Panic exit device having an exit-delaying mechanism

A panic exit device having an exit-delaying mechanism, comprising:

• a frame;
• a latchbolt mounted to said frame for movement relative thereto between a first, latched position, and a second unlatched position;
• manually-actuated linkage means, linked to said latchbolt and movably mounted to said frame, for moving said latchbolt from said first position to said second position;
• first means mounted to said frame, and movable relative to said frame between a first disposition thereof (a) for obstructing movement of said linkage means, and a second disposition thereof (b) for unobstructing movement of said linkage means;
• and
• second means mounted to said frame operative in response to, an with a specific time delay following, manual actuation of said linkage means, for moving said first means from said first disposition thereof to said second disposition thereof;
• wherein
• said linkage means comprises an arm pivotably mounted to said frame for movement thereof through a given arc;
• said first comprises an element which normally intrudes into said arc to prevent pivotable movement of said arm therethrough;
• said element is coupled to a limb;
• and
• said second means comprises means for moving said limb to cause said element to withdrawn from said arc.

A panic exit device having an exit-delaying mechanism, comprising:

• a frame;
• a latchbolt mounted to said frame for movement relative thereto between a first, latched position, and a second, unlatched position;
• manually-actuated linkage means, linked to said latchbolt and movably mounted to said frame, for moving said latchbolt from said first position to said second position;
• first means mounted to said frame, and movable relative to said frame between a first disposition thereof (a) for obstructing movement of said linkage means, and a second disposition thereof (b) for unobstructing movement of said linkage means;
• and
• second means mounted to said frame operative in response to, and with a specific time delay following, manual actuation of said linkage means, for moving said first means from said first disposition thereof to said second disposition thereof;
• wherein
• said linkage means comprises an arm pivotably mounted to said frame for movement thereof trough a given arc;
• said second means comprises a solenoid with a bar inductively movable therein;
• said first means comprises a rod coupled to said bar, and a roller carried by said rod;
• said solenoid has a first, energized mode of operation, and a second, de-energized mode of operation;
• and
• said solenoid, in one of said modes of operation, moves said bar, rod and roller to cause said roller to intrude into said arc to prevent pivotable movement of said arm.

A panic exit device having an exit-delaying mechanism, comprising:

• a frame;
• a latchbolt mounted to said frame for movement relative thereto between a first, latched position, and a second unlatched position;
• manually-actuated linkage means, linked to said latchbolt and movably mounted to said frame, for moving said latchbolt from said first position to said second position;
• first means mounted to said frame, and movable relative to said frame between a first disposition thereof (a) for obstructing movement of said linkage means, and a second disposition thereof (b) for unobstructing movement of said linkage means;
• and
• second means mounted to said frame operative in response to, and with a specific time delay following, manual actuation of said linkage means, for moving said first means from said first disposition thereof to said second disposition thereof;
• wherein
• said linkage means comprises an arm pivotably mounted to said frame for movement thereof through a given arc;
• said first means comprises an element which normally intrudes into said arc to prevent pivotable movement of said arm therethrough;
• said element is coupled to said first ends of parallel limbs;
• said limbs are pivotably mounted to said frame intermediate the ends thereof;
• and
• second ends of said limbs are coupled to a solenoid-operated, translatable bracket which is movable in a first, given direction to pivot said limbs and cause said element to intrude into said arc, and movable in a second, opposite direction to pivot said limbs to cause said element to withdraw from said arc.

A panic exit device having an exit-delaying mechanism, comprising:

• a frame;
• a latchbolt mounted to said frame for movement relative thereto between a first, latched position, and a second, unlatched position;
• manually-actuated linkage means, linked to said latchbolt and movably mounted to said frame, for moving said latchbolt from said first position to said second position;
• first means mounted to said frame, and movable relative to said frame between a first disposition thereof (a) for obstructing movement of said linkage means, and a second disposition thereof (b) for unobstructing movement of said linkage means;
• and
• second means mounted to said frame operative in response to, and with a specific time delay following, manual actuation of said linkage means, for moving said first means from said first disposition thereof to said second disposition thereof;
• wherein
• said linkage means comprises an arm pivotably mounted to said frame for movement thereof through a given arc;
• said first means comprises an element which normally intrudes into said arc to prevent pivotable movement of said arm therethrough;
• said second means comprises a solenoid with a bar inductively movable therein;
• said first means comprises a bracket coupled to said bar for coincident movement therewith;
• said first means further includes a pair of limbs, disposed in parallel, and pivotably mounted to said frame intermediate the ends of said limbs;
• and
• first ends of said limbs support said element therebetween, and second ends of said limbs are pivotably coupled to said bracket.

