Patent Application
20110099925
The present invention relates to a mullion assembly and, more particularly, to a mullion assembly for a double door mounted in a double doorway.
It is usual to mount a mullion assembly in a double doorway for engaging with two latches of two doors (or known as a double door) pivotably mounted on opposite sides of a door frame. Easy removal of the mullion assembly is required when a full door opening is desired for unobstructed pass purposes. Furthermore, to prevent the doors from being opened when exposed to a fire, it is desirable for the mullion assembly to have enhanced structural strength and fire resistant functions. In a proposed design, the mullion assembly includes a top fitting mounted to the top of a door frame, a bottom fitting assembly mounted to the bottom of the door frame, a mullion head detachably engaged with the top fitting, and a mullion tube mounted between the mullion head and the bottom fitting assembly. A fusible spacer is disposed between the top fitting and the mullion head for accommodating thermal expansion of the mullion assembly in case of fire to resist warping of the mullion assembly. The top fitting includes a vertical slot into which a locking bolt extends. The locking bolt moves upwardly in the vertical slot due to thermal expansion of the mullion assembly to maintain the locked condition without buckling the mullion assembly when the fusible spacer melts due to the heat of the fire. However, a high pressure gas could be generated due to high temperature of combustion or explosion in the fire to destroy the mullion assembly. This is because the engaging force between the mullion tube and the top fitting depends only on the locking bolt and is, thus, insufficient to withstand the high pressure gas, resulting in undesired opening of the doors and flowing of smoke and fire from the outside into the inside.
Thus, a need exists for a mullion assembly with a removable post that allows easy assembly while having improved structural strength to withstand fire.
The present invention solves this need and other problems in the field of mullion assemblies for a double door mounted in a double doorway by providing, in a preferred form, a mullion assembly including a top mounting block adapted to be attached to a top beam of a door frame that includes two opposite side beams to which two doors of the double door are pivotably mounted. Each door includes a door lock having a latch. The top mounting block includes a positioning rod extending in a horizontal direction. The mullion assembly further includes a bottom mounting block adapted to be mounted on a floor spaced from the top beam in a vertical direction. The bottom mounting block is aligned with the top mounting block in the vertical direction. The mullion assembly further includes a post having two strikes adapted to respectively couple with the latches of the door locks when the doors are in a closed state. The post includes upper and lower ends spaced in the vertical direction. The lower end of the post is detachably engaged with the bottom mounting block. A brace is mounted to the upper end of the post. A mounting bracket is mounted to the brace. A pivotal plate is pivotably mounted to the mounting bracket and includes upper and lower ends spaced in the vertical direction. The pivotal plate further includes a coupling slot in the upper end of the pivotal plate such that the positioning rod is removably received in the coupling slot of the pivotal plate. The upper end of the pivotal plate is rotatable relative to the mounting bracket between a first position and a second position. A retaining member is moveably mounted to the mounting bracket and includes a locking portion and an engaging portion. The locking portion of the retaining member is moveable between a locking position engaged with the pivotal plate and an unlocking position disengaged from the pivotal plate. A key cylinder is mounted to the brace and includes a key-operable actuating member. The actuating member is operably connected to the engaging portion of the retaining member to move the retaining member between the locking position and the unlocking position. When the upper end of the pivotal plate is in the first position and the locking portion of the retaining member is in the locking position, the pivotal plate can not be rotated relative to the mounting bracket from the first position to the second position, locking the post between the top and bottom mounting blocks. When the upper end of the pivotal plate is in the first position and the locking portion of the retaining member is in the unlocking position, the pivotal plate can be rotated relative to the mounting bracket from the first position to the second position, allowing removal of the post from the top and bottom mounting blocks.
In the most preferred form, the mounting bracket is substantially U-shaped in cross section and includes a main wall and two sidewalls interconnected by the main wall. The two sidewalls of the mounting bracket are spaced in the horizontal direction and each includes upper and lower ends spaced in the vertical direction. The upper end of each sidewall of the mounting bracket has a coupling opening aligned with and below the positioning rod of the top mounting block in the vertical direction. The coupling openings of the mounting bracket are coupled with the positioning rod of the top mounting block when the mounting bracket moves upwardly in the vertical direction due to thermal expansion of the post.
The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.
The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where:
a shows an enlarged view of a circled portion of
b shows an enlarged view of another circled portion of
All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood.
Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “first”, “second”, “inner”, “outer”, “side”, “end”, “portion”, “top”, “bottom”, “annular”, “vertical” “horizontal”, “width”, “length”, and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention.
