Patent Abstract:
A mounting arrangement for mounting a panic exit device to a midrail of a door provides for a foolproof and quick attachment of the device to the door. The invention includes only two formed tabs insertable into matching recesses in the active stile of the door, and a clamping bar with two set screws holding a remote end of the device to the midrail of the door. The arrangement requires a minimum of machining, eliminating the need to match screw holes between the midrail of the door and the panic exit device, and reduces required precision in mounting such a device to a door midrail.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a mounting means for a panic exit device. 
     There are numerous types and styles of mechanisms used for operating popular commercial or public door latches, including a panic bar release arrangement, or panic exit device, mounted on the inside of the door for rapid and foolproof actuation of the mechanism, to open the door. Such arrangements are characterized by readily accessible manual actuators for use in a panic or emergency situation. 
     A desirable feature in an installation of this type of panic exit device is a minimum size of an active door stile containing the latching arrangement such as a bolt assembly, and a minimum size of the panic exit device. This is particularly desirable with glass doors which derive their aesthetic quality from their uncluttered look. U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,988, assigned to the assignee of the present application, discloses such a panic exit device and door stile arrangement. It is desirable to provide an exit device which may be easily and economically mounted to a door stile, particularly to this type of door stile, and enhances the aesthetic quality of the door assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,988 discloses such a device but requires a plurality of screws attaching the exit device to a middle panel area or middle rail of the door. Mounting the exit device to the door thus presents a time consuming and labor intensive operation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,663,047, U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,886, U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,335 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,590 disclose panic exit devices which are attached to their respective doors by screws. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,335 the exit device is secured to the door by a combination of shoulder screws and set screws engageable to the shoulder screws. In all these listed patents, a screwed connection into the door or stile is required to hold the panic exit device assembly to the door. 
     It is therefore new to the art to provide a means of attaching a panic exit device to a door which: is economical to manufacture; provides for a quick and foolproof installation or removal of a malfunctioning panic exit device; uses a minimum of drilled and tapped screwed connections into the door or door stile; and provides a rugged construction. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a means of mounting a panic exit device to a door. More particularly, the invention relates to a mounting means for mounting a panic exit device which resides recessed interior of a middle horizontal rail of the door. 
     Objects of the invention are to provide a means of attaching a panic exit device to a door which: 
     provides a simple, foolproof manner of attachment; 
     provides for a minimum of required loose parts, such as screws; 
     provides for a rapid removal and reinstallation of the panic exit device to the door; 
     provides a panic exit device which requires no screw holes drilled into the door for installation; 
     provides an aesthetically pleasing attachment with a minimum of screwed connections visible; and 
     provides for a relatively adjustable fit up without need for aligning screw holes thus reducing manufacturing and maintenance time. These objects are inventively achieved in that: 
     the panic exit device mounting arrangement requires no attachment screw holes in either the panic exit device or the door; 
     the panic exit device can be quickly attached or removed from the door for initial installation or maintenance purposes; 
     the panic exit device mounting arrangement provides a rugged and secure means of mounting such a device into a midrail of the door; 
     the panic exit device mounting arrangement does not require the time and precision to align screw holes in the panic exit device to screw holes in the door, as in the prior art; 
     the panic exit device is more easily manufactured, eliminating the machining required for threaded screw holes into the body of the panic exit device; 
     the panic exit device comprises a protruding actuating lever which is easily received into an opening of the active stile to engage a latching mechanism residing therein, the device is properly mounted to the active stile by inward insertion into the midrail and then lateral transport to abut the active stile, the lever inserting into the opening and engaging the latching mechanism; 
     the panic exit device comprises formed tabs easily insertable into notches or recesses in the door, stile and an extending portion which is captured between the door and a clamping bar, the clamping bar using two set screws to generate pressing of the extending portion between the clamping plate and the door; 
     the formed tabs and the extending wall portion are made integral with a back side of the mounting base of the panic exit device, thus the mounting arrangement comprises only one additional separate piece, the clamping plate with integral set screws; and 
     the recesses for receiving the tabs are formed integral with an opening for receiving the actuating lever of the device into the active door stile, thus the combined opening in the active stile comprises a one hole configuration, simplifying fabrication, layout and fit ups. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIpTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an embodiment of the invention showing the mounting relationship of the panic exit device, the inactive and active stiles, and mounting rail of the door. 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view of the mounting rail of the door and mounting components of the panic exit device mounting arrangement. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the panic exit device mounting arrangement with panic exit device mechanical components not shown for clarity. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line IV--IV of FIG. 3 showing the clamping plate in an engaged condition. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line IV--IV of FIG. 3 showing the clamping plate in a loosened condition. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a door actuating device such as a panic exit device 10 mounted into a mid-rail 20 of a door shown generally at 24. The mid-rail 20 attaches to an active stile 30 at one end and an inactive stile 40 at another end. The term &#34;active stile&#34; refers to a portion of a door which houses a latching mechanism. The term &#34;inactive stile&#34; refers to a portion of the door holding a hinging arrangement for mounting the door 24. The active stile 30 holds bolting mechanisms therein for securing the door 24 to a door frame (not shown). The active stile 30, the mid-rail 20 and the inactive stile 40 act as a frame to hold a first panel 42 on a top end of the door 24, and act as a frame to hold a second panel 44 on a bottom end of the door 24. In the preferred embodiment, the panels 42,44 are composed of glass, however other materials may be used. 
