WO2021089973A1

WO2021089973A1 - Door capture device

Info

Publication number: WO2021089973A1
Application number: PCT/GB2020/000092
Authority: WO
Inventors: Graeme Andrew THIRKETTLE; Ian Michael GROUT
Original assignee: Thirkettle Graeme Andrew; Grout Ian Michael
Priority date: 2019-11-04
Filing date: 2020-11-04
Publication date: 2021-05-14
Also published as: GB201916015D0; GB2588688A

Abstract

The invention relates to a door capture device 1 for a double action door adapted to swing either side of a central door closed position. The capture device comprising at least one pair of opposing latching devices ΙΟΑ,ΙΟΒ each positioned either side of the central door closed position Y. In use each latching device ΙΟΑ,ΙΟΒ being operable to either allow free passage of the door past the latching device in either direction from the open position to the central closed position (or vice versa), or allow one way only passage of the door in one direction from the open position to the central closed position (or vice versa).

Description

TITLE: Door Capture Device

The present invention relates to a door capture device, especially for double action doors.

Double action doors are often used in buildings where persons travel regularly through such doors in either direction. Double action doors are often used in pairs where each door is hinged on one hinged side to opposing sides of a door frame, and the other free side of each door sits adjacent to each other when the door is in the closed position. A double action door is adapted to swing either side of a central door closed position. If it is desired to lock such doors to prevent passage of people through them, conventional door locks are not usually practical since they only work if the two doors are exactly aligned in the closed position, thus enabling the bolt of a lock on one free side of one door to align with a recess on one free side of the other door. Double action doors when used singly (rather than in pairs) also suffer from the same problem.

The invention seeks to provide a door capture device for a double action door, which in addition to preventing the opening from a closed position, also allows the door to open in only one direction.

According to the present invention there is provided a door capture device for a double action door adapted to swing either side of a central door closed position, said capture device comprising at least one pair of opposing latching devices each positioned either side of the central door closed position, in use each latching device being operable to either allow free passage of the door past the latching device in either direction from the open position to the central closed position (or vice versa), or allow one way only passage of the door in one direction from the open position to the central closed position (or vice versa).

Preferably each latching device is a door stop which moves in and out of a recess, the door stop being adapted to be held in a first position in the recess allowing free passage of the door past the door stop in either direction from the open position or the central closed position (or vice versa), or the door stop projecting out of the recess in a second position to prevent the door passing past the door stop from a closed position, and with one door stop in the recess and the other door stop out of the recess movement of the door is restricted from the central closed position in one direction to the open position over the door stop in the recess.

Preferably each latching device has a curved surface to abut against the door with single or minimal point contact.

Preferably each latching device pivots in and out of a recess in a housing. The housing may be adapted to be recessed into a floor below a door or above a door. Preferable remote control means are provided to select if a given latching device is in the first or second position.

Preferably each latching device has a cam follower and the control means includes a cam which engages the cam follower to hold each latching device in the second position or allow the latching device to be in the first position. Preferably each latching device is spring biased into the first position and the cam moves the latching device to the second position against the spring bias.

Preferably shoot bolts are also provided to lock a door when in a centreline position between a pair of latching devices.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1A and IB show schematic examples of known single and pairs of double action doors,

Figure 2 A and 2B show a schematic view of an example of the invention,

Figures 3A,3B,3C,3D shows a cross section view of an example of the latches in operation, Figure 4 shows a housing with pairs of double door stops for a pair of double action doors, and Figures 5A and 5B show an exploded view of one embodiment of a part of a housing with door stops shown in Figure 4. Referring to Figure 1A there is shown a double action door A in a door frame B. One hinged side of door A is hinged to the frame B about an axis X. One free side of door A swings either side of a closed positon on a centre line Y as shown by the arrows.

