Push plate panic exit device

Claim 2

A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a housing means, a latch bolt movable between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element for movement between a first position and a second position, first means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element from its first position to its second position, a push plate supported for movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said housing means, second means providing an operative connection between said push plate and said actuator element to move said actuator element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of said push plate inwardly, control means including a control member movable between a first position and a second position, said first means providing an operative connection between said control member and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt to its retracted position when said control membEr is moved from its first position to its second position, said first connection means including a lostmotion connection permitting movement of said latch bolt to its retracted position by said control member without moving said actuator element from its first position to its second position, electrically operated means for moving said control member from its first position to its second position, and means for locking said control member in its second position.

Claim 3

The assembly of claim 1 in which said control member is operatively connected by said first means to said actuator element to move therewith when said element moves from its first position to its second position, said locking means including a locking member for engaging and holding said control member in its second position, yieldable means for urging said locking member into engagement with said control member, and second electrically operated means effective, when operated, to disengage said locking member.

Claim 4

The assembly of claim 2 in which said control member is formed with a locking portion engaged by said locking member, said actuator element carrying a cover for said locking portion effective to block said locking member when said control member moves with said actuator element.

Claim 5

The assembly of claim 1 in which said control member is operatively connected by said first means to said actuator element to move therewith when said element moves from its first position to its second position, said locking means including electrically operated means for engaging and holding said control member.

Claim 6

The assembly of claim 4 in which said electrically operated means for engaging and holding includes a locking member movable into holding engagement with said control member, spring means for yieldably urging said locking member into engagement with said control member, and solenoid means effective, when operated, to disengage said locking member from said control member.

Claim 7

The assembly of claim 5 in which said control member is provided with a locking portion engaged by said locking member, said element carrying a cover for said locking portion effective to block said locking member when said control member moves with said element.

Claim 8

A panic exit latch and actuator mechanism comprising a retractor element rectilinearly movable between a latch-projected position and a latch-retracted position, means yieldably biasing said element normally toward its latch-projected position, a push plate elongated in the direction of movement of said element, means guiding said push plate for rectilinear bodily movement outwardly and inwardly in a direction perpendicular to the line of movement of said element, toggle means providing an operative connection between said push plate and said element to move said element in opposition to said biasing means away from its said latch-projected position when said push plate is moved inwardly toward said element, a latch bolt movable between a projected position and a retracted position, means providing an operative connection between said latch bolt and said element to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position when said element is moved away from its said latch-projected position, said connection means including a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said latch bolt toward its retracted position without moving said element in opposition to said biasing means from its latch-projected position, and control means for dogging said latch bolt in its said retracted position, said control means including a control member operatively connected to said latch bolt and movable between a latch-projected position and a latch-retracted position, said control member being independently movable relative to said element, electrically operated means for moving said control member to its latch-retracted position, and means for locking said control member in its latch-retracted position.

Claim 9

A panic exit latch and actuator mechanism comprising a retractor element rectilinearly movable between a latch-projected position and a latch-retracted position, means yieldably biasing said element normally toward its latch-projected position, a push plate elongated in the direction of movement of said element, means guiding said push plate for rectilinear bodily movement outwardly and inwardly in a direction perpendicular to the line of movement of said element, toggle means providing an operative connection between said push plate and said element to move said element in opposition to said biasing means away from its said latch-projected position when said push plate is moved inwardly toward said element, a latch bolt movable between a projected position and a retracted position, means providing an operative connection between said latch bolt and said element to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position when said element is moved away from its said latch-projected position, said connection means including a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said latch bolt toward its retracted position without moving said element in opposition to said biasing means from its latch-projected position, and control means for dogging said latch bolt in its said retracted position, said control means including a control member operatively connected to said latch bolt and movable between a latch-projected position and a latch-retracted position, said control member being independently movable relative to said element, electrically operated means for moving said control member to its latch-retracted position, and means for locking said control member in its latch-retracted position.

