Patent Application
20090194999
The present invention relates to a universal assembly and, more particularly, to a universal assembly for top and bottom latches for a panic exit door or the like.
Panic exit doors include horizontal type latches and vertical type latches. Vertical type latches include a top latch and a bottom latch, wherein the top and bottom latches include concealed type and surfaced type according to the way they are mounted. Conventionally, concealed-type top and bottom latches are different from one another and different from surfaced-type top and bottom latches that are also different from one another. U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,890 to Cohrs discloses a universal assembly including components and parts interchangeable between, for being common to, a top latch and a bottom latch in vertical-rod exit devices. Simply by adding a few discrete parts to the assembly, the same becomes, selectively, a top latch or a bottom latch. However, the resultant top and bottom latches are still too complicated and have too many different parts, leading to increased costs and assembling inconvenience.
A need exists for a universal assembly for top and bottom latches that have more common parts and less different parts.
The present invention solves this need and other problems in the field of universal assemblies for top and bottom latches by providing, in a preferred form, a latch assembly includes a base adapted to be mounted to a door. A latch bolt includes a latch having a first end pivotably connected to the base and a second end. The latch bolt further includes a link having a first end pivotably connected to the latch. The link further includes a second end pivotably connected to the base. The second end of the latch is pivotable between a latching position outside the base and an unlatching position inside the base. A follower plate is movably received in the base in a vertical direction. The follower plate includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the follower plate is pivotably connected to the second end of the link, allowing pivotal movement of the follower plate and the link relative to the base and allowing relative pivotal movement between the follower plate and the link. A linking rod includes a first end coupled with the second end of the follower plate to move therewith. The linking rod further includes a second end adapted to be connected to a vertical rod of a panic device mounted to the door to move therewith. When the linking rod moves in the vertical direction, the follower plate moves together with the linking rod in the vertical direction to pivot the latch between the latching position and the unlatching position.
In the most preferred form, the latch includes a first pivotal portion on the first end thereof and a second pivotal portion between the first and second ends thereof. A first pin extends through the base and the first pivotal portion of the latch and defines a first pivot axis about which the second end of the latch pivots. A second pin extends through the first end of the link and the second pivotal portion of the latch and defines a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis. The base is substantially U-shaped and including a main section and two sidewalls interconnected by the main section. The follower plate and the latch bolt are movably received between the sidewalls of the base. The first pin extends through the two sidewalls of the base. The sidewalls of the base include aligned first sliding slots extending in the vertical direction. A pin slideably extends through the first sliding slots in the vertical direction. The third pin further extends through the first end of the follower plate and the second end of the link, allowing pivotal movement of the follower plate and the link relative to the base and allowing relative pivotal movement between the follower plate and the link. The third pin is parallel to the first and second pins. The third pin moves in the first sliding slots in the vertical direction when the linking rod moves in the vertical direction to move the second end of the latch between the latching position and the unlatching position. The sidewalls of the base further include aligned second sliding slots extending in the vertical direction and above the first sliding slots. A fourth pin extends through the second sliding slots, the follower plate, and the first end of the linking rod, allowing joint vertical movement of the linking rod, the follower plate, and the fourth pin. The follower plate is substantially U-shaped and includes two sidewalls and an intermediate section interconnecting the sidewalls of the follower plate. The sidewalls of the follower plate include aligned slots extending in the vertical direction. The fourth pin slideably extends through the slots of the sidewalls of the follower plate. The third pin extends through the sidewalls of the follower plate and below the fourth pin. The second end of the link is received between the two sidewalls of the follower plate. A first spring is attached between the intermediate section of the follower plate and the main section of the base. The first spring is compressed when the second end of the latch is in the unlatching position, and with the compressed first spring biases the second end of the latch to the latching position.
