An emergency door latch and a method for operation thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to an emergency door latch and a method for operation thereof. The emergency door latch (100) comprises of a non-breakable piece of rod (5); a main rod (2); a breakable piece of rod (1); a head (14); and a latch frame (6). The emergency door latch comprises of a mechanical grove (breaking point) on the rod and reverse L-shaped sheet (emergency opening feature) on the latch frame, that allows an authorized person to easily break the rod during emergency condition and may be easily repaired after the event of an emergency.The emergency door latch facilitate evacuation and / or help to arrive through the door to children, physically weaker and / or challenged and the elderly people in case of emergency, without breaking a sense of privacy.

Description

AN EMERGENCY DOOR LATCH AND A METHOD FOR OPERATION THEREOFFIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an emergency door latch and a method for operation thereof. Particularly, the present invention relates to a door latch that enables opening of door in case of emergency without damaging the door. More particularly, the present invention provides an emergency door latch with a mechanical grove (breaking point) on the rod and reverse L-shaped sheet (emergency opening feature) on the latch frame, that allows an authorized person to easily break the rod during emergency condition and may be easily repaired after the event of an emergency. The emergency door latch facilitate evacuation and / or help to arrive through the door to children, physically weaker and / or challenged and the elderly people in case of emergency, without breaking a sense of privacy.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A latch is an important tool of mankind’s creation used in closing the door since ancient times for safety purposes. Mechanically, it is a type of fastener or hardware device that mechanically joins two objects together, which are non-permanently joint in nature and easily dismantle without damaging the joining structures (i.e. Door and frame of the door or two doors) and allowing for their regular separation. Roughly, it would be 2 cm in size for small doors or up to 6 meters in size for larger doors of the Palaces. It comes in thousands of designs. Its simplest design has L or T-shaped rod with 4 holes / hooks. It can be made up of wood or various metals such as iron, aluminum, and alloys like steel, brass, etc. or plastics. Common types of Latches are Deadbolt latch, Slam latch, Cam lock, Electronic cam lock, Norfolk latch, Suffolk latch, Crossbar, Cabin hook, Toggle latch, Pawl and Spring latches such as Latch bolt, Deadlocking latch bolt, Draw Latch, Spring bolt lock, etc. A door latch is arranged on the internal surface of the door and is used to stop opening the door such as, in the washrooms ofhomes, hotels, trains, and other public places, stores, and go downs to save human privacy and products.

[0003] One disadvantage of traditionally existing technology is that in several situations, people may get stuck in washrooms, bathrooms, living or store rooms, etc. and this door latch cannot open from the opposite side of the door. For instance, small children usually close the door from the inside in their childhood or may lock family members from outside the door by closing the latch. In another case, elderly or sick people get injured they get locked inside during pee or bath, in such emergency conditions latch cannot be opened from the opposite side (outside) without damaging the latch and door. Such kind of situations can be avoided if the latch has an emergency feature.

[0004] Therefore, keeping in view the challenges associated with the above state of art, there is a need to develop an efficient emergency door latch that enables opening of door in case of emergency without damaging the door and can be repairable easily.OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Primary objective of the present invention is to provide an emergency door latch and a method for operation thereof.

[0006] Another objective of the present invention is to develop an efficient emergency door latch that enables opening of door in case of emergency without damaging the door.

[0007] Another objective of the present invention relates to a door latch that may also be opened from opposite side of door in case of emergency.

[0008] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a door latch with an emergency opening feature that enables an authorized person to break the door latch in the event of an emergency.

[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an emergency door latch that may be broken easily from the opposite side of the door without damaging it and may also be repaired easily.

[0010] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an emergency door latch with a mechanical grove (breaking point) on the rod (emergency opening feature) that may be easily broken by an authorized person during emergency and may be easily repaired after the event of an emergency.

[0011] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an emergency door latch with a reverse L-shaped sheet (emergency opening feature) on the latch frame that facilitate to be easily broken by an authorized person during emergency and allows a user to close the door latch in emergency configuration or mode.

[0012] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an emergency door latch with a reverse L-shaped sheet (emergency opening feature) on the latch frame and also allows a user to close the door latch in normal mode.

[0013] Other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, the aspects of the present invention are disclosed.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] The present invention will be better understood after reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred aspects thereof with reference to the appended drawings, in which the features, other aspects and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing in which:

[0015] Figure 1 (a-g) illustrates top view, back view, , front view, right side view, left side view, and isometric view, and bottom view of the lock pin, respectively;

[0016] Figure 2 (a-g) illustrates top view, back view, front view, right side view, left side view, isometric view, and bottom view of the main rod, respectively;

[0017] Figure 3 illustrates top view, back view, front view, right side view, left side view, isometric view, and bottom view of the spring, respectively;

[0018] Figure 4 illustrates isometric view of the ball, respectively;

[0019] Figure 5 illustrates top view, back view, front view, right side view, left side view, isometric view, and bottom view of the handle, respectively;

[0020] Figure 6 illustrates top view, back view, front view, side, right side view, left side view, isometric view, and bottom view of the latch frame, respectively;

[0021] Figure 7 illustrates top view, back view, front view, right side view, left side view, isometric view, and bottom view of a separate reverse U-shaped body sheet, respectively;

[0022] Figure 8 illustrates top view, back view, front view, right side view, left side view, isometric view, and bottom view of a main rod with lock pin, respectively;

[0023] Figure 9 illustrates top view, back view, front view, right side view, left side view, isometric view, and bottom view of the emergency door latch closed in emergency configuration; and

[0024] Figure 10 illustrates top view, back view, front view, right side view, left side view, isometric view, and bottom view of the emergency door latch normal mode.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The present invention relates to an emergency door latch and a method for operation thereof. The emergency door latch comprises of a non-breakable piece of rod; a main rod, comprising a first hole threaded in the main rod, a second hole located at a first predefined location on the main rod, a spring and a ball inserted in the second hole of the main rod for smooth movement of the main rod, and a third hole threaded at the second predefined location on the main rod to connect a non-breakable piece of rod to the main rod for opening and closing the door latch; a breakable piece of rod , comprising a screw to connect from a first holethreaded in a main rod, thereby connecting the breakable piece of rod and the main rod, a thin rod serving as a breaking point of the breakable piece of rod, and a collar connecting the screw and a thin rod to unscrew broken lock pin screw from the first hole threaded in the main rod; a head to facilitate closing of the door in an emergency configuration; and a latch frame serving as a first fastener configured to cover the breakable piece of rod and the main rod. The emergency door latch facilitate evacuation and / or help to arrive through the door to children, physically weaker and / or challenged and the elderly people in case of emergency, without breaking a sense of privacy.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The following detailed description and embodiments set forth herein below are merely exemplary out of the wide variety and arrangement of instructions which can be employed with the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. All the features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by similar other or alternative features performing similar or same or equivalent purposes. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, they all are within the scope of the present invention.

[0027] Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0028] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings but are merely used to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention.

[0029] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0030] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises / comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof.

[0031] The term “lock pin” and “breakable piece of rod” can be interchangeably used in the detail description of the present disclosure, i.e. Latch Bolt

[0032] The term “Main Rod” and “Latch Bolt” can be interchangeably used in the detail description of the present disclosure.

[0033] The term “handle” and “non-breakable piece of rod” can be interchangeably used in the detail description of the present disclosure.

[0034] The term “configuration” and “mode” can be interchangeably used in the detail description of the present disclosure.

[0035] Accordingly, the present invention relates to an emergency door latch. Particularly, the present invention relates to a door latch that enables opening of door in case of emergency without damaging the door. More particularly, the present invention provides an emergency door latch with a mechanical grove (breaking point) on the rod, that may be easily broken by an authorized person during emergency when emergency door latch closed before a reverse L- shaped sheet (emergency opening feature) on the latch frame, and may be easily repaired after the event of an emergency.

[0036] In an embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the emergency door latch (100) comprises of a lock pin / breakable piece of rod (1) comprising a screw (11) to connect from a first hole threaded in a main rod (2) i.e. latch bolt, thereby breakable piece of rod (1) and the main rod (2); a collar (12) to unscrew broken lock pin screw from the first hole threaded in the main rod (2); a thin rod (13) serving as a breaking point of the breakable small piece of the rod (1); and a head (14) to facilitate closing of the door in an emergency configuration and ensuring that emergency door latch to remain in the closed state and do not open easily.

