Anti-ligature actuators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9694505-B2
Application number	US-201514624871-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2015
Priority date	Feb 18, 2015
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

An actuator assembly including a mounting device, a manual actuator rotatably mounted on the mounting device, and a cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism is disposed in a gap that is formed between the manual actuator and the mounting device. The cutting mechanism is structured to cut a ligature inserted into the gap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a housing having a first surface;
a manual actuator having a second surface facing the first surface, wherein the manual actuator includes a spindle that defines a rotational axis extending in a proximal direction and an opposite distal direction, wherein the first surface is a proximal surface of the housing, wherein the second surface is a distal surface of the manual actuator, wherein the spindle extends distally beyond the second surface and into an opening formed in the housing, wherein the manual actuator is rotatably mounted on the housing, and wherein the second surface is offset from the first surface in the proximal direction such that a gap is formed between the first surface and the second surface; and
a cutting mechanism positioned in the gap, the cutting mechanism including at least one sharpened edge configured to cut a ligature positioned in the gap.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises an arcuate ridge having a radially inner surface;
wherein the manual actuator has a radially outer surface facing the radially inner surface of the ridge;
wherein a seam is formed between the radially inner surface of the ridge and the radially outer surface of the manual actuator; and
wherein the seam is in communication with the gap.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the radially outer surface of the manual actuator is circular shaped, and the arcuate ridge circumferentially surrounds the radially outer surface of the manual actuator.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the housing defines a circular recess, and wherein the manual actuator further comprises an annular protrusion seated in the circular recess.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the circular recess includes an annular channel defining the proximal surface of the housing, the annular protrusion defines the distal surface of the manual actuator, and the gap defines an annular gap.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one sharpened edge includes a plurality of sharpened edges, wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a plurality of cutting elements angularly spaced from one another within the annular gap, and each of the cutting elements includes a corresponding one of the plurality of sharpened edges.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the cutting mechanism is coupled to the annular protrusion,
wherein each of the cutting elements has a radially outer tip; and
wherein the sharpened edge of each of the cutting elements extends distally from the tip toward the proximal surface of the housing.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein each of the cutting elements further comprises a radially inner base, and wherein the sharpened edge of each of the cutting elements extends radially inward from the tip toward the base.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the cutting mechanism is coupled to the housing, and each of the cutting elements is positioned in the annular gap.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein a distal portion of the annular protrusion tapers radially inward toward the sharpened edges.

11. The system of claim 2 , wherein the manual actuator is a knob, the manual actuator further comprising a stem coupled to the spindle and extending along the rotational axis of the spindle, and a plurality of support posts extending radially outward from the stem;
wherein the cutting mechanism includes a plurality of cutting elements; and
wherein each of the cutting elements is formed on respective ones of the support posts.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a thumbturn assembly including:
a thumbturn housing having a second proximal surface;
a thumbturn having a second distal surface facing the second proximal surface of the housing, wherein the thumbturn is rotatably mounted on the thumbturn housing, and a second gap is formed between the second proximal surface and the second distal surface; and
a second cutting mechanism positioned in the second gap; and

a mortise assembly configured for mounting in a mortise cutout of a door, the mortise assembly including:
a deadbolt mechanism including a deadbolt, wherein the deadbolt mechanism is operably connected to the thumbturn and is configured to move the deadbolt in response to rotation of the thumbturn; and
a latchbolt mechanism including a latchbolt, wherein the latchbolt mechanism is operably connected to the manual actuator and is configured to move the latchbolt in response to rotation of the manual actuator.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cutting mechanism includes a plurality of knurled cutting elements.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cutting element is integrally formed with one of the housing and the manual actuator.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the housing and the manual actuator is configured to inhibit the ligature from hanging thereon.

16. A system, comprising:
a mounting device configured for mounting on a surface of a door, the mounting device including an opening;
a manual actuator mounted on the mounting device, wherein the manual actuator is rotatable about a rotational axis and has a radially outer surface;
a bolt mechanism including a bolt having an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the bolt mechanism is engaged with the manual actuator through the opening, and the bolt mechanism is configured to move the bolt between the extended and retracted positions in response to rotation of the manual actuator; wherein the mounting device has a proximal surface, wherein the manual actuator further has a distal surface facing the proximal surface of the mounting device; and
a cutting mechanism positioned between the radially outer surface and the rotational axis, wherein the manual actuator axially covers the cutting mechanism; further wherein the cutting mechanism is positioned between the proximal surface of the mounting device and the distal surface of the manual actuator, the cutting mechanism including at least one sharpened edge configured to cut a ligature positioned between the proximal surface of the mounting device and the distal surface of the manual actuator.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the manual actuator comprises a thumbturn including a manually graspable portion and a disc portion, and the distal surface of the manual actuator is formed on a distal side of the disc portion.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the mounting device includes an arcuate channel defining the proximal surface of the mounting device, and wherein the cutting mechanism includes at least one cutting element extending distally into the arcuate channel from the distal surface of the manual actuator, wherein the at least one cutting element correspondingly includes the at least one sharpened edge.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the mounting device includes an arcuate channel, and the cutting mechanism includes at least one cutting element positioned at least partially in the arcuate channel, wherein the at least one cutting element correspondingly includes the at least one sharpened edge.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the arcuate channel is an annular channel centered on the rotational axis, wherein the at least one sharpened edge includes a plurality of sharpened edges, the at least one cutting element includes a plurality of cutting elements including the plurality of sharpened edges, respectively, and wherein the plurality of cutting elements are angularly spaced from one another about the annular channel.

21. A system

Assignees

• Schlage Lock Co Llc

Inventors

• Clifford Jason Curtis

Classifications

• E05B3/00

  Fastening {knobs or} handles to lock or latch parts {(E05B79/06 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E05B1/0007

  Knobs (E05B1/0015, E05B1/0053, E05B1/0061, E05B1/0069 take precedence) · CPC title

• B26D1/025 Primary

  for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like · CPC title