Abstract
The invention is directed to a handle assembly for rotating a pivot rod attached to a damper within ductwork, for the purpose of controlling the flow of conditioned air therethrough. In particular, the present invention provides a pre-assembled portion of the required parts, thereby reducing the number of steps required for final assembly of the damper handle to the pivot rod, resulting in a significant time savings.
Claims
1. A handle assembly for rotating a pivot rod attached to a damper within ductwork comprising: a. a washer having a first through hole being adapted to be slidably inserted over the pivot rod; b. a handle having a pivot end and a free end, wherein the handle is adapted for rotating the pivot rod, wherein the handle is permanently attached to the washer; and c. wingnut permanently attached to the pivot end of the handle, wherein the wingnut is threadedly engageable with the pivot rod and fixed in position relative to the handle in a direction defined by a pivot axis of the pivot rod.
2. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivot end of the handle has a second through hole being adapted to be slidably inserted over the pivot rod.
3. The handle assembly of claim 2, wherein the second through hole is configured and dimensioned to correspond with a cross-sectional shape of the pivot rod so that rotation of the handle causes simultaneous rotation of the pivot rod.
4. The handle of claim 1, wherein the washer comprises: a. a plate; and b. a pad being joined to a proximal portion of the plate.
5. The handle of claim 4, wherein the plate includes a distal portion which is permanently attached to the handle.
6. The handle of claim 5, wherein the plate is permanently attached to the handle via at least one rivet.
7. The handle of claim 5, wherein the metal plate includes a central bent portion positioned between the first through hole and the distal portion.
8. The handle of claim 4, wherein the pad is made from rubber.
9. The handle of claim 8, wherein the rubber pad includes a proximal frictional surface for engagement with a wall of the ductwork.
10. The handle of claim 2, wherein before assembly the wingnut includes a cylindrical tail, and wherein after assembly the cylindrical tail extends through the second through hole and is flared over the second through hole for achieving a permanent attachment thereof.
11. The handle of claim 1, wherein the wingnut has a threaded hole for threadedly engaging with the pivot rod.
12. A handle assembly for rotating a pivot rod attached to a damper within ductwork comprising the following three parts: a. a washer having a through hole being adapted to be slidably inserted over the pivot rod; b. a handle having a pivot end and a free end, wherein the handle is adapted for rotating the pivot rod; and c. a wingnut, wherein the wingnut is threadedly engageable with the pivot rod; and wherein any two of the three parts are permanently pre-assembled in order to save time when attaching the three parts to the pivot rod.
13. The handle assembly of claim 12, wherein the washer is permanently attached to the handle.
14. The handle assembly of claim 12, wherein the handle is permanently attached to the wingnut.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) In the accompanying drawings:
(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a damper handle assembly for ductwork according to the prior art;
(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a damper handle assembly for ductwork of the present invention;
(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 2, after it has been threadably attached to the end of the pivot rod;
(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly taken in the direction of line 4-4 of FIG. 3;
(6) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly taken in the direction of line 5-5 of FIG. 4;
(7) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly after the free end of the lever is selectively rotated and then the wingnut is tightened to lock the position of the damper;
(8) FIG. 7 is a side view of the assembly taken in the direction of line 7-7 of FIG. 4;
(9) FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the wingnut before it is permanently attached to the pivot end of the handle; and
(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the wingnut after it is permanently attached to the pivot end of the handle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(11) The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(12) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a damper handle assembly 800 for ductwork of the present invention. A pivot rod 10 has a generally rectangular cross-section and includes a threaded end 11. The pivot rod 10 is rotatably connected to a wall of the ductwork via a bushing 12. The ductwork includes an optional U-shaped bracket 14 of sheet metal, attached to the air duct 16 of ductwork by bent feet which can be attached to the ductwork in a known manner such as by spot welds or otherwise. An outer wall 13 of the U-shaped bracket 14 is positioned at the outermost portion of the bracket and includes a central aperture through which one end of the pivot rod 10 extends. The damper handle assembly 800 includes a washer 300, a handle 500, and a wingnut 700. These three parts are pre-assembled to allow them to be threadably connected to the pivot rod 10 in a single step.
(13) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 2, after it has been threadably attached to the end of the pivot rod 10. In particular, first the entire assembly is slid over the free end of the pivot rod 10 and then the wingnut 700 is threadably engaged with the threaded end 11 of the pivot rod 10. The lever 500 can be locked into a selected position by tightening the wingnut 700 to exert a sufficient clamping force between the outer wall 13 and wingnut 700 to prevent the rotation of the lever 500 because of the frictional engagement thereof.
