US2320298A - Panic bolt - Google Patents

Description

May 25, 1943.

E. J. G. PHILLIPS PANIC BOLT Filed Aug. 2, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet l m\m 5g s N Hifi/3,.,

May 25, 1943. E. .1 G. PHILLIPS 2,320,298

PANIC BOLT Filed Aug. 2, 1940 6 She'ets-Sheet 2 May 25, 1943.

E. J. G. PHILLIPS PANIC BOLT 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 2, 1940 May 25, 1943. E. J. G. PHILLIPS PANIC BOLT 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 2, 1940 BNQ May 25, 1943; E. J. G. PHILLIPS 2,320,298

PANIC BOLT Filed Aug. 2, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 3 *SEM/32 Elli/'S :[62 Phillips May 25, 1943. E. J. G.. PHILLIPS 2,320,298

PANIC BOLT Filed Aug. 2, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented May 25, 1943 PANIC BOLT Ellis J. G. Phillips, Aurora, Ill., assignor to Richards-Wilcox Manufacturing Company, Aurora, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,777

19 Claims.

My invention relates to emergency release door latches frequently referred to in the trade as panic bolts.

In situations where crowds are gathered, such as in theaters and assembly halls, there is always the danger of people becoming injured from the rush of the crowd in case of fire or other imminent danger. In such danger, the impulse of the crowd is to charge blindly against any closed door in an emergency exit and if there is any delay or difculty in getting the door open many persons are likely to be crushed or trampled on by the crowd. Any such door must afford a means of escape which is operable automatically and which does not require thinking by the fleeing crowd. It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an emergency door latch which will operate on the first contact of a person against it.

Another object of my invention is to provide a latch which can be operated from outside the door as well as from the inside, and which can be locked against operation from the outside without interference with the automatic release from the inside.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch which will in ordinary circumstances serve as a spring door latch with the additional feature of emergency release when needed.

The door is provided with a bar which will operate to trip the latch when pressure is exerted against the bar, and continued pressure will force the door open. This bar is located in such a position that contact by any person, whether an adult or a child, will operate it. It is an object of the invention to provide an operating bar which will move horizontally when pressure is exerted against it, as distinguished from downward movement which is a feature of most such release latches, thus eliminating rubbing of the bar against a persons body since in horizontal movement of the bar the body will move along with it.

Another important object is to provide a release bar for the latch which can be grasped by the hand and operated without danger of pinching the hand when it is operated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is characterized by its simplicity of design and low cost of manufacture.

from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in

vWhichr l Figure 1 is a plan view of a door embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the operating parts of the device in an alternate position;

Figure 3 is an elevational View of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 2 showing the device as being operable by two diierent means;

Figure 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Y Figure 6 is a view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a View of a modified form of the device of my invention;

Figure 8 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a View similar to Figure 9 but showing the operating parts in an alternate position;

Figure 11 is a front elevational view of another modification of my invention; and

Figure l2 is a plan View of the device shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a plan view of a modied form of release latch;

Figure 14 is an elevational view of another form of 'release latch;

Figure 15 is a plan View of the device shown in Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken on the line lli-I6 of Figure 15, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 1'7 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line II-I'I of Figure 14;

Figure 18 is a sectional view' of the latch bolt assembly used with the form of device of Figure 14; and

Figure 19 is an elevational view showing two forms of latches cooperating to retain double doors closed.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a door is indicated generally by the reference numeral II which is supported by hinges I2 in a wall I3 for outward swinging movement. A jamb I4 is positioned at the other end of the door and secured to the jamb is a latch bolt keeper I5 yadapted to be engaged by a latch bolt on the door to hold the door closed. On the inside of the door is provided a bar or rail I6 against which a per- `son may exert pressure to operate the device and open the door in case of emergency. Mounted on `the door are two plates I1 and I9 each with projecting lugs 2|] in which levers 2| and 22 respectively, may be pivoted on pins 23. The opposite ends of the levers 2| and 22 are pivoted in U- shaped brackets 24 and 25, respectively, see Figure 5, which are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the bar I6.

