ENERGY ABSORBING LATCH SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

A door latch (100, 400, 500, 600, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900) resists opening of a door (200) beyond a predetermined amount when it is engaged and also allows the opening of the door when it is disengaged. The door latch includes a catch (220, 220′, 3220) and a base (191) that is connected to a deformable member (140, 3140, 4140, 5140, 6140) at a joint (90). The joint configures the door latch and may include a pin (190). The catch (e.g., a hook) engages a catching portion (e.g., a loop 148, 3148, 6148) of the deformable member when engaged. The deformable member may stretch at least five percent when resisting an intrusion load (F) on the door. The base may mount to a door frame (300), and the catch may mount to the door. A spring (180) may urge the deformable member toward engagement. A shield (280, 2280, 4280, 5280, 6280) may protect the deformable member and resist cutting and may pivot with the deformable member urged by the spring. A finger pocket (296) may be used to overcome the spring. A detent (187) may retain a disengaged configuration (70), and a button (130) on the pin may be depressed to release the detent. A keeper (260) may retain an engaged configuration (50), even when the intrusion load alternates. An armed configuration (40) may automatically transition to the engaged configuration upon the door reaching the predetermined amount and may be manually transitioned to the disengaged configuration upon operator manipulation. The deformable member may hyperelastically deform.

主权项

1. A door securing device adapted to resist significant opening of a door when set to an engaged configuration and adapted to allow opening of the door when set to a disengaged configuration, the door securing device comprising:
a base member including a base end and a first joint portion; a deformable member extending along a length between a first end and a second end, the first end including a second joint portion and the second end including a catching portion; a configuration joint adapted to configure the door securing device in the engaged configuration and also adapted to configure the door securing device in the disengaged configuration, the configuration joint including the first joint portion of the base member and the second joint portion of the deformable member; and a catch member including a base end and a catch, the catch adapted to engage the catching portion of the deformable member at least when the door securing device is resisting the significant opening of the door; wherein the deformable member is adapted to deform and thereby increase the length of the deformable member at least five percent when resisting the significant opening of the door.