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US 2024/0418009 A1Published application
Signal-responsive apparatus for providing an exit passage from a building
OwnerJohn M. Aronissinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for unlatching and opening a door of a building to allow exit in the event of a hazardous condition comprises an actuator housed in a supporting frame connected to a strike plate and having a face part that pushes against a latch bolt on the door to disengage the latch bolt from the strike plate. The actuator can be rotated, about a hinge axis, outward from the supporting frame for adjustment of its stroke. A spring or gravity-operated device is provided to urge the door toward its open condition when the latch is released.
Claims20
A signal-responsive apparatus for providing an exit passage from a building, the apparatus comprising:
- a strike plate adapted to cooperate with a spring-loaded latch bolt, said strike plate having an opening for receiving said latch bolt;
- an actuator-supporting frame connected to, and extending from, said strike plate in the direction in which a latch bolt extends into said opening, said frame having opposite side parts and an opening between said side parts;
- an electric actuator having an actuator body and a plunger extending from said actuator body, said plunger including a first part extending into said actuator body and movable outward from said actuator body by operation of the actuator in response to the application of electric current to said actuator, a face part for engaging a latch bolt received through said opening of said strike plate, and for pushing said latch bolt outward through said opening of said strike plate by operation of said actuator, and a connection between said first part and said face part of said plunger, said connection being adjustable to a position such that the face part allows full engagement of a spring loaded latch bolt with said opening in the strike plate when the actuator is not activated, but extends through said opening to a position in which it causes a latch bolt to clear said strike plate when the actuator is activated;
- a hinge mounting connecting said actuator to said frame, the hinge mounting permitting pivoting movement of the actuator body about a hinge axis to a position wherein a portion of the actuator extends outward through said opening between the side parts of said frame for adjustment of said connection between said first part and said face part of the plunger;
- and
- means responsive to an activation signal for operating said electric actuator.
3 more elements
A signal-responsive apparatus for providing an exit passage from a building, the apparatus comprising:
- a door frame;
- a door associated with said door frame and movable relative to said door frame between an open condition in which the door permits passage though said door frame and a closed condition in which the door blocks passage though said door frame;
- a latch bolt for temporarily securing said door in said closed condition, the latch bolt being moveable between an extended position for engagement with a strike plate to maintain the door in said closed condition and a retracted position wherein said latch bolt clears said strike plate and allows said door to move to said open condition;
- a spring exerting a force urging said latch bolt toward said extended position, but allowing retraction of said latch bolt to said retracted position by an opposing force exerted on said latch bolt;
- a strike plate having an opening for receiving said latch bolt, said strike plate being arranged so that when said latch bolt is in its extended position and received in said opening, the engagement of the latch bolt with said strike plate maintains said door in its closed condition;
- said latch bolt being mounted on one of said door and said door frame and said strike plate being mounted on the other one of said door and said door fame, and said latch bolt and strike plate being arranged so that the letch bolt can be received in said opening of the strike plate when said door is in its closed condition;
- an actuator operated by electric current, the actuator having an actuator body connected to said strike plate and a plunger movable relative to said actuator body in response to the application of said electric current;
- means responsive to an externally generated signal for controlling electric current for the operation of said actuator;
- a plunger engageable with said latch bolt and movable by said actuator, in response to said externally generated signal, in a direction to push said latch bolt from said extended position to a position in which said latch bolt clears said strike plate and permits opening of said door;
- means for discontinuing the delivery of said electric current to said actuator after movement of the latch bolt by said plunger to said position in which said latch bolt clears said strike plate and permits opening of said door;
- means for retaining said plunger in a position in which it maintains said latch bolt in the position in which said latch bolt clears said strike plate following discontinuance of the delivery of said electric current to said actuator;
- and
- means for causing said door to move from its closed condition to its open condition when said latch bolt clears said strike plate.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.