Abstract:
An exit device comprises an inner door handle adapted to be mounted to a door for movement relative to the door from a first position to a second position. A pair of brackets are adapted to be operatively connected between the respective ends of a horizontal portion and a vertical portion of the door handle. Each bracket comprises a first bracket member secured to the door handle, a second bracket member adapted to be secured to the door, and a pin for joining the first bracket member and the second bracket member for rotation about an axis through the pin. The first bracket member and the second bracket member pivot relative to one another when the door handle moves between the first position and the second position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. provisional application No. 62/288,779, filed Jan. 29, 2016, entitled “PANIC EXIT DEVICE AND DOOR HANDLE”, naming Michael Connell, Doug Thompson, and Luis Bettencourt as the inventors. The contents of the provisional application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, and the benefit of the filing date of the provisional application is hereby claimed for all purposes that are legally served by such claim for the benefit of the filing date. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A door handle system for releasing a door latch is described and, more particularly, a door handle system is described for use as a panic exit device mounted on, for example, a glass door panel. 
         [0003]    A panic-type exit device allows persons within the interior of a building to readily open a door in a latched position by simply pushing on an interior handle for unlatching the door. The interior handle of the panic exit device typically comprises a bar mounted to the door. 
         [0004]    The bar is mechanically linked to a latch mechanism having an internal latch mechanism, including a door latch which is movably mounted adjacent to a free edge of the door. The handle is movable in a pivoting motion from a position away from the door to a position close to the door to actuate the latch mechanism of the door when pressure is applied towards the door at any point along the surface of the handle. Depressing the bar toward the door translates the mechanical linkage for actuating the latch mechanism in order to retract the door latch so that the door can be opened. A primary benefit of panic exit devices is that they provide unlatching of the door in a quick and simple manner. For this reason, panic exit devices are often utilized in applications which require ready exit from a building in case of an emergency. 
         [0005]    In some panic exit devices, a fixed exterior handle is included to provide a symmetrical appearance. In addition, the door latch, or a lock mechanism, may be actuated from the exterior side of the door by use of a key, key pad, or other controlled lock release means. The lock mechanism may be a mechanical lock, a magnetic lock or an electro-mechanical lock, such as a lock operable by a solenoid. 
         [0006]    A door handle system for releasing a door latch is needed for use as a panic exit device on a glass door panel. The new door handle system should provide for actuation of the latch mechanism in order to retract the door latch so that the door can be opened under emergency conditions. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An exit device is provided for use with a door pivotally mounted along one edge for movement about an axis. The exit device comprises an inner door handle adapted to be mounted to the door for movement relative to the door from a first position to a second position. The inner door handle includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion when mounted to the door. A pair of brackets is adapted to be operatively connected between the respective ends of the horizontal portion and the vertical portion of the door handle and the door. Each bracket comprises a first bracket member secured to the door handle, a second bracket member adapted to be secured to the door, and a pin for joining the first bracket member and the second bracket member for rotation about an axis through the pin. The first bracket member and the second bracket member pivot relative to one another when the door handle moves between the first position and the second position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    For a more complete understanding of the panic exit device and door handle, reference should now be had to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings and described below. In the drawings: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an interior perspective view of an embodiment of a panic exit device including a door handle mounted on a glass door. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an interior elevation view of the panic exit device and door handle mounted on a glass door as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an interior exploded perspective view of the panic exit device and door handle mounted on a glass door as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a partial interior exploded perspective view of the panic exit device and door handle mounted on a glass door as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a partial side elevation view of the panic exit device and door handle mounted on a glass door as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a partial interior exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a top bracket for use with the panic exit device and door handle as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a further exploded perspective view of the top bracket and the exit device and door handle as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0016]      FIGS. 8A-8E  are perspective and elevation views of a two-piece pivoting member for use with the bracket as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a pin for use with the bracket as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a longitudinal cross-section view showing an embodiment of a bottom bracket for use with the panic exit device and door handle as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a partial interior exploded perspective view of the bottom bracket and the exit device and door handle as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is another partial interior exploded perspective view of the bottom bracket and the exit device and door handle as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0021]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  are a perspective view and an elevation view, respectively, of a C-shaped bushing for use with the bottom bracket as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a longitudinal cross-section view showing the embodiment of a bottom bracket for use with the panic exit device and door handle as shown in  FIG. 10  including an exterior handle. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a partial interior exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a lock mechanism for use with the panic exit device and door handle as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is perspective view of a snowman-shaped bushing for use with the locking mechanism as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the snowman-shaped bushing as shown in  FIG. 16  in the glass door and associated with the locking mechanism as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a latch mechanism for use with the panic exit device and door handle as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a distal end of the latch mechanism as shown in  FIG. 18 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 20  is a transverse cross-section of the latch mechanism as shown in  FIG. 18 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 21  is a side elevation view of a distal end of the latch mechanism as shown in  FIG. 18  with the strike removed for clarity. 
