Abstract: A storm panel for covering a building opening includes, in combination: a series of one-piece, substantially horizontal, substantially identical plate members each having two lateral edges and a main body portion, a first hinge member formed on one lateral edge of each plate member, and, a second hinge member on the opposite lateral edge of each plate member, the first and second hinge members being formed to matingly and pivotally engage the opposite hinge member on an adjacent plate member to form a hinge, the main body portion of each plate member is being joined to each of the lateral hinge edges, the main body portion of each plate member being essentially uninterrupted from the first hinge edge to the second hinge edge and substantially identical with adjacent plate members, the plate members being formed and proportioned along with the hinge members so that when the hinges are hinged to each other to form a panel, the panel is pleatable and the spacing between the plate members when the panel is pleate

Abstract: An overhead door system including, a sectional door (D") having top, bottom, and intermediate panels (321, 324, 322) hinged for moving between a closed vertical position and an open horizontal position, top rollers (332) on the top panel, bottom rollers (341) on the bottom panel, intermediate rollers (337) positioned between the top rollers and the bottom rollers, inner vertical tracks (351) for engaging the intermediate rollers, transition tracks (353) connected to the inner vertical tracks and curving through an angle of approximately ninety degrees for directing the travel of the intermediate rollers, horizontal tracks (355) extending from the transition tracks for engaging the intermediate rollers to support the door in the open horizontal position, and outer vertical tracks (357) for guiding the bottom rollers in a substantially vertical path paralleling said inner vertical tracks and having upper extremities (357') that are inwardly offset in the direction of the transition tracks.

Abstract: A balancing device (11) has a first balance pulley (20) provided in a hoisting drum (3) and a second balance pulley (40) connected to a coil spring (31). These pulleys are connected through a tension wire (50). The first balance pulley has a main pulley portion (25) for taking-up the tension wire at the beginning of a feed-out process from a fully opened position, and a zero-point return pulley portion (26) for taking-up the tension wire from halfway. The zero-point return pulley portion has an outer circumferential shape in which the tension wire passes the pulley axial center at a fully shut position. The second balance pulley (40) has a cylindrical portion (46) for feeding-out the tension wire at the beginning of the feed-out process from the fully opened position, and a conical portion (47) for feeding-out the tension wire from halfway. The conical portion has a shape in which its diameter is smaller on the cylindrical portion side.

Abstract: A foldable cover of simple structure and light weight is provided. The cover consists of multiple cover sections which are connected by hinges so that they may be folded together. Each of the cover sections has a hole in its surface through which a cable extends, such that when the cable is pulled, the cover sections are folded together at one side of the opening. The cable is initially pulled from a height above the cover sections so that the first pair of cover sections are caused to buckle upwards and then fold together. Further pulling on the cable causes the remaining pairs of cover sections to buckle and fold one pair at a time. When the cover is being extended, a tension is maintained on the pulling cable so as to control the falling speed of the cover sections as they unfold. Hinges and wheels that are used on the cover and around the holes exhibit a low rotational friction, so that the cover may be opened and closed easily.

Abstract: The invention takes as its departure point a housing (10) for receiving electric drives (16, 18, 20), in particular garage-door drives, and/or the controls (24, 26) thereof, which housing exhibits at least two housing parts (12, 14). Provision is made on the housing parts for a latching device (34, 52, 68, 110) and guide elements (108, 112) for the reliable connection of the housing parts (12, 14) and for latching-in and retaining functional components (22, 28, 78) and/or circuit boards (24, 26) for the controls. Consequently, a structure with few individual parts and simple mounting and demounting is achieved.

Abstract: A power drive control device of an automatic door, including a gear box having a shell; and a motor drive, the motor drive having a front cover integrally made with the shell of the gear box together, and a back cover covered on the front cover to hold a motor shaft, a stator coil around the motor shaft, a light chopper, and a photoelectric pick-up device, the front cover having a receiving chamber, two recessed holes and one screw hole formed in the receiving chamber and adapted for securing the photoelectric pick-up device in place, the light chopper being mounted around a bearing around the motor shaft to act with the photoelectric pick-up device, enabling the photoelectric pick-up device to monitor the operation of the motor shaft.

