Patent ID: 9410349
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: D06F,E05B,E05C,Y10S,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A latch strike retention assembly adapted to accept and retain a latch strike, the latch strike retention assembly comprising: a substantially U-shaped spring having opposing and substantially parallel arm portions extending from a common base portion; a support bracket adapted to position the U-shaped spring behind an opening through which the latch strike must pass, so that the arm portions of the U-shaped spring extend generally perpendicular to a direction of strike engagement with the arm portions and the arm portions may flexibly separate within a plane perpendicular to the direction of the latch engagement to receive and restrain the latch strike there between; further including a collar movable relative to the U-shaped spring between: (a) a first locked position at least partially surrounding the arm portions of the U-shaped spring preventing separation of the arm portions to release the latch strike after the latch strike has passed through the U-shaped spring and (b) a second unlocked position removed from the arm portions of the U-shaped spring permitting separation of the arm portions to release the latch strike after the latch strike has passed through the U-shaped spring; wherein the U-shaped spring is held substantially fixed with respect to the support bracket and the collar is movable with respect to the support bracket; further including an electrically powered actuator moving the collar with respect to the support bracket between the locked and unlocked position in response to an electrical signal; wherein the electrically powered actuator is at least one electrical solenoid; wherein further including a thermal actuator preventing movement of the collar from the locked position to the unlocked position when power is disconnected from the electrical solenoid for a predetermined period of time corresponding to a thermal cooling.