A lock assembly, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 26, is located near the closing end of the door and comprises a housing 21 which is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the door by means of ears 29 which extend outwardly from the housing 21. Positioned within the housing is the usual latch bolt 30 provided with a tapered edge 3| which rides over the keeper I in the closing motion of the door. A reduced shank 32 is attached to the rear end of the latch bolt and extends outwardly of the housing 21 and is surrounded by compression spring 34 which reacts between the latch bolt and the rear end of the housing 21 to bias the latch bolt to latched position. Pivotally connected with the reduced shank 32 of the latch bolt are a pair of links 35, the other ends of which are pivoted at 36 at the point of connection between the lever 2| and the bracket 24.

On the outside of the door is mounted a bracket 31, bolted to the door or otherwise secured as desired, having lugs 39 in which is pivoted an outside release handle 40. The handle is suitably shaped for grasping by the hand and is provided with a forked member 4 I, see Figure 6, which eX- tends through the door and ts over the reduced shank 32 of the latch bolt to have a one-way motion transmitting connection with the latch bolt. The other end of the handle has an aperture 40' for locking the handle. In the position of the handle in Figures 1 and 2 it may be looked by a padlock 42, or similar device, by passing the hasp of the lock through the aperture 45' and through a corresponding `aperture in a bracket 43, which bracket is bolted on the outside of the door next to the handle.

In the position of the device shown in Figure l, the latch bolt is in locked position, being held in this position by the spring 34 and the bar is in outwardly deflected position, i. e., away from the door. When pressure is exerted against the bar from the inside of the door, the levers 2| and 22 turn about their pivots 23 in a counterclockwise direction, and consequently the bar will follow the movement of the levers and will be forced inwardly toward the door and also at the same time laterally of the door in a direction away from the jamb I4. In this motion away from the jamb I4, the bar will unlock the latch bolt 3|) through the links 35. Figure 2 shows the bar I6 in its innermost position against the door. The levers 2| and 22 are so shaped that when they reach the position shown in Figure 2 the bent portions of the levers will abut against the door and act as a check against further movement of the bar I6. As will be seen from these two iigures the latch may be operated by the bar I6 without interference by the outside release handle 40, and it may even be accomplished when the handle 40 is locked against movement, since the forked member 4| merely has a one-way motion transmitting connection against shoulders 35 projecting outwardly from the adjacent end ofthe links 35; This is also true even if the outside release handle 40 should be temporarily ,frozen against motion by snow or ice.

The U'shaped brackets 24 and 25 are of appreciable length so that the bar I5 is positioned at some distance from the point cf connection of CII ILD

the links with the bracket 24, and if the bar should be grasped by the hand between it and the links 35, the hand will not be injured as the bar is forced toward the door. The bar I6 has only limited movement toward the door because the stop shoulders 2| and 22 on the levers 2| and 22, respectively, abutting against the door prevent the bar I6 from being moved any closer to the door than the position it occupies in Figure 2, where it can be easily seen that there is ample space between the bar and the links 35. It is obvious that no matter where the bar I6 is grasped pinching of the hand is prevented, and this safety feature is not limited to the space between the bar and the links 35.

Figure 4 shows the operation of the device from the outside by means of the handle 45. The handle, when it is grasped and pulled outwardly from the door, pivots about the pivot 38, and the forked extension 4|, which is integral with the handle 4I), consequently rotates with it and acts to unlatch the latch bolt. Thus it will be seen that the device can be operated from either side of the door, and it can be locked against operation from outside the door, While at the same time allowing the emergency release to operate from the inside.

In Figures 7 to 10, inclusive, is shown an application of the operating bar of the previous embodiments to a different form of latching means. The reference numeral II indicates the door generally, and at the top and bottom are latch bolt keepers and 46 against which latch bolts are adapted to engage to hold the door closed. A latching assembly 41 is secured at the top of the door and a similar latch assembly 49 is secured at the bottom of the door, and each is provided with a latch bolt 50 with the usual reduced shank 5| and compression spring 52 for biasing the latch bolt to latched position. Mounted on the door is a plate 54 on which are pivoted two bell crank levers 55 and 55. Links 51 and 59 are attached to respective latch bolts 50. Link 51 is adjustably secured to the bell crank lever 55 at 60, and link 59 is adjustably secured to bell crank lever 56 at 6|.

