Photoluminescent exit device

1. A system for indicating the direction of an exit route for use in a building including a door through which a person will move in following the exit route, the system comprising

a door pivotally mounted along one edge to a door frame; and

an exit device, comprising

a housing adapted to be secured to the door surface,

a latch mechanism disposed at one end of the housing adjacent an edge of the door and movable relative to the housing between a projected position extending outwardly of the housing for securing the door relative to the frame in a closed position and a retracted position for allowing the door to be opened,

an actuator movably supported on the housing for movement relative to the housing from a first position to a second position and operatively connected to the latch mechanism for moving the latch mechanism from the projected position to the retracted position when pressure is applied to the actuator for opening the door in response to movement of the actuator toward the second position of the actuator,

a touch bar comprising

a base portion terminating in longitudinal edges,

planar legs extending from the longitudinal edges of the base portion and terminating in longitudinal edges, the legs extending the length of the base portion such that the base portion and the legs define an open longitudinal channel, and

a flange integral with the longitudinal edges of each leg, each flange extending inwardly from the legs and terminating in longitudinal edges, and

a photoluminescent material integral with the touch bar, the photoluminescent material being energized by exposure to an ambient light source and operable to automatically emit visible light photoluminescently for a substantial period of time in low ambient light or dark conditions and without being energized by an electrical current, wherein the photoluminescent material provides illumination to identify the exit device in the low ambient light or dark conditions for providing a visual cue directing a person to a location of the exit device,

wherein the transverse cross-section of the touch bar corresponds to the transverse cross-section of the actuator such that the touch bar comprises a cover for the actuator.

2. The system for indicating the direction of an exit route as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a sign including an opaque material for blocking illumination from the photoluminescent material, wherein the sign is visibly mounted on the touch bar over the photoluminescent material.

3. The system for indicating the direction of an exit route as recited in claim 2 , wherein the sign includes openings for configuring the light emitted by the photoluminescent material for forming a message.

4. The system for indicating the direction of an exit route as recited in claim 3 , wherein the message displays the word “EXIT”.

5. The system for indicating the direction of an exit route as recited in claim 1 , wherein the photoluminescent material is mixed with a formable structural material.

6. The system for indicating the direction of an exit route as recited in claim 1 , wherein the photoluminescent material is selected from the group consisting of dyes and particles.

7. The system for indicating the direction of an exit route as recited in claim 1 , wherein the touch bar is removable without removal of the exit device from the door to permit replacement or repair of the touch bar.