Exit device coordination mechanisms

Abstract

An exemplary exit device includes a pushbar assembly, a remote latching assembly, and a coordination mechanism. The pushbar assembly includes a latch control assembly, and the coordination mechanism biases the latch control assembly toward its actuated state. The remote latching assembly includes first and second latch mechanisms, and the latch control assembly is operable to actuate the latch mechanisms. Each of the latch mechanisms at least selectively urges the latch control assembly toward its deactuated state such that the remote latching assembly exerts a variable deactuating force on the latch control assembly. The coordination mechanism selectively retains the latch control assembly in its actuated state, thereby selectively retaining at least one of the latch mechanisms in a corresponding actuated state. When the deactuating force exceeds a threshold force value, the latch control assembly and the latch mechanisms return to the deactuated states thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 an actuation assembly, comprising:
 a mounting assembly configured for mounting to a face of a door; 
 a latch control assembly mounted to the mounting assembly for movement between a deactuated position and an actuated position; and 
 a drive assembly movably mounted to the mounting assembly, wherein the drive assembly is operable to move the latch control assembly from the deactuated position to the actuated position; 
   a remote latching assembly operably connected with the latch control assembly, the remote latching assembly comprising:
 a first latch mechanism operably connected with the latch control assembly, wherein the first latch mechanism is operable to move from a first deactuated state toward a first actuated state in response to actuation of the latch control assembly; 
 a second latch mechanism operably connected with the latch control assembly, wherein the second latch mechanism is operable to move from a second deactuated state toward a second actuated state in response to actuation of the latch control assembly; and 
 a first biasing member urging the first latch mechanism toward the first deactuated state such that the first latch mechanism exerts a first deactuating force on the latch control assembly; 
 a second biasing member urging the second latch mechanism toward the second deactuated state such that the second latch mechanism exerts a second deactuating force on the latch control assembly; and 
 a retaining member operable to selectively retain the first latch mechanism in the first actuated state by moving between a retaining position and a non-retaining position; and 
   a coordination mechanism mounted in the pushbar assembly, wherein the coordination mechanism includes a coordination mechanism biasing member urging the latch control assembly toward the latch control assembly actuated state with a first actuating force;   wherein a total deactuating force urging the latch control assembly toward the deactuated position includes the first deactuating force and the second deactuating force;   wherein a total actuating force urging the latch control assembly toward the actuated position includes the first actuating force;   wherein the exit device has a first condition in which:
 the latch control assembly is in the actuated position; 
 the retaining member is in the retaining position and retains the first latch mechanism in the first actuated state, thereby acting against the urging of the first biasing member and limiting the first deactuating force to a first force value; and 
 the total actuating force exceeds the total deactuating force and retains the latch control assembly in the actuated position, thereby retaining the second latch mechanism in the second actuated state; 
   wherein the exit device is configured to transition from the first condition to the second condition in response to movement of the retaining member from the retaining position to the non-retaining position; and   wherein with the exit device in the second condition:
 the retaining member in the non-retaining position permits the first latch mechanism to move toward the first deactuated state under the urging of the first biasing member, thereby causing the first deactuating force to increase to a second force value greater than the first force value; and 
 the total deactuating force exceeds the total actuating force and drives the latch control assembly to the deactuated position, thereby the permitting the second latch mechanism to move toward the second deactuated state under the urging of the second biasing member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation assembly further comprises a lost motion connection operably connecting the drive assembly and the latch control assembly; wherein the lost motion connection is configured to move the latch control assembly from the deactuated position to the actuated position in response to actuation of the drive assembly; and wherein the lost motion connection is further configured to permit the latch control assembly to remain in the actuated position during deactuation of the drive assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the system has a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, and a transverse axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis, the lateral axis, and the transverse axis are mutually orthogonal;
 wherein the mounting assembly includes a longitudinally-extending channel member;   wherein the first latch mechanism and the second latch mechanism are laterally offset from the actuation assembly;   wherein the drive assembly comprises a transversely-movable pushbar having a projected position in the drive assembly deactuated state and a depressed position in the drive assembly actuated state; and   wherein the drive assembly further comprises a return spring biasing the drive assembly toward the drive assembly deactuated state.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first latch mechanism is positioned at a first location remote from the actuation assembly and is operably connected with the latch control assembly via a first connector,
 wherein the first latch mechanism comprises a first housing and a first linkage movably mounted to the first housing, the first linkage having a first linkage deactuated position in the first latch mechanism deactuated state and a first linkage actuated position in the first latch mechanism actuated state;   wherein the first biasing member is mounted to the first housing and biases the first linkage toward the first linkage deactuated position;   wherein the first connector is connected with the first linkage and is configured to drive the first linkage toward the first linkage actuated position in response to actuation of the latch control assembly;   wherein the second latch mechanism is positioned at a second location remote from the actuation assembly and is operably connected with the latch control assembly via a second connector;   wherein the second latch mechanism comprises a second housing and a second linkage movably mounted to the second housing, the second linkage having a second linkage deactuated position in the second latch mechanism deactuated state and a second linkage actuated position in the second latch mechanism actuated state;   wherein the second biasing member is mounted to the second housing and biases the second linkage toward the second linkage deactuated position;   wherein the second connector is connected with the second linkage and is configured to drive the second linkage toward the second linkage actuated position in response to actuation of the latch control assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first latch mechanism further comprises a latchbolt mounted to the first housing for movement between a latching position and an unlatching position;
 wherein the first latch mechanism further comprises a blocking member operably connected with the first linkage, the blocking member having a blocking position in response to the first linkage deactuated position, and the blocking member having an unblocking position in response to the first linkage actuated position;   wherein, with the blocking member in the blocking position, the blocking member retains the latchbolt in the latching position;   wherein, with the blocking member in the unblocking position, the blocking member does not block movement of the latchbolt between the latching position and the unlatching position; and   wherein the second latch mechanism further comprises a deadbolt movably mounted to the second housing and engaged with the second linkage, the deadbolt having an extended position in response to the second linkage deactuated position, and the deadbolt having a retracted position in response to the second linkage actuated position.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the retaining member is configured to permit movement of the blocking member between the blocking position and the unblocking position when the latchbolt is in the latching position, and to retain the blocking member in the unblocking position when the latchbolt is in the unlatching position. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the coordination mechanism further comprises an anchor bracket having a fixed location relative to the mounting assembly, wherein the coordination mechanism biasing member is engaged between the anchor bracket and the latch control assembly. 
     
     
         8 . A pushbar assembly, comprising:
 a mounting assembly configured for mounting to a door;   a drive assembly having a first actuated/deactuated state that selectively and alternatively comprises a first actuated state and a first deactuated state, wherein the drive assembly is mounted to the mounting assembly for movement between the first actuated state and the first deactuated state, and wherein the drive assembly includes a pushbar operable to transition the drive assembly between the first actuated state and the first deactuated state to alter the first actuated/deactuated state;   a latch control assembly having a second actuated/deactuated state that selectively and alternatively comprises a second actuated state and a second deactuated state, wherein the latch control assembly is mounted to the mounting assembly for movement between the second actuated state and the second deactuated state;   a lost motion connection operably connecting the drive assembly and the latch control assembly, wherein the lost motion connection is configured to move the latch control assembly from the second deactuated state to the second actuated state in response to movement of the drive assembly from the first deactuated state to the first actuated state, and wherein the lost motion connection is further configured to permit the latch control assembly to remain in the second actuated state when the drive assembly moves from the first actuated state to the second deactuated state; and   a coordination mechanism mounted to the mounting assembly and engaged with the latch control assembly, the coordination mechanism urging the latch control assembly toward the second actuated state with an actuating input force, wherein the actuating input force is independent of the first actuated/deactuated state.   
     
     
         9 . The pushbar assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the latch control assembly includes a movable component mounted for movement relative to the mounting assembly, the movable component having an actuated position in the second actuated state, and the movable component having a deactuated position in the second deactuated state;
 wherein the coordination mechanism comprises an anchor bracket and a biasing member;   wherein the biasing member is engaged between the anchor bracket and the movable component and exerts an actuating force urging the movable component toward the actuated position, thereby contributing to the actuating input force; and   wherein the anchor bracket is mounted to the mounting assembly and provides an anchor point for the actuating force exerted by the biasing member.   
     
     
         10 . The pushbar assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the biasing member has a first end portion and an opposite second end portion, wherein the anchor bracket is engaged with the first end portion and limits movement of the first end portion in a first direction, and wherein the movable component is engaged with the second end portion and limits movement of the second end portion in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         11 . The pushbar assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the anchor bracket defines a channel and includes a flange projecting into the channel, wherein the biasing member is received in the channel, and wherein the flange is engaged with the first end portion. 
     
