US3730574A

US3730574A - Latch bolt retractor mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3730574A
Application number: US00135028A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Zawadzki
Original assignee: Von Duprin LLC
Current assignee: Von Duprin LLC
Priority date: 1971-04-19
Filing date: 1971-04-19
Publication date: 1973-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 1990-05-01

Abstract

A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a rectilinearly moveable actuator element arranged in a housing means to traverse a door, a panic bar traversing the door and supported for rectilinear movement outwardly and inwardly relative to the housing means, and toggle-like linkage means providing an operative connection between the panic bar and the actuator element to move the actuator element from its latchprojected position to its latch-retracted position in response to movement of the panic bar inwardly. The connection between the actuator element and the latch bolt includes a lever member mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, the lever member providing first and second rigid arms. First linkage means provides a connection between the actuator element and the first arm and second linkage means provides a connection between the latch bolt and the said second arm.

Description

Zawadzki [451 May 1, 1973 [54] LATCH BOLT RETRACTOR MECHANISM [75] Inventor: George Z. Zawadzki, Indianapolis,

Ind.

[73] Assignee: Von Duprin, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind. [22] Filed: Ap. 19, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 135,028

[52] US. Cl ..292/92, 70/92 [51 Int. Cl ..E05c 9/02 [58] Field of Search ....292/92, 21, 53, 93,

292/166, 168, 221, 227, DIG. 65; 70/92 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 19,819 2/1915 Great Britain ..292/73 Primary Examiner-Richard Moore Attorneyl-lood, Gust, Irish, Lundy & Cofi'ey [5 7] ABSTRACT A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a rectilinearly moveable actuator element arranged in a housing means to traverse a door, a panic bar traversing the door and supported for rectilinear movement outwardly and inwardly relative to the housing means, and toggle-like linkage means providing an operative connection between the panic bar and the actuator element to move the actuator element from its latch-projected position to its latchretracted position in response to movement of the panic bar inwardly. The connection between the actuator element and the latch bolt includes a lever member mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, the lever member providing first and second rigid arms. First linkage means provides a connection between the actuator element and the first arm and second linkage means provides a connection between the latch bolt and the said second arm.

I 23 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures LATCH BOLT RETRACTOR MECHANISM It is a primary object of my present invention to provide a panic exit latch and actuator assembly which includes a panic bar mounted to traverse a door and supported for rectilinear movement outwardly and inwardly. My assembly includes an elongated rod-like actuator element traversing the door and supported for reciprocation along its axis, the actuator element being operatively connected to the panic bar by toggle-like linkages.

It will be appreciated that conventional panic exit latch actuator assemblies comprisea pair of casings mounted respectively near the opposite edges of a door and upon the interior surface thereof, a panic bar spanning the door and suspended from downwardly and inwardly curved arms having their upper ends pivotally supported in the respective casings, that casing near the free edge of the door having a retractable latch bolt and mechanism providing an operative connection between the adjacent panic bar arm and the latch bolt whereby, upon movement of the panic bar downwardly and toward the door in an arc centered upon the pivot axes of the arms, the latch bolt will be retracted. Such devices have been almost universally used, without substantial change in the features above described, for many decades, although it has longbeen recognized that, as a consequence of the pivotal suspension of the panic bar, the devices have been subject to damaging wear in ordinary use as well as to damage as a result of mischievous vandalism.

My present device is different in that the panic bar moves rectilinearly inwardly and I use toggle-like linkages operated by the panic bar to move an actuator element rectilinearly away from the free edge of the door. My present invention includes means for operatively connecting the rectilinearly moveable actuator element to the latch bolt disposed on the free edge of the door or to the upper and lower latch bolts disposed, respectively, on the upper and lower edges of the door. The assembly of my present invention includes a lever member and means for mounting the lever member for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely to the path of movement of the actuator element. This lever member provides first and second rigid arms extending radially outwardly from the pivot axis of the lever member, the first arm being connected by first linkage means to the actuator element and the second arm being connected by second linkage means to the rim-type latch bolt or to the upper and lower latch bolts.

My present invention also: includes means for clogging the actuator element in its latch-retracted position.

Other objects and features of my present invention will become apparent as this description progresses.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, the present invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described so long as the scope of the appended claims is notviolated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of an embodiment of my invention, illustrating fragments of a door,

vided with a solenoid-operated dogging device;

FIG. 3 is another fragmentary, partially sectioned, plan view of the left-hand end of the assembly of FIG. 1 showing a mechanical dogging device;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary and partially sectioned elevational view showing the dogging device of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views showing thumb-piece cams for operating the latch bolt of the assembly'of FIG. 1 and cylinder lock operated cams effective to operate the thumb piece cams.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a door showing an embodiment of my present invention mounted in an operative position thereon;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing my actuator assembly applied to a vertical rod-type latch assembly, the rods being exposed as shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9'is a fragmentary sectional view of the actuator assembly applied to a door where the vertical rods are concealed within the door; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentaryv sectional view taken generally along the lines 10-10 in FIG. 9.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numberal 10 generally designates a door or other hinged closure (FIG. 1) while the reference numberal 12 generally indicates an embodiment of a latch and actuator assembly of the panic type and embodying my invention. A housing means 14 is proportioned and designed to span the door 10 transversely, usually at about hip height, and a latch bolt 16 is mounted in the housing means for movement between the projected position illustrated in FIG. 1 and a retracted position.

