Abstract:
In a lockable door system, the combination comprising a door locking first assembly installable in a door for control of operable use to lock or unlock the door, an upper assembly including a locking plunger, and to guide plunger travel upwardly at door top level into locking and unlocking position, an actuator assembly including a rotor rotatable by handle or push bar to control door locking and unlocking, and connecting the rotor with the plunger, and door edge sealing structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to apparatus enabling reliable in and out use of a door, with enhanced security and safety. 
     There is continuing need for safety and security at doorways, and for compact door latching installations contributing to security. There is also need for apparatus having unusual advantage in construction, in operation, and providing improved results, as embodied in the present invention, as will be seen. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a major object of the invention to provide improvements in door opening and closing controls, enhancing in and out security at doorways; and to provide improvements in sealing of door edges with doorway frames, and at the meeting edges of pairs of doors. 
     Basically, door locking and unlocking apparatus embodying the invention includes: 
     a) a lock actuator assembly sized to fit within a door, and operatively connected to a latch at a door upper edge, with the option of adding a locking bolt at the door lower edge, 
     b) a push bar carried by the door at the door inside and operatively connected to the lock actuator assembly to control unlatching of the latch, 
     c) a handle carried by the door at the door outer side, and operatively connected to the lock actuator assembly, to control unlatching of the door only after positioning of a key to effect unblocking of the actuator assembly, with the option of having the lever or handle always active. 
     A further object is provision of the actuator assembly to include a first part bodily movable in response to push bar displacement to transmit actuation to a vertically movable latch actuator. As will be seen, the actuator assembly typically includes a rotor operatively connected to the handle and to said first part. The rotor is rotatable to transmit actuation to the latch actuator(s), in response to displacement of said handle, there being means blocking rotor rotation until key turning to unblock the blocking means. 
     An added object is to provide a clutch, internal to the actuator assembly operatively connected with the rotor to initially resist rotor rotation by the handle and subsequently to allow handle rotation after predetermined torque application as from the door handle at the outer side of the door, thereby allowing handle rotation, once the predetermined torque has been exceeded, not allowing the lock mechanism to open, and protecting the lock mechanism from damage. 
     Yet another object is to provide a door having an interior space opening only toward a vertical edge of the door, the actuator assembly received in and concealed in that space, the door being free of latching at said door vertical i.e. side edge. 
     Further objects concern provision of movable door edge structure, which is adjustable to seal off against the door frame in closed position of the door, as at vertically spaced locations along the door vertical edge. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation showing a lockable door system, and frame; 
         FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    show door latching control units, in a door; 
         FIG. 2  is a section taken on lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged elevation showing construction of a latching control unit, in closed door latching position; 
         FIG. 4  is a view like  FIG. 3 , showing the  FIG. 3  unit in door unlatched position; 
         FIG. 5  is a horizontal section taken through a closed door and showing sealing elements; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view taken on lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; and  FIG. 6 a    shows two opposed edges of two movable doors; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view taken on lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are sections showing door structure, and in relation to hinging and frame structure; 
         FIG. 10  is a view showing roller assisted latching at the upper edge of the door. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In  FIG. 1 , a door  10  is shown in closed position relative to a door frame  11  having upright edges  11   b , and upper and lower horizontal edges  11   c  and  11   d . The door has corresponding edges at  10   b . A locking control apparatus  13  is located inside the door adjacent door edge  10   a , and between door panels  10   e  and  10   f.    
     Latching structures  15  and  15   a  are located at the top and optionally at the bottom of the door, there being no latching at the door vertical edge  10   a , for security. Latching control rods  16  and  17  extend vertically inside the door, from apparatus  13  to the latching structures, whereby latch  20  on rod  16  is movable into and out of latching relation with receptacle  20   a  on the doorway upper frame, and latch  21  on rod  17  is simultaneously movable into and out of latching relation with receptacle  22  in the doorway lower frame. 
     The latch rods are simultaneously movable toward the control unit  13  to unlatch the door, in response to manual pushing of a push bar  23  carried by the door at the inner side of the door; and also in response to turning of a handle  24  carried by the door at the outer side of the door, when handle rotation is unblocked by blocking mechanism within the control apparatus  13 , such handle blocking and unblocking being controlled by a key  26  inserted into the door at  26   a , and rotated, from the outer side of the door. Accordingly, intrusion through the doorway, from the exterior, is key controlled or configured to have an always active lever; whereas escape through the doorway, from the interior, is always available, as by pushing of the push bar. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show adjustable door vertical edge  10   a , with sealing material  100  carried by the door in a recess  31  at the edge. A threaded adjuster  32  engages a carrier  33  having a flanges  33   a  received between door panels  10   e  and  10   f . The adjuster head  32   a  controllably engages the movable door vertical edge to adjust its position, toward or away from the frame (or opposing door) edge  11   a , to adjust door sealing upon door closure. Typically, the seal wall is adjusted to contact the frame, in door closed position. Multiple adjustment locations spaced apart vertically, are indicated at  250 , in  FIG. 1 , to seal the gap which may vary in width along door vertical edge.  FIG. 6 a    schematically shows similar  FIG. 6  structure, employed at opposed edges  140  and  141  of two movable doors, in face to face relation. See also the same or similar structure at  FIG. 7 , with seal  34  carried by the door proximate the frame edge  10   b . A stop  35  carried at the frame has a head or flange  35   a  engaging a wall  36  of the door edge to limit and 
     control positioning of the seal  34 . Door pivot at  38  controls pivoting of door edge panel  39  relative to doorway frame panel  40 . 
     In the above, latch rods  16  and  17  and latches are held in latching position by cam positioning in the actuator train, until release, and when latch rods are in latch release position, gravitational force exertion on the mechanism holds the rods retracted against movement into distended latching position. This obviates need for springs to hold rods in position, and simplifies overall structure and operation. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3  it shows the door latching apparatus  13  in door locked or latched position, and to  FIG. 4  showing  13  in door unlatched position. It includes a receptacle  14  fitting in door recess  14   a , and containing control elements operatively connected to the latch rods  16  and  17 . 
     Actuator plate  45 , connected at  40  to latch actuator rod  16 , is displaced downwardly in response to rightward movement of link  46  caused by pushing of the push bar  23 , as can be seen in  FIG. 4 . This occurs in response to clockwise pivoting movement of link  47  about axis  98 . In this regard, link  46  is coupled at  49  to rotor  50  rotate it clockwise, to displace  47  to  FIG. 4  position, causing  45  to be displaced downwardly, and plate  45   a  to be displaced upwardly. 
     If external handle  24  is rotated manually, it likewise causes rotor  50  to rotate clockwise; however, the handle cannot rotate if actuator  51  coupled to  50 , is blocked, as at location  52  in  FIG. 4 , by lever  53 . Turning of the key  26  in slot  26   a  serves to unblock rotation of  51 , by limited rightward rotation of lever  53 . 
     If rotation of handle  24  is blocked and excess torque is applied, provision is made for disengagement of a coupler in the handle torque transmission path. This is shown, schematically, by coupler  66 , in  FIG. 4 , coupled to handle  24  at  67 , and to rotor  50 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , a modified door  160  has front and rear vertical panels  161  and  162 , and door interior  163 . Channel shaped receptacles  164  and  165 , U-shaped in section, fit between the panels, and open oppositely endwise to receive sealing structure as shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 9  also shows the receptacles as well as adjustable door edge sealing elements  32  and  32   a , and sealing walls  164   a  and  165   a . The receptacles are box shaped as shown and move toward or away from frame edges as threaded adjusters  32  and  32   a  are rotatably adjusted. A hinge  166  has plate connection at  167  to receptacle  164  and at  168  to door frame  169 . When the door is closed and receptacle  164  is closed into frame space  170 , the hinge is concealed from eye view  171 . 
     In  FIG. 10 , rollers or guides  150  are carried by latch plate  151  moved up and down by latch rod  16 , in guide slot  152  in plate  152   a  attached to the door. Spring  153  holds arm  154  in pivoted position, with protrusion  155  engaging frame  156 , blocking release of downward travel of rod  16 , until that rod is pulled downward.