FR3069875B1 - MANEUVERABLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A REMOVABLE HANDLE AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME - Google Patents

Abstract

The operable assembly (10) includes an article (12), defining at least one opening (18), and a removable handle, the handle includes a contact surface (30) having at least one hook (34) adapted to interact with an edge of the opening (18) in a locked position in which the handle is attached to the article (12), the handle comprises a locking system (31) of the hook (34) in the locked position, the locking system (31) comprises an unlocking member (40) having an annular shape and adapted to unlock the hook (34) from the opening (18) when actuated to move the handle to a position separate from the article (12), wherein the hook does not interact with the edge of the opening.

Description

Maneuverable assembly comprising a removable handle and method of use thereof

The present invention relates to a manoeuvrable assembly comprising an article defining at least one opening and a removable handle.

It is known to open an article of the bay type or electronic drawer or door to use a handle attached to said article.

The handle is for example fixed to the door of the electronic rack or one side of the electronic drawer by gluing and / or with screws. Alternatively, the handle comes from material with the article.

It is also known to manipulate an electronic drawer to use a pair of handles attached to said drawer.

However, for some items, the handle is used very little during the lifetime of the item.

In particular, in the context of an electronic bay, the bay remains mainly closed. It is, for example, open for installation and for any maintenance operation and remains closed the rest of the time.

In addition, the bay remains mainly fixed to a place, the handle being used for the movement of said bay only rarely.

In the context of an electronic drawer, the drawer remains fixed in its support and the handles are used only for its installation and its replacement in case of failure.

In addition, the presence of a handle is likely to increase the size of the article.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a maneuverable assembly, for example for opening and / or manual movement, in which the handle is able to be separated from the article. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a maneuverable assembly of the aforementioned type, comprising an article defining at least one opening and a removable handle, the handle comprising a contact surface having at least one hook adapted to interact with an edge. of the opening in a locked position in which the handle is attached to the article, the handle comprising a locking system of the hook in the locked position, the locking system comprising an unlocking element having an annular shape and designed to unlock the hook of the opening when actuated so as to move the handle to a position separate from the article, wherein the hook does not interact with the edge of the opening. In particular embodiments of the invention, the operable assembly has one or more of the following characteristics, taken separately or in any combination (s) technically possible (s): - the article is a drawer or a electronic bay; the article defines at least two openings and the handle comprises at least two hooks, each hook being adapted to interact with an edge of a different opening in the locking position; - The locking system comprises at least one indexing finger, the indexing finger being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the indexing finger having an extension relative to the contact surface having a first dimension in the extended position and a second dimension in the retracted position, the first dimension being greater than the second dimension, the unlocking member being provided for moving the indexing finger from its extended position to its retracted position; - The opening is through and in that the at least one hook has a shoulder in a longitudinal direction, the hook through the opening and the shoulder extending at least partially outside the opening when the handle is fixed to the article; the article defines at least one indexing hole, the opening having a proximal edge against which the shoulder extends, each indexing finger being able to penetrate into an indexing hole, the distance between the finger indexing and a contact edge of the hook with the shoulder being substantially equal to the distance between the indexing hole and the proximal edge of the opening; the indexing finger extends close to a hook, the indexing finger being able to penetrate into the opening simultaneously with said hook; the locking system comprises an indexing finger for each hook; - The indexing finger is located next to the hook in the longitudinal direction opposite the shoulder, a dimension of the opening in the longitudinal direction being strictly less than the longitudinal dimension of the hook, the indexing finger and the distance between the hook and the indexing finger. The invention further relates to a method of using a removable handle on an article, comprising the following steps: - supply of a set, - insertion of the hook into the opening, - locking of the hook in the opening by the locking system, - use of the handle with the article, the hook and the handle being in the locked position, - unlocking of the hook in the opening by the unlocking element, and - removal of the hook of the opening. Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a maneuverable assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention, in which a handle is separated from an article, - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 1, in which the handle is in 3 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1, in which the handle and the article are in a locked position, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a operable assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention, wherein a handle is separated from an article, and - Figure 5 is a perspective view of the operable assembly of Figure 4, wherein the handle and the arti are in a locked position.

A first embodiment of a manoeuvrable assembly 10 according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The operable assembly 10 comprises an article 12 and a removable handle 14. Article 12 is, for example, a rack electronics or electronic drawer of an electronic rack. However, it is understood that the invention can be applied to any type of article that can be used with a handle, such as a door or the like. Article 12 has a front face 16, for example, forming part of an assembly on which one or more electronic cards are likely to be fixed.

