US3477260A

US3477260A - Emergency exit lock

Info

Publication number: US3477260A
Application number: US698755A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter O Balducci; Nicholas A Welch
Original assignee: Newfrey LLC
Current assignee: Newfrey LLC
Priority date: 1968-01-18
Filing date: 1968-01-18
Publication date: 1969-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 1986-11-11

Description

NOV. 1969 w. o. BALDUCCI'ET AL 3,477,260

EMERGENCY EXIT LOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 18, 1968 R../ mmmw E 8i MW 54% Q5 Q mm m MQM a [m Z w M Nov. 11, 1969 W. O. BALDUCCI ET AL EMERGENCY EXIT LOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1968 1969 w. o. BALDUCCI ET AL 3,477,260

EMERGENCY EXIT LOCK Filed Jan. 18, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,477,260 EMERGENCY EXIT LOCK Walter O. Balducci, New Britain, and Nicholas A. Welch, West Hartford, Conn., assignors to Emhart Corporation, Bloomfield, C0nn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Jan. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 698,755 Int. Cl. Eb 65/10; E05c 15/02 US. Cl. 70-92 19 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of invention This invention relates in general to locks and deals more particularly with an improved emergency exit lock and a latch bolt operating and hold back mechanism therefor.

Summary of invention In accordance with the present invention, an emergency exit lock is provided which has a slender elongated case structure supporting a latch bolt for movement between projected and retracted positions. The latch bolt is biased to projected position and is movable to retracted position in response to the operation of an external manually operable member or lever. The lock also includes a latch bolt retractor and hold back mechanism operabe independently of the lever in response to operation of another external manually operable member such as a key. The latter mechanism includes cam and retractor elements which have coengaging cam surfaces. The cam element is arranged to move the retractor element in response to rotation of the key in one direction to cause the latch bolt to move to its retracted position in which position it may be held back, if desired.- An adjusting means is provided to predetermine the degree of latch bolt retraction to be attained by operation of the key.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an emergency exit fixture embodying the present invention and shown mounted on the inner face of an outwardly opening door.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view and shows the active case of the fixture of FIG. 1, the case cover being partially broken away to reveal mechanism in the case.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view and shows the case of FIG. 2 partially in section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and partially broken away to reveal mechanism therein, the latch bolt retractor mechanism being shown in a position corresponding to a projected position of the latch bolt.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the active case shown in FIGS. 2-5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view and shows the inactive case of the fixture of FIG. 1 partially in section 3,477,260 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 "ice taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 1 and partially broken away to reveal mechanism therein.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the inactive case taken along the line 88 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the latch bolt retractor and cam assembly as viewed from above and looking toward the rear of the lock.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view similar to FIG. 9 but viewed from above and looking toward the front of the lock and shows the relative position of the latch bolt.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational and shows the active case partially in section taken generally along the line 11-11 of FIG. 1, the latch bolt retractor assembly being shown in a position corresponding to a projected position of the latch bolt.

FIG. 12 is generally similar to FIG. 11 but shows the position of the latch bolt retractor assembly after the key has been rotated through an angle of approximately in a clockwise direction.

FIG. 13 is generally similar to FIG. 11 but shows the position of the latch bolt retractor assembly after the key has been rotated through one full revolution in a clockwise direction.

FIG. 14 is generally similar to FIG. 11 but shows the position of the latch bolt retractor assembly after the adjustment screw has been positioned to effect pivotal movement of the retractor element and after the key has been rotated through an angle of approximately 90 in a clockwise direction.

Detailed description of preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawings, an emergency exit fixture embodying the present invention and indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1 is shown mounted on the inner face of an outwardly opening door 12, hinged at its right edge. The fixture 10 has active and inactive cases respectively generally indicated at 14 and 16 fastened near opposite edges of the door. The active case 14 carries a latch bolt 18 for engaging a strike (not shown) and associated latch bolt operating mechanisms which include an actuating lever 20. A similar lever 22 supported on the inactive case and biased away from the door 12 in a manner hereinafter further described is connected with the actuating lever 20 by a horizontal crossbar or panic bar 24 which transmits the biasing force to the actuating lever. Slight pressure on the crossbar in the direction of the door is effective to retract the latch bolt or move it out of engagement with the strike and thereby release the door to allow immediate egress.

