Connecting device for concealed-type top or bottom latch for panic exit door lock

A lock for a door includes a latch (128) to which an end of a connecting member (46) is operably coupled. A draw rod (48) is securely mounted to the connecting member (46) to move therewith. A base (32) is fixed to the door, and a slide (42) is slideably mounted to the base (32) in the vertical direction. An adjusting block (44) is fixed to the draw rod (48) to move therewith. An adjusting screw (446) is rotatably extended through the slide (42) and threadedly engaged with the adjusting block (44) so that movement of the slide (42) in the vertical direction causes movement of the adjusting block (44) and the connecting member (46) in the vertical direction and of the latch (128) between locking and unlocking positions. Rotation of the adjusting screw (446) causes movement of the adjusting block (44) and the connecting device (40) in the vertical direction to adjust the locking position of the latch (128) relative to the door (10).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connecting device for a panic exit door lock and, more particularly, to a connecting device for a concealed-type top or bottom latch for a panic exit door lock that allows easy mounting of the connecting device and that allows adjustment of projection of the top or bottom latch beyond a top face or a bottom face of the panic exit door to allow easy mounting of the lock.

Locks for panic exit doors include horizontal type latches and vertical type latches. Vertical type latches include a top latch and a bottom latch, and the top and bottom latches include a concealed type and a surfaced type according to the way they are mounted. Surfaced type latches are easy to install but can not provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Concealed type latches provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance at the cost of difficulties in installation.

FIG. 12shows a conventional panic exit door70including a side opening702in an inner side thereof. Door70further includes an end opening704in each of a top edge and a bottom edge thereof. A panic device or lock80is mounted to door70and includes an operative device84, a follower device82, and concealed type top and bottom latch devices76both mounted in an interior space706in door70and each having a latch762. A hole or stop is formed on each of a top edge and a bottom edge of a door frame for coupling with latch762when door70is closed. Each latch device76further includes a screw rod764having a first end coupled to latch762and a second end coupled to an end of a coupling rod74. The other end of each coupling rod74is coupled to a vertical section724of a connecting rod72. Each connecting rod72includes a horizontal section722extending out of door70via side opening702and coupled with follower device82. Operation of operative device84causes movement of follower device82, connecting rods72, and coupling rods74to move latches762for locking or unlocking purposes. In practice, connecting rods72and coupling rods74are inserted via side opening702into interior space706of door70in an inclined angle for installation purposes. Coupling rods74are then threadedly coupled to screw rods764. Such installation is difficult for a single installer. Furthermore, the projections of latches762after installation may be more or less and, thus, adversely affect operation of latches762. In an approach to solve this problem, coupling rod74is rotated to adjust a coupling length between screw rod764and coupling rod74, which, in turn, changes the projection of latch762. However, such adjustment must be accomplished before coupling of connecting rod72with follower device82. Specifically, if the improper projections of latches762are found after installation, adjustment can only be carried out after removal of a housing enclosing follower device82and after disengaging an end of connecting rod72from follower device82.

Thus, a need exists for a connecting device for a concealed-type top or bottom latch for a panic exit door that allows easy installation of the connecting device and that allows adjustment of projection of the top or bottom latch beyond a top face or a bottom face of the panic exit door to allow easy mounting of the lock.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves this need and other problems in the field of locks for panic exit doors by providing, in a preferred form, a lock including a latch movable between an extended, locking position not allowing opening of a door and a retracted, unlocking position allowing opening of the door. A connecting member includes first and second ends spaced in a vertical direction. The second end of the connecting member is adapted to be operably coupled to the latch. A draw rod includes first and second sidewalls spaced in a width direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. The draw rod further includes an interconnecting wall interconnected between the first and second sidewalls and securely mounted to the first end of the connecting member. A base is adapted to be fixed to a side of the door, and a slide is slideably mounted to the base in the vertical direction. The slide is operably coupled to an operative member. An adjusting block is mounted to the slide. The adjusting block and the slide are jointly moveable in the vertical direction. The adjusting block includes first and second sides spaced in the width direction. The first and second sidewalls of the draw rod are respectively fixed to the first and second sides of the adjusting block to move therewith. The adjusting block is moveable relative to the slide in the vertical direction to adjust the extended, locking position of the latch relative to the door. Manual operation of the operative member causes movement of the slide, the adjusting block, and the connecting member in the vertical direction to move the latch between the extended, locking position and the retracted, unlocking position.