The front face 16 extends mainly in a so-called longitudinal direction X and a transverse direction Y substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A so-called elevation direction Z is defined so as to define an orthogonal reference with X and Y.

The end face 16 has a dimension in the direction of constant elevation Z.

The end face 16 defines at least one opening 18. In the example shown, the end face 16 defines two openings 18.

Each opening 18 is through.

The two openings 18 are here aligned in the longitudinal direction X.

Each opening 18 here has a substantially rectangular shape. It has, more particularly, two longitudinal edges 20, 22, extending in the longitudinal direction X, and two transverse edges 24, 26, extending in the transverse direction Y.

The two openings 18 have substantially the same dimensions.

The end face 16 further defines at least one indexing hole 28, more particularly here a single indexing hole.

The indexing hole 28 is through.

The indexing hole 28 is substantially circular.

The indexing hole 28 is aligned with the openings 18 in the longitudinal direction X.

The indexing hole 28 is, for example, located outside the space between the two openings 18.

One of the openings 18 is thus located between the indexing hole 28 and the other of the openings 18.

The openings 18 and indexing hole 28 are chosen to be compatible with the article-specific standard, for example, in the case of an electronic rack drawer, one or more of the following standards: IEC 60297- 3, DIN 41494, EN 50155, SNCF approval 047171, IEEE 1101.10 and IEE 1101.11.

The handle 14 comprises a contact surface 30, a locking system 31 and, in addition, a gripping element 32.

The contact surface 30 is here substantially flat.

The contact surface 30 extends in a so-called longitudinal direction X 'and a transverse direction Y' substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A direction Z 'of elevation perpendicular to the contact surface 30 is defined so as to define an orthogonal reference with X' and Y '.

The contact surface 30 is provided with at least one hook 34. More particularly it has as many hooks 34 as the end face 16 has openings 18.

The contact surface 30 is here provided with two hooks 34.

The hooks 34 are for example identical.

The hooks 34 are aligned in the longitudinal direction X '.

Each hook 34 is adapted to interact with a different opening 18. The dimensions of the opening 18 along the longitudinal X and transverse Y directions are greater than the dimensions of the hook 34 along the longitudinal X 'and transverse Y' directions.

The distance between the hooks 34 is substantially equal to the distance between the openings 18, that is to say that the distance between a central point of the hooks 34 is substantially equal to the distance between a central point of the openings 18.

Each hook 34 has a section along a plane comprising the longitudinal directions X 'and elevation Z' having substantially the shape of an L.

Each hook 34 comprises a main portion 35 and a shoulder 36.

The main part 35 has substantially the shape of a block whose face is merged with the contact surface 30. The shoulder 36 extends in the longitudinal direction X 'from an upper edge of the main portion 35 said junction edge. The shoulder 36 is spaced from the contact surface 30 in the direction of elevation Z 'by the main part 35 by a given distance. The distance given is, for example, greater than or equal to the dimension of the opening 18 in the direction of elevation Z. The gripping element 32 extends from the contact surface 30 projecting from said surface 30 opposite the hook 34. The gripping member 32 is adapted to be held by a user so as to grip the handle 14. The gripping member 32 forms, for example, a rectangular ring with the contact surface 30 .

The locking system 31 here comprises at least one locking element 38 and an unlocking element 40.

In the example shown, the locking element 38 comprises an indexing finger.

More particularly, the locking system 31 comprises as many indexing fingers as the front face 16 defines indexing holes.

The indexing finger extends on the same side of the contact surface 30 as the hook 34.

The indexing finger has a shape complementary to the indexing hole 28, for example, substantially cylindrical. The axis of the cylinder formed by the indexing finger is aligned with the elevation direction Z '.

The indexing finger is able to penetrate the indexing hole 28.

The indexing finger is movable between an extended position and a retracted position.

More particularly, the indexing finger is movable relative to the contact surface 30 in the elevation direction Z '.

A dimension of the index finger is determined as the length of the extension of the index finger measured in the elevation direction Z 'with respect to the contact surface 30.

The indexing finger has a first dimension in the extended position and a second dimension in the retracted position, the first dimension being greater than the second dimension.