[0037] As shown in Figure 2 and 8, the main rod comprises of a first hole (21) threaded in the main rod (2) to connect the main rod (2) to the breakable small piece of the rod ( 1 ); a second hole (22) not threaded at a first predefined position on the main rod (2); a spring (3) (as shown in Figure 3) and a ball (4) (as shown in Figure 4) inserted in the second hole of the main rod (2) for smooth movement of the main rod (2), wherein spring (3) consists of an elastic feature but largely rigid material moulded in a coil shape and gives flexibility to ball (4), which is a small hard solid steel ball to reduce friction between main rod and latch frame, thereby ensuring smooth movement of the main rod (2); a third hole (23) threaded at the second predefined location on the main rod (2) to connect a non-breakable piece of rod (5) / handle to the main rod (2).

[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, the second hole may be situated at an angle of 45° from the third hole.

[0039] As shown in Figure 5, a non-breakable piece of rod (5) / handle comprising a screw (51) to connect from a third hole (23) threaded in the main rod (2), so as to open and close the door.

[0040] A latch frame (6) serves as first fastener, configured to cover the breakable piece of rod (1) and the main rod (2). In an exemplary embodiment, the latch frame (6) comprises of a small reverse U-shaped body sheet (63) (as shown in Figure 6) along with two parallel opposite z sheets (62) present adjacent to the one more strip in the shape of reverse L (61), soto enable locking with the emergency configuration (9) and the normal configuration (10), respectively. The latch frame (6) further comprises of a long reverse U-shaped body sheet (64) to prevent the main rod (2) exit from the emergency door latch and enables locking of the emergency door latch in a normal mode (10).

[0041] As shown in Figure 7, The emergency door latch also comprises of a separate reverse U-shape body sheet (7), which has been fixed on the third predefined location i.e. the door frame and serve as a second fastener such that it joins two door and door frame together, which are non-permanently joint in nature and easily dismantle without damaging the joining structures (i.e. door and frame of the door); and prevents opening of the door from opposite side (outside) when door latch is closed in an emergency configuration or normal mode as well as restricts the movement of the door.

[0042] In exemplary embodiment, the first predefined location is approximately in the middle length of the emergency door latch; the second predefined location is at the distal end (i.e. opposite end of the breakable piece of rod (1) of the main rod (2) surface at 45 degree; and the third predefined location is on the door frame.

[0043] In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for operation of the emergency door latch. As shown in Figure 9 and Figure 10, the emergency door latch may be operable in two configurations i.e. emergency configuration and normal mode (configuration). As shown in Figure 6, a small reverse U-shaped body sheet (63) along with two parallel opposite z sheets (62) may be present adjacent to the one more strip in the shape of reverse L (61), so to enable locking with the emergency configuration (9) and the normal configuration (10), respectively. A long reverse U-shaped body sheet (64) prevents the main rod (5) exit from the emergency door latch and enables locking of the emergency door latch in a normal configuration (10). In another embodiment, when the non-breakable piece of rod (5) lies before the reverse L strip, it may close in an emergency configuration (As shown in Figure 9). On the contrary, when the non-breakable piece of rod (5) move from reverse L strip, it may close in a normal mode (configuration) (As shown in Figure 10) and two parallel opposite z shaped sheetsallows to pull back handle and open the door. When the emergency door latch is used in emergency configuration then the emergency door latch may be easily broken from the opposite side of the door without damaging the door and the emergency door latch can be repaired easily. On the contrary, when the emergency door latch is operated in normal configuration then the emergency door latch may not be easily broken from the outside of the door and maintains function of normal door latch.

[0044] In another embodiment, the present invention also provides a method for operation of emergency door latch. The method comprises of the following steps:(a) screwing a screw (11) of lock pin (1) into a first hole (21) of a main rod (2);(b) inserting a spring (3) and a ball (4) in a second hole of the main rod (2) for smooth movement of the main rod (2) and covered with a body sheet or the latch frame (6);(c) screwing a handle i.e. non-breakable piece of rod (5) into a third hole (23) of the main rod (2)(d) locking the emergency door latch in an emergency configuration handle (5) stop at before reverse L shaped sheet (61); and(e) Applying force on the door from the opposite side (outside) to open the door, thereby breaking the lock pin (1) i.e. breakable piece of rod (1) due to the force.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, the breakable piece of the rod ( 1 ) may be easily repaired after the event of emergency.

[0046] In an embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the screw (11) of the lock pin i.e. breakable piece of the rod (1) may be screwed into the first hole (21) of the main rod (2) through fasteners. The collar (12) of the breakable small piece of rod (1) connects the screw (11) and the thin rod (13). The collar (12) may be adapted to enable replacement or unscrew the broken piece of the rod (1) from the main rod (2) of the emergency door latch. The thin rod (13) is breaking point of the breakable small piece of the rod (1) i.e. it is adapted to be broken in emergency configuration and is thinner than the diameter of the screw (11). The head (14) of the breakablesmall piece of rod (1) may be attached to the thin rod (13) to make the emergency door latch strong and helps the emergency door latch to remain close.

[0047] The advantages of the present invention are discussed herein:1. The present invention provides a simple, economical, compact, door latch, so that it can fit into existing space in the door latch.2. The present invention provides an emergency door latch that makes maximum use of existing parts of the door latch.3. The present invention provide a door latch that has an emergency opening feature that enables an authorized person to break the door latch in the event of an emergency.4. The present invention provides a door latch comprising of a small reverse U-shaped body sheet along with two parallel opposite z sheets present adjacent to the one more strip in the shapes of reverse L and thereafter long reverse U-shaped body sheet, for locking with the emergency configuration and the normal configuration, respectively, which remain simple, and also enhance the durability of the door and device.

[0048] While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An emergency door latch (100), comprising:• a non-breakable piece of rod (5);• a main rod (2), comprising: o a first hole (21) threaded in the main rod (2); o a second hole (22) located at a first predefined location on the main rod (2); o a spring (3) and a ball (4) inserted in the second hole of the main rod (2) for smooth movement of the main rod (2); and o a third hole (23) threaded at the second predefined location on the main rod (3) to connect a non-breakable piece of rod (5) to the main rod (2) for opening and closing the door latch;• a breakable piece of rod (1), comprising: o a screw (11) to connect from a first hole threaded in a main rod (2), thereby connecting the breakable piece of rod (1) and the main rod (2); o a thin rod (13) serving as a breaking point of the breakable piece of rod (1); and o a collar (12) connecting the screw and a thin rod to unscrew broken lock pin screw from the first hole threaded in the main rod (2);• a head (14) to facilitate closing of the door in an emergency configuration; and• a latch frame (6) serving as a first fastener configured to cover the breakable piece of rod (1) and the main rod (2).

2. The emergency door latch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thin rod (13) is thinner than diameter of the screw (11).

3. The emergency door latch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first predefined location is approximately in the middle of the length of the emergency door latch.

4. The emergency door latch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second predefined location is at the distal end (i.e. opposite end of the breakable piece of rod (1)) of the main rod (2) surface at 45 degree.

5. The emergency door latch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third predefined location is on the door frame.

6. The emergency door latch as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the non-breakable piece of rod (5) comprise of a screw (51) to connect from a third hole (23) threaded in the main rod (2), so as to open and close the door.

7. The emergency door latch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch frame (6) comprises of a small reverse U-shaped body sheet (63) along with two parallel opposite z sheets (62) present adjacent to the one more strip in the shape of reverse L (61), so to enable locking with the emergency configuration (9) and the normal configuration (10), respectively.

8. The emergency door latch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch frame (6) comprises of a long reverse U-shaped body sheet (64) to prevent the main rod (2) exit from the emergency door latch and enables locking of the emergency door latch in a normal mode (10).

9. The emergency door latch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third predefined location i.e. the door frame is fixed with a separate reverse U-shape body sheet (7) serving as a second fastener such that it joins two door and door frame together and prevents opening of the door from opposite side (outside) when door latch is closed in an emergency configuration or normal mode as well as restricts the movement of the door.

10. A method for operation of emergency door latch as claimed in claim 1 , comprising steps of:(a) screwing a screw (1 1) of lock pin (1) into a first hole (21) of a main rod (2);(b) inserting a spring (3) and a ball (4) in a second hole of the main rod (2) for smooth movement of the main rod (2) and covered with a body sheet or the latch frame (6);(c) screwing a handle i.e. non-breakable piece of rod (5) into a third hole (23) of the main rod (2)(d) locking the emergency door latch in an emergency configuration handle (5) stop at before reverse L shaped sheet (31); and(e) Applying force on the door from the opposite side (outside) to open the door, thereby breaking the lock pin (1) i.e. breakable piece of rod (1) due to the force.

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