U.S. patent number 3,804,442 [Application Number 05/223,862] was granted by the patent office on 1974-04-16 for electric door release.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Precision Hardware Inc.. Invention is credited to Daniel A. Powers.
United States Patent |
3,804,442 |
Powers |
April 16, 1974 |
ELECTRIC DOOR RELEASE
Abstract
An electric door release including individually separable strike
face, strike box assembly and actuating structure wherein the
actuating structure may be mounted on the strike box assembly in
relatively perpendicular positions to facilitate installing the
door release in both metal and wood door frames and in the inactive
leaf of pairs of doors having different dimensions. The actuating
structure of the electric door release is a push-type solenoid
adapted to be mounted on the strike box assembly by a noncircular
headed projection thereon and matching openings in the strike box
assembly. The solenoid is protected by a readily releasable
C-shaped clip extending over a portion of the mounting projection,
which bracket also locks the actuating structure on the strike box
assembly. The strike box assembly includes only two spring biased
movable parts.
Inventors: |
Powers; Daniel A. (Monroe,
MI) |
Assignee: |
Precision Hardware Inc.
(Detroit, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
22838261 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/223,862 |
Filed: |
February 7, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
292/341.16;
70/462 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
47/0047 (20130101); Y10T 292/699 (20150401); Y10T
70/8865 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
47/00 (20060101); E05b 015/02 (); E05c
003/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;292/201,341.16,144
;70/461,462 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Champion; Marvin A.
Assistant Examiner: Pate, III; William F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Whittmore, Hulbert &
Belknap
Claims
1. Electric door release structure comprising a strike face, a
strike box assembly secured to the strike face for releasable
engagement with a latch bolt and means for selectively actuating
the strike box assembly in response to an electrical signal to
release a latch bolt engaged with the strike box assembly,
including an elongated armature movable longitudinally in opposite
directions and means for securing the actuating means to the strike
box assembly in a plurality of relatively perpendicular positions
with the armature extending longitudinally in relatively
perpendicular directions whereby the electric door release is
suitable for use in door frames and doors having a wide range
of
2. Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the strike face,
strike box
3. Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the strike box
assembly includes only two movable parts and resilient means urging
the parts into
4. Structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein the two movable parts
are a trip member and a locking bar, the trip member is resiliently
urged into a latch bolt retaining position and the locking bar is
resiliently urged into a position whereby it prevents movement of
the trip member to release
5. Electric door release structure comprising a strike face, a
strike box assembly secured to the strike face including a locking
bar for releasable engagement with a latch bolt and means for
selectively actuating the strike box assembly in response to an
electrical signal to release a latch bolt engaged with the locking
bar including a solenoid having an armature extending into the
strike box assembly engageable with the locking bar on energizing
of the solenoid which is spring biased out of engagement with the
locking bar and means for securing the actuating means to the
strike box assembly in a plurality of relatively perpendicular
positions whereby the electric door release is suitable for use in
door frames and doors
6. Structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein the solenoid armature
has two separate diameters each engageable with a different point
on the locking bar with the actuating means secured to the strike
box assembly in relatively perpendicular positions to actuate the
locking bar on the
7. Structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein the armature includes
a larger and smaller diameter portion extending within the strike
box assembly, the locking bar is generally L-shaped and has an
opening through one portion thereof through which the smaller
diameter portion of the armature extends with the actuating
mechanism secured to the strike box
8. Structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein the locking bar is
generally L-shaped, the armature has larger and smaller diameter
portions thereon and the smaller diameter portion of the armature
is engageable with one portion of the locking bar with the
actuating mechanism secured to the strike box assembly in one of
the relatively perpendicular positions
9. Structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein the strike face,
strike box
10. Structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein the strike box
assembly includes only two movable parts and resilient means urging
the parts into
11. Structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein the two movable
parts are a trip member and a locking bar, the trip member is
resiliently urged into a latch bolt retaining position and the
locking bar is resiliently urged into a position whereby it
prevents movement of the trip member to release
12. Electric door release structure comprising a strike face, a
strike box assembly secured to the strike face for releasable
engagement with a latch bolt and means for selectively actuating
the strike box assembly in response to an electrical signal to
release a latch bolt engaged with the strike box assembly,
including means for securing the actuating means to the strike box
assembly in a plurality of relatively perpendicular positions
whereby the electric door release is suitable for use in door
frames and doors having a wide range of dimensions comprising a
non-circular opening through the strike box, a projection on the
actuating means having a complementary non-circular head thereon
which is undercut whereby on insertion of the projection into the
strike box assembly with the projection thereon oriented so that
the complementary head on the projection extends through the
opening in the strike box, the projection may be passed through the
opening in the strike box and on rotation of the actuating means
with the head of the projection within the strike box out of the
mating position of the head of the projection and the opening
in
13. Structure as set forth in claim 12, and further including a
C-shaped clip extending over the actuating means and having a
bifurcated end extending around the projection on the actuating
means with the actuating means secured to the strike box assembly
for locking the actuating means to the strike box assembly and
protecting the actuating means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to electric door release structure and refers
more specifically to a door release structure including separable
strike face, strike box assembly and actuating means structure
wherein the strike box assembly includes only two spring biased
movable parts and the actuating mechanism, which is a push-type
solenoid, is securable to the strike box assembly in relatively
perpendicular positions and is locked in the secured position by a
protecting clip therefor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art, as shown by applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No.