An operating bar' 62, similar to' that of the previous embodiment, is pivotally connected to the door by means of parallel levers 64 and 65. Levers 64 and 65 are pivotally connected at 66 and 61 to the U-s'haped brackets 69 and 10 which are welded or similarly secured to the bar 62. The other ends of the levers 64 and 55 are pivoted ih brackets 1| and 12 which are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the door. Upper and lower links 13 and 14 are connected between the bell crank levers 55 and 56 and the point of connection 66 between the lever 64 and the bracket 69. Also as in the previous embodiment, the levers A65| and 65 are shaped with shoulders 64 and 65', respectively, which are adapted to abut against the door.

The operation of the device is very similar to that of the previous embodiment. When pressure is exerted against the bar 62, it is forced inwardly against the door and in' such movement the levers 64 and 55 rotate about their pivot points in the brackets 1I and 'I2 in a clockwise direction and as a result the bar 62 is at the same time forced to the left as shown in Figures 9 and l0. Through this movement the links 13 and 14 rotate the bell crank levers 55 andY 55 about their pivots to the positions shown in dotted lines in Figure '1, drawing the latch bolts 50 to released otherwise suitably secured to the door 85. .end of the bar 91 is formed with an .inturned positions. The shoulders 64' and 65 abutting against the door prevent movement of the bar any further than the position which it occupies in Figure 10. The U-shaped brackets 69 and 10 are made of considerable length so that when the bar 02 is in its foremost position toward the door there is sufficient space between the bar and the links 13 and 14 and there is no likelihood of the hand being pinched when the bar is grasped; and of course if the bar is grasped in any other place there is also no danger of pinching the hand.

In Figures 11 and 12, I have shown another modication in which means operable from the outside of the door is applied to the embodiment shown in Figures '7 to l0. The door is indicated by the numeral and mounted thereon is the plate 54 which pivotally supports the bell crank levers 55 and 56. A portion of the operating bar 62 and the upper and lower links 13 and 14 connecting the operating bar 62 with the bell crank levers 55 and 56 are shown.

A handle 15 is mounted on the outside of the door in a bracket 16 in which it is adapted to pivot on operation thereof. An extension 11 is l formed integral with the handle 15 and extends through an opening 19 in the door Il. The end of this extension is in the form of a vertical flange or plate which occupies a position just to the right of the ends of the links 13 and 14 and the corresponding ends of the bell crank levers 55 and 56 to which the links are connected, said extension thus being in position to exert a pushing force to the left on the vertical arms of the bell crank levers.

A person grasping the handle 15 from outside the door will turn it about its pivot in the bracket 16 in a clockwise direction, forcing the end of the extension 11 to the left and releasing the latches on the door. This operation has precisely the same eiiect in unlatching the door as movement of the bar 02 toward the door. However, because of the one-way motion transmitting connection between the outside handle 15 and the latching means, the release bar 02 can release the latching means without necessitating that the outside handle move concurrently therewith. Provision may be made for locking the handle 15 against unauthorized operation, substantially as previously described in connection with Figures 1 and 2.

In Figures 13 to 19, inclusive, are shown horizontally and vertically disposed latching devices. Thehorizontal device is shown in Figure 13 in vwhich the numeral 85 indicates a door, 86 a door jamb at the closing edge of the door, and 81 suitable keeper means Ior retaining the door in latched position and against which the door abuts in its closing motion. Mounted on the inside of the door near its closing edgeis a latch bolt assembly 89 which comprises a housing 90 in which is mounted a latching bolt 9| provided with an inclined surface 92 and a reduced shank portion 94. The inner end of the reduced shank 94 is slidably mounted in a guide extension 95 formed on the inside of the housing 90. This end of the shank 94 is of forked formation and between .the prongs of the fork is mounted a roller 96.

A release bar 91 is mounted on the inside of the door on parallel levers 99 which are pivoted in U-shaped brackets welded or otherwise secured to the bar, and in brackets |02 riveted or One arm. |04 which is adapted to iit between the prongs of the inner end of the shank 94 and bear against the roller 96, thereby establishing a one-way motion transmitting connection between the release bar 91 and the shank S4 of the latching bolt. The other end of the bar91 is formed with an arm |05 which engages in a slot |06 formed in housing |01 which is secured to the door and acts as a guide for the arm |05 and thereby the bar 91. When pressure is brought to bear on the bar 91 towards the door; it will pivot on the levers 99 and be forced to the right as shown in Figure 13 and inwardly toward the door to the position shown in dotted lines. When this occurs, the arm |04 bearing against the roller 95 will force the latch bolt 8| to the right as shown in Figure 13, releasing the latch bolt from the keeper means 81 and enabling the door to be opened. A slot |09 is formed in the housing to accommodate the movement of the arm 04 when operating the latch bolt.

