Push bar with redundant pressure sensors and fail safe mechanical switch

A pressure-actuated door access control device for controlling an electrically activated door control system for operating a door hingedly mounted in a door frame, said door access device comprising:

• a base member said base member having first and second ends;
• a first transducer mounted in said base member nearer to said first end of said base member than it is to said second end of said base member, said first transducer producing an electrical parameter, the value of which varies in response to pressure applied to said first transducer;
• a second transducer mounted in said base member nearer to said second end of said base member than it is to said first end of said base member, said second transducer producing an electrical parameter, the value of which varies in response to pressure applied to said second transducer;
• a switch mounted in said base member;
• a touch pad member mounted on said base member and moveable between a first position relatively farther from said base member and a second position relatively closer to said base member, said touch pad member subjecting said first and second transducers to a compressive force when said touch pad member is urged from said first position toward said second position, said touch pad member actuating said switch when said touch pad member is urged from said first position toward said second position with a force which is at least a first predetermined amount;
• first and second end caps for installation onto said first and second end of said base member, respectively, said first and second end caps retaining said touch pad member in place on said base member;
• monitoring means for monitoring said electrical parameters produced by said first and second transducers and for providing a first output signal whenever said electrical parameters of either of said first or second transducers, or of both of said first and second transducers, meet a first threshold, said first output signal being provided to the electrically activated control system to cause said electrically activated control system to operate the door in the first manner;
• and
• control means for causing the electrically activated door control system to operate the door in said first manner when said switch is actuated.

A pressure-actuated door access control device for controlling an electrically activated door control system for operating a door hingedly mounted in a door frame, said door access device comprising:

• a base member
• a first pressure transducer mounted in said base member near a first end thereof;
• a second pressure transducer mounted in said base member near a second end thereof;
• a switch mounted in said base member;
• a touch pad member mounted on said base member and moveable between a first position relatively farther from said base member and a second position relatively closer to said base member, said touch pad member subjecting said first and second pressure transducers to a compressive force when said touch pad member is urged from said first position toward said second position, said touch pad member actuating said switch when said touch pad member is urged from said first position toward said second position with a force which is at least a first predetermined amount;
• and
• a control circuit which will operate the door in a first manner when either or both of said first and second pressure transducers is subjected to a second predetermined amount of compressive force, or when said switch is actuated.

A method of controlling an electrically activated door control system for selectively, electrically locking and unlocking a door hingedly mounted in a door frame, said method comprising:

• providing a base member said base member having first and second ends;
• mounting a first transducer in said base member nearer to said first end of said base member than it is to said second end of said base member, said first transducer producing an electrical parameter, the value of which varies in response to pressure applied to said first transducer;
• mounting a second transducer in said base member nearer to said second end of said base member than it is to said first end of said base member, said second transducer producing an electrical parameter, the value of which varies in response to pressure applied to said second transducer;
• mounting a switch in said base member;
• mounting a touch pad member on said base member in a manner whereby said touch pad member is moveable between a first position relatively farther from said base member and a second position relatively closer to said base member, said touch pad member subjecting said first and second transducers to a compressive force when said touch pad member is urged from said first position toward said second position, said touch pad member actuating said switch when said touch pad member is urged from said first position toward said second position with a force which is at least a first predetermined amount;
• and
• operating the door in a first manner with the electrically activated door control system when either or both of said first and second transducers is subjected to a second predetermined amount of compressive force, or when said switch is actuated.

A pressure-actuated control device for selectively providing a control signal, said control device comprising:

• a base member
• a first pressure transducer mounted in said base member near a first end thereof;
• a second pressure transducer mounted in said base member near a second end thereof;
• a switch mounted in said base member;
• a touch pad member mounted on said base member and moveable between a first position relatively farther from said base member and a second position relatively closer to said base member, said touch pad member subjecting said first and second pressure transducers to a compressive force when said touch pad member is urged from said first position toward said second position, said touch pad member actuating said switch when said touch pad member is urged from said first position toward said second position with a force which is at least a first predetermined amount;
• and
• a control circuit which will provide said control signal when either or both of said first and second pressure transducers is subjected to a second predetermined amount of compressive force which is less than said first predetermined amount of force, or when said switch is actuated.

A pressure-actuated switching device comprising:

• a base member
• first and second pressure transducers mounted in said base member near opposite ends thereof;
• a switch mounted in said base member;
• a touch pad member mounted on said base member and manually moveable between a first position relatively farther from said base member and a second position relatively closer to said base member, wherein the single motion of exerting manual pressure on said touch pad member will:
• (a) subject said first and second pressure transducers to a compressive force, and (b) actuate said switch when manual force of at least a first predetermined amount is exerted on said touch pad member;
• and
• a control circuit which will switch from a first state to a second state when either:
• (a) at least one of said first and second pressure transducers is subjected to a second predetermined amount of compressive force less than said first predetermined amount of compressive force, or (b) when said switch is actuated.