The operating mechanism also includes a latch bolt retractor assembly, indicated generally at 25 in FIGS. 2 and 3, manually operable independently of the actuating lever to retract the latch bolt and hold it back or retain it in its retracted position. In the illustrated embodirnent 10, the manual means for operating the latch bolt retractor mechanism 25 independently of the lever 20 includes a key 26 associated with a conventional lock cylinder 27 operatively connected to the retractor mechanism.

The exit fixture 10 is reversible, that is to say, the position of the various parts of the fixture may be reversed or interchanged with respect to a door and to each other to adapt the fixture for mounting on right or left handed doors without addition or substitution of parts. For this reason, various parts of the structure hereinafter further described are symmetrical.

Considering first the active case 14 and its associated mechanism and referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be noted that this case comprises a relatively narrow vertically elongated hollow shell. Preferably, it is made in two parts and includes a base 28 and a detachable cover 30. The base is symmetrical about a horizontal median plane and has an apertured rear wall 32. Upper and

lower walls

34 and 36 and

sidewalls

38 and 40 pro ject forwardly from the rear wall 32 and terminate in a forwardly facing peripheral edge 33. The sidewall 38 has a generally rectangular opening 42 for the bolt 18, and a pair of integrally formed ears or

bosses

44, 44 which projects forwardly therefrom above and below the said opening to provide pivot journals for the bolt.

The latch bolt 18 is supported on the active case 14 for pivotal movement about a generally vertically extending axis 45 between projected and retracted positions respectively indicated in full and broken lines in FIG. 4. Support for the bolt is provided by a pivot pin 46 which extends through the latch bolt and the

ears

44, 44. A compression spring 48 received in an inwardly opening recess in the latch bolt bears against the sidewall 40 to bias the latch bolt to its projected position as best shown in FIG. 4. The latch bolt has a substantially flat forward face 50 for engaging the strike to move the latch bolt to its retracted position as the door 12 is moved to a closed position and an arcuate rear face 51 for holding engagement with the strike when the door attains its closed position. Operative connection between the latch bolt 18 and its associated operating mechanism hereinafter described is provided by a pin 52 which extends through and projects above and below the inner end of the latch bolt in spaced parallel relation to pivot pin 46.

The active case cover 30 is substantially identical to and interchangeable with the cover for the inactive case 16 and for this reason it is symmetrical about a vertical median plane. The cover 30 is adapted for complementary mating engagement with the base peripheral edge 33 and has a front wall 54, a rearwardly opening central recess 56 and a vertically disposed slot 58 which opens through the front Wall and communicates with the said recess. In the front wall above the recess 56 there is formed a rearwardly opening cylindrical recess 60. The front wall also has a rearwardly facing abutment surface 62 above the latter recess. Bosses 64 and 66 project rearwardly from the front wall 54 in complementary engagement with associated inner surface portions of the

base walls

34, 36, 38 and 40 to maintain the cover 30 in assembled alignment with the base 28. A pair of

ears

68, 68 are integrally formed on the cover 30 to extend rearwardly into the base 28 in close association with the

side walls

38 and 40 to provide support for the actuating lever 20. The cover and base are held in assembly by

screws

70, 70 which extend through the rear wall 32 and respectively threadably engage the

bosses

64 and 66.

Mounting screws

72, 72 extend through the cover and the base 28 to fasten the active case 14 in operational position on the door 12.

The actuating lever 20 and the lever 22 are substantially identical but of opposite hand. Each of these levers is supported on an associated cover 30 by a pivot pin 74 which extends through the inner end of the lever and through the

ears

68, 68 and is pivotally movable between extended and depressed positions respectively indicated in full and broken lines in FIG. 3. Each pivot pin 74 is surrounded by a nylon bushing 76 and is loosely received in the

ears

68, 68 being retained therein by assembly of the cover with the base.

