US 6,174,004 B1 · Mortise latch and exit device with concealed vertical rods

Abstract

A mortise latch and exit device includes active and passive mortise latch mechanisms with corresponding concealed vertical rods operated by links mounted within the mortise latch mechanisms. The mortise latch mechanisms latch double doors at a center point between the doors and at top points between each door and the door frame. Lower vertical rods may also be used to latch at bottom points between the doors and the floor. The active and passive mortise latch mechanisms are operated by corresponding push handle mechanisms and rotary handles. The mortise latch mechanisms cooperatively interact so that either door may be opened first, and either door may be closed first, without regard to the position of the other door. The active mortise latch mechanism includes a latch bolt and an activation bolt arranged so that one bolt is retracted when the other is extended, except when the doors are being opened or closed, when both bolts are retracted. The active mortise latch mechanism automatically retracts the latch bolt when the doors are not aligned and automatically extends the latch bolt when the doors are aligned. The passive mortise latch mechanism ejects the latch bolt as needed to allow the passive door to be opened first.

Claims32

Dependent claims

An active mortise latch mechanism comprising:

a case;
a latch bolt mounted in the case for motion between an extended and a retracted position, the latch bolt being adapted for retraction by a handle;
an activation bolt mounted in the case for motion between an extended and a retracted position;
a retractor mounted in the case and connected between the latch bolt and the activation bolt to automatically retract the latch bolt whenever the activation bolt is extended;
an activation bolt spring, the activation bolt spring being connected to extend the activation bolt and automatically retract the latch bolt with the retractor whenever the activation bolt is not obstructed;
and
a vertical rod retractor link mounted within the case, the vertical rod retractor link being operably connected to the latch bolt to retract a vertical rod when the latch bolt moves to the retracted position.

4 more elements

A double door latching system(for latching active and passive doors, the double door latching system comprising:

an active mortise latch mechanism for mounting in the active door, the active mortise latch mechanism including:
an active case;
a latch bolt mounted in the case, the latch bolt retracting when the active and passive doors are not in alignment and extending when the active and passive doors are aligned, and
a vertical rod retractor link, mounted in the active case, and adapted to retract a vertical rod when the latch bolt is retracted;
a push handle mechanism, adapted for mounting on the active door, the push handle mechanism including an operating member being operatively connected to the active mortise latch mechanism to retract the latch bolt;
a passive mortise latch mechanism for mounting in the passive door, the passive mortise latch mechanism including:
a passive case,
an opening in the passive case for receiving the latch bolt of the active mortise latch mechanism,
a pusher slide movable between receiving and ejecting positions, the pusher slide having a pusher surface for pushing and ejecting the latch bolt of the active mortise latch mechanism from the opening in the case of the passive mortise latch mechanism when the pusher slide is in the ejecting position, and
vertical rod retractor link, mounted in the passive case, and adapted to retract a vertical rod when the pusher slide is moved to the ejecting position;
and
a second push handle mechanism, adapted for mounting on the passive door, the second push handle mechanism including an operating member being operatively connected to the passive mortise latch mechanism to move the pusher slide to the ejecting position.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mortise latch and exit device with concealed vertical rods

Life of this patent

Mortise latch and exit device with concealed vertical rods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32