The extent to which the bar 91 can be moved in relation to the door is determined by the slot |09, the arm |04 engaging one or the other end of the slot. The limit to which the bar can be forced inwardly toward the door is that position shown in dotted lines where it can be seen that the arm |04 is to the right in the slot |09 and bearing against the end of the slot. The brackets |00 are of considerable length so that the bar 01 will not fold up against the levers 99 but will be spaced some distance therefrom and this feature together with the fact that the bar has only limited movement prevents any pinching of the hand between the bar 91 and the levers E30.

Mounted on the outside of the door is a bracket ||0 in which is pivoted a handle provided with an integral arm ||2 which extends through an opening in the door to the inner side thereof into the housing 90. Mounted on the inner side of the door within the housing 90 is a guide bracket ||4 for supporting a slide bar H5 provided with an inturned projection H6 for engaging a stud ||1 secured in the latch bolt 9|. The arm ||2 extending from the outside handle has operative engagement in an aperture in the slide bar H5, andthe above described arrangement of parts establishes a 'one-way motion transmitting connection between the outside handle and the latching bolt, whereby the latching bolt can be released through releasing movement of the inside release bar without compelling concurrent movement of the outside handle By grasping the handle lil and pulling it outwardly from the door, i. e., in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 13, the arm I l2 will force the slide bar i5 to the right engaging the stud ||1 and thereby forcing the latch bolt to the right and releasing the latch bolt from the keeper means 81. Surrounding the shank 94 and reacting between the head of the latch bolt and the extension S5, is a compression spring 03 which forces the latch bolt to latched position when the pressure is released from the bar 91 and the handle By this arrangement it can be seen that the door can be opened either from the inside or the outside, and if desired, means such as shown in Figure l may be provided on the outside of the door for locking the handle against operation to permit opening of the door only from the inside.

Another form of locking means for locking the operating handles 40 and against movement is shown invFigures 1, 13 and 19. In Figure 19, a key operated lock 91", of the sliding latch type is shown diagrammatically. In this form the sliding latch 92 shown in Figure 13, acts as a stop for the slide bar H5. The sliding latch 92 also performs the same function with respect to the member 4| shown in Figure 1.

Figures 14, and 16 show an arrangement similar to that of Figure 13 applied to vertical latching means at the top and bottom of the door. Mounted on the inside of the door I I8 is a release bar H9 mounted on parallel levers |20 which are pivoted in U-shaped brackets |2| welded or otherwise secured on the bar H9 and in brackets |22 secured to the door. The bar H9 is provided with an inturned arm |24 which lits through a slot k|23 in a housing |25 for operating a mechanism therein that actuates the latching means, as will be described later. The other end of the bar H9 is provided with an inturned arm |25 which fits into a slot |21 of housing |29 for guiding that end of the bar H9. At the top and the bottom of the door are latch means |3|! with the usual latch bolts |3| engageable with keeper' means |32 mounted on the top door jamb and the floor. From each latch assembly is a link |34 connected with the latch bolt |3| and having an adjustable connection with the operating mechanism contained within the housing |25.

As described in connection with Figure 13, in this form also the bar H9 is arranged so that there is no pinching of the hand between the bar and the levers |20. The arm |34 sliding in the slot |23 limits the movement of the bar H9, and the brackets |2| are of suflicient length that the bar and the levers will not fold up tegether.

