Patent Publication Number: US-7900981-B2

Title: Door opener system and adapter part for use in a door opener

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority of German Patent Application No. 10 2005 048 693.2, filed Oct. 11, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     The present invention relates to a door opener system having a door opener, which comprises a pivot latch, which is pivotable into the door opener, having a stop. Pivot latches of this type which are pivotable into the door opener are also referred to as radius latches. A stop is attached to this latch, which is implemented to engage behind a lock latch. The stop may be fixed in place or adjustable in the transverse direction to the door opener system. If a fixed stop is provided, the latch is expediently implemented in one piece with the stop. The stop typically runs over the entire latch width from one side of the latch to the other. Furthermore, the door opener system comprises a striker plate and a lock latch guide for guiding the lock latch, which runs diagonally inward into the door opener. The lock latch guide is implemented on an adapter part which is situated between the door opener and the striker plate. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an adapter part for use in door opener systems having a door opener and a striker plate. 
     Door openers having pivot latches have been known for some time. A lock latch typically engages in the pivot latch in the locked state and is held there using a stop. In the released state, the pivot latch is pivotable against a spring force and may thus release the lock latch. The pivot latch is released electrically and is triggered by a person, for example, via buttons, or automatically, for example, by access control systems. 
     Because the pivot latch is implemented as a radius latch, i.e., is pivotable into the door opener, less space is required for pivoting. The stop may be implemented as adjustable in order to compensate for inaccuracies during mounting without having to offset the entire door opener system. 
     In practice, it has been shown that the lock latch, after being released by pivoting the pivot latch, frequently stops on the interior of the door opening housing cover or on an inner edge of a latch opening in the striker plate, through which the pivot latch penetrates to engage in the door opener, and may not be pivoted beyond it. In some circumstances, it may even happen, for example, in the case of a reset stop, that the pivot latch pivots back into its starting position after being released and the lock latch is jammed between the inner edge of the door opening housing cover or the inner edge of the latch opening and the exterior of the stop of the pivot latch and stuck there. 
     To solve this problem, door openers have been provided with a lock latch guide, which normally run from the striker plate surface diagonally inward into the door opener. The lock latch stops on the lock latch guide after the door opener is released and is pressed inward against a spring force into the door or the door lock because of the bevel of the lock latch guide. The lock latch thus slides along the lock latch guide until it is finally at frame height and is then released. 
     The known lock latch guides are implemented as slide webs, which run through an opening or recess in the stop. This has the disadvantage that specially shaped stops must be produced for the pivot latches which are tailored to the shape of the particular slide webs used. This has a disadvantageous effect on warehousing. Furthermore, retrofitting already existing door opening systems is thus made complex, since frequently the entire pivot latch including with the stop must be replaced. 
     The known lock latch guides are frequently implemented as tongues angled away from the striker plate and projecting into the door opener interior. This is disadvantageous since specially implemented striker plates must be produced and kept ready for this purpose. A striker strip having a door opener, in which an adapter part is situated between door opener and striker strip, in which a slide web is implemented for guiding a lock latch, is known from DE 103 10 403 A1. I.e., the striker strip system is provided in a modular construction. The door opener, the striker strip, and the adapter part having slide web are separate system components which are assembled to form the striker strip system. It is advantageous in this case that the adapter part is a separate component and no specially formed striker plates having slide webs of different sizes must be produced. However, the disadvantage also exists here that the latch and/or its stop must be provided with recesses for the slide web(s). Furthermore, a special striker strip system must be manufactured for every mounting position (e.g., frame-side left or right or “offset left”, “centerline”, or “offset right” (for door openers to be installed in the USA)). 
     Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to specify a door opener system of the type cited at the beginning in which the lock latch does not remain hanging or hook on the striker plate or on the door opener housing when the door opener is opened and is usable for all common door opener systems and may thus be employed flexibly. 
     This object is achieved in that the lock latch guide is implemented as a slide face which runs continuously over the entire width of the stop. Furthermore, the lock latch guide is situated on the door side next to the stop of the pivot latch and adjoining thereto. 
