Patent Application
20190360235
Not applicable.
Not Applicable.
The present disclosure generally relates to door opening mechanisms, and more particularly to a door exit device.
Door exit devices, sometimes referred to as panic devices or push bar devices, can be found on the interior side of doors to allow quick egress from a room or area. The user can quickly open the door by pushing against a push bar segment of the exit device. The exit device typically comprises a head segment and a push bar segment extending from the head segment. The push bar segment typically includes a longitudinal housing extending from the head segment, and a push bar mounted inside the longitudinal housing so as to be displaceable toward the interior of the housing. A pushing action against the push bar actuates a latch mechanism to withdraw a latch from a latch plate in the door jamb, thereby allowing the door to be opened in the direction of the pushing action. Once the pushing ceases, the push bar is biased back to its original by a spring mechanism in the housing, whereby the return of the push bar to its original position returns the latch to its latching position in which it can re-engage with the latch plate.
Although exit devices are simple to operate, installation onto an interior side of a door can be an arduous task. The difficulty comes from having to support a long push bar segment of the exit device against the door, while simultaneously aligning screws to prepared holes on the door, and then turning the screws with a screwdriver while still holding the push bar segment in position against the door.
The door exit device in accordance with this disclosure is configured to facilitate the installation of the exit device by separating the exit device into two or more subassemblies and breaking down the installation into a two-step process. In accordance with embodiments of this disclosure, the exit device can comprise a head segment and a push bar segment. The head segment can be fastened to the door independently of the push bar segment. That is, the head segment can be installed without having to support the added weight and bulkiness of the push bar segment. After the head segment is fastened to the door, the push bar segment of the exit device can be connected to the head segment and secured to the door.
In accordance with an embodiment of this disclosure, the head segment of the exit device can include a latch mechanism and a mounting bracket supporting the latch mechanism. The latch mechanism can comprise a latch bolt and a latch actuation apparatus operable to retract the latch bolt. The head segment can be aligned to a strike plate attached to a surface of a door jamb. After alignment with the strike plate, the head segment can be fixed to the inside surface of the door by conventional fasteners, such as screws. The latch mechanism may also be a subassembly installed on the door separately from the head segment.
After the head segment is secured to the door, the push bar segment can be assembled to the head segment. The push bar segment includes a housing containing a push bar that can be coupled directly or indirectly to the latch mechanism, whereby actuation of the push bar (i.e., by pushing it into the housing) causes the latch bolt to retract from the strike plate on the door jamb, so that the door can be opened. In one example, the push bar segment includes a slotted coupling arm that is maneuvered over an actuator pin of the latching mechanism, which is connected to the latch bolt. Pushing the push bar into the housing causes the coupling arm to pull the actuator pin of the latch mechanism, thereby causing the latch to retract toward the mounting bracket and away from the strike plate on the door jamb, thereby allowing the door to be opened.
In other embodiments, the latch mechanism can include a lever rotatably attached to the mounting bracket, with a first end of the lever engaging the push bar, and a second end of the lever engaging the latch bolt, which is also rotatably connected to the mounting bracket. Pushing the push bar into the housing pushes the first end of the lever, thereby causing the lever to rotate. As the lever rotates, the second end of the lever pushes on the latch bolt, which in turn causes the latch bolt to rotate and retract from the strike plate so that the door can be opened.
The aforementioned mechanisms for coupling the push bar to the latch bolt are exemplary only. Other coupling mechanisms will readily be accommodated by the subject matter of this disclosure.
After the push bar segment has been coupled to the latch mechanism, the push bar segment can be secured directly to the door and/or to the head segment. In one example, the push bar segment can be connected to the head segment by first engaging one or more resilient tabs on the push bar segment of the exit device in corresponding cutouts in the head segment. The push bar segment is then secured to the door. Other ways of connecting the push bar segment to the head segment can be accomplished by any conventional attachment means.
The head segment may also, instead, act as a coupler configured to couple the push bar segment to a separate latch mechanism previously secured to the door. The separate latch mechanism may be, for example, a mortise lock installed inside the edge of the door. A typical mortise lock comprises a drive with a specially shaped receiving hole configured to receive a similarly shaped spindle, and a latch bolt connected to the drive. The head segment is secured to the inside surface of the door with the spindle of the head segment inserted into the receiving hole to allow the drive to rotate with the spindle and retract the latch bolt. The push bar segment is secured to the head segment and/or the inside surface of the door, with the push bar coupled to the spindle of the head segment, such that depression of the push bar causes the latch bolt to retract.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of a door exit device in accordance with aspects of the presently-disclosed components, assemblies, and method. It is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present components, assemblies, and method may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the features and the steps for constructing and using the embodiments of the present components, assemblies, and method in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and structures may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. As denoted elsewhere herein, like element numbers are intended to indicate like or similar elements or features.
The push bar housing 202 accommodates a push bar 204 that is configured to be pushed toward the interior of the housing 202 to actuate a latch mechanism 40 in the head segment 100. A spring mechanism (not shown) in the housing 202 biases the push bar 204 to a return position after it has been pushed, as is well-known in the art. The push bar housing 202 is configured to be mounted horizontally on a door, and it has a coupling end (shown in the drawings) that is configured to be located relative to the latch mechanism 40 in the head segment 100 for operative coupling therewith, as will be described below.
In the illustrated embodiment, the push bar 204 is operatively coupled to the latch mechanism 40 by an actuator pin 165 in the latch mechanism 40 that is configured to be received in a slot 241 near the end of a coupling arm 240 in the housing 202 that is engaged by the push bar 204, as will be described below. Other mechanisms for operatively coupling the push bar 204 to the latch mechanism 40 may readily suggest themselves. The push bar segment 200 may also be directly attachable to the head segment 100 to properly align and maintain a link between the push bar segment 200 and the head segment 100. For example, as shown in
Referring to
After the head segment 100 is installed on the door, the coupling arm 240 can be manipulated to maneuver the slot 241 over the actuator pin 165, to connect the head segment 100 and the push bar segment 200, and to provide an operative coupling between the push bar 204 and the latch mechanism 40. The operative coupling transfers a pushing force applied to the push bar 204 through the coupling arm 240 and the actuator pin 165 to the latch bolt 150, so as to retract the latch bolt 150 from a recess in a strike plate 50 mounted on the door jamb 30, as shown in
Although exemplary embodiments of the exit devices, their components, and related methods have been specifically described and illustrated herein, many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, it is understood and contemplated that features specifically discussed for one exit device embodiment may be adapted for inclusion with another exit device, provided the functions are compatible. Accordingly, it is to be understood that exit devices, components, and related methods constructed according to the subject matter disclosed herein may be embodied other than as specifically described herein.