Further considering the

interchangeable levers

20 and 22 and referring particularly to the lever 20 (FIG. 3), this lever extends through the slot 58 and has an inner end portion received in the recess 56. In the inner end of the lever there is formed a relatively wide upwardly opening notch 78 partially defined by a finger 80 which extends radially upwardly in relation to the pivot pin 74. At its upper or free end, the finger 80 is rounded to engage the lower end of the pin 52 which is received in the notch 78. At the inner end of the lever 20 below the pivot pin 74, there is formed a radially downwardly opening notch 82 partially defined by generally radially extending

abutment surfaces

84 and 86. A pin 88 carried by the

ears

68, 68 extends transversely of the recess 82 for engaging the

abutment surfaces

84 and 86 to thereby limit the arcuate travel of the lever 20 and prevent it from engaging the upper and lower edges of the slot 58 with resulting damage to the cover. On the inner end of the lever rearwardly of the pivot pin 74 there is formed a radially disposed and upwardly facing abutment surface 90. The latter abutment surface functions when the lever 20 is supported on the inactive case 16 and this function will be hereinafter further discussed with reference to that case.

Considering now the latch bolt retractor assembly 25 and referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the assembly generally comprises a rotary cam element 92 supported in the active case 14 for rotation in one and the opposite direction about a fixed axis 93 and a retractor element 94 supported for movement generally along and relative to the latter axis. The retractor element is operably associated with the latch bolt 18 and is movable between first and second positions respectively corresponding to projected and retracted positions of the latch bolt. The two elements have coengaging cam surfaces generally normal to the axis 93 and are so arranged that rotation of the cam element in one direction causes correnspoding movement of the retractor element in an axial direction with respect to the cam element to move the latch bolt toward its retracted position. Preferably and as shown, the retractor assembly also includes a blocking element or holdback sleeve 96 to prevent return of the latch bolt to its projected position when the cam element has been rotated one full revolution in one direction.

The axial movement of the retractor element is generally sutficient to effect full retraction of the latch bolt. However, preferably and as shown, the retractor element is also arranged to pivot about an axis extending transversely of the cam axis 93 in response to its aforesaid axial movement. A means is provided to adjust this pivotal movement and thereby vary the magnitude of the latch bolt movement in response to rotation of the cam element. This arrangement provides a means for predetermining the degree of latch bolt retraction.

Further considering the latch bolt retractor assembly and referring particularly to FIGS. 2, 3, 9 and 10, it will be seen that the cam element 92 has a generally cylindrical hub 98 which includes a rear wall 99 and a forwardly opening cylindrical bore 100. An annular flange 102 surrounds the forward end of the hub 98 and has a forwardly projecting lug 104 integrally formed thereon. The forward end of the lug is somewhat rounded to form a cam surface 106 normal to the axis 93. The rear portion of the hub is received in a cylindrical aperture in the base rear wall 32 and is retained in assembly therewith by an elongated tubular member 107 one end of which extends into the bore 100, the other end being received in the cylindrical recess 60, as best shown in FIG. 3. Intersecting

slots

108, 108 formed in the hub wall 99 and communicating with the bore receive an operating spindle or tail 110 on the key plug of the lock cylinder 27 and thereby provide operative connection between the cam element 92 and the key 26. At this point it should be noted that the tail 110 extends for some distance into the bore of the tubular members 107, as shown in FIG. 11. This arrangement permits the fixture 10 and its lock cylinder 27 to be installed on doors of various thickness without requiring that the length of the tail 110 be altered. A nylon bearing washer 112 and a spring washer 114 surround the hub between the rear Wall 32 and flange 102 to retain the cam element for smooth rotation about the axis 93 in response to rotation of the key 26.

The retractor element 94 and the hold-back sleeve 96 are loosely received on and retained in assembly by the member 107. The retractor element has a body portion 116 and a forwardly offset lever arm 118 which extends downwardly from the body portion and has a downwardly opening notch 122 formed'therein which receives the upper end of the pin 52. Another lever arm 124 extends upwardly from the body portion and carries an adjustment screw 126. The latter screw is threadably adjustable relative to the reactor element and generally toward and away from the cover abutment surface 62 and has a contact surface 128 at its forward end for engaging the latter abutment surface. The abutment surface 62 provides a fulcrum about which the retractor element 94 pivots in response to rotation of the cam element 92 in one direction. Access to the screw 128 for adjustment purposes is gained through an aperture 130 in the base rear wall 32 when the active case 14 is dismounted from the door 12. At its forward end the retractor element has a vertically elongated opening 131 therethrough partially defined by laterally opposed abutment surfaces 132 and 134. The opening 131 has a width substantially equal to the outside diameter of the tubular member 107 and communicates with a rearwardly opening generally cylindrical bore 136 in the body portion 116 which has a diameter substantially greater than the outside diameter of the latter tubular member. A rearwardly facing annular cam surface 138 (FIG. surrounds the bore 136 and will be hereinafter further described.

