US1646990A - Antipanic actuator for door fasteners - Google Patents

Description

Oct' 25 19.27 w. B. BULLES ANTIPANIC ACTUTJR FOR DOOR FASTENERS Filed June .1, 1925 2 lsnevwsheet 1v w. B. BOLLES 4ANTIPANIKC ACTUATOR FOR DOOR FASTENERS 2 Sheets-Sheetl 2 File'd Jupe IL,Y 1925 fixa vf- 05.35%.. wm QLM Patented Oct. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEl WILLIAM BERTRAM BGLLES, OF IEILVAUKEE, XVISCONSII.

ANTIPANEC ACTUA'IOR Application filed .Tune l,

This invention relates to anti-panic door fastener actuating mechanism for use upon doors, particularly those doors which form the closures for public buildings such as schools, theaters, auditoriums, etc., and which are adapted to permit. ready exit from the interior of the building. Such fastener actuating mechanisms are operated by a bar, handle, lever or similar actuating element by means of which the mechanism may be easily operated by any person seeking exit and the operating element is so disposed that the fastener actuating mechanism will be oper-v ated by contact of any portion ot the body o't a person in case a crowd should surge against the door to automatically release the door so that it may swing outward to permit exit.

An object of the present invention is to adapt anti-panic ldoor fastener actuating mechanisms and particularly mechanisms of the type shown in my Patents Nos. 1,383,973 and 1,383,974, granted July 5, 1921, in which the mechanism acts to release the door upon actuation of the operating member in either direction, from the intermediate position in which it is normally held, to operate the knob spindle of the door to which the meel anism is applied to release the latch controlled thereby upon actuation of the operating member in either direction.

A further object is to provide means for locking` the actuatingmechanism either in a position in which the door is tree to swing or in a position in which the door is locked.

lilith the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said. to comprise the fastener actuating mechanism as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, hereinafter described, and particularly set torth inthe appended claims together with such variations and modilications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. i

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specilicat'ion ot which Fig. 1 is an elevation et the fastener actuating mechanism loo-king toward the inner side of the casing in which the mechanism is housed;y Fig. 2 is yan edge elevation showing the actuator applied to a door; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of fastener actua-ting mechanism and Figs. l and 5 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing a modilied term ot fastener actuating mechanism.

FOR :DOOR EASTENERS.

lower slides 6 and 7, which are carried for vertical movement within the casing and project through the upper and lower ends of the casing. The projecting ends of the slides G and 'i' may have attached thereto fastener bolts which engage suitable keepers in the 'top oi the door 'trame and in the floor or sill. The lower slide 7 is provided with a laterally projecting portion 8 at-its upper end which is recessed to provide a seat tor the lower end of a compression spring 9,

which hears at its upper end against the.

upper end of the casing 5. The two slides are in alignment, and the lower slideI 7' may be provided with a cylindrical extension which tits within a cylindrical bore in the upper slide 6. A Vslide actuating lever V11 is mounted in the casing upon the outer side of the lower slide 7, the lever 11 being rotatably mounted upon the wall et the casing 5. The lever 11 is provided, intermediate its ends, with a-projecting cylindrical hub portion 12 which fits within a cylindrical recess in a boss 13 formed inthe wall of the casing. @ne end of the lever 11 is connected by a link 11ito a lateral projection 7i secured to the lower slide 7. rThe upper slide 6 is provided with a lateral projection 6 from which is suspended a short link 15 which is connected at its lower end to a long link 16,

which extends alongside the slide 'T and is connected intermediate its ends to the end ot the lever 11 opposite that to which the link 141 is connectechby means of a pivot 17. rlhe lower end of the link 16 has a rounded bearing portion 18 adapted to engage against. the side wall oit the casing and has alaterally projecting toot portion 19 which projects into a notch 20 formed in the slide 7. The outer wall o't the casing 5 has an outwardly projecting boss 21 in which is mounted a pivot pin 22 which carries the operating lever 23.

