Field of the Invention

The invention relates to aperture closure and, in particular, to a system of providing a hingedly mounted aperture closing device system.

The invention has been developed primarily for doors, barriers and windows requiring a relatively high level of security and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to security doors or windows and is applicable to other applications such as security barriers, horizontal or vertically extending security screens, access hatches, safes, custodial rooms, security rooms, and storage boxes or covers, for example.

Background of the Invention

Hinged doors that swing open and closed are now used for a very wide range of applications that include, but are by no means limited to, security cupboards and storage facilities, strongrooms, custodial rooms and enclosures, armouries, egress and entry doors, panic rooms, safety deposit boxes, safes or cash rooms and boxes, and many different types of screens. Hingedly mounted doors and barriers are also used to provide ballistic, attack and impact protection, or as an entry or exit deterrence.

Typical doorframe designs allow a door to swing open in a single direction, usually after a locking or latching device has been released. For these applications the door usually closes upon a rebated section formed into the side and head members of the door frame.

To allow these doors to swing open and closed, the door is pivotally affixed to the doorframe or surrounding structured by a hinge mechanism (or more often a plurality of hinges) disposed on or near a marginal edge of the door. One or more lock or latch mechanisms secure the door to the doorframe or surrounding structure to prevent the door opening when the lock is engaged. With current door systems, the doorframe provides a structure for the door to close upon and thereby limits the door's movement in only one direction of rotation. That is, the doorframe structure does not provide any direct resistance to the door swinging back to the open position. With doorframes of this type, the lock and hinge mechanisms, and any other associated hardware retain the door in the closed position or prevent it from being dislodged from the doorframe.

Although the current door system designs allow a door to be highly resistant to loads that force the door towards the doorframe, a door is reliant upon the strength of the lock and hinge mechanisms, and the mechanism mountings to retain the door in the closed position aligned with the doorframe.

The use of multipoint locks is one known attempt at providing a solution to this problem. However, these locking solutions usually have considerable manufacturing, installation, and operating complexities that can significantly increase the overall costs, while also limiting many of the control and operating functions. Further, in many cases they not only provide an undesirable appearance but these lock systems can severely compromise some aspects of the safety, and security features that are usually required.

Furthermore many of the known lock and hinge mechanisms are vulnerable to tampering or damage by being fitted to the external surface of the door or doorframe, or being mounted within the door structure, so that there is minimal protection against actions that will allow the door to be opened in one direction of rotation.

Where current hinge mechanisms are used to pivot large and/or heavy doors, the hinge mechanisms usually provide a single pivot axis that is located beyond the external face of the doorframe and door. Large safes are usually configured in this manner. With such configurations, these hinge mechanisms usually have the hinge pivot components exposed and easily subject to damage or tampering. Where a door opens outward, large doors seldom have a hinge pivot mechanism installed within the doorframe, or on the secure or inside area of the door and doorframe assemblies, where they are protected from damage or tampering. Where this type of hinge is now use, the addition of hinge bolts or other hardware to maintain the hinged stile of the door retained against the doorframe is often required.

Current locking mechanisms are designed to prevent doors and other types of barrier from being opened by providing one or more solid metal segments that pass between the door and doorframe or their associated structures. With all these locking devices, the metal segments that secure the door do so by imparting a lateral sheer load on the locking member, or a torsion or extension type of load in the case of "hook" style locks. In all current door lock designs, any force applied to open the door is then applied to the lock and strike housing, the mounting hardware, and the surrounding structure that the lock and strike mechanisms are affixed.

It is understood installation of and effectiveness of current lock and hinge hardware can produce limitations. These include reducing the strength of the doors or require additional structural features that may increase the weight and cost of the doors.

Although there are applications where the previously described deficiencies do not impair the effectiveness the current solutions provide, and the current solutions will be adequate, there are many applications where the current solutions are inadequate, defective, or inappropriate, and a better solution which makes the door more resistant to forced opening, or a solution that does not require large, complex or expensive locking or hinge mechanisms, particularly for security, or high strength applications, would be highly desirable.

The Genesis of the Invention

The genesis of the invention is a desire to provide a hinged door or window system that addresses any one or more of the aforementioned deficiencies in the art, or to provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing a movable aperture closing system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a hinge stile frame member and an opposing capture stile frame member wherein the frame members are adapted to be disposed along opposing marginal edges of an aperture, each frame member being elongate and having a frame face with a channel of predetermined depth disposed substantially along the length of elongation such that each channel in the hinge stile member and opposing capture stile member faces oppose each other;

providing an aperture closing device having an internal face and an external face, the closure device faces extending intermediate spaced apart upper and lower marginal edges and spaced apart hinge side and capture side marginal edges;