Abstract: A bottom bracket for an overhead garage door having a spring tension assisted lift system. The bottom bracket has protrusions that interlock with mating slots in the stile of the garage door bottom panel thus preventing the bracket from detaching from the garage door when the bracket is attached to the spring under tension, even if the bracket fastening screws are removed.

Abstract: A door, particularly for large doorways, which includes a door leaf suspended from an upper edge of the doorway and including at least one of a continuous sheet or a number of sheets arranged in a single or several layers attached to a series of lateral braces at an equal or common distance from each other in a vertical direction of the doorway. The lateral braces extend at respective ends thereof into a generally vertically extending guide profile, and from an upper edge of the doorway, a hoist is provided which includes lines or belts. Each lateral brace includes an attached hoisting device, with the hoisting devices being connected so as to enable movement of the door in an upward and downward direction.

Abstract: An overhead door system employs counterweights which operate through cables connected to a drum which tapers from one end to the other so that the effective force acting on the door in the opening direction is reduced as the proportion of the weight of the door to be supported reduces. The system is adjustable readily to accommodate different types of doors having different opening characteristics in terms of the proportion of the doors weight that must be counterbalanced at different stages of the door opening movement. The drum has a pair of continuous grooves extending side-by-side throughout its length, the counterweight being independently supported by each of a pair of cables laid in these grooves.

Abstract: A set of window covering panels may be raised or lowered from a header mounted upon the window casing. Pull cords and drop cords on the panels permit the panels to be raised and lowered one at a time or all at a time. Guide members keep the panels in vertical alignment and cam surfaces permit one panel to slide up behind the next higher panel when shifting the panels into a nested condition.

Abstract: An overhead door system employs counterweights which operate through cables connected to a drum which tapers from one end to the other so that the effective force acting on the door in the opening direction is reduced as the proportion of the weight of the door to be supported reduces. The system is adjustable readily to accommodate different types of doors having different opening characteristics in terms of the proportion of the doors weight that must be counterbalanced at different stages of the door opening movement.

Abstract: A rigid wall partition system which is vertically upwardly movable into storage position and vertically downwardly movable to form a continuous wall. The system comprises a plurality of panels secured to members which in turn are pivotally secured to spaced trains of single pantographs, contraction of the pantograph causing the panels to fold, in accordion fashion and expansion of the pantographs causing the panels to move to vertical, wall-forming position.

Abstract: A garage door locking device (10) includes a bracket (12) for connection to a garage door (12) and translating initial push/pull movement of a first push/pull cable (20) into locking and unlocking actuation of a latch member (30), respectively. The bracket (32) includes a slot defining a track having closed ends at each end thereof for stopping and engaging a follower member (44) mounted thereon. A second push/pull cable (48) has a first end connected to the follower member (44) and a second end connected to a latch member (30) so that the follower member (44) is biased towards one of the closed ends of the slot (40) when the latch member (30) is engaged to lock the door and the follower member (44) engages the other closed end of the slot (40) when the latch member (30) is disengaged from the locked condition.

Abstract: A roll-up door for a container body of a van or the like is provided with a winch which is located in a compartment formed in the header of the door. The winch is connected by flexible winding straps to the upper door panel and the lower door panel so that it is operable to drive the door between the open and closed position. The door panels are hingedly connected by hinges in which the hinge pin is located at the inner face of the door. Flexible sealing members are connected to each jamb and bear against a marginal edge portion of the outer face of the door when the door is in the closed position. A control system for controlling the direction of rotation of the reversible D.C. motor is provided which includes a master control circuit and a slave control circuit which is selectively operable.

Abstract: A hanger door arrangement which comprises a door having two upper door panels adapted to be pivotally connected to the top of the hanger door opening in side-by-side relationship and two lower door panels pivotally connected to the lower edges of the upper panels, and an operating mechanism which raises the door to an open position in which the lower panels allow passage of the wings of an aircraft beneath them and the tailgate between them.

Abstract: In conjunction with a conventional power operated overhead door, such as a garage door, which has wire cables attached to the door for assisting in raising (opening) and lowering (closing) the door, a cam plate or dog having a toothed edge can be pivotably moved to instantaneously clamp or bind against the wire cable to stop its downward movement in the event any obstacle, such as a small child, is detected in the path of the door while it is being closed. The cam plate is biased to permit the wire cable to move in a direction to open the door.