The housing means 14 is formed to provide a rear surface 18 and a front surface 20, and the rear surface 18 is suitably secured to the interior surface of the door 10 by means such as the illustrated fastening element 22. A push bar or panic bar 24 penetrates the front surface 20 of the housing means 14. This front surface 20 is provided with an elongated, longitudinally extending opening 26 through which the panic bar 24 penetrates with a comfortable sliding fit.

The free edge 28 of the door 10 is adapted to'mate with a surface 30 of the door frame 32, upon which is mounted a suitable keeper 34 and a strike plate 36. In its projected position, the latch bolt 16 extends into the keeper 34 as illustrated to prevent movement of the door 10 clockwise about its left-hand end (FIG. 1 i.e., its hinged axis. conventionally, when the door 10 closes by moving counterclockwise to its FIG. 1 position, the latch bolt 16 engages the strike plate 36. The strike plate drives the latch bolt 16 inwardly until it is in registry with the opening of the keeper 34.

Within'the housing means 14 there are mounted two

identical guide units

38, 40 spaced apart longitudinally of the housing means. Reference is made to my copending application Ser. No. 61,110 filed Aug. 5-, 1970, now US. Pat. No. 3,663,047, issued May 16, 1972, and disclosing the general type of latch and actuator assembly shown in FIG. 1. The manner in which the

guide units

38, 40 cooperate to guide posts 42 on which the panic bar 24 is mounted and a rod-like actuator element 44 is disclosed in this prior copending application. I

The panic bar 24 is supported for movement outwardly and inwardly relative to the housing means 14 and door by means of the guide posts 42 which reciprocate in horizontally extending bores provided by the

guide units

38, 40. Further, the

guide units

38, 40 provide guiding surfaces for the actuator element 44. Particularly, the actuating element 44 is an elongated, rod-like member guided by the

units

38, 40 for rectilinear, axial movement longitudinally of the housing means 14, the axis of the rod 44 being perpendicular to the axes of the posts 42. The housing means 14 and consequently the actuator element 44 extend horizontally across the inwardly facing surface of the door 10 in most instances. The actuator element 44 is supported for movement as indicated by the arrow 46 between a first position corresponding to the projected latch bolt position and a second position corresponding to the retracted latch bolt position. In FIG. 1, the said second position is to the left of the illustrated solid-line position of the element 44. A coiled spring 48 is provided to urge the actuator element 44 toward its said first position, the coiled spring being disposed between a bracket 50 fixedly mounted on the housing means 14 and a transverse pin 52 carried by the actuator element. The proximal end of the element 44 is indicated at 54 and its distal end is indicated at 56.

A pair of toggle-like linkages 62 is provided for divingly connecting the panic bar 24 to the actuator element 44 so that movement of the panic bar inwardly will move the actuator element 44 from its said first position to its said second position. These linkages 62 may be identical. Each such linkage 62 comprises a first lever 64, one end of which is oscillably mounted upon pivot means 65 fixed with respect to the associated

guide unit

38, 40 upon an axis perpendicular to the line of movement of the element 44. A second link 66 has one end oscillably connected to the distal end of the lever 64 by means 67 and its opposite end oscillably connected to the element 44 by means 68.

Rollers

70, 72 are journal mounted on the means indicated by the

reference numberal

67, 68 to facilitate the toggle action. The details of these linkages 62 are fully described in my said copending patent application Ser. No. 61,110 filed Aug 5, 1970, now US. Pat. No. 3,663,047, issued May 16, 1972.

My invention comprises first means indicated generally at 74 providing an operative connection between the actuator element 44 and the latch bolt 16 to move the latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of the actuator element from its first position to its second position, i.e., to the left as viewed in FIG. 1. My invention also comprises second means (linkages 62) providing an operative connection between the panic bar 24 and the actuator element 44 to move the actuator element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of the panic bar inwardly. My said first means includes a lever member 80 and means such as the illustrated pin 82 carried by the bracket 83 for mounting the lever member for pivotal movement about an axis extending transverselyto the direction of movement of the element 44. The lever member 80 provides first and second

rigid arms

84, 86 extending generally radially outwardly from the axis of the pin 82. The arm 84 extends generally outwardly from the inwardly facing surface of the door 10 and the arm 86 extends generally toward the latch bolt 16. My said first means further includes first linkage means such as the connector bar 88 providing a connection between the actuator element 44 and the first arm 84 and second linkage means such as the rigid link 90 providing a connection between the latch bolt 16 and the second arm 86. In the assembly of FIG. 1, I provide yieldable means such as the coiled spring 92 disposed between the bracket 94 rigidly mounted on the floor of the housing means 14 and the spring retainer 96 on the bar 88 so that the yieldable means acts upon the bar 88 to urge the latch bolt 16 to its projected position. Particularly, the spring 92 urges the bar 88 to the right (FIG. 1) to urge the lever member clockwise about its axis to urge the latch bolt 16 toward its projected position in the opening of the keeper 34.