Claim 10

The mechanism of claim 7 in which said control member is operatively connectEd by said connection means to said retractor element for movement therewith when said element moves from its latch-projected position to its latch-retracted position, said locking means including electrically operated means for engaging and holding said control member in its latch-retracted position.

Claim 11

The mechanism of claim 8 in which said electrically operated means for engaging and holding includes a locking member movable into holding engagement with said control member, spring means for yieldably urging said locking member into engagement with said control member, and solenoid means effective, when operated, to disengage said locking member from said control member.

Claim 12

The mechanism of claim 9 in which said control member is provided with a locking portion engaged by said locking member, said element carrying a cover for said locking portion effective to block said locking member when said control member moves with said element.

Claim 13

The assembly of claim 2 in which said control member is formed with a notch into which said locking member extends to lock said control member, a cover for said notch effective to block said locking member, said cover being attached to said actuator element to move therewith to keep said notch covered when said control member is moved by said element.

Claim 14

The mechanism of claim 7 in which said locking means includes electrically operated means for engaging and holding said control member in its latch-retracted position.

Claim 15

The mechanism of claim 12 in which said electrically operated means for engaging and holding includes a locking member movable into holding engagement with said control member, spring means for yieldably urging said locking member into engagement with said control member, and solenoid means effective, when operated, to disengage said locking member from said control member.

Claim 16

The mechanism of claim 13 in which said control member is connected by said connection means to said element for movement therewith from its latch-projected position to its latch-retracted position, and in which said control member is provided with a locking portion engaged by said locking member, said element carrying a cover for said locking portion effective to block said locking member when said control member moves with said element.

Claim 17

A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising an elongated housing means, a latch bolt disposed at one end of said housing means and movable between a projected position and a retracted position, an elongated actuator element disposed within and generally parallel to said housing means, means supporting said actuator element for rectilinear movement in the direction of its length, an elongated push bar generally parallel to said housing means and having a portion disposed outside said housing means, means within said housing means for supporting and guiding said push bar for rectilinear movement toward and away from said actuator element, means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element in one direction, and means providing an operative connection between said push bar and said actuator element to move said actuator element in said one direction in response to movement of said push bar toward said actuator element, said supporting and guiding means including a plurality of rollers supporting said push bar for movement relative to said housing means.

Claim 18

A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising an elongated housing means, a latch bolt disposed at one end of said housing means and movable between a projected position and a retracted position, an elongated actuator element disposed within and generally parallel to said housing means, means supporting said actuator element for rectilinear movement in the direction of its length, an elongated push bar generally parallel to said housing means and having a portion disposed outside said housing means, means within said housing means for supporting and guiding said push bar for rectilinear movement toward and away from said actuator element, means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element in one direction, and means providing an operative connection between said push bar and said actuator element to move said actuator element in said one direction in response to movement of said push bar toward said actuator element, said supporting and guiding means including a plurality of rollers supporting said push bar for movement relative to said housing means.

Claim 19

The assembly of claim 15 in which said housing means is generally horizontal and provides upper and lower wall sections extending generally horizontally outwardly and parallel to said push bar, said push bar being disposed between said upper and lower wall sections, said push bar providing upper and lower walls extending generally horizontally inwardly and parallel to said wall sections, said plurality of rollers including first rollers journalled on said push bar for rotation about horiZontal axes parallel to said push bar and rollably engaging said upper and lower wall sections and second rollers journalled on said housing means for rotation about horizontal axes parallel to said push bar and rollably engaging said upper and lower walls of said push bar.

Claim 20

The assembly of claim 16 in which said first rollers include a pair of rollers at each end of said push bar, one of said rollers of each pair rolling on the underneath side of said upper wall section and the other of said rollers of said pair rolling on the upper side of said lower wall section.

Claim 21

The assembly of claim 16 in which said second rollers include at least two pairs of rollers spaced apart in said housing means to support opposite ends of said push bar, one of said rollers of said pair rolling on the underneath side of said upper wall of said push bar and the other of said rollers of said pair rolling on the upper side of said lower wall of said push bar.

