NO345934B1

NO345934B1 - Emergency exit button for doors

Info

Publication number: NO345934B1
Application number: NO20200334A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Helge Holst
Original assignee: Boyesen & Munthe As
Priority date: 2020-03-20
Filing date: 2020-03-20
Publication date: 2021-11-01
Also published as: SE2150292A1; GB2595341A; GB202103548D0; NO20200334A1

Description

This invention regards an emergency exit button for use with door locks.

An emergency exit button, sometimes called a KAC box, or an emergency door release, is a device designed to safeguard personnel safety in the event of an escape situation in a building with electronic door locks. The box has a plastic glass that can be crushed or a button that can be pressed. The locations at the escape door and the current that holds the electrical end cap locked are routed through a switch in the emergency opener. When the glass breaks, the power to the end piece is broken and the door can be opened.

Prior art emergency exit buttons are analogue devices, with limited functionality and there is thus a need for a more sophisticated device. For example, as unintentional release is a common problem, in particular in school environment, etc., a delay mechanism would be desirable.

US2012/127317 describes a passageway access control system having a passage way barrier and a locking mechanism for selectively locking and unlocking the passageway barrier.

The object of the invention is to provide an emergency exit button with increased functionality over prior art.

The object of the invention is achieved by means of the patent claims.

In one embodiment there is provided an emergency exit button for doors, where the doors comprise a lock displaceable between a locking position and a releasing position. The emergency exit button comprises a housing, a front window, a reset pane and at least one emergency release means operable to cause displacement of said lock to said releasing position, thereby allowing the door to be manually opened. The emergency release means is connected to an electronic control system for controlling the displacement of the lock.

The emergency exit button may comprise an alarm with adjustable volume and LED lights arranged on the housing. The electronic control system may control elements such as the alarm, the LED lights and/or other components.

In one embodiment, the emergency release means comprises a relay adapted to be delayed for a period of time. The relay may be connected to the electronic control system and/or the relay may be connected to the alarm and/or the LED lights directly. The delaying time period may be adapted to the specific use, but are for example between 5 and 15 seconds, and in some cases 10 seconds.

The LED lights are provided for information regarding the status of the door and the system and may be adapted for specific use. In one embodiment the LED light is green in normal operation and red when activated.

The emergency exit button may also comprise a tamper mechanism which is connected to an alarm and/or light and which detects whether there are any attempts of tampering or vandalism of the button or the door or any system it is connected to. The detection of tampering can activate a signal and be connected directly do an alarm for setting off a tampering alarm or the tamper mechanism may be connected to the electronic control system. The electronic control system may activate an alarm or send a signal to a remote location, for example alerting security personell. The relay with the time delay may be connected to the tamper mechanism in order to be able to stop the alarm in case of unintended tampering.

The invention will now be described by means of example and by reference to the accompanying figures.

Figure 1 shows an example of an emergency exit button.

Figure 2 illustrates an example of an electronic control system in an emergency exit button.

Figure 1 shows an example of an emergency exit button 10 in release position. The emergency exit button is to be arranged near a door with an electronic lock displaceable between a locking position and a releasing position.

The emergency exit button comprises a housing 11, a front window 12 a reset pane 13 at least one emergency release means arranged inside the housing. The housing in this embodiment further comprises LED lights 14. The LED light may for example be green in normal operation and red LED light when activated. Red LED lights can be set to be static or flashing.

In this position of figure 1, the front window 12 is lifted, and thus the emergency exit button is activated and the emergency release means unlocks the door by placing the lock in the releasing position.

If the emergency exit button was activated unintentionally, or if the situation has been resolved, the device can be reset by means of the reset pane 13, which will place the lock in the locking position and lock the door.

Figure 2 shows an example of an electronic control system 20 for use in an emergency exit button.

The electronic control system comprises in this example operating power input 21 for providing power supply to the emergency exit button. When the device is reset, for example through the reset pane 13 of figure 1, a reset signal is received or provided in the reset signal input 22.

Further, three relays 23, 24, 25 are provided, which triggers alarm 28 when the device is activated or it is detected that it is being tampered with. One or more of the relays may be connected to delay means 29 for delaying the release of the lock, the alarm etc. a predetermined time period. In the example in figure 2 there is indicated a 10 seconds delay, but this may vary according to the actual application.

The system further comprises a tamper switch 26. When an alarm is triggered, the device may output a voltage through the output 27. The tamper switch integrated on the circuit board is activated during assembly and will trigger alarm sound, light and relays if the box is opened or detached from the wall.

Claims

1. Emergency exit button for doors, the doors comprising a lock displaceable between a locking position and a releasing position, where the emergency exit button comprises a housing, a front window, a reset pane and at least one emergency release means operable to cause displacement of said lock to said releasing position, thereby allowing the door to be manually opened, where the emergency release means is connected to an electronic control system for controlling the displacement of the lock.

2. Emergency exit button according to claim 1, comprising an alarm with adjustable volume and LED lights arranged on the housing and where the electronic control system controls the alarm and the LED lights.

3. Emergency exit button according to claim 2, where the emergency release means comprises a relay connected to the alarm adapted to be delayed for a period of time.

4. Emergency exit button according to claim 3, where the relay is adapted to be delayed for a period of time between 5 and 15 seconds.

5. Emergency exit button according to claim 2, where the LED light is green in normal operation and red when activated.

6. Emergency exit button according to claim 1, comprising a tamper mechanism which is connected to an alarm and/or light.