Alternatively, the locking element 38 is a locking blade. The unlocking element 40 extends opposite the indexing finger with respect to the contact surface 30. The unlocking element 40 has an annular shape.

The annular shape of the unlocking element allows in particular an ease of entry of the unlocking element for the user. The unlocking element 40 extends close to the gripping element 32. In particular, a user is able with one hand to grasp the gripping element 32 and to act on the unlocking element 40. Unlocking element 40 is here provided to move the indexing finger from its extended position to its retracted position.

More particularly, the unlocking element 40 and the indexing finger are connected by a non-visible connection in the figures.

When a user pulls on the unlocking member 40 while the indexing finger is in the extended position, the force applied by the user is transmitted by the link and the indexing finger is moved to the retracted position.

The link includes, for example, a spring. The spring is such that in the absence of force applied to the unlocking element or the locking element, the indexing finger is forced into the extended position.

The hooks 34 of the handle 14 and the openings 18 of the article 12 are able to cooperate in an unlocked position shown in Figure 2 and a locked position shown in Figure 3.

The handle 14 is placed relative to the article 12 so that the longitudinal directions X, transverse Y and elevation Z defined with respect to the article 12 are substantially parallel respectively to the longitudinal directions X ', transverse Y' and d Z 'elevation defined with respect to the handle 14.

In the unlocked cooperation position shown in FIG. 2, each hook 34 is inserted into a respective opening 18.

The contact surface 30 is substantially in contact with the end face 16.

Each hook 34 extends entirely into the space detini by translation of the respective opening 18 in the direction of elevation Z.

The proximal edge of an opening 18 is defined as the transverse edge 26 of the opening 18 extending on the side of the shoulder 36 of the corresponding hook 34.

The distance between the indexing finger 38 and the joining edge of the hook 34 is substantially equal to the distance between the indexing hole 28 and the proximal edge 26 of the opening 18.

The hinge edge of the hook 34 is spaced along the longitudinal direction X of the proximal edge 26 by at least the longitudinal dimension of the shoulder 36 in the unlocked position. Thus, the indexing hole 28 and the index finger 38 are also spaced from each other.

The index finger 38 is then compressed against the front face 16 of the article 12 so that it is held in the retracted position.

In the unlocked cooperation position, the handle 14 is capable of being displaced along the longitudinal X and elevation Z directions.

In the locked cooperation position shown in FIG. 3, each hook 34 is inserted in a respective opening 18. The shoulder 36 extends at least partially outside the space defined by translation in the direction of elevation Z of the respective opening 18. The shoulder 36 extends at least partially against the end face 16 opposite the contact surface 30 of the handle.

The joining edge of the hook 34 is against the proximal edge 26 of the opening.

The indexing hole 28 and the indexing finger 38 are aligned in the elevation direction Z, so that the index finger 38 is not compressed by the article 12.

The indexing finger 38 is in the extended position.

In the locked position, the handle 14 can not be moved in the longitudinal direction X, the locking system preventing it, more particularly through the cooperation of the indexing hole and the indexing finger.

In the locked position, the handle 14 can not be moved in the elevation direction Z either, the shoulder 36 bearing against the end face 16 preventing it.

The locking system 31 locks the hook 34 in the opening 18.

The handle 14 is then attached to the article 12 in said locked position and allows to move the article 12 by holding the handle by its gripping element.

A method of using a removable handle on an article according to the first embodiment will now be described.

Firstly, a manoeuvrable assembly 10 as described above is provided.

Then each hook 34 is inserted into an opening 18 of article 12.

The hook 34 is then moved into an unlocked cooperation position with the opening 18 as shown in FIG. 2.

The hook 34 is then moved into the locked cooperation position in the opening 18 by the locking system 31, as shown in FIG.

More particularly, the handle 14 is moved in the longitudinal direction X so that the shoulder 36 extends outside the opening and the proximal edge 26 comes into contact with the joint edge of the hook 34. The finger indexing 38 enters the indexing hole 28 and takes an extended position.

The handle is in a locked position.

A user is then able to use the handle 14 with the article 12, for example, to open or manually move the article 12.

In the case of an electronic bay, the user opens, for example, the bay to access the elements inside and carry out a maintenance operation. Then, the user closes the bay.

Alternatively, the user manually moves the bay using the handle.

In the case of an electronic drawer, the user manipulates, for example, the drawer using a handle for mounting in its holder or moving the drawer in the holder to access the interior of the drawer.

