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EP0065418A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Point-of-egress control device for safely securing emergency exit doors

Assignee: RELIABLE SECURITY SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1982-05-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-05-14
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Abstract

Abstract Apparatus for securing an emergency exit door includes a bolt for engaging a keeper, a dogging mechanism for dogging the bolt and a fluid throttling device disposed between the bolt and dogging mechanism. An electrical timer is connected to the dogging mechanism by a solenoid and starts to count upon an attempt to open the door. After a predetermined time interval has run, the electrical timer releases the dogging mechanism and allows the door to dopen. If the electrical timer fails to release the dogging mechanism, the door will still open if pushed due to operation of the fluid throttling device, which slowly shortens under pressure, allowing the bolt to clear the keeper. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bolt is mounted on the door frame and the keeper on the door so that the door may be conveniently retrofitted with the invention. In order to readily align the keeper with the bolt, the keeper is loosely mounted and guided into alignment with the bolt by a bevelled guide. Upon being latched by the bolt, the keeper is held rigidly between the guide and the bolt. After the door has been opened, it cannot be resecured for a predetermined relock time interval. If the door is shut within this relock time interval, the relock time interval restarts, allowing the door to be reopened without a delay. Each time the door is shut after being opened, the relock time interval is restarted. In order to maximize reliability, Hall-Effect switches are utilized to monitor the position and movement of the bolt and the condition of the solenoid.

Inventors

  • 👤 Emanuel L. Logan
  • 👤 James W. Walsh

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 11:29
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B65/00; E05B65/10; E05B65/108; E05B65/1046; E05B65/106; E05B65/1066; E05B15/00; E05B15/0086; E05B47/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S292/00; Y10S292/65; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/0908; Y10T292/1043; Y10T292/1075; Y10T292/1082

