Rotation converter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12559986-B2
Application number	US-202318395945-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 26, 2023
Priority date	Apr 28, 2020
Publication date	Feb 24, 2026
Grant date	Feb 24, 2026

Abstract

An exemplary rotation converter includes an input component, an output component, and an intermediate component engaged between the input component and the output component. The input component is rotatable from an input component home position in each of a first direction and an opposite second direction. The intermediate component is configured to move to an actuated position in response to rotation of the input component in either direction, and to rotate the output component in an actuating direction as the intermediate component moves to the actuated position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
positioning a rotation converter at a location within a door having a first side and a second side, the rotation converter comprising an output member, an input member, and a shuttle engaged between the output member and the input member, wherein the shuttle is configured to rotate the output member in a first rotational direction in response to each one of (a) rotation of the input member in the first rotational direction, and (b) rotation of the input member in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction; wherein, with the rotation converter positioned at the location within the door, the shuttle is positioned between the first side of the door and the second side of the door, and at least a portion of the input member is positioned between the first side of the door and the second side of the door.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising engaging the output member with a latch mechanism such that the output member actuates the latch mechanism when rotated in the first rotational direction.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising engaging the output member with a latch control assembly of a pushbar assembly such that the output member actuates the latch control assembly when rotated in the first rotational direction.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising engaging the input member with a trim such that the trim is operable to rotate the input member in at least one of the first rotational direction or the second rotational direction.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
engaging the input member with a trim comprising a handle that is biased toward a selected home position; and transitioning the trim between a first handing configuration, in which the selected home position is a first home position, and a second handing configuration, in which the selected home position is a second home position different from the first home position.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the location within the door is defined by a door preparation.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising converting the rotation converter from a first configuration to a second configuration, the converting comprising:
moving the output member away from the shuttle to thereby disengage a toothed region of the output member from a first rack of the shuttle; rotating the output member about the rotational axis to thereby align the toothed region with a second rack of the shuttle; and moving the output member toward the shuttle to thereby engage the toothed region with the second rack.

8 . A rotation converter, comprising:
a housing comprising a first bearing aperture and a second bearing aperture aligned with the first bearing aperture along a rotational axis; an input member rotatably supported by the first bearing aperture for rotation about the rotational axis; an output member rotatably supported by the second bearing aperture for rotation about the rotational axis, the output member comprising a toothed region; and a shuttle engaged between the input member and the output member, the shuttle comprising a first rack and a second rack; the shuttle configured to rotate the output member in an output member actuating direction in response to each one of (a) rotation of the input member in a first rotational direction and (b) rotation of the input member in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction; wherein the rotation converter has a first configuration in which the toothed region is engaged with the first rack and the output member actuating direction is the first rotational direction; and wherein the rotation converter has a second configuration in which the toothed region is engaged with the second rack and the output member actuating direction is the second rotational direction.

9 . The rotation converter of claim 8 , wherein the rotation converter is configured for mounting within a standard door preparation.

10 . The rotation converter of claim 8 , wherein the housing is circular about the rotational axis.

11 . A system comprising the rotation converter of claim 8 , further comprising:
a trim engaged with the input member and operable to rotate the input member in at least one of the first rotational direction or the second rotational direction; and a pushbar assembly engaged with the output member and configured to retract a latchbolt in response to rotation of the output member in the first rotational direction.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the trim is mounted to a first side of a door,
wherein the pushbar assembly is mounted to a second side of the door opposite the first side of the door; and wherein the rotation converter is mounted within the door and between the first side and the second side.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the input member is positioned between the first side of the door and the second side of the door.

14 . The rotation converter of claim 8 , wherein the rotation converter is operable to transition between the first configuration and the second configuration by moving the output member along the rotational axis in a first direction to thereby disengage the toothed region from the shuttle, rotating the output member about the rotational axis, and thereafter moving the output member along the rotational axis in a second direction opposite the first direction to thereby re-engage the toothed region with the shuttle.

15 . A system, comprising:
a pushbar assembly comprising a first rear surface configured to abut a first side of a door; a trim assembly comprising a second rear surface that faces the first rear surface and is configured to abut a second side of the door opposite the first side of the door; and a rotation converter removably engaged with each of the pushbar assembly and the trim, wherein the rotation converter comprises an input member and a shuttle configured to rotate an output member in an output member actuating direction in response to each one of (a) rotation of the input member in a first rotational direction and (b) rotation of the input member in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction; wherein the shuttle is positioned between the first rear surface and the second rear surface; and wherein the input member is positioned at least partially between the first rear surface and the second rear surface.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the rotation converter further comprises the output member.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the output member is positioned at least partially between the first rear surface and the second rear surface.

18 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising the door, wherein the first rear surface abuts the first side of the door, and wherein the second rear surface abuts the second side of the door.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the door comprises a door preparation, and wherein the rotation converter is positioned at least primarily in the door preparation.

20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the output member comprises a geared portion;
wherein the shuttle comprises a first rack and a second rack; wherein the rotation converter has a first configuration in which the toothed region is engaged with the first rack and the output member actuating direction is the first rotational direction; and wherein the rotation converter has a second configuration in which the toothed region is engaged

Assignees

• Schlage Lock Co Llc

Inventors

• Kumar Phaneendra
• Varadaraju Nagesh
• Mckibben Aaron P

Classifications

• F16H1/04

  involving only two intermeshing members · CPC title

• E05B15/0033

  Spindles for handles, e.g. square spindles · CPC title

• E05B47/0676

  by disconnecting the handle · CPC title

• E05B65/108

  Electronically controlled emergency exits · CPC title

• F16H25/18

  for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions · CPC title