When the user wishes to separate the handle 14 of the article 12, he unlocks the hook 34 of the opening 18 through the unlocking element 40.

More particularly the user acts on the unlocking element 40 so as to pass the indexing finger in the retracted position. The user then moves the hook 34 into the unlocked cooperation position shown in FIG. 2 with the opening 18.

Finally, the user removes the hook 34 from the opening 18. The user is then able to use the handle 14 with another article 12.

A second embodiment of a manoeuverable assembly 110 according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Similar elements will be similarly named and will have the same incremented reference of 100.

Only the aspects by which this second embodiment differs from the first embodiment are described here.

The front taper 116 detimt at least one opening 118. In the example shown, the end face 116 defines two openings 118 aligned in the longitudinal direction X.

On the other hand, the front face 116 is devoid of an indexing hole.

The openings 118 are chosen to be compatible with the standard of the article, for example, in the case of an electronic rack drawer, one or more of the following standards: IEC 60297-3, DIN 41494, EN 50155, SNCF homologation 047171, IEEE 1101.10 and IEE 1101.11.

The locking system 131 comprises at least one locking element 138, more particularly at least one indexing finger, near a hook 134. More particularly, the locking system 131 comprises an indexing finger close to each hook 134.

The indexing finger extends on the same side of the contact surface 130 as the hook 134.

The indexing finger is aligned with the corresponding hook 134 in the longitudinal direction X '.

The indexing finger is located next to the hook 134 in the longitudinal direction X 'opposite the shoulder 136.

The indexing finger has a shape, for example, substantially cylindrical.

The indexing finger is able to enter the opening 118 simultaneously with said hook 134.

The dimensions of the opening 118 along the longitudinal X and transverse Y directions are greater than the dimensions along the longitudinal X 'and transverse Y' directions of the assembly formed by the main portion 135 of the hook 134 and the indexing finger 138.

Moreover, the dimensions of the opening 118 in the longitudinal X and transverse Y directions are greater than the dimensions in the longitudinal X 'and transverse Y' directions of the hook 134.

The dimension of the opening 118 in the longitudinal direction X is strictly less than the longitudinal dimension of the hook 134, the indexing finger 138 and the distance between the hook and the indexing finger. In other words, the dimension of the opening 118 in the longitudinal direction X is smaller than the dimension in the longitudinal direction X 'of any continuous assembly formed of the hook 134, comprising the shoulder 136, and the indexing finger 138.

The indexing finger is, as in the first embodiment, movable between an extended position and a retracted position.

Each index finger is here associated with an unlocking element 140 similar to that described above.

The hooks 134 of the handle 114 and the openings 118 of the article 112 are able to cooperate in a unlocked position (not shown) and a locked position shown in FIG.

In the unlocked cooperation position, each hook 134 is inserted into a respective opening 118.

Each hook 134 extends entirely in the space defined by translation of the respective opening 118.

The dimension of the opening 118 in the longitudinal direction X being smaller than the dimension in the longitudinal direction X 'of the assembly formed of the hook 134 and the indexing finger 138, the indexing finger 138 is then compressed against the front face 116 of the article 112 so that it is maintained in the retracted position.

In the locked cooperation position shown in Figure 5, each hook 134 is inserted into a respective opening 118 with the indexing finger.

The indexing finger 138 is in extended position in said opening 118. The shoulder 136 extends at least partially outside the space defined by translation of the respective opening 118. The shoulder 136 extends at least partially against the end face 116 opposite the contact surface 130 of the handle.

The joining edge of the hook 134 is in contact with a transverse edge of the opening 118.

In the locked position, the handle 114 can not be moved in the longitudinal direction X, the locking system preventing it, more particularly thanks to the cooperation of the indexing finger and the main part 135 of the hook 134 with the opening 118.

In the locked position, the handle 114 can not be moved in the elevation direction Z either, the shoulder 136 bearing against the end face 116 preventing it.

The locking system 131 locks the hook 134 in the opening 118.

The handle 114 is attached to the article 112 in said locked position.

A method of using a detachable handle on an article according to the second embodiment will now be described.

In a first step, a manoeuvrable assembly 110 as described above is provided.

Then each hook 134 is inserted into an opening 118 of the article 112.

The hook 134 is then in a locked cooperation position with the opening 118.

