US 2016/0115719 A1 · WINDSTORM DAMPER DEVICE

Abstract

An damping device for an exit device that is configured to resist high velocity movement a latch assembly relative to a baseplate assembly. Pivotal displacement of a bell crank during typical operation of the exit device may cause a protrusion of the bell crank to exert a pulling force on control linkage element that is coupled to a connection link of a latch assembly and a spring damper element of the damper device, thereby operating the latch assembly while also generally by-passing the damping effect of the damping device. When high velocity movement is imparted on an entryway device associated with the exit device, the damper device resists high velocity movement of the latch assembly relative to the baseplate assembly, thereby at least attempting to prevent the latch assembly from moving independently of the baseplate assembly so as to prevent unlatching of a latch of the latch assembly.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An exit device comprising:

a latch assembly having a connection link and a latch, the connection link coupled to the latch, the connection link adapted to facilitate displacement of the latch from a locked position to an unlocked position;
and
a baseplate assembly having at least one bell crank, a control linkage element, and a spring damper element, the at least one bell crank configured for pivotal displacement from a first, uncompressed position to a second, compressed position, the control linkage element having a first end and a second end, the first end of the control linkage element coupled to the connection link, the second end of the control linkage element having an aperture sized to receive placement of a protrusion of the at least one bell crank, the spring damper element coupled to the control linkage element, the spring damper element configured to resist high velocity movement of the connection link independent of movement of the at least one bell crank.

A baseplate assembly for connection to at least a connection link of a latch assembly, the baseplate assembly comprising:

a baseplate having a first end and a second end;
a bell crank having a first side and a second side, the first side pivotally coupled to a first side plate, the first side having a first protrusion, the second side pivotally coupled to a second side plate, the second side having a second protrusion, the first and second side plates coupled to the baseplate;
a first control linkage element having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first control linkage element having a first aperture configured to be coupled to the connection link of the latch assembly, the second end of the first control linkage element having a second aperture configured to receive slideable displacement of the first protrusion;
a second control linkage element having a first end and a second end, the second end of the second control linkage element having a first aperture configured to be coupled to the connection link of the latch assembly, the second end of the second control linkage element having a second aperture configured to receive slideable displacement of the second protrusion;
and
a spring damper element coupled to the first and second control linkage elements, the spring damper element configured to resist high velocity movement of the connection link independent of movement of the latch assembly.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Windstorm damper device

Life of this patent

Windstorm damper device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20