GB2082665A - Latch mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A latch mechanism (10) for a panic door (11) has a housing (12) a pair of translatable operating members (15) in the housing (12) each connected to a respective bolt (18), and a pivotable member (21) engaged with the operating members (15) and connected to an actuating member (25) by a shaft (22) and a scroll drive (23, 24). The actuating member (25) can be moved axially of shaft (22) by a lever in the form of a pivoted plate (26) to cause rotation of pivotable member (21) and translation of operating members (15) to withdraw the bolts (18) from sockets in a door surround. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Latch mechanism This invention relates to a latch mechanism for a ,panic door.

Existing latch mechanisms for panic doors have ;the disadvantage that they are too thick compared with a common form of aluminium door and thus they cannot be used with such doors.

An object of the present invention, therefore is to provide a latch mechanism which is thinner than conventional latch mechanisms.

Accordingly the invention provides a latch mechanism for a panic door comprising: a housing; a pair of spaced apart operating members within the housing; a pair of bolts each connected to one of the operating members; a pivotable member between the operating members and engaged with the operating members such that pivoting thereof causes opposite translational movement of the operating members; a shaft from the pivotable member projecting on one side of the housing; and an actuating member forming with the shaft, a scroll drive, movement of the actuating member axially of the shaft causing rotation of the shaft and the pivotable member.

The pivotable member can be a pinion or a disc having a pair of toothed regions its periphery and the operating members can have racks engaging the pinion or the toothed regions. Alternately the pivot able member can frictionally engage surfaces on the operating members.

The actuating member can be movable axially of the shaft by a lever on the door. The lever is preferably a plate extending across the door and pivoted at or adjacent one edge, for example its upper edge.

The scroll drive can include helical lands on the shaft and complementary grooves on the actuating member which can be restrained against rotational movement by the lever.

The operating members can be spring-biassed to a door-latching position. The shaft can have a square or other non-circular through hole enabling it to be connected to a conventional latch or lockset should it be desired to convert the door from a panic door to a normal door.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying draw ings, wherein: Figure 7 is a vertical section through a preferred mechanism of the invention, the section being taken parallel to a plane of a door; and Figure 2 is a vertical section through the mechan ism taken at right angles to the plane of Figure 1.

A preferred latch mechanism 10 of the invention is shown attached to an aluminium door comprising a pair of parallel spaced apart sheets 11. The mechan ism 10hasa housing 12 secured to one sheet 11 by bolts 13 which also secure a bracket 14 to the outside of that sheet 11. Slidable in the housing 12 are a pair of L-shaped operating members 15 each having a longer limb in the form of a rack 16 and a shorter limb 17 to which is secured an end of a respective bolt 18. Springs 19 bearing on abutments and guides 20 of the housing 12 bias the members 15 to a door-latching position.

Disposed between and engaging the racks 16 is a pivotable member in the form of a pinion 21 on a shaft 22 journalled in housing 12 and projecting on the inside of the door. This extension of the shaft 22 carries a helical land or lands 23 which are engaged by a complementary groove or grooves 24 on an actuating member 25 which can move axially of the shaft 22 without rotation. Member 25 is secured to a handle of the door, which handle is in the form of a plate 26 extending substantially the full width of the door and pivoted about pins 27 at each end thereof.

When plate 26 is pressed, it pivots and drives member 25 inwards causing pivoting of pinion 21 and translational movement of members 15, against the action of springs 19, to withdraw the free ends (not shown) of the bolts 18 from respective sockets in the door frame to allow the door to open.

The mechanism 10 is simple, convenient and reliable and as Figure 2 shows, can easily be incorporated between the aluminium plates 11 of a common 45mm thick door. The shaft 22 can have a central square-sectioned aperture (indicated in dotted lines at 28 in Figure 1) which can accommodate a shaft attached to a conventional latch or lock (not shown) which could be mounted on the outside of the door (to allow entry with a key) or on the inside if the door were to be changed from a panic door to an ordinary door.

1. A latch mechanism for a panic door comprising a housing; a pair of spaced-apart operating members with the housing; a pair of bolts each connected to one of the operating members; a pivotable member between the operating members and engaged with the operating members such that pivoting thereof causes opposite translational movement of the operating members; a shaft from the pivotable member projecting on one side of the housing; and an actuating member forming, with the shaft, a scroll drive movement of the actuating member axially of the shaft causing rotation of the shaft and the pivotable member.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotable member is a pinion and the operating members have complementary racks.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotable member is a friction member and frictionally engages surfaces on the operating members.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the actuating member is movabie under the influence of a lever.

