Exit Device With Remote Trim Input and Height Offset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exit devices for secured areas, such as swimming pools, allow unsupervised children access due to standard trim designs that can be manipulated by anyone, posing a safety risk.
Innovation Solution
A closure assembly with a pushbar assembly and remote trim assembly mounted at different heights, ensuring only users within a specific height range can actuate the pushbar but not the remote trim, thereby restricting access to children.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the trim is locked, then access security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The exit device is divided into two separate components: a pushbar assembly mounted at a first height and a remote trim assembly mounted at a second height. This segmentation allows different user groups to operate different components based on their height, resolving the contradiction between security and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different components of the exit device are assigned different operational characteristics based on their location and target user group. The pushbar is designed for easy operation by shorter users (including children) while the remote trim is designed for operation by taller users, creating local quality differences in operation.
2Ease of operation
If the trim is unlocked, then ease of operation is improved, but access security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The exit device is divided into two separate components: a pushbar assembly mounted at a first height and a remote trim assembly mounted at a second height. This segmentation allows different user groups to operate different components based on their height, resolving the contradiction between security and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces a vertical dimension to the access control system by mounting components at different heights. This dimensional change creates a physical barrier that prevents shorter users (children) from reaching the remote trim while allowing them to use the pushbar, thus improving security without sacrificing ease of operation for authorized users.
3Ease of operation
If standard height trim is used, then ease of operation is improved for all users, but safety against children deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The exit device is divided into two separate components: a pushbar assembly mounted at a first height and a remote trim assembly mounted at a second height. This segmentation allows different user groups to operate different components based on their height, resolving the contradiction between security and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces a vertical dimension to the access control system by mounting components at different heights. This dimensional change creates a physical barrier that prevents shorter users (children) from reaching the remote trim while allowing them to use the pushbar, thus improving security without sacrificing ease of operation for authorized users.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary closure assembly includes a swinging barrier, a pushbar assembly mounted to a first side of the barrier, a remote trim assembly mounted to a second side of the barrier, and a transmission assembly that extends at least partially through the barrier and couples remote trim assembly and the pushbar assembly. The pushbar assembly includes a latchbolt and a pushbar operable to retract the latchbolt. The remote trim includes a handle that is operably coupled with the latchbolt via the transmission assembly such that the handle is operable to retract the latchbolt. The handle is positioned above the pushbar such that a vertical offset distance is defined therebetween. The offset distance is selected such that a user having a height within a selected range of heights is able to actuate the pushbar assembly, but cannot actuate the trim assembly.