The assembly of FIG. 1 includes means providing a lost-motion connection permitting movement of the connector bar 88 in opposition to the spring 92 and relative to the actuator element 44 to permit retraction of the latch bolt 16 without movement of the actuator element. This lost-motion connection may be provided, for instance, by the elongated slot 98 in the bar 88 with the pivot pin means 68 extending into the slot. The length of the slot 98, therefore, permits the bar 88 to move to the left (FIG. 1) without disturbing the actuator element 44. When the door 10 closes, the latch bolt 16 is driven inwardly by the strike plate 36 to move the bar 88 to the left from its position shown in FIG. 1.

It will be appreciated that the right-hand end of the bar 88 is pivotally connected to the distal end of the arm 84 by a pin 100 while one end of the rigid link is pivotally connected to the second arm 86 by a pin 102 and the other end of the link 90 is pivotally connected to the latch bolt 16 by a pin 104. The connection made by the pin 104 is in a portion of the latch bolt 16 which extends toward the lever member 80 and which is disposed outwardly from the pin 82 upon which the lever member 80 pivots.

The rigid link 90 provides a rigid protrusion 106 extending away from the latch bolt 16 towards the lever member 80, this protrusion 106 being proportioned and designed so that, when the latch bolt 16 is in its projected position and the actuator element 44 is in its first position, the protrusion engages the distal end portion of the first arm 84. This protrusion 106 serves to limit the outer travel of the latch bolt 16 by acting as a stop in engaging the arm 84. The protrusion 106 also applies an initial force to the linkage system when the latch bolt 16 is driven inwardly by the strike plate 36 thereby to start the lever member 80 pivoting counterclockwise (FIG. I). Further, the protrusion 106 steadies the latch bolt 16 by giving it a two-point contact, i.e., the protrusion against the lever member 80 and the pivot connection between the link 90 and the second arm 86.

In the illustration of FIG. 1, the latch bolt 16 is mounted for pivotal movement about a vertically extending pin 108 which is perpendicular to the axis of the actuator element 44, parallel with the pivot axis of the lever member 80 and perpendicular to the axes of the posts 42.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that I have provided means for locking the actuator element 44 in its second position, thereby to dog the latch bolt 16 in its retracted position, the locking means being disposed to the left (FIG. 1) of the distal end 56 of the actuator element. Particularly, the latch bolt 16 is disposed adjacent the proximal end 54 of the element I and the locking means is disposed adjacent the distal end 56 of the element. In the illustrative embodiments of FIGS. 2-4, a first hook 114 is welded or otherwise securely fastened to the'distal end 56 of the actuator element 44. In the FIG. 2 system, solenoid means 116 including an armature 118 connected to the hook 114 as indicated at 120 is provided. When a solenoid 116 is energized, for instance, by a remote control switch, the actuator element 44 is moved to and held in its said second position so long as the solenoid means is energized.

In the FIGS. 3 and 4 embodiment, the locking means includes a second hook 122 and means indicated generally at 124 mounting the second hook for movement into and out of holding engagement with the first hook 114 when the actuator element 44 is in its second position. The actuator element is, of course, initially moved to its second position by pressing inwardly on the panic bar 24. The releasing position and locking position of the second hook 122 may be defined by

detent portions

126, 128 which may be formed on or carried on a spring strip 130 as illustrated, the

detent portions

126, 128 engaging a concave detent opening, not shown, formed in the second hook 122.

In order to move the second hook 122 between its locking and releasing positions, I provide a conventional cylinder lock 132 drivingly connected to the second hook 122. Thus, only authorized personnel having keys which will fit the cylinder lock 132 will be able to dog the latch bolt 16 in its retracted position.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen that I have shown fragmentary views of the housing means portion 14 adjacent the free edge of the door 10. The portion 14 extends generally vertically relative to the horizontally extending main portion of the housing means 14. The latch bolt 16, which is pivoted about a vertical axis, extends outwardly from the portion 14' and carries

rigid pins

136, 138 extending vertically upwardly and downwardly from the latch bolt. Each of these

pins

136, 138 is engaged by a

first cam

140, 142

mounted for oscillation about a horizontally extending

axis

144, 146.'The axes for the cams 140,142 are generally parallel, for instance, to the posts 42. Each

cam

140, 142 is proportioned and designed to drive its associated

136, 138 inwardly, thereby to retract the latch bolt 16, when the cam is driven from its FIG. 5 position to its FIG. 6 position. Each

cam

140, 142 is disposed in the housing means portion 14' to be operated by a conventional manual actuator (not shown) such as a thumb piece or lever-type handle. For

instance, a conventional thumb piece may extend inwardly from the exterior side of the door 10 to operate either

cam

140, 142. Generally, the thumb piece will operate the

cam

140, 142 disposed in the downwardly extending housing means portion 14. Since the housing means 14 and its portion 14' and the

cams

140, 142 are symmetrically and allochirally arranged,.the actuator assembly 12 can be used with either a left-hand door or a right-hand door. For this reason, it is not necessary for hardware dealers to stock both left-hand and right-hand actuator assemblies 12.