The lever 23 has a projection 24 which eX- tends through a slot in the wall of ythe casing into a slot L5 formed inthe slide i". ylhc slot 25 communicates with the notch 2O and the projection 24: lies between the upper end or' the slot 25 and the foot portion 19, of the link 16. The spring 9 acts to torce the lower Vslide 7 downwardly and when the slide 7 is moved downwardly, it acts through the link 11i to turn the lever 11 about its pivot and through the links 15 and 16 to move the up-V per slide 6 in an upward direction. The slide 7 moves downwardly under the action of the Y springQ and at the same time the link 16 moves upwardly until the projection 2e, ot the operating lever, is engaged bythe upper end ofthe slot an-d thev upper tace ot. the foot 419. operating lever, is so engaged, the lever is held in an intermediate position. It the lever 23 be moved downwardly from this position, the projection Vwill move ugwardly, moving` the'slide 7 up and through the lever 11 and the' links, connecting the saine to the slides 7 and, will move the slide 6 downwardly, It :the lever 23 be moved in an upward direc tion, the links 16 will be moved downwardly and Vwith it the slide 6 and `at the same time the lever 11 will be actuated to lift vthe slide 7; It is'thus apparent that the operatingl lever 23 be moved in .either direction from the 'intermediate position in which it is nor-V Vmally held by the spring 9, the two slides 6 Vand 7 will hemovedtoward each other and locking bolts carried' by these Vslides `will be retracted. A The projection 2e ot the operating lever is `preferably roundedand the upzper tace ot' the toot 19 and the upper end ot the slot 25 are beveled so Athat the projection 24;'may roll and slightly slip upon the bevel-V edtaces `as the lever approaches the end ot its stroke in either direction. 1f Y rlie slide 7. is provided with `'an' elongated longitudinal -slot V26 l through which the' knob spindle d projects and the hub portion 12 oi the lever 11 has an axial socket 2? in which the inner end of the spindle fi lits. 'llVhenever the operating lever 23is actuated, af turning movement is imparted to the lever 11 through the link 14 or through the link 16, depending upon the direction in which theV lever ,23` is actuated, the. turning mov-ement ofthe lever 11 being always in tlie'same direction.V

'lllielatch operating Vknob spindles otidoors links' 14 and 16 on the sides opposite thatshown. l

are sometimes arranged `to'operatethe' latch .when` turned in onedirection and'insome locks the releasing movement orn the spindle v'is oppositegthat in others. It is obvious that the actuating mechanism above described may. he adaptedV toV operateal spindle inv a direction opposite that. shown inthe ,dra-.wings by. merely .reversingV the connections 'from the lever 11 to the slides, Yaijraiiging the ofthe lslide .'.1'

T.lVlien' a public building is `not heing'used Vasa meeting-place, it may be desirable te 'permaneiitlylock certain. of .the exit doors and When the projection 2l, of the in some instances when certain doors are being constantly used, it may be desirable to lock the door latches and bolts in retracted position so that the doors are tree to swing.

This may be accomplished by providing spaced holesV 28 and 29 in the sides oi the boss 21, which are so positioned that they are adapted to 'register with a hole in the lever 23. Villen the lever 23 is in a positionfto hold the actuating mechanism in fastener re-V leasing position and when the lever is in its intermediate position, Vwhere' theiast-ener's intermediate position, where the fasteners ,l to receive a padlock, by means ot vwhich the actuating mechanism may belocked, Aeither in' released position or in door locking position, thus the doors may be rendered tree to swing or maybe permanently locked until the padlock is removed.

either in door 'fasteningor door releasing position, so that themechanism'may be readily released trom the inside or" the building, this Y may be done by means of a set screw 30 in the slide ,7 below the casing 5, which may be engaged in either ottwo holes 303er 30b in a in cases where it desired merely to retain the mechanism ulate 31 formino* an extension of the casino Y llihen the screwr 30 is engaged in the upper hole 30?, the actuating mechanism is retained in door-releasingposition and when the screw 3()l is engagedin the hole 30h, the fastener Vactuating mechanism is held against .movement in a directionto release 'he iasteners.' The slide 7 may also be provided with transverse apertures 30c which are adapted to register with openings 30d in an `extension a of the casing one when the mechanism is in locking position so that theV mechlill) anisin may be secured in locking positionf Y by a padlock andthe other .when the mechanism is in fastener releasing position. 4

ln Fig.' 3V 'of the drawing, l have shown a modiiied torni ot' fastener actuating' mechanism in which the lcasing V32, which houses the actuating mechanism, has mounted therein vertically movable slide 3 3 which slides in a guideway 3e in the upper part' of the casing, movement 'ot the slide V33in an'upward direction being resisted by coil springs Y35 interposed between the .upper e Vdot the slide 33 and the top of the casing 32. Pivot- Vallymounted inthe outer :wall of the casing is, an actuating lever37 similar tothe lever e 11 above described, which hasa hub portion .33 journaled in the wallfo the` casingrland anaxial socket'39 `in which'the knob spin-Y die l1- lits, the slide 33 being Vprovided withl is 'suspended a. long 'linklil which has v,a

