Handle lock

Claim 1

A door handle structure comprising an inner handle assembly, an outer handle assembly, and a drive element interconnecting said assemblies and for operating a door latch, the inner handle assembly including an inner bearing plate for attachment to an inner surface of a door, an inner tubular shaft journalled in the inner bearing plate, an inner handle on the inner tubular shaft externally of the inner bearing plate and an inner drive plate carried by the inner tubular shaft for rotation therewith internally of the inner bearing plate, the outer handle assembly including an outer bearing plate for attachment to an outer surface of the door, an outer tubular shaft journalled in the outer bearing plate, an outer handle on the outer tubular shaft externally of the outer bearing plate and an outer drive plate carried by the outer tubular shaft for rotation therewith internally of the outer bearing plate, the drive element comprising a drive shaft extending between and rotationally interconnecting the inner and outer drive plates, the handle structure further including a locking mechanism comprising a locking notch in the outer drive plate, an inwardly tapering hole in the inner bearing plate, an axially movable locking rod having a large diameter proximal end portion received in said hole, and a small diameter distal end portion for movement into and out of said notch respectively to lock and unlock the structure, the rod having a first unlocked position wherein said distal end portion is removed from said notch and said proximal end portion is a loose fit in said tapering hole and a second locked position wherein said distal end portion is received in said notch and said proximal end portion is a tight fit in said tapering hole, wherein the locking rod includes an elongate peripheral slot and the locking mechanism further includes a locating plate internally attached to the inner bearing plate, the locating plate extending into said slot for limiting axial movements of the locking rod.