(14) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly taken in the direction of line 4-4 of FIG. 3. The washer 300 includes a rubber pad 310 and a metal plate 320. In other embodiments, the pad 310 can be made from any other materials having suitable surface friction and elasticity. In other embodiments, the circular plate 32 is made from any other materials having a suitable rigidity, such as plastic and the like. The rubber pad 310 is joined to a proximal portion of a metal plate 320 along adjacent surfaces via a suitable adhesive material, glue, or the like. A generally rectangular through hole 330 (see FIG. 7) extends through the washer 300 and is shaped and dimensioned to slide over the pivot rod 10. The metal plate 320 of the washer includes a generally circular proximal portion that is joined to a generally rectangular distal portion through a central bent portion forming an offset. The generally rectangular distal portion of the metal plate 320 forms an elongated extension piece that is attached to handle 500 at connection point A. In one embodiment, the metal plate 320 of the washer is permanently attached to the handle 500 by one or more rivets 410 (see FIG. 7). The handle 500 includes a pivot end 520 having a circular through hole 510 (see FIG. 8) that is shaped and dimensioned to slide over the pivot rod 10. The handle 500 includes a free end 530 opposite the pivot end 520. The wingnut 700 includes a threaded hole 710 (see FIG. 8) that is threadably engaged with the threaded end 11 of the pivot rod 10. The wingnut 700 is permanently connected to the pivot end 520 of the handle 500, as explained below.
(15) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly taken in the direction of line 5-5 of FIG. 4. The rubber pad 310 of the washer contacts the outer wall 13 and the rubber pad 310 becomes compressed as the wingnut 700 is tightened on the threaded end 11 of the pivot rod. Therefore, the rubber pad 310 engages with the outer wall 13 to form a frictional connection to prevent the rotation of the pivot rod 10 after a predetermined amount of compression of the rubber pad 310 is accomplished by tightening the wingnut 700.
(16) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly after the free end 530 of the lever is selectively rotated in direction R and then the wingnut 700 is tightened to lock the position of the damper, as explained above. As the wingnut 700 is tightened, the rubber pad 310 is compressed, and the distance d is decreased.
(17) FIG. 7 is a side view of the assembly taken in the direction of line 7-7 of FIG. 4. The washer 300 includes a rubber pad 310 that is joined to a metal plate 320 along adjacent surfaces, wherein a generally rectangular through hole 330 extends through the washer 300 and is shaped and dimensioned to slide over the pivot rod 10. In one embodiment, the metal plate 320 is permanently attached to the pivot end 520 of the handle 500 by one or more rivets 410. In other embodiments, the metal plate is attached to the pivot end of the handle by spot welding, gluing, screwing, and the like. In one embodiment, the rubber pad 310 includes a generally circular shape, but with a straight edge at one side that aligns with the proximal end of the central bent portion of the metal plate 320 (see FIG. 4).
(18) FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the wingnut 700 before it is permanently attached to the pivot end 520 of the handle. The wingnut 700 includes a cylindrical tail 720 that is dimensioned to slide into the circular through hole 510 that is formed in the pivot end 520 of the handle. In one embodiment, the cylindrical tail 720 is formed by milling down the end of a wingnut along its outer surface.
(19) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the wingnut 700 after it is permanently attached to the pivot end 520 of the handle. First, the cylindrical tail 720 is inserted through the through hole 510 of the handle as far as possible. Next, the cylindrical tail 720 is flared over the outside of the opening 510 of the pivot end 520 of the handle by smashing the cylindrical tail 720. Therefore, the flared end of the cylindrical tail permanently attaches the wingnut 700 to the pivot end 520 of the handle, while at the same time allowing for unrestricted rotation of the wingnut 700 relative to the pivot end 520 of the handle.
(20) The damper handle assembly of the present invention provides a pre-assembled configuration of the required parts, thereby reducing the number of steps required for final assembly of the damper handle to the pivot rod, resulting in a significant time savings.
(21) The required parts generally include three parts: a wingnut, a handle, and a washer. In a preferred embodiment, the three parts are permanently pre-assembled into a single unit as described above. According to other embodiments of the invention, any two of the three parts are permanently pre-assembled in order to save time when attaching the three parts to the pivot rod. In one such embodiment, the wingnut is permanently attached to the handle, with the washer remaining a separate part that is not part of the pre-assembled configuration. In another such embodiment, the washer is permanently attached to the handle, with the wingnut remaining a separate part that is not part of the pre-assembled configuration.
(22) The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented to illustrate the principles of the invention and not to limit the invention to the particular embodiment illustrated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by all of the embodiments encompassed within the following claims, and their equivalents.