4 rounded,bearing portion i2 at itsl lower end adapted to engage the sidewall oli the casing fand a projecting toot portion 43j lwhichv tends laterally from therbearing portion 412.' A shortlink eli is connected to the opposite va longitudinal slot l10'through which the spindle entends. ,Fiorn. one end of the lever end of the lever 37 and to the upper end of an auxiliary slide 45, which has a back-plate 46 engaging the outer wall ot the casing. The back-plate 46 lies between the lower end of the slide 33 and the outer wall oi' the casing and the slide 45 has an inwardly projecting lug 48 beneath the lower end oi the slide 33. Between the lug 48 and the .side wall oi the casing the slide 45 is provided with a spring` receiving recess 49 in whichhis mounted a coil spring 50 which bears at its lower end in the bottom of the recess and has its upper end against a part. 5l projecting laterally troni the lower end of the slide 33, the part 5l having a horn 5ln projecting into the upper end of the spring. The lug 48, ot' the auxiliary slide and the foot portion 43 of the link 4l, receive between them the projecting portion 24a of an operating lever similar to that shown in Figs. l and 2, the under face ot the lug 48 and the upper face of the toot portion 48 being beveled to provide inclined engaging faces for the projection 24 of the operating lever, as in the modification tirst described.

When the projection 24 is moved upwardly, the slide 45 is lifted and rocks the lever 37 through the link 44. lWhen the projection 24 is moved downwardly, the link 4l is moved in a downward direction and rocks the lever 37 inthe saine direction as when the projection 94a is moved upwardly. The spring 35 presses down on the slide 33 and serves to hold the foot portion 43 and the lug 48 both in engagement with the projection 24aj of the lever, thus holding` the lever in its intermediate position and actuation or the lever in either direction, from its inten mediate position, serves to rock the lever 37 and turn the knob vspindle in a direction to release the latch. The slide 33 may be provided with an inwardly extending projection 53, which may extend into a slot in the door and coact with the door lock mechanism to release the lock whenever the slide 33 is actuated. The slide 33 is always actuated in the saine direction regardless ot the direction oi" the movement ot the operating lever and the thrust oi2 the operating lever is always transmitted to the slide 33 through the spring 50 regardless oi the direction in which the operating lever is inoved.

