Exit Device Rail Closed Termination and Cantilevered Mount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exit rail bar end caps are vulnerable to vandalism and wear due to their removability for field adjustments, and the installation methods require direct access to the rail interior for securing fasteners.
Innovation Solution
A non-removable exit device rail with a closed termination and a method for secure installation using a cantilevered mount and door marker jig, which allows for marking and securing fasteners without direct access to the rail interior, suitable for both metal and non-metal surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If end caps are made removable to accommodate field adjustments for different door widths, then adaptability is improved, but vulnerability to vandalism and wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the end cap removable to achieve adaptability, the patent inverts the approach by making it permanently fixed. The closed termination is welded or otherwise permanently attached to the rail, eliminating the removal capability but thereby solving the vandalism and wear problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the removable end cap component entirely and replaces it with a closed termination that is permanently integrated into the rail structure. This eliminates the vulnerability associated with removable parts while maintaining the rail's functional integrity.
2Ease of operation
If end caps are made removable for field adjustments, then ease of operation is improved, but security against damage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the design by making the termination permanently fixed rather than removable. This sacrifices ease of field adjustment but effectively prevents vandalism and wear, addressing the harmful factors through the opposite approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The closed termination design anticipates potential vandalism and wear by eliminating the vulnerable removable joint entirely. The permanent welding or attachment creates a robust structure that resists damage before harmful actions can occur.
3Ease of manufacture
If installation requires direct access to rail interior for securing fasteners, then ease of manufacture is improved, but device complexity increases due to accessibility requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested structure where the mounting bracket is positioned inside the rail's interior space. The bracket extends outward to engage with the door, allowing fasteners to be secured from the interior without requiring external access or complex installation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting bracket serves as an intermediary component that bridges the interior rail structure with the exterior door surface. It enables fastener installation from the interior while maintaining a clean exterior appearance and simplifying the installation process.
Data Source
AI summary
An exit device includes a rail having opposite first and second ends and a rear portion with a first opening adjacent the first rail end for attachment to the door surface, the first rail end further having a front portion that inhibits access to the first rail opening in a direction normal to the rail rear portion. The method for installing the rail includes securing a mount having a cantilevered portion extending therefrom to the door at the surface first end such that the mount cantilevered portion provides a space between the cantilevered portion and the door and placing the rail against the door surface such that the mount extends through the first rail opening, sliding the rail to engage the rail rear portion adjacent the first rail opening between the mount cantilevered portion and the door and securing the second rail end to the door surface.