WO2010076830A1

WO2010076830A1 - Antipanic push-bar

Info

Publication number: WO2010076830A1
Application number: PCT/IT2008/000818
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fausto Fustini
Original assignee: Cisa S.P.A.
Priority date: 2008-12-30
Filing date: 2008-12-30
Publication date: 2010-07-08

Abstract

An antipanic push-bar (1) comprising a casing (2) that is jointly connected to the installation door (3) and accommodates the actuation mechanisms (4) of an internal locking system for the engagement and disengagement of its locking elements (5) in respective seats of a corresponding complementary locking system, and a movable slider (6) that can perform a translational motion from a protruding configuration to a retracted one, parallel to itself along suitable guides (7) of the casing (2), for the actuation of the mechanisms (4) for actuating the locking system. The movable slider (6) has at least one external lamina (8), which can slide along at least one corresponding outer surface (9) of the casing (2). The outer surface (9) of the casing (2) comprises a substantially flat portion (10), along which the lamina (8) can slide, and a substantially curvilinear portion (11) proximate to the area for anchoring to the door (3).

Description

ANTIPANIC PUSH-BAR Technical Field

The present invention relates to an antipanic push-bar. Background Art

To ensure the necessary ease of evacuation (prescribed by currently applicable statutory provisions), it is necessary to install doors that open by pushing (with respect to the evacuation direction) and are provided with suitable opening handles.

It is possible to use the so-called panic handles (mere pressing of the handle along the evacuation direction ensures disengagement of the latch and/or of the bolts and therefore the release of the door): very often, practical applications provide for the installation of bars (constituted by a tilting bar) or of bars that perform a translational motion parallel to the evacuation direction.

These bars must comply with various specific statutory provisions.

In particular, it must not be possible to insert in any way, along the movable slider of the bar or in association with the components that cooperate with it, elements that can block the stroke of the slider.

Constructive solutions are known which solve this drawback by minimizing the dimensions of the plays among the various cooperating components: this constructive choice has a first defect linked to the higher cost of the components, which require sophisticated treatments due to the particular tolerances that their surfaces must have.

Secondly, upon thermal expansions and/or contractions, for example, the components might no longer cooperate correctly, since the possibility of frictions and/or interference cannot be excluded. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, by providing an antipanic push-bar in which it is not possible to block the stroke of the movable slider by associating elements with it from outside.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide an antipanic push-bar whose operation is independent of the expansions and contractions of the components that constitute it.

Another object of the invention is to provide an antipanic push-bar in which the level of finish of the components does not impair operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an antipanic push-bar that has a low cost, is relatively simple to provide in practice, and is safe in application.

This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an antipanic push-bar of the type that comprises a casing that is jointly connected to the installation door and accommodates the actuation mechanisms of an internal locking system for the engagement and disengagement of its locking elements in respective seats of a corresponding complementary locking system, and a movable slider that can perform a translational motion from a protruding configuration to a retracted one, parallel to itself along suitable guides of said casing, for the actuation of said mechanisms for actuating said locking system, characterized in that said movable slider has at least one external lamina, which can slide along at least one corresponding outer surface of said casing, the outer surface of said casing comprising a substantially flat portion, along which said lamina can slide, and a substantially curvilinear portion proximate to the area for anchoring to the door. Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the antipanic push-bar according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional side view, taken along a transverse plane, of an antipanic push-bar according to the invention on which a foreign object is rested, in the inactive configuration;

Figure 2 is a sectional side view, taken along a transverse plane, of an antipanic push-bar according to the invention on which a foreign object is rested, in the pressed configuration for opening the door leaf with which the bar is associated;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an antipanic push-bar according to the invention applied to a door. Ways of carrying out the Invention

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates an antipanic push-bar.

The bar 1 comprises a casing 2 that is jointly connected to the installation door and accommodates mechanisms 4 for the actuation of an internal locking system, for the engagement and disengagement of locking elements 5 thereof in respective seats of a corresponding complementary locking system.

The bar 1 further comprises a movable slider 6, which can perform a translational motion from a protruding configuration to a retracted one parallel to itself along suitable guides 7 of the casing 2.

The translational motion of the slider 6 along the guides 7 is necessary to actuate the actuation means of the locking system: when the slider 6 is external, the locking elements 5 interfere with the seats of the complementary locking system and lock the door 3 in the closed position; when the slider 6 is pressed against the casing 2, the locking elements 5 are retracted and the door 3 is free to open.

The movable slider 6 has at least one external lamina 8, which can slide along at least one corresponding outer surface 9 of the casing 2.

In turn, the outer surface 9 comprises a substantially flat portion 10, along which the lamina 8 can slide, and a substantially curvilinear portion 1 1 proximate to the area for anchoring to the door 3. According to an embodiment of particular interest in practice and in application, since it allows to install the bar 1 according to one arrangement and according to the exactly opposite arrangement simply by turning it over (the lower part placed upward and vice versa), the laminas 8 are two, arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the slider 6.

In this case, the casing 2 must be substantially U-shaped and has a respective outer surface 9 at each lamina 8 for the sliding of the lamina 8 along the flat portion 10.

In any case, it is convenient to note that the at least one lamina 8 (this remark, therefore, can be applied to the case of a single lamina 8 but also to the embodiment described earlier) has an inner face 12 that faces, and is proximate to, the respective surface 9 of the flat portion 10 of the casing 2.

The great proximity of the inner face 12 to the corresponding surface 9 provides assurance against the accidental entry of foreign objects A into the bar through the gap between these components (the thickness of this gap is reduced to a minimum).

It is important to note that each lamina 8 has a substantially flat shape and runs along the entire length of the slider 6 (which is generally slightly shorter than the length of the casing 2) and has a tapered end apex 13.

The movable slider 6 has a substantially mushroom-shaped cross- section; in this configuration, the laminas 8 are two and are mutually opposite, symmetrical and parallel to each other. The laminas 8 protrude from a main body 14 that is wider than the mutual distance of the laminas 8 and is provided with lateral end expansions 15.

The lateral expansions 15 are arranged at the area where the laminas 8 connect to the main body 14 and are radiused with the laminas 8.

The at least one outer surface 9 of the casing 2 is conveniently smooth, without protrusions and geometric and shaping irregularities: the flat portion 10 and the curvilinear portion 11 are mutually radiused. This facilitates the sliding, on the portions 10 and 11 (and in particular on the entire surface 9), of any foreign objects A that might block the movement of the slider 6 if they became jammed.

The operation of the bar 1 according to the invention is as follows. If a blocking element (foreign object A) is placed on top of the bar 1, it is necessary to press the movable slider 6 toward the door 3 in order to open it.

The slider 6, by performing a translational motion, makes its laminas advance toward the portion 11.

The laminas, as they advance, encounter the foreign object with their apex 13 and push it so that it slides along the portion 10 until it is moved onto the portion 11. The foreign object A does not jam along its sliding because there are no obstacles or shape irregularities in which it might engage with one of its parts. Operation is clarified by viewing Figures 2 and 3, which illustrate the detail of the surface 9 surmounted by the corresponding lamina 8 in the configuration in which the slider 6 is free and the foreign object A rests on the portion 10 of the surface 9 (in this first configuration, the door 3 is locked and closed) and in the configuration in which the slider 6 is pressed toward the door 3 and the foreign object A rests on top of the portion 11 of the surface 9 (in this second configuration the door 3 is unlocked and open).

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In the exemplary embodiments shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer. In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An antipanic push-bar (1) of the type that comprises a casing (2) that is jointly connected to the installation door (3) and accommodates the actuation mechanisms (4) of an internal locking system for the engagement and disengagement of its locking elements (5) in respective seats of a corresponding complementary locking system, and a movable slider (6) that can perform a translational motion from a protruding configuration to a retracted one, parallel to itself along suitable guides (7) of said casing (2), for the actuation of said mechanisms (4) for actuating said locking system, characterized in that said movable slider (6) has at least one external lamina (8), which can slide along at least one corresponding outer surface (9) of said casing (2), the outer surface (9) of said casing (2) comprising a substantially flat portion (10), along which said lamina (8) can slide, and a substantially curvilinear portion (11) proximate to the area for anchoring to the door (3).

2. The push-bar according to claim 1, characterized in that said laminas (8) are two, arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the slider (6), said casing (2) being substantially U- shaped and having a respective outer surface (9) at each one of said laminas (8) for the sliding of said lamina (8) along the flat portion (10).

3. The push-bar according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one sliding outer lamina (8) has an inner face (12) that faces, and is proximate to, the respective surface (9) of the flat portion (10) of said casing (2).

4. The push-bar according to claim I₅ characterized in that said at least one lamina (8) has a tapered end apex (13).

5. The push-bar according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable slider (6) has a substantially mushroom-shaped cross-section, said laminas (8) being two and being mutually opposite, symmetrical and parallel to each other, said laminas (8) protruding from a main body (14) that is wider than the mutual distance of the laminas (8) and is provided with lateral end expansions (15).

6. The push-bar according to claim 5, characterized in that said lateral expansions (15) are arranged at the area where the laminas (8) connect to the main body (14) and are radiused with them.

7. The push-bar according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one outer surface (9) of said casing (2) is smooth, without protrusions and geometric and shaping irregularities, the flat portion (10) and the curvilinear portion (11) being mutually radiused.

8. A method of operation, with respect to any blocking element (A), of an antipanic push-bar (1) of the type that comprises a casing (2) that is jointly connected to the installation door (3) and accommodates the actuation mechanisms (4) of an internal locking system for the engagement and disengagement of its locking elements (5) in respective seats of a corresponding complementary locking system, and a movable slider (6) that can perform a translational motion from a protruding configuration to a retracted one, parallel to itself along suitable guides (7) of said casing (2), for the actuation of said mechanisms (4) for actuating said locking system, which consists, when the blocking element (A) that constitutes a foreign object is present on top of said bar (1), in pressing said movable slider (6) toward the door (3) in order to open it, said slider (6) having at least one external lamina (8), which can slide along at least one corresponding outer surface (9) of said casing (2), the end apex (13) of the at least one lamina (8) pushing the blocking element (A) along the outer surface (9) of said casing (2) from a substantially flat portion (10), along which said lamina (8) can slide, to a substantially curvilinear portion (11) proximate to the area for anchoring to the door (3), without said blocking element (A) being able to engage in any point to block said lamina (8) along the corresponding outer surface (9) of the casing (2).