GB2416563A

GB2416563A - Release mechanism for a two-part door frame

Info

Publication number: GB2416563A
Application number: GB0416604A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stewart James Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-26
Filing date: 2004-07-26
Publication date: 2006-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-26
Also published as: GB2416563B; GB0416604D0

Abstract

A release mechanism 1 for a door frame which has a fixed frame portion 2 and a movable frame portion 3 hinged thereon, comprises a slot 7 in the fixed frame portion and a slot 8 in the movable frame portion. The two slots are aligned when the movable frame portion is in a closed position relative to the fixed frame portion, and a block 11 slidably mounted between the two slots is normally biased to span a gap 17 therebetween, preventing relative movement between the two frame portions (Fig. 1). A mechanism 21 is provided to counter the normal biasing force and move the block to a position such that relative movement between the two frame portions is allowed (Fig. 3).

Description

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A Quick Release Mechanism for a two-part Door Frame s The present invention relates to a quick release mechanism for a two-part door frame and in particular to a quick release mechanism for a door frame of the type having a fixed frame portion and a movable frame portion hinged thereon. The movable frame portion also has a door hinged thereon which can be opened and closed in one direction by a handle.

In Door frames of this type are well known in the art and are used in applications such as security doors in prisons or other custodial buildings where the authority to open / close doors must be in the hands of the custodians. If the door hinged on the movable frame portion is barricaded by prisoners on their side of the door, the custodians remove a locking device located on their side of the door which normally fastens the movable frame portion to the fixed frame portion. The custodians can then open both the movable frame portion and the door hinged thereon away from the barricade on the other side.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved quick release mechanism for two-part door frames of the type outlined above.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a quick release mechanism for a door frame of the type having a fixed frame portion and a movable frame portion hinged thereon, the quick release mechanism comprising a slot in the fixed frame portion and a slot in the movable frame portion, the two slots being co-axially aligned so as to form a single slot when the fixed frame portion and movable frame portion are co-planar, a floating block slidably mounted in the single slot and being normally biased within the single slot so that a portion of the block extends between the two door frame portions spanning a gap therebetween and preventing relative movement between the movable frame portion and the fixed frame 2 I.. . ad.. .e portion, means for countering the normal biasing force acting on the floating block and aligning the gap between the fixed frame portion and the movable frame portion with an interface between the floating block and the countering means allowing the movable frame portion to move relative to the fixed frame portion of the door frame.

Ideally, the floating block is a two-piece floating block normally biased within the single slot so that one piece of the floating block extends between the two door frame portions spanning a gap therebetween.

Preferably, the countering means acts on the two-piece floating block aligning the gap between the fixed frame portion and the movable frame portion with an interface between the two pieces of the floating block.

Ideally, a door is hinged on the movable frame portion which is openable and closable by a handle.

Preferably, the means for countering the normal biasing force is provided by an adjustable bolt housed in the door in alignment with the slot in the movable frame portion when the door and movable frame portion are coplanar.

Ideally, the bolt is operable by a secondary function of the door handle. The primary function of the door is to open/close the door.

Ideally, a plurality of quick release mechanisms are located around the door frame.

Preferably, the or each quick release mechanism is located on the side of the door frame opposite the side upon which the movable frame portion is hinged on the fixed frame portion.

Ideally, each quick release mechanism has its own bolt.

Ideally, the plurality of bolts are interconnected.

Preferably, the biasing is provided by a compression spring.

Ideally, the compression spring is mounted between the base of the slot in the fixed frame portion and the piece of the floating block housed therein.

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Preferably, the door handle is coupled to the or each bolt and activation of the door handle in a predetermined manner causes the or each bolt to move laterally into the slot in the movable frame portion, moving the floating block between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Ideally, only one of the door handles on opposite sides of the door is capable of operating the or all bolts.