           [0030]      FIG. 22  is a front elevation view of a distal end of the latch mechanism as shown in  FIG. 21 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 23  is a transverse cross-section of the latch mechanism as shown in  FIG. 18  including an electric strike. 
           [0032]      FIG. 24  is a close-up perspective view of a distal end of an embodiment of a latch bolt for use in the latch mechanism shown in  FIG. 19 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    A panic exit device and handle for a glass door that is described for actuating a latch mechanism. The panic exit device and handle is for use in a commercial exit device and may be used with any conventional glass door. Panic exit devices and handles for glass doors are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,366,974; 6,511,104 and 6,726,257, the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Accordingly, detailed explanations of the functioning of all of the exit device components are deemed unnecessary for understanding the present panic exit device by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0034]    Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limiting. For example, words such as “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “upward,” “downward,” “top” and “bottom” merely describe the configurations shown in the FIGs. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise. The words “interior” and “exterior” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the core and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
         [0035]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding or similar elements throughout the several views, an embodiment of an exit device mounted to a glass door is shown in  FIGS. 1-5  and generally designated at  20 . The exit device  20  comprises a handle assembly  22 , including an interior door handle  24 , a latch mechanism including a roller latch  26 , means for attaching the interior door handle  24  to the door  28 , a lock mechanism  30 , and, optionally, an exterior door handle  32  fixed to the door  28 . The door  28  comprises a conventional rectangular glass door. It is understood that the exit device  20  as described herein can be used on a variety of door types, and the composition of the door may comprise any of a number of various materials, such as wood, metal, and the like. It is understood that the scope of the panic exit device  20  and door handle is not intended to be limited by the materials listed here, but may be carried out using any material which allows the construction and operation of the panic exit device described herein. 
         [0036]    The interior handle  24  comprises an L-shaped bar including, when mounted to the door  28 , a linear horizontal component and a linear generally vertical component extending either upwardly or downwardly from an end of the horizontal component. The lengths of the horizontal component and the vertical component may vary. The interior handle  24  can be of other configurations as well, such as completely straight or U-shaped. The interior handle  24  may be adapted to be mounted to a door in a variety of different orientations, such as having any number of vertical or horizontal components, as well as having any number of components of various relative angular positions. 
         [0037]    The interior door handle  24  internally accommodates the latch mechanism with the roller latch  26  extending from an upper end of the vertical component of the door handle. As shown in the  FIGS. 1-5 , the interior door handle  24  is mounted at each of its ends to the inner surface of the door  28 . The mounted door handle  24  is configured for limited reciprocal movement toward and away from the door  28  as the fixed ends of the handle  24  pivot relative to the door  28 . Movement of the door handle  24  relative to the door facilitate translation of the roller latch  26  between extended and retracted positions for latching and unlatching, respectively, the latch mechanism. In one embodiment, a force applied to the interior handle  24  in the direction toward the door  28  actuates the latch mechanism which automatically retracts the roller latch  26  allowing the door  28  to open. It is understood that this force may be applied almost anywhere along the surface of the handle  24 . The latch mechanism includes internal biasing means for moving the handle  24  away from the door  28  and returning the roller latch  26  to the extended latched position when external inward force is removed. 