Claim 22

The assembly of claim 17 in which said second rollers include at least two pairs of rollers spaced apart in said housing means to support opposite ends of said push bar, one of said rollers of said pair rolling on the underneath side of said upper wall of said push bar and the other of said rollers of said pair rolling on the upper side of said lower wall of said push bar.

Claim 23

A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising an elongated housing means having a rear surface adapted to be secured in transverse relation to the inner surface of a hinged closure and having an opposite front surface, a latch bolt movable between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element for movement, two support and guide units disposed within said housing means at longitudinally spaced apart points, an elongated push bar generally parallel to said housing means and penetrating the front surface of said housing means, rollers journal mounted on said support and guide units and arranged rollably to engage and support said push bar for rectilinear reciprocation toward and away from said rear surface of said housing means, means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element in one direction, spring means biasing said actuator element in the opposite direction, and means providing an operative connection between said push bar and said actuator element to move said element in said one direction in response to movement of said push bar toward said rear surface of said housing means.

Claim 24

A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising an elongated housing means having a rear surface adapted to be secured in transverse relation to the inner surface of a hinged closure and having an opposite front surface, a latch bolt movable between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element for movement, two support and guide units disposed within said housing means at longitudinally spaced apart points, an elongated push bar generally parallel to said housing means and penetrating the front surface of said housing means, rollers journal mounted on said support and guide units and arranged rollably to engage and support said push bar for rectilinear reciprocation toward and away from said rear surface of said housing means, means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element in one direction, spring means biasing said actuator element in the opposite direction, and means providing an operative connection between said push bar and said actuator element to move said element in said one direction in response to movement of said push bar toward said rear surface of said housing means.

Claim 25

The assembly of claim 20 in which said housing means provides upper and lower wall sections extending generally horizontally outwardly and parallel to said push bar, said push bar being disposed between said upper and lower wall sections, said push bar providing upper and lower walls extending generally horizontally inwardly and parallel to said wall sections, and said rollers including a pair of rollers journalled on each said support and guide unit and arranged to roll on, respectively, said upper and lower walls of said push bar.

Claim 26

The assembly of claim 21 in which the rollers of each pair are mounted such that one roller rolls on the underneath side of said upper wall and the other roller rolls on the upper side of said lower wall.

Claim 27

The assembly of claim 21 including additional rollers journal mounted on said push bar for rotation and positioned to roll on said upper and lower wall sections.

Claim 28

The assembly of claim 22 including additional rollers journal mounted on said push bar for rotation and positioned to roll on said upper and lower wall sections.

Claim 29

The assembly of claim 22 including additional rollers journal mounted on said push bar rollably to engage said wall sections.

Claim 30

The assembly of claim 25 in which said additional rollers include rollers rolling on the underneath side of said upper wall section and rollers rolling on the uPper side of said lower wall section.

Claim 31

A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising an elongated housing means having a rear surface adapted to be secured in transverse relation to the inner surface of a closure hinged about a vertical axis and having an opposite front surface, latch bolts disposed respectively at the upper and lower portions of such a closure for movement between projected positions and retracted positions, an elongated actuator element disposed in said housing means parallel to said rear surface, means supporting said actuator element for rectilinear reciprocation in the direction of its length, an elongated push bar generally parallel to said housing means and having a portion disposed outside said front surface of said housing means, means supporting said push bar for rectilinear movement toward and away from said rear surface and perpendicular thereto, means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolts to move said latch bolts to their retracted positions in response to movement of said actuator element in one direction, and means providing an operative connection between said push bar and said actuator element to move said actuator element in said one direction in response to movement of said push bar toward said rear surface, said means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolts including a rod for each latch bolt, said rods being substantially coaxially vertically arranged with their remote ends operatively connected to said latch bolts respectively and their adjacent ends in confronting relation to each other, said rods being reciprocable toward each other to retract their respective latch bolts and away from each other upon projection of their respective bolts, a connector block disposed in said housing means adjacent said adjacent ends of said rods, means supporting said block for rectilinear reciprocation in the direction of movement of said actuator element, means for connecting said block to said actuator element for movement therewith in said one direction, rigid links for connecting the adjacent ends of said rods respectively to said block, each said link having one of its ends connected to said block for pivotal movement relative thereto about a first axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of said actuator element and parallel to the direction of movement of said push bar and the other of its ends connected to the adjacent end of its associated rod for pivotal movement about a second axis parallel to said first axis.

