Patent Publication Number: US-10781611-B2

Title: Electric strike with two independent latches

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has to do with electric strikes. More specifically, the invention relates to an electric strike having two independent keepers which is intended to work with a lockset having both a mortise lock bolt and a deadbolt. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The strike of the invention has a top latch and a bottom latch. Each latch is independently operable. A use for the strike, for example, is a dorm room where students can use their credentials to unlock the bottom latch only. The deadbolt on top when thrown from inside the room will provide privacy for the occupant. However, under an emergency situation, a designated school official can unlock both the top and bottom latches with their credentials. The strike of the invention has several other applications, including in hotel rooms, public toilets, hospital showers, security rooms, laboratory clean rooms and other applications where access in an emergency situation may be needed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the electric strike of the invention and a mortise lockset. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the front of the electric strike of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the back of the electric strike of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is the same view as  FIG. 3  illustrated with a transparent frame. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the back of the electric strike of the invention without the cover. 
         FIG. 6  is a larger scale view of the back of the electric strike without the cover. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a right handed embodiment of the electric strike of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the back of an assembled electric strike of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the front of an assembled electric strike of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of a left handed embodiment of the electric strike of the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the back of an assembled electric strike of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the front of an assembled electric strike of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In  FIG. 1 , mortise lockset  1  comprises a deadbolt  5 , a conventional or anti-friction mortise lock bolt  6  and a dead locking trigger  7 . Electric strike  2  of the invention comprises a top latch  3  and a bottom latch  4 . Top latch  3  engages deadbolt  5  and bottom latch  4  engages mortise lock bolt  6 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the front of strike  2 . Face plate  8  is provided with screw holes  9  for fastening the strike to a door (not shown) using conventional screws (not shown) as will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art. Sheet metal frame  10  houses the components of strike  2  including top latch  3  and bottom latch  4 . A perspective view of the back of strike  2  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4  is a view from the same direction as  FIG. 3  except that frame  10  is transparent.  FIG. 5  is a view from the same direction as  FIGS. 3 and 4  except that the frame  10  has been removed.  FIG. 6  is a larger scale view of  FIG. 5  which has been rotated slightly to the right in order to make the components of strike  2  more visible. 
     In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the top locking mechanism is shown wherein the solenoid is energized, the locking slider is moved up, the keeper detente is clear and the keeper is free to pivot open. The bottom locking mechanism is shown with the solenoid de-energized and the locking slider is pulled down by gravity to lock the keeper. A solenoid  11  and a fail secure slider  12  are provided for each of the top latch  3  and bottom latch  4 . Each slider is independently operable. Element  14  is a pick guard for each locking mechanism which is illustrated in more detail in  FIGS. 7 and 10 . 
     An exploded view of strike  2  is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . This is a right handed strike and  FIGS. 1-6  also illustrate the right handed strike. A left handed strike  2   a  is illustrated in  FIGS. 10-12 . All of the elements of strike  2   a  are the same as strike  2  except that, to the extent required, they are left handed. In  FIGS. 10-12  the letter “a” has been added to the reference numerals to indicate that they are for the left handed strike  2   a . The function of each element is the same as that of strike  2  and the below discussion of  FIGS. 7-9  would be the same as a discussion of  FIGS. 10-12  except for the “a” designation added to the reference numerals. 
     Referring in more detail to  FIG. 7 , expanded strike  2  from right to left, comprises top and bottom latches  3  and  4 , top and bottom latch return springs  15  and  16  and top and bottom pivot pin locking clips  17  and  18 . Sheet metal frame  10  houses the components of strike  2 . Latch pivot pin  19  accommodates both latches and both springs. Each latch pivots independently on pivot pin  19 . Pivot pin locking E-clip  17  pivotably secures the top portion of pivot pin  19  and pivot pin locking E-clip  18  pivotably secures the bottom portion of pivot pin  19 . Latch pivot sleeve  25  is provided between springs  15  and  16 . One of several screws for securing components to the frame is designated by the reference numeral  20 . Top and bottom fail secure sliders  12  each are provided with a pin opening  22  to accommodate a pin  23  of a solenoid plunger  21 . Pick guard  14  is fastened to the strike housing with screws  24 . A solenoid cover  26  is provided and face plate  8  has two screw holes  9  for fastening the strike  2  to a door. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  are perspective views of the back and front, respectively, of assembled right hand strike  2 .  FIGS. 11 and 12  are perspective views of the back and front, respectively of assembled left hand strike  2   a.    
     It should be noted that the strike keepers can be configured as fail-safe or fail-secure independently for special applications or as may be required by the user. For example, both keepers can be unlocked when the power is cut or only the deadbolt latch will unlock when the power is cut. But if the deadbolt is thrown, the door will still be locked.