Dead bolt lock system and method of retracting a dead bolt

1. A dead bolt lock system for use on a door, the lock system comprising:

a housing structure adapted to be mounted on an inside of a door;

a dead bolt having a first slot including a front portion and a rear portion, the dead bolt being mounted in the housing structure for movement between extended and retracted positions;

a lock coupled with the dead bolt and controlled by an input of correct unlocking information to allow movement of the dead bolt from the extended position to the retracted position;

a dead bolt retracting structure including a first arm received in the first slot and movable from a first position whereby the first arm is positioned at or near the front of the first slot, to a second position whereby the first arm engages the rear portion of the first slot to thereby retract the dead bolt; and

a force blocking structure connected to the dead bolt configured to prevent retraction of the dead bolt due to a force applied to an outer end of the dead bolt, the force blocking structure being inwardly biased towards a center of the dead bolt, wherein the force blocking structure is blocked from moving inwardly by the first arm in the first position and is allowed to move inwardly when the first arm is in the second position.

2. The dead bolt lock system of claim 1 , wherein the force blocking structure is further operatively connected to the housing structure when the dead bolt is in the extended position and disconnected from the housing structure when the dead bolt is in the retracted position, wherein force applied to an outer end of the dead bolt is transmitted to the housing structure by the force blocking structure when the dead bolt is in the extended position.

3. A method of retracting a dead bolt of a dead bolt lock system, the dead bolt lock system including the dead bolt having a first slot including a front portion and a rear portion, a lock coupled with the dead bolt, a dead bolt retracting structure including a first arm received in the first slot at or near the front portion when the retracting structure is in a first position wherein the dead bolt is extended, and a force blocking structure connected to the dead bolt configured to prevent retraction of the dead bolt due to a force applied to an outer end of the dead bolt, the force blocking structure being inwardly biased towards a center of the dead bolt, the method comprising:

operating the retracting structure such that the first arm moves towards and engages the rear portion of the first slot to thereby retract the dead bolt, wherein the force blocking structure moves inwardly to engage the first arm in order to prevent the retracting structure from moving back to the first position.

4. A dead bolt lock system for use on a door, the lock system comprising:

a panic bar assembly including an elongate housing structure adapted to be mounted on an inside of the door, and a push bar operatively coupled to the housing structure and biased in a direction away from the door into a first position, the push bar having an inner portion facing towards the door and an outer portion facing away from the door;

a dead bolt mounted in the housing structure for movement between extended and retracted positions;

a lock coupled with the dead bolt and controlled by an input of correct unlocking information to allow movement of the dead bolt from the extended position to the retracted position;

a dead bolt retracting structure operatively connected to the dead bolt such that when the lock is unlocked, at least a portion of the retracting structure is operative to allow retraction of the dead bolt and, when the lock is locked, operation of the dead bolt retracting structure is prevented thereby preventing retraction of the dead bolt; and

a lever member configured to interact with the dead bolt retracting structure and having at least one arm including an end portion, the lever member being positioned between the housing structure and the push bar such that the end portion contacts the inner portion of the push bar when the dead bolt is in the extended position,

wherein the lever member is configured such that a pushing force of the push bar moves the lever member inwardly towards the door and retracts the dead bolt regardless of the locked or unlocked condition of the lock, whereby the lever member resides in an inward position until the dead bolt moves towards the extended position; and

wherein the push bar is configured to bias back to the first position once the pushing force is released such that the end portion of the lever member is spaced from the inner portion of the push bar when the dead bolt is in the retracted position.

5. A method of retracting a dead bolt of a dead bolt lock system associated with a door, the dead bolt lock system including a panic bar assembly having an elongate housing structure adapted to be mounted on an inside of the door, and a push bar operatively coupled to the housing structure and biased in a direction away from the door into a first position, the push bar having an inner portion facing the door and an outer portion facing away from the door, the system further including a dead bolt, a lock coupled with the dead bolt and controlled by an input of correct unlocking information to allow movement of the dead bolt from an extended position to a retracted position, a dead bolt retracting structure operatively connected to the dead bolt, and a lever member having at least one arm including an end portion and being positioned between the housing structure and the push bar, the lever member interacting with the dead bolt retracting structure to retract the dead bolt and having an outward position where the end portion contacts the inner portion of the push bar and where the dead bolt is in the extended position, and an inward position where the dead bolt is in the retracted position, the method comprising:

depressing the push bar with a pushing force to move the lever member to the inward position and thereby retract the dead bolt; and

releasing the pushing force to allow the push bar to bias back to the first position such that the end portion of the lever member is spaced from the inner portion of the push bar.

6. A method of retracting a dead bolt of a dead bolt lock system associated with a door, the dead bolt lock system including a panic bar assembly having an elongate housing structure adapted to be mounted on an inside of the door, and a push bar operatively coupled to the housing structure and biased in a direction away from the door into a first position, the push bar having an inner portion facing the door and an outer portion facing away from the door, the system further including a dead bolt, a lock coupled with the dead bolt and controlled by an input of correct unlocking information to allow movement of the dead bolt from an extended position to a retracted position, a dead bolt retracting structure operatively connected to the dead bolt, and a lever member having at least one arm including an end portion and being positioned between the housing structure and the push bar, the lever member interacting with the dead bolt retracting structure to retract the dead bolt and having an outward position where the end portion contacts the inner portion of the push bar and where the dead bolt is in the extended position, and an inward position where the dead bolt is in the retracted position, the method comprising:

depressing the push bar with a pushing force, wherein the end portion cams along the inner portion of the push bar and the lever member moves to the inward position to thereby retract the dead bolt.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the end portion is defined at least in part by a roller member, and the method further comprises:

depressing the push bar with a pushing force, wherein the roller

member cams along the inner portion of the push bar.