The hook 134 is then moved into the locked cooperation position in the opening 118 by the locking system 31, as shown in FIG.

More particularly, the handle 114 is moved in the longitudinal direction X so that the shoulder 136 extends outside the opening. The indexing finger 138 enters the opening 118 and adopts an extended position.

The handle is in a locked position.

A user is then able to use the handle with the article, for example, to manually open or move the article.

When the user wishes to separate the handle 114 of the article 112, it unlocks the hook 134 of the opening 118 through the unlocking element 140.

More particularly the user acts on the unlocking element 140 to move the indexing finger in the retracted position. The user then moves the hook 134 into the unlocked cooperation position with the opening. More particularly, it moves the handle in the longitudinal direction X, so that the indexing finger 138 is no longer opposite the opening 118.

Finally, the user removes the hook 134 from the opening 118. The user is then able to use the handle 114 with another article 112.

Such a manoeuvrable assembly thus separates the handle from the article, so that when the handle is not used with said article, the handle can be used with other articles in a similar manner. A handle can therefore be used for several items and fewer handles are likely to be produced. This allows for both economic gain and ecological gain.

In addition, once the handle removed, the size of the article is reduced.

Claims (2)

HEVENDICA I IDNo A maneuverable assembly (10; 110) comprising an article (12,112) defining at least one opening (18; 118) and a removable handle (14; 114), the handle (14; 114) comprising a surface contact member (30; 130) having at least one hook (34; 134) adapted to interact with an edge of the opening (18; 118) in a locked position in which the handle (14; 114) is attached to the article (12; 112), the handle (14; 114) comprising a locking system (31; 131) of the hook (34; 134) in the locked position, the locking system (31; 131) comprising an unlocking element ( 40; 140) having an annular shape and adapted to unlock the hook (34; 134) from the opening (18; 118) when actuated to move the handle (14; 114) to a position separate from the the article (12; 112), wherein the hook does not interact with the edge of the opening. 2, - The assembly of claim 1, wherein the article (12; 112) is a drawer or an electronic bay. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the article (12; 112) defines at least two openings (18; 118) and the handle (14; 114) comprises at least two hooks (34; 134); each hook (34; 134) being adapted to interact with an edge of a different opening (18; 118) in the locking position. 4, - assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the locking system (31; 131) comprises at least one indexing finger, the indexing finger being movable between an extended position and a retracted position the indexing finger having an extension relative to the contact surface (30; 130) having a first dimension in the extended position and a second dimension in the retracted position, the first dimension being greater than the second dimension; an unlocking member (40; 140) being provided for moving the indexing finger from its extended position to its retracted position. 5, - An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the opening (18; 118) is through and in that the at least one hook (34; 134) has a shoulder (36; 136) in a longitudinal direction, the hook (34; 134) passing through the opening (18; 118) and the shoulder (36; 136) extending at least partially outside the opening (18; 118) when the handle (36; 14; 114) is attached to article (12; 112). 6. - assembly according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the article (12) defines at least one indexing hole (28), the opening (18) having a proximal edge (26) against which extends l shoulder (36), each indexing finger (38) being able to penetrate into an indexing hole (28), the distance between the indexing finger (38) and a contact edge of the hook (34) with the shoulder (36) being substantially equal to the distance between the indexing hole (28) and the proximal edge (26) of the opening. 7. - assembly according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the indexing finger (138) extends near a hook (134), the indexing finger (138) being able to enter the opening (118) simultaneously with said hook (134). The assembly of claim 7, wherein the locking system (131) comprises an indexing finger (138) for each hook (134). The assembly of claim 7 or 8, wherein the indexing finger (138) is located beside the hook (134) in the longitudinal direction away from the shoulder (136), a dimension of opening (118) in the longitudinal direction being strictly less than the longitudinal dimension of the hook (134), the indexing finger (138) and the distance between the hook (134) and the indexing finger (138). 10. - Method of using a removable handle on an article, comprising the following steps: - providing an assembly (10; 110) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, - insertion of the hook (34; 134) in the opening (18; 118), - locking the hook (34; 134) in the opening (18; 118) by the locking system (31; 131); - using the handle (14; 114 ) with the article (12; 112), the hook (34; 134) and the handle (14; 114) being in the locked position; - unlocking the hook (34; 134) in the opening (18; 118) by the unlocking member (40; 140), and - withdrawing the hook (34; 134) from the opening (18; 118).