Pressure sensing dead bolt
AssigneeHartwell Corporation
InventorsJohn Pratt, Timothy Rozema
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus, system and method including a latching device for displaceably retaining a panel relative to a frame. The latching device includes at least a bolt which is carried on the latching device and is operatively associated with the panel to prevent disengagement of the panel. The latching device includes at least one pressure responsive device operatively coupled to the bolt to retain the bolt in a desired position and release the bolt when a predetermined pressure differential occurs relative to two, generally opposite, sides of the panel or when a pressure decrease occurs on one side of the panel.
Claims22
A dead bolt latching device for displaceably retaining a panel relative to a frame, the dead bolt latching device comprising:
- a latch body attachable to at least one of a panel and a frame;
- a dead bolt assembly displaceably carried on the latch body;
- a portion of the dead bolt assembly abutting a portion of the other of a panel and a frame for preventing displacement of a panel from a frame;
- a pressure responsive device for detecting at least one of a pressure differential between two sides of a panel and a decrease in pressure on one side of a panel;
- and
- the pressure responsive device being coupled with the dead bolt assembly for responsively operating the dead bolt assembly in response to a pressure differential.
A dead bolt latching device for displaceably retaining a panel relative to a frame, the dead bolt latching device comprising:
- a latch body attachable to at least one of a panel and a frame;
- a dead bolt pivotably carried on the latch body;
- a portion of the dead bolt extendable from the latch body for abutting a portion of the other of a panel and a frame to prevent displacement of a panel from a frame;
- and
- a pressure responsive device responsive to at least one of a pressure differential between two sides of a panel and a decrease in pressure on one side of a panel.
A dead bolt latching system for displaceably retaining a plurality of panels relative to a frame, the dead bolt latching system comprising:
- at least one dead bolt latching device operatively associated with each of the plurality of the panels, the dead bolt latching device retaining the corresponding panel in position relative to the frame;
- a dead bolt displaceably carried on the dead bolt latching device, the dead bolt being operatively associated with the corresponding panel;
- each of the dead bolt latching devices including at least one pressure responsive device operatively coupled to the corresponding dead bolt;
- and
- the pressure responsive device responding to at least one of a pressure differential between two sides of the panel and a decrease in pressure on one side of the panel and disengaging the dead bolt from the panel upon the development of a predetermined degree of pressure differential or pressure.
A method for controllably latching a panel relative to a frame, the latching method being responsive to at least one of a pressure differential detected on two, generally opposite sides of a panel and a decrease in pressure on one side of the panel and disengaging the dead bolt from the panel upon the development of a predetermined degree of pressure differential or pressure, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a dead bolt latching device operatively associated with a panel;
- providing a dead bolt displaceably carried on the dead bolt latching device, the dead bolt being operatively associated with a panel;
- providing a pressure responsive device operatively coupled to the dead bolt;
- engaging the dead bolt with a panel;
- retaining the dead bolt in engagement with a panel;
- detecting pressure on at least one side of a panel;
- operating the pressure responsive device in response to at least one of a pressure differential between two sides of a panel and a decrease in pressure on one side of a panel;
- disengaging the dead bolt from a panel upon development of a pressure differential of a predetermined degree or pressure;
- and
- displacing a panel relative to a frame upon disengagement of the dead bolt on a panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.