A mullion assembly according to the preferred teachings of the present invention is shown in the drawings and generally designated 10. According to the most preferred form shown, mullion assembly 10 is mounted in a door frame 22 for a double door mounted in a double doorway. Door frame 22 includes a top beam 24 spaced from a floor 20 in a vertical direction. Door frame 22 further includes two opposite side beams 25 interconnected by top beam 24 and spaced in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. The double door includes inner and outer faces 28 and 30 and first and second doors 26 respectively and pivotably mounted by pivots 21 to side beams 25 of door frame 22 and each including a door lock 32 having a latch 34 on an end thereof.
According to the preferred form shown, mullion assembly 10 includes a top mounting block 92 having top and bottom portions 94 and 98 spaced in the vertical direction. Top portion 94 includes a locking hole 96 and two slots 97. A screw 110 is extended through each of locking hole 96 and slots 97 to attach top mounting block 92 to top beam 24 of door frame 22 (see
According to the preferred form shown, a bottom mounting block 112 is mounted on floor 20 and aligned with top mounting block 92 in the vertical direction (see
According to the preferred form shown, mullion assembly 10 further includes a post 40 in the most preferred form shown as a hollow tube having rectangular cross sections. Post 40 includes upper and lower ends 42 and 44 spaced in the vertical direction. Post 40 further includes four sidewalls 46 extending between upper and lower ends 42 and 44. Lower end 44 of post 40 is detachably engaged with bottom mounting block 112 with sidewalls 46 of lower end 44 of post 40 mounted around coupling portions 118 of bottom mounting block 112 and resting on base 114 of bottom mounting block 112. Upper end 42 of post 40 includes aligned upper through-holes 48 and aligned lower through-holes 48. Post 40 further includes two strikes 36 respectively coupling with latches 34 of door locks 32 when first and second doors 26 are in a closed state (see
According to the preferred form shown, mullion assembly 10 further includes a brace 50 that is substantially U-shaped in cross section. Brace 50 includes a first wall 56 and second and third walls 58 and 60 interconnected by first wall 56. Second and third walls 58 and 60 are spaced in the horizontal direction. Brace 50 further includes upper and lower portions 52 and 54 spaced in the vertical direction. Lower portion 54 of each of second and third walls 58 and 60 includes upper and lower through-holes 68 and 74. Upper through-holes 48 of upper end 42 of post 40 are aligned with upper through-holes 68 of second and third walls 58 and 60 of brace 50 in the horizontal direction. An upper pin 72 extends through upper through-hole 68 of second wall 58 and upper through-hole 48 of post 40 and includes a screw hole 73 in an end thereof (see
According to the preferred form shown, mullion assembly 10 further includes a positioning device 12 that includes a mounting bracket 122, a coupling assembly 170 and a retaining member 138 (see
According to the preferred form shown, coupling assembly 170 includes two pivotal plates 172 pivotably mounted in mounting bracket 122 and spaced in the horizontal direction. Each pivotal plate 172 includes upper and lower ends 171 and 173 spaced in the vertical direction. A coupling slot 176 is formed in upper end 171 of each pivotal plate 172 and includes opposite first and second sides 178 and 180. Coupling slot 176 has a length in the vertical direction greater than a diameter of positioning rod 102. Each pivotal plate 172 further includes an engaging hole 184 aligned with shaft holes 132 of mounting bracket 122. A shaft 186 extends through shaft holes 132 of mounting bracket 122 and engaging holes 184 of pivotal plates 172 to allow pivotal plates 172 to rotate about a pivot axis defined by shaft 186 between a first position and a second position. Coupling slot 176 of each pivotal plate 172 is at an acute angle to the vertical direction when pivotal plates 172 are in the second position. Coupling slot 176 of each pivotal plate 172 substantially extends in the vertical direction when pivotal plates 172 are in the first position. Each pivotal plate 172 further includes an outer periphery 174 having first and second abutting faces 175 and 177 between which coupling slot 176 is formed. Second abutting face 177 of each pivotal plate 172 is adjacent to main wall 124 of mounting bracket 122 and abuts main wall 124 of mounting bracket 122 when pivotal plates 172 are in the second position. Lower end 173 of each pivotal plate 172 includes a notch 182 and an abutting portion 185. Coupling assembly 170 further includes a torsion spring 192 mounted between pivotal plates 172 and biasing pivotal plates 172 from the first position to the second position. Torsion spring 192 includes two coil portions 194 through which shaft 186 extending and an interconnecting portion 196 interconnecting coil portions 194. Torsion spring 192 further includes first and second tangs 198 each extending from an end of one of coil portions 194. First tang 198 of torsion spring 192 abuts against abutting bend 128 of mounting bracket 122, and second tang 198 of torsion spring 192 abuts against abutting portions 185 of pivotal plates 172. Two spacers 200 are mounted around shaft 186 and between coil portions 194 of torsion spring 192. A washer 202 is mounted around shaft 186 and between one of pivotal plates 172 and one of spacers 200. Shaft 186 includes an annular groove 190 intermediate two ends 188 of shaft 186. A retainer ring 187 such as a C-clip is mounted in annular groove 190 and sandwiched between spacers 200 to retain shaft 186 in place
