Patent ID: 7444713

Claim:
A closer arm assembly for a door closer which automatically closes a door hinged to a door jamb, the closer comprising a housing portion which can be mounted to one of the door and the jamb, a piston in the housing portion, a closer spring which acts on the piston, and an output shaft which rotates as the piston moves, the closer arm assembly comprising: a main arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end can be fixed to the output shaft so that the main arm pivots when the output shaft rotates; a connecting arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the connecting arm is pivotably connected to the main arm proximate to the second end of the main arm and the second end of the connecting arm can be pivotably connected to the other of the door and the jamb; a stop which contacts the connecting arm to limit relative pivoting of the arms, wherein the stop is fixed to the second end of the main arm; and a releasable hold open device which prevents the door from being closed automatically by the closer, the hold open device comprising an engaging feature proximate to the second end of the main arm, the connecting arm having a hole which can be aligned with the engaging feature, a housing fixed to the connecting arm over the hole, a plunger extending from the housing for sliding movement through the hole, a detent which engages the plunger, a hold open spring which loads the detent against the plunger so that the closer cannot automatically close the door when the plunger engages the engaging feature and the hold open spring is compressed, and a release device which reduces compression of the hold open spring so that the closer can disengage the plunger from the engaging feature.