Interchangeable Latch Assembly for an Exit Device

A door latch system having a latch movable between a latched position and an unlatched position for releasably securing a door in a door frame, the door latch system comprising:

• a) a universal actuating assembly including a mounting bracket and a driving member movable between a driving member latched position and a driving member unlatched position, wherein said mounting bracket includes a first mounting point and said driving member includes a driving member connector point, wherein a first spatial relationship is defined between said driving member connector point and said first mounting point when said driving member is in said driving member unlatched position;
• and
• b) a first interchangeable latch assembly comprising:
• i. a dummy head;
• ii. a driven member movably supported by said dummy head;
• and
• iii. a pivoting bar operatively connected to said latch and movable by said driven member between a driven member latch position and a driven member unlatched position, wherein said first interchangeable latch assembly is configured to be removably coupled to said universal actuating assembly, wherein said first interchangeable latch assembly includes a second mounting point, and said driven member includes a driven member connector point, wherein a second spatial relationship is defined between said driven member connector point and said second mounting point when the driven member is in said driven member unlatched position, and
• wherein said first spatial relationship is generally equal to said second spatial relationship when said first interchangeable latch assembly is connected to said universal actuating assembly and said latch is in said latched position.

A method of swapping a first interchangeable latch assembly with a second interchangeable latch assembly of a door latch assembly comprises the steps of:

• (1) providing said door latch system having a universal actuating assembly and said first interchangeable latch assembly, wherein x-y-z coordinates measured between an arbitrary mounting point commonly shared by the universal actuating assembly and the first interchangeable latch assembly when the first interchangeable latch assembly is secured to said universal actuating assembly, and a connector point of a driving member and a connector point of a driven member of said door latch system when a latch od said door latch system is in its latched position are generally equal;
• (2) disconnecting and removing the first interchangeable latch assembly;
• (3) selecting a second interchangeable latch assembly wherein x-y-z coordinates measured between said arbitrary mounting point, commonly shared by the first universal actuating assembly and the selected second interchangeable latch assembly when the second interchangeable latch assembly is secured to said universal actuating assembly, and the connector point of said driving member and a connector point of a second driven member of said selected second interchangeable latch assembly are generally equal;
• and
• (4) connecting the second interchangeable latch assembly to the universal actuating assembly.

A door latch system for releasably securing a door to a door frame, said door latch system comprising:

• a) a first latch assembly comprising a first latch and a first driven member wherein said first driven member is operatively connected to said first latch so that movement of said first driven member moves said first latch between a latched position to secure said door to said door frame and an unlatched position to release said door from said door frame;
• b) an actuating assembly comprising a driving member wherein said driving member is movable between a first driving member position and a second driving member position and wherein said driving member is configured to be operatively connected to said first driven member so that when said driving member is in said first driving member position said latch is in said latched position to secure said door to the door frame and when said driving member is in said second driving member position said latch is in said unlatched position to release said door from said door frame;
• wherein said door latch system is configured so that said first latch assembly may be swapped with a second latch assembly wherein said second latch assembly comprises a second latch and a second driven member, wherein said second driven member is operatively connected to said second latch and wherein when said driving member of said door latch system is connected to said second driven member, movement of said second driven member by said driving member moves said second latch between a latched position to secure said door to said door frame and an unlatched position to release said door from said door frame.