Preferably, both door handles are capable of operating the or all bolts.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example only, one embodiment of quick release mechanism in accordance with the invention. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a detailed plan view of the quick release mechanism; Fig. 2 is a detailed plan view of the two-part frame; Fig. 3 is a second detailed plan view of the quick release mechanism; Fig. 4 is a detailed plan view of the fixed frame portion of the door frame; S Fig. 5 is a detailed section elevation view of a two-piece floating block; Fig. 6 is an end view of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a section plan view of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a second detailed section elevation view of the floating two-piece block; Fig. 9 is a section plan view of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a front elevation view of a door and door frame; Fig. 11 is a plan view of Fig. 10 with the door open; Fig. 12 is a second plan view of Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a third plan view of Fig. 10; and Fig. 14 is a fourth plan view of Fig. 10.

2s Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figs. 1 to 4, there is shown a quick release mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The quick release mechanism 1 ë ë 4.. ..

is mounted on a door frame having a fixed frame portion 2 and a movable frame portion 3 hinged on the fixed frame portion 2. The movable frame portion 3 has a door 4 hinged on it which is operable by a handle 5 to open the door 4 in one direction. The quick release mechanism 1 has a slot 7 in the fixed frame portion 2 and a slot 8 in the movable frame portion 3. The two slots 7 and 8 are co-axially aligned forming a single slot when the fixed frame portion 2 and the movable frame portion 3 are co-planar. A two-piece floating block 11 having a locking member 12 and an unlocking member 14 are slidably movable in the single slot defined by co-axially aligned slots 7 and 8.

The locking member 12 of the floating block 11 has a housing 31 fixed in slot 7 and an lo arm 32 slidably mounted in the housing 31 and coupled thereto by two compression springs normally biasing the arm 32 out of the housing 31 and into slot 8. The arm 32 of the locking member 12 spans a gap 17 between the fixed frame portion 2 and the movable frame portion 3. This prevents the movable frame portion 3 moving relative to the fixed frame portion 2. Fig's. 1 and 2 show the quick release mechanism 1 in a normal locked condition.

In fig. 2, the door 4 has been opened.

In Fig. 3 a bolt 21 housed in a slot 22 of the door 4 has been actuated by the door handle 5. The bolt 21 has engaged unlocking member 14 of the floating block 11 and moved it towards the arm 32 of the locking member 12 in the slot 7. The arm 32 of the locking member 12 is forced back into the housing 31 overcoming the biasing force of the compression springs 15 so that arm 32 no longer spans the gap 17 between the two frame portions 2, 3 of the door frame. The interface between the unlocking member 14 and the locking member 12 is aligned with gap 17. At this stage, the movable frame portion 3 of the door frame is free to move away from the fixed frame portion 2 under the influence of a person pushing the door 4 against the movable frame portion 3. When the movable frame portion 3 is moved away from the fixed frame portion 2, the compression spring 15 biases the arm 32 out of the slot 7 as shown in Fig. 4.

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Referring to the drawings and now to Fig's. 5 to 9, there is shown a twopiece floating block indicated generally by the reference numeral 11. Fig's. 5 and 7 show the floating block 11 in the locked position so that the movable frame portion 3 and the fixed frame portion 2 are locked together. As shown in Fig's. 5 and 8, the housing 31 of the locking member 12 s has two bores 51, 52 in its base 53 both of which house a compression spring 15. The side walls 54, 55 of the housing 31 each have an internal projection 56 which engages with a shoulder 57 of the arm 32 preventing the arm 32 extending out of the housing 31 when the movable frame 3 is moved away from the fixed frame 2 (see Fig. 4). The end of the arm 32 distal from the compression springs 15 carries a roller 58.

lo The unlocking member 14 is permanently contained within slot 8 and the side walls 61, 62 of the slot 8 each have internal projections 63, 64 for co- operation with shoulder 65 of the unlocking member 14 to prevent the unlocking member 14 extending beyond the external surface 68 of the movable frame portion 3 (see Fig's. 8 and 9). The unlocking member 14 also carries a roller 69 which abuts roller 58 when the door frame is in a normal locked position. The movable frame portion 3 has a curved plate 60 formed for engaging roller 58 and pushing the locking member 12 back into slot 7 when the movable frame portion 3 is pushed into a closed position (see Fig. 4). Fig's. 8 and 9 show the floating block 11 in an unlocked position after a person has actuated the bolt 21 (see Fig 3) by opening the door handle 5. The unlocking element 14 is moved to the right and roller 69 pushes the roller 58 and the arm 32 back into the housing 31 overcoming the force of the compression springs 15. The interface between the unlocking member 14 and the locking member 12 is aligned with gap 17. The rollers 58, 69 are rotatably mounted on the arm 32 and unlocking member 14 respectively to reduce friction between the arm 32 and the unlocking member 14 during opening and closing of the movable frame portion 3 of the door frame.

