DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a panic exit device, particularly of the type to be applied, comprising a push bar longitudinally disposed along a longitudinal supporting base and movable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof.

A version of the above-mentioned panic exit device existing on the market has an emitter of an acoustic alarm signal incorporated in a recess in the push bar and that is activated when the bar is pushed.

One of the principal drawbacks of the prior-art solution is due to the components dedicated to the alarm signal emitter being located precisely in the space where the mechanical components of the kinematic mechanism are present for extraction and retraction of the latch and/or shoot bolts determining the closure points of t he panic exit device.

In particular, the kinematic mechanism must be adapted to create the space needed to house the alarm signal emission system.

Moreover, mounting, simple maintenance or inspection of the alarm signal emission system can jeopardize proper functioning of the kinematic mechanism. Therefore, the technical task of the present invention is to realize a panic exit device of the type to be applied that makes it possible to overcome the above- described technical drawbacks of the prior art.

Within the scope of this technical task, an aim of the invention is to realize a panic exit device of the type to be applied that offers great flexibility in terms of use. The technical task, as well as the stated and other aims, according to the present invention, are achieved by realizing a panic exit device of the type to be applied, comprising a push bar, longitudinally disposed along a longitudinal supporting base, and a cover for covering a longitudinal end of the base and the longitudinal end of the bar adjacent to said longitudinal, end of the base, characterized in that said cover is provided with a cylinder lock whose rotor features a cam having a first operative position in which it engages with a member for locking the cover, and at least a second operative position in which it actuates a programming microswitch of an emitter of an alarm signal.

According to the invention, for the positioning of the alarm signal emitter and the components dedicated thereto, the free space normally present in traditional panic exit devices of the type to be applied is used beneath the covering cover normally provided for protection of the longitudinal end of the device opposite the end from which the kinematic mechanism for extraction and retraction of the latch and/or shoot bolts works.

In this manner, without increasing the dimensions of the panic exit device, it is possible to separate the alarm signal emitter and the components dedicated thereto from the kinematic mechanism for extraction and retraction of the latch and/or shoot bolts.

Thus no changes in the kinematic mechanism for the extraction and retraction of the latch and/or shoot bolts are required for installation of the system of emission of an alarm signal.

Moreover, it is possible to mount, inspect and perform maintenance on the system of emission of the alarm signal without the least interference with the kinematic mechanism for extraction and retraction of the latch and/or shoot bolts and thus without jeopardizing the structural integrity and proper functioning of the latter. In this situation, the alarm signal emission system can be incorporated in the device prior to or even after installation of the device on a door.

The invention provides for a kit of accessories for the panic exit device of the type to be applied, comprising a cover and a support body, wherein the cover is provided with a cylinder lock and the support body supports a locking member designed to interfere with the cam of the rotor of the cylinder, an emitter of an alarm signal, and an electronic circuit card to which the emitter of the alarm signal, a microswitch for programming the emitter and a microswitch for activating the emitter are all connected.

In this manner, a traditional panic exit device of the type to be applied can be transformed into one provided with a system of emission of an alarm signal by simply substituting the traditional old cover with the new cover provided in the kit and applying the support body, also provided in the kit, in the space delimited by the new cover.

The provision of the cylinder lock on the cover and an owner's key prevents tampering with the system of emission of the alarm signal.

The support body is preferably positioned externally to the bar, in the longitudinally terminal section of the recess in the base, which extends beyond the longitudinal end of the bar on which the covering cover is applied.

The cylinder preferably extends in the compartment delimited by the cover along an axis that is inclined relative to the resting surface of the base. In this manner, the space occupied in the compartment is optimized, having taken into consideration the bevelled configuration of the cover.

The electronic circuit card is preferably disposed with the main plane thereof orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the base.

The panic exit device preferably provides for an autonomous power supply unit positioned in a housing obtained in the support body.

The housing for positioning the power supply unit preferably comprises at least a channel which extends longitudinally in the longitudinal direction of the base.

The locking member and the support body are preferably fashioned in a single piece that is removably fixable to the base. In this manner, it is possible to supply a kit of accessories that includes an extremely limited number of pieces.