In the most preferred form, the lock further includes an adjusting screw rotatably extending through a pivotal section of the slide and threadedly coupled to the adjusting block to engage the adjusting block with the slide. Rotation of the adjusting screw causes movement of the adjusting block and the connecting member in the vertical direction to adjust the extended, locking position of the latch relative to the door. The first end of the connecting member includes first and second faces spaced in a thickness direction perpendicular to the vertical and width directions. The first end of the connecting member has a first width in the width direction. The interconnecting wall of the draw rod includes first and second faces spaced in the thickness direction. The interconnecting wall of the draw rod further includes a recessed portion having a second width in the width direction approximately the same as the first width. The first end of the connecting member is received in the recessed portion with the first face of the first end of the connecting member abutting the second face of the interconnecting wall. The adjusting block is sandwiched between the first and second sidewalls of the draw rod in the width direction.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “first”, “second”, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “rear”, “inner”, “outer”, “end”, “portion”, “section”, “longitudinal”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “spacing”, “length”, “width”, “thickness”, and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A connecting device according to the preferred teachings of the present invention is shown in the drawings and generally designated40. Connecting device40is generally utilized with a panic device or lock mounted to a panic exit door10. According to the preferred form shown, the lock mounted to door10includes an operative device20, a follower device30operably connected to operative device20, top and bottom latch devices12operably connected to follower device30, a sliding device50, and two connecting devices40according to the preferred teachings of the present invention. Operative device20and follower device30are mounted to an inner side of door10. Door10is hollow and includes an interior space102. Door10further includes an end opening104in each of a top edge and a bottom edge thereof. Door10further includes two side openings106in the inner side (seeFIG. 9). End openings104and side openings106are in communication with interior space102. According to the preferred form shown, each of top and bottom latch devices12are mounted into interior space102via one of end openings104. Each of top and bottom latch devices12includes a body120, a latch128pivotably connected to body120, a follower124slideably mounted in body120in a vertical direction, and a linking member126having a first end coupled to follower124and a second end coupled to latch128(FIG. 8). Follower124is coupled to a screw rod122that can be moved to move latch128between an extended, locking position outside of door10and a retracted, unlocking position inside of door10.

According to the preferred form shown, follower device30includes a base32fixed to the inner side of door10by fasteners such as screws, bolts, or the like. Specifically, base32includes a first side322and a second side324abutting the inner side of door10. Base32further include upper and lower slots323spaced in the vertical direction. Parallel, spaced first and second tabs326are formed on two sides of upper slot323and include aligned vertical tracks328extending in the vertical direction and forming an upper guiding mechanism320. Parallel, spaced third and fourth tabs326are formed on two sides of lower slot323and include aligned vertical tracks328extending in the vertical direction and forming a lower guiding mechanism320. A sliding slot325extends from an edge of each of upper and lower slots323in the vertical direction.

According to the preferred form shown, follower device30further includes a bracket36in the most preferred form shown as a substantially U-shaped structure having parallel, spaced first and second sidewalls362spaced in the vertical direction. Bracket36further includes an interconnecting wall363interconnected between first and second sidewalls362. Each of first and second sidewalls362has a plurality of engaging portions366. Fasteners368are extended through engaging portions366to fix bracket36to base32. First and second sidewalls362further include aligned limiting slots364.

According to the preferred form shown, a linking rod38is mounted between and spaced from first and second sidewalls362of bracket36in the vertical direction. Linking rod38includes front and rear ends382and384spaced in a longitudinal axis thereof perpendicular to the vertical direction. Front end382of linking rod38includes a slot383. A limiting pin361is slideably extended through limiting slots364of bracket36and slot383of linking rod38. An upper limiting block380is mounted in a spacing between an outer face of front end382of linking rod38and first sidewall362of bracket36, and a lower limiting block380is mounted in a spacing between an inner face of front end382of linking rod38and second sidewall362of bracket36. Each of upper and lower limiting blocks380have a length in the vertical direction equal to the spacing between linking rod38and sidewall362to assist in stable movement of linking rod38along the longitudinal axis between first and second sidewalls362of bracket36. Upper and lower wings386are formed on linking rod38adjacent front end382. Each of upper and lower wings386has a sliding groove388extending in the vertical direction. Linking rod38further includes a slot385adjacent to rear end384.

According to the preferred form shown, follower device30further includes a plate60fixed to linking rod38and two substantially V-shaped links66. Plate60includes upper and lower grooves602aligned with sliding grooves388of upper and lower wings386. Each link66has a first end662, a second end666pivotably connected to one of engaging portions366of bracket36, and an intermediate portion664. First end662of each link66includes first and second pegs663on two faces thereof. First peg663of each link66is slideably received in sliding groove388of one of upper and lower wings386. Second peg663of each link66is slideably received in one of upper and lower grooves602of plate60.