         [0038]    The exterior handle  32  is mounted to the outer surface of the door  28 . The exterior handle  32  is optional and may be used without affect upon the operation of the panic exit device  20 . When used, the exterior handle  32  is affixed to the door  28  in a stationary, non-movable position. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , mounting hardware  35  is shown for pivotally securing the top of the vertical component of the interior door handle  24  to the door  28 . The mounting hardware comprises an interior clip  36  and an exterior clip  38  having an inwardly projecting cylindrical bushing  39 , and an arcing two-piece pivot bracket generally designated at  40 . The pivot bracket  40  for use in this application of the panic exit device  20  is shown in  FIGS. 8A-8E . The pivot bracket  40  comprises an inner portion  42  rigidly secured to the upper end of the interior handle  24  and an outer portion  44  rigidly secured to the interior clip  36 . The proximal end of the inner portion  42  defines a concave depression  43  for receiving the interior door handle  24 . The distal end of the inner portion  42  is bifurcated for defining a slot. An internally threaded transverse bore  45  extends through each of the legs defining the slot. The inner end of the outer portion  44  of the pivot bracket  40  includes an inwardly projecting rectangular boss  47 . The boss  47  has an opening  49  therethrough to receive a pin  46  ( FIG. 9 ) passing through the legs of the bifurcated outer end of the interior piece  42 . In this manner, the interior piece  42  and the exterior piece  44  are connected for relative pivotal movement about an axis through the pin  46 . It will be appreciated that this assembly allows the top end of the interior handle  24  and connected interior portion of the bracket  40  to move freely about the pivot pin  46 . 
         [0040]    The interior clip  36  is secured to the exterior clip  38  with the top edge of the door  28  sandwiched between the clips  36 ,  38 . During assembly, the bushing  39  on the exterior clip  38  is inserted in a circular opening  48  in the door  28 . A threaded fastener  50  extends through a corresponding opening  51  in the interior clip  36  into the cylindrical bushing  39 . The bushing has a threaded opening extending there through transverse to the longitudinal axis of the exterior clip  38  for receiving the fastener  50 . 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIGS. 10-12 , mounting hardware is shown for pivotally securing the end of the horizontal component of the interior door handle  24  to the door  28 . In one embodiment, the mounting hardware comprises the two-piece arcing pivot bracket  40 , a fastener  54 , a bushing  55 , and an exterior washer  56  and threaded end cap  58 . For use with the horizontal component of the interior door handle  24 , the interior portion  42  of the bracket  40  is rigidly secured to the outer end of the interior handle  24 . The interior portion  42  and the exterior portion  44  of the bracket  40  are connected for relative pivotal movement about an axis through the pin  46  engaged through the bifurcated end of the interior portion  42  and the boss  47  on the exterior portion  44 . It will be appreciated that this assembly allows the outer end of the horizontal component of the interior handle  24  to move freely about the pivot pin  46 . 
         [0042]    As seen in  FIGS. 10-12 , the exterior portion  44  of the bracket  40  defines a transverse bore  60  through the body of the exterior portion  44  and a channel extending longitudinally through the exterior piece  44  and opening into the bore  60 . The fastener  54  has an annular flange  66  intermediate along the length of the fastener  54 . The fastener  54  is slidingly received in the channel in the exterior portion  44  such that a length of the fastener  54  up to the flange  66  is disposed in the exterior portion  44 . To connect the exterior portion  44  of the bracket  40  to the fastener  54 , a pair of set screws  64  are threaded into the transverse bore  60 . The set screws  64  can be tightened into the space between the head of the fastener  54  and the flange  66  to restrict relative longitudinal movement of the fastener  54  in the exterior portion  44  of the bracket. The remainder of the fastener  54  including a threaded distal passes through the bushing  55  located in a door opening  62  and connects to the end cap  58  on the exterior surface of the door  28 . Another embodiment of this arrangement is shown in  FIG. 14  wherein the fastener  54  connects to an end of the exterior door handle  32 . In both cases, the handle assembly  22  is pivotally secured at its ends to the door  28  to provide the requisite freedom of movement for the interior handle  24  to be moved toward and away from the door to unlatch or latch, respectively, the latch mechanism. 
