper central opening is substantially aligned with the base member central opening and so that the keeper is slidable laterally relative to the base member and the second surface, the keeper configured for releasably retaining the extending portion of the handle assembly and for movement relative to the base plate and the second surface during receipt of the extending portion to compensate for misalignment between the extending portion and the base plate.
1 more element
A floating receiving mechanism for use with a handle assembly comprising:
- a base plate defining a central opening and at least two side openings therethrough, the side openings located on opposite sides of the central opening;
- and
- a keeper defining a central opening therethrough, the keeper being attached to the base plate via connection members extending from the keeper through the side openings so that the keeper central opening is substantially aligned with the base plate central opening, each connection member being sized so as to be slidable laterally in a respective side opening to thereby allow the keeper to move laterally relative to the base plate, the keeper configured for releasably retaining an extending portion of the handle assembly, the extending portion of the handle assembly being a rotatable member, the rotatable member being insertable into the keeper in any position of rotation and being withdrawable from the keeper in at least one unlocked position of rotation.
A floating receiving mechanism for use with a handle assembly comprising:
- a base member defining a central opening therethrough;
- a substantially U-shaped keeper having a base portion defining a central opening therethrough and two arms extending from the base portion, the keeper being attached to the base member so that the keeper central opening is substantially aligned with the base member central opening and so that the keeper is slidable laterally relative to the base member, the keeper configured for releasably retaining an extending portion of the handle assembly, the extending portion of the handle assembly being a rotatable member, the rotatable member being insertable into the keeper in any position of rotation and being withdrawable from the keeper in at least one unlocked position of rotation.
A handle latch assembly comprising:
- a handle assembly including a rotatable member actuatable by a handle, the handle assembly mountable on a first surface and having an extending portion;
- and
- a receiving mechanism for releasably securing the extending portion, the receiving mechanism mountable on a second surface movable relative to the first surface, the receiving mechanism including a base member defining a central opening therethrough;
- a substantially U-shaped keeper having a base portion defining a central opening therethrough and two arms extending from the base portion, the keeper being attached to the base member so that the keeper central opening is substantially aligned with the base member central opening and so that the keeper is slidable laterally relative to the base member, the keeper configured for releasably retaining an extending portion of the handle assembly, the extending portion of the handle assembly being a rotatable member, the rotatable member being insertable into the keeper in any position of rotation and being withdrawable from the keeper in at least one unlocked position of rotation.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.