According to the preferred form shown, operative device20includes a housing26fixed to the inner side of door10and an operative member22in the most preferred form shown as a press bar pivotably coupled to housing26. A rocker24is mounted in housing26and includes a first corner242pivotably connected to operative member22, a second corner244pivotably coupled with slot385of linking rod38, and a third corner246pivotably connected to housing26. When operative member22is operated (e.g., pressed), rocker24pivots to move linking rod38in an unlatching direction. Operative device20for actuating linking rod38can be of any desired form as conventional including but not limited to of a commercially available type.

According to the preferred form shown, sliding device50is mounted to guiding mechanisms320on base32. Sliding device50includes an upper slide42, slideably mounted between first and second tabs326in the vertical direction, and a lower slide42, slideably mounted between third and fourth tabs326in the vertical direction. Each of upper and lower slides42includes a base portion422extending in the vertical direction, a support426extending perpendicularly from a side of base portion422, a pivotal section424extending perpendicularly from the side of base portion422and spaced from support426in the vertical direction, and a groove428formed in base portion422and extending in a width direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and spaced from support426in the vertical direction. Groove428has a spacing to pivotal section424larger than support426. Pivotal section424includes a vertical hole423and a positioning hole425in the most preferred form shown as a screw hole extending perpendicularly to and in communication with vertical hole423. Base portion422further includes an axle hole429parallel to and spaced from positioning hole425in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. Support426includes a receiving hole427aligned with vertical hole423. An upper axle420is extended through axle hole429of upper slide42and slideably extended through vertical tracks328of first and second tabs326, allowing upper slide42to slide between first and second tabs326in the vertical direction. A lower axle420is extended through axle hole429of lower slide42and slideably extended through vertical tracks328of third and fourth tabs326, allowing lower slide42to slide between third and fourth tabs326in the vertical direction, with grooves428adjacent to each other. A retainer432in the most preferred form shown as a C-clip is mounted in an annular groove420ain a distal end of each of upper and lower axles420, preventing upper and lower axles420from disengaging from upper and lower slides42.

According to the preferred form shown, an adjusting block44is mounted on each of upper and lower slides42. Each adjusting block44includes a screw hole442extending in the vertical direction and aligned with vertical hole423of pivotal section424of slide42(FIG. 9). Each adjusting block44further includes first and second sides443spaced in the width direction. A positioning hole444in the most preferred form shown as a screw hole is formed in each of first and second sides443and extends in the width direction.

According to the preferred form shown, sliding device50further includes two adjusting screws446each including a head455and a shank450extending from side of head455and having a diameter smaller than that of head455. Shank450has a threaded section451and an annular groove452formed between head455and threaded section451. Shank450further includes a pivotal portion453in the most preferred form shown formed at the distal end distant to head455. Shank450of each adjusting screw446extends through vertical hole423of pivotal section424of one of upper and lower slides42and through screw hole442of one of adjusting blocks44. Each adjusting screw446is retained in place by a retainer448in the most preferred form shown as a C-clip engaged in annular groove452, allowing free rotation of adjusting screw446and preventing adjusting screw446from disengaging from pivotal section424. Note that a face of each adjusting screw446presses against the side of one of upper and lower slides42. Thus, when adjusting screws446are rotated, adjusting blocks44move along adjusting screws446in the vertical direction rather than rotate together with adjusting screws446. Note that a screw (not shown) can be extended into positioning hole425of one of upper and lower slides42to press against head455of one of adjusting screws446and to prevent rotation of adjusting screw446after adjusting screw446is rotated to a desired position. Further, pivotal portion453of each adjusting screw446is rotatably received in receiving hole427of support426of one of upper and lower slides42, assuring stable rotation of adjusting screw446.

Further, two pins668respectively extend through intermediate portions664of links66and slideably extend through grooves428of upper and lower slides42. Thus, intermediate portion664of each link66is pivotable relative to one of upper and lower slides42and slideable along groove428of one of upper and lower slides42. When linking rod38is moved along the longitudinal axis, links66are rotated to move upper and lower slides42toward or away from each other in the vertical direction, moving top and bottom latch devices12.