rlhe link 4l may be provided with an eX- tension 54, which extends downwardly from the toot portion 43 through the lower end of the casing and this extension may be provided with a threaded opening 52 adapted to receive a set screw which may be engagedr in either et two spaced openings 55 in a plate 5G forming an extension of the casing, the spacedopenings 55 being positioned to hold the actuating mechanism either in door releasing position or against movementout of! the position in which the fasteners are en- `at its upper end to gaged. The extension 54 oi' the link 4l may be provided with a transverse aperture 57 which is adapted to register with apertures 58 in an extension 59 of the casing when the mechanism is in locking position so that the mechanism may be secured in this position by means oi' a padlock.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, l? have shown' a modilied torni ot spindle operating door fastener actuator in which the actuator xasing (5.() is applied to the door l in such a manner that the knob spindle 4 projects into the upper end .of the casing. 'l'he casing 60 has pivoted thereto, an operating lever 6l which is connected by a pivot 62 to a boss projecting from the outer tace of the casing', the lever (il having attached thereto a coil spring 64 which has one end bearing against the inner side of the boss and its opposite end bearing against the outer wall of ser-ving to assist in moving the lever 6l to and in holdingl the lever Gl in a position substantially midway between its upper and lower limits oil n'ioven'ient. The lever 60 has a projection 65 which extends through the iront wall ot the casing (il), the upper tace oi the projection being engageubie with a slide mounted for vertical movement within the casing and the under side thereof being engagec ble with a lateral projection 67 at the lower end of a link G8 which is pivoted lever G9, which is pivoted midway between itsends to the iront wail otl the casing 60. The end ot' the lever (59 opposite that to which the link (5S is attached, is connected by a short link 'YO with the upper end oi' the slide (56. When the lever (il is pushed downwardly, the projection 65 of the lever is raised and liits the slide 66. When the lever 6l is liited, the proj ectioii 65 thereof, is moved downwardiv engaging the project-ion 67 ot the link (3h pulling the link 68 downwardly and rocking thelever (i9 in a direction to litt the slide (5G through the coiinecting link TO. The slide 66 is thus moved in :in upward direction, whenever the lever (il is moved in either direction 'troni its intermediate position. The slide 6G is provided with a spring receiving' socket 7l in which is mounted a compression coil spring 72 which bears at its upper end against the lower end ot a vertically movable slide 74. rif'he slide 74 is carried :tor vertical movement in the casing GO and is held in its lowerinost position by a compression spring 75, interposed between the upper end ol' the casing and a lateral projection at the upper end of the slide rlhe slide T4 a. projection i? on the side opposite the projectionG and this projection 77 is connected by a short link T8 with a lever 79 which has a hub portion 8O which is journaled in a boss 8l termed in the casing 60, the spring 64` lll) the outer wall of the casing 60 and has a square socket adapted to receive the'inner end of the knob'spindle 4.

When the lever 6l is moved in either direction from its intermediate position, the slide GG is' moved upwardly and through the cushioning spring 72 which imparts an up ward thrust to the slide Tel causing the slide Zfl to move upwardly compressing the spring 75 and rocking'the knob actuating lever 79 Vabout its pivot to turn the spindle 4 tore lease the door latch. Thus the knob spindle is alnfaysl 'turned in the same direction and is'actuated to release the latch by movement of thel lever 61 in either direction from itsV intermediate position, the thrust of thelever 6l in either direction being cushioned by the compression spring 72.

rlhe link 68 may have an integraiprojection 82 provided with the locking means described in connection with Figs. l, 2 and 3 VVfor securing the mechanism in locking orVY door releasing position. y

The upper end portioniot the slide 6G has an abutment 83 against which the laterally extending lower end portion oit the slide li is held by the compression spring 'Z0 when the mechanismV is in looking position, the

abutment 88 serving to maintain the spring sion and preventing the spring i2 from 72 underI a predetermined initial compresre- T5.

acting against the slide 'returning .spring ltisito be understood that by Vai mere` versal ot the arrangement themechanism shown inligs. l and 5 may be adapted to operate a latch spindle oli' the opposite hand. Having thus described my invention, lA claim: I

1. ln a `device of thefcharacter described, the combinatioi'rwith a door having a latch and a` knob spindle `lor actuating the latch,

of an anti-panic door releasing mechanism,

f comprising a easing adapted to be applied Y said .comprising casing adaptedjto'be' applied to a door and toreceive one end or sait' spindle', a movable operating member upon theiontside of the casing, a spindl"J actuat-y ing member within the casing adapted to be actuated by, said ioperating member and yielding means interposed I'between said` operating and spindle actuating members.

ln a devieeot the charactersV described,

the combination with a door having a latch and al Vknobspindle for actuatingvthe latch, of an anti-panicdoor releasing mechanism` comprising a casing adapted to be applied to a doorand to receive one end ot' saidspindle, a movable operating member upon the outside of the casing, means `within the casing adapted to be actuated by said operatingV member to turn Asaid spindle to release the latch, and meansgfor locking raid mechanism in positions in which said spindle is held either in latch releasing position or in locking position. y Y

l. In a device of the character described, the combination with a door having a latch and a knob spindle for op rating the latch, of a casing-.adapted to be attached tothe :tace ot' the-door, an actuating member rotatably mounted within the casing, said acytuati'ng member having an axial socket to receive tie knob spindle, a lever carried by the casing and pivoted on an axis at right angles tothe otjsaid actuating member,means ifoi" normally holding said lever Vin an intermediateposition, and means operatedby said :lever when the same is actuated in eitherdirc member. V

'5. ln a device otthe character described,

the combination with. a door having a latchintermediate position, means operated by` saidlever when the same is ioved inV one direction romfsaid interniediate positionY for turning saidmactaating' member inV one direction, and means operated. by said lever rwhen they saine is moved in the opposite direction from its intermediate position :for turning vsaid' actuating member in `the same direction.