Further, a

second cam

148, 150 is disposed adjacent each

first cam

140, 142 for oscillable movement about an axis 152, 154-which also extends generally parallel to said posts 42. Each of these

cams

148, 150 is proportioned and designed to engage and drive its adjacent

first cam

140, 142 about its axis to retract the latch bolt 16. Each

cam

148, 150 is provided with crossed

slots

156, 158, one of which receives the conventional drive tang on a conventional cylinder lock. Thus, each

cam

148, 150 may be driven by a cylinder lock to drive its adjacent

first cam

140, 142 to retract the latch bolt 16.

My assembly 12, therefore, may be used with a number of different types of exterior door hardware, commonly called exterior door trim. For instance, the

lower cam

140, 142, depending on whether the assembly 12 is on a left-hand door or a right-hand door, may be operated by a thumb piece while the

upper cam

140, 142 may be operated through its adjacent

second cam

148, 150 by a cylinder lock.

I refer to the

cams

148, 150 as night latch cams'and the

cams

140, 142 as thumb piece cams. Exterior hardwarewhich includes only a cylinder lock for operating one of the

cams

148, 150 and a rigid handle for pulling the door open may be provided. Alternatively, hardware including a cylinder lock for operating the

upper cam

148, 150 and an actuator such as a thumb piece for operating the

lower cam

140, 142 may be provided.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-10, it will be seen that my latch and actuator assembly may be applied to a vertical rod-type latch assembly. In FIG. 7, I show my assembly l2 traversing a door 10 with

rods

160, 162 extending vertically from the housing means portion 14' adjacent the free edge 28 of the door, these rods being operatively connected, respectively, to latch bolts 164, 166-at the upper and lower edges of the door as indicated in FIG. 8. The

rods

160, 162 may be connected to the

latch bolts

164, 166 by a conventional lost-motion connection permitting retraction of the latch bolt without movement of the rods when the door closes. Such connection methods are well known and need not be discussed, in detail, herein.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 7-10, my lever member is drivingly connected to the latch bolts 1 64, 166 so that, when the lever member is pivoted counterclockwise about its axis as viewed in FIG. 1, the

rods

160, 162 are reciprocated toward each other'to retract their respective bolts 164,166. In the embodiments of FIGS. 7-10, the said second linkage therefore includes the

rods

160, 162. The

rods

160, 162 are substantially co'axially arranged with the remote ends operatively connected to the

respective latch bolts

164, 166 respectively, and their adjacent ends in confronting relation to each other, the rods being reciprocable toward each other to retract their respective bolts and 172 is disposed in an elongated opening in block 174 as illustrated. A pair of

second lever members

176, 178 is provided for drivingly connecting the

connectors

168, 170 and, consequently, the

rods

160, 162 to the block 174. These

lever members

176, 178 are supported on mounting means 186 connected to the housing means 14 by means such as the illustrated fastening elements 187. Each

lever member

176, 178 is provided with a horizontally extending bore 188 at its fulcrum point for receiving a pivot pin carried the mounting means 186 so that the

lever members

176, 178 are pivotally movable about axes which extend generally parallel to the actuator element 44.

Each

lever member

176, 178 is provided with an

arm

190, 192 extending toward and connected to the block 174. In the illustrative embodiment, the block 174 is provided with an opening 194 into which the distal end portions of the

arms

190, 192 extend. Each

lever member

176, 178 is also provided with another

arm

198, 200 extending toward and connected to the

connector

168, 170 on the adjacent end of its associated

rod

160, 162. In the illustrative embodiment, the distal end of the arm 198 is pivotally connected to the connector 168 by a pin 204 which extends through a slotted opening 206 in the connector 168 and the distal end of the arm 200 is similarly connected to the connector 170 by a pin 207 which extends through a slotted opening (not shown) in the connector 170.

Referring to FIG. 9, it will be seen that when the block 174 moves outwardly, the lever member 176 will be pivoted counterclockwise about its axis while the lever member 178 is pivoted clockwise about its axis simultaneously to retract the

rods

160, 162. When the panic bar 124 is released, the spring 48 returns the actuator element 44 to its first position permitting the spring 92 to move the lever member 80 to its latch-projected position which moves the block 174 to its inner position illustrated in FIG. 9.

In FIG. 7, the

rods

160, 162 are exposed. My assembly may be used as shown in FIG. 9 when the rods are concealed within the door. In such a case, each

connector

168, 170 is provided with an opening 208 which is used to mount a drive finger 210, the drive finger being rigidly connected to the connector by a fastening means such as indicated at 212. Each drive finger 210 extends through an aperture 213 in the door so that its distal portion indicated at 214 may engage a concealed rod such as indicated at 216. The illustrated concealed rod 216 is provided with an aperture 218 receiving the portion 214.

It will be appreciated that my lever member 80 which drives the rigid link 90 outwardly in the FIG. 1 embodiment and the block 174 outwardly in the FIGS. 7-10 embodiments translates the rectilinear horizontal movement of the element 44 into sufficient force and movement to retract the latch bolt 16 or the

latch bolts

164, 166. The lever member 80 may be made quite rigid and strong so that it can reliably accomplish its function without unduly increasing the size of the assembly 12.