According to the preferred form shown, two connecting devices40according to the preferred teachings of the present invention are provided for top and bottom latch devices12. According to the most preferred form shown, connecting devices40are identical so that description of one of them is sufficient. Connecting device40includes a connecting member46having first and second ends462and464spaced in a vertical direction. According to the most preferred form shown, second end464of connecting member46is a threaded section. A connecting rod16includes a first end162threadedly connected to screw rod122of latch device12and a second end164threadedly coupled to second end464of connecting member46. Thus, latch128is moved when connecting member46is moved. First end462of connecting member46has a first width in the width direction. First end462of connecting member46further includes first and second faces461and465spaced in a thickness direction perpendicular to the vertical and width directions. Two coupling holes466extend from first face461through second face465of first end462of connecting member46.

According to the preferred form shown, connecting device40further includes a draw rod48having substantially U-shaped cross sections. Draw rod48includes first and second sidewalls481spaced in the width direction and an interconnecting wall484interconnected between first and second sidewalls481. Interconnecting wall484of draw rod48includes first and second faces485and487spaced in the thickness direction. A recessed portion483is formed in interconnecting wall484and has a second width in the width direction approximately the same as the first width, such that first end462of connecting member46is received in recessed portion483with first face461of first end462of connecting member46abutting second face487of interconnecting wall484. Recessed portion483includes two through-hole489extending from first face485through second face487of interconnecting wall484. Interconnecting wall484of draw rod48is securely mounted to first end462of connecting member46by extending fasteners56through through-holes489of interconnecting wall484into coupling holes466of connecting member46. Each of first and second sidewalls481of draw rod48includes a distal end482distant to interconnecting wall484. Aligned through-holes486are formed in distal ends482of first and second sidewalls481. Distal ends482of first and second sidewalls481of draw rod48are respectively coupled to first and second sides443of adjusting block44. According to the preferred form shown, adjusting block44has a length in the width direction which is approximately the same as a spacing between first and second sidewalls481of draw rod48such that adjusting block44is sandwiched between first and second sidewalls481of draw rod48. Further, each of first and second sidewalls481of draw rod48includes outer and inner faces490and488spaced in the vertical direction. A notch506is formed in outer face490of each of first and second sidewalls481of draw rod48for avoiding interference during adjustment operation.

In installation, each connecting member46can be inserted through end opening104of door10into interior space102of door10. When first end462of connecting member46reaches a position aligned with side opening106of door10, interconnecting wall484of draw rod48is fixed to first end462of connecting member46via side opening106(FIG. 8). First and second sidewalls481of draw rod48is extended through one of upper and lower slots323of base32and coupled to adjusting block44by extending a fastener480through each through-hole486of draw rod48into one of positioning holes444of adjusting block44, assuring stable, joint movement of adjusting block44and draw rod48in the vertical direction. Thus, movement of adjusting blocks44in the vertical direction causes movement of connecting members46and connecting rods16in the vertical direction, moving latches128between the extended, locking positions and the retracted, unlocking positions. Note that sliding slots325allow vertical movement of first and second sidewalls481of draw rod48.

In operation, when linking rod38is moved in the unlatching direction such as due to pressing of operative member22, links66are pivoted to move upper and lower slides42toward each other. Connecting devices40are moved toward each other to move connecting rod16. Latches128are, thus, moved to the retracted, unlocking positions (FIG. 11). When operative member22is released, linking rod38is moved in a latching direction opposite to the unlatching direction to return latches128to the extended, locking positions (FIG. 2).

After installation of latch devices12onto door10, the spacing from an end of each screw rod122to one of adjusting blocks44is fixed. After coupling with connecting rods16, the projections of latches128are dependent upon the overall lengths of connecting devices40in the vertical direction. In a case that the overall length of each connecting device40is smaller than the spacing, the projection of latch128will be insufficient to provide the required locking functions. Although rotation of connecting rod16is impossible after connecting devices40are coupled with follower device30, adjustment of the projections of latches128is still possible by sliding device50. Specifically, adjusting screws446can be rotated to move adjusting blocks44in the vertical direction. This causes movement of connecting rods16in the vertical direction to change the projections of latches128. Note that notches506allow movement of draw rod48to a position adjacent to slides42without interference to the adjustment operation. Thus, the lock according to the preferred teachings of the present invention allows easy adjustment of extended, locking positions of latches128relative to door10in an easier manner without the need of detaching components of the lock, saving time for installation.

Now that the basic teachings of the present invention have been explained, many extensions and variations will be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art. For example, interconnecting wall484of draw rod48can be fixed to first end462of each connecting member46by male/female coupling. Furthermore, connecting member46can include only one coupling hole466, and interconnecting wall484of draw rod48can include only one through-hole489. Further, connecting device40according to the preferred teachings of the present invention can be utilized with top or bottom latch device12of any desired form as conventional including but not limited to of a commercially available type.