providing a hinge intermediate the hinge stile frame member and the internal face of the aperture closing device such that the aperture closing device is adapted to move from a closed captive position covering the aperture wherein the hinge side and capture side marginal edges of the aperture closing device are retained within respective hinge stile and capture stile frame member channels to an uncaptured position wherein at least the capture side marginal edge of the aperture closing device is clear of the capture stile frame member channel and free to move to uncover the aperture, the hinge being further adapted to permit movement of the aperture closing device toward or away from respective hinge stile and capture stile frame member channels.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a movable aperture closing system comprising:

a hinge stile frame member and an opposing capture stile frame member wherein the frame members are adapted to be disposed along opposing marginal edges of an aperture, each frame member being elongate and having a frame face with a channel of predetermined depth disposed substantially along the length of elongation such that each channel in the hinge stile member and opposing capture stile member faces oppose each other;

an aperture closing device having an internal face and an external face, the closure device faces extending intermediate spaced apart upper and lower marginal edges and spaced apart hinge side and capture side marginal edges;

a hinge intermediate the hinge stile frame member and the internal face of the aperture closing device such that the aperture closing device is adapted to move from a closed captive position covering the aperture wherein the hinge side and capture side marginal edges of the aperture closing device are retained within respective hinge stile and capture stile frame member channels to an uncaptured position wherein at least the capture side marginal edge of the aperture closing device is clear of the capture stile frame member channel and free to move to uncover the aperture, the hinge being further adapted to permit movement of the aperture closing device toward or away from respective hinge stile and capture stile frame member channels.

Generally, it can therefore be seen there is advantageously provided a hinged door or window system that is able to be held captive within a pair of opposing doorframe edges that is able to move clear of the frame to allow the door or window to then be able to be rotated by one or more hinges disposed along a marginal edge of the door or window.

Furthermore, there is advantageously provided a system in which one or more locking members are used to secure the door in a closed captive position so that initial sliding movement of the door provides a compressive force between a marginal edges the door and the locking members whereby the locking members limit sliding movement within the frame rather than retaining the door or window to the frame as is conventionally the case. That is, in the present invention a latch is not coupled to the door or window and used to secure the door or window to an adjacent frame (or vice versa) but rather a lock or block is used to prevent movement of the door or window within the frame whereby the frame itself stops the door or window from moving to open the aperture.

Yet further, there is also provided a self aligning hinging mechanism to accommodate movement of the door or window into and out of captivity in the frame, as well as an internal handle mechanism to allow the door or window to be slid as part of the action of turning a handle so that the door or window may be opened with substantially the same user action as a conventional hinged door or window.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide a captive doorframe in a system that overcomes some, of not all, of the aforementioned described deficiencies or limitations of the prior art. Further, preferred embodiments provide a more effective alternative to known hinged door frame design including hinging and locking solutions. This is at least in part because a captive doorframe system of the preferred embodiments provides a captive doorframe structure that has an integrated locking function whereby the captive doorframe holds two opposing vertical edges of the door captive within the doorframe structure to prevent the door being forcibly opened out or in when the door is in the closed and captive position. Also a door retained by the frame advantageously prevents any forced opening loads being applied to the hinge or locking mechanisms other than a compressive load applied to the locking block(s).

Preferred embodiments of the present invention also provide mechanisms to enable the door to swing open and closed, as well as allowing the door to move slide sideways to enter and leave the captive position within the doorframe.

In other preferred embodiments, there is provided an associated lock control mechanisms that is affixed to the interior door and/or the doorframe to enable the locking mechanism to be manually and/or electrically operated to engage and disengage the locking medium (locking block(s)) that retain the door in the captive position.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention advantageously allows a door to swing open and closed while also moving in a defined sliding motion, so as to allow the door to comply with many commercial design requirements whereby the door can be unlocked and then swing open as the result of a single downward action upon a lever or handle. Current lock designs do not provide a locking method which retains the door in the locked position by having a compressive load directly upon the locking member, the door and doorframe structure and they also do not provide a locking method that does not produce a load upon the locking mechanism other than the locking medium, when the door is being forced to open and the lock is maintaining the door securely closed as is advantageously provided by preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an elevated inside perspective view of a moveable aperture closing system according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevated outside perspective view of the closing system of Fig 1 ;

Fig. 3 is an elevated perspective view of the stile frame members of the system of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the system of Fig. 1 with a door in a closed captive position;

Fig.5 is a top view of the system of Fig. 1 with a door closed over the aperture but not captive with the captive style frame member;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the system of Fig. 1 with a door moved clear of the captive style frame member;

Fig. 7 is a top view of Fig. 6 with a door in a more open position;

Fig. 8 is a top view of the system of Fig. 7 with the door or a door in a fully open position;

Fig. 9 is an elevated perspective view of the door hinge of the system of Fig.

