Vertical panic exit device

Abstract

A vertical panic exit device is interchangeably mountable on either left-hand opening or right-hand opening doors and comprises a latch mechanism for engagement with a strike mounted to a doorjamb to alternately transition a door mounted to the jamb in a latched and unlatched configuration. A central portion includes a push bar; an action rod interlinked to said push bar such that a depression of the push bar causes the action rod to be translated in a direction orthogonal to the push bar, and a center case mechanism movable between a latched and an unlatched position. The center case mechanism comprises a housing, and a main link carriage horizontally slidably mounted within the housing. The main link carriage is linked to and is acted upon by the action rod for translation between the latched and unlatched position. An actuator link has a first end pivotally attached to the main link carriage. A pivoting member is pivotally mounted to the housing and has first and second pivotal attach points. A second end of the actuator link is selectively coupled to one of either the first or second attach points. When the second end of the actuator link is selectively coupled to the first attach point, it configures the center case mechanism for latching and unlatching a right handed opening door, and when selectively coupled to the second attach point, it configures the center case mechanism for latching and unlatching a left handed opening door. A slider is vertically slidably mounted within the housing and is in movable engagement with the pivoting member such that a pivoting motion of the pivoting member causes the slider to slide in a vertical direction. The slider includes at least one attach point for connection with the latch mechanism.