Panic handle for doors
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention there is provided a combination door and panic handle for use with entrance doors. In one mode of operation the panic handle is movable to facilitate unlatching the door when pressure is applied towards the door at any point along the surface of the panic handle. The panic handle may, alternatively, be dogged in its most inward position which permanently unlatches the door. In this mode of operation the panic handle is used as a stationary door handle. The door may be opened from the exterior side, when latched, by use of a key. A fixed exterior handle is located adjacent to a segment of the interior panic handle to provide a symmetrical appearance. When used on a glass door, the exterior and interior handles appear as one continuous handle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a planned view of a typical panic handle installed on a rectangular door. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the door and panic handle combination illustrating the relative motion of the panic handle in its outer (latched) position and inner (unlatched) position. 
     FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines III--III of FIG. 1, with the door and panic handle mechanism shown in the unlatched position. 
     FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3, of the door and panic handle mechanism, but shown in the latched position. 
     FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the door and panic handle and exterior fixed handle, taken along lines V--V of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the mounting means used to secure one end of the fixed exterior handle and one end of the movable panic handle to the door, taken along lines VI--VI of FIG. 5. 
     FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of an alternative mounting means used to secure the end of the panic handle adjacent the door latch to the door frame assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate the appearance of the panic handle for the present invention. Of course, it will be understood that many alternative configurations could be used for this panic handle and that the embodiment shown is by way of illustration. As shown, the panic handle is mounted at each of its ends to the interior of the door. As shown in FIG. 2, the handle is susceptible of limited motion toward and away from the door, although, of course, the end points of the panic bar do not move relative to the door. That portion of the panic bar furthest from the mounting points is capable of sufficient motion to facilitate latching and unlatching the door as will be discussed below. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, panic bar assembly 100 is movably mounted to the interior of door assembly 400. Panic bar assembly 100 engages stationary actuator post assembly 300 as shown. An optional exterior handle assembly 200, may be fixed to the exterior portion of door 400. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the overall operation of the panic handle of this invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the panic handle is in the latched position. As illustrated, latch assembly 107 engages latching recess 500 which secures the door assembly 400 in the locked position. The door is unlatched when a force is applied to the panic handle in the direction illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 by arrows &#34;A&#34;, it being appreciated that this force may be applied almost anywhere along the surface of panic bar assembly 100. A force applied to the panic bar in the direction &#34;A&#34; illustrated initiates the sequence of events which automatically unlatch latch assembly 107 allowing door assembly 400 to move in the direction illustrated by arrow &#34;B&#34; of FIG. 3. As panic bar assembly 100 moves towards door assembly 400, the stationary actuator post assembly 300 penetrates the panic bar assembly as shown and through a series of lever arms effectuates withdrawal of latch assembly 107. Specifically, as the panic bar assembly moves towards the door, lever arm 102 changes position as shown in reaction to the force applied by the end of the stationary actuator post assembly which penetrates the panic bar assembly. This motion of lever arm 102 causes the over-center mechanism 104 to change positions, as shown, which in turn moves bar 105 downwardly, as shown, ultimately withdrawing latch assembly 107 into the end of panic bar assembly 100 unlatching the door. Springs 305 and 106 against sliding guide bar 110 and latch assembly 107 facilitate restoring the panic bar to the latched position, away from the door, when exterior force &#34;A&#34; is removed. 
     Dog mechanism assembly 120 facilitates locking the panic bar assembly in its most inward position towards the door which has the effect of permanently unlatching the door. In this position, the panic handle becomes a stationary door handle. As illustrated, dog assembly 120 may be moved upward by use of slide member 122 to engage the inward lip of 129 of the stationary actuator post assembly 300 securing the handle in the unlatched position. Detent locking member 121 is spring loaded at 130 and secures the dogging mechanism 120 in either the dogged or undogged position by engaging in detents 131 or 132 upon movement of slide member 122 upwardly or downwardly as shown by arrows &#34;C&#34; and &#34;D&#34; respectively. 
     A locking mechanism is illustrated schematically at 301. This locking mechanism is useful to open the door from the exterior side when the door is latched. Of course, it is not necessary to unlock the door when it is unlatched and, accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3, key actuated mechanism (or magnetic card or combination actuated mechanism) 301 is ineffective when the door is in the unlatched position. When the door is in the latched position, as shown in FIG. 4, turning the key member in key mechanism 301, as illustrated schematically, moves assembly 101 to the left, as illustrated in FIG. 4, engaging lever arm 102 and, initiating the sequence of events described above which ulimately unlatches the door. 
     As has been described, panic handle assembly 100 is pivotally mounted to door assembly 401 in such a manner that the panic handle is free to move sufficiently to allow interaction with the stationary handle actuator pose 300 to latch and unlatch the door. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate one possible mechanism for achieving said mounting although it will be appreciated that many alternative designs could be employed. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, mounting hardware can be employed which secures one end of exterior handle 200 to glass door 400 in conjunction with mounting apparatus used to secure one end of panic handle assembly 100 to glass door 400. The effect of using this hardware arrangement in conjunction with a glass door is aesthetically pleasing because the fixed exterior handle and movable interior panic handle appear to be one continuous unit. Handle mounting assembly 600 rigidly secures exterior handle 200 to door 400 by use of threaded bolt 603. The interior panic handle assembly 100 is pivotally secured to door 400 by means of picot boss 602 movably threaded into assembly 600 at 604 and pivot pin 601 engaged through boss 602 to handle 100 as shown in FIG. 6. It will be appreciated that this assembly allows panic handle assembly 100 to move freely about pivot pin 601 and also allows a very limited degree of motion by rotation of threaded boss 602 in threads 604 when the handle is moved from the exterior to interior positions and vice versa. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a panic bar assembly mounting used to secure the bar to the frame 420 of a door adjacent the latch assembly. As shown, mounting assembly 401 is secured to the outer frame 420 of door assembly 400. Of course, alternative configurations of mounting bracket and door assembly can be employed without departing from the spirit of this invention and, accordingly, FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate variations of door style and configuration and mounting bracket in direct engagement with the glass of the door. All configurations, however, employ ball shape member 108 in conjunction with a cylindrical support mechanism the effect of which is to allow latch mechanism 107 to be precisely located for engagement with latch 500 while allowing panic handle assembly 100 to pivot slightly as the panic handle is moved towards or away from the door. 
     This preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a &#34;L&#34; shaped panic bar assembly as illustrated. This illustrated panic bar assembly is particularly striking when used on a glass door assembly in conjunction with a fixed exterior handle as shown. It will be understood that other configurations of the panic handle assembly, such as straight handles (pivoted at only one end); &#34;U&#34; shaped handles (pivoted at two ends); and &#34;L&#34; shaped handles with varying length straight sections may be employed without departing from the nature of this invention.