US1704748A - Exit-door latch - Google Patents

Description

March 7 12, 1929.

c. F. KUSCH EXIT DOOR LATCH Fild Dec 31, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Shgts-Shet 2 11:1 vE'm CIR I Ci zzrvies yzeaezic Mzscla C. F. KUSCH EXIT DOOR LATCH Filed Dec. :51, 1925 3 1. 1 a 1:1. I. f 1 I. v x y March 12, 1929.

Patented Mar. 12, 1929.-

vireo s res f A T JEN T* ()FPFICE.

CHARLES FREDERICK ussia, 01? G'HICAGG, ILLINOIS.

EXIT- DOOR LATCH.

Application filed December 31, 1925. 'Serial No. 78 ,501. a

This invention relates to an exit door for schools, theaters and the like.

It frequently happens in cases of panics "in schools, theaters and other public buildparticularly pointed out and defined in ings that many lives are lostbecause of inability to open the exit doors. While the doors may not be locked yet because of the hysteria of those within. trying to get out, no one has the presence of mind toiunlatch the door. Oftentimes, too, the press ofv a mob behind attempting to reach a door will make it impossible for those nearest the door to release the latch.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an exit door having a panel on the inside thereof adapted to automatically open the door upon slight pressure there against.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an exit door adapted to be opened automatically when pressure exerted against any portion of a considerable areaof the door.

l/Vith these and other objects in view, which will become more apparent in the following description and disclosures, this invention comprises the novel mechanism and combinations hereinafter described and mofie t e appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention .and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views.

Figure 1 is an elevational View of an exit door embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line IIII of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a modified form of my device.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of a. second modified form of my device.

Figure 6 is a rear elevational View of the same.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line VIIVII of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a detailed sectional View of a modified form of latching device.

In Figures 1 to 3 inclusive the reference numeral 1 indicates an exit door, embodying the principles of my invention. Said door 1 is provided with the usual hinges 2 adapted to allow the door toopen outwardly/ On" the inside of said door l and spaced therefro-m,'there is pivotally mounted on the brackets 3 a panel 4. 'Said'panel 4 ispreferably ofrelatively large area and extends substantially the height of the door. Asign 5 on the panel 4 indicates that the panel is to p be pushed in order to open the door 1. The

mechanism for opening said door comprises a' bent latching bar 6 secured by hearing lugs? to the inner surface ofthedoor 1..

Said barb is formed-with a pair of horizontalarms' 8 and an integral horizontal looped portion 9 intermediate between said arms 8 and extending to therear edge of the panel 4. An angle shaped nembed 10 is provided, having one leg secured to the panel 4 adj acent tothe rear-edge thereof, and the'other leg 11 extending horizontally rearwardly into the loop 9. A spring 12 secured at one end to an eyebolt 13 in the-door 1- is connected at itsother end to the base of the loop portion 9. The endsof the arms" 8 are adapted'to be retained in sockets 14 on the door jamb 40 when thedoor' 1 is closed.

It will be evident that when the panel '4 is pushed or 'otherwise swung toward the door 1, asfshownin dotted lines in Figure 2, the leg 11 of the angle member 10 will engage the loop'9 to displace the bent latching bar 6 to one side. The arms 8 will there upon be withdrawn fr'omthe sockets 14 and the door 1 will open. When the door is open the spring 12 will act to pull thelatching bar 6 backinto normal position. In order that the door may be shut more readily; the

end of the arms 8 are beveled as at 15 and curved guide members 16 areprovided for 20 are withdrawn suliiciently to clear the strip 17 and thus allow the door to be opened. In closing the door,. the guide plates 19 serve as guides for the ends 21, which are beveled as at 22 to'allow them to more easily pass over the curved surfaces of said guides 19. The spring 12'will pull the arms 20 into locked position as soon as 261are provided near the rear edge ofsaid panel 24 for operating the latching'bolt 25.

' the latching bolts. 25 sothat the door 23 may be swung open. A detent member 27,

As the panel-2l is pushed toward the door 23, said-angle members 26 operate to release secured to the latching bolt is adapted to be in continuous engagement with an arm 28 of a pivoted unbalanced counter weight 29. On movement of the panel 24, said' detent member .27 causes the counter weight 29 r to be swung upwardly, but assoon as the door 23 has swung clear of the door jambs,

the latching bolt 25 will be free to move back into normal position and this will automati cally be accomplished by the falling of the counter weight 29.

In Figures 5 to 7 inclusive I have shown a second modified form of my "device illustrating a different method of, operating the latching bar.

face of a door 31, as in the previous instances. A plurality of horizontal latching bars 32 are each pivotally mounted at one endon the outside ofv the door 31 and are supported for limited pivotal movement by yokes 39. Said latching bars 32 are provided at their other ends with rollers 33 adapted to be received in sockets 34 secured to the j amb of the door. A rigid connecting .link 38 is secured to said bars 32, sothat 7 horizontal edge contacting the lower edge they all may be operated as a unit. A triangular member 35 is pivotally mounted below one of said bars 32 with its upper A panel is pivotally mounted adjacent one edge from the inner of said bar. A cable, or link, 36 is connected at one end to said member by means of a pin 41 extending from said member 35 at a point above its fulcrum through the door 31. Said cable or link 36 is also connected at its other end to an angle member 37 Said angle member 37, like the member 11, is secured to the rear edge of the panel 30, so that when the panel 30 is pushed outwardly, said member 37 draws the link, or cable, 36

to one side and tilts the triangular shaped member 35 as. shown in dotted lines in Figure 6. 'Thereupon the bars 32 are also tilted and their free ends raised out of the sockets 34.

' In all the various types of exit doors described, it will be apparent that-I have provided means whereby said doors maybe gency or. panic by persons blindly seeking for a way out. Y

readily and quickly opened in case of emer I am aware that many changes may be made and that numerous details of construction my be varied through a w-ide.range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, oth" erwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I clalm as my invention: 1'. Bolt mechanism for an exit door, sa d mechanism including a latching bar, a panel hinged on one edge thereof to said door, and a unltary member on said panel ad acent the hmged'edge thereof and engageable with said latching bar to operatethe same- 2. Bolt mechanism for an exit door, said mechanism including a unitary latching bar having a plurality of portions thereon engageable with stop members to secure. said door, a panel hinged on one edge thereof to said door, and an angular member on said A panel adjacent the hinged edge thereof adapted to engage said latching bar to operate the same.

Intestimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CHARLES FREDERICK KUSCH.

Images