Rim strike assembly and methods of use

A rim strike assembly comprising:

• a strike body;
• a strike jaw, the strike jaw pivotably coupled to the strike body, the strike body and strike jaw defining a latch cavity, the strike jaw including a jaw follower, the strike jaw pivotable between a release position and a closed position;
• a retaining clutch, the retaining clutch pivotably coupled to the strike body the retaining clutch engaging the jaw follower, the retaining clutch including a retaining follower;
• a locking cam, the locking cam pivotably coupled to the strike body, the locking cam including a retaining notch and a locking notch, the retaining follower engaging the retaining notch;
• a locking clutch, the locking clutch pivotably coupled to the strike body, the locking clutch including a locking follower, the locking follower engaging the locking notch of the locking cam;
• and
• a solenoid, the solenoid including a plunger coupled to the locking clutch such that movement of the plunger rotates the locking clutch from a locked position to an unlocked position, and
• a control horn, the control horn mechanically coupled to the plunger of the solenoid, the control horn engaging the locking clutch and adapted to move the locking clutch in response to movement of the plunger wherein the control horn is pivotably coupled to the plunger such that the control horn is pivotable between a fail-safe configuration and a fail-secure configuration such that when in the fail-safe configuration, extension of the plunger causes the locking follower to move into engagement with the locking notch of the locking cam and such that when in the fail-secure configuration, extension of the plunger causes the locking follower to move out of engagement with the locking notch.

A system comprising:

• a door, the door including a latch;
• a rim strike assembly, the rim strike assembly coupled to a doorjamb, the rim strike assembly positioned to receive the latch when the door is closed, the rim strike assembly including:
• a strike body;
• a strike jaw, the strike jaw pivotably coupled to the strike body, the strike body and strike jaw defining a latch cavity, the strike jaw including a jaw follower, the strike jaw pivotable between a release position and a closed position;
• a retaining clutch, the retaining clutch pivotably coupled to the strike body by a retaining clutch pivot pin, the retaining clutch including a retention face, the retaining clutch engaging the jaw follower at the retention face such that an opening force exerted on the strike jaw engages the jaw follower to the retention face, the retaining clutch including a retaining follower, the retaining follower having an end that extends farther from the clutch pivot pin than the distance between the retaining clutch pivot pin and the retention face;
• a locking cam, the locking cam pivotably coupled to the strike body, the locking cam including a retaining notch and a locking notch, the end of the retaining follower engaging the retaining notch;
• a locking clutch, the locking clutch pivotably coupled to the strike body, the locking clutch including a locking follower, the locking follower engaging the locking notch of the locking cam;
• a solenoid, the solenoid including a plunger coupled to the locking clutch such that movement of the plunger rotates the locking clutch from a locked position to an unlocked position;
• and
• a control horn, the control horn mechanically coupled to the plunger of the solenoid, the control horn engaging the locking clutch and adapted to move the locking clutch in response to movement of the plunger, wherein the control horn is pivotably coupled to the plunger such that the control horn is pivotable between a fail-safe configuration and a fail-secure configuration such that when in the fail-safe configuration, extension of the plunger causes the locking follower to move into engagement with the locking notch of the locking cam and such that when in the fail-secure configuration, extension of the plunger causes the locking follower to move out of engagement with the locking notch.

A method comprising:

• coupling a rim strike assembly to a door jamb, the rim strike assembly positioned to receive a latch of a door, the rim strike assembly including:
• a strike body;
• a strike jaw, the strike jaw pivotably coupled to the strike body, the strike body and strike jaw defining a latch cavity, the strike jaw including a jaw follower, the strike jaw pivotable between a release position and a closed position;
• a retaining clutch, the retaining clutch pivotably coupled to the strike body by a retaining clutch pivot pin, the retaining clutch including a retention face, the retaining clutch engaging the jaw follower at the retention face such that an opening force exerted on the strike jaw engages the jaw follower to the retention face, the retaining clutch including a retaining follower, the retaining follower having an end that extends farther from the clutch pivot pin than the distance between the retaining clutch pivot pin and the retention face;
• a locking cam, the locking cam pivotably coupled to the strike body, the locking cam including a retaining notch and a locking notch, the end of the retaining follower engaging the retaining notch;
• a locking clutch, the locking clutch pivotably coupled to the strike body, the locking clutch including a locking follower, the locking follower engaging the locking notch of the locking cam;
• a solenoid, the solenoid including a plunger coupled to the locking clutch such that movement of the plunger rotates the locking clutch from a locked position to an unlocked position;
• and
• a control horn, the control horn mechanically coupled to the plunger of the solenoid, the control horn engaging the locking clutch and adapted to move the locking clutch in response to movement of the plunger, wherein the control horn is pivotably coupled to the plunger such that the control horn is pivotable between a fail-safe configuration and a fail-secure configuration such that when in the fail-safe configuration, extension of the plunger causes the locking follower to move into engagement with the locking notch of the locking cam and such that when in the fail-secure configuration, extension of the plunger causes the locking follower to move out of engagement with the locking notch;
• closing the door such that the latch enters the latch cavity;
• applying an opening force to the strike jaw through the latch;
• engaging the jaw follower to the retaining clutch;
• engaging the retaining follower to the locking cam;
• and
• engaging the locking follower with the locking clutch.