Astragal with adjustable length shoot bolt drive linkage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9404294-B1
Application number	US-201414159846-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 21, 2014
Priority date	Jan 21, 2014
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

An adjustable length astragal having a housing with an upper shoot bolt and a lower shoot bolt positioned adjacent opposite ends of the housing. An actuator is attached to the housing, connected to and configured to simultaneously extend or retract the upper and lower shoot bolts. An adjustable connection assembly is provided between the actuator and at least one of the shoot bolts. The connection assembly adjusts the distance between the actuator and the respective shoot bolt in each of the shoot bolt's extended and retracted positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. At least two links capable of interlocking with one another for removable use in an adjustable length astragal, each of the at least two links comprising:
a body having a front side, a back side, a first end surface, a second end surface, and a rotational axis passing through each of the end surfaces;
a pair of tabs extending from the first end surface, offset from the rotational axis;
a front clamping pocket formed on the front side;
a back clamping pocket formed on the back side;
a wing extending from the body on each side of the rotational axis, the wings extending perpendicular to the rotational axis;

wherein at least one of the wings connects at least one of the at least two links to a slide bar within an astragal; and
wherein rotation of the body of a first link of the at least two links, about the rotational axis, relative to the body of a second link of the at least two links, interlocks the first link with the second link such that each tab of the pair of tabs of the first link engages a respective one of the front and back clamping pockets of the second link.

2. The at least two links according to claim 1 , each link further comprising:
a shaft extending from the second end surface along the rotational axis; and
a recess formed into the first end surface along the rotational axis,
wherein the shaft of the first link would engage the recess of the second link or vice versa.

3. The at least two links according to claim 1 , wherein one of the wings of each link extends a distance D 1 from the rotational axis and another of the wings of each link extends a distance D 2 from the rotational axis,
wherein D 1 is not equal to D 2 .

4. The at least two links according to claim 1 , wherein, for each link, each clamping pocket comprises:
a clamping surface extending along a respective side of the body;
a stop wall extending normal to the clamping surface and offset from the end surfaces of the body; and
a protrusion extending normal to the clamping surface adjacent to one of the end surfaces of the body.

5. The at least two links according to claim 4 , wherein, for each link, the tabs each comprise:
a slot formed into each tab, the slot positioned adjacent to the first end surface of the body and extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis,
wherein, when the first link is interlocked with the second link, the protrusion of each clamping pocket engages the respective slot of the respective tab to help prevent the interlocked links from separating along the direction of the rotational axis.

6. The at least two links according to claim 1 , wherein, for each link, each tab has an abutment surface, the abutment surface of a first tab being flat and the abutment surface of a second tab being grooved.

7. The at least two links according to claim 6 , wherein one of the front clamping pocket and the back clamping pocket of each link includes a grooved clamping surface configured to mesh with the grooved abutment surface of the second tab.

8. The at least two links according to claim 1 , wherein interlocking the at least two links prevents axial separation, and unlocking the at least two links allows axial separation.

9. An adjustable length astragal, comprising:
a housing;
an upper shoot bolt and a lower shoot bolt positioned adjacent opposite ends of the housing;
an actuator attached to the housing, connected to and configured to simultaneously extend or retract the upper and lower shoot bolts; and
an adjustable connection assembly provided between the actuator and at least one of the shoot bolts, where the connection assembly adjusts the distance between the actuator and the respective shoot bolt in each of the respective shoot bolt's extended and retracted positions,
wherein the adjustable connection assembly comprises:
a linkage between the actuator and at least one of the shoot bolts, the linkage comprising:
at least two selectively removable interlocking links, wherein the at least two links can be selectively added or removed to adjust the distance between the actuator and the respective shoot bolt,
wherein the at least two links interlock by rotational motion relative to one another.

10. The astragal according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a drive bar extending from the actuator to one end of the linkage; and
a pair of slide bars extending from the other end of the linkage, along opposite sides of the housing, to the respective shoot bolt.

11. The astragal according to claim 10 , wherein the connection assembly further comprising a connector, the connector disposed between the drive bar and the linkage, wherein the connector comprises:
a first connector end configured to interlock with a first link of the at least two links of the linkage;
a second connector end configured to connect with the drive bar; and
a spring disposed between the first and second connector ends biasing the connector ends apart.

12. The astragal according to claim 9 , wherein the at least two interlocking links comprise: a primary link having a first height H 1 and a secondary link having a second height H 2 , wherein H 1 is greater than H 2 .

13. The astragal according to claim 9 , wherein each of the at least two links comprises:
a body having a front side, a back side, a first end surface, a second end surface, and a rotational axis passing through each of the end surfaces;
a pair of tabs extending from the first end surface, offset from the rotational axis;
a front clamping pocket formed on the front side;
a back clamping pocket formed on the back side;

wherein each tab of the pair of tabs of a first link engages and disengages a respective one of the front and back clamping pockets of a second link with relative rotation about the rotational axis.

14. The astragal according to claim 13 , wherein each of the at least two links further comprise:
a shaft extending from the second end surface along the rotational axis; and
a recess formed into the first end surface along the rotational axis,
wherein the shaft of the first link would engage the recess of the second link or vice versa.

15. The astragal according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of the at least two links further comprise:
a wing extending from the body on each side of the rotational axis, the wings extending perpendicular to the rotational axis,
wherein the wings are configured for connecting the link to a slide bar within the astragal.

16. The astragal according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the at least two links comprise:
one of the wings extending a distance D 1 from the rotational axis and another of the wings extending a distance D 2 from the rotational axis,
wherein D 1 is not equal to D 2 .

17. The astragal according to claim 13 , wherein the front clamping pocket and the back clamping pocket of at least one of the at least two links further comprise:
a clamping surface extending along a respective side of the body;
a stop wall extending normal to the clamping surface and offset from the end surfaces of the body; and
a protrusion extending normal to the clamping surface adjacent to one of the end surfaces of the body.

18. The astragal according to claim 17 , wherein the pair of tabs of the at least two links further comprise:
a slot formed into each tab, the slot positioned adjacent to the first end surface of the body and extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis,
wherein when the first link is interlocked with the second link, the protrusio

Assignees

• Endura Products Inc

Inventors

• Mitchell Mike
• Heid George

Classifications

• E05C9/20

  Coupling means for sliding bars, rods, or cables {(connecting means between actuating rods for vehicle door locks E05B79/14)} · CPC title

• E05C9/046

  with two interconnected mechanisms each driving one rod · CPC title

• E05C7/045

  Sliding bolts mounted on or in the edge of a normally closed wing of a double-door or -window · CPC title

• E05B63/06

  with lengthwise-adjustable bolts {; with adjustable backset, i.e. distance from door edge} · CPC title

• Y10S292/60

  Adjustment provisions · CPC title