Panic handle for doors

Abstract

The present invention provides a combination door and panic handle for use on the interior side of entrance doors. In one mode of operation the panic handle may be moved inwards towards the door face to unlatch the door. In this mode of operation the door may be opened on the exterior side by use of a key. In an alternative mode of operation, the panic handle is "locked-out" and prevented from moving. In this mode of operation the door is unlatched and the panic handle may be used as a fixed door handle. In the movable mode of operation, pressure may be applied along any portion of the panic handle to facilitate unlatching the door. The operating mechanism of the panic handle is concealed presenting a smooth uncluttered appearance.

Description

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a combination door and panic handle for use with entrance doors. In one mode of operation the panic handle is movable to facilitate unlatching the door when pressure is applied towards the door at any point along the surface of the panic handle. The panic handle may, alternatively, be dogged in its most inward position which permanently unlatches the door. In this mode of operation the panic handle is used as a stationary door handle. The door may be opened from the exterior side, when latched, by use of a key. A fixed exterior handle is located adjacent to a segment of the interior panic handle to provide a symmetrical appearance. When used on a glass door, the exterior and interior handles appear as one continuous handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typical panic handle installed on a rectangular door.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the door and panic handle combination illustrating the relative motion of the panic handle in its outer (latched) position and inner (unlatched) position.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines III--III of FIG. 1, with the door and panic handle mechanism shown in the unlatched position.

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3, of the door and panic handle mechanism, but shown in the latched position.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the door and panic handle and exterior fixed handle, taken along lines V--V of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the mounting means used to secure one end of the fixed exterior handle and one end of the movable panic handle to the door, taken along lines VI--VI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of an alternative mounting means used to secure the end of the panic handle adjacent the door latch to the door frame assembly.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of a panic handle, taken along a line similar to that III--III of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate the appearance of the panic handle for the present invention. Of course, it will be understood that many alternative configurations could be used for this panic handle and that the embodiment shown is by way of illustration. As shown, the panic handle is mounted at each of its ends to the interior of the door. As shown in FIG. 2, the handle is susceptible of limited motion toward and away from the door, although, of course, the end points of the panic bar furthest from the mounting points is capable of sufficient motion to facilitate latching and unlatching the door as will be discussed below. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, panic bar assembly 100 is movably mounted to the interior of door assembly 400. Panic bar assembly 100 engages stationary actuator post assembly 300 as shown. An optional exterior handle assembly 200, may be fixed to the exterior portion of door 400.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the overall operation of the panic handle of this invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the panic handle is in the latched position. As illustrated, latch bolt 107 engages latching recess 500 which secures the door assembly 400 in the locked position. The door is unlatched when a force is applied to the panic handle in the direction illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 by arrows "A", it being appreciated that this force may be applied almost anywhere along the surface of panic bar assembly 100. A force applied to the panic bar in the direction "A" illustrated initiates the sequence of events which automatically unlatch latch bolt 107 allowing door assembly 400 to move in the direction illustrated by arrow "B" of FIG. 3. As panic bar assembly 100 moves towards door assembly 400, the stationary actuator post assembly 300 penetrates the panic bar assembly as shown and through a series of lever arms effectuates withdrawal of latch bolt 107. Specifically, as the panic bar assembly moves towards the door, lever arm 102 changes position as shown in reaction to the force applied by the end of the stationary actuator post assembly which penetrates the panic bar assembly. This motion of lever arm 102 causes the over-center mechanism 104 to change positions, as shown, which in turn moves bar 105 downwardly, as shown, ultimately withdrawing latch bolt 107 into the end of panic bar assembly 100 unlatching the door. Springs 305 and 106 against sliding guide bar 110 and latch bolt 107 facilitate restoring the panic bar to the latched position, away from the door, when exterior force "A" is removed.

Dog mechanism assembly 120 facilitates locking the panic bar assembly in its most inward position towards the door which has the effect of permanently unlatching the door. In this position, the panic handle becomes a stationary door handle. As illustrated, dog assembly 120 may be moved upward by use of slide member 122 to engage the inward lip of 129 of the stationary actuator post assembly 300 securing the handle in the unlatched position. Detent locking member 121 is spring loaded at 130 and secures the dogging mechanism 120 in either the dogged or undogged position by engaging in detents 131 or 132 upon movement of slide member 122 upwardly or downwardly as shown by arrows "C" and "D" respectively.

A locking mechanism is illustrated schematically at 301. This locking mechanism is useful to open the door from the exterior side when the door is latched. Of course, it is not necessary to unlock the door when it is unlatched and, accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3, key actuated mechanism (or magnetic card or combination actuated mechanism) 301 is ineffective when the door is in the unlatched position. When the door is in the latched position, as shown in FIG. 4, turning the key member in key mechanism 301, as illustrated schematically, moves assembly 101 to the left, as illustrated in FIG. 4, engaging lever arm 102 and, initiating the sequence of events described above which ultimately unlatches the door.

As has been described, panic handle assembly 100 is pivotally mounted to door assembly 401 in such a manner that the panic handle is free to move sufficiently to allow interaction with the stationary handle actuator post 300 to latch and unlatch the door. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate one possible mechanism for achieving said mounting although it will be appreciated that many alternative designs could be employed. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, mounting hardware can be employed which secures one end of exterior handle 200 to glass door 400 in conjunction with mounting apparatus used to secure one end of panic handle assembly 100 to glass door 400. The effect of using this hardware arrangement in conjunction with a glass door is aesthetically pleasing because the fixed exterior handle and movable interior panic handle appear to be one continuous unit. Handle mounting assembly 600 rigidly secures exterior handle 200 to door 400 by use of threaded bolt 603. The interior panic handle assembly 100 is pivotally secured to door 400 by means of pivot boss 602 movably threaded into assembly 600 at 604 and pivot pin 601 engaged through boss 602 to handle 100 as shown in FIG. 6. It will be appreciated that this assembly allows panic handle assembly 100 to move freely about pivot pin 601 and also allows a very limited degree of motion by rotation of threaded boss 602 in threads 604 when the handle is moved from the exterior to interior positions and vice versa.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a panic bar assembly mounting used to secure the bar to the frame 420 of a door adjacent the latch assembly. As shown, mounting assembly 401 is secured to the outer frame 420 of door assembly 400. Of course, alternative configurations of mounting bracket and door assembly can be employed without departing from the spirit of this invention and, accordingly, FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate variations of door style and configuration and mounting bracket in direct engagement with the glass of the door. All configurations represented by drawings 1 through 7 employ ball-shaped member 108 in conjunction with a cylindrical support mechanism the effect of which allows latch bolt 107 to be precisely located for engagement with latch 500 while allowing panic handle assembly 100 to pivot slightly as the panic handle is moved toward or away from the door.

An alternative configuration is illustrated in FIG. 8. As shown, the top of panic bar assembly 801 is rigidly fixed to door assembly 800 by mounting bracket 870. In this configuration panic bar 801 is divided into two rigid pieces joined together by an internal rubber sleeve 850 with the lower piece being pivotally movable relative to the upper piece. As shown in FIG. 8, this pivot point is located somewhat lower than the pivot point of the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7. Nevertheless, the relative motion of the movable part of the panic bar 801 is quite small; and accordingly, linkage 805 and other linkage members 806 and 860 are substantially as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