8;

Fig. 10 is a top view of the system of Fig. 1 with a door moved clear of the captive style channel;

Fig. 11 is an isometric perspective view of a guide mechanism for the movable aperture closing device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is an elevated isometric perspective view of the guide mechanism of Fig. 11 in a configuration preventing the door moving toward the hinge style frame member;

Figs. 13 and Hare top view of Figs. 11 and 12 respectively showing some internal components of the guide mechanism;

Figs. 15 to 30 show various views of a door locking mechanism being mechanical or electrically actuatable of the system of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 31 to 41 are various views of an aperture closing device release mechanism of Fig. 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to the drawings generally, like reference numerals have been used to denote like components unless expressly noted otherwise. In the drawings, for example Figs 1 & 2, there is shown a movable aperture closing system 1. The system 1 comprises a hinge stile frame member 2 and an opposing capture stile frame member 3. A top frame member 4 is disposed intermediate the top end 5 of the hinge stile frame member 2 and the top end 6 of the opposing capture stile frame member 3. Although not clearly shown, the frame members 2 & 3 are adapted to be disposed along opposing marginal edges of an aperture being in the form of a doorway 7 in the preferred embodiment.

Each frame members 2, 3 and 4 are formed from pressed or rolled metal and are tied into the edges of the aperture 7 with any gaps filled with concrete as desired. In other embodiments, not illustrated, the frame members 2, 3 & 4 are integrally formed in the aperture 7 such as in pre-formed concrete panel/s forming the aperture 7.

Each of the hinge stile 2 and capture stile 3 frame members are elongate forming the sides of the doorway 7 in the preferred embodiment. Each stile member 2 & 3 has a frame face 8 (or soffit) with a channel 9 of predetermined depth disposed substantially along the length of elongation of each member 2 & 3. Each channel 9 in the hinge stile member 2 and opposing capture stile member 3 faces oppose each other and each extends a predetermined depth to an end 10. In the preferred embodiment, the channels 9 are square in section, as described further below.

The system 1 further includes an aperture closing device 20 in the form of a door being movable about a substantially vertical axis. The door has an internal face 21 and an external face 22 (see Figs 1 & 2 for example). The door faces 21 & 22 extend intermediate spaced apart upper (top) 23 and lower (bottom) 24 marginal edges and intermediate spaced apart hinge side 25 and capture side 26 marginal edges. In the preferred embodiment, the door 20 is solid and formed from metal or timber.

However, it may be any preferred such as stiles and cross rails.

A hinge 30 is located intermediate the hinge stile frame member 2 and the internal face 21 of the door 20. The hinge 30 is configured to allow the door 20 to move: (i) from a closed captive position (see Fig. 4 for example) where the door 20 covers the aperture and the hinge side 25 and capture side 26 marginal edges of the door 20 are retained within respective hinge stile 2 and capture stile 3 frame member channels 9; (ii) to an uncaptured position where the capture side marginal edge 26 of the door 20 is clear of the capture stile frame member channel 9 but still covering the doorway 7. The door 20 is free to move to uncover the aperture 7. The hinge is adapted to permit movement of the 20 toward or away from respective hinge stile and capture stile frame member channels 9.

As noted above, the channel 9 in each hinge stile 2 and capture stile 3 frame member is substantially rectangular in profile. Further, each of the hinge stile 2 and capture stile 3 frame member channels 9 each include a longitudinal stop section 31 to limit movement of the door 20 moving into the closed position. This is best seen in Fig. 4.

Along the length of the stop section 31 of the hinge stile 2 frame channel 9 projects across the channel a predetermined distance being to assist in the movement of the door 20 into and out of the closed capture position. Further, a stop section 32 is disposed substantially along the length the top frame member 4 and is configured to limit the rotational motion of the upper marginal edge 23 of the door 20 into the closed position.

As seen in the drawings of the preferred embodiment, the channel 9 on each of the hinge stile 2 and capture stile 3 frame members are substantially the same width. Also, the hinge stile 2 frame member channel 9 has a greater depth than the capture stile 3 frame member channel 9.

It will be appreciated that the system 1 can include an elongate lower frame member 40 that extends between a lower end 41 of the hinge stile 2 and capture stile 3 frame members. A stop 41 is disposed substantially along the length the lower frame member 40. The stop 41 is adapted to limit rotational motion of the lower marginal edge 24 of the door moving into the closed position.