3,122,388 and the references cited therein, includes electric door
release structures wherein the strike plate tripper mechanism and
actuating solenoid are essentially one unit and are not readily
disassembled whereby replacement of, for example, the solenoid,
necessitated by different voltage requirements or damage to the
solenoid, is not as simple as it might be. In addition, the prior
art structures have been relatively complicated and therefore tend
to be expensive to manufacture and are subject to malfunction which
reduces their efficiency.
Further, the prior art does not teach an electric door release
capable of accepting three-quarter inch throw latch bolts of the
non-friction type and are generally limited to installation in
particular door frames or door structures wherein the fixed
dimensions of the door releases of the past have been acceptable.
That is to say, with prior door release structures it has not been
readily possible to change the mounting of the actuating mechanism,
for example, into different relatively perpendicular positions with
respect to the tripper mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, there is provided electric door
release mechanism including a separable strike face member, strike
box assembly and actuating means, which actuating means may be
secured to the strike box assembly in a plurality of mutually
perpendicular directions to facilitate installation of the electric
door release in either metal or wood door frames and doors having
different dimensions.
In addition, the strike box assembly includes only two spring
biased movable parts, in accordance with the invention, which are a
trip member for releasably securing a latch bolt engaged therewith
and a locking bar for permitting movement of the trip member to
release a latch bolt engaged therewith.
The actuating means of the electric door release of the invention
is a push-type solenoid including an armature having dual diameter
portions engageable with different portions of the lock bar for
moving it out of engagement with the trip member with the actuating
means secured to the strike box assembly in different relatively
perpendicular positions. The actuating means also includes a
projection having a noncircular and undercut head thereon for
securing the solenoid to the strike box assembly in the different
relatively perpendicular positions in conjunction with
complementary openings in the strike box assembly.
A C-shaped clip having a bifurcated end adapted to surround the
projection on the actuating means and to encompass the solenoid of
the actuating means locks the actuating means in position on the
strike box assembly and protects the solenoid in accordance with
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the electric door release of
the invention.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the door release illustrated in
FIG. 1 taken in the direction of the arrow 2 in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the door release illustrated in FIGS. 1
and 2 taken in the direction of arrow 3 in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the door release illustrated in FIGS. 1
through 3 showing the actuating means secured to the strike box
assembly in a position perpendicular to that illustrated in FIG.
3.
FIG. 5 is a partial section view of the door release illustrated in
FIGS. 1 through 4 taken substantially on the line 5--5 in FIG.
3.
FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the strike box assembly of the
door release illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 taken in the
direction of arrow 6 in FIG. 3.
FIG. 7 is a section view of the door release structure illustrated
in FIGS. 1 through 6 taken substantially on the line 7--7 in FIG.
2.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the locking bar of the
strike box assembly of the door release illustrated in FIGS. 1
through 7.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the trip member of the
strike box assembly of the door release illustrated in FIGS. 1
through 7.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the solenoid clip of the door
release illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7.
FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the
actuating means of the door release illustrated in FIGS. 1 through
7, particularly showing the undercut head of the noncircular
projection thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The electric door release structure 10 includes the strike face 12,
the strike box assembly 14. the actuating means 16 and the solenoid
clip 18. The strike face 12, the strike box assembly 14, actuating
means 16 and solenoid clip 18 are independently separable so that
each may be separately replaced and assembled with a minimum amount
of effort and few tools.
The strike face 12, as shown, includes the dished-out portion 20
and the countersunk openings 22 for receiving mounting screws or
the like. The strike face 12 further includes the opening 24 behind
which the strike box assembly 14 is secured as shown.
The strike box assembly 14 may be secured to the strike face in any
vertical position therealong by means of screws 26, illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, the opening 24 may be precut to receive
standard height latch bolts or may be specially cut for particular
installations at any vertical position along the strike face
dictated by the position of a mating latch bolt. Economy of
production and inventory is thus accomplished with the strike face
12 as illustrated in the electric door release structure 10.
The strike box assembly 14, as shown best in FIG. 7, includes the
box 28 which may be secured to the strike face 12 by screws 26 as
mentioned above. The trip member 30, best shown in FIG. 9, and the
locking bar 32, best shown in FIG. 8, are secured in the box 28 on
the pivot pins 34 and 36, respectively. The trip member 30 is
resiliently urged in a clockwise direction, as shown, by the spring
38 into engagement with the staked-out stop 40 on the box 28.