     The basic idea of the present invention is thus not to provide the lock latch guide as a web, but rather as a uniform, consistent slide face or slanted plane which extends at least over the width of the stop of the pivot latch. Furthermore, the lock latch guide does not run through the stop, but rather is situated next to the stop and adjoining it, so that when the pivot latch is pivoted, contact of the lock latch on the lock latch guide is provided directly after the lock latch is released. The lock latch guide is expediently oriented running essentially parallel to the stop. The lock latch guide adjoins the stop from the door side, i.e., from the side from which the lock latch is inserted into the door opener. 
     It is advantageous in this case that the lock latch guide no longer runs into the interior of the door opener, but rather only adjoins the stop. A special embodiment of the stop (implementation of recesses or openings in the stop) is no longer necessary and the adapter part may be used together with all common stops. The door opening system is thus usable more flexibly. Simultaneously, the lock latch is guided securely on the lock latch guide, so that jamming or hooking is avoided. Furthermore, a door opener system results which is usable extremely variably and may be adapted flexibly to the existing installation conditions. The various system components may be combined with one another as a function of the predefined mounting position. The door opener system which is correct for the existing situation may thus be assembled without further measures from the individual components. Due to this modular construction and the compatibility with standard components, the warehousing costs are reduced and the door opener systems are usable cost-effectively with greatly varying locks, door profiles, etc. Furthermore, the distance between lock latch engagement point and the outer visible edge of the door opener system is minimized. 
     The adapter part is supported on the door opener and is covered on its top side by the striker plate. Because the lock latch guide runs without interruptions or recesses as a diagonal plane over the entire stop width and thus also over the entire latch width, a closed construction of the door opener system results, which is visually advantageous. 
     A latch opening is typically provided in the striker plate, through which the lock latch may engage in the pivot latch. Furthermore, this latch opening is expediently enclosed on all sides by the striker plate, i.e., the opening is implemented so that it adjoins the striker plate on every side in relation to the striker plate plane. The striker plate is thus implemented as closed to the outside. A higher basic strength of the striker plate thus results. In such an embodiment of the striker plate, it is also preferable to situate the lock latch guide between the door-side inner edge of the latch opening and the pivot latch. The lock latch guide is to be situated so that it presses against both the inner edge and also the pivot latch. The distance between latch engagement point and outer visible edge is thus minimized further and it is ensured that the lock latch slides along the slide face and out of the latch opening after being released and thus comes out of the striker plate without previously getting stuck or jamming. 
     The lock latch is expediently implemented so that it its upper area terminates essentially flush with the surface of the striker plate. A visually closed embodiment of the door opener system thus results. Furthermore, the lock latch thus slides especially easily out of the striker plate or out of the door opener system. In this embodiment, the lock latch guide thus projects out of the adapter part essentially by the amount of the striker plate thickness. A further advantage of this embodiment is that in the case of a latch opening open toward the door side, the lock latch guide may close this opening, so that a closed implementation of the door opener system nonetheless results overall. Alternatively, the lock latch guide may also have its upper area press flush against the bottom of the striker plate. It is advantageous in this case that the adapter part or its lock latch guide may be implemented having a relatively large width and nonetheless may be used with striker plates having narrower latch openings or having narrower stop widths. 
     The adapter part is preferably implemented in such a way that the side of the door opener system facing toward the door is covered to the outside in every position of the pivot latch. This may be achieved, for example, by implementing the diagonal plane of the lock latch guide projecting sufficiently far downward that the interior of the pivot latch is always covered by the lock latch guide even in the completely pivoted state. It is advantageous in this case that the entry of dirt, dust, or similar material into the door opener is thus avoided or reduced. 
     In order to simplify the production of the door opener system further, it is preferable to implement the adapter part and the lock latch guide in one piece. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the lock latch guide, at least one blocking latch guide is provided to guide a blocking latch on the adapter part in addition to the lock latch guide. Blocking latches are provided like lock latches on the door or on the door lock and are displaceable into the interior of the door against a spring force. They are frequently situated directly next to the lock latch, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the lock latch. The purpose of the blocking latches is to block the lock latch when it engages in the pivot latch and engages behind the stop. Attempts at manipulation, which are intended to displace the lock latch from the outside into the interior of the door against the spring force, in order to thus open the non-released door, thus fail. The blocking latch blocks the lock latch when it is pressed into the door against the spring force. The door opener system is implemented in such a way that when the lock latch is in the engaged position, the blocking latch presses against the adapter part or the striker plate in such a way that it is retracted into the door or the door lock. The lock latch is thus blocked. If the pivot latch is now released and the door pivots easily out of the engaged position, the adapter part is implemented in such a way that there is sufficient space available for the blocking latch so that it may again be pushed out of the door or the door lock by the spring force and the lock latch is thus released. The lock latch may slide along the lock latch guide and may be displaced thereby against the spring force. In order to ensure that the extended blocking latch does not hook or become stuck on the door opener or striker plate as it pivots out of the door opener, it is expedient also to provide a guide for the blocking latch, along which it may slide as it runs out of the door opener. It is advantageous also to implement this blocking latch guide on the adapter part, since the adapter part is thus also usable for door opener systems having a blocking latch, without blocking latch guides having to be provided separately for this purpose. The possible uses of the door opener systems are thus increased further and the flexibility of the usability is improved further overall. 
     The at least one blocking latch is expediently implemented as essentially V-shaped. The blocking latch guide is thus implemented as trough-like and has two diagonal slide faces, the door-side slide face running into the door opener and the diametrically opposite slide face running out of the door opener. Secure sliding of the blocking latch into the door opener, further to the blocking position, and back out of the door opener is thus ensured. 
     Furthermore, it is preferable to situate the at least one blocking latch guide at one end of the lock latch guide. One end here means one of the ends of the lock latch guide which adjoin the lock latch guide in the axial direction. A blocking latch guide is especially preferably provided at both ends of the lock latch guide. The adapter part may thus be used for door opener systems which are to be installed on the left side of the frame and also on the right side of the frame. 
     In order to ensure secure and slip-free mounting of the adapter part between striker plate and door opener, it is expedient to provide fasteners, using which the adapter part may be attached between striker plate and door opener. Longitudinal holes are preferably provided on the adapter part as fasteners. The adapter part may be screwed together with striker plate and door opener through the longitudinal holes. The implementation of the fasteners as longitudinal holes has the advantage that the adapter part may also be used with various striker plates and door openers of different sizes, since the different dimensions may be compensated for through the play of the longitudinal holes. 
     Furthermore, it is expedient to provide positioning means, using which the adapter part is positionable in the particular intended position on the door opener. It is thus ensured that the adapter part is always located in the correct position for every door opener. The positioning means are preferably implemented as a catch which is provided on the bottom side of the adapter part and engages in corresponding projections which are in turn implemented on the door opener. 
     The door opener system may also comprise multiple adapter parts, the various adapter parts each being implemented having different dimensions and being alternately usable between door opener and striker plate. This is advantageous especially when the door opener system is to be usable with so many different types of door openers and striker plates that an adapter part may no longer be adapted for all different embodiments. 
     Furthermore, the object is achieved by an adapter part according to claim  13 . 
    
    
     
       In the following, the present invention is described further on the basis of exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing. 
         FIG. 1  schematically shows a perspective exploded view of a door opener system having flat striker plate, adapter part, and door opener; 
         FIG. 2  schematically shows a perspective exploded view of a door opener system having angled striker plate, adapter part, and door opener; 
         FIG. 3  schematically shows a perspective view of a partial area of the door opener system from  FIG. 2  in the assembled state; 
         FIG. 4  schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the door opener system having pivoted pivot latch and lock latch pressing against the lock latch guide; 
         FIG. 5  schematically shows the view from  FIG. 4  having lock latch retracted further; 
         FIG. 6  schematically shows a perspective view of the lower area of the door opener system having flat striker plate, adapter part, and door opener; 
         FIG. 7  schematically shows a perspective view of the upper area of the door opener from  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  schematically shows the view from  FIG. 7 , the striker plate being implemented as an angled striker plate; 
         FIG. 9  schematically shows a perspective view of a door opener system and a door lock having lock latch and blocking latch; 
         FIG. 10  schematically shows the view from  FIG. 9 , the lock latch standing shortly before engaging in the pivot latch; 
         FIG. 11  schematically shows the view from  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the lock latch engaging in the pivot latch and the striker plate being implemented as an angled striker plate; 
         FIG. 12  schematically shows a perspective sectional view of a door opener system having a flat striker plate, in which the blocking latch is retracted and the lock latch is blocked; 
         FIG. 13  schematically shows a perspective sectional view of a door opener system having extended blocking latch and lock latch pressing against the lock latch guide; and 
         FIG. 14  schematically shows a perspective sectional view of the door opener system from  FIG. 13 , the blocking latch pressing against the blocking latch guide and the lock latch being retracted further. 
