US3614145A

US3614145A - Dogging device for panic exit latch and actuator assembly

Info

Publication number: US3614145A
Application number: US65201A
Authority: US
Inventors: George Z Zawadzki
Original assignee: Von Duprin LLC
Current assignee: Von Duprin LLC
Priority date: 1970-08-19
Filing date: 1970-08-19
Publication date: 1971-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-19

Abstract

A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising housing means, a latchbolt movable between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element operatively connected to the latchbolt and arranged to move the latchbolt to its retracted position in response to movement of the actuator element, and control means including a control member movable between a first position and a second position and cooperating means for locking the actuator element in its latch-projected position. The control member and the actuator element are connected to the latchbolt by lost-motion connection means so that the latchbolt can be retracted by the control member without changing the position of the actuator element and so that the latchbolt can be retracted by the actuator element without changing the position of the control member. The said cooperating means is operated by movement of the control member to lock the actuator element against movement which, in turn, locks the panic bar against movement.

Description

United States Patent 72] Inventor George Z. Zawadzki Indianapolis, Ind. [21] App]. No. 65,201 [22] Filed Aug. 19, 1970 [45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [73] Assignee Von Duprin, Inc.

7 Indianapolis, Ind.

[54] DOGGING DEVICE FOR PANIC EXIT LATCH AND ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY 16 Claims, Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 292/92, 70/92, 292/201, 292/227 [51] Int. Cl ..E05b 65/10, E05c 3/16, E05c /02 Field of Search 70/92; 292/53, 92, 93, 21,166,168,201, 221,227, DIG.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,945,372 7/1960 Reed /92 3,024,053 3/1962 Cox 292/21 3,432,631 3/1969 Deutscher ZOO/61.67- 3,435,643 4/1969 Pollak 70/92 3,464,728 9/1969 Ruckel 292/92 Primary Examiner-Robert l... Wolfe Att0rneyl-lood, Gust, Irish, Lundy & Coffey ABSTRACT: A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising housing means, a latchbolt movable between a projected position and a retracted position, an actuator element operatively connected to the latchbolt and arranged to move the latchbolt to its retracted position in response to movement of the actuator element, and control means including a control member movable between a first position and a second position and cooperating means for locking the actuator element in its latch-projected position. The control member and the actuator element are connected to the latchbolt by lost-motion connection means so that the latchbolt can be retracted by the control member without changing the position of the actuator element and so that the latchbolt can be retracted by the actuator element without changing the position of the control member. The said cooperating means is operated by movement of the control member to lock the actuator element against movement which, in turn, locks the panic bar against movement.

PATENTEDUET 19 I97| 3,614,145

SHEET 10F 3 INVENTOR.

GEORG E Z. ZAWA DZ Kl fiM/ /M 97 1 ATTORNEYS PAIENTEDHBT 19 um 3.614.145

SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOR.

GEORGE Z. ZAWADZKl XM/Z/ /W ATTORNEYS DOGGING DEVICE FOR PANIC EXIT LATCH AND ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY My present invention is directed to the panic exit device field, and particularly to a dogging device for a panic exit latch and actuator assembly. Conventionally, means are provided for dogging the conventional panic bar in its latch-retracting position. Such panic exit devices conventionally comprise a pair of casings, mounted respectively near the opposite edges of a door and upon the interior surface thereof, a panic bar spanning the door and suspended from downwardly and inwardly curved arms having their upper ends pivotally supported in the respective casings, that casing near the free edge of the door housing a retractable latch bolt and mechanism providing an operative connection between the adjacent panic bar arm and the latchbolt whereby, upon movement of the panic bar downwardly and toward the door in an are centered upon the pivot axes of the arm, the latchbolt will be retracted. Then, the latchbolt is held in its retracted position by dogging the panic bar in its position effective to retract the latchbolt.

In my structure herein presented, the conventional pivotally supported panic bar is replaced by a push bar which is supported for bodily rectilinear movement in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the door, this rectilinearly movable bar preferably being connected by toggle means to an actuator element or a retractor element which is, in turn, connected to the latchbolt. The toggle means provides a large mechanical advantage over the latchbolt so that the latchbolt can be retracted by slight pressures against the push bar. It will be apparent, therefore, that my push bar is, in effect, a panic bar in that any forces against the bar will be directed toward retracting the latch bolt to permit opening of the door on which the bar is mounted.