The support body preferably comprises a first plate-like portion, a second platelike portion which extends from a front edge of the first plate-like portion and lies mainly in a plane orthogonal to the plane in which the first plate-like portion mainly lies, and at least a third plate-like portion which extends from the first plate-like portion from the same side as the second plate-like portion and lies mainly in a plane orthogonal to both the planes in which the first plate-like portion and the second plate-like portion mainly lie.

The electronic circuit card is preferably located in a position adjacent to the side of said second plate-like portion opposite the one facing said longitudinal end of the bar and has an orientation parallel to the plane in which said second plate-like portion mainly lies.

The locking member is preferably defined by a front protrusion of the third platelike portion.

The longitudinal end of the bar preferably features a cap provided with a member for actuating a microswitch for activating the emitter. In a first version of the invention, a specific cap may be provided in the kit of accessories, to replace the cap normally applied to one end of the bar of a panic exit device, in a second version of the invention, a specific cap is not provided in the kit of accessories, but the cap normally applied to one end of the bar of a panic exit device may already be provided with a member for actuating the microswitch for activating the alarm signal emitter. Moreover, this member for actuating will obviously prove to be ineffective when the system of emission of the alarm signal is not mounted on the panic exit device.

The electronic circuit card preferably has means for programming the emitter which can be actuated by the programming microswitch at least for enabling the emitter, disabling the emitter and for timed disabling of the emitter.

The emitter preferably comprises a siren.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the panic exit device of the type to be applied, according to the invention, said embodiment being illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device;

Figure 2 is a view of the device sectioned along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is an exploded axonometric view of the device appearing in Figure 1 without the cover;

Figure 4 is an axonometric view of the cover of the device;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the cap of the push bar, of the support body that is fixable to the longitudinal supporting base of the device appearing in Figure 1 , the rotor with the cam in the first operative position being the only illustrated element of the cover;

Figure 6 is an axonometric view of the cap of the push bar, of the support body that is fixable to the longitudinal supporting base of the device appearing in Figure 1 , the rotor with the cam in the first operative position being the only illustrated element of the cover;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the cap of the push bar, of the support body that is fixable to the longitudinal supporting base of the device appearing in Figure I , the rotor with the cam in the second operative position being the only illustrated element of the cover;

Figure 8 is an axonometric view of the cap of the push bar, of the support body that is fixable to the longitudinal supporting base of the device appearing in Figure 1 , the rotor with the cam in the second operative position being the only illustrated element of the cover;

Figure 9 is an axonometric view of the cap of the push bar in the pressed position of the push bar, of the support body that is fixable to the longitudinal supporting base of the device appearing in Figure 1, the rotor with the cam in the second operative position being the only illustrated element of the cover;

Figure 1 0 is a plan view of the cap of the push bar in the pressed position of the push bar, of the support body that is fixable to the longitudinal supporting base of the device appearing in Figure 1 , the rotor with the cam in the second operative position being the only illustrated element of the cover;

Figure 1 1 is a view of the assembly appearing in Figure 10, sectioned along the line 10-10.

With reference to the figures cited, a panic exit device of the type to be applied is indicated in its entirety by the reference number "1".

The device 1 comprises, in a known manner, a push bar 2 longitudinally disposed along a longitudinal supporting base 3.

More precisely, the base 3 is constituted by a U-shaped profile that receives the push bar 2, which, in turn, is constituted by a U-shaped profile having the recessed side facing that of the base 3.

The top wall 1 7 of the push bar 2 thus faces the bottom wall 18 of the base 3. whereas the side walls 1 9 of the push bar 2 are located more internally with respect to the side walls 20 of the base 3.

The bottom wall 1 8 of the base 3 has, in turn, a flat external surface 4 for resting t he base 3 against the wall of a door and window frame.

The push bar 2 is of a shorter length at the base 3 and is arranged with a front longitudinal end (not shown) substantially aligned with the front longitudinal end (not shown) of the base 3, and a rear longitudinal end 7 that is forward with respect to the rear longitudinal end 8 of the base 3.