     
    
    
     In the various embodiments described in the following, identical components in the figures are provided with identical reference numerals. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective exploded view of a door opener system  10 .  FIG. 7  also shows a perspective view of the same door opener system  10  in the assembled state. The door opener system  10  is constructed modularly and comprises a flat striker plate  11 , an adapter part  12 , and a door opener  13 . The adapter part  12  is situated between the door opener  13  and the striker plate  11 . In all three components cited of the door opener system  10 , two screw holes  14  are provided, which lie one on top of another in the assembled state of the door opener system, so that screws  15  may be inserted therein to connect the individual components of the door opener system  10  to one another solidly. 
     The striker plate  11  comprises a latch opening  16 , through which a lock latch (see  FIGS. 4 and 5  as well as  9  through  11 ) may engage in the door opener latch  17 , which is pivotable inward into the door opener  13 . The latch opening  16 , viewed in the striker plate plane, is enclosed on all sides by the striker plate  11 . A rectangular bolt opening  18  is provided in the longitudinal direction of the striker plate  11  in each case above and below the latch opening  16 , through which a door bolt or a similar part may engage in the door opener system  10 . The bolt openings  18  are implemented and situated symmetrically to one another, so that the striker plate  11  or the entire door opener system  10  may be mounted both on the left and also the right of the frame. 
     The door opener  13  comprises a pivot latch  17 , on which a stop  19  is implemented. The stop  19  projects upward on the door-side side of the door opener  13  from the pivot latch  17  and runs over the entire width of the pivot latch  17 . In addition, the stop  19  is implemented continuously, i.e., without recesses, openings, or similar features. The adapter part  12  may be placed on the door opener  13  and is mounted thereon. The basic shape of the adapter part  12  is based on an approximately rectangular frame, in whose middle an also approximately rectangular opening  121  is provided, which essentially corresponds to the dimensions of the pivot latch  17 . The adapter part  12  is implemented to rest on the door opener  13  in such a way that the bottom side of the adapter part  12  rests flush on the door opener  13  and the pivot latch  17  may pivot freely and is free for a lock latch to engage. 
     A trough  122 , which extends in the longitudinal direction of the adapter part  12  from one side to the other end, projects slightly on each side from the adapter part  12  at the outer edge of the narrow sides of the adapter part  12 , is implemented on the door-side area of the adapter part  12 , which presses against the stop  19  of the pivot latch  17  from the outside in the installed state. On the top, the trough  122  terminates flush with the adapter part  12  and projects downward therefrom. A web  123 , which is also continuous over the entire length of the adapter part  12 , is implemented projecting from the trough  122  on the door-side outer edge of the adapter part  12 . This web  123  projects slightly beyond the adapter part  12  on top and forms the terminus of the adapter part  12  on its door-side edge. 
     The lock latch guide  20  is provided on the interior of the web  123  and the trough  122 , which is implemented as a slanted plane running diagonally inward to the opening  121  (see  FIGS. 3 through 5 ). The length of the lock latch guide  20  essentially corresponds to the length of the opening  121  and thus also the length of the pivot latch  17  as well as the stop  19 . It runs from the uppermost point of the web  123  to the lowermost point of the trough  122 . The trough  122  has a bevel toward only one side in the area of the opening  121 , which forms a part of the lock latch guide  20 , i.e., it is open toward the opening  121 . In contrast, in its end areas, i.e., in those areas of the trough  122  which project beyond the opening  121  of the adapter part  12  and the longitudinal direction, the trough  122  has a diagonal plane on two sides. One slanted plane is an extension of the lock latch guide  20  and accordingly runs from top to bottom in the direction of the opening  121 . A further diagonal plane, which leads out of the trough  122 , is opposite this diagonal plane (see  FIGS. 3 ,  12 , and  13 ). These areas of the trough  122  each form a blocking latch guide  21 . The blocking latch guides  21  thus each adjoin one end of the lock latch guide  20 , viewed in the longitudinal direction. 
     Normally, in known door locks having a blocking latch function, only one blocking latch is provided in addition to a lock latch (see  FIGS. 9 through 11 ). Therefore, normally only one of the blocking latch guides  21  is required for guiding a blocking latch. The implementation of two blocking latch guides  21  at each end of the lock latch  20  has the advantage, however, that the adapter part  20  or the entire door opener system  10  may be installed both on the left and also the right of the frame. 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective exploded view of a further embodiment of a door opener system  10 , which is similar to that from  FIG. 1 . The same embodiment is shown in the assembled state in  FIG. 8 . The difference to the embodiment from  FIG. 1  is that the striker plate  11 ′ is implemented as an angled striker plate. Therefore, a web  112 ′ extends essentially perpendicularly from the flat upper part  111 ′ downward at the door-side edge. The web  112 ′ is narrower in the area of the latch opening  16  than in its remaining area. The lower edge of the web  112 ′ is implemented as continuous and linear over the entire length. The distance between the narrowed web area  113 ′ and the upper part  111 ′ approximately corresponds to the level of the web  123  projecting on the door side from the adapter part  12 . This web  123  is thus implemented so that it rests on the narrower web part  113 ′ of the striker plate  11 ′ in the installed state and terminates essentially flush with the surface of the upper part  111 ′ of the striker plate  11 ′ (see  FIG. 8 ). A visually closed implementation of the angled striker plate  11 ′ thus results. 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a partial area of a door opener system  10  having an angled striker plate  11 ′. The adapter part  12  is introduced into the striker plate  11 ′, the web  123  of the adapter part  12  resting on the narrow area  113 ′ of the web  112 ′ of the angled plate  11 ′. The adapter part  12  is situated so that it terminates flush with the web  112 ′. A blocking latch guide  21  is recognizable next to the lock latch guide viewed in the longitudinal direction. The door-side bevel  211  of the blocking latch guide  21  is an extension of the lock latch guide  20  in the longitudinal direction of the door opener system. It leads into the door opener system  10  up to a floor area  212  of the blocking latch guide  21 . A further slanted plane  213 , which is situated diametrically opposite the first slanted plane  211 , leads back out of the floor area  212  from the door opener system  10 , up to the upper edge of the adapter part  12 . The second blocking latch guide at the other end of the lock latch guide  20  is implemented symmetrically to the first blocking latch guide  21  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  each show a cross-sectional view of the same door opener system  10 . In both door opener systems  10 , a lock latch  22  of a door  23  engages in the door system  10 . The pivot latch  17  is located in each case in the pivoted state, i.e., it is pivoted into the interior of the door opener  13  around the pivot axis  24 . The lock latch  22  retained by the pivot latch  17  is thus released and the door  23  is now freely pivotable and may be opened. During the opening procedure, the lock latch  22  stops in the area of its tip  221  at the lower end of the lock latch guide  20  and slides along it in the further course of the opening procedure. It is pressed against a spring force into the interior of the door  23  (see  FIG. 5 ). After reaching the upper point of the lock latch guide  20 , it slides over the surface of the door-side web of the striker plate  11  until it finally leaves the door opener system entirely and is again pressed by the spring force out of the door  23 . The adapter part  12 , including the lock latch guide  20  from  FIGS. 4 and 5 , is similar to that shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . In contrast thereto, a web  124 , which projects perpendicularly downward, adjoins the trough  122 . The web  124  is drawn downward far enough that it overlaps an area  132  of the door opener cover  131  projecting diagonally outward. The area  132  projects diagonally outward in order to provide the pivot latch  17  with enough space to pivot. The lock latch guide  20  is implemented as a continuous, slanted plane which extends over both the interior of the web  123  and also the interior of the trough  122 . The upper area of the web  123  is situated so that it terminates flush with the surface of the striker plate  11 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the front, lower area of a door opener system  10 . An area  132 , which approximately corresponds to the width of the pivot latch  17  and covers the lower area of the pivot latch  17 , projects outward and diagonally upward from the door opener cover  131 . This area  132  is implemented as an apron. The upper area of the pivot latch  17  or its stop  19  is covered by the trough  122  or by the web  123  of the adapter part  12 . A middle area of the pivot latch  17  is uncovered to the outside. A closed system of the door opener system thus results overall, so that no dirt, dust, or similar material may enter in the door opener system  10  from the sides or from below. Even if the pivot latch  17  was pivoted completely into the door opener  13 , the trough  122  is implemented as drawn downward far enough that the upper area of the stop  19  is still within the trough  122 , so that a closed system is ensured at all times. This closed implementation is also visually desirable. 
       FIGS. 9 through 11  show perspective views of a door opener system working together with a door lock  25 . The door opener system  10  in  FIGS. 9 and 10  is provided with a flat striker plate  11 , in contrast, the door opener system  10  in  FIG. 11  is provided with an angled striker plate  11 ′. The lock  25  is a “Scandinavian lock” having a total of three latches. The right latch is a lock latch  22 , which is implemented to engage in the door opener  13 . Neighboring it on the left, a narrower blocking latch  26  is provided, which is implemented to block the lock latch  22  when the lock latch  22  is pivoted completely into the door opener  13  and engages behind the stop of the pivot latch. Neighboring the blocking latch  26  on the left, a further latch  27  is implemented, which assumes the bolt function for the door lock  25  and is implemented to engage in a bolt opening  18  provided in the striker plates  11 ,  11 ′. 
     The illustration in  FIG. 9  shows the lock  25  shortly before entering the door opener system  10 . The blocking latch  26  locks the lock latch as soon as the blocking latch  26  is pressed completely against a spring force into the lock  25  up to a switching point. The blocking latch  26  is situated somewhat recessed in relation to the lock latch  22  in the movement direction of the lock  25 , so that the lock latch  22  is not yet locked by the blocking latch  26  during the insertion procedure. 
     In the illustration in  FIG. 10 , the door lock is shown shortly before reaching its final position, i.e., the lock latch  22  presses against the upper area of the stop  19  from the outside. The blocking latch  26  presses against the upper area of the diagonal plane  213  of the blocking latch guide  21 . The latch  27  is also shown shortly before engaging in the bolt opening  18 . 
     In the illustration shown in  FIG. 11 , the lock  25  is in its final position, i.e., the lock  25  is locked. The lock latch  22  engages behind the stop  19  and the latch  27  engages in the bolt opening  18 . The blocking latch  27  is seated on a contact surface  114 ′ of the striker plate  11 ′ and is pressed far enough into the door lock  25  that the switching point is reached and the blocking latch  26  blocks the lock latch  22 . The lock latch  22  may thus be displaced no further against the spring force of the lock  25 , not even by attempts at manipulation from the outside. 
       FIG. 12  shows a perspective sectional illustration of a door opener system  10  having a flat striker plate  11  in the locked state. The blocking latch  26  rests on the contact surface  114  of the striker plate  11  and locks the lock latch  22 . 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  show further perspective sectional illustrations of a door opener system  10  having a flat striker plate  11 , which is in the released state. In the illustration shown in  FIG. 13 , the blocking latch  26  is extended completely and is located inside the area delimited by the V-shaped blocking latch guide  21 , but does not press against it. The lock latch  22  is situated offset forward in the opening direction in relation to the blocking latch  26  and thus already presses against the lock latch guide  20  and is pushed thereby into the interior of the door lock  25 . This offset arrangement of blocking latch  26  and lock latch  22  avoids having the lock latch  22  be blocked by the blocking latch  26  upon opening until it is extended far enough that it may slide out of the door opener system  10  over the striker plate  11 . In the illustration from  FIG. 14 , the tip of the blocking latch  26  presses against the diagonal slide bevel  211  of the blocking latch guide  21 . The lock latch  22  is retracted further into the door lock  25  than in the illustration from  FIG. 13 .