Patent ID: 7832778
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: E05B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for use with an exit device for delaying egress through a door pivotally mounted along one edge for movement about an axis, the exit device including a housing adapted to be secured to the door surface, a latch bolt disposed at one end of the housing adjacent an edge of the door and movable relative to the housing between a projected position extending outwardly of the housing for latching the door in a closed position and a retracted position where the latch bolt is inside the housing for allowing the door to be opened, an actuator member mounted on the housing for movement relative to the housing from a first position to a second position, a retractor element comprising a first linkage adapted to be operatively connected to the actuator member, a second linkage movable relative to the first linkage and adapted to be operatively connected to the latch bolt, a connector slidably connecting the first and second linkages, and a spring positioned between and engaging the first and second linkages for biasing the linkages in opposite directions such that movement of the actuator member toward the second position of the actuator member moves the first linkage and second linkage together with the latch bolt to the retracted position of the latch bolt by loading the spring, the apparatus for delaying egress comprising: an electrically energizable locking mechanism adapted to be mounted to the housing, the locking mechanism including a plunger for relative reciprocal movement transverse to the direction of movement of the retractor element between a projected locking position when the locking mechanism is energized, and a retracted non-locking position when the locking mechanism is denergized, the plunger adapted to be received into an opening on the retractor element when the plunger is in the projected locking position to prevent the latch bolt from moving to the retracted position; a time delay circuit connected between the locking mechanism and a power source for controlling electrical power supplied to the locking mechanism; and a switch adapted to be actuated in response to movement of the actuator member toward the second position, the switch connected to the time delay circuit for starting a time interval upon actuation of the switch for temporarily delaying deenergization of the locking mechanism after the actuator member is moved toward the second position or to maintain the locking mechanism energized and the plunger engaged to the retractor if a predetermined time interval of the time delay circuit is not achieved, wherein the movement of the plunger, the retractor and the actuator are not all co-planar.