6. ln a device el the clnzraeterdescribed,

the combination-with a-door having a latch 1 kand a knob` spindletor operating the latch,

of acasing adapted to beattached `tothe aceoi the door, a spindle operating lever having a hub portion journaled in the'outer wall oi' the casing andan axially disposed spindle receiving socletlin saidflhub portion, a slide in said casing, a linkv connection between said slide and spindle operating lever,

fand a main 'operating' lever lpiveted upon the outsideof saidfcasing and `having a portion projecting able withztheslide. g

- 'l'. lnla deviceofthe character described, the v combination with a :door having-V a latch @"into the casing and engageand a knob spindle-tor operating the latein',

ction for turning said actuat-V lll) of a casing adapted to be attached to the tace of the door, a spindle operating lever having a hub portion which is journaled in the outer wall ot the casing, said hub por tion having an axial spindle receiving socket, a main actuating lever pivoted to the casing and having an outwardly extending portion and a portion projecting into the casing, members within the casing positioned to be engaged by opposite sides ot' lthe projecting portion oil the lever, and operating connections between said members and spindle operating lever.

8. In an anti-panic door releasing mechanism, a casing adapted to be attached to the tace of a door, a pair of aligned slides, an actuating member carried by the casing, means within said casing adapted to be opel ated by said actuating member for moving said slides simultaneously in opposite directions, and a spring interposed between one of the slides and the casing.

9. ln an anti-panic door releasing mechanism, a casing adapted to be attached to the tace ot a door, a pair ot aligned slides, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends in the casing, links connecting opposite ends of said lever to said slides, and a spring interposed between one of said slides and the casing.

l0. ln a device of the character described, the combination with a. door having` a latch and a knob spindle for actuating the latch, of anti-panic door releasing mechanism, comprising a casing adapted to be applied to a door and to receive one end of said spindle, ay movable operating member upon the outside of the casing, means for normally holding the operating member in an intern'iediate position, a member within the casing connected to the spindle and adapted to be operated by the operating member when the same is moved in either direction from its intermediate position to turn said spindle, and yielding means interposed between said members.

ll. ln a device ot the character de scribed, the combination with a door having a latch and a knob spindle for actuating the latch, oit anti,-panic door releasing mechanism, comlirising a casing adapted to be applied to a door and to receive one end of said spindle, a. movable operating member upon the outside of the casing, means tor normally holding the operating member in an intermediate position, a slide within the casing, means interposed between the operating member and slide for moving the slide in the one direction when the operating member is moved in either direction, and means connecting the slide and spindle for operating the saine.

l2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a door having a latch and a knob spindle for actuating the latch, ot anti-panic door releasing mechanism, comprising a casing adapted to be applied to a door and to receive one end of said spindle, a movable operating member upon thc out-side of the casing, means for normally holding the operating member in an intermediate position, a member within the casing connected to the spindle to turn the same, thrust transmitting means within the casing including a cushioning spring and adapted to transmit the thrust of the operating l-ever to the member connected to the spindle when the lever is moved in either direction from its intermediate position.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination with a door having a latch and a knob spindle for actuating the latch, ot' anti-panic door releasing mechanism, comprising a casing adapted to be applied to a door and to receive one end of said spindle, a movable operating member upon the outside of the casing, means for normally holding the operating member in an intermediate position, and yielding means within the casing transmitting the thrust ot the operating lever when the same is moved in either direction from its intermediate position to the spindle to turn the same in ai given direction regardless of the direction of movement ot the operating lever.

14-Tl1e combination with a door, of a fastener actuating mechanism secured to the inner side thereof, said mechanism comprising an actuating member and movable fastener actuating members adapted to be operated by said actuating member, and means associated with one of said members for securing` said mechanism against actuation either in fastener releasing or in door fastening position.

ln testimony whereof, I hereunto aliix my signature.

VVlLLIAltl BERTRAlll BLLES.

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