     
         12 . The pushbar assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the biasing member comprises a compression spring. 
     
     
         13 . The pushbar assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the coordination mechanism further comprises a sleeve defining a chamber and a slot connected with the chamber, wherein the sleeve is received in the channel, wherein the compression spring is received in the chamber, and wherein the flange extends into the chamber via the slot. 
     
     
         14 . The pushbar assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the sleeve further comprises an end wall positioned between the movable component and the second end portion, and wherein the movable component is engaged with the second end portion via the end wall. 
     
     
         15 . The pushbar assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the movable component comprises a pair of arms and a shoulder positioned between the arms; wherein the arms extend through the channel and are positioned on opposite sides of the flange; and wherein the shoulder abuts the end wall of the sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . An exit device, comprising:
 a mounting assembly configured for mounting to a door, the mounting assembly defining a case configured for mounting to a face of the door;   a latch control assembly mounted to the mounting assembly for movement between an actuated state and a deactuated state, wherein the latch control assembly is urged toward the actuated state by a cumulative actuating force, and wherein the latch control assembly is urged toward the deactuated state by a cumulative deactuating force;   a first latch mechanism positioned remotely from the case, wherein the first latch mechanism is operably connected with the latch control assembly via a first connector such that actuation of the latch control assembly causes a corresponding actuation of the first latch mechanism, and wherein the first latch mechanism is configured to selectively exert a first deactuating force contributing to the cumulative deactuating force; and   a second latch mechanism positioned remotely from the case, wherein the second latch mechanism is operably connected with the latch control assembly via a second connector such that actuation of the latch control assembly causes a corresponding actuation of the second latch mechanism, and wherein the second latch mechanism is configured to exert a second deactuating force contributing to the cumulative deactuating force;   a coordination mechanism mounted in the case and engaged between the mounting assembly and the latch control assembly, wherein the coordination mechanism is configured to exert a first actuating force contributing to the cumulative actuating force;   wherein the exit device has a first condition in which the first deactuating force contributes to the cumulative deactuating force, the cumulative deactuating force exceeds the cumulative actuating force, and the latch control assembly is biased to the deactuated state; and   wherein the exit device has a second condition in which the first deactuating force does not contribute to the cumulative deactuating force, the cumulative actuating force exceeds the cumulative deactuating force, and the latch control assembly is biased to the actuated state.   
     
     
         17 . The exit device of  claim 16 , wherein the first latch mechanism comprises a first bolt having a first extended position and a first retracted position;
 wherein the second latch mechanism comprises a second bolt having a second extended position and a second retracted position;   wherein the first latch mechanism is configured to retain the first bolt in the first extended position when the first latch mechanism is deactuated; and   wherein the second latch mechanism is configured to retain the second bolt in the second extended position when the second latch mechanism is deactuated.   
     
     
         18 . The exit device of  claim 17 , further comprising a pushbar assembly including the mounting assembly, the latch control assembly, and the coordination mechanism;
 wherein the pushbar assembly further comprises a drive assembly movably mounted to the mounting assembly;   wherein the drive assembly is operably connected with the latch control assembly via a lost motion connection; and   wherein the lost motion connection is operable to move the latch control assembly from the deactuated state to the actuated state in response to actuation of the drive assembly, and to permit the latch control assembly to move between the actuated state and the deactuated state when the drive assembly is deactuated.   
     
     
         19 . A system including the exit device of  claim 18 , the system further comprising a door having a first face, a second face opposite the first face, a top edge, a bottom edge opposite the top edge, a hinge edge, and a swinging edge opposite the hinge edge,
 wherein the pushbar assembly is mounted to the first face of the door;   wherein the first latch mechanism is mounted to the door adjacent the top edge;   wherein the second latch mechanism is mounted to the door adjacent the bottom edge; and   wherein each of the first latch mechanism and the second latch mechanism is nearer to the swinging edge than to the hinge edge.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the door further comprises a door preparation in which the remote latching assembly is positioned;
 wherein the door preparation comprises:
 an upper cavity extending downward from the top edge, wherein the first latch mechanism is seated in the upper cavity; 
 an upper channel extending downward from the upper cavity, wherein the first connector extends through the upper channel; 
 a lower cavity extending upward from the bottom edge, wherein the second latch mechanism is seated in the lower cavity; and 
 a lower channel extending upward from the lower cavity, wherein the second connector extends through the lower channel; and 
   wherein the free edge of the door is substantially unbroken by the door preparation.