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim 139 words
Apparatus for securing an emergency exit door wherein the door is hinged along one edge to a door frame; keeper means on said door; latching means mounted on said door frame, said latching means including closure-operated bolt means, means for mounting the bolt means for movement into a latched condition with said keeper means upon closing the door and into an unlatched condition upon pushing on the door in a direction to open the door, said latching means further including means for dogging the bolt and timing means connected to the dogging means for releasing the dogging means to undog the bolt after a predetermined delay subsequent to an attempt to open the door; and means for indicating that an attempt is being made to open the door, said indicating means operating while the bolt means is being delayed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 139 words
Apparatus for securing an emergency exit door wherein the door is hinged along one edge to a door frame; keeper means on said door; latching means mounted on said door frame, said latching means including closure-operated bolt means, means for mounting the bolt means for movement into a latched condition with said keeper means upon closing the door and into an unlatched condition upon pushing on the door in a direction to open the door, said latching means further including means for dogging the bolt and timing means connected to the dogging means for releasing the dogging means to undog the bolt after a predetermined delay subsequent to an attempt to open the door; and means for indicating that an attempt is being made to open the door, said indicating means operating while the bolt means is being delayed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
The apparatus of Claim 1 further including means for interrupting the delay means wherein the dogging means moves immediately to undog the bolt upon operation of the interrupting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of Claim 2 further including emergency condition indicating means connected to the interrupting means for operating the interrupting means upon occurrence of an emergency situation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 152 words
4A. An emergency exit door securing system wherein the system is used to secure the door member with respect to a door frame member, and includes retaining means for holding the door in a non-operable condition, the retaining means including a first portion or means associated with the frame member and a second portion or means associated with the door member and having a door released mode and a doo locking mode, and characterised by means for controlling the release of the door member from its locking mode to the released mode, means for delaying for a predetermined time period the release of the door member following initiation of control means operation, and meas responsive to control means operation or initiation for indicating that an attempt is being made to open the door, the indicating means operating whilst the operational mode of the retaining means changeover of operating mode is being delayed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 152 words
4A. An emergency exit door securing system wherein the system is used to secure the door member with respect to a door frame member, and includes retaining means for holding the door in a non-operable condition, the retaining means including a first portion or means associated with the frame member and a second portion or means associated with the door member and having a door released mode and a doo locking mode, and characterised by means for controlling the release of the door member from its locking mode to the released mode, means for delaying for a predetermined time period the release of the door member following initiation of control means operation, and meas responsive to control means operation or initiation for indicating that an attempt is being made to open the door, the indicating means operating whilst the operational mode of the retaining means changeover of operating mode is being delayed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 144 words
The apparatus of Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the timing means includes: a hydraulic cylinder means disposed between the bolt means and dogging means, the hydraulic cylinder means having a piston therein which is connected to move relative to a hydraulic cylinder while the dogging means is in a dogged mode and to move with the hydraulic cylinder when the dogging' means is in an undogged mode, said hydraulic cylinder further including throttle means for permitting relatively slow movement of the piston with respect to the cylinder while the bolt is moving from the latched to the unlatched mode, and also including one-way valve means for permitting rapid movement of the piston relative to the cylinder when the bolt is moving from the unlatched condition to the latched condition, and electrical timing means for releasably holding the dogging means in the dogging mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 219 words
An emergency exit door securing system wherein the system is used to secure a door member with respect to a door frame member, the system comprising: a keeper mounted on one of the members; a latching mechanism mounted on the other member, the latching mechanism including: base means for mounting various components of the latching mechanism; bolt means for latchably engaging the keeper member and means for movably mounting the bolt means to the base member; dogging means movably mounted on said base means for movement between a dogging mode and undogging mode; means for gradually displacing a fluid connected between the bolt means and dogging means; means for selectively retaining the dogging means in either the dogged mode or the undogged mode; means for releasing the dogging means; means for operating the release means, said operating means including an electrical timer and means for sensing when an attempt is made to open the door, said sensing means being connected to the timer for starting the timer to count a time interval upon an attempt to open the door and to thereafter allow the release means to undog the bolt whereby opening of the door is delayed after an attempt to open the door occurs, and means for indicating that an attempt is being made to open the door.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 219 words
