Remotely operable opening mechanism for potentially booby-trapped latched panels
AssigneeHer Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Solicitor General acting through the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
InventorGordon D. Scott
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A remotely operable opening mechanism for potentially booby-trapped latched panels has a clamp member for clampable engagement with a fixed structure on the panel. A displaceable actuator is mounted on the clamp member. The displaceable actuator has a protruding element engageable with a latch on the latched panel and a coupling element for connection to a line to permit remote activation of the actuator to release the latch member and thereby permit the latched panel to be opened from a safe distance.
Claims32
A remotely operable apparatus for opening a panel retained in a closed position by a latch member, said panel having a handle for normally permitting manual opening of said panel, and said panel being potentially booby-trapped so as to be liable to cause harm to a person manually grasping said handle, said apparatus comprising:
- a clamp member for clampable engagement with a fixed structure on said panel;
- and
- a displaceable actuator mounted on said clamp member so as to be displaceable relative to said clamping member when said clamping member is in clamping engagement, said displaceable actuator having a protruding element engageable with said latch member and a coupling element connected to a line deployable to a remote location at a safe distance from said panel to permit remote operation of said actuator from said remote location so as to release said latch member and thereby permit said latched panel to be opened from said remote location.
A method of opening a panel retained in a closed position by a latch member, said panel having a handle for normally permitting manual release of said latch member to open said panel, and said panel being potentially booby-trapped so as to be liable to cause harm to a person manually rasping said handle, said method comprising the steps of:
- attaching a clamp member to a fixed structure on the panel;
- engaging a protruding element forming part of a displaceable actuator mounted on said clamp member with said latch member on the panel;
- deploying a line connected to said displaceable actuator to a remote location at a safe distance from said panel;
- pulling on said line from said remote location to operate said actuator by displacing said actuator relative to said clamp member and thereby release said latch member to permit said latched panel to be opened from said remote location.
A kit for opening a panel retained in a closed position by a latch member, said panel having a handle for normally permitting manual opening of said panel, and said panel being potentially booby-trapped so as to be liable to cause harm to a person grasping said handle, said kit comprising:
- a clamp member for clampable engagement with a fixed structure on said panel;
- and
- a displaceable actuator mountable on said clamp member so as to be displaceable relative to said clamping member when said clamping member is in clamping engagement, said displaceable actuator having a protruding element engageable with said latch member on said latched panel and a coupling element;
- and
- a said line attachable to said coupling element and deployable to a remote location at a safe distance from said panel to permit remote operation of said actuator from said remote location so as to release said latch member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.