Automatic flush bolt

Claim 2

Latch mechanism for a hinged closure comprising a latchbolt mounted adjacent one end of said closure adjacent the edge of said closure remote from its hinge axis for movement between projected and retracted positions relative to said closure end, an actuator rod mounted for reciprocation near said closure edge and operatively connected to said bolt, spring means biasing said rod toward bolt-projected position, blocker means mounted for movement between a first position affirmatively blocking said rod against bolt-retracting movement and a second position permitting such bolt-retracting rod movement, said blocker means being biased toward such blocking position, trigger means mounted adjacent said rod and said blocker means for movement between an advanced position and a retracted position, said trigger means being biased toward said advanced position in which it engages and retains said blocker means in its second position, means moving with said trigger means for cooperative engagement with said rod only when said trigger means is in its advanced position and said rod is in bolt-retracted position to retain said rod against movement toward bolt-projected position and means for moving said trigger means to its retracted position.

Claim 3

The latch mechanism of claim 1 including catch means carried adjacent said closure end, and a trip element movably carried by said latch bolt and engageable with said catch means only when said bolt is retracted.

Claim 4

The latch mechanism of claim 2 including spring means urging said trip element toward engagement with said catch means.

Claim 5

The latch mechanism of claim 3 in which said trip element is, at times, nested within said latch bolt, said trip element being formed with a tooth for engagement with said catch element when said bolt is retracted and having a distal toe projecting in a common direction but beyond said tooth.

Claim 6

The latch mechanism of claim 1 in which said means for moving said trigger means to its retracted position is accessible only at said remote edge of said closure.

Claim 7

The latch mechanism of claim 1 in which said means for moving said trigger means to its retracted position is a trigger bolt disposed in an opening in said remote edge of said closure with its proximal end operatively engaging said trigger means, said trigger bolt being provided with means limiting the degree of projection of its distal end beyond said remote closure edge and being movable to a position in which its distal end is substantially flush with said remote door Edge.

Claim 8

The latch mechanism of claim 6 in which said trigger bolt is mounted for oscillation about an axis substantially parallel with the hinge axis of said closure and its distal region is cammed about an axis substantially parallel with the hinge axis of said closure.

Claim 9

Closure means for a portal having a substantially horizontal lintel, a substantially horizontal sill and opposed jambs, said closure means comprising a first closure member hinged to one of said jambs and provided with latch means cooperating with keeper means, a panic bar carried by said first closure member and operatively connected to retract said latch means, a second closure member hinged to the other of said jambs and provided with second latch means cooperating with second keeper means at one of said horizontal members, spring means yieldably urging said second latch means into restraining engagement with said second keeper means said second latch means and second keeper means providing cooperating surfaces effective to retract said second latch means in response to pressure exerted on said second closure member in an opening direction, blocker means carried by said second closure member for affirmatively preventing retraction of said second latch means at times and biased toward such retraction-preventing relation, means carried by said second closure member and cooperative with said blocker means at times to move and hold said blocker means out of such retraction-preventing relation, and means carried by said second closure member and engaged by said first closure member only when both closure members are in closed position to move said last-named means out of cooperative relation to said blocker means and to release said blocker means to assume such retraction-preventing relation.

Claim 10

Closure means for a portal having a substantially horizontal lintel, a substantially horizontal sill and opposed jambs, said closure means comprising a first closure member hinged to one of said jambs and provided with latch means cooperating with keeper means, a panic bar carried by said first closure member and operatively connected to retract said latch means, a second closure member hinged to the other of said jambs and provided with second latch means cooperating with second keeper means at one of said horizontal members, spring means yieldably urging said second latch means into restraining engagement with said second keeper means said second latch means and second keeper means providing cooperating surfaces effective to retract said second latch means in response to pressure exerted on said second closure member in an opening direction, blocker means carried by said second closure member for affirmatively preventing retraction of said second latch means at times and biased toward such retraction-preventing relation, means carried by said second closure member and cooperative with said blocker means at times to move and hold said blocker means out of such retraction-preventing relation, and means carried by said second closure member and engaged by said first closure member only when both closure members are in closed position to move said last-named means out of cooperative relation to said blocker means and to release said blocker means to assume such retraction-preventing relation.

Claim 11

In combination, a pair of mating doors hinged at their respectively remote edges to close a doorway, latch means carried adjacent the free edge of one of said doors, a panic bar carried by said one door and operatively connected to retract said latch means, second latch means carried adjacent the free edge of the other of said doors and normally yieldable to release said other door in response to opening pressure impressed upon said other door, and means normally protruding from said free edge of said other door for engagement by the free edge of said one door only when both doors are in closed position and effective, when so engaged, affirmatively to prevent yielding of said second latch means.

Claim 12

In combination, a pair of mating doors hinged at their respectively remote edges to close a doorway, latch means carried adjacent the free edge of one of said doors, a panic bar carried by said one door and operatively connected to retract said latch means, second latch means carried adjacent the free edge of the other of said doors and normally yieldable to release said other door in response to opening pressure impressed upon said other door, and means normally protruding from said free edge of said other door for engagement by the free edge of said one door only when both doors are in closed position and effective, when so engaged, affirmatively to prevent yielding of said second latch means.

Claim 13

In combination, a pair of mating doors hinged at their respectively remote edges to close a doorway, latch means carried adjacent the free edge of one of said doors, a panic bar carried by said one door and operatively connected to retract said latch means, and second latch means according to claim 5 carried adjacent the free edge of the other of said doors, said means for moving said trigger means to its retracted position having a portion disposed, when said other door is closed, in the closing path of the free edge of said one door.