Closing and opening, hundreds of times every day we perform a simple, seemingly inconsequential gesture through a discrete yet highly visible object whose importance, however, is little perceived: the handle.
Its etymology goes back to the Spanish word manilla derived from the Latin manicŭla, meaning “little hand.” Its gestures are closely related to the hand, constituting its point of reference and going beyond mere instrumental function. The outline of a handle is designed and crafted to make the most of the common prehensile faculties of the limb, fitting deeply into our daily lives.

Handle locks: models and features

Mainly, this object is classified into three categories: vertical (perpendicular to the floor), horizontal (parallel to the floor) and compression handles. Because of their shape, they can be called hammer, T-shaped or L-shaped and made of zinc alloy or polyamide.
Handles have also long been proven in the industrial field to facilitate the opening and locking of metal furniture, doors, electromechanical locking systems, stainless steel cabinets or vending machines.

Particularly in the models of handles and knobs with built-in keys for metal carpentry, it is avoided to make the effort of handling the cams or a rod carriage with rods to the key, significantly lengthening the life cycle of the product. Product that can be made of a wide variety of materials: sheet metal, wood, polymer, glass or plexiglass.
The uniqueness of a handle is not only distinguished by the shape and design of the handle, but also by its function, which can be extremely special, such as 1/4-turn models with anti-vibration, those with compression or automatic locking.

Each of us has direct experience with the handle, and although its presence may elude us, its features certainly make our daily lives easier as well as, as in models with laboratory-certified antibacterial and antimicrobial surfaces, preserve our health through active protection from the proliferation of germs and bacteria, especially at a very particular time like this, characterized by the Covid-19 pandemic.