     The panic exit device 10 comprises a push bar 50 engaged by a user attempting to exit the door 24. The push bar 50 is advanced inwardly toward a mounting frame or base member 60 to disengage the bolting mechanisms from the door frame. A lever 64 protrudes from the panic exit device into an opening 74 of the active stile, and engages an actuating pin 70 and accomplishes the disengagement of the bolting mechanism when the push bar 50 is activated. Such a panic exit device is more completely described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,988. Although the preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a panic exit device as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,988, the invention could be utilized in other door actuating devices and mounting arrangements for such devices are encompassed by the invention. 
     FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the active stile 30 and the mid rail 20 along with the base member 60. The base member 60 is shown in simplified form without showing the plurality of mechanical attachments required as further described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,988. The base member 60 provides an upstanding plate member 75 which extends at a first end in two formed tabs 76a, 76b which protrude toward the active stile 30. The plate member 75 extends at a second end in extending portion 77. The plate member 75 is formed with two flanges 78a, 78b which provide rigidity of the base 60. The flanges 78a, 78b are formed along the length of the plate member 75 but terminate at the second end, short of the extending portion 77. Thus, the extending portion 77 is a flat member without flanges. A wedging means, such as a clamping bar 80 is shown which includes two set screws 82a, 82b. 
     The active stile 30 comprises an opening 74 for access to the latching mechanism by the panic exit device. The opening 74 further provides two recesses 86a, 86b wherein the formed tabs 76a, 76b are inserted to mount the panic exit device 10. The recesses 86a, 86b provide side walls 86c, 86d which prevent lateral movement of the tabs 76a, 76b with respect to the recesses 86a, 86b and thus prevent outward extraction of the base 60 from the midrail 20, at the first end. 
     The midrail 20 is shown comprising a generally C-shaped cross section with a backwall or upstanding leg 88 and two flange portions 90a, 90b. Flange portions 90a, 90b further provide inwardly projecting rails 92a, 92b arranged parallel to the upstanding leg 88. In the preferred embodiment the rails 92a, 92b substantially span the length of the midrail 20 but this is for aesthetic reasons and to add some structural rigidity. A pair of tabs or short rails could be used instead to abut the clamping plate 80 as described below. 
     FIG. 3 shows the base member 60 installed into the midrail 20 with the formed tabs 76a, 76b inserted into recesses 86a, 86b. The clamping bar 80 is in position pressing extending portion 77 and plate member 75 against upstanding leg 88 of the midrail 20. 
     FIG. 4 shows the base 60 mounted and secured into the midrail 20. The clamping bar 80 is pressed against rails 92a, 92b by inward extension of the set screws 82a, 82b against the extending portion 77 of the plate member 75. Inward extension of the set screws 82a, 82b presses the extending portion 77 against the upstanding leg 88 and creates an opposing pressing force of the clamping bar 80 to the rails 92a, 92b. Thus, the base member 60 is prohibited from outward extraction from the midrail 20 by interference of the clamping bar 80 with the rails 92a, 92b and the base member 60 is prohibited from lateral sliding movement along the midrail 20 by a frictional attachment of the plate 75 against the upstanding leg 88 caused by tightly pressing the extending portion 77 and the plate member 75 onto the upstanding leg 88. The rails 92a, 92b could be configured as tabs or short rails to abut the clamping bar 80 and any such abutting member attached to the midrail 20 is encompassed by the present invention. 
     The mounting base 60 is shown with flange 78b resting on the rail 92b for support. 
     FIG. 5 shows the base 60 in a condition preceding removal (or alternatively in an uncompleted stage of installation). The clamping bar 80 is in a loosened configuration with respect to the extending portion 77. The set screws 82a, 82b have been disengaged from the extending portion 77 and the clamping bar 80 is now in a position to be maneuvered away from the extending portion 77 and outwardly of the rails 92a, 92b. The base 60 can be slid away from the active stile 30 to disengage the lever 64. The panic exit device can then be removed outwardly of the midrail 20. 
     Installation of the panic exit device 10 is thus a simple process. The device 10 is inserted inwardly of the midrail 20 and slid toward the active stile 30. The lever 64 engages the pin 70 and the tabs 76a, 76b, are received by the recesses 86a, 86b. The clamping bar 80 is maneuvered between the extending portion 77 and the rails 92a, 92b. The set screws 82a, 82b are extended inwardly of the device 10 against the extending portion 77 which presses the extending portion 77 against the upstanding leg 88. The panic exit device 10 is thus mounted inside the midrail 20. 
     Although other modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventor to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of his contribution to the art.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4