As described further below, the hinge 40 of the system 1 is rotatable about one or more of three substantially parallel axes 43 of rotation thereof. Plates 42 are disposed intermediate axes 43. It will be appreciated the hinge 40 can be a single elongate hinge disposed substantially parallel to the hinge side marginal edge 25 of the door, or (not illustrated) can include a plurality of spaced apart hinges 40 each being substantially parallel to the hinge side marginal edge 25 of the door 20. As is described further below with respect to Figs 15 to 28, the system 1 includes one or more locking blocks 50 that are able to be moved between the hinge stile frame member 2 and the hinge side marginal edge 25 of the door 20. In this way, the locking block/s prevent movement of the hinge side marginal edge 25 of the door 20 further into the channel 9 of the hinge stile frame member 2 so as to prevent the capture side marginal edge 26 of the door 20 from being able to be moved clear of the capture stile 3 frame member channel 9 when the door 20 is in the closed capture position (ie allowing the door 20 to be moved clear of the capture stile 3 channel 9.

It will be appreciated that by mechanical or electrical means described below, the blocks 50 are configured to be movable out of the channel 9 of the hinge stile 2 frame member so as to to allow movement of the door 20 from the closed captive capture position where the door 20 is not captured but still covering aperture 20 and able to rotate about hinge 40 to move clear of the aperture 7.

In the preferred embodiment, the system 1 includes a hand operable aperture closing device release mechanism 60 for causing movement of the door 20 from the closed captive position. The release mechanism 60 has a hand operable actuator 61 disposed on the internal face 21 of the door 20 and is configured to be moved by a handle 62 to cause the door 20 to move away from the channel 9 in the capture stile 3 frame member during movement of the handle 62. Once the handle 62 is fully moved the door 20 capture side marginal edge 26 is free of the capture stile 3 frame member channel 9.

That is, in one action of the handle 62 the door 20 is moved out of captivity with the capture stile channel 9 and is then free to rotate to uncover the aperture 7.

Furthermore, the release mechanism 60 is configured to disengage any locks, blocks or latches 70 preventing movement of the door 20 into the hinge stile 2 frame channel 9. This is achieved during rotation of the handle 62 before moving the door 20 away from the capture stile 3 frame member channel 9.

Once the release mechanism 60 has been actuated to move any locks or block and release door captive marginal edge 26 from captive stile 3 frame member channel 9 re-sets to re-engage any locks, blocks or latches 50 when the capture marginal edge 26 of the door 20 is moved into captivity with the capture stile 3 frame member channel 9.

As best seen in Figs. 11 and 12, the system 1 of the preferred embodiment further includes a guide mechanism 80 that hingedly mounted to the external face 22 of the door 20 at a distal end 81 and hingedly mounted at the other proximal end 82 to an external side 83 of hinge stile frame member2. The guide mechanism 80 is configured to prevent movement of the door 20 capture side marginal edge 26 to captively engage with the capture stile 3 frame member channel 9 until the door 20 capture side marginal edge 26 is adjacent the capture stile 3 frame member channel 9 when moving the door 20 into the closed position.

As described in more detail below, the guide mechanism 80 is adapted to position the hinge side marginal edge 25 of the door 20 for manoeuvring into and out of engagement with the hinge stile 3 frame member channel 9 when closing or opening the door 20 respectively. Further, the guide mechanism 80 is configured at or adjacent its distal end 81 to cause the door 20 to rotate thereabout (ie about the external face 22) when moving the door hinge marginal edge 25 out of the hinge stile 2 frame member channel 9. The mechanism 80 is also adapted at or adjacent its proximal end 82 to cause the door 20 adjacent its hinge side marginal edge 25 to rotate about an axis thereabout (ie an axis on the external side 83 of the hinge stile 2 allowing the door 20 to move clear of the aperture 7.

The system 1 advantageously provides a captive doorframe and locking system that uses the doorframe structure rather than the lock and hinge mechanisms, to keep a door closed, and thereby prevent a door swinging open, or being dislodged from the doorframe. With this system 1, when the door 20 is closed and moved into the closed captive position, it is the doorframe structure 2, 3 that prevents the door 20 from swinging open and not the locking or hinge mechanisms. In the preferred

embodiment, the door 20 is retained within the doorframe 2, 3by having the entire length of the two door stiles 24, 25 housed within channels 9 that are formed into the doorframe's two side stile members 2,3. To open the door from the captive position, the door 20 must first slide sideways relative to the doorframe to disengage the captive marginal edge 26 of the door 20 from the doorframe's retaining channel section 9. The door can then swing to the open position.

In the captive position the doorframe retains the door closed by having any external load that is applied to the door, to force it towards or away from the opening direction, being transferred directly to the doorframe structure. There is no load applied to the lock, hinge or door guidance mechanisms. Sideways movement of the door towards the captive position is directly limited by the frame structure, and away from the captive position by the locking block(s) which provide a compressive load that is applied to the hinge stile ember and thereby to the surrounding structure.

The preferred embodiment includes an integrated lock mechanism 90 (as described below) that is installed in the hinge stile 2 of the doorframe and retains a closed door in the "captive" position by entering the "locked" state by means of block/s 70. The locking mechanism 90 inserts one or more non-compressible metal blocks 70 (locking block(s)), into a portion of the void that is formed between the door marginal edge 25 and captive stile 2 frame member channel 9 when the door 20 has moved sideways into the closed captive position, to prevent the door 20 moving sideways and out of the closed captive position. The lock mechanism 90 can be manually and/or electrically operated to move the block/s 70 into and out of the locking position.

Referring to Fig. 9, the hinge 40 is shown in detail. The hinge 40 has the knee plates 46 of such a shape and size to provide a door rotation angle that is less than 180 degrees, or provide a different appearance. The hinge 40 has stile frame mounting plate 42 which is rigidly affixed to the hinge stile member 2 (not shown in Fig. 9).

Fig. 11 shows an isometric view of the door guidance mechanism 80. This includes a control arm 84 and the control arm mounting plate 85, that are pivotally attached to the outside frame member 83 by the pivot pin 86. A latching plate 87 is pivotally attached to the control arm 84, and the latching plate 87 has the operating post 88 rigidly attached so as to disengage the latching plate 87 from the latching pin 89 when the door 20 becomes aligned with the frame member 4 in such a position to slide into the closed captive position. The guidance mechanism 80 further includes a door clamp assembly 92 which is slideably housed within the control arm 84 and includes a chassis plate 93 to which is attached the door clamp latching plate 87, return spring 95, and a cam activation roller 96.

The door clamp assembly 92 is moved to a fully retracted position by the spring 95, and the cam activation roller 96 is positioned at the minimum extension position against the cam profile 97 on the mounting plate 85, and the door clamp latching plate 99 is not engaged with the strike housing 100.

The guidance mechanism 80 further includes a door coupling assembly 101 which is slideably housed within the control arm 84, and includes coupling chassis 102, the roller spindle 103, two guide rollers 105 that keep the coupling assembly 313 aligned within the control arm 84, the return spring 106, and the latching pin 89 which is affixed to the chassis 102. The door coupling assembly 101 further includes the door clamp strike housing 100, that is either integrated with the coupling chassis 102, or is a separate plate.

The door coupling assembly 101 is in the retracted position within control arm 84, in the position that would be associated with the door 20 not being in the closed captive position. In this position the latching plate 87 is engaged with the latching pin 89 and thereby holding the door coupling assembly 101 and the door 20, rigidly affixed to the control arm 84, and thereby preventing the door coupling assembly 101 from slideably moving within the control arm 84.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the door pivot guidance mechanism 80 in an extended position when the door 20 is in the closed captive position. Latching plate 87 is pivotally attached to the control arm 84 and the latching plate 87 has the operating post 88 rigidly attached so as to disengage the latching plate 87 from the latching pin 89 when the door 20 becomes aligned with the doorframe head member 4 in such a position to slide into the closed captive position. The door coupling assembly 101 which is slideably housed within the control arm 84 and includes the coupling chassis 102, the guide roller 105 that keeps the coupling assembly 101 aligned within the control arm 84, the latching pin 89 is affixed to the chassis 102. The door coupling assembly 101 further includes the door clamp strike housing 99.

The door coupling assembly 101 is in the extended position within control arm 84, in the position that would be associated with the door 20 being in the closed captive position. In this position the latching plate 87 is not engaged with the latching pin 89 and thereby allowing the door coupling assembly 101 to slideably move within the control arm 84.

Referring to Fig. 13, the guidance mechanism 80 includes the latching plate 87 that is pivotally attached to the control arm 84 and latching plate 87 has the operating post 88 rigidly attached so as to disengage the latching plate 87 from the latching pin 89 when the door 20 becomes aligned with the doorframe head member 4 in such a position to slide into the closed captive position. The door coupling assembly 101 is slideably housed within the control arm 84 and includes the coupling chassis 102, the guide roller 105 that keeps the coupling assembly 101 aligned within the control arm 84, the latching pin 89 is affixed to the chassis 102.

The door coupling assembly 101 is in the retracted position within control arm 84, in the position that would be associated with the door 20 not being in the closed captive position. Here, the latching plate 87 is engaged with the latching pin 89 and thereby preventing the door coupling assembly 101 from slideably moving within the control arm 84.

Turning now to Figs 15 to 29, there is shown various views of a door locking mechanism 110 in various configurations. Mechanism 110 has an electric actuation mechanism 122 in a the position where the locking block 50 is in the engaged position. Lock body 111, the latch control arm 112, and the lock control arm 113. The latch control arm 112 and lock control arm 113 are pivotally affixed to the lock body 111 by the pivot pin 114. The lock control arm 113 includes a recess (not shown) to receive the lock control arm operating post 115.

A first lock operating plate 116 is pivotally affixed to the lock body 111 by a pivot pin and plate 116 includes the lathing pin 117, and control arm operating post 115 that are both rigidly attached to the operating plate 116. The lock operating plate 116 further includes lock operating roller 118 which is attached to the plate 116. The locking block 50 is pivotally attached to the lock body 111 by the pivot pin 119. The locking block 50 has a second operating roller 120 attached. When the lock mechanism operating plate 121 in the position where roller 118 is not acting upon the plate 121 and the locking block 50 is in the engaged position, and the plate 121 is not acting upon the roller 120.

Preferably, locking mechanism 110 includes an electric lock actuator 122 attached to the lock body 111 and has the lock actuation cam 123 attached to an actuator shaft, and the lock actuation roller 124 is affixed to the actuation cam 123. A door engagement arm 124 is affixed to the spring plate 125 that is pivotally affixed to the lock body 111. The spring 126 imparts a load on the spring plate 125 and thereby the door engagement arm 124 to move the door 20 towards the closed captive position when the door is closed against the doorframe stops.

The locking mechanism 110 can have the lock mechanism operating 121 in the position where the roller 118 is acting upon the plate 121 so as to thereby have the plate 121 act upon the roller 120 and move the locking block 50 to the disengaged position such as is shown.

Also shown is an embodiment where locking mechanism 110 does not have an electric actuation mechanism, such as in Fig. 18. Here, the locking block 50 is in the disengaged position. The latch control arm 112 is in the position where it is engaged with the latching pin 117 and thereby prevents the lock mechanism operating plate 116 rotating about a pivot post and thereby retaining the locking block 50 in the disengaged position.

In one configuration shown, the latch control arm 112 is in the position where it is not engaged with the latching pin 117 and the control arm 112 does not prevent the lock mechanism operating plate 116 rotating about pivot post 117 and thereby allowing the locking block 50 to move into the engaged position when the lock control arm 113 is not retaining the plate 116. The roller 411 is in the position to allow the operating plate 406 to be in the position whereby it does not act upon the roller 408 ,and thereby allow the locking block 409 to rotate about the pivot pin 410 and reside in the disengaged position.

It will be appreciated that allowing the lock mechanism 110 to be manually operated from a lever mechanism 60 to cause the locking block(s) 50 to disengage, and thereby to allow the door to be opened. After the locking block 50 has been disengaged by moving clear the further rotation of the manual operating lever 62 causes the door 20 to move sideways so that the door is no longer in the captive position, and thereby is in a position to swing open. This also serves to automatically operate the locking mechanism to cause the locking block(s) to engage when the door slidably moves into the captive position.

The door mounted release mechanism 60 is rigidly affixed to the inside (non-secure ) side of the door 20 and is advantageously separate from the locking mechanism. This operates the locking mechanism via two operating bars 130 and 131 that move to abut their respective locking mechanism control arm , when the door closes and when the lock operating mechanism's lock operating lever is rotated. Mechanism 60 also causes the two operating bars 130 & 131 to move towards the lock operating mechanism 110 when the door 20 slideably moves out of the closed captive position.

The mechanism 60 further causes the locking mechanism to disengage by moving the locking block(s) out of the locking void between the door and doorframe, when the door is closed and in the captive position, and the lock operating lever is rotated. It also causes the locking mechanism to engage the locking block(s) by extending the catch release rod and thereby releasing the lock disengagement release catch, when the door slideably moves into the captive position. Additionally, mechanism 60 allows the locking mechanism to latch the locking block that has been moved into the disengaged position, by moving the locking block disengagement catch operating bar so that is it is not in contact with the locking mechanism's latch operating lever, in circumstances where the lock disengagement operating bar is moving away from the lock operating chassis, as the result of the manual operating lever being manually rotated to operate the lock as stated above, and when the lock operating mechanism is slideably moving the door out of the captive position; to cause the lock mechanism to retain the locking block in the disengaged position when the manual operating lever is depressed in an action to cause the lock mechanism to move the locking block to the disengaged position, and then retain the locking block(s) in the disengaged position while the door moves out of the captive position and swings open; to allow the door to move out of the captive position in circumstances whereby the lock mechanism has been electronically operated to retract the locking block and the manual operating lever is not operated; to cause the door to slideably move out of the captive position within the doorframe by rotating the manual operating lever beyond the point at which the locking block is moved into the disengaged position; to also allows the manual operating lever to be operated to disengage the lock's locking block without applying a slideable movement on the door, until the locking block has moved into the disengaged position that is not within the locking void; to enable a separate key operated actuation mechanism installed in the doorframe key stile member or the door to operate the locking mechanism so as to cause the locking block(s) to disengage; and to enable a separate key operated actuation mechanism installed in the doorframe key stile member to operate the locking mechanism's lock actuation plate so as to cause the locking block(s) to disengage .

Referring generally now to Figs 31 to 41, there is shown in plan view a preferred embodiment of a hand operable door release mechanism 60. The chassis plate 501 upon which the other components are affixed or reside within is affixed to the door 20 through holes 502. The Roller 1 503 is rigidly affixed to the spindle Plate 505 and the engagement latch control arm 1 504 is pivotally affixed by the pivot post 534 which is rigidly affixed to the chassis plat 502. Also, the spindle plate 505 is rigidly affixed to the operating lever spindle 507.

The Spring 1 507 is a torsion spring centered on the lever spindle 507 to produce a turning bias on the spindle plate 505 to cause the plate to return to position 1 as shown in Fig 31. The operating Lever 508 allows the manual operation of the mechanism 500 where the lever 508 includes a square drive recess to accommodate the operating lever spindle 507 and thereby transmit any rotational load that is applied to the lever 508 to the spindle 507 and thereby to the Spindle Plate 505. The door actuation plate 509 is slideably affixed to the chassis plate 501 by the guide bushes 510 that are rigidly affixed to the chassis plate 501. The guide slots 511 allow the plate 501 to slide sideways in relation to the chassis plate 501. The door actuation plate 509 includes a contact surface 515 upon which the roller 3 513 can apply a load to the plate 509 to cause it to slide sideways.

The roller 2 513 is rigidly affixed to the spindle plate 505. The stop pin 514 is rigidly affixed to the spindle plate 505 and controls the movement of the isolator control arm 529. The stop pin 515 is rigidly affixed to the door actuation plate 509 to limit the movement of the engagement latch control arm 2 relative to the door actuation plate 509.

The tension spring 516 is attached to the release rod operating arm 2 520 to provide a load to bias the release rod operating arm 2 520 to reside against the stop Pin 2 515. The tension spring 517 is attached to the engagement latch control arm 1 528 to provide a load to bias the engagement latch control arm 1 528 to reside against the engagement latch control arm 504. The tension springs 516 and 517 are affixed to the door actuation plate 509 at the plate return 518.

The pivot post 1 519 is rigidly affixed to the door actuation plate 509 to allow the pivotal rotation of the release rod operating arm2 520 and engagement latch control arm 1. The release rod operating arm 2 520 is pivotally affixed to the pivot post 1 519.

The tension spring 521 is attached between the release rod operating arm 520 and the release rod operating arm 528 to provide a spring bias to maintain the release rod operating arm 528 in contact with the roller 1 503 or roller 3 530 or have the roller 4 531 make contact with the roller guide slot 532.

The pivot post 2 522 is rigidly affixed to the release rod operating arm 2 520. The lock disengagement operating bar 523 is pivotally affixed to the pivot post 2 522. The lock engagement catch operating bar 524 is pivotally affixed to the pivot post 3 535. The pivot post 3 525 is rigidly affixed to the engagement latch control arm 1 527. Further, the pivot post 4 526 is rigidly affixed to the release rod operating arm 2 520. The engagement latch control arm 1 527 is pivotally affixed to the pivot post 1 519. The isolator control arm 529 is pivotally affixed to the chassis plate 501 to rotate about a common axis of the spindle plate 505. The roller 3 530 is rigidly affixed to the isolator control arm 529. The roller 4 531 is rigidly affixed to the release rod operating arm 528. The roller 4 guide slot 532 is formed into the chassis guide plate 533. The chassis guide plate 533 is rigidly affixed to the chassis plate by fasteners (not shown). The pivot post 5 534 is also rigidly affixed to the chassis plate 501

Fig. 31 shows the position where the door 20 is in the closed captive position and the control mechanism 60 is not being manually operated. The release rod operating arm 1 529 is held in a position by roller 3 530 so that the sideways movement of the operating arm 1 529 towards the door 20 will not cause the operating arm 1 529 to coincide with roller 1 503.

Referring to Figure 32, the mechanism 60 is in position 2 where the door 20 is in the closed captive position and the mechanism 60 has had the manual operating lever 508 rotated about 5 degrees from horizontal. Rotation of the lever 508 causes the spindle plate 505 to rotate and move the stop pin to allow the isolator control arm 509 to move the roller 3 530 and thereby allow the release rod operating arm 1 529 to move into the position whereby further rotation of the spindle plate 505 will cause the roller 1 503 to engage with the end of the release rod operating arm 1 529. Rotation of the spindle plate 505 allows the engagement latch control arm 1 524 to rotate about pivot post 5 534 and thereby cause the engagement latch control arml 527 to rotate about the pivot post 1 519 and thereby retract the lock engagement catch operating bar 524.

Referring to Figure 33, mechanism 60 is in position 3 where the door 20 is closed and in the captive position and the control mechanism 500 has had the manual operating lever 508 rotated about 8 degrees from horizontal. The further rotation of the lever 508 and spindle plate 505 has caused the roller 1 503 to engage with the release rod operating arm 1 528 and cause the further retraction of lock engagement catch operating bar 524. Fig. 34 shows the mechanism 60 in position 4 where the door 20 is in the closed captive position and the control mechanism 60 has had the manual operating lever 508 rotated about 20 degrees from horizontal. The further rotation of the lever 508 and spindle plate 505 has caused the roller 1 503 to engage with and move the release rod operating arm 1 528 so that it thereby causes the release rod operating arm 520 to rotate about the pivot post 1 and thereby extend the lock disengagement operating bar 523. The engagement point of the roller 1 503 with the end of the release rod operating arm 1 528 is controlled by the roller 4 engaging with the control surface in the roller 4 guide slot 532 that is cut into the chassis guide plate 533. The rotation of spindle plate 505 also causes the isolator control arm to rotate and to disengage roller 3 530 from the release rod operating arm 1 528 and allow the engagement latch control arm 1 504 to move and thereby cause the lock engagement catch operating bar 524 to further retract.

Fig. 35 shows the mechanism 60 in position 5 where the door 20 in the closed captive position and the control mechanism 500 has had the manual operating lever 508 rotated about 36 degrees from horizontal. The further rotation of the lever 508 and spindle plate 505 has caused the roller 1 503 to move the release rod operating arm 1 528 to cause the lock disengagement operating bar 523 to further extend and cause the roller 4 530 to move along the inclined surface of the roller 4 guide slot 532 and thereby cause the release rod operating arm 1 528 to move away from full

engagement with the roller 1 503.

Fig. 36 shows the mechanism 60 in position 6 where the door 20 is in the closed captive position where the mechanism 60 has had the manual operating lever 508 rotated about 37 degrees from horizontal. The further rotation of the lever 508 and spindle plate 505 has caused the roller 1 503 to be in a position of contact with the end of the release rod operating arm 1 528 that is above the rotating diameter of the centre of roller 1 503 in relation to the rotational axis of the spindle plate 505.

Fig. 37 shows the mechanism 60 in position 7 where the door 20 is closed and in the captive position and the control mechanism 60 has had the manual operating lever 508 rotated about 37 degrees from horizontal. With the release rod operating arm 1 528 contacting the roller 1 503 above the load applied by spring 2 516 to the release rod operating arm 2 520 and thereby to the release rod operating arm 1 528 causes the lower edge of the release rod operating arm 1 528 to ride over the roller 1 503 and move into a position where the release rod operating arm 2 522 is in contact with the stop pin 2 515 and thereby retracts the lock disengagement operating bar 523 to the original position shown in fig 31. The roller 3 513 is now in contact with the roller 2 contact surface 512 on the door actuation plate 509.

Fig. 38 shows the mechanism 60 in position 8 where the door 20 is in the closed captive position and the control mechanism 60 has had the manual operating lever 508 rotated about 71 degrees from horizontal. The rotation of the lever 508 and spindle plate 505 has caused the roller 2 513 to slidably move the door actuation plate 509 so that it extends from the mechanism chassis plate 501 and cause the lock

disengagement operating bar 523 and lock engagement catch operating bar 504 to further retract towards the mechanism 60.

Fig. 39 shows the mechanism 60 in position 9 where the door 20 is closed and not in the captive position and the control mechanism 500 has the manual operating lever 508 returned to the horizontal position by spring 1 506. The stop pin 1 514 causes the isolator control arm 529 to rotate about the spindle 507 axis and thereby cause the engagement latch control arm 1 527 to rotate about pivot post 5 534 and thereby rotate the engagement latch control arm 1 527 to rotate about pivot post 1 519 and thereby extend lock engagement catch operating bar 524.

Referring to Figure 40, the mechanism 60 is in position 10 where the door 20 is closed and has moved to the captive position and the control mechanism 60 has had the manual operating lever 508 rotated to the horizontal position. Moving the door 20 to the closed captive position causes the doorframe (not shown) to move the door actuation plate 509 to the position shown and thereby move the release rod operating arm 2 520 to the position which extends the lock disengagement operating bar 523 to a position where operation of the manual operating lever 508 will cause the bar 523 to operate the lock mechanism (not shown).

The movement of the door actuation plate further causes the engagement latch control arm 527 to slidably move along the top surface of the engagement latch control arm 1 504 and thereby rotate about pivot post 1 519 and thereby extend the lock engagement catch operating bar 524 to a position where it will disengage the lock disengagement catch (not shown). The foregoing describes preferred embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the arts, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The term "comprising" (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used inclusive sense of "including" or "having" and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of.