The hold-back sleeve 96 is a generally cylindrical tubular member received in the bore 136 and arranged for limited angular movement to and from a hold back or blocking position relative to the retractor element 94 by a lug 140 which projects forwardly through the opening 131 between the abutment surfaces 132 and 134. The inside diameter of the tubular sleeve 96 is substantially larger than the outside diameter of the member 107 so that the sleeve and its associated retractor lever 94 are loosely retained by the latter member for axial movement thereon and for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely thereof. However, it should be noted that both the retractor element 94 and its associated sleeve 96 are restrained against rotation about the axis 93 by near engagement of the lever arm 124 with the

base walls

38 and 40 as best shown in FIG. 2. The sleeve 96 also includes a rerawardly facing annular carn surface 142 coaxially aligned with the cam surface 138 and which cooperates with the latter surface and with the cam surface 106.

Considering now the cam surfaces 138 and 142 in further detail and the manner in which these surfaces cooperate with the cam surface 106 to effect movement of the latch bolt and referring particularly to FIGS. 9-14, it will be noted that both the body portion 116 and the sleeve 96 have rearwardly opening notches therein respectively indicated at 144 and 146. When the lock cylinder 27 is in a locked condition as it appears in FIG. 3, the

notches

144 and 146 are generally aligned and receive the lug 104 therein, the retractor element 94 being in its first position as it appears in FIGS. 3 and 11. The lug 140 engages the abutment surface 134, as best shown in FIG. 2, when the two notches are in the aforedescribed aligned position.

During initial rotation of the key in a clockwise direction from its position in FIG. 3 toward an unlocked position, movement of the retractor element 94 is effected by coengagement of the cam surfaces 106 and 138. The cam surface 138 includes a riser portion 148 for moving the retractor element 94 axially with respect to the cam element from its first position to a second position and a dwell portion 150 for retaining the retractor in the latter position during further rotation of the cam element in clockwise direction (FIG. 10). The cam surface 138 also includes an indicating or riser portion 152 for providing increased resistance to further rotation of the key in the clockwise direction when the retractor element 94 has moved to and is retained in its second position. It will be noted that the lug 106 engages the riser portion 152 when the key 2 6 has been rotated approximately 90 in the clockwise direction. At this point the key remains trapped in the lock cylinder 27 by the lock tumblers (not shown) in a manner well known in the art. However, the latch bolt is held in a retracted position so that the door is released and may be opened without further manipulation of the key. Reverse rotation of the key from the latter position to its original or locked position permits the key 26 to be withdrawn from the lock when returned to its closed position.

Further positions of coengagement are provided between the cam surface 106 and the cam surfaces 138 and 142 to hold back the latch bolt 18 or retain it in its retracted position after the door 12 has been opened. Further rotation of the key 26 in the clockwise direction from the indicating portion 152 may cause slight further forward movement of the retractor element 94 in an axial direction with resulting further movement of the latch bolt to a retracted position. However, preferably, the latch bolt retractor mechanism is adjusted so that the latch bolt attains its fully retracted position when the lug 104 engages the cam surface 150. Thereafter, further rotation of the key 26 in a clockwise direction beyond the indicating position 152 causes the spring washer 114 to be compressed. When the key has been turned approximately 180 in a clockwise direction, the lug 104 encounters a detent or sloped surface portion 154 of the cam surface 138 after which it engages a dwell portion 155 of the sleeve cam surface 142. As the key 26 approaches 360 rotation, the lug 104 engages an abutment or riser portion 156 of the cam surface 142 whereupon further rotation of the key in the clockwise direction causes the sleeve 96 to rotate in the same direction or to shift to its blocking positions as it appears in FIG. 13. In the blocking posi tion, the notch 146 in the sleeve is out of alignment with the notch 144 as shown in FIG. 13. Thus the lug 104 cannot re-enter the notch 146 so that the retractor element is prevented from returning to its first position. Further clockwise rotation of the key toward its 360 position causes the lug 104 to move along the riser portion 156 to a dwell portion 158 on the sleeve cam surface. When the lug 106 engages the dwell portion 158 the latch bolt 18 has moved to and is held in a fully retracted position. When the key is turned through one full revolution in the clockwise direction to its 360 position the lug 104 engages an abutment surface 159 on the sleeve 96 which prevents further key rotation in the clockwise direction. At this point the key 26 may be withdrawn from the lock cylinder 27 leaving the exit lock in an unlocked condition.