         [0043]    In one embodiment, the bushing  55  in the door  28  may be a C-shaped bushing as shown in  FIGS. 13A and 13B . The C-shaped bushing  55  provides for ease of adjustment of the interior door handle  24  so that the handle is precisely located relative to the door  28 . 
         [0044]    The locking mechanism  30  is shown in  FIGS. 15-17 . The locking mechanism  30  is useful to open the door  28  from the exterior side when the door is locked or latched, usually by turning a key operated lock cylinder. The locking mechanism  30  has two vertically spaced posts  70 ,  71  extending transversely from the lock cylinder housing and through the door  28 . A hole  72  is provided in the door  28  to accommodate the posts  70 ,  71 . As seen in  FIGS. 15-17 , the hole  72  is a figure-eight, or “snowman shape. A similarly shaped bushing  74  is provided in the hole  72  in the door  28  for passing the posts  70 ,  71 . The bushing  74  allows the lock mechanism  30  to be precisely located for engagement with latch mechanism inside the interior door handle  24  for actuating or locking the latch mechanism. 
         [0045]    The exit device  20  and handle assembly  22  as described herein have many advantages, including pivot pin connections via the arcing pivot brackets  40  at the ends of the interior handle  24  on the door  28 . The use pins  46  for making the connections allow the interior handle  24  to be easily removed and reattached. This is useful during the installation when adjustment of the handle  24  to the holes through the glass door  28  can be a trial-and-error process. The arcing pivot brackets  40  also allow the interior handle  24  ends to pivot during operation in a conventional manner. The arcing pivot bracket  40  is a uniquely shaped bracket end which, in conjunction with the pin attachment, achieves the pivoting motion while allowing the ease of the pin attachment. Moreover, the C-shaped alignment bushing  55  at the end of the horizontal length of the interior handle  24  passes the fastener  54  holding the end brackets through the door  28 . The “C-shape” of the bushing  55  allows the bushing to be adjusted in the door opening  62  to accommodate the position of the fastener  54  passing through the bushing  55 . Further, the bushing  74  for the lock actuator posts  70 ,  71  has one less opening than the conventional three-tiered bushings. The new bushing  74  requires only two conjoined holes for receiving the “snowman-shaped” bushing. 
         [0046]    An embodiment of a Pullman-type latch  80  and mechanical strike  82  is shown in  FIGS. 18-23  for use in the latch mechanism of the panic exit device  20 . The free edge of the door  28  partially shown in  FIG. 18  is adapted to fit adjacent a surface of a door frame (not shown) from which the door  28  is supported when the door is in a closed position. The strike  82  is mounted to the door frame such that in a projected position, the latch bolt  84  fits in the strike to prevent movement of the door from the closed position. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 19 , the latch  80  comprises an elongated latch bolt  84  slidingly received in a channel formed in a latch housing  86  for reciprocal axial movement from a projected position beyond the latch housing  84  and extending from the upper end of the interior handle  24  to a retracted position. The latch bolt  84  is supported in the latch housing  86  by a pair of elongated planar slide plates  88  disposed in the channel adjacent each side of the latch bolt  84 . The latch bolt  84  defines a pair of spaced longitudinally extending slots  85 . Each slot  85  is configured to receive a roller assembly  90  including a sleeve rotatably mounted on a roller bearing. The roller assemblies  90  are rotatably mounted in the slots  85  on pins  92  passing transversely through corresponding openings  89 ,  93  in the housing  86  and the slide plates  88 . In this arrangement, the latch bolt  84  is longitudinally movable relative to the housing  86  along the length of the slots  85 . 