Reference should be had to Figure 16 for a view of the mechanism contained in the housing |25. A pinion |35 is carried by a stud |35 mounted on the door, and also carried by the stud and driven by the pinion is a collar with oppositely disposed ears |31 to which the links |34 are connected. A slide |39 is slidably pcsi tioned in the housing |25 and is provided with a pair of upwardly extending lugs and |4| in which is mounted a roller |42. Secured to the lug A|l|| is a rack |44'which engages the pinion |35 and is adapted to actuate the latter. The

arm |24 of the bar H9 bears against the roller |42 as shown in this figure, thereby establishing a one-way motion transmitting connection between the release bar H9 and the latch releasing slide |39. When pressure is exerted on the bar H9 toward the door, the bar swinging about the links |25 will be forced to the left as shown in Figure 15, and thereby the arm |24 of the bar H9 bearing against the vrol-ler |42 will force -the slide |39 and consequently the rack |54 to the left as shown in Figure 16, thereby rotating the pinion |35 in a clockwise direction. As

va consequence of this operation, when the pinion |35 is rotated, the collar with the ears |31 will also be rotated and the links |34 will be actuated inwardly toward each other, releasing the latch means |3|) and enabling the door to be opened. Figure 17 shows the shape of the housing |25 in cross-section and the manner in which the slide |39 is held in position therein. With the housing |25 mounted on the door, the left hand side of the housing becomes the bottom, and the surface |45 supports the slide |39 in position therein. This prevents any binding action between the arm |24, the slide |35, and the pinion |35.

vFigure 18 shows the latching assembly |35,

which comprises a housing |46 in which is slidably mounted the latch bolt I3 The latter comprises a reduced shank portion |41 with its inner end of forked formation and slidably mounted in a projection |49 formed on the inner side of the housing. Between the prongs of the forked inner end of the shank |41 is carried a roller |59. Secured on the inner end of the link |34 is a collar l5! with a projection |52 tting between the prongs of the forked inner end of the shank |41 and engaging the roller |50. When the link |34 is actuated it draws the latch' bolt i3| into the housing, enabling the door to be opened, and when pressure on the link |34 is released, a spring |54 surrounding the shank |41 and reacting between the head of the latch bolt and the projection |59 forces the latch `bolt to latched position. A bracket |53 limits the extent to which the link |34 may be retracted into the housing |45 and consequently the extent to which the latch bolt |3| will be extended.

Figure 19 shows the manner in which the two latching devices shown in Figures 13 and 14 may be used in cooperation with double doors for securing them closed. The door to the left, I8, is provided with the latching device shown in Figure 141, and the latching bolts |3| engage keeper means on the top jamb and on the floor, thus holding the door closed. At the closing edge of the door H3 is a keeper plate |56. The door 35 is provided with the latching device shown in Figure 18. W hen in closed position, the latching bolt 9| thereof will engage the keeper plate |56, thus holding that door closed. With this arrangement, either door may be opened rst whether the other door is open or not, and when the door HB is opened rst the other door will be in unlatched position. This arrangement may be used also in connection with the forms of devices shown in Figures 1 and '1.

While I have shown specific `embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that I do not intend to be limited to the details shown and described but that all arrangements of parts to l meet particular adaptations, and substitution of equivalents are to be within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination of a plurality of latch means for retaining the door closed, links connected to said latch means, a rack and pinion operating through said links for actuating said latch means, a bar for operating said rack and pinion, brackets secured to said bar, and parallel levers pivoted on the door and said brackets and thereby supporting said .bar for horizontal movement toward and away from the door, said brackets being of substantial length for spacing said bar from the points of connection of said brackets with said levers whereby when said bar is in its foremost position toward the door space is provided between said bar and said levers for grasping by the hand.

2. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination of latch means, a latch keeper engageable by said latch means for retaining the vdoor closed, a bar, parallel levers pivoted on the door and on said bar for mounting said bar on the door in spaced relation thereto, a roller operative to actuate said latch means, said bar having an inturned arm extending toward the door and engaging said roller for actuating said latch means, said bar being adapted t0 swing on said parallel levers horizontally toward the door and away from said latchkeeper, and away from the doorv and toward said latch keeper, whereby in the movement of said bar toward the door and away from said latch keeper said inturned arm acts against said roller to actuate said latch means to unlatched position.

3. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination of latch means, a latch keeper engageable by said latch means for retaining the door closed, a bar, parallel levers pivoted on the door and on said bar for mounting said bar on the door in spaced relation thereto, a roller connected with said latch means, said bar having-an inturned arm extending toward the door and engaging said roller for actuating said latch means, said bar being adapted to swing on said parallel levers horizontally toward the door and away from said latch keeper, and away from the door and toward said latch keeper whereby in the movement of said bar toward the door and away from said latch keeper said inturned arm coacts with said roller to actuate said latch means to unlatched position, and yieldable means acting on said latch` means and operable when pressure is released from said bar to return said latch means to latched position and move said bar away from the door and toward said latch keeper.

4. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination of latch means, a latch keeper engageable by said latch means for retaining the door closed, a bar, parallel levers piv- 'oted on the door and on said bar for mounting said bar on the door in spaced relation thereto, a roller operative to actuate said latch means, said bar having an inturned arm extending toward 'the door and engaging said roller for actuating said latch means, said bar being adapted to swing on said parallel levers horizontally toward the door and away from said latch keeper, and away from the door and towardA said latch keeper whereby in the movement of said bar toward the door and away from said latch keeper said inturned arm coacts with said roller to actuate said latch means to unlatched position, and stop means engageable by said inturned arm for limiting the movement of said latch means toward unlatched position and the movement of said bar toward the door after which continued movement of said bar forces the doorvto open position.

5, In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination of latch means, a latch keeper engageable by said latch means for retaining the door closed, a bar, parallel levers pivotally mounted on the door and on said bar for mounting said bar on the door in spaced relation thereto, said bar being adapted to swing on said parallel levers horizontally toward and away from and laterally of the door, said bar having inturned arms extending toward the door, guide means on the door engageable by said inturned arms for guiding the movements of said bar, a roller operative to actuate said latch means and engageable by one of said inturned arms, whereby as pressure is applied on said bar in door-opening direction said -one inturned arm acts against said roller to actuate said latch means to unlatched position.

6. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination of a latch bolt on the door v"for retaining the door closed, said latch bolt being slidable to latched and'unlatched positions, a roller operative to actuate said latch bolt, a bar on the door pivotally mounted thereon on parallel levers for horizontal movement tward the door, said bar having an inturned arm engageable with said roller, whereby on movement of said bar toward the door vsaid inturned arm acts against said roller to actuate said latch bolt to unlatched position.

7. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination of a latch bolt on the door for retaining the door closed, said latch bolt being slidable laterally of the door to latched and unlatched positions, a roller arranged to actuate said latch bolt, a bar on the door pivotally mounted thereon on parallel levers for horizontal movement laterally of the door, said bar having an inturned arm engageable with said roller, whereby on movement of said bar laterally of the door said inturned arm actuates said roller to move said latch bolt to unlatched position.

8. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination of latch means for retaining the door closed, said latch means being slidable horizontally to latched` and unlatched positions, said-latch means having a forked extension with a roller mounted therein, a bar on the door in spaced relation thereto pivotally mounted thereon-on parallel levers for horizontal movement toward and away from and laterally of the door, said bar having an inturned arm extending 4toward the door, said inturned arm being slidable in said forked extension and engageable with said roller, said bar being operative to unlatch said latch means on movement toward and laterally of the door, said inturned arm, on movement of the bar in the unlatching operation, sliding freely in said forked extension in the movement toward the door and bearing against said roller and drawing said latch means to unlatched position in the movement laterally of the door.

9. In apparatus of the class described for a door in a door jamb, the combination of latch keepers mounted on the door jamb, latch means on the door engageable with said latch keepers for retaining the door closed, links connected to said latch means, a rack and pinion operating through said links for actuating said latch means, a roller arranged to actuate said rack, a bar on the door pivotally mounted thereon on parallel levers for horizontal movement toward and away `from the door, said bar having an inturned arm engageable with said roller, whereby on movement of said bar toward the door said inturned arm bears against said roller and thereby operates said rack and pinion and actuates said latch means to unlatched position.

10. In apparatus of the class described for a door in a door jamb, the combination of latch keepers mounted on the door jamb, latch means on the door engageable with said latch keepers for retaining the door closed, links connected to said latch means, a rack and pinion operating through said links for actuating said latch means, a roller operatively connected with said rack, a bar on the door pivotally mounted thereon on parallel levers for movement laterally of the door, said bar having an inturned arm engageable with said roller, whereby on movement of said bar laterally of the door said inturned arm imparts motion to said roller and thereby operates said rack and pinion and actuates said latch means to unlatched position.