It is important that latch bolt 107 be able to extend freely into engagement with latch 500 without any excess play or free motion of the latching mechanism within panic bar assembly 100. To facilitate this, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, inner wheels 120 securely engage the inner surface of panic bar assembly 100 while allowing free motion of the latch assembly. The axles of said inner wheels are oriented in different directions, as shown, to constrain excess play in all directions. An alternative mechanism which achieves the same effect is shown in FIG. 8. In this configuration two wheels 840 ride within slots 842 which run parallel to the inner surface panic bar assembly 801 and are located in a vertical plate 843 carried along the right wall 844 of assembly 801. Wheels 840 are sized such that they securely engage the inner surface of one side of panic bar assembly 801 and fit securely into slot 842 on the opposite side of panic bar assembly 801. This assures that the latch assembly will have a minimum of play while at the same time being able to move freely as required when latching and unlatching the door mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 8, panic bar assembly 801 pivots slightly when the panic handle is depressed about rubber coupling 850. The coupling 150 is held in place by internal sleeves 851 and 852 as shown. The small gap between segments of panic bar assembly 801 which occur about sleeve 850 are just sufficient to allow slight motions of the movable portions of panic bar assembly 801 while retaining a smooth finished appearance.

This preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a "L" shaped panic bar assembly as illustrated. This illustrated panic bar assembly is particularly striking when used on a glass door assembly in conjunction with a fixed exterior handle as shown. It will be understood that other configurations of the panic handle assembly, such as straight handles (pivoted at only one end); "U" shaped handles (pivoted at two ends); and "L" shaped handles with varing length straight sections may be employed without departing from the nature of this invention.

Claims

1. A door and panic handle combination comprising a bar along and carried by the inside of the pivot means allowing limited pivotal movement of the bar between positions toward and away from the door; said bar having a latch mechanism longitudinally disposed therein and terminating in a latch bolt at the end of the bar adjacent said door edge; a stationary actuator post carried by said door at a location along said door spaced from said pivot mounting means and operationally engagable with said latch mechanism for movement of said latch mechanism between latched and unlatched positions as said bar is moved correspondingly between respective positions away from and toward said door.

2. The door and panic handle combination of claim 1 wherein said pivot means comprises at least one pivot mounting means at the inside of the door adjacent to perimeter edge thereof.

3. The door and panic handle combination of claim 1, wherein said actuator post protrudes away from the door, on the inside of the door, at a location in line with said bar and between ends of said bar.

4. The door and panic handle combination of claim 1, wherein means are provided for optionally securing said bar and actuator post relative to each other with the post in its position toward the door.

5. The door and panic handle combination of claim 1, wherein lock means are provided on the exterior of said door for operationally engaging said latch mechanism from the exterior of the door and moving said mechanism into the unlatched position while said bar is in its position away from said door.

6. The door and panic handle combination of claim 1, wherein said latch mechanism includes an over-center pivot member for engagement by said actuator post.

7. The door and panic handle combination of claim 1, wherein said bar is of the generally hollow type.

8. The door and panic handle combination of claim 1, wherein said door is of the glass-like type.

9. The door and panic handle combination of claim 1, wherein said door is provided with a stationary handle on the exterior of said door.

10. The door and panic handle combination of claim 1, wherein said exterior door edge at which the latch bolt is adjacent, is one of the horizontal door edges.

11. The door and panic handle combination of claim 1, wherein said bar has at least two legs at generally right angles to each other, with the two ends of the bar being pivotally mounted relative to said door.

12. The door and panic handle combination of claim 3, wherein means are provided for optionally securing said bar and actuator post relative to each other with the post in its position toward the door, and wherein lock means are provided on the exterior of said door for operationally engaging said latch mechanism from the exterior of the door and moving said mechanism into the unlatched position while said bar is in its position away from said door.

13. The door and panic handle combination of claim 12, wherein said door is of the glass-like type, and wherein said door is provided with a stationary handle on the exterior of said door.

14. The door and panic handle combination of claim 7 wherein said pivot means comprises at least one flexible coupling located within said bar.

15. The door and panic handle combination of claim 7 wherein at least two inner wheels mounted on said latch mechanism contact the inner surface of said hollow bar to prevent excess play in said latch bolt.

16. The door and panic handle combination of claim 15 wherein the axles of at least two of said wheels are oriented in different directions to prevent excess play in all directions.

17. The door and panic handle combination of claim 15 wherein said inner wheels engage slots at said inner surface.