The push bar 2 is supported by the base 3 to translatably travel reversibly in a direction orthogonal to the flat resting surface 4.

In order to fasten the base 3 to the wall of the door and window frame, there is provided, in a known manner, a fastening plate 33 at each longitudinal end of the base 3; said plate 33 engages in internal longitudinal grooves 34 in the side walls 20 of the base 3 and is retained in position against the bottom wall 18 of the base 3 by means of coupling screws 35.

The base 3 supports a kinematic mechanism of a known type in the recess in the push bar 2. for extraction and retraction of the latch (not shown) and the shoot bolts (not shown) determining the closure points of the device 1.

The kinematic mechanism comprises, in a known manner, rockers pivoted to the base 3 and oscillating in phase, in contrast to and by action of one or more flexible elements, by means of one or more synchronizing bars that connect, them.

The rockers transform the translation of the push bar 2 with which they engage, into an oscillation of the latch and into a translation of rods (not shown) bearing the shoot bolts in a direction orthogonal to the flat resting surface 4.

The device 1 has a cover 1 6 that is applicable over the rear terminal section of the base 3 and over the rear terminal section of the push bar 2.

The cover 16 has two side walls 21 suitable for surmounting the rear terminal section of the side walls 20 of the base 3 and the side walls 19 of the push bar 2, a top wall 22 suitable for surmounting the rear terminal section of the top wall 17 of the push bar 2, and a rear wall 23, which, together with the side walls 21 and the top wall 22, delimits a compartment 24, in which, as we shall see in the following, an alarm signal emission system can be positioned.

The cover 16 is provided with a cylinder lock 25 whose rotor features a cam 27 having a first operative position of engagement with a locking member 28 for locking the cover 1 6 and at least a second operative position for actuating a microswitch 29 for programming an emitter 30 of an alarm signal.

Specifically, the emitter 30 may be of an acoustic type and comprise a siren for example.

The locking member 28 and the emitter 30, together with an electronic circuit card 3 1 to which the programming microswitch 29 is connected, are supported by a support body 32 that can be positioned in the compartment, where it can be fixed to the base 3.

Advantageously, the support body 32 and the locking member 28 are made in a single piece.

The cover 1 6 has a bevel at the back, needed to avoid interference with possible external, obstacles.

For a configuration of the cover 16 such as this, the positioning of the lock precisely at the bevel was found to be suitable. The lock cylinder 25 is therefore fixed by means of a block 36 and a screw 37 in an internal housing 38 of the cover 16 and it extends from above into the compartment 24 along an axis inclined towards the front zone of the compartment 24.

The axis of the cylinder 24 in particular lies in a plane that is orthogonal to the flat resting surface 4 and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the base 3.

The support body 32 comprises a first plate-like portion 39, a second plate-like portion 40, which extends from a front edge of the first plate-like portion 39 and lies mainly in a plane orthogonal to the plane in which the first plate-like portion 39 mainly lies, and a third plate-like portion 41 and preferably a fourth plate-like portion 42 that extend from the first pi ate- like portion 39 from the same side as the second plate-like portion 40 and lie mainly in a plane orthogonal to both the planes in which the first plate-like portion 39 and the second plate-like portion 40 mainly lie.

When in the position in which it is fixed to the base 3, the support body 32 has the first plate-like portion 39 facing the bottom wall 1 8 of the base 3, and the second plate-like portion 40 facing the back end of the push bar 2, and as a result, the third plate-like portion 41 and the fourth plate-like portion 42 lie mainly in a plane oriented in the longitudinal direction of the base 3.

The locking member 28 for locking the cover 16 is defined by a front protrusion of the third plate-like portion 41 .

This protrusion is formed in a thickened area 50 of the third plate-like portion 41 delimited by a step 5 1 surmounting the head of a screw 52 protruding from a bushing 53 obtained on the internal side of the cover 1 6.

