# US 2011/0031768 A1 · Door Strike Having a Kicker and an Adjustable Dead Latch Release > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2011/0031768 A1 - Document ID: US20110031768A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/851,848 - Filed: 2010-08-06 - Published: 2011-02-10 - Earliest claimed: 2009-08-10 - Assignees: Hanchett Entry Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Dominik Scheffler; Scott Sullivan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20110031768A1 ## CPC - E05B 63/244: {the striker being movable for latching, the bolt for unlatching, or vice versa} - E05B 15/024: {adjustable} - E05B 47/0046: {Electric or magnetic means in the striker or on the frame; Operating or controlling the striker plate (E05B47/0696, E05B63/248 take precedence)} - E05B 63/248: {the striker being movable for latching, and pushed back by a member on the wing for unlatching, or vice versa} - E05B 63/0056: {Locks with adjustable or exchangeable lock parts (adjustable strikers E05B15/024; adjustable to different keys E05B35/083; adjustable bolt or backset E05B63/06; adjustable coupling means for bars, rods, cables E05C9/20)} - E05B 63/04: for alternative use on the right-hand or left-hand side of wings - E05B 2015/0265: {pivoting or tilting} - Y10S 292/51: Bolt guides - Y10T 292/696: With movable dog, catch or striker - Y10T 292/699: Motor controlled - Y10T 292/702: Pivoted or swinging - Y10T 292/705: Adjustable - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An actuator-controlled strike comprising a housing disposable within a doorframe and including a cavity for a spring latch and a dead latch of a mortise-typelockset. A keeper is pivotably mounted within the chamber to engage the spring latch. A pivotably mounted kicker cooperates with the keeper. A pivotably mounted dead latch release is supported by the keeper when the spring latch is within the strike. The keeper is released by the actuator and rotates into a position to ramp the spring latch out of the strike, also allowing the dead latch release to release the dead latch into the cavity, allowing the spring latch to be ramped out of the strike. Pivoting the keeper causes the kicker to urge the spring latch onto an exit ramp on a face of the keeper. The dead latch release can be installed in a plurality of different locations in the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An actuator controlled strike for operating in conjunction with a spring latch and a dead latch of a lockset, said strike comprising: a) a housing having a latch receiving cavity therein; b) a keeper having a first axis of rotation and rotatably disposed in said cavity for movement between a first position and a second position; and c) a kicker rotatably disposed in said cavity and having a second axis of rotation off-spaced from said first axis of rotation, said kicker being cooperative with said keeper and configured for making contact with said spring latch during at least a portion of said kicker's rotation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The strike in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a dead latch release having a third axis of rotation off-spaced from said first and second axes of rotation, said dead latch release rotationally disposed in said cavity and being cooperative with said keeper when said keeper is in said second position wherein when said dead latch release is cooperative with said keeper, said dead latch is held in a disabling position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The strike in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an actuator operationally connected to said keeper, wherein said actuator is configured to selectively permit said keeper to move from said first position retaining said door latch in said cavity to said second position allowing said door latch to disengage from said cavity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The strike in accordance with claim 2 wherein said dead latch release comprises: a) a body adjustably positionable with respect to said housing; and b) a dead latch platform engageable by said keeper and by said dead latch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The strike in accordance with claim 4 wherein said dead latch release further comprises a roller disposed for engaging said keeper. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The strike in accordance with claim 3 wherein said actuator is a solenoid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The strike in accordance with claim 3 further comprising an inhibitor operated by said actuator, said inhibitor configured for cooperating with said keeper. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The strike in accordance with claim 4 wherein said housing is provided with a plurality of mounting slots for receiving said dead latch release in any one of said is mounting slots corresponding to any one of a plurality of arrangements of said spring latch and said dead latch. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The strike in accordance with claim 4 further comprising a faceplate having an opening for receiving the spring latch and the dead latch corresponding to positions of said spring latch and said dead latch in said lockset. ### Claim 10 An actuator controlled strike for operating in conjunction with a spring latch and a dead latch of a lockset, said strike comprising: a) a housing having a latch receiving cavity therein; b) a dead latch release comprising a body adjustably positionable with respect to said housing; and a dead latch platform engageable by said dead latch. ### Claim 11 A method for unlatching a door, having a mortise lockset including a spring latch and a dead latch and a strike, wherein the strike includes a housing having a cavity therein, a keeper rotatably disposed in the cavity, a kicker rotatably disposed in the cavity and cooperative with the keeper, and actuator operationally connected to the keeper, and a dead latch subassembly connected to said housing, Wherein, in a latched mode, the spring latch is engaged by the keeper and the dead latch is engaged by the dead latch subassembly, the unlatching method comprising the steps of: a) Activating an actuator to unlatch said keeper; b) applying force in a door-unlatching direction to said spring latch; c) rotating said keeper a first amount to unlatch said dead latch platform therefrom; d) pivoting said dead latch platform into said cavity, allowing said dead latch to extend into said cavity, thereby enabling withdrawal of said spring latch from said lockset; e) cooperating said keeper with said kicker to cause said kicker to engage the spring latch; and f) moving said kicker to force said spring latch toward a release position to unlatch the door.