Electric strike having an interchangeable actuator module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10934744-B2
Application number	US-201615098041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2016
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

An actuator-controlled electric strike operates in conjunction with a latch having an engaged position to secure a door in a closed state and a released position. The strike comprises a housing defining an entry chamber. A keeper is disposed in the entry chamber about an axis for rotation between a locked position and an unlocked position. A unitized actuator module is provided including a body, a keeper release and an actuator movable between first and second positions. When the actuator is in one of the first or second positions the keeper release is coupled to the keeper and the keeper is secured in the locked position. When the actuator is selectively moved to the other of the first or second positions the keeper release is decoupled from the keeper and the keeper is rotatable to the unlocked position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An actuator-controlled electric strike for operating in conjunction with a latch of a lockset, wherein the latch has an engaged position so as to secure a door in a closed state and a released position, the strike comprising:
a) a housing including a back wall, a bottom panel and side walls defining an entry chamber therein;
b) a keeper disposed in the entry chamber about an axis of rotation parallel with the back wall, wherein the keeper is rotatable about the axis of rotation between a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein the back wall is disposed opposite the keeper when the keeper is in the locked position; and
c) an actuator module including a body, a keeper release configured to engage the keeper at a point between said axis of rotation of said keeper and said bottom panel of said housing, and an actuator selectively movable between a first actuator position and a second actuator position, wherein the actuator module is unitized in that the actuator is contained within the body and at least a portion of the keeper release is contained within the body, and
wherein when the actuator is in one of the first actuator position or the second actuator position the keeper release is coupled to the keeper and the keeper is secured in the locked position, and wherein when the actuator is selectively moved to the other of the first actuator position or the second actuator position the keeper release is permitted to move in a linear direction toward the back wall, thereby permitting the keeper to rotate to the unlocked position.

2. The strike in accordance with claim 1 wherein the actuator module includes a keeper support, and wherein the keeper release and the keeper support are configured such that a load placed on the keeper when the keeper is in the locked position is transferred from the keeper through the keeper release and keeper support to the back wall of the housing.

3. The strike in accordance with claim 2 wherein the actuator module includes a keeper support bracket, and wherein the keeper support extends from the keeper support bracket.

4. The strike in accordance with claim 3 wherein the keeper support bracket includes an actuator extension that is coupled to the actuator, and wherein the keeper support bracket is selectively moveable by the actuator as the actuator moves between the first actuator position and the second actuator position.

5. The strike in accordance with claim 4 wherein the actuator module further includes a guide fixedly positioned relative to the body, wherein the keeper support bracket is slidably coupled with the guide.

6. The strike in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the keeper release is a first keeper release, wherein the actuator module further comprises a second keeper release, and wherein the first keeper release and the second keeper release are disposed at opposite ends of the actuator module.

7. The strike in accordance with claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a spring return solenoid and a plunger, wherein the keeper release is operatively coupled to the plunger and configured for movement when the actuator moves between the first actuator position and the second actuator position.

8. The strike in accordance with claim 1 wherein the actuator includes an actuating device comprising a springless electromagnet actuator including a magnet and a plunger, wherein the keeper release is operatively coupled to the plunger and configured for movement when the actuator moves between the first and second actuator positions.

9. The strike in accordance with claim 8 wherein the actuator module includes a microcontroller configured to sense a voltage having a first polarity supplied to the strike, wherein upon sensing the voltage having the first polarity the microcontroller drives the springless electromagnet actuator from the first to the second actuator position.

10. The strike in accordance with claim 9 wherein the actuator module further includes a constant-current, constant-voltage (CCCV) charger and a super capacitor, the microcontroller controlling the CCCV charger to charge the super capacitor after the springless electromagnet actuator has been driven to the second actuator position, the super capacitor being used to provide a second voltage having a polarity opposite the first polarity to drive the springless electromagnet actuator from the second actuator position to the first actuator position.

11. The strike in accordance with claim 1 wherein the actuator includes an actuating device comprising a stepper motor including a shaft, wherein the keeper release is operatively coupled to the shaft and configured for movement when the actuator moves between the first and second actuator positions.

12. The strike in accordance with claim 11 wherein the actuator module includes a microcontroller configured to sense a voltage having a first polarity supplied to the strike, wherein upon sensing the voltage having the first polarity the microcontroller drives the stepper motor from the first to the second actuator position.

13. The strike in accordance with claim 12 wherein the actuator module further includes a constant-current, constant-voltage (CCCV) charger and a super capacitor, the microcontroller controlling the CCCV charger to charge the super capacitor after the stepper motor has been driven to the second actuator position, the super capacitor being used to provide a second voltage having a polarity opposite the first polarity to drive the stepper motor from the second actuator position to the first actuator position.

14. The strike in accordance with claim 1 wherein the actuator module is a unitized first actuating module, wherein the unitized first actuating module is configured to be interchangeable with a unitized second actuating module of the strike, and wherein the unitized second actuating module includes a second body, a second keeper release configured to engage the keeper, and a second actuator selectively movable between a first actuator position and a second actuator position.

15. The strike in accordance with claim 1 wherein the housing is configured to receive one of a plurality of strike plates, wherein each of the plurality of strike plates are configured to accommodate different locksets.

16. The strike in accordance with claim 1 wherein the keeper includes an extendable face portion in communication with the entry chamber, a position of the extendable face portion being adjustable to define a width of the entry chamber.

17. The strike in accordance with claim 16 wherein the extendable face portion is adjusted using a set screw.

18. The strike in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the lockset includes a deadbolt, wherein the strike further comprises a deadbolt bracket including a first wall having a first distal end, a second wall having a second distal end, and a bracket side wall connecting the first wall and the second wall, wherein the housing includes an upstanding wall defining at least a portion of the entry chamber, wherein the deadbolt bracket is disposed within the entry chamber, wherein the first and second distal ends are disposed against the upstanding wall, and wherein the deadbolt bracket and the upstanding wall define a deadbolt receiving chamber for the deadbolt.

19. The strike in accordance with claim 18 wherein the upstanding wall includes at least one of the side walls of the housing.

20. The strike in accordance with claim 19 wherein the deadbolt bracket includes a tab extending from the second distal

Assignees

• Hanchett Entry Systems Inc

Inventors

• Sims Ryan Matthew
• Spence Baruch
• Webb Michael Allen

Classifications

• Y10T292/699

  Motor controlled · CPC title

• E05B15/025

  the striker being movable by a screw/nut · CPC title

• E05B47/0002

  with electromagnets · CPC title

• E05B47/0047 Primary

  Striker rotating about an axis parallel to the wing edge · CPC title

• E05B47/0012

  with rotary electromotors (actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68) · CPC title