According to the preferred form shown, retaining member 138 is moveably mounted in mounting bracket 122 in the vertical direction and located below pivotal plates 172. Retaining member 138 is substantially U-shaped in cross section and includes an interconnecting plate 140 and two side plates 142 interconnected by the interconnecting plate 140 and spaced in the horizontal direction. Retaining member 138 further includes upper and lower portion 144 and 145 spaced in the vertical direction. Interconnecting plate 140 of retaining member 138 includes upper and lower ends spaced in the vertical direction. A locking portion 147 is formed on the upper end of interconnecting plate 140 of retaining member 138. An engaging portion 150 extends from the lower end of interconnecting plate 140 of retaining member 138 away from side plates 142 of retaining member 138 in the width direction. Side plates 142 of retaining member 138 include aligned limiting slots 146 aligned with limiting holes 134 of mounting bracket 122. Side plates 142 of retaining member 138 further include aligned positioning holes 148 aligned with sliding slots 136 of mounting bracket 122. A first limiting pin 152 extends through limiting holes 134 of mounting bracket 122 and limiting slots 146 of retaining member 138. A second limiting pin 158 extends through sliding slots 136 of mounting bracket 122 and positioning holes 148 of retaining member 138. First limiting pin 152 is located between shaft 186 and second limiting pin 158 in the vertical direction. Each sliding slot 136 of mounting bracket 122 has a length in the vertical direction greater than a diameter of positioning hole 148 of retaining member 138, and each limiting slot 146 of retaining member 138 has a length in the vertical direction greater than a diameter of limiting hole 134 of mounting bracket 122, allowing joint movement of retaining member 138 and second limiting pin 158 relative to mounting bracket 122 in the vertical direction. Thus, locking portion 147 of retaining member 138 is moveable in the vertical direction between a locking position engaged with notches 182 of pivotal plates 172 and an unlocking position disengaged from notches 182 of pivotal plates 172. Retaining member 138 further includes a spring 164 having a first end 166 attached to first limiting pin 152 and a second end 168 attached to second limiting pin 158 to bias retaining member 138 toward pivotal plates 172 and to bias locking portion 147 of retaining member 138 from the unlocking position to the locking position. Further, each of first and second limiting pins 152 and 158 includes two annual grooves 156, 162 in two outer ends 154, 160 thereof. A retainer ring 161 such as a C-clip is mounted in one of annual grooves 156, 162, preventing displacement of first and second limiting pins 152 and 158 in the horizontal direction.
According to the preferred form shown, mullion assembly 10 further includes a key cylinder 16 that includes a hollow body 78 having a flange 80 and receiving a lock core 86 which includes a keyway 88. Outer threading 84 is formed on an outer circumference of hollow body 78, allowing key cylinder 16 to be threadedly coupled in mounting hole 62 of first wall 56 of brace 50 with flange 80 abutting first wall 56 of brace 50. A support plate 79 with a mounting hole 83 and a locking ring 85 with a screw hole 87 are received in brace 50 and mounted around hollow body 78 to secure key cylinder 16 in place. Support plate 79 includes two bends 81 spaced in the vertical direction and abutting first wall 56 of brace 50. Support plate 79 further includes two sides spaced in the horizontal direction and abutting second and third walls 58 and 60 of brace 50. An actuating member 89 is mounted on an inner end of lock core 86 and rotatable by operation of a key 90 inserted into keyway 88 so that actuating member 89 is operably connected to engaging portion 150 of retaining member 138 to move locking portion 147 of retaining member 138 between the locking and unlocking positions.
Mullion assembly 10 according to the preferred teachings of the present invention allows easy removal of post 40 from top and bottom mounting blocks 92 and 112. Namely, post 40 can be easily removed from top and bottom mounting blocks 92 and 112 by operating key cylinder 16. Specifically, when retaining member 138 in the locking position and when key 90 is inserted into keyway 88 of lock core 86 and rotated (see
Further, mullion assembly 10 according to the preferred teachings of the present invention provides an improved structural strength and fire resistant functions. Specifically, upper ends 123 of sidewalls 126 of mounting bracket 122 are aligned with and below positioning rod 102 of top mounting block 92 in the vertical direction when mounting bracket 122 in normal situations (see
Now that the basic teachings of the present invention have been explained, many extensions and variations will be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art. For example, first end 166 of spring 164 can be attached to mounting bracket 12 and second end 168 of spring 164 can be attached second limiting pin 158 to bias retaining member 138 toward pivotal plates 172, so that mounting bracket 12 does not have to include first limiting pin 152.
Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims.