As shown in Figure IB there is shown a pair of “mirror image” double action doors each hinged to the frame B about an axis X. The free side of each door sits adjacent to each other when the door is in the closed position on centre line Y. In practice the doors never close with the free side of each door exactly aligned on the centreline Y and opposing each other. If it is desired to lock such doors to prevent passage of people through them, conventional door locks are not usually practical since they only work if the two doors can exactly align on the centreline, thus enabling the bolt of a lock on one free side of one door to align with a recess on one free side of the other door.

Double action doors when used singly (rather than in pairs) also suffer from the same problem. The principal problem is that unlike with conventional doors, there is no “door stop” on the frame to align the doors in a closed positon as with a conventional door.

Referring now to Figures 2A and 2B, there is shown a schematic door capture device 1 according to the invention for a double action door (single or pair) hinged on an axis X and adapted to swing either side of a central door closed position on a centreline Y. Capture device 1 comprises for each door at least one pair of opposing latching devices IOA,IOB each positioned either side of the centreline Y. In use each latching device being operable to either allow free passage of the door past the latching device in either direction from the open position or central closed position (or vice versa) as in Figure 2A, or allow one way only passage of the door in one direction as shown by the arrow (Figure 2B) from the central closed position to an open position (or vice versa).

Each latching device 10A or 1 OB is a door stop which moves in (see Figure 2A) and out (see Figure 2B) of a recess 11, both door stops being adapted to be held in a first position in the recess allowing free passage of the door past the door stops in either direction from the open position or central closed position (or vice versa) - see Figure 2A. As shown in Figure 2B, one door stop 10A projects out of the recess into a second position and the other door stop 10B stays in the recess in the first position with movement of the door from the open position to the central closed position or vice versa in one direction only being allowed over the recessed door stop, but causing the door to abut against the projecting door stop 10A when the door starts to move from the central closed position to the open position in the other direction (see Figure 2B).

Referring now to Figures 3A to 3D there is shown a cross section view of the free edge of the door A and the operation of latches in the form of door stops IOA,IOB in and out of recesses

11. In Figure 3 A door stops IOA,IOB are spring biased into recess 11 by springs (not shown) so that their default position is in the recess 11. Each door stop has a curved door stop surface 12 and a cam surface 13. The door stops are supported in a housing 20 in the floor under the door (or above the door, e.g. in the door frame). When both stops are in the recess, the door A free edge can swing freely in both directions over the recessed door stops allowing passage of people in both directions through the door.

As shown in Figure 3B when both door stops project out of the recess 11 in the second position, the free edge of door A is trapped between the door stops IOA,IOB with door abutting a curved edge 12 of one door stop as the door moves towards a door stop. The curve edge allows single or minimal point of contact with the door reducing the friction between the two door and latch surface if it is desired to move the door stop into a recess when a door surface is abutting the door stop.

As shown in Figure 3C, door stop 10B is in the recess 11 and door stop 10A projects out of the recess. This allows movement of the door over door stop 10B from the open position to the central closed positon (from right to left) to abut raised door stop 10A (and vice versa).

Similarly as shown in Figure 3D, door stop 10A is in the recess 11 and door stop 10B projects out of the recess. This allows movement of the door over door stop 10A from the open position to the central closed positon (from left to right) to abut raised door stop 10B (and vice versa). As shown in Figures 3 A to 3D, the door A can either be allowed to swing in both directions with both door stops recessed (Figure 3 A) allowing persons to pass through the door in either direction. Or door A can be held closed between both raised door stops (Figure 3B) preventing passage of persons through the door. Or door stop 10B can be recessed and door stop 10A raised (Figure 3C) allowing passage of people through the door from left to right. Or door stop 10A can be recessed and door stop 10B raised (Figure 3D) allowing passage of people through the door from right to left.

Although a pair of door stops is shown provided for each door, two or more pairs may be provided for each door. This would make the locking of a door swing stronger.