The interference created by the step 5 1 on the head of the screw 52 prevents removal of the cover 16 with a movement in a direction orthogonal to the flat resting surface 4 of the base and instead forces removal, and also application, of the cover 1 6 to be carried out with a translator/- movement thereof parallel to the longitudinal direction of the base 3.

For the same purpose, the fourth pi ate- like portion 42 also has a thickened area delimited by a step 5 1 surmounting the head of a screw 52 protruding from a bushing 53 obtained on the internal side of the cover 1 6.

The support body 32 has a housing for positioning the electronic circuit card 3 1 , a housing for positioning the emitter 30, and a housing for positioning an autonomous power supply unit for the electronic circuit card 31 and the emitter 30, and that for example, but not necessarily, comprises two batteries 45.

The housing for positioning the electronic circuit card 3 1 is adjacent to the second plate-like portion 40 and is defined between the side of the latter facing the first plate-like portion 39 and a bridge 43 connecting, at the front, the third and the fourth plate-like portions 41 and 42 in a zone proximate to the first pi ate- like portion 39. The electronic circuit card 3 1 is oriented parallel to the plane in which the second pi ate- like portion 40 mainly lies.

The housing for positioning each battery 45 comprises a respective channel 44. A first channel 44 extends longitudinally along the first pi ate- like portion 39 in the longitudinal direction of the base 3 and is positioned on the side of the third platelike portion 41 opposite the one facing the fourth pi ate- like portion 42.

A second channel 44 extends longitudinally along the first pi ate- like portion 39 in the longitudinal direction of the base 3 and is positioned on the side of the fourth plate-like portion 42 opposite the one facing the third plate-like portion 41 .

The housing for positioning the emitter 30 is located level with the ends of the second, third and fourth plate-like portions 40, 41 and 42 distal from the first plate- like portion 39.

In particular, the emitter 30 is fastened by means of a screw 48 to a shoulder 46 of the second plate-like portion 40, by means of a screw 49 to a shoulder 47 of the fourth plate-like portion 42. and also rests against a bridge 70 that connects the third and the fourth plate-like portions 41 and 42 in a zone distal from the first plate-like portion 39.

At the back end of the push bar 2, a cap 57 is fastened that is provided with a member 58 for actuating a microswitch 59, which is connected to the electronic circuit card 3 1 for activating the emitter 30. The actuating member 58 extends through a window 60 provided in the second plate-like portion 40, the activating microswitch 59 being supported by the electronic circuit card 31 from the side of the latter, opposite the side from which the programming microswitch 29 is supported.

On the side facing the support body 32, the cap 57 has a T-shaped guide 6 1 that is engageable in a guide 62 having a complementary shape present on the second plate-like portion 40 on the side facing the cap 57. The guided coupling of the cap 57 with the support body 32 allows to obtain a translation of the bar 2 in a direction orthogonal to the resting surface 4 of the base 3 with the precision required for proper actuation of the activating microswitch 59.

The electronic circuit card 3 1 has means for programming the emitter 30 which can be actuated by the programming microswitch 29 at least for permanently enabling the emitter 30, permanently disabling the emitter 30 and temporarily disabling the emitter 30.

In particular, using the key to activate the lock when the emitter 30 is permanently disabled, so as to bring the cam into the second operative position for a pre- established interval of time, for example for 3 seconds, the emitter 30 is permanently activated; using the key to activate the lock when the emitter 30 is permanently enabled, so as to bring the cam into the second operative position for the same pre-established interval of time, for example 3 seconds, the emitter 30 is permanently deactivated; and using the key to activate the lock when the emitter 30 is permanently enabled, so as to bring the cam into the second operative position for a different, pre-established interval of time, for example 1 second, the emitter 30 is temporarily deactivated for example for 1 minute.

In the case in which the emitter 30 is active, obviously pressure on the push bar 2 results in the shifting of the latter and of the actuating member 58 solidly constrained thereto, which, by moving, switches on the activating microswitch 59, which, in turn, commands the emission of the acoustic signal.

The panic exit device of the type to be applied thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all of which falling within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all the details may be replaced with technically equivalent elements.

The materials used, as well as the dimensions, may in practice be of any type according to requirements and the state of the art.