Patents by Inventor Allen C. McDowell

Allen C. McDowell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7469737
    Abstract: A door system is provided for a door opening defined by a pair of vertically spaced jambs, a header positioned near the vertical extremity of the jambs, and a floor supporting the jambs. The door system includes a door, a plurality of track sections, the door being movable on the track sections, and a support system coupled to the door. Engagement of the support system when the door is in a closed position enables transfer of forces applied to the door at least to one of the header and the floor. One embodiment provides for automatic actuation of the support system by movement of a pivoting motor assembly to a closed position. Another embodiment provides for manual actuation of the support system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Allen C. McDowell
  • Publication number: 20080023159
    Abstract: A door system is provided for a door opening defined by a pair of vertically spaced jambs, a header positioned near the vertical extremity of the jambs, and a floor supporting the jambs. The door system includes a door, a plurality of track sections, the door being movable on the track sections, and a support system coupled to the door. Engagement of the support system when the door is in a closed position enables transfer of forces applied to the door at least to one of the header and the floor. One embodiment provides for automatic actuation of the support system by movement of a pivoting motor assembly to a closed position. Another embodiment provides for manual actuation of the support system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Allen C. McDowell
  • Patent number: 6463988
    Abstract: A wind-resistant sectional overhead door (21) selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position relative to a door opening defined by spaced vertical jambs (23,24) and a horizontal header (25) extending therebetween including, a plurality of elongate horizontal panels (40-43) pivotally connected at the top and bottom edges (48, 49) of adjacent of the panels, roller tracks (31, 32) mounted on the vertical jambs to either side of the door, roller shafts (65) mounted at the ends of the panels, guide rollers (66) carried by the roller shafts and engaging the roller tracks, and restraining members (70, 170) for limiting axial movement of the roller shafts, whereby the roller shafts and the panels are tension-loaded when the door is in the closed position to prevent buckling of the panels under applied wind forces. The restraining members may be replaced by or supplemented with tension rod assemblies (225, 325).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Allen C. McDowell, David C. Allis
  • Patent number: 6164014
    Abstract: A cable control device (10) for a sectional overhead door (11) having a motor-driven counterbalance system (30) including, a spring-loaded drive shaft (31), cable drums (33) carried by the drive shaft, cables (C) attached to and interconnecting the cable drums and the door and forming and releasing cable wraps on the cable drums upon raising and lowering of the door, and retainers (60) associated with the cable drums engaging a portion of at least one cable wrap to maintain engagement of the cable wrap with the cable drums in the event of the development of slack in the cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Allen C. McDowell, Willis J. Mullet
  • Patent number: 6112799
    Abstract: A wind-resistant sectional overhead door (21) selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position relative to a door opening defined by spaced vertical jambs (23, 24) and a horizontal header (25) extending therebetween including, a plurality of elongate horizontal panels (40-43) pivotally connected at the top and bottom edges (48, 49) of adjacent of the panels, roller tracks (31, 32) mounted on the vertical jambs to either side of the door, roller shafts (65) mounted at the ends of the panels, guide rollers (66) carried by the roller shafts and engaging the roller tracks, and restraining members (70, 170) for limiting axial movement of the roller shafts, whereby the roller shafts and the panels are tension-loaded when the door is in the closed position to prevent buckling of the panels under applied wind forces. The restraining members may be replaced by or supplemented with tension rod assemblies (225, 325).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Allen C. McDowell, David C. Allis