Since it is frequently desirable, such as during the daytime hours in a school building, to dog the latchbolt on doors so that the doors can be easily opened from the outside, my present invention provides means for holding the latchbolt in its retracted position and cooperating means for simultaneously locking the actuator element in its latch-projected position, thereby locking the push bar in its outer position.

Other objects and features of my present invention will become apparent as this description progresses.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, the present invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a door, showing an embodiment of my assembly mounted in an operative position thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken from FIG. 1 generally along the line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, horizontal sectional view of an embodiment of my invention, illustrating fragments of a door, a door frame, a keeper and a strike plate, the parts being illustrated in a door-latched condition;

FIG. 4 is another enlarged horizontal section similar to the left-hand end of FIG. 3 and showing the parts in latchretracted position;

FIG. 5 is another enlarged horizontal section similar to the left-hand end of FIG. 3 and showing the latchbolt locked in its latch-retracted position and the retractor element locked in its latch-projected position;

FIG. 6 and FIG. 6a are fragmentary sectional views showing the control means for holding the latchbolt in its retracted position and simultaneously preventing movement of the latch retractor element, both views being taken respectively along

lines

66 and 6a-6a in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, horizontal sectional view showing a solenoid used to hold the latch bolt in its retracted position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view showing a conventional cylinder lock used with my assembly to dog the latchbolt; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken from FIG. 8 generally along the line9-9 and showing how the cylinder lock is used to drive a mechanism which shifts the position of the latchbolt.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally designates a door or other hinged closure while the reference numeral 11 generally indicates an embodiment of a latch and actuator assembly of the "panic" type and embodying my invention. A housing means 12 is proportioned and designed to span the door 10 transversely, usually about hip height, and a latchbolt 13 is mounted in the housing means for movement between the projected position illustrated in FIG. 1 and a retracted position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The housing means 12 is formed to provide a rear surface 14 and a front surface 15. The rear surface 14 is suitably secured to the interior surface 16 of the closure 10 and a push bar 17, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the panic bar, penetrates the front surface 15 of said housing means. The free edge of the closure 10 is adapted to mate with a surface of the door frame 18, upon which surface is mounted a suitable keeper 19 and a strike plate 20.

The forward surface 15 of the housing means 12 is formed with an opening 21 through which the push bar 17 penetrates with a comfortable sliding fit.

Within the housing means 12, there are mounted two

identical guide units

22 and 23 spaced apart longitudinally of the housing means; and floor means 24 is disposed within the housing means for a purpose which will appear. Each of the

units

22 and 23 is formed to provide a longitudinally extending guide surface (not shown) for slidably receiving and guiding a longitudinally extending, rodlike actuator element 23, herein sometimes referred to as a retractor element. Each

unit

22, 23 also provides a cylindrically shaped bore as a guiding surface (not shown) which extends forwardly upon an axis perpendicular to the floor means 24. Preferably, but not necessarily, a bushing 27 is provided for each such bore guiding surface.

The actuator 28 is slidably guided by the aforementioned guide surfaces of the

units

22 and 23 for rectilinear, axial movement longitudinally of the housing means 12 and perpendicular to the axes defined by the bushings 27.

As seen in the drawings, the latchbolt 13 may be pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin 29 supported within the housing means 12, for rocking movement between its projected position illustrated in FIG. 1 and its retracted position illustrated, for instance, in FIG. 4. Said bolt 13 is formed with a blocking surface which, when the parts are in the positions of FIG. 3, will affirmatively prevent movement of the closure 10 in a clockwise direction about its right-hand, hinged edge. Said bolt 13 is further formed with a camming surface 31 which, as the closure 10 moves toward closed position, will engage the strike plate 20 to turn the bolt in a clockwise direction about its pivot 29 until the latchbolt reaches registry with the socket of the keeper 19.

At its left-hand end as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 6, the actuator element 28 carries a yokelike connector block 280, each leg of which is provided with an elongated longitudinally extending slot 33. A pin 32 extends transversely through these slots 33 and through a block 34 which is disposed between the legs of the connector block 28a. A rigid link 35 including a clevis 35a provides a connection between the block 3 8 and the latchbolt 13, the block 34 being pivotal about the axis of the pin 32 and the clevis 3511 being pivotal about the axis of the connector pin 36 on the latchbolt 13. A spring 37 bears upon the extremities of the connector block 280 normally to urge the clevis35a to g the left, i.e., to the latch-projected position. This spring 37 will keep the pin 32 normally at the left-hand end of the slots 33. When the actuator element 28 is moved to the right as viewed in FIG. 6, i.e., from its latch-projected position to its latchretracted position, the left-hand ends of the slots 33 will engage the pin 32 to move the pin and the block 34 and linkage 35 to the right to move the latchbolt 13 to its retracted position. However, this means providing the operative connection between the actuator element 28 and the latchbolt 13 is a lostmotion connection in that the bolt 13 may be turned in a clockwise direction from its illustrated position in FIG. 3, by compression of the spring 37 without affecting the position of the actuator element 28. In such a case, the pin 32 can move to the right as viewed in FIG. 6 along the elongated slots 33 to retract the latchbolt 13. In this description and in the claims appended hereto, I shall sometimes refer to the connection between the actuator 28 and the latchbolt 13 as the first means providing an operative connection between the latchbolt and actuator element.

Means indicated at 38 is suitably rigidly secured to the actuator element 28 and an expansion spring 39 is sleeved on the element 28 to bear at one end against the means 38 and at its other end against the guide 23 as viewed in FIG. 3. thus, it will be seen that the actuator element 28 is normally held in its position illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein the latchbolt 13 is disposed in its projected position. Under these circumstances, the latchbolt 13 will normally stand in its projected position, and it will be moved to the retracted position of FIG. 4 upon movement of the actuator element 28 toward the 'right against the tendency of the spring 39.

My second means for providing an operative connection will now be discussed. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, two togglelike linkages or toggle means 40 and 41 establish an operative connection between the push bar 17 and the actuator element 28. Since these

linkages

40, 41 are identical, only one will be described in detail.

Each

such linkage

40, 41 comprises a first rigid link 42, one end of which is oscillably mounted upon a pivot means 43 fixed with respect to the associated

guide unit

22 or 23 upon an axis perpendicular to the line of movement of the element 28 and parallel with the floor means 24. A second rigid link 44 has one end oscillably mounted upon a pivot 45 fixed to the element 28 upon an axis parallel with the axis of the pivot means 43. The distal ends of both

links

42 and 44 are pivotally joined by pivot means 46 upon an axis parallel with the axes of the pivot means 43 and 45. Preferably, a roller 47, bearing upon the floor means 24, is journaled on the pivot means 45 and a second roller 48, bearing upon the internal surface of the push bar 17, is journaled on the pivot means 46. It will be understood that each

link

42 and 44 comprises a pair of arms straddling the associated members.

Fixed to the internal surface of the push bar 17 are two cylindrical posts 49 proportioned and designed for telescopic association with the bushings 27 and having a snug, sliding fit therein of substantial longitudinal extent so that the push bar is effectively supported thereby for bodily, rectilinear movement perpendicularly toward and away from the inner surface 16 of the closure 10. The parts are so proportioned and designed that, when the actuator element 28 is at the left-hand limit of its stroke, i.e., its latch-projected position, under the influence of the spring 39, the rollers 48 bear upon the internal surface of the push bar 17 to hold the push bar at its outer limit of its path of movement.

The structure of the toggle means 40, 41 and the manner in which they are use drivingly to connect the push bar 17 to the actuator element 28 is fully disclosed in my pending application Ser. No. 61,1 10, filed Aug. 5, 1970.

My present system includes control means for dogging the latchbolt 13 in its retracted position and simultaneously locking the actuator element 28 in its latch-projected position. This control means includes a control member 50 movable between a first position shown in FIG. 3, which is its latch-projected position, and a second position shown in FIG. 5, which is its latch-retracted position, this member 50 being provided with an elongated, longitudinally extending slot 51 which registers with the slots 33 when the member 50 and the actuator element 28 are both in their first positions, i.e., their latch-projected positions. The pin 32 extends into this slot 51 so that movement of the member 50 away from its latch-projected position toward its latch-retracted position will move the latchbolt 13 from its projected position to its retracted position. This is my third means providing an operative connection between the control member 50 and the latchbolt 13 effective to move the latchbolt to is retracted position when the control member is moved from its first position to its second position, this third connection means including a lost-motion connection so that the latchbolt 13 can be retracted without moving the member 50. Specifically, when the actuator element 28 is moved to the right as viewed in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the pin 32 will move to the right-hand end of the slot 51 without moving the member 50. In the illustrative embodiment, the member 50 is formed to provide an elongated slot 52 extending angularly outwardly relative to the direction of movement of the member 50. The purpose of this slot 52 will be explained hereinafter.

I provide a locking member or dog 53 which is mounted for pivotal movement by pivot means (pin) 54 which extends generally parallel to the axes of the pivot means 43, 45, 46. It will be appreciated that the locking member 53 is pivotally mounted on the guide means 22. A rigid pin 55 extends outwardly from the member 53 slidably to engage the elongated slot 52. The action of this pin 55 in the slot 52 causes the member 53 to pivot about its axis 54 when the member 50 is moved between its first and second position. Specifically, when the member 50 is moved from its latch-projected position to its latch-retracted position, the engagement of the pin 55 in the slot 52 will cause the member 53 to move from its position illustrated in FIG. 3 to its position illustrated in FIG. 5 i.e., its blocking or locking position. lllustratively, the connector block 280 is provided with rigid shoulder portions 58 extending outwardly relative to the direction of movement of the actuator element 28. The member 53 is provided with transversely spaced apart portions 59 which engage and block, respectively, the shoulder portions 58. When this action occurs, i.e., when the member 53 is in its FIG. 5 position to engage the shoulder portions 58, the actuator element 28 cannot be moved to the right and, consequently, the push bar 17 is locked in its outermost position. Thus, with the parts in the positions shown in FIG. 5, the latchbolt 13 is dogged in its retracted position and the actuator element 28 as well as the push bar 17 and the toggle means 40, 41 are all dogged in their respective latch-projected positions. With the parts in the positions shown in FIG. 5, any pressure against the push bar 17 or against the closure 10 will merely move the closure in a clockwise direction about its hinged edge.

In the illustrative embodiments, 1 shown a rod 56 connected to the control member 50 as indicated at 57. This rod 56 is utilized to shift the control member 50 from its first position to its second position to retract the latchbolt 13. In FIGS. 2, 3 and 60, I show a shifter mechanism indicated generally at 61 for shifting the rod 56. This shifter mechanism 61 includes a rocking member 62, which I refer to as an auxiliary key, the

head 63 of which is provided with a conventional kerf for receiving a screwdriver blade, or, for instance, a socket for receiving a wrench or other tool. An access opening 64 is provided in the surface 15 for the tool which engages the head 63. A crank member or turning lever 65 having an arm portion 66 is connected to the rocking member 62 for movement therewith. The distal end of the arm portion 66 carries a rigid pin 67 which engages an elongated slot 68 at the distal end of an arm 69 which is movable about a pivot pin 70 extending generally parallel to the axis about which the member 62 rocks. The right-hand end of the rod 56 as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 6a is pivotally connected to the arm 69 by means such as indicated at 71 in FIG. 2. Thus, when the arm 69 is shifted from its solid-line position of FIG. 6a to its broken line position of FIG. 6a, the rod 56 is moved to the right to shift the control member 50 from its latch-projected position to its latch-retracted position. A pair of relatively

stationary bracket members

72, 73 is disposed on opposite sides of the arm 69, the bracket member 72 providing a trunnion 74 coaxially aligned with the member 62 for supporting the crank 65. The arm 66 is provided with a detent concavity 75 as illustrated. In order releasably to hold the arm 69 in its two positions shown in FIG. 60, I provide a spring member 87 having two

spacedapart protrusions

88 and 89 which engage the concavity 75. The engagement of the protrusion 89 in the concavity 75 is effective to hold the arm 69 in its broken line position of FIG. 6a against the tendency of the spring 37 which, of course, urges the latchbolt 13 to its projected position.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, I show a conventional key-operated cylinder lock indicated generally at 80, the output shaft 81 of which is drivingly connected to the crank 65 of a similar shifter mechanism 61'. The advantage of the system shown in figs. 8 and 9 is that only an authorized person having a proper key can dog the latchbolt 13 in its retracted position.

Referring now to FIG. 7, it will be seen that I have shown a solenoid 82, the armature 82 of which is connected to the right-hand end of the rod 56 by a pivot lever 83. When the solenoid 80 is energized, the lever 83 is pivoted clockwise (FIG. 7) about its pivot axis 83' to move the rod 56 to the right to move the latchbolt 13 to its retracted position.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6 it will be seen that I show a pin 84 extending outwardly from the block 34. This pin 84 actuates the trigger arm 85 of a conventional microswitch (not shown) which may be wired to an alarm system. Thus, if anyone tampers with the latchbolt 13 when it is in its projected position, the arm 85 will be moved to turn on a warning light, sound an alarm, etc. Further, I shown a trigger arm 86 (FIG. 5) of a microswitch (not shown) positioned and arranged to be operated by the locking member 53 when it is in its blocking position relative to the block 28a to turn on a light or other device to indicate that the latchbolt 13 is dogged in its retracted position.

What is claer is moved to its said second pimed is:

l. A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a housing means, a latchbolt movable between a projected position and a retracted position an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element for movement between a first position and a second position, first means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latchbolt to move said latchbolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element from its first position to its second position, a panic bar supported for movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said housing means, second means providing an operative connection between said panic bar and said actuator element to move said actuator element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, control means including a control member movable between a first position and a second position and cooperating means for locking said actuator element in its said first position when said control membosition, and third means providing an operative connection between sad control member and said latch bolt to move said latchbolt to its retracted position when said control member is moved from its first position to its second position.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which said first connection means includes a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said latchbolt to its retracted position without moving said actuator element from its first position to its second position, and in which said third connection means includes a lostmotion connection permitting movement of said latchbolt to its retracted position without moving said control member from its first position to its second position.

3. The invention of claim 2 including spring means yieldably biasing said actuator element toward its first position, and in which said second connection means includes toggle means drivingly connecting said panic bar to said actuator element, said toggle means being constructed so that, when said actuator element is locked in its first position said panic bar is restrained against movement inwardly.

4. The invention of claim 2 in which said actuator element provides a rigid portion extending outwardly relative to the direction of movement of said element, and in which said locking means includes a locking member mounted for movement into a blocking position engaging said rigid portion.

5. The invention of claim 4 in which said control member provides an elongated slot inclining outwardly relative to the path of movement said control member and including a pin rigidly connected to said locking member and engaged in said slot, the direction of extension of said slot being such that, when said control member moves from its said blocking position by the camming action of said pin in said slot.

6. The invention of claim 1 in which said control means includes a solenoid arranged, when operated, to move said control member from its first position to its second position.

7. The invention of claim 5 in which said control means includes a solenoid arranged when operated, to move said control member from its first position to its second position.

8. The invention of claim 1 in which said control means includes a cylinder lock mounted in said housing means and a shifter mechanism operably connected to said lock, said shifter mechanism being connected to said control member and arranged to move said member between its first and second position.

9. The invention of claim 5 in which said control means includes a cylinder lock mounted in said housing means and a shifter mechanism operably connected to said lock, said shifter mechanism being connected to said control member and arranged to move said member between its first and second positions.

10. A panic exit latch and actuator mechanism comprising a retractor element rectilinearly movable between a latch-projected position and a latch-retracted position, means yieldably biasing said element normally toward its latch-projected position, push bar elongated in the direction of the movement of said element, means guiding said push bar for rectilinear bodily movement outwardly and inwardly in a direction perpendicular to the line of movement of said element, toggle means providing an operative connection between said push bar and said element to move said element in opposition to said biasing means away from its said latch-projected position when said push bar is moved inwardly toward said element, a latchbolt movable between a projected position and a retracted position, means providing an operative connection between said latchbolt and said element to move said latchbolt toward its retracted position when said element is moved away from its said latch-projected position, said connection means including a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said latchbolt toward its retracted position without moving said element in opposition to said biasing means from its latchprojected position, and control means for dogging said latchbolt in its said retracted position and simultaneously locking said element in its said latch-projected position.

11. The invention of claim 1% in which said control means includes a control member movable between a latch-projected positions and a latch-retracted position and a cooperating locking member for engaging said retractor element and hold ing it in its latch-projected position, and including means providing an operative connection between said latchbolt and said control member to move said latchbolt toward its retracted position when said control member is moved away from its said latch-projected position, the last said connection means including a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said latchbolt toward its retracted position without moving said control member from its latchprojected position.

12. The invention of claim 11 in which said retractor element is provided with a rigid shoulder portion extending outwardly relative to the direction of movement of said element, and in which said locking member is mounted for movement into blocking engagement with said shoulder portion.

13. The invention of claim 12 in which said control means includes means providing an operative connection between said control member and said locking member to move said locking member into engagement with said shoulder portion when said control member is moved from its latch-projected position to its latch-retracted position.

14. The invention of claim 13 in which the means providing an operative connection between said control member and its latch-projected position to its latch-retracted position.

16. The invention of claim 11 in which said control means includes a key-operated shifter mechanism for moving said control member from its latch-projected position to its latchretracted position.

"H050 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,6l4,l45 Dated October 19, 1971 lnventoflw Georqe Z. Zawadzki It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 15, "thus" should be Thus same column, 1 line 57, "use" should be used Column 4 line 45, "shown" should be show Column 5,

same column, line ,25, "shown" should be show same column, line 31, should read What is claimed is:

same column, line 34, (Claim 1, line 3) a comma should be inserted after "position",- same column, line 49, (Claim 1, line 18) should read said control member is moved to its said second position, and same column, line 50, (Claim 1, line 19) "said" is misspelled; same column, line 67, (Claim 3, line 6) a comma should be inserted after "position".

Column 6 line 3, (Claim 5, line 3) after "movement" insert of same column, line 6, (Claim 5, line 6) after "its' insert first position to its second position, said locking member is moved to its same column, line 12 (Claim 7,

line 2) a comma should be inserted after "arranged"; same column, line 19, (Claim 8, last line) "position" should be positions same column, line 30 (Claim 10 line 5) should read tion, a push bar elongated in the direction of movement of same column, line 51 (Claim 11, line 3) "positions" (first word) should be position Signed and sealed this 9th day of May 1972.

( ET? AL At Lest:

FEW 1RD PLFLETCHER ,JR. ROBERT GU'I'TSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissi onor of Pa tents

Claims

1. A panic exit latch and actuator assembly comprising a housing means, a latchbolt movable between a projected position and a retracted position an actuator element, means supporting said actuator element for movement between a first position and a second position, first means providing an operative connection between said actuator element and said latchbolt to move said latchbolt toward its retracted position in response to movement of said actuator element from its first position to its second position, a panic bar supported for movement outwardly and inwardly relative to said housing means, second means providing an operative connection between said panic bar and said actuator element to move said actuator element from its first position to its second position in response to movement of said panic bar inwardly, control means including a control member movable between a first position and a second position and cooperating means for locking said actuator element in its said first position when said control member is moved to its said second position, and third means providing an operative connection between sad control member and said latch bolt to move said latchbolt to its retracted position when said control member is moved from its first position to its second position.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which said first connection means includes a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said latchbolt to its retracted position without moving said actuator element from its first position to its second position, and in which said third connection means includes a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said latchbolt to its retracted position without moving said control member from its first position to its second position.

10. A panic exit latch and actuator mechanism comprising a retractor element rectilinearly movable between a latch-projected position and a latch-retracted position, means yieldably biasing said element normally toward its latch-projected position, push bar elongated in the direction of the movement of said element, means guiding said push bar for rectilinear bodily movement outwardly and inwardly in a direction perpendicular to the line of movement of said element, toggle means providing an operative connection between said push bar and said element to move said element in opposition to said biasing means away from its said latch-projected position when said push bar is moved inwardly toward said element, a latchbolt movable between a projected position and a retracted position, means providing an operative connection between said latchbolt and said element to move said latchbolt toward its retracted position when said element is moved away from its said latch-projected position, said connection means including a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said latchbolt toward its retracted position without moving said element in opposition to said biasing means from its latch-projected position, and control means for dogging said latchbolt in its said retracted position and simultaneously locking said element in its said latch-projected position.

11. The invention of claim 10 in which said control means includes a control member movable between a latch-projected positions and a latch-retracted position and a cooperating locking member for engaging said retractor element and holding it in its latch-projected position, and including means providing an operative connection between said latchbolt and said control member to move said latchbolt toward its retracted position when said control member is moved away from its said latch-projected position, the last said connection means including a lost-motion connection permitting movement of said latchbolt toward its retracted position without moving said control member from its latch-projected position.

14. The invention of claim 13 in which the means providing an operative connection between said control member and said locking member includes means providing a camming surface carried on said control member and means carried on said locking member and arranged to engage said camming surface.

15. The invention of claim 11 in which said control means includes solenoid means for moving said control member from its latch-projected position to its latch-retracted position.

16. The invention of claim 11 in which said control means includes a key-operated shifter mechanism for moving said control member from its latch-projected position to its latch-retracted position.