Vertical panic exit device

A vertical panic exit device comprising:

• a push bar;
• an action rod interlinked to said push bar;
• a center case mechanism linked to said action rod for translation between said latched and said unlatched position;
• said center case mechanism having a housing;
• a slider vertically slidably mounted within said housing;
• said slider having a deadlock stop vertically movable with said slider, said vertical movement of said deadlock stop defining a vertical path;
• and
• a deadlock plate slidable within said housing, said deadlock plate positioned in said vertical path when said center case mechanism is in a latched position and retracted from said path when said center case mechanism is in an unlatched position.

A center case mechanism for a vertical panic exit device that is operable between a latched and an unlatched position, said center case mechanism comprising:

• a housing;
• a main link carriage horizontally slidably mounted within said housing, said main link carriage translatable between said latched and said unlatched position;
• an actuator link having a first end pivotally attached to said main link carriage;
• a pivoting member pivotally mounted to said housing, said pivoting member having first and second pivotal attach points, wherein a second end of said actuator link is selectively coupled to one of said first or second attach points, and further wherein said second end of said acuator link when selectively coupled to said first attach point configures said center case mechanism for latching and unlatching a right handed opening door, and when selectively coupled to said second attach point configures said center case mechanism for latching and unlatching a left handed opening door;
• a slider vertically slidably mounted within said housing, said slider in movable engagement with said pivoting member such that a pivoting motion of said pivoting member causes said slider to slide in a vertical direction, said slider including at least one attach point for connection with a latch mechanism;
• and,
• a deadlock operatively connected between said main carriage and said slider.

An upper latching mechanism for a vertical panic exit device, said latching mechanism comprising:

• a housing;
• a latch pivotally mounted to said housing and pivotable between an extended latched position for engagement with the doorjamb mounted strike, and a retracted position for opening the door;
• an actuator rod receptacle slidably retained in said housing;
• and
• a linkage interconnecting said latch and said receptacle, said linkage translating an upward movement of said actuator rod receptacle to a downward retracted pivoting of said latch;
• and,
• a holding mechanism comprising;
• a holding pin extending from a side of said actuator rod receptacle;
• a holding arm pivotally coupled to said housing, and partially bearing against said holding pin, said holding arm defining at least one step;
• and,
• a biasing spring biasing said holding arm against said holding pin;
• such that an upward movement of said actuator rod receptacle translates said holding pin to an engagement position with said at least one step, said engagement position corresponding to a retracted position of said latch, and said biasing spring pivoting said holding arm to engage said holding pin in said step, thereby retaining said latch in a retracted unlatched position.

An upper latching mechanism for a vertical panic exit device, said latching mechanism comprising:

• a housing;
• a latch pivotally mounted to said housing and pivotable between an extended latched position for engagement with the doorjamb mounted strike, and a retraced position for opening the door;
• an actuator rod receptacle slidably retained in said housing;
• a linkage interconnecting said latch and said receptacle, said linkage translating an upward movement of said actuator rod receptacle to a downward retracted pivoting of said latch;
• and,
• a deadlock comprising;
• a deadlock arm pivotally mounted to said housing, said deadlock arm having a ramp surface at a first end and defining a step at a second end;
• a deadlock latch pin extending from said latch;
• a biasing spring biasing said step toward said deadlock latch pin to engage said deadlock latch pin in said step to prevent retraction of said latch when said latch mechanism and said actuator rod receptacle are in said latched position;
• and
• an actuator pin extending from said actuator rod receptacle slidably engaging said ramp surface such that vertical movement of said actuator rod receptacle causes pivoting of said deadlock arm and removal of said step from a path of said deadlock latch pin thereby permitting retraction of said latch to an unlatched position.