5. A mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lever is in the form of a pivoted plate extending across the door and constituting a handle.

6. A mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shaft has a central aperture enabling it to be operatively engaged by a conventional latch or lockset if desired.

7. A latch mechanism for a panic door substan

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Latch mechanism This invention relates to a latch mechanism for a ,panic door. Existing latch mechanisms for panic doors have ;the disadvantage that they are too thick compared with a common form of aluminium door and thus they cannot be used with such doors. An object of the present invention, therefore is to provide a latch mechanism which is thinner than conventional latch mechanisms. Accordingly the invention provides a latch mechanism for a panic door comprising: a housing; a pair of spaced apart operating members within the housing; a pair of bolts each connected to one of the operating members; a pivotable member between the operating members and engaged with the operating members such that pivoting thereof causes opposite translational movement of the operating members; a shaft from the pivotable member projecting on one side of the housing; and an actuating member forming with the shaft, a scroll drive, movement of the actuating member axially of the shaft causing rotation of the shaft and the pivotable member. The pivotable member can be a pinion or a disc having a pair of toothed regions its periphery and the operating members can have racks engaging the pinion or the toothed regions. Alternately the pivot able member can frictionally engage surfaces on the operating members. The actuating member can be movable axially of the shaft by a lever on the door. The lever is preferably a plate extending across the door and pivoted at or adjacent one edge, for example its upper edge. The scroll drive can include helical lands on the shaft and complementary grooves on the actuating member which can be restrained against rotational movement by the lever. The operating members can be spring-biassed to a door-latching position. The shaft can have a square or other non-circular through hole enabling it to be connected to a conventional latch or lockset should it be desired to convert the door from a panic door to a normal door. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying draw ings, wherein: Figure 7 is a vertical section through a preferred mechanism of the invention, the section being taken parallel to a plane of a door; and Figure 2 is a vertical section through the mechan ism taken at right angles to the plane of Figure 1. A preferred latch mechanism 10 of the invention is shown attached to an aluminium door comprising a pair of parallel spaced apart sheets 11. The mechan ism 10hasa housing 12 secured to one sheet 11 by bolts 13 which also secure a bracket 14 to the outside of that sheet 11. Slidable in the housing 12 are a pair of L-shaped operating members 15 each having a longer limb in the form of a rack 16 and a shorter limb 17 to which is secured an end of a respective bolt 18. Springs 19 bearing on abutments and guides 20 of the housing 12 bias the members 15 to a door-latching position. Disposed between and engaging the racks 16 is a pivotable member in the form of a pinion 21 on a shaft 22 journalled in housing 12 and projecting on the inside of the door. This extension of the shaft 22 carries a helical land or lands 23 which are engaged by a complementary groove or grooves 24 on an actuating member 25 which can move axially of the shaft 22 without rotation. Member 25 is secured to a handle of the door, which handle is in the form of a plate 26 extending substantially the full width of the door and pivoted about pins 27 at each end thereof. When plate 26 is pressed, it pivots and drives member 25 inwards causing pivoting of pinion 21 and translational movement of members 15, against the action of springs 19, to withdraw the free ends (not shown) of the bolts 18 from respective sockets in the door frame to allow the door to open. The mechanism 10 is simple, convenient and reliable and as Figure 2 shows, can easily be incorporated between the aluminium plates 11 of a common 45mm thick door. The shaft 22 can have a central square-sectioned aperture (indicated in dotted lines at 28 in Figure 1) which can accommodate a shaft attached to a conventional latch or lock (not shown) which could be mounted on the outside of the door (to allow entry with a key) or on the inside if the door were to be changed from a panic door to an ordinary door. CLAIMS

1. A latch mechanism for a panic door comprising a housing; a pair of spaced-apart operating members with the housing; a pair of bolts each connected to one of the operating members; a pivotable member between the operating members and engaged with the operating members such that pivoting thereof causes opposite translational movement of the operating members; a shaft from the pivotable member projecting on one side of the housing; and an actuating member forming, with the shaft, a scroll drive movement of the actuating member axially of the shaft causing rotation of the shaft and the pivotable member.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotable member is a pinion and the operating members have complementary racks.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotable member is a friction member and frictionally engages surfaces on the operating members.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the actuating member is movabie under the influence of a lever.

5. A mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lever is in the form of a pivoted plate extending across the door and constituting a handle.

6. A mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shaft has a central aperture enabling it to be operatively engaged by a conventional latch or lockset if desired.

7. A latch mechanism for a panic door substan tially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

8. A panic door having a mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim.