US 12,129,705 B2
Emergency door closing device
Benjamin W. Docksteader, Custer, WA (US); and Joel Sellinger, Blaine, WA (US)
Assigned to MASONITE CORPORATION, Tampa, FL (US)
Filed by MASONITE CORPORATION, Tampa, FL (US)
Filed on Aug. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/228,929.
Application 18/228,929 is a continuation of application No. 17/895,684, filed on Aug. 25, 2022, granted, now 11,713,610.
Application 17/895,684 is a continuation of application No. 17/074,876, filed on Oct. 20, 2020, granted, now 11,428,039, issued on Aug. 30, 2022.
Application 17/074,876 is a continuation of application No. 15/867,628, filed on Jan. 10, 2018, granted, now 10,808,447, issued on Oct. 20, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/525,717, filed on Jun. 27, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/489,641, filed on Apr. 25, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0374843 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E05F 15/72 (2015.01); E05F 1/12 (2006.01); G08B 3/10 (2006.01)
CPC E05F 15/72 (2015.01) [E05F 1/12 (2013.01); G08B 3/10 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/41 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/434 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/462 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/474 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/484 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/618 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/638 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/654 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/668 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/722 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/612 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/66 (2013.01); E05Y 2600/46 (2013.01); E05Y 2900/132 (2013.01); E05Y 2900/134 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An emergency door closing device adapted to be installed upon an existing door and automatically close said existing door when smoke or fire or an emergency is detected, comprising:
a base plate member;
wherein said base plate member is adapted to be connected to an outer surface of said existing door in proximity to a hinged portion thereof;
a pivot cam member;
wherein said pivot cam member is adapted to be connected to a hinge pin of a hinge member pivotally holding said existing door to a door frame; and wherein said pivot cam member is adapted to be held in place against a hinge plate of said hinge member attached to said door frame;
a closing bar;
wherein said closing bar is linearly movable and biasingly connected to said base plate member, and is adapted to be releasably held in place via a pawl member of a lever member; and
wherein said closing bar includes a plurality of gear teeth each adapted to releasably retain said pawl member between any two of said plurality of gear teeth;
a cable member;
wherein said cable member is connected at a distal end to said pivot cam member, and is connected at a proximal end to said closing bar, such that when said existing door is pivoted into said open position said cable member partially wraps around said pivot cam member and pulls upon and linearly moves said closing bar;
a first spring member;
wherein said first spring member is connected between said base plate member and said closing bar;
wherein said first spring member is adapted to gain potential energy when said existing door is moved into said open position and said cable member linearly moves said closing bar;
wherein said first spring member is adapted to retain said potential energy when said closing bar is held in place via said pawl member of said lever member; and
wherein when said closing bar is released by said pawl member of said lever member said first spring member releases said potential energy thereby linearly moving said closing bar, thereby pulling said cable member, thereby pushing, pivoting, and closing said existing door member;
a lever member;
wherein said lever member includes a distal end, a proximal end, and a center section;
wherein said lever member is pivotally connected to said base plate member at said distal end thereof via a pivot post;
wherein said lever member includes a pawl member thereon that is adapted to be releasably placed and retained between any two of said plurality of gear teeth of said closing bar, and are adapted to move in and out from between said any two of said plurality of gear teeth via the pivoting motion of said lever member; and
wherein said pawl member includes a cam surface on one side thereof adapted to allow said pawl member to progressively move between said plurality of gear teeth as said existing door is opened to thereby progressively increase said potential energy of said first spring member;
a second spring member;
wherein said second spring member is connected to said base plate member at a proximal end thereof, is connected to said pivot post at a middle section thereof, and is connected to said center section of said lever member at a distal end thereof, and is adapted to pivotally bias said lever member about its said distal end and thereby pivot said pawl member toward said closing bar;
a motor member including:
a motor; and
a plunger member;
wherein said plunger member is mechanically connected to and is linearly movable via said motor;
wherein said motor member is connected to said base plate member, and said plunger member is connected to said proximal end of said lever member and is adapted to move said proximal end of said lever member via said motor to thereby overcome the spring force of said second spring member and pivot said lever member and move said pawl member out from in between said any two of said plurality of gear teeth of said closing bar, to thereby allow said first spring member to release said potential energy of said first spring member and thereby close said existing door;
a fire, smoke, and emergency signal detector;
wherein said fire, smoke, and emergency signal detector is connected to said base plate member, and is adapted to send an electric signal to said motor member when fire, smoke, or an emergency is detected, to
thereby pivot said lever member and move said pawl member out from in between said any two of said plurality of gear teeth of said closing bar to thereby allow said first spring member to release said potential
energy of said first spring member and thereby close said existing door; and
a power source;
wherein said power source is located in proximity to said base plate member, is electrically connected to said motor member and said fire, smoke, and emergency signal detector, and is adapted to send electric power thereto.