         [0048]    The latch mechanism of the exit device  20  is operably connected to a vertical pull rod  94  slidably disposed in the vertical component of the interior handle  24  as is conventional. The inner end of the latch bolt  84  has a longitudinal groove configured to receive the distal of the pull rod  94 . The inner end of the latch bolt  84  defines a pair of longitudinal slots  96  opening into the groove. A pin  98  passes through the slots  96  and a hole  95  at the outer end of the pull rod  94  for connecting the pull rod  94  to the latch bolt  84 . The pull rod  94  is thus longitudinally movable relative to the housing  86  along the length of the slots  96 . A coil spring  100  is provided on the pull rod  94  for biasing the pull rod  94  and the latch bolt  84  upwardly to the extended position into the strike  82  once inward pressure on the interior door handle  24  is released. An end guide  102  and insert  103  are provided on the housing  86  for guiding and supporting relative reciprocal movement of the latch bolt  84  in the housing  86 . 
         [0049]    In use, when the door  28  to which the exit device  20  is mounted is closed, the latch bolt  84  is extended into the strike  82  in the latched position as shown in  FIG. 18 . Retraction of the latch bolt  84  from the interior of the door  28  is achieved by depressing the interior door handle  24  toward the door  28 . This movement of the door handle  24  is translated into a generally longitudinal motion via the latch mechanism in a known manner to force the pull rod  94  downwardly pulling the latch bolt  84  longitudinally into the housing  86  to retract the latch bolt  84  from the strike  82 . The door  28  is now unlatched and may be opened by continuing to push on the interior door handle  24 . When the handle  24  is subsequently released from the manual pressure, the handle  24  returns to its original position relative to the door  28  shown in  FIG. 1  due to the force of return springs. The latch bolt  84  is returned to the projected position under force of the spring  100  which is compressed during retraction of the latch bolt  84 . 
         [0050]    It is understood that the slots  85  in the latch bolt  84  permit movement of the latch bolt  84  toward the retracted position without movement of the pull rod  94 . In this instance, the latch bolt  84  is moved to the retracted position in response to engagement with the strike  82  during a closing of the door  28 . Once the latch bolt  84  clears the front of the strike  82 , the spring  100  forces the latch bolt  84  to the extended position in the strike for holding the door  28  in a closed and latched position. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 24 , a distal end of the latch bolt  84  comprises a planar outer face  110  of the latch bolt  84  for maximizing the engaged surface area between the surface of the latch bolt  84  and the strike  82 . The side surfaces of the latch bolt  84  have scribed lines  112  for facilitating proper installation by providing a visual representation of the proper engagement point for the lower end of the strike  82  on the latch bolt  84 . The upper scribed line is arranged such that a preferred minimum surface area of the latch bolt  84  in the strike  82  is about 0.09 square inches. The distal tip  114  of the latch bolt  84  is rounded allowing the latch bolt  84  to release from the strike  82  during retraction with reduced outward opening force. Similarly, the planar outer face  110  of the latch bolt  84  terminates in bevelled edges  116  for reducing wear between the latch bolt  84  and the strike  82  due to arcing motion. The latch bolt  84  further comprises a radiused inner face  118  for reducing the force necessary to close the door  28 . The curved inner face  118  may have a radius of between about 0.5 inches and about 2 inches. In one embodiment, shown in  FIG. 23 , the latch bolt  84  is received in an electric strike  106  wherein an outer surface of the latch bolt  84  having a one inch radius is the same as the radiused surface of the keeper contacted by the latch bolt  84  during closing. 
         [0052]    Although the panic exit device and door handle have been shown and described in considerable detail with respect to only a few exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that we do not intend to limit the description to the embodiments since various modifications, omissions and additions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the device, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, we intend to cover all such modifications, omission, additions and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the description as defined by the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clause(s) are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.