1l. In apparatus of the class described for a doorin a door jamb, the combination of latch `keepers mounted on the door jamb, latch means door pivotally mounted thereon on parallel levers for movement toward and away from and lateraldoor in a door jamb, the combination of latch keepers mounted' on the door jamb, latch means on the door engageable with said latch keepers in opposite directions for retaining the door closed, links connected to said latch means, a rack and pinion, said links` being attached to said pinion, said rack and pinion, operating through said links, being adapted to actuate said latch means in opposite directions to unlatched position, a, roller operative to actuate said rack, a bar on the door pivotally mounted thereon on parallellevers for horizontal movement, and said .bar having an inturned arm cooperating with said roller, whereby said bar, on pressure being applied thereto, acts against said roller and thereby operates said rack and pinion.

13. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination of latching bolt means for retaining the door closed, release means comprising a release bar adapted to be pushed toward the door in the releasing operation, substantially parallel links pivotally mounting said release t bar on the-door for swinging movement toward and away from the door, said latching bolt means comprising a bolt'operating member, said release bar comprising an inturned arm member, and a roller carried by one of said members and adapted to coact with the other of said members whereby to transmit motion from said release bar to said latching bolt means.

14. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination of latching bolt means for retaining the door closed, release means comprising a release bar adapted to be pushed toward the door in the releasing operation, substantially parallel links pivotally mounting said release bar on the door for swinging movement toward and away from the door, said latching bolt means comprising a bolt operating member, said release bar comprising an inturned arm member, a roller carried by one of said members and adapted to coact with the other of said members whereby to transmit motion from said release bar to said latching bolt means, and stop means operative through the medium of said inturned arm member for limiting, the swinging motion of said release bar toward said door, whereby to prevent the possibility of a person having his fingers pinched between said release bar and the door.

15. In apparatus of the class described for a door, the combination of latching bolt means for retaining the door closed, emergency release means comprising an emergency release bar adapted to be pushed toward the door in an emergency releasing operation, substantially parallel links pivotally mounting said release bar on the door for swinging movement'toward and away from the door, said release bar comprising an inturned arm member, means for transmitting motion from said inturned arm member to said latching bolt means for releasing the door when said release bar is pushed toward the door, and stop means operative through the medium of said inturned arm member for limiting the swinging motion of said release bar toward said door, whereby to prevent the possibility of a person having his ngers pinched between said release bar and the door.

16. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of latching means for holding the door closed, a release bar on the inside of the door, a pair of substantially parallel links pivotally mounting said release bar for swinging movement toward the door, an inturned arm projecting from said release bar, and means establishing a one-way motion transmitting connection between said inturned arm and saidlatching means.

17. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of latching means for holding the door closed, said latching means comprising a latch operating member, inside release means mounted on the inner side of the door comprising a release bar adapted to be pushed toward the door in a releasing operation, a pair of substantially parallel links pivotally mounting said release bar on said door for parallel link swinging motion toward and away from said door, and means rigid with said release bar and separate from said parallel links operative to engage said latch operating member for transmitting operating motion from said bar to said latch operating member.

18. In a latch bolt structure for a door adapted to be operated by an outside handle capable of being locked, the combination of latching means for holding the door closed, a release bar on the inside of the door, a pair of substantially parallel links pivotally mounting said release bar for swinging movement toward the door, an inturned arm projecting from said release bar, and means establishing a motion transmitting connection between said inturned arm and said latching means, whereby said inside release bar is always operative to release said latching means upon being swung toward said door even though said outside handle is locked.

19. In apparatus of the class described for a door adapted to be operated by an outside handle,

which outside handle is capable of being locked or otherwise prevented from having effective operation, the combination of latching means for holding the door closed, said latching means comprising a latch operating member, inside release means mounted on the inner side of the door comprising a release bar adapted to be pushed toward the door in a releasing operation, a pair of substantially parallel links pivotally mounting said release bar on said door'for swinging motion toward and away from said door, and means rigid with said release bar and separate from said parallel links operative to engage said latch operating member for transmitting operating motion from said bar to said latch operating member, whereby said inside release bar is always operative to release said latching means upon being swung toward the door even-though said outside handle is vthen locked or otherwisel prevented from havingeiective operation.

ELLIS J. G. PHILLIPS.

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