The lock cylinder 27 will remain in its unlocked condition until it is again locked by inserting the key 26 and rotating it through one full revolution in an opposite or counterclockwise direction to its locking position. The cam surface detent portion 154 serves to defeat attempts to unlock the latch bolt retractor mechanism or move it from its hold back position by setting up vibration in the exit fixture 10 as by pounding on the door 12 or by applying repeated shocking force to the panic bar 24 or the active case 14.

As the latch bolt 18 is moved between its projected and retracted positions in response to operation of the key 26 it will be noted that the lower end of the pin 52 is free to travel in the notch 78 out of engagement with the actuating lever 20. Thus, the key 26 may be operated independently of the actuating lever, that is to say, it may be operated without effecting movement of the actuating lever. When the actuating lever 20 is moved to its depressed position, the finger engages the lower end of the pin 52 to pivot the latch bolt 18 to a retracted position. It will be noted that this movement of the actuating lever will cause a corresponding movement of the retractor element 94 relative to its axis 93. However, this motion is not transmitted to the rotary cam element 92. Therefore, it will be apparent that the actuating lever is also operable independently of the key 26.

In some instances it may be desirable to provide the exit fixture 10 without the latch bolt hold back feature so that the key 26 cannot be removed from the lock cylinder leaving the door in an unlocked condition. This hold back feature may be eliminated from the fixture 10 without substantially altering it by substituting a solid spacer washer (not shown) of appropriate thickness for the spring washer 114. Thus, if the latch bolt retractor mech anism is adjusted so that the latch bolt attains its fully retracted position when the lug 104 engages the cam surface 150 further rotation of the key 26 in a clockwise direction beyond the cam surface 150 will be prevented by engagement of the lug 104 with the indicator portion 152. The latch bolt is then held in a retracted position so that the door is released and may be opened without further manipulation of the key, however, the key remains trapped in the lock cylinder 27 by the lock tumblers (not shown). To remove the key it is necessary to rotate it from the latter position to its original or locked position so that the door will automatically lock when returned to its closed position.

The active case 14 and the retractor mechanism 25 may be so constructed and arranged that when the latch bolt 18 attains a fully retracted position the retractor element 94 moves into abutting engagement with the rear surface of the case cover 30. When the fixture 10 is constructed in this manner the hold back feature may be eliminated therefrom by the simple expedient of substituting a spacer washer, preferably nylon, for the spring washer 114 without adjustment of the retractor mechanism and such construction is contemplated within the scope of this invention.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that the active case 14 and its associated mechanisms may comprise a complete exit fixture and in such case the actuating lever 20 may be provided with an operating paddle (not shown) at its free end in place of the panic bar 24 as is well known in the art. When the exit fixture is arranged in this manner, the biasing means associated with the ac tuating lever 20 will be contained within the active case 14. However, as previously noted, in the illustrated embodiment 10, the biasing means for urging the lever 20 to its extended position is contained within the inactive case 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be noted that the inactive case 16 is also made in two parts and includes a base 160 and a cover 30 substantially identical to the aforedescribed cover on the active case and supporting the lever 22. The base 160 is symmetrical about a vertical median plane and is generally similar in outward appearance to the base 28 but differs therefrom in that includes a rear wall 162 which has a vertically elongated slot 164 therethrough and a transverse wall 166 which projects forwardly from the rear wall. A slide 168 housed in the case 16 has a vertically elongated guide portion 170 slidably received in and generally complementing the slot 164. The slide also has a depending tail piece 172 and a forwardly facing bearing surface 174 which slidably engages a nylon button 176 received in the cover recess 60. An elongated spring 178 received in an upwardly opening bore in the slide bears against the transverse wall 166 to urge the slide downwardly so that the tail piece 172 bears against the abutment surface 90 to bias the lever 22 outwardly from the door 12 or toward its extended position as it appears in FIG. 7.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment has been described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. An emergency exit lock comprising an active case, a latch bolt supported by and movable relative to said active case between projected and retracted positions, a

first external manually operable member movable between first and second positions and operable upon movement to said second position to move said latch bolt to said retracted position, a latch bolt retractor element also operatively associated with said latch bolt in said case and movable between first and second positions corresponding to projected and retracted positions of said latch bolt, a rotary cam element supported on a fixed axis in said case, said cam and retractor elements having wongaging cam surfaces generally normal to said cam element axis, movement of said cam element in one direction causing movement of said retractor element along the axis of said cam element, said retractor element being movable to its second position in response to rotation of said cam element in said one direction, and a second manually operable member for rotating said cam element in said one direction.

2. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said cam surfaces includes a riser portion for moving said retractor element from its first to its second position in response to rotation of said cam element through a part of one revolution in said one direction and a dwell portion for holding said retractor element in said second position in response to further rotation of said cam element in said one direction.

3. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said cam surfaces includes an indicating position for increasing resistance to the further manual rotation of said second operable member in said one direction when said retractor element attains its second position.

4. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said cam surfaces includes a detent portion for increasing resistance to rotation of said cam element in said opposite direction after said retractor element attains its second position.

5. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 including means for preventing the return of said retractor element to its first position in response to the rotation of said cam element through one full revolution in said one direction.

6. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for preventing the return of said retractor element comprises a blocking member movable to a blocking position with respect to said retractor element in response to rotation of said cam element in said one direction and movable out of said blocking position in response to rotation of said cam element in an opposite direction.

7. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 6 wherein said retractor element includes a sleeve received therein and movable relative thereto, said sleeve comprising said blocking member and partially defining one of said cam surfaces.

8. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cam surfaces are defined by an annular surface on one said element and a lug projecting from the other said element.

9. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 including means for varying the magnitude of movement of said latch bolt in response to rotation of said cam element in said one direction.

10. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said active case is a relatively narrow vertically elongated hollow shell and wherein said retractor is a vertically disposed lever pivotal about an axis extending transversely of said case.

11. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said latch bolt is supported by said active case for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of said cam element axis, said retractor operatively engaging said latch bolt in spaced relation to said latch bolt aixs.

12. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 including means for biasing said first member toward said first position.

13. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 12 including an inactive case spaced from said active case, said first member comprising an actuating lever, another lever and an elongated bar providing connection therebetween, each said lever being supported for pivotal movement by a respectively associated said case, said biasing means being operatively associated with said other lever in said inactive case.

14. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 13 wherein said inactive case in a relatively narrow vertically elongated hollow shell and said biasing means comprising a slide supported for vertical movement in said shell and bearing against said other lever in spaced relation to the axis thereof and spring means for urging said slide toward said other lever.

15. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 including a lock cylinder operatively connected with said cam element and wherein said second external manually operable member is a key for operating said lock cylinder.

16. An emergency exit lock comprising a case, a latch bolt supported by and movable relative to said case between projected and retracted positions, a first external manually operable member movable between first and second positions and operable upon movement to said second position to move said latch bolt to said retracted position, a rotary cam element supported on a fixed axis in said case, a latch bolt retractor element operatively associated with said latch bolt and supported in said case for pivotal movement and movement in an axial direction with respect to said cam element axis between first and second positions corresponding to projected and retracted positions of said latch bolt, said cam and retractor elements having coengaging cam surfaces, rotation of said cam element in one direction causing movement of said retractor element to its second position, and a second manually operable member for rotating said cam element in said one direction.

17. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 16 wherein said retractor has a contact surface spaced from said cam eleihent axis and including fulcrum means for engaging said contact surface to cause said pivotal movement of said, retractor in response to the movement of said cam element in said one direction.

18. An e mergency exit lock as set forth in claim 17 wherein said active case includes two parts, said fulcrum means comprising an abutment surface on one of said parts.

19. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 17 wherein said contact surface is defined by an adjustment screw carried by said retractor and threadably adjustable relative thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,476,364 12/1923 Hurd 292-165 X 2,854,838 10/1958 Foster 92 2,962,889 12/1960 McConnell 70-92 3,087,323 4/1963 Foster 70-92 3,345,099 10/1967 Paul 292-21 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner E. J. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R 70-140; 292 9a