The above-mentioned latch assembly can be utilized as a surfaced-type bottom latch or a concealed-type bottom latch of a panic device. After some modification, the above-mentioned latch assembly can be converted into a surfaced-type top latch or a concealed-type top latch after adding some parts. Particularly, the sidewalls of the base further include aligned first guiding slots each between one of the first sliding slots and one of the second sliding slots. Each first guiding slot includes a vertical section extending in the vertical direction and an inclined section at an acute angle with the vertical section. The sidewalls of the base further include aligned second guiding slots each between one of the first sliding slots and one of the first guiding slots in the vertical direction. Each second guiding slot extends in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. The sidewalls of the follower plate further include aligned slots each between the third pin and the slot of one of the sidewalls of the follower plate. The follower plate further includes aligned first engaging notches. Furthermore, a positioning pin slideably extends through the second guiding slots of the base. A safety plate includes a second engaging notch. The fourth pin extends through the safety plate to pivotably connect the safety plate to the first end of the first end of the linking rod while allowing joint movement of the linking rod and the safety plate in the vertical direction. A fifth pin extends through the first guiding slots of the base, the inclined slots of the follower plate, and the safety plate. The fifth pin is parallel to the fourth pin. The safety plate pivots about a pivot axis defined by the fourth pin while the fifth pin is moving in the inclined slots of the follower plate and the first guiding slots of the base. A second spring is attached between the positioning pin and the safety plate for biasing the safety plate toward the positioning pin. When the second end of the latch is in the latching position, the positioning pin is engaged with the second engaging notch of the safety plate to retain the latch in place. When the second end of the latch is in the unlatching position, the positioning pin is engaged with the first engaging notches of the follower plate to retain the latch in place. A guard plate is pivotably mounted to the base between the two sidewalls of the base and includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the guard plate is adapted to be pressed against by a strike mounted to a door frame of the door when the door is being closed. The second end of the guard plate comes in contact with and urges the positioning pin to disengage from the first engaging notches of the follower plate to release the latch when the first end of the guard plate is pressed against by the strike. Thus, second end of the latch moves to the latching position by the first spring.
In a case of a surfaced-type top latch, the first pin extends through the guard plate to pivotably connect the guard plate to the base and the first pivotal portion of the latch. In another case of a concealed-type top latch, the third pin extends through the first sliding slots of the base, the second end of the link, and the guard plate.
The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of this invention described in connection with the drawings.
The illustrative embodiment may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where:
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 embodiment 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”, “lower”, “upper”, “end”, “portion”, “section”, “longitudinal”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “inward”, 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.
According to the preferred form shown, the latch bolt 4 is mounted between the sidewalls 32 of the base 3 and includes a latch 41 and an link 42. The latch 41 includes a first pivotal portion 411 on an end thereof and a second pivotal portion 412 between two ends of the latch 41. A pin 43 is extended through the pin holes 329 of the sidewalls 32 of the base 3 and the first pivotal portion 411. Thus, the other end of the latch 41 is pivotable between a latching position (see
According to the preferred form shown, the follower plate 5 is mounted between the sidewalls 32 of the base 3. The follower plate 5 is substantially U-shaped and includes an intermediate portion 51 and two parallel, spaced sidewalls 52 extending perpendicularly from opposite sides of the intermediate portion 51. A tab or projection 511 is formed on the intermediate portion 51. A spring 57 is attached between the projection 511 of the follower plate 51 and the protrusion 314 of the base 3 to bias the follower plate 51.
The latch bolt 4 is movably received between the sidewalls 52 of the follower plate 5. The sidewalls 52 include aligned holes 521 in first ends 53 thereof and aligned slots 522 in second ends 54 thereof. Each slot 522 extends in the vertical direction. Each sidewall 52 further includes an engaging notch 524 adjacent the first end 53 thereof. Each sidewall 52 further includes an inclined slot 523 between the hole 521 and the slot 522 and at an acute angle with the extending direction of the slot 522. The pin 55 is parallel to the pins 43 and 44 and extended through the first sliding slots 321 of the base 3, the holes 521 of the follower plate 52, and the holes 423 of the link 42. Thus, an end of the follower plate S is pivotably connected to the second end 422 of the link 42. It can be appreciated that the inclined slots 523 and the engaging notches 524 of the follower plate 5 are not utilized or even can be omitted when utilizing the universal assembly of
According to the preferred form shown, the linking rod 6 is in the form of a screw rod and includes a first end 61 without threading and a second end 62. The first end 61 has a transverse hole 611 perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the linking rod 6. The second end 62 of the linking rod 6 is connected to the lower end 233 of the lower vertical rod 232 to move therewith. It can be appreciated that the second end 62 of the linking rod 6 can be integrally formed with the lower end 233 of the lower vertical rod 232. A pin 56 parallel to the pins 43, 44, and 55 is extended through the second sliding slots 322 of the base 3, the slots 522 of the follower plate 5, and the transverse hole 611 of the first end 61 of the linking rod 6. Thus, the follower plate 5 can be moved in the vertical direction together with the linking rod 6 to move the latch 41 between the unlatching position and the latching position.
The bottom latch 25 utilizing the general assembly of
The base 3 of the bottom latch 25 shown in
After adding some parts, the bottom latch 25 can form a surfaced-type top latch 24 for the panic device 2. According to the preferred form shown in
According to the preferred form shown, the locking device 7 includes a safety plate 71, a positioning pin 72, and a spring 74 in the preferred form shown as a tension spring. The safety plate 71 includes two parallel, spaced sidewalls 712 interconnected by a substantially U-shaped interconnecting section 711 and movably received between the sidewalls 52 of the follower plate 5. Each sidewall 712 includes first and second ends 713 and 714. Aligned holes 717 are defined in the second ends 714 of the sidewalls 712. The sidewalls 712 further include aligned holes 716 between the first and second ends 713 and 714 thereof. The pin 56 is extended through the second sliding slots 322 of the base 3, the slots 522 of the follower plate 5, the holes 717 of the safety plate 71, and the transverse hole 611 of the first end 61 of the linking rod 6. Thus, the follower plate 5 can be moved in the vertical direction together with the linking rod 6 to move the latch 41 between the unlatching position and the latching position. Furthermore, the safety plate 71 can move in the vertical direction together with the linking rod 61. A pin 73 is extended through the first guiding slots 323 of the base 3, the inclined slots 523 of the follower plate 5, and the holes 716 of the safety plate 71 such that the safety plate 71 is pivotable about a pivot axis defined by the pin 56 while the pin 73 is moving between two ends of the inclined slots 523 and along the vertical sections 327 and the inclined sections 328 of the first guiding slots 323. Each sidewall 712 of the safety plate 71 further includes an engaging notch 715. The positioning pin 72 is extended through the second guiding slots 324 of the base 3 and movable between two ends of the second guiding slots 324. The positioning pin 72 can be engaged with the engaging notches 715 of the safety plate 71 or the engaging notches 524 of the follower plate 5. With reference to
According to the preferred form shown, the guard plate 8 is mounted to the first ends 33 of the sidewalls 32 of the base 3. When the door 1 is closed, the latch bolt 4 in the unlatching position is released so that the latch 41 of the latch bolt 4 automatically moves to the latching position. According to the most preferred form shown, the guard plate 8 includes two parallel, spaced sidewalls 85 interconnected by an interconnecting section 86 therebetween. Each sidewall 85 includes first and second ends 81 and 82 and aligned holes 87 between the first and second ends 81 and 82, providing a pivotal portion 84 between the first and second ends 81 and 82 of each sidewall 85. The pin 43 is extended through the pin holes 329 of the base 3, the first pivotal portion 411 of the latch bolt 4, and the holes 87 of the guard plate 8, allowing the first ends 81 of the sidewalls 85 and the interconnecting section 86 interconnected between the first ends 81 to pivot outside the base 3. The second end 82 of each sidewall 85 has a notch 83 that can be in contact with and movable together the positioning pin 72 of the locking device 7.
When the latch 41 of the latch bolt 4 is in the latching position outside the base 3 (
With reference to
As mentioned above, the top latch 24 shown in
According to the preferred form shown, the guard plate 9 is mounted to the first ends 33 of the sidewalls 32 of the base 3. The guard plate 9 includes two parallel, spaced sidewalls 96 interconnected by an interconnecting section 97 therebetween. The sidewalls 96 include aligned slots 95 in first ends 91 thereof and aligned notches 93 in second ends 92 thereof. The first end 91 of each sidewall 96 having the slot 95 also forms a pivotal portion 94. The pin 55 is extended through the first sliding slots 321 of the base 3, the holes 423 of the latch bolt 4, and the slots 95 of the guard plate 9, allowing the guard plate 9 to pivot about the pivot axis defined by the pin 55. The notches 93 can be in contact with and movable together the positioning pin 72 of the locking device 7. A strike 15 is mounted to the upper beam 14 and includes an extension 151 extending through a slot 111 in the door 1 into an interior of the door 1 where the concealed-type top latch 26 is mounted.
When the latch 41 of the latch bolt 4 is in the latching position outside the base 3 (
With reference to
When closing the door 1, the end 98 of the guard plate 9 impinges the extension 151 of the strike 15 so that the guard plate 9 pivots toward the positioning pin 72, which in turn, disengages the positioning pin 72 from the engaging notches 524 of the follower plate 5 to release the latch bolt 4. The pin 73 is moved upward in the inclined slots 523 of the follower plate 5 under the action of the spring 74 so that the safety plate 71 is moved upward. At the same time, the latch 41 is moved to the latching position outside the base 3 under the action of the spring 74. Furthermore, under the action of the spring 74 and guiding of the inclined slots 523 of the follower plate 5 and the first guiding slots 323 of the base 3, the safety plate 71 returns to a position shown in
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, the base 3, the follower plate 5, the safety plate 7, the guard plates 8 and 9 are not limited to be U-shaped. One of the sidewalls 32, 52, 712, 85, 96 of the base 3, the follower plate 5, the safety plate 7, the guard plates 8 and 9 can be omitted. Furthermore, the intermediate portion 51 of the follower plate 5, the interconnecting section 711 of the safety plate 71, the interconnecting section 86 of the guard plate 86, and the interconnecting section 97 of the guard plate 9 can be omitted. Furthermore, when utilizing the universal assembly shown in
As mentioned above, the universal assembly shown in
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, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.