Claim 32

A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising an elongated housing means having a rear surface adapted to be secured in transverse relation to the inner surface of a closure hinged about a vertical axis and having an opposite front surface, latch bolts disposed respectively at the upper and lower portions of such a closure for movement between projected positions and retracted positions, an elongated actuator element disposed in said housing means parallel to said rear surface, means supporting said actuator element for rectilinear reciprocation in the direction of its length, an elongated push bar generally parallel to said housing means and having a portion disposed outside said front surface of said housing means, means supporting said push bar for rectilinear movement toward and away from said rear surface and perpendicular thereto, means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolts to move said latch bolts to their retracted positions in response to movement of said actuator element in one direction, and means providing an operative connection between said push bar and said actuator element to move said actuator element in said one direction in response to movement of said push bar toward said rear surface, said means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolts including a rod for each latch bolt, said rods being substantially coaxially vertically arranged with their remote ends operatively connected to said latch bolts respectively and their adjacent ends in confronting relation to each other, said rods being reciprocable toward each other to retract their respective latch bolts and away from each other upon projection of their respective bolts, a connector block disposed in said housing means adjacent said adjacent ends of said rods, means supporting said block for rectilinear reciprocation in the direction of movement of said actuator element, means for connecting said block to said actuator element for movement therewith in said one direction, rigid links for connecting the adjacent ends of said rods respectively to said block, each said link having one of its ends connected to said block for pivotal movement relative thereto about a first axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of said actuator element and parallel to the direction of movement of said push bar and the other of its ends connected to the adjacent end of its associated rod for pivotal movement about a second axis parallel to said first axis.

Claim 33

The assembly of claim 27 in which said means supporting said block for rectilinear reciprocation includes roller means journalled on said block and rollably engaging said housing means.

Claim 34

The assembly of claim 27 in which said housing means is generally horizontally extending and formed to provide, above and below said connector block, downwardly and upwardly facing track surfaces extending horizontally in the direction of movement of said block, said means supporting said block for rectilinear reciprocation including roller means journalled on said block and rollably engaging said track surfaces.

Claim 35

The assembly of claim 29 in which said roller means includes a single roller journalled on said block rollably to engage said downwardly and upwardly facing track surfaces.

Claim 36

The assembly of claim 30 in which said first pivotal axes for said links coincide, said single roller being journal mounted on said block for rotation about an axis parallel to said coinciding first axes and lying in the same general horizontal plane as the axis for said actuator element.

Claim 37

The assembly of claim 31 including a roller journal mounted on each said adjacent end of said rods for rotation about an axis parallel to said coinciding axes and the axis for said single roller, said connector block being provided with upper and lower surfaces rollably engaged by the last said rollers.

Claim 38

The assembly of claim 1 in which said first connection means includes a second lost-motion connection permitting movement of said latch bolt to its retracted position by said actuator element without moving said control member from its first position to its second position, said locking means including a locking member for engaging and holding said control member in its second position, yieldable means for urging said locking member into engagement with said control member, and second electrically operated means effective, when operated, to disengage said locking member.

Claim 39

The mechanism of claim 7 including second lost-motion connection between said control member and said latch bolt permitting movement of said latch bolt toward its retracted position without movement of said control member from its latch-projected position to its latch-retracted position, said locking means including electrically operated means for engaging and holding said control member in its latch-retracted position.

Claim 40

The mechanism of claim 34 in which said electrically operated means includes a locking member for engaging and holding said control member in its latch-retracted position, yieldable means for urging said locking means into engagement with said control member, and solenoid means effective, when operated, to disengage said locking member.