2s Referring to the drawings and now to Fig's. 10 to 14 the door 4 is shown mounted on the movable frame portion 3 of the door frame by hinges 102. The movable frame portion 3 :: :. ate.: :e ece 6:....

is shown mounted on the fixed frame portion 2 of the door frame by hinges 104. In Fig. 10, the handle 5 of the door activates the bolt 21 (see Fig's 3 and 13) when the handle is rotated clockwise as opposed to anticlockwise in order to open the door 4. It will of course be appreciated that the bolt 21 may be actuated by rotating the handle 5 in any predetermined direction. It will also be appreciated that either or both door handles 5 on opposite sides of the door are capable of activating the bolt 21. In Fig. 11, the door 4 is shown in the open position and in Fig. 12 the door 4 is shown in the closed position. In fig. 13, the handle 5 has been rotated so as to activate the bolt 21 so that the gap 17 between the fixed frame portion 2 and the movable frame portion 3 is aligned with the interface between the two pieces of the lo floating block 11. An operator rotating and pushing the door handle 5 in the opposite direction to the normal opening direction of the door 4 causes the door 4 and the movable frame portion 3 of the door frame to open in the direction the door handle 5 is pushed, as shown in Fig. 14.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of he IS invention described above.

Claims

1. A quick release mechanism for a door frame of the type having a fixed frame portion and a movable frame portion hinged thereon, the quick release mechanism comprising a slot in the fixed frame portion and a slot in the movable frame portion, the two slots being aligned so as to fomm a single slot when the fixed frame portion and movable frame portion are coplanar, a floating block slidably mounted in the single slot and being normally biased within the single slot so that a portion of the block extends between the two door frame portions spanning a gap therebetween and preventing relative to movement between the movable frame portion and the fixed frame portion, means for countering the nommal biasing force acting on the floating block allowing the movable frame portion to move relative to the fixed frame portion of the doorframe.

2. A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the countering means aligns the gap between the Fred frame portion and the movable frame portion with an interface between the floating block and the countering means.

3. A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floating block is a two-piece floating block normally biased within the single slot so that one piece of the floating block extends between the two door frame portions spanning the gap therebetween.

4. A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein the countering means acts on the two-piece floating block aligning the gap between the fixed frame portion and the movable frame portion with an interface between the two pieces of the floating block.

5. A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in any one of the s preceding claims, wherein a door openable and closable by a handle is hinged on the movable frame portion.

6. A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein the countering means is provided by an adjustable bolt housed in the door in to alignment with the slot in the movable frame portion when the door and movable frame portion are coplanar.

7. A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bolt is operable by the door handle.

8. A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of quick release mechanisms are located around the door frame.

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9. A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each quick release mechanism is located on the side of the door frame opposite the side upon which the movable frame portion is hinged on the fixed frame portion.

10. A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein each quick release mechanism has its own bolt.

11. A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in claim 10, wherein the plurality of bolts are interconnected.

12. A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the biasing force acting on the floating block is provided by a compression spring. lo

13. A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in claim 12, wherein the compression spring is mounted between a base of the slot in the fixed frame portion and a piece of the floating block housed therein.

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14. A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in any one of the I claims 6 to 13, wherein the door handle is coupled to the or each bolt and activation of the door handle in a predetemmined manner causes the or each bolt I to move into the slot in the movable frame portion, moving the floating block between a locked position and an unlocked position.

15. A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in any one of the claims 6 to 14, wherein only one of the door handles on opposite sides of the door is capable of operating the or all bolts.

16.A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in any one of the claims 6 to 14, wherein both door handles are capable of operating the or all bolts.

17. A quick release mechanism for a door frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slot in the fixed frame portion and the slot in the movable frame portion are coaxially aligned.

1 8.A quick release mechanism for a door frame substantially as hereinbefore to described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.