What is claimed is:

1. A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a housing means, a latch bolt pivotally moveable about an axis between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element for movement between a first position and a second position, first means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element from its first position to its second position, a panic bar supported for rectilinear movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said housing means, and second means providing an operative connection between said panic bar and said actuator element to move said actuator element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, said first means including a lever member, means for mounting said lever member for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely to the direction of movement of said actuator element and generally parallel to the pivot axis of said latch bolt, said lever member providing first and second rigid arms, first linkage means providing a connection between said actuator element and said first arm, and second linkage means providing a connection between said latch bolt and said second arm.

2. A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a housing means, a latch bolt moveable between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element for movement between a first position and a second position, first means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element from its first position to its second position, a panic bar supported for rectilinear movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said housing means, and second means providing an operative connection between said panic bar and said actuator element to move said actuator element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, said first means including a lever member, means for mounting said lever member for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely to the direction of movement of said actuator element, said lever member providing first and second rigid arms, first linkage means providing a connection between said actuator element and said first arm, and second linkage means providing a connection between said latch bolt and said second arm, said latch bolt and said lever member being mounted for pivotal movement respectively about parallel axes extending perpendicularly to the said direction of movement of said actuator element, said latch bolt having a portion extending toward said lever member, and said second linkage means including a rigid link having one end pivotally connected to the distal end of said second arm and its opposite end pivotally connected to said latch bolt portion.

3. The assembly of claim 2 in which said rigid link is formed to provide a rigid protrusion extending away from its said opposite end toward said lever member, said rigid protrusion being proportioned and designed such that, when said latch bolt is in its projected position and said actuator element is in its first position, said protrusion engages the distal end portion of said first arm.

end of said first arm, yieldable means acting upon said I connector bar to urge said latch bolt to its projected position, and means providing a connection between said second opposite end and said actuator element,

the last said means including a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said connector bar in opposition to said yieldable means and relative to said actuator element to permit retraction of said latch bolt without movement of said actuator element.

5. A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a housing means, a latch bolt moveable between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element for movement between a first position and a second position, first means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element from its first position to its second position, a panic bar supported for rectilinear movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said housing means, and second means providing an operative connection between said panic bar and said actuator element to move said actuator element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, said first means including a lever member, means for mounting said lever member for pivotal movement about an axis extending'transversely to the direction of movement of said actuator element, said lever member providing first and second rigid arms, first linkage means providing a connection between said actuator element and said first arm, and second linkage means providing a connection between said latch bolt and said second arm, said first linkage means including a rigid connector bar having first and second opposite ends, means providing a pivotal connection between said first opposite end and the distal end of said first arm, yieldable means acting upon said connector bar to urge said latch bolt to its projected position, and means providing a connection between said second opposite end and said actuator element, the last said means including a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said connector bar in opposition to said yieldable means and relative to said actuator element to permit retraction of said latch bolt without movement of said actuator element.

6. A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a housing means, a latch bolt moveable between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element for movement between a first position and a second position, first means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element from its first position to its second position, a panic bar supported for rectilinear movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said housing means, and second means providing an operative connection between said panic bar'and said actuator element to move said actuator element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, said first means including a lever member, means for mounting said lever member for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely to the directionof movement of said actuator element, said lever member providing first and second rigid arms, first linkage means providing a connection between said actuator element and said first arm, and second linkage means providing a connection between said latch bolt and said second arm, said actuator element being an elongated rod-like member guided for substantially rectilinear movement along its axis in a path substantially perpendicular to the line of movement of said panic bar, said latch bolt being spaced apart from one end of said actuator element and said lever member being disposed between said one end and said latch bolt, said latch bolt and said lever member being mounted for pivotal movement respectively about parallel axes extending substantially perpendicularly to the said path of said actuator element, said line of movement of said panic bar being substantially perpendicular to said parallel axes, said latch bolt having a portion extending toward said actuator element, said secondarm extending toward said latch bolt and said first arm extending outwardly relative to the path of I said actuator element, said latch bolt portion and the pivot axis of said latch bolt being disposed outwardly relative to said second arm and the pivot axis of said lever member, and said second linkage means including a rigid link having one end pivotally connected to the distal end of said second arm and its opposite end pivotally connected to said latch bolt portion.

7. The assembly of claim 6 in which said rigid link is formed to provide a rigid protrusion extending away from its said opposite end toward said lever member, said rigid protrusion being proportioned and designed such that, when said latch bolt is in its projected position and said actuator element is in its first position,

- said protrusion engages the distal end portion of said first arm, whereby, when said latch bolt is moved inwardly toward its retracted position, said protrusion acts initially to pivot said lever member about its axis.

8. The assembly of claim 6 in which said first linkage means includes a rigid connector bar having first and second opposite ends, means providing a pivotal connection between saidfirst opposite end and the distal end of said first arm, yieldable means acting upon said connector bar to urge said latch bolt to its projected position, and means providing a connection between said second opposite end and said actuator element, the last said means including a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said connector bar in opposition to said yieldable means and relative to said actuator element to permit retraction of said latch bolt without movement of said actuator element.