It is envisaged that a building may have numerous double action doors each with door stops. The door stops could be individually controlled to first or second positions remotely by control means, e.g. the control means may control the door stops remotely using pneumatics or hydraulics. The control means could control the direction of movement of people through double action doors in a building, or constrain movement of people to areas of a building, or combinations of constraining movement or controlling direction of movement of people.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown an exploded view of the housing 20. Housing 20 has four pairs of recesses 11, two pairs either side of centreline Y. Two pairs of door stops 10A and two pairs of door stops 10B move in and out of the recesses 11 into first and second positions to control movement of a pair of double action doors over the centre line as described above. In addition shoot bolts 30 (well known in the art) are provided to lock into the bottom edge of a door on the centreline to give strength to the locking of door on the centreline Y.

Referring now to Figures 5A,5B there is shown control of double door stops 10B shown in Figure 4 (doors stops 10A would be controlled in a similar manner) . Door stops 10B are spring biased by springs 40 into the first positon recessed into the housing as a default position. Door stops 30B have a cam follower surface 13 as mentioned above.

As shown in Figure 5B, rotating cams 50 are rotated by a drive rod 60 (e.g. pneumatically or hydraulically driven) to a first position allowing door stops 10B to be spring biased into the first position by springs 40. Drive rod 60 can then rotate the cams 50 to a second position which act on the cam follower surface 13 of each door stop 10B to rotate the door stop into its second raised position against the action of springs 40. This also allows each door stop to be rotated into the first position from the second rained position when a door is passing over the door stop in a direction towards the centreline only. The door capture device of the invention does not affect the doors day to day main purpose be it a: Fire/Smoke door, Escape Route door, Security door, Acoustic door etc. in each instant the doors integrity and day to day fimction/s remains unaffected. In each instant the door/s remains compliant with any regulatory requirements i.e. Fire and Escape functions. The device may be intended for use only at times of extreme emergency to control in highly volatile situations on doors that are otherwise very difficult to control with conventional lock systems. The device provides a means to remotely manage and control access or exit in a ‘selected’ direction/s, (conventional locks cannot do this - the door is either locked or unlocked).

The device is primarily thought for use under the door at the meeting stiles, is modular in concept and could be used in all orientations: vertically up, vertically down or horizontally and in combinations of these orientations as suits the particular requirements in each instant. The device can be uses with doors of varying thicknesses. The device, unlike conventional locks, works with the whole thickness of the door and is not reliant upon the door for its installation.

The device is adaptable in the convention of its power source ‘at the door’ for its operation. It may use pneumatics as it energy source so as to remain intrinsically safe for use in sensitive areas. This could however be substituted with hydraulics or electronics as alternative means of powering the device ‘at the door’.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A door capture device for a double action door adapted to swing either side of a central door closed position, said capture device comprising at least one pair of opposing latching devices each positioned either side of the central door closed position, in use each latching device being operable to either allow free passage of the door past the latching device in either direction from the open position to the central closed position (or vice versa), or allow one way only passage of the door in one direction from the open position to the central closed position (or vice versa).

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein each latching device is a door stop which moves in and out of a recess, each door stop being adapted to be held in a first position in the recess allowing free passage of the door past the door stop in either direction from the open position or the central closed position (or vice versa), or each door stop projecting out of the recess in a second position to prevent the door passing past the door stops from a closed position, and with one door stop in the recess and the other door stop out of the recess movement of the door is restricted from the central closed position in one direction to the open position over the door stop in the recess.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each latching device has a curved surface to abut against the door with single or minimal point contact. 12

4. A device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein each latching device pivots in and out of a recess in a housing.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the housing is adapted to be recessed into a floor below a door or above a door.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein remote control means are provided to select if a given latching device is in the first or second position.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein each latching device has a cam follower and the control means includes a cam which engages the cam follower to hold each latching device in the second position or allow the latching device to be in the first position.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein each latching device is spring biased into the first position and the cam moves the latching device to the second position against the spring bias.

9. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein shoot bolts are also provided to lock a door when is a centreline position between a pair of latching devices.