A panic exit device having an exit-delaying mechanism, comprising:

• a frame;
• a latchbolt mounted to said frame for movement relative thereto between a first, latched position, and a second, unlatched position;
• manually-actuated linkage means, linked to said latchbolt and movably mounted to said frame, for moving said latchbolt from said first position to said second position;
• first means mounted to said frame, and movable relative to said frame between a first disposition thereof (a) for obstructing movement of said linkage means, and a second disposition thereof (b) for unobstructing movement of said linkage means;
• and
• second means mounted to said frame operative in response to, and with a specific time delay following, manual actuation of said linkage means, for moving said first means from said first disposition thereof to said second disposition thereof;
• wherein
• said linkage means comprises an arm pivotably mounted to said frame, and a latchbolt link pivotably coupled to said arm for translation thereof in response to pivotable movement of said arm;
• said link has a discontinuity thereon;
• and
• said first means comprises an element coupled to said frame and movable relative to said frame between a first disposition thereof, in which said element is engaged with said discontinuity to prevent translation of said link, and a second disposition thereof wherein said element is disengaged from said discontinuity, and means movably mounted in said frame for engaging said element to prevent movement of said element from said first disposition thereof to said second disposition.

A panic exit device having an exit-delaying mechanism, comprising:

• first, elongated frame means for housing the mechanism;
• a latchbolt mounted to said first, frame means for movement relative thereto between a first, latched position in extension, outwardly, from said frame means, and a second, unlatched position retracted, and substantially confined within said frame means;
• second, linkage means, manually-actuated, having (a) a linkage coupled to said latchbolt, and mounted to said first, frame means for movement relative to, and only lengthwise of said frame means, for moving said latchbolt from said first position to said second position, and (b) an arm pivotally mounted to said frame means, and coupled to said linkage, for moving said linkage lengthwise of said frame means;
• blocking means mounted to at least one of said first and second frame and linkage means, and movable relative to one of said first and second means (a) for obstructing movement of said linkage means, in a first disposition of said blocking means, and (b) for unobstructing movement of said linkage means, in a second disposition of said blocking means;
• and
• release means mounted to said first, frame means and operative in response to, and with a specific time delay following, manual actuation of said linkage means, for moving said blocking means from said first disposition thereof to said second disposition thereof.

A panic exit device having an exit-delaying mechanism, comprising;

• first, frame means for housing the mechanism;
• a latchbolt mounted to said first, frame means for movement relative thereto between a first, latched position, and a second, unlatched position;
• second, linkage means, manually-actuated, linked to said latchbolt, and movably mounted to said first, frame means, for moving latchbolt from said first position second position;
• blocking means mounted to at least one of said first and second frame and linkage means, and movable relative to one of said first and second means (a) for obstructing movement of said linkage means, in a first disposition of said blocking means, and (b) for unobstructing movement of said linkage means, in a second disposition of said blocking means;
• and
• release means mounted to said first, frame means and operative in response to, and with a specific time delay following, manual actuation of said linkage means, for moving said blocking means from said first disposition thereof to said second disposition thereof;
• wherein
• said blocking means comprises an abutment mounted to said frame means, and an element movably mounted to said linkage means for abutting engagement with said abutment;
• said linkage means has a bracket fixed thereto;
• said element comprises a roller slidably supported in said bracket;
• and further including
• means disposed in said bracket, and engaging said roller, biasingly restraining said roller in engagement with said abutment.

A panic exit device having an exit-delaying mechanism, comprising:

• first, frame means for housing the mechanism;
• a latchbolt mounted to said first, frame means for movement relative thereto between a first, latched position, and a second, unlatched position;
• second, linkage means, manually-actuated, linked to said latchbolt, and movably mounted to said first, frame means, for moving said latchbolt from said first position to said second position;
• blocking means mounted to at least one of said first and second frame and linkage means, and movable relative to one of said first and second means (a) for obstructing movement of said linkage means, in a first disposition of said blocking means, and (b) for unobstructing movement of said linkage means, in a second disposition of said blocking means;
• and
• release means mounted to said first, frame means and operative in response to, and with a specific time delay following, manual actuation of said linkage means, for moving said blocking means from said first disposition thereof to said second disposition thereof;
• wherein
• said blocking means comprises an abutment mounted to said frame means, and an element movably mounted to said linkage means for abutting engagement with said abutment;
• said release means comprises means engaged with said element, and translatable relative to said frame means, for moving said element out of engagement with said abutment;
• said element moving means comprises a limb slidable upon said element;
• said element is slidably supported in a bracket;
• said bracket is fixed to said linkage means;
• and
• said limb is movable through said bracket to displace said element.

A panic exit device having an exit-delaying mechanism, comprising:

• first, frame means for housing the mechanism;
• a latchbolt mounted to said first, frame means for movement relative thereto between a first, latched position, and a second, unlatched position;
• second, linkage means, manually-actuated, linked to said latchbolt, and movably mounted to said first, frame means, for moving said latchbolt from said first position to said second position;
• blocking means mounted to at least one of said first and second frame and linkage means, and movable relative to one of said first and second means (a) for obstructing movement of said linkage means, in a first disposition of said blocking means, and (b) for unobstructing movement of said linkage means, in a second disposition of said blocking means;
• and
• release means mounted to said first, frame means and operative in response to, and with a specific time delay following, manual actuation of said linkage means, for moving said blocking means from said first disposition thereof to said second disposition thereof;
• wherein
• said blocking means comprises an abutment mounted to said frame means, and an element movably mounted to said linkage means for abutting engagement with said abutment;
• said release means comprises means engaged with said element, and translatable relative to said frame means, for moving said element out of engagement with said abutment;
• and
• said element moving means comprises a limb slidable upon said element, and a solenoid with a bar inductively movable therein, and said limb is coupled to said bar for coincident movement thereof with said bar.

A panic exit device having an exit-delaying mechanism, comprising:

• a frame;
• a latchbolt mounted to said frame for movement relative thereto between a first, latched position, and a second, unlatched position;
• manually-actuated linkage means, linked to said latchbolt and movably mounted to said frame, for moving said latchbolt from said first position to said second position;
• first means mounted to said frame, and movable relative to said frame between a first disposition thereof (a) for obstructing movement of said linkage means, and a second disposition thereof (b) for unobstructing movement of said linkage means;
• and
• second means mounted to said frame operative in response to, and with a specific time delay following, manual actuation of said linkage means, for moving said first means from said first disposition thereof to said second disposition thereof;
• wherein
• said linkage means comprises dampening means for absorbing excessive manual force applied to said linkage means in actuation thereof.

A panic exit device having an exit-delaying mechanism, comprising:

• first, frame means for housing the mechanism;
• a latchbolt mounted to said first, frame means for movement relative thereto between a first, latched position, and a second, unlatched position;
• second, linkage means, manually-actuated, linked to said latchbolt, and movably mounted to said first, frame means, for moving said latchbolt from said first position to said second position;
• blocking means mounted to at least one of said first and second frame and linkage means, and movable relative to one of said first and second means (a) for obstructing movement of said linkage means, in a first disposition of said blocking means, and (b) for unobstructing movement of said linkage means, in a second disposition of said blocking means;
• and
• release means mounted to said first, frame means and operative in response to, and with a specific time delay following, manual actuation of said linkage means, for moving said blocking means from said first disposition thereof to said second disposition thereof;
• wherein
• said second, manually-actuated linkage means comprises means for absorbing excessive manual force applied to said linkage means in actuation thereof.