9. The assembly of claim 7 in which said first linkage means includes a rigid connector bar having first and second opposite ends, means providing a pivotal connection between said first opposite end and the distal end of said first. arm, yieldable means acting upon said connector bar to urge said latch bolt to its projected position, and means providing a connection between said second opposite end and said actuator'element, the last said means including a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said connector bar in opposition to said yieldable means and relative to said actuator element to permit retraction of said latch bolt without movement of said actuator element.

10. The assembly of claim 6 including means for locking said actuator element in its said second position, thereby to dog said latch bolt in its retracted position, said locking means being disposed at the opposite end of said actuator element.

11. The assembly of claim 10 in which said locking means includes means providing a first hook on said opposite end of said actuator element, a second hook, means mounting said second hook for movement into and out of holding engagement with said first hook when said actuator element is in its second position.

12. The assembly of claim 1 1 including cylinder lock means for moving said second hook into and out of holding engagement with said first hook.

13. The assembly of claim 10 in which said locking means includes solenoid means arranged, when energized, to move said actuator element to its said second position and hold it there.

14. A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a housing means, a latch bolt moveable between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element for movement between a first position and a second position, first means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element from its first position to its second position, a panic bar supported for rectilinear movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said housing means, and second means providing an operative connection between said panic bar and said actuator element to move said actuator element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, said first means including a lever member, means for mounting said lever member for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely to the direction of movement of said actuator element, said lever member providing first and second rigid arms, first linkage means providing a connection between said actuator element and said first arm, and second linkage means providing a connection between said latch bolt and said second arm, said latch bolt being pivotal about a vertically extending axis between its said positions, and upwardly and downwardly extending rigid pins carried by said latch bolt, a first cam for engaging each of said pins, each first cam being movable about its axis to retract said latch bolt, a second cam adjacent each said first cam and arranged to drive said first cam to retract said latch bolt, each said first cam being disposed in said housing means to be operated by a conventional manually operable actuator and each second cam being disposed in said housing means to be operated by a conventional cylinder lock,

15. A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a housing means, a latch bolt moveable between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element for movement between a first position and a second position, first means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element from its first position to its second position, a panic bar supported for rectilinear movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said housing means, and second means providing an operative connection between said panic bar and said actuator element to move said actuator element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, said first means including a lever member, means for mounting said lever member for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely to the direction of movement of said actuator element, said lever member providing first and second rigid arms, first linkage means providing a connection between said actuator element and said first arm, and second linkage means providing a connection between said latch bolt and said second arm, a second latch bolt, said second linkage means including a rod for each latch bolt, said rods being substantially coaxially arranged with their remote ends operatively connected to said latch bolts respectively and their adjacent ends in confronting relation to each other, said rods being reciprocable toward each other to retract their respective bolts and away from each other upon projection of their respective bolts, means providing a connector on each rod at its said adjacent end, a block mounted in said housing means for movement outwardly and inwardly, said block being drivingly connected to said second arm, a pair of second lever members providing a driving connection respectively between said rods and said block, means for mounting said second lever members for pivotal movement about axes extending transversely to said rods and to the pivot axis of said first mentioned lever member, each second lever member having one arm extending toward and connected to said block and another arm extending toward and connected to the connector on the adjacent end of its associated rod.

16. The assembly of claim 15 in which said actuator element is an elongated, horizontally extending rodlike member supported for movement along its axis, the pivot axis of said first-mentioned lever member is verti cally extending, said rods are vertically extending, the line of movement of said panic bar is horizontal and perpendicular to said actuator element, and the pivot axes of said second lever members are horizontal and parallel to said actuator element.

17. For use on a door hingedly mounted for movement about a vertical axis along its side edge, a panic exit device comprising a housing means proportioned and designed to traverse such a door, a latch bolt moveable between a projected position and a retracted position, an elongated rod-like actuator element disposed in said housing to extend longitudinally therealong, means for supporting said actuator element for reciprocation in the direction of its length between a first position and a second position, a panic bar extending along said housing means and supported for rectilinear bodily movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said housing means, first means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element from its first position to its second position, and second means providing an operative connection between said panic bar and said actuator element to move said element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, said first means including a lever member, means for mounting said lever member for pivotal movement about an axis generally perpendicular to said actuator element, said lever member being disposed in said housing means to be adjacent the free edge of such a door, said lever member providing first and second rigid arms extending radially outwardly from said pivot axis, first linkage means providing a connection between said actuator element and said first arm, and second linkage means providing a connection between said latch bolt and said second arm. I

18. The assembly of claim 17 in which said latch bolt is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to and spaced outwardly from the pivot axis of said lever member, said latch bolt having a portion extending toward said lever member, and said second linkage means including a rigid link having one end pivotally connected to the distal end of said second arm and its opposite end pivotally connected to said latch bolt portion.

19. The assembly of claim 18 in which said rigid link is formed to provide a protrusion extending away from its said opposite end toward said lever member to engage the distal end portion of said first arm when said latch bolt is in its projected position.

