Retrofit latch adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11214996-B2
Application number	US-201916521353-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2019
Priority date	Oct 26, 2018
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

A retrofit latch adapter is configured to replace a pre-existing roller head latch assembly of a pre-existing exit device. The retrofit latch adapter may include a flat latch head that may provide additional security for a door compared with the pre-existing roller head pre-existing latch assembly. A method of installing such a retrofit latch adapter in a preexisting exist device may include rotationally releasing a pre-existing latch assembly having a roller latch head from the pre-existing exit device; rotating the pre-existing latch assembly to linearly decouple the pre-existing latch assembly from a transmission of the pre-existing exit device; removing the pre-existing latch assembly from the pre-existing exit device; rotating the retrofit latch adapter to linearly couple the retrofit latch adapter to the transmission of the pre-existing exit device; inserting the retrofit latch adapter at least partially into a housing of the pre-existing exit device; aligning the flat latch head with an uppermost portion of the housing of the pre-existing exit device; and rotationally securing the retrofit latch adapter to the pre-existing exit device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of installing a retrofit latch adapter in a pre-existing exit device, the retrofit latch adapter having a flat latch head, the method comprising:
rotationally releasing a pre-existing latch assembly having a roller latch head from the pre-existing exit device;
rotating the pre-existing latch assembly to linearly decouple the pre-existing latch assembly from a transmission of the pre-existing exit device;
removing the pre-existing latch assembly from the pre-existing exit device;
rotating the retrofit latch adapter to linearly couple the retrofit latch adapter to the transmission of the pre-existing exit device;
inserting the retrofit latch adapter at least partially into a housing of the pre-existing exit device;
aligning the flat latch head with an uppermost portion of the housing of the pre-existing exit device; and
rotationally securing the retrofit latch adapter to the pre-existing exit device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein rotationally releasing a pre-existing latch assembly from the pre-existing exit device comprises slidably releasing the transmission of the pre-existing exit device from the pre-existing exit device housing.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein slidably releasing the transmission from the pre-existing exit device housing comprises unthreading a dog button from the transmission.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein slidably releasing the transmission from the pre-existing exit device housing comprises detaching a plate from the pre-existing exit device housing.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising sliding the transmission at least partially out of the pre-existing exit device housing.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein inserting the retrofit latch adapter comprises moving the transmission fully into the pre-existing exit device housing.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising slidably securing the transmission of the pre-existing exit device to the pre-existing exit device housing.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein slidably securing the transmission to the pre-existing exit device housing comprises threading a dog button into the transmission.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein slidably securing the transmission to the pre-existing exit device housing comprises reattaching the plate to the pre-existing exit device housing.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein rotationally releasing the pre-existing latch assembly comprises removing at least one insert fastener from the pre-existing exit device housing, wherein rotationally securing the retrofit latch adapter to the pre-existing exit device comprises replacing the at least one insert fastener in the pre-existing exit device housing.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein rotating the pre-existing latch assembly comprises unthreading a latch rod of the pre-existing latch assembly from the transmission.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein rotating the retrofit latch adapter comprises threading a latch rod of the retrofit latch adapter into the transmission.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein threading the latch rod of the retrofit latch adapter includes threading the latch rod into the transmission between or approximately equal to 0.75″ and 1″.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting the retrofit latch adapter into the pre-existing exit device housing comprises attaching a latch insert to the retrofit latch adapter.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein inserting the retrofit latch adapter into the pre-existing exit device housing further comprises aligning a hole in the pre-existing exit device housing with a hole in the latch insert.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting the retrofit latch adapter into the pre-existing exit device housing comprises:
inserting the retrofit latch adapter at least partially into the pre-existing exit device housing;
rotating the retrofit latch adapter approximately 90 degrees in a first direction;
inserting the retrofit latch adapter further into the pre-existing exit device housing; and
rotating the retrofit latch adapter approximately 90 degrees in a second direction opposite the first direction.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising rotating the retrofit latch adapter to increase or reduce a distance between a distal most portion of the pre-existing exit device housing and a distal most portion of the retrofit latch adapter.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein rotating the retrofit latch adapter adjusts the distance to approximately 0.75″.

Assignees

• Assa Abloy Access & Door Controls Group Inc

Inventors

• Baker Vincent
• Thompson Douglas
• Connell Michael
• Herman Catelyn

Classifications

• E05C9/008

  mounted in an elongate casing on the surface of the wing · CPC title

• E05B47/0046

  Electric or magnetic means in the striker or on the frame; Operating or controlling the striker plate (E05B47/0696, E05B63/248 take precedence) · CPC title

• E05Y2600/60

  Mounting or coupling members; Accessories therefor · CPC title

• E05C2003/126

  Only part of the latch movable for latching · CPC title

• E05B15/10

  Bolts of locks or night latches {(made of hard materials, e.g. to prevent sawing E05B15/1614; lengthwise adjustable E05B63/06)} · CPC title