Delayed egress exit device

A securing system for a door hinged along one edge to a door frame and secured in a closed condition by a latch along at least one other edge to the door frame and wherein the latch is operated by an associated exit device to unlatch the door to allow the door to move to an open position, the door securing system comprising:

• an actuator member mounted on the housing for movement relative to the housing from a first position to a second position
• an electrically energizable locking mechanism adapted to be mounted in the exit device, the locking mechanism including
• a retractor adapted to be operatively connected between the exit device and the latch bolt for rectilinear movement from a first position to a second position in response to movement of the exit device, the movement of the retractor being transverse to the movement of the actuator and
• a reciprocating plunger for movement transverse to the direction of movement of the retractor between a projected position and a retracted position, the plunger adapted to prevent operation of the exit device when the plunger is in the projected position for securing the door in the closed condition, the locking mechanism operative to move the plunger to the projected position when energized;
• and
• a time delay circuit connected to the locking mechanism for controlling electrical power supplied to the locking mechanism, the time delay circuit including
• a switch for producing a signal indicating an attempt to open the door,
• a timer connected to the switch for receiving the signal produced by the switch and starting a predetermined time interval for temporarily delaying deenergization of the locking mechanism for a predetermined time interval after the actuator member is moved toward the second position,
• wherein the time delay circuit interrupts electrical power to the locking mechanism upon expiration of the time interval allowing the exit device to operate to unlatch the door, and the movement of the retractor, actuator and plunger are not all coplanar.

An apparatus for use with an exit device for delaying egress through a door pivotally mounted along one edge for movement about an axis, the exit device including a housing adapted to be secured to the door surface, a latch bolt disposed at one end of the housing adjacent to an edge of the door and movable relative to the housing between a projected position extending outwardly of the housing for latching the door in a closed position and a retracted position where the latch bolt is inside the housing for allowing the door to be opened, an electrically energizable locking mechanism mounted to the housing operative to prevent the latch bolt from moving to the retracted position when energized, a time delay circuit connected between the locking mechanism and a power source for controlling electrical power supplied to the locking mechanism, the apparatus for delaying egress comprising:

• an actuator mounted on the housing for movement relative to the housing from a first position to a second position;
• a switch actuated in response to movement of the actuator member toward the second position, the switch connected to the time delay circuit for starting a time interval upon actuation of the switch for temporarily delaying deenergization of the locking mechanism after the actuator member is moved toward the second position,
• a retractor element adapted to be operatively connected between the actuator member and the latch bolt for rectilinear movement from a first position to a second position in response to movement of the actuator member toward the second position of the actuator member, the movement of the retractor element being transverse to the movement of the actuator, and
• a plunger disposed in the locking mechanism for relative reciprocal movement transverse to the direction of movement of the retractor element between a projected locking position and a retracted non-locking position, the retractor element having an opening for receiving the plunger when the plunger is in the projected locking position to prevent movement of the retractor element, whereby the movement of the retractor element, the plunger and the actuator are not all coplanar.

A method for delaying egress through a door pivotally mounted along one edge for movement about an axis, comprising:

• providing an exit device having a housing secured to the door surface, a latch bolt disposed at one end of the housing adjacent an edge of the door and movable relative to the housing between a projected position extending outwardly of the housing for latching the door in a closed position and a retracted position where the latch bolt is inside the housing for allowing the door to be opened, an electrically energizable locking mechanism mounted to the housing operative to prevent the latch bolt from moving to the retracted position when energized, and a time delay circuit connected between the locking mechanism and a power source for controlling electrical power supplied to the locking mechanism;
• moving an actuator mounted on the housing from a first position to a second position relative to the housing,
• activating a switch, responsive to movement of the actuator toward the second position, on the time delay circuit for starting a time interval for temporarily delaying deenergization of the locking mechanism,
• moving a retractor, connected between the actuator and the latch bolt, for rectilinear movement from a first position to a second position in response to movement of the actuator toward the second position of the actuator, the movement of the retractor element being transverse to the movement of the actuator, and
• causing a plunger located in the locking mechanism to move into its projected position within an opening in the retractor to prevent movement of the retractor element, the plunger capable of reciprocal movement from a projected locking position and a retracted non-locking position, and the plunger movement being transverse to the direction of movement of the retractor element,
• whereby temporarily delaying deenergization of the locking mechanism to prevent retraction of the latch until the energy is restored to the locking mechanism, and the movement of the retractor element, the plunger and the actuator are not all coplanar.

A system for delaying egress through a door pivotally mounted along one edge for movement about an axis, comprising:

• an exit device having a housing secured to the door surface, a latch bolt disposed at one end of the housing adjacent an edge of the door and movable relative to the housing between a projected position extending outwardly of the housing for latching the door in a closed position and a retracted position where the latch bolt is inside the housing for allowing the door to be opened, an electrically energizable locking mechanism mounted to the housing operative to prevent the latch bolt from moving to the retracted position when energized, and a time delay circuit connected between the locking mechanism and a power source for controlling electrical power supplied to the locking mechanism;
• an actuator mounted on the housing movable from a first position to a second position relative to the housing,
• a switch, responsive to movement of the actuator toward the second position, the switch located on the time delay circuit for starting a time interval when activated for temporarily delaying deenergization of the locking mechanism,
• a retractor, connected between the actuator and the latch bolt, for rectilinear movement from a first position to a second position in response to movement of the actuator toward the second position of the actuator, the movement of the retractor element being transverse to the movement of the actuator, and
• a plunger in the locking mechanism for relative reciprocal movement transverse to the direction of movement of the retractor element between a projected locking position and a retracted non-locking position, the plunger received within the opening within the retractor to prevent movement of the retractor element to prevent retraction of the latch until the energy is restored to the locking mechanism whereby the movement of the retractor element, the plunger and the actuator are not all coplanar.