20. The assembly of claim 17 including -a second latch bolt, said latch bolts being disposed respectively at the lower and upper edges of such a door, said second linkage means including a generally vertically extending rod for each latch bolt, said rods having their remote ends operatively connected to said latch bolts respectively and their proximal ends terminating adjacent said housing means, said rods being reciprocable toward each other to retract their respective bolts and away from each other upon projection of their respective bolts, means providing a connector on each rod at its proximal end, a block mounted in said housing means for movement outwardly and inwardly, said block being drivingly connected to said second arm, a pair of second lever members providing a driving connection respectively between said rods and said block, means for mounting said second lever members for pivotal movement about axes extending generally horizontally, each second lever having one arm extending toward and connected to said block and another arm extending toward and connected to the connector on the adjacent end ofits associated rod 21. The assembly of claim 17 including a second latch bolt, said latch bolts being disposed respectively at the lower andupper edges of such a door, said second linkage means including generally vertically extending rod means, the upper and lower ends of which are operatively connected respectively to said latch bolts, a block mounted in said housing means for movement outwardly and inwardly, said block being drivingly connected to said second arm, and lever means for operatively connecting said rod means to said block.

22. A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a housing means, a latch bolt moveable between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element for movement between a first position and a second position, first means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element from its first position to its second position, a panic bar supported for rectilinear movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said housing means, and second means providing an operative connection between said panic bar and said actuator element to move said actuator element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, said first means including a lever member, means for mounting said lever member for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely to the direction of movement of said actuator element, said lever member providing first and second rigid arms, first linkage means providing a connection between said actuator element and said first arm, and second linkage means providing a connection between said latch bolt and said second arm, a second latch bolt, said latch bolts being disposed respectively at the lower and upper edges of such a door, said second linkage means including generally vertically extending rod means, the upper and lower ends of which are operatively connected respectively to said latch bolts, a block mounted in said housing means for movement outwardly and inwardly, said block being drivingly connected to said second arm, and lever means for operatively connecting said rod means to said block.

23. The invention of claim 17 in which said latch bolt is disposed at the free edge of such a door and mounted for pivotal movement about a vertically extending axis, and including upwardly and downwardly extending rigid pins carried by said latch bolt, a first cam for engaging each of said pins, each first cam being movable about its axis to retract said latch bolt, said first cams being disposed respectively above and below said latch bolt, a second cam adjacent each said first cam and arranged to drive said first cam to retract said latch bolt, said first and second cams being oscillable about parallel axes extending outwardly generally parallel to the line of movement of said panic bar, each said first cam being disposed in said housing means to be operated by a conventional manually operable actuator disposed on the exterior side of such a door and each second cam being disposed in said housing means to be operated by a conventional cylinder lock extending inwardly from the exterior side of such a door, said first and second cams above said latch bolt being allochirally disposed relative to said first and second cams below said latch bolt.

Claims

4. The assembly of claim 3 in which said actuator element is guided for substantially rectilinear movement in a path substantially perpendicular to the line of movement of said panic bar, said line of movement being substantially perpendicular to the pivot axes of said lever member and latch bolt, said first linkage means including a rigid connector bar having first and second opposite ends, means providing a pivotal connection between said first opposite end and the distal end of said first arm, yieldable means acting upon said connector bar to urge said latch bolt to its projected position, and means providing a connection between said second opposite end and said actuator element, the last said means including a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said connector bar in opposition to said yieldable means and relative to said actuator element to permit retraction of said latch bolt without movement of said actuator element.

5. A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a housing means, a latch bolt moveable between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element for movement between a first position and a second position, first means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element from its first position to its second position, a panic bar supported for rectilinear movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said housing means, and second means providing an operative connection between said panic bar and said actuator element to move said actuator element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, said first means including a lever member, means for mounting said lever member for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely to the direction of movement of said actuator element, said lever member providing first and second rigid arms, first linkage means providing a connection between said actuator element and said first arm, and second linkage means providing a connection between said latch bolt and said second arm, said first linkage means including a rigid connector bar having first and second opposite ends, means providing a pivotal connection between said first opposite end and the distal end of said first arm, yieldable means acting upon said connector bar to urge said latch bolt to its projected position, and means providing a connection between said second opposite end and said actuator element, the last said means including a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said connector bar in opposition to said yieldable means and relative to said actuator element to permit retraction of said latch bolt without movement of said actuator element.

6. A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a housing means, a latch bolt moveable between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element for movement between a first position and a second position, first means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element from its first position to its second position, a panic bar supported for rectilinear movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said housing means, and second means providing an operative connection between said panic bar and said actuator element to move said actuator element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, said first means including a lever member, means for mounting said lever member for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely to the direction of movement of said actuator element, said lever member providing first and second rigid arms, first linkage means providing a connection between said actuator element and said first arm, and second linkage means providing a connection between said latch bolt and said second arm, said actuator element being an elongated rod-like member guided for substantially rectilinear movement along its axis in a path substantially perpendicular to the line of movement of said panic bar, said latch bolt being spaced apart from one end of said actuator element and said lever member being disposed between said one end and said latch bolt, said latch bolt and said lever member being mounted for pivotal movement respectively about parallel axes extending substantially perpendicularly to the said path of said actuator element, said line of movement of said panic bar being substantially perpendicular to said parallel axes, said latch bolt having a portion extending toward said actuator element, said second arm extending toward said latch bolt and said first arm extending outwardly relative to the path of said actuator element, said latch bolt portion and the pivot axis of said latch bolt being disposed outwardly relative to said second arm and the pivot axis of said lever member, and said second linkage means including a rigid link having one end pivotally connected to the distal end of said second arm and its opposite end pivotally connected to said latch bolt portion.

7. The assembly of claim 6 in which said rigid link is formed to provide a rigid protrusion extending away from its said opposite end toward said lever member, said rigid protrusion being proportioned and designed such that, when said latch bolt is in its projected position and said actuator element is in its first position, said protrusion engages the distal end portion of said first arm, whereby, when said latch bolt is moved inwardly toward its retracted position, said protrusion acts initially to pivot said lever member about its axis.

8. The assembly of claim 6 in which said first linkage means includes a rigid connector bar having first and second opposite ends, means providing a pivotal connection between said first opposite end and the distal end of said first arm, yieldable means acting upon said connector bar to urge said latch bolt to its projected position, and means providing a connection between said second opposite end and said actuator element, the last said means including a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said connector bar in opposition to said yieldable means and relative to said actuator element to permit retraction of said latch bolt without movement of said actuator element.

9. The assembly of claim 7 in which said first linkage means includes a rigid connector bar having first and second opposite ends, means providing a pivotal connection between said first opposite end and the distal end of said first arm, yieldable means acting upon said connector bar to urge said latch bolt to its projected position, and means providing a connection between said second opposite end and said actuator element, the last said means including a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said connector bar in opposition to said yieldable means and relative to said actuator element to permit retraction of said latch bolt without movement of said actuator element.

12. The assembly of claim 11 including cylinder lock means for moving said second hook into and out of holding engagement with said first hook.

14. A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a housing means, a latch bolt moveable between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element for movement between a first position and a second position, first means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element from its first position to its second position, a panic bar supported for rectilinear movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said housing means, and second means providing an operative connection between said panic bar and said actuator element to move said actuator element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, said first means including a lever member, means for mounting said lever member for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely to the direction of movement of said actuator element, said lever member providing first and second rigid arms, first linkage means providing a connection between said actuator element and said first arm, and second linkage means providing a connection between said latch bolt and said second arm, said latch bolt being pivotal about a vertically extending axis between its said positions, and upwardly and downwardly extending rigid pins carried by said latch bolt, a first cam for engaging each of said pins, each first cam being movable about its axis to retract said latch bolt, a second cam adjacent each said first cam and arranged to drive said first cam to retract said latch bolt, each said first cam being disposed in said housing means to be operated by a conventional manually operable actuator and each second cam being disposed in said housing means to be operated by a conventional cylinder lock.

16. The assembly of claim 15 in which said actuator element is an elongated, horizontally extending rod-like member supported for movement along its axis, the pivot axis of said first-mentioned lever member is vertically extending, said rods are vertically extending, the line of movement of said panic bar is horizontal and perpendicular to said actuator element, and the pivot axes of said second lever members are horizontal and parallel to said actuator element.

17. For use on a door hingedly mounted for movement about a vertical axis along its side edge, a panic exit device comprising a housing means proportioned and designed to traverse such a door, a latch bolt moveable between a projected position and a retracted position, an elongated rod-like actuator element disposed in said housing to extend longitudinally therealong, means for supporting said actuator element for reciprocation in the direction of its length between a first position and a second position, a panic bar extending along said housing means and supported for rectilinear bodily movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said housing means, first means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latch bolt to move said latch bolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element from its first position to its second position, and second means providing an operative connection between said panic bar and said actuator element to move said element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, said first means including a lever member, means for mounting said lever member for pivotal movement about an axis generally perpendicular to said actuator element, said lever member being disposed in said housing means to be adjacent the free edge of such a door, said lever member providing first and second rigid arms extending radially outwardly from said pivot axis, first linkage means providing a connection between said actuator element and said first arm, and second linkage means providing a connection between said latch bolt and said second arm.

20. The assembly of claim 17 including a second latch bolt, said latch bolts being disposed respectively at the lower and upper edges of such a door, said second linkage means including a generally vertically extending rod for each latch bolt, said rods having their remote ends operatively connected to said latch bolts respectively and their proximal ends terminating adjacent said housing means, said rods being reciprocable toward each other to retract their respectiVe bolts and away from each other upon projection of their respective bolts, means providing a connector on each rod at its proximal end, a block mounted in said housing means for movement outwardly and inwardly, said block being drivingly connected to said second arm, a pair of second lever members providing a driving connection respectively between said rods and said block, means for mounting said second lever members for pivotal movement about axes extending generally horizontally, each second lever having one arm extending toward and connected to said block and another arm extending toward and connected to the connector on the adjacent end of its associated rod.

21. The assembly of claim 17 including a second latch bolt, said latch bolts being disposed respectively at the lower and upper edges of such a door, said second linkage means including generally vertically extending rod means, the upper and lower ends of which are operatively connected respectively to said latch bolts, a block mounted in said housing means for movement outwardly and inwardly, said block being drivingly connected to said second arm, and lever means for operatively connecting said rod means to said block.