Similarly, the locking bar 32 is resiliently urged in a clockwise
direction by the spring 42. Pivot pin 34 is mounted in the side
walls of the box 28 at opposite ends thereof, as is the pivot pin
36. The pivot pin 36 also extends through the staked-out guide
portions 44 of the box 28 at opposite ends thereof.
Thus, the strike box assembly 14 includes only two movable members.
That is, the trip member 30 and the locking bar 32.
In operation, it is necessary to pivot the locking bar 32
counterclockwise about the pivot pin 36 in opposition to the spring
42 to permit rotation of the trip member 30 in a counterclockwise
direction in opposition to the spring 38 by a latch bolt engaged
with the surface 46 of the trip member.
The actuating means 16 includes the electric solenoid 48 secured
within the yoke 50 between the cross portion 52 of the yoke 50 and
the closure members 54 and 56 secured across the open end of the
yoke 50. The solenoid 48 is insulated by insulators 58 and 60 at
the opposite ends thereof from the yoke and closure members.
The solenoid 48 includes the armature member 62 extending centrally
thereof having large diameter and small diameter portions 64 and 66
at one end thereof adapted to extend within the strike box assembly
14 with the actuating means 16 in assembly with the strike box
assembly. The armature 62 further includes the cap 68 on the
opposite end thereof and the spring 70 operable between the cap 68
and the yoke closure member 56 urging the armature out of the
strike box assembly 14.
In operation, when the solenoid 48 is energized, the armature 62 is
moved into the strike box assembly in opposition to the spring 70.
With the actuating means 16 secured to the strike box assembly 14,
as shown in FIG. 7, on movement of the solenoid armature 62 into
the strike box assembly, the larger diameter portion 64 engages the
bifurcated end 72 of the locking bar to rotate the locking bar
counterclockwise as shown.
With the actuating means 16 assembled with the strike box assembly
at right angles to the position shown in FIG. 7; that is, as shown
in FIG. 4 whereby the armature 62 extends through the opening 74 in
the box 28, the smaller diameter portion 66 of the armature 62 will
engage the portion 76 of the locking bar 32 to pivot the locking
bar 32 in a counterclockwise direction.
The actuating means 14 further includes the disc 78 on the
connecting portion 52 of the yoke 50 which includes the projection
79 having the smaller diameter portion 80 and a larger diameter
head portion 82. The larger diameter portion 82 of the projection
79 has flat sides 84 so that the head provided on the projection 79
is noncircular. Further, it will be noted that the noncircular head
has an undercut portion 86 at each end thereof.
In assembling the actuating means 16 with the strike box assembly
in any of the relatively perpendicular positions in which assembly
is possible, the noncircular head 82 is passed through a
complementary opening 88 or the opening 74 in the box 28 of the
strike box assembly, and the actuating means is turned ninety
degrees whereby the head 82 prevents withdrawal of the actuating
means from the strike box assembly.
The undercut portion 86 of the head 82 permits withdrawal of the
projection 79 from the strike box assembly sufficiently far so that
the bifurcated end 89 of the solenoid clip 18 can be inserted
around the smaller diameter portion 80 of the projection 79. That
is to say, the undercut portion 86 of the head 82 is of the same
dimension as the thickness of the material from which the box 28 is
manufactured. The solenoid clip 18 thus serves to lock the
actuating means 16 in assembly with the strike box assembly.
In addition, the solenoid clip 18 extends over one side and one end
of the solenoid 48, as shown for example in FIG. 3, and includes
flanges 90 and 92 extending down over two other sides of the
solenoid 48 to protect the solenoid.
In overall operation of the electric door release of the invention
as described above, with the actuating means 16 assembled as shown
in FIG. 7, when the solenoid 48 is energized the solenoid armature
62 engages the portion 72 of the locking bar 32 on movement of the
armature 62 into the strike box assembly in opposition to the
spring 70 to pivot the locking bar 32 counterclockwise. As set
forth above, counterclockwise pivoting of the spring 42 will permit
counterclockwise pivoting of the trip member 30 in opposition to
the spring 38 on application of pressure to the surface 46 thereof
by a latch bolt held thereby, whereby the latch bolt is
released.
As soon as the pressure has been removed from the surface 46 of the
trip member 30; that is, as when the latch bolt has moved away from
the door release 10, the spring 38 urges the trip member 30 back
into the position shown in FIG. 7, which permits the locking bar 32
to be moved back into the position shown in FIG. 7 by spring 42
when solenoid 48 is deenergized, again preventing movement of the
trip 30 in a counterclockwise position until the solenoid 48 is
again actuated.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been considered
in detail, it will be understood that other embodiments and
modifications thereof are contemplated. It is the intention to
include within the scope of the invention all such embodiments and
modifications as are defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *