WO2012080856A1 - Antipanic handle - Google Patents

Abstract

Panic bar, comprising a push bar (4, 5) constituted by at least one profile (5) with two lever elements (4) each laterally hinged on a structure (1, 2, 3, 6) comprising a fastening plate (1) to the leaf or door; said fastening plate (1) comprises a first part (1.1), made of metal and constituting the structural fastening element of the plate (1) to the door and the rotation element of the lever element (4) of the push bar (4, 5, 5.1), and a second part (1.2), made of plastic material encompassing said first structural part (1.1) constituting the aesthetic and connecting element with the relative lever element (4) of the push bar (4, 5, 5.1). This first structural part (1.1) is joined to the second aesthetic and connecting part (1.2) during the moulding of the second aesthetic and connecting part (1.2). Each lever element (4) comprises a structural and connecting part (4.1) made of plastic material, suitable to be connected to the push profile (5, 5.1) and to be hinged to the fastening structure (1, 2, 3, 6), equipped with a metal activation element (4.2), preferably made of metal incorporated in the structural and connecting part (4.1).

Description

ANTIPANIC HANDLE

DESCRIPTION

This patent is related to safety devices to open doors in the event of the need to evacuate the premises and in particular refers to panic bars to push open emergency doors.

For some types of premises such as hospitals, public establishments, schools, theatres, etc., escape routes with specific characteristics are required.

In particular, the doors of escape routes must be able to be opened with a simple push.

Panic bars are known which include a push bar hinged to two structures attached to the sides of the same panel of a door; one of the two structures comprises the door latch mechanism and the connection between the bar and the latch.

A push, horizontal or downward, on the bar causes the latch to retract, releasing the door so it can be opened.

Known panic bars have the push bar made of a profile, upon which pressure is exerted, fastened at each of its two ends to a lever hinged to one of the two fastening structures applied to the door.

A push on said profile turns said lever elements, one of which acts on the latch's retraction mechanism contained in the relative fastening structure. Each of the two fastening structures, left or right, of the panic bar may contain the control mechanism of the latch of the door.

Depending on the application and the specific case, the mechanism is mounted on the left or right structure in the suitable manner to control the retraction of the latch. The current structures for fastening the push bar consist of a structural plate and an aesthetic casing.

The structural plate serves to fasten the handle to the door panel or leaf of the door, to constitute the seat for the hinge of the push bar lever element, and to constitute the seat for the mechanisms to transfer motion from the push bar to the control mechanism of the latch of the door.

The aesthetic casing only performs the function of covering the structural plate, covering the various mechanical-functional parts and giving a better aesthetic appearance to the structure.

Normally the structural plates are made of metal material, while the aesthetic casings are made of plastic.

It follows that it is necessary to produce and store both structural metal plates and thermo formed covering elements.

In addition, during assembly it is necessary to mount the two parts: the structural plates and the coverings made of thermoformed material with an aesthetic function.

The known panic bars have leverage elements which are substantially orthogonal, or in any case only slightly inclined, with respect to the profile of the push bar. Consequently, a generally frontal push, be it horizontal or downward, causes the opening of the door, while a very lateral push on the lever element or on the push bar is not likely to cause the opening of the door. For example, having an emergency door with a known panic bar, substantially aligned with the wall of the room, a lateral push on the lever element made for example with a cart or a bed on wheels is not likely to open the door.

In the case of existing doors with traditional handles and latch in the thickness of the door which must be equipped with panic bars, the existing latch mechanism must be removed and a new latch mechanism installed, on the outside of the door, with the relative panic bar.

A new panic bar is the subject of this patent.

One of the aims of the new panic bar is to reduce the number of parts to be produced, to be stocked, and to be installed on existing doors.

Another of the aims of the new panic bar is to be able to apply it either on leaves or doors that have a latch on the right or left.

Another of the aims of the new panic bar is to be able to open it with lateral force on the handle, in particular laterally to the lever element of the push bar.

Another of the aims of the new panic bar is to be applied to doors with traditional latch mechanisms.

These and other aims, direct and complementary, are achieved by the new panic bar comprising a push bar, composed of a profile and two lateral lever elements each of which is hinged to a fastening structure.

Each fastening structure comprises a mounting plate and a command element.

The plate functions as a means of fastening to the door or leaf, as a hinge for the push bar and seat of rotation for the command element.

This plate is flat on the side that is applied to the door or leaf and shaped and formed so as not to require any aesthetic casing on the side opposite the door or leaf.

In particular, this plate comprises two parts:

a first part of the plate is made of metal and is the structural fastening element of the plate and of rotation of the related lever element of the push bar; a second part of the plate is made of plastic, preferably by moulding, encompassing said first structural part and constitutes the pin and connection and protection element with its related lever element of the push bar.

Said first structural part preferably has a generally U-shaped section the central wall of which between the two wings of the U-shaped section is the wall on which the plate rests and is fastened to the wall of the door, while the side wings of said U-shaped section comprise the rotation seats of the lever element of the push bar.

There are holes on the central wall of the U-shaped section of said first structural part for screws or similar fastening elements of the plate to the door as well as holes, openings and/or seats for the passage and/or housing of the command elements, of mobile parts of the levers for the connection and the command of the latch of the door lock.

There are holes and/or seats on the side wings of the U-shaped section of the first structural part for the rotation of the lever element of the push bar and for at least one rotation pin of the lever element of the push bar.

The first structural part and the second portion of the plate are joined during the moulding of the aesthetic and connecting second part so that the first structural part is firmly and properly joined to the aesthetic and connecting second part.

The profile of the push bar has a linear form and can have any suitable section, preferably elliptical.

Each lever element of the push bar is able to be coupled with the profile of the push bar and to be hinged on the fastening structure. In particular, each lever element has a form such that, hinged to the fastening structure and coupled with the profile, it is tilted downward and toward the centre of the door or leaf of the door.

Both of these angles are equal to or greater than 40 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane and with respect to the vertical and orthogonal plane of the leaf or door.

Each lever element comprises a structural and connecting part made of plastic equipped with a with a metal activation element.

The structural and connecting part is suitable to be connected to the push profile and to be hinged to the fastening structure.

The metal activation element is preferably made of metal and joined to the structural and connecting part during the moulding of the structural and connecting part of the lever element itself.

This metal activation element has a generally flat shape with, in its part facing the inside of the fastening structure, one end or one projection or in any case one portion suitable to act on the retraction mechanism of the latch housed in the fastening structure itself.

An elastic element is applied or inserted between the lever element of the push bar and the fastening structure so as to maintain or return the push bar to the raised position with respect to said fastening structures.

The control element consists of a generally flat element, having a square hole centrally positioned suitable to house and couple with the square control pin of the latch.

In particular, said control element has, laterally to the square hole and in positions diametrically opposed to that square hole, two surfaces or seats orthogonal to the larger surfaces of the control element and generally parallel to the axis of the square hole. These two surfaces or seats are designed to couple and receive movement from the end, projection, or portion of the lever element of the push bar so as to rotate the control element and the square pin of the latch mechanism housed in its square hole.

The control element is housed in the plate of the fastening structure in a position such as to be inserted into the square pin of the door when the fastening structure is applied to the door or leaf of the door.

A rotation element is foreseen between the control element and the plate, typically a ball or roller bearing.

The fastening structures and the push bar are applied on the leaf or door in such a way that:

a first fastening structure is applied to the square pin, with the square pin housed inside the square hole of the control element, a second fastening structure is applied to the opposite edge of the leaf or door,

the push bar is applied to the fastening structures.

When the push bar is pressed, the lever element rotates around its hinges with the fastening structures.

Consequently the end, projection or portion of the metal activation lever element rests and pushes on one of the connecting surfaces of the control element, causing its rotation.

The rotation of the control element causes the rotation of the square pin and thus the retraction of the latch, releasing the door so that it can be opened. The particular shape of each lever element, inclined downward and toward the centre of the door or the leaf of the door enables the activation of the push bar even in the case that the push occurs sideways to the lever elements. The attached drawings present a practical embodiment of the invention by way of a non- limiting example.

Figure 1 shows the separate parts and a lock (A) of a door, Figure 1.1 shows the control element (2), and Figures 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 show three views of the new panic bar assembly.

The new panic bar comprises two fastening structures (1, 2, 3, 6) and a push bar (4, 5, 5.1), consisting of a profile (5, 5.1) and two lateral lever elements (4)·

Each lever element (4) of the push bar (4, 5, 5.1) is suitable to be coupled with said profile (5) of the push bar (4, 5, 5.1) and to be hinged on the fastening structure (1, 2, 3, 6).

In particular, each lever element (4) has a shape such that, hinged to the fastening structure (1, 2, 3, 6) and coupled with the profile (4, 5, 5.1), it is tilted downward and toward the centre of the door or leaf of the door.

Each lever element (4), represented in Figures 3.1 and 3.2, comprises a structural and connecting part (4.1) made of plastic with a metal activation element (4.2).

The structural and connecting part (4.1) is suitable to be connected to the push profile (5, 5.1) and to be hinged to the fastening structure (1, 2, 3, 6). The metal activation element (4.2), shown in detail in Figure 4, is preferably made of metal and is incorporated into the structural and connecting part (4.1) during the forming of said structural and connecting part (4.1) of the lever element (4) itself.

This metal activation element (4.2) has a generally flat shape with, in its part facing towards the inside of the fastening structure (1, 2, 3, 6), one end (4a) or a projection or in any case a portion suitable to act on the retraction mechanism of the latch housed in the fastening structure (1, 2, 3, 6) itself. Each fastening structure (1, 2, 3, 6) comprises a plate (1) and a control element (2).

In particular, said plate (1), shown in detail in Figures 5.1 and 5.2, comprises two parts:

- a first part (1.1) of the plate (1), shown in detail in Figures 6.1 , 6.2 and 6.3, is made of metal and is the structural fastening element of the plate (1) and of rotation of the related lever element (4) of the push bar (4, 5, 5.1);

- a second part (1.2) of the plate (1) is made of plastic material, preferably by moulding which encompasses said first structural part (1.1), and constitutes the aesthetic and connecting element with the relative lever element (4) of the push bar (4, 5, 5.1).

Said first structural part (1.1) preferably has a generally U-shaped section the central wall (1.1a) of which between the two wings (1.1b) of the U- shaped section constitutes the support and fastening wall of the plate (1) to the wall of the door, while the lateral wings (1.1b) of said U-shaped section comprise the seats of rotation (1.1c) of the lever element (4) of the push bar (4, 5, 5.1).

On said central wall (1.1a) of the U-shaped section of said first structural part (1.1) there are holes (l . ld) for screws or similar fastening elements to secure the plate (1) to the wall of the door as well as holes, openings (l . le) and/or seats for the passage and/or housing of the command elements, of mobile parts of the levers for the connection and the command of the latch (s) of the door lock (A).

On said lateral wings (1.1b) of said U-shaped section of said first structural part (1.1) there are holes and/or seats (1.1c) for the rotation of the lever element (4) of the push bar (4, 5, 5.1) and for at least one rotation pin of said lever element (4) of the push bar (4, 5, 5.1). Said first structural part (1.1) and said second part (1.2) of said plate (1) are joined during the moulding phase of the second aesthetic and connecting part (1.2) so that said first structural part (1.1) is stable and properly coupled to the second aesthetic and connecting part (1.2).

The control element (2), shown in detail in Figure 1.1, has a generally flat shape of two concentric semicircles (2.1, 2.2), opposite each other and with a different diameter.

Centrally to the control element (2) is a square hole (2.4) suitable to house the square pin (P) of the control of the latch (S).

The connection surfaces (2.3) between each end of a semicircle (2.1) and the corresponding end of the other semicircle (2.2) constitute two surfaces or seats suitable to couple and receive movement from the lever element (4) of the push bar (4, 5). These connecting surfaces (2.3) are generally aligned with the diameter or in any case parallel to the diameter, are generally orthogonal to the larger surfaces of the control element and generally parallel to the axis of the square hole (2.4).

The control element (2) is housed in the plate (1) by means of an element of rotation (3), typically a ball bearing or roller.

The profile (5) of the push bar (4, 5) has a linear shape, in this example it has an elliptical section and has a front flange (5.1).

It is possible to foresee that the front flange (5.1) is photo luminescent so as to allow the identification of the panic bar, and thus the emergency exit door, even in conditions of poor or no lighting.

Each lever element (4) of the push bar (4, 5) is suitable to be coupled with said profile (5) and to be hinged on the fastening structure (1, 2, 3, 6). In particular, each lever element (4) has a shape such that, when assembled with the other parts, it is inclined downward and toward the centre of the door or leaf of the door.

Each lever element (4) comprises, in its part facing the inside of the fastening structure (1, 2, 3, 6), one end or projection or in any case a portion suitable to act on the control element (2) of the fastening structure itself. An elastic element (6) is applied or inserted between the push bar (4, 5) and structure (1, 2, 3, 6) so as to maintain or return the push bar (4, 5) to the raised position with respect to the fastening structures (1, 2, 3, 6).

When the push bar (4, 5) is pressed each lever element (4) rotates on the fastening structure (1), the end, projection or portion of the lever element (4) rests and pushes on one of said connection surfaces (2.3) of the control element (2) turning it, so the rotation of the control element (2) causes the rotation of the square pin and thus the retraction of the latch, releasing the door so it can be opened.

The particular shape of the lever elements (4), tilted down toward the centre of the leaf or door, enables the push bar (4, 5) to be activated, even in the event that the push occurs laterally to said lever elements.

The particular shape and constitution of the fastening structure (1, 2, 3, 6) enables its use both on the right side and on the left side of the door panel or leaf of the door without the need for adaptations.

The shape of the fastening structure (1, 2, 3, 6) does not require the use of aesthetic covering elements.

Both the lever element (4) and the plate (1) are made by moulding the plastic part (4.1, 1.2) on the metal part (4.2, 1.1). This results in a considerable savings of metal material, which is more expensive, resulting in finished elements without the need for additional aesthetic and/or covering elements.

Both the lever element (4) and the plate (1) thus obtained weigh less than lever elements and plates made entirely of metal or with the same mechanical strength.

Therefore, with reference to the preceeding description and the attached drawings the following claims are made.

Claims

Panic bar, comprising a push bar (4, 5) constituted by at least one profile (5) with two lever elements (4) each laterally hinged on a fastening structure (1 , 2, 3, 6) to the leaf or door, each structure (1, 2, 3, 6) comprising a fastening plate (1), characterized in that said fastening plate (1) comprises:

a first part (1.1) made of metal and forming the structural element for fastening the plate (1) to the door and for the rotation of the relative lever element (4) of the push bar (4, 5, 5.1);

- a second part (1.2) made of plastic material encompassing said first structural part (1.1) constituting the aesthetic and connection element with the relative lever element (4) of the push bar (4, 5, 5.1),

and where said first structural part (1.1) is coupled with said second aesthetic and connecting part (1.2) during the moulding of the plastic material of said second aesthetic and connecting part (1.2).

Panic bar, according to claim 1, characterized in that said first structural part (1.1) of the fastening plate has a substantially U-shaped section, and where the central wall (1.1a) comprised between the two wings (1. lb) of the U-shaped section is the support and fastening wall of the plate (1) to the wall of the door, while the side wings (1.1b) of said U-shaped section comprise the rotation seats (1.1c) of the lever element (4) of the bar push (4, 5, 5.1).

Panic bar, according to claim 1, characterized in that each lever element (4) comprises a structural and connecting part (4.1) in plastic material equipped with a metal activation element (4.2), and where said structural and connecting part (4.1) is suitable to be connected to the push profile (5, 5.1) and to be hinged to the fastening structure (1,

2,

3, 6), and where said metal activation element (4.2) is preferably made of metal and is incorporated in the structural and connecting part (4.1).

4. Panic bar, according to claim 3, characterized in that said metal activation element (4.2) is joined to that structural and connecting part (4.1) during the moulding of said structural and connecting part (4.1) of the lever element (4) itself.

5. Panic bar, according to claims 3, 4, characterized in that said metal activation element (4.2) has a generally flat shape with, in its part facing the inside of the fastening structure (1, 2, 3, 6), one end (4a) or a projection or in any case a portion suitable to act on the latch (S) retraction mechanism housed in the fastening structure (1, 2, 3, 6) itself.

6. Panic bar, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one structure (1, 2, 3, 6) comprises a control element (2) that is rotatable in or on said fastening plate (1) and connected to the latch mechanism (S), and where said lever element (4) hinged on the fastening plate (1) equipped with a control element (2) is mechanically connected to said control element (2), and where the pressure on the push bar (4, 5) causes the rotation of each of the lever elements (4), the rotation of the control element (2) and the activation of the mechanism to retract the latch (S).

7. Panic device, according to claim 6, characterized in that said control element (2) is a generally flat element, having a square hole (2.4) located centrally suitable to house and couple with the square pin (P) of the control of the latch (S), and where said control element (2) has, laterally to said square hole (2.4) and in positions diametrically opposed to said square hole, two surfaces or seats (2.3), generally parallel to the axis of the square hole suitable to couple with and receive movement from the metal activation element (4.2) from the hinge element (4) of the push bar (4, 5).

8. Panic bar, according to claim 6, characterized in that the control element (2) has a generally flat shape constituted by two concentric half circles (2.1, 2.2), opposite each other, and with different diameters with connecting surfaces (2.3) between each end of a semicircle (2.1) and the corresponding end of the other semicircle (2.2) substantially flat, generally aligned with the diameter or in any case parallel to the diameter and generally orthogonal to the larger surfaces of the control element and suitable to couple with and receive movement from the metal activation element (4.2) of the hinge element (4) of the push bar (4, 5), and where said control element (2) has a square hole (2.4) centrally located suitable to house and couple with the square pin (P) of the latch mechanism (S).

9. Panic bar, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an elastic element (6) applied or inserted between the push bar (4, 5) and structure (1, 2, 3, 6) so as to maintain or return the push bar (4, 5) to a raised position with respect to said structure (1, 2, 3, 6).

10. Panic bar, according to claim 1, characterized in that each hinging element (4) has a shape such that, when assembled with the other parts, it is inclined downward and toward the centre of the door or the leaf of the door, and where said angles are equal to or greater than 40 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane and the vertical and orthogonal plane of the leaf or door.