An emergency exit door securing system wherein the system is used to secure a door member with respect to a door frame member, the system comprising: a keeper mounted on one of the members; a latching mechanism mounted on the other member, the latching mechanism including: base means for mounting various components of the latching mechanism; bolt means for latchably engaging the keeper member and means for movably mounting the bolt means to the base member; dogging means movably mounted on said base means for movement between a dogging mode and undogging mode; means for gradually displacing a fluid connected between the bolt means and dogging means; means for selectively retaining the dogging means in either the dogged mode or the undogged mode; means for releasing the dogging means; means for operating the release means, said operating means including an electrical timer and means for sensing when an attempt is made to open the door, said sensing means being connected to the timer for starting the timer to count a time interval upon an attempt to open the door and to thereafter allow the release means to undog the bolt whereby opening of the door is delayed after an attempt to open the door occurs, and means for indicating that an attempt is being made to open the door.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 39 words
The system of Claim 5 wherein the dogging means includes: a toggle linkage which is held in a jambed position by the release means when the bolt is dogged and is allowed to collapse when the bolt is indogged.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 142 words
The system of Claim 6 wherein the toggle linkage includes: a first link pivoted to the base at one end and to the hydraulic delay means at the other end; a second link pivoted at one end to the hydraulic means and at the other end to an actuator, and a third link pivoted at one end to the actuator rod and at the other end to the base, and wherein the solenoid means includes: an armature connected at one end to the actuator means for limiting motion of the armature and thus the actuator in one direction to a point where the second and third links are at dead center while the first and second links are in an overcenter configuration which overcenter configuration urges the second and third links to jam upon application of an opening force to the bolt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 29 words
The system of Claim 7 wherein the release means further includes spring means for uging the actuator to collapse the toggle linkage formed by the second and third links.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 44 words
The system of Claim 8 further including a Hall-Effect switch juxtaposed with the solenoid to detect the position of the armature in the solenoid whereby the switch operates when the solenoid is energized to draw the armature thereinto against the bias of the spring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 33 words
The system of Claim 8 wherein the sensing means is also a Hall-Effect switch and wherein the Hall-Effect switch juxtaposed with the armature is in series with the switch of the sensing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 70 words
The apparatus of Claim 8 wherein the bolt has a unitary structure and is pivoted on the base member and wherein the bolt includes a first surface which is engaged by the keeper to push the bolt to the latched condition upon shutting the door and a second surface also engaged by the keeper which pulls the bolt toward the unlatched position upon applying an opening force to the door.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 41 words
The system of Claim 11 wherein the hydraulic member is passive and unbiased whereby the piston in the hydraulic cylinder is returned to the latched condition only by the force applied to the bolt by the keeper upon closing the door.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 25 words
The system of Claim 12 wherein the throttle orifice is within the piston itself and wherein the one-way valve is contained within the hydraulic cylinder.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 29 words
The system of Claim 1 wherein the keeper is made of a resilient material which flexes when a force is applied to the door in order to absorb shock.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 43 words
The apparatus of Claim 14 wherein the keeper has at least one hole therein of a first diameter and wherein shoulder bolts having a shoulder of a diameter less than the hole are used to mount the keeper, whereby the keeper is self-adjusting.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 203 words
In a security device for securing a closure member to a frame member, the security device comprising: bolt mounting means on one member, bolt means within the bolt mounting means for movement between a latched and an unlatched position; keeper means having a projecting strike portion which strike portion engages with the bolt means to latch the closure, the keeper means further including a mounting portion and means for loosely securing the mounting portion to the other member whereby the keeper is free to move with respect to the other member; bolt guide means mounted adjacent the bolt, the bolt guide means including an inner opening aligned with the bolt and corresponding in cross-section to the strike portion of the keeper and further including beveled surface means converging toward the inner opening and diverging toward an outer opening larger than the inner opening, wherein the strike portion of the keeper is channeled by the bolt guide means through the inner opening into latching engagement with the bolt upon closing the closure member with respect to the frame member, whereby any misalignment between the keeper and the bolt is compensated for by the loose mounting of the keeper and the beveled guide surface means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 203 words
In a security device for securing a closure member to a frame member, the security device comprising: bolt mounting means on one member, bolt means within the bolt mounting means for movement between a latched and an unlatched position; keeper means having a projecting strike portion which strike portion engages with the bolt means to latch the closure, the keeper means further including a mounting portion and means for loosely securing the mounting portion to the other member whereby the keeper is free to move with respect to the other member; bolt guide means mounted adjacent the bolt, the bolt guide means including an inner opening aligned with the bolt and corresponding in cross-section to the strike portion of the keeper and further including beveled surface means converging toward the inner opening and diverging toward an outer opening larger than the inner opening, wherein the strike portion of the keeper is channeled by the bolt guide means through the inner opening into latching engagement with the bolt upon closing the closure member with respect to the frame member, whereby any misalignment between the keeper and the bolt is compensated for by the loose mounting of the keeper and the beveled guide surface means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 78 words
The security device of Claim 16 wherein the mounting portion of the keeper is a resilient shank having one end free and having the strike portion at the other end and wherein the means for loosely securing the mounting means includes a first bracket loosely fitting over the shank between the free end and strike portion allowing the shank to move laterally within the bracket and a second bracket means engaging the shank adjacent the free end thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 28 words
The security device of Claim 17 further including a pin-in-slot connection between the shank and second bracket for allowing longitudinal movement of the shank relative to the bracket.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 191 words
Apparatus for securing an emergency exit door wherein the door is hinged along one edge to a door frame; means for latching the door; panic bar means connected to the latching means for unlatching the latching means when force is applied to the bar; delay means mounted on the door frame and separate from the latching means and panic bar means, said delay means including a closure operated bolt means which extends between the door frame and door for preventing the door from opening when projected and allowing the door to open when retracted, and means for retarding movement of the bolt means from the projected to the retracted position; means for indicating that an attempt is being made to open the door while retraction of the bolt is being retarded; means for bypassing the retarding means wherein the bolt means can move immediately from the projected position to the retracted position upon operating the bypassing means, and at least one emergency condition indicator connected to the bypassing means for operating the bypassing means upon occurrence of an emergency situation to allow the door to open upon pressing against the door.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 191 words
Apparatus for securing an emergency exit door wherein the door is hinged along one edge to a door frame; means for latching the door; panic bar means connected to the latching means for unlatching the latching means when force is applied to the bar; delay means mounted on the door frame and separate from the latching means and panic bar means, said delay means including a closure operated bolt means which extends between the door frame and door for preventing the door from opening when projected and allowing the door to open when retracted, and means for retarding movement of the bolt means from the projected to the retracted position; means for indicating that an attempt is being made to open the door while retraction of the bolt is being retarded; means for bypassing the retarding means wherein the bolt means can move immediately from the projected position to the retracted position upon operating the bypassing means, and at least one emergency condition indicator connected to the bypassing means for operating the bypassing means upon occurrence of an emergency situation to allow the door to open upon pressing against the door.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 159 words
The apparatus of Claim 19 wherein the delay means further includes: base means for mounting the bolt means; dogging means mounted between the bolt means and base means for movement between a dogging mode and undogging mode; means for gradually displacing a fluid, said means being mounted between the dogging means and bolt means; means for selectively retaining the dogging means in either the dogged mode or the undogged mode; solenoid means for releasing the dogging means upon de-energizing the solenoid means; means for operating the release means, said operating means including an electrical timer and means for sensing when an attempt is made to open the door, said sensing means being connected to-the timer for starting the timer to count a time interval upon an attempt to open the door and to thereafter interrupt current to the release means to undog the bolt whereby opening of the door is delayed after an attempt to open the door occurs.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 39 words
The system of Claim 20 wherein the dogging means includes: a toggle linkage which is held in a jambed position by the release means when the bolt is dogged and is allowed to collapse when the bolt is undogged.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 142 words
The system of Claim 21 wherein the toggle linkage includes: a first link pivoted to the base at one end and to the hydraulic delay means at the other end; a second link pivoted at one end to the hydraulic means and at the other end to an actuator, and a third link pivoted at one end to the actuator rod and at the other end to the base, and wherein the solenoid means includes: an armature connected at one end to the actuator means for limiting motion of the armature and thus the actuator in one direction to a point where the second and third links are at dead center while the first and second linds are in an overcenter configuration which overcenter configuration urges the second and third links to jam upon application of an opening force to the bolt.
Claim 29
Independent Claim 135 words
The apparatus of Claims 20, 21 or 22 wherein the electrical timer includes: means monitoring the bolt means for producing an electrical signal upon movement of the bolt means; first timing means connected to the bolt monitoring means for providing an initiating signal after a first time interval in order to indicate that a serious attempt to open the door has occurred; second timing means started by the initiating signal from the first timing means for emitting a release signal to the releasing means after expiration of a second time interval; third timing means connected to the second timing means for maintaining the release signal for a third time period before re-energizing the solenoid, and - means for resetting the third timing means to rerun the third time period each time the door is closed.
Claim 30
Independent Claim 196 words
The apparatus of Claims 20, 21 or 22 wherein the electrical timer includes: timing logic circuitry; a transformer for reducing the voltage of standard line current, the transformer having a pair of lines extending therefrom; AC to DC conversion means connected to one line for supplying DC current to the timing logic circuitry; a ten-second counter included in the logic circuitry and connected to the other line and utilizing the AC current on the other line for counting an initial time interval of three to five seconds to determine if a serious attempt is being made to open the door; a twelve-bit counter included in the timing logic circuitry and also connected to the other line and utilizing the AC current for counting the time interval for delaying opening of the door; AND gate means connected to outputs from the ten-second and twelve-bit counters, said AND gate means having outputs; flip-flop means connected to the outputs of the AND gate means, and transistor means connected to the outputs of the flip-flop means for sounding the indicating means to signal that an attempt is being made to open the door and for interrupting current to the solenoid.

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