Abstract: A porch is provided having a ceiling, floor and at least three walls, the fourth wall being in most cases the wall of a house or other building to which the porch is attached. Each wall is made up of a plurality of identical window units or modules in side-by-side relationship and each window module includes a pair of laterally spaced apart vertically disposed parallel frames, one frame on each side. A multi-channel window track is mounted on the side of each frame. Both the frames and the tracks extend from the ceiling down below the floor of the porch. Independently movable window sashes are slidably mounted in each of the channels and are stored when not in use in a pocket at least partially below the floor level so that the lower edge of each window opening is spaced above the floor by a distance less than the height of one of the sashes so that the window openings are close enough to the floor to help promote a visual illusion of being outside.

Abstract: A overhead door assembly which includes a device to maintain the door in a raised position in the door opened position. The door is maintained in a position significantly higher than the position the door would normally assume thus providing an enlarged door opening. The door can be maintained in the raised position by either locating the point of attachment between the load balancing operator cable and the door or by blocking the path of the door in the door guide tracks. Various structures for relocating the cable attachment point and blocking the path of the door are contemplated.

Abstract: The strap winder has a base plate (1) with a recessed grip (2) which is arranged laterally alongside the usual spring-tensioned strap drum (11) and through which the pulling strap (3) passes transversely, the pulling strap running from the device to be operated via a strap clamping device to the recessed grip and from the latter via deflection rollers to the strap drum, so that the strap winder can, due to its relatively flat design, be fitted countersunk in a thin-walled lintel surface above a skylight and thus allowing for more convenient operation.

Abstract: A shutter for application over a window comprises a plurality of horizontal slats mounted in vertically-spaced relation, a tilting device for simultaneously tilting all the slats about their horizontal axes from horizontal positions to vertical positions, and a raising device for raising the slats from lowered positions to raised positions with respect to the window. The plurality of slats are mounted on shafts received within channels located at opposite sides of the window and guiding the movement of the shafts of the slats when the slats are tilted, raised and lowered.

Abstract: In the illustrated embodiment, the guardrail window assembly includes three outer stationary rectangular superstructures. Each superstructure forms a wall section of the assembly and adjacent superstructures are connected together by vertical posts that rise from the patio or balcony area. Each superstructure longer than four (4) feet has a header, a footer and a pair of upright jambs. Window panes are retained by window frames. Each superstructure has at least one telescoping column uprightly attached to the footer. Each telescoping column includes, in this embodiment, three column segments. The lower column segment is fixed to the footer and the upper column segments telescope from the lower column segment. The window frames are attached on one side to one column segment and the opposing side of the window frame is either set within a groove in the jamb or is affixed to another column segment of an adjacent telescoping column.

Abstract: The extension mechanism acts on each of the panels of the appendage, in such a way that the distance separating the center of gravity of said appendage from the rotation axis O of the space vehicle permanently increases from the initial position in which the panels are folded back to the final position where these panels are completely extended. Use is made of cables which are wound onto pulleys, in such a way that there winding radius about the articulation axis of the intermediate panels permanently increases and there winding radius about the articulation axis of the external panel permanently decreases from said initial position to said final position, in accordance with an analytically determined geometrical law.

Abstract: An improved garage door opener which has an all plastic outer case in which is mounted a metal motor supporting bracket so as to add strength and rigidity. The unit utilizes a cable drive system which moves in a vertical loop which eliminates side to side racking of the rail and which allows a less expensive rail such as a tube to be used. The all plastic housing is designed so that when the cover is removed all components are accessible and the entire operator is easily serviced, the components fit into nested areas that are molded into the plastic housing. The limit and force adjustments are conveniently located and identified on the outside of the housing. A simplified improved hanging bracket is provided wherein the hanging bracket is attached to the metal motor supporting bracket which supports the motor and the gear housing on opposite sides thereof.

Abstract: An overhead door including an upper door panel which is hingedly mounted to a horizontal header of a doorway and to a lower door panel. The door is moveable between a first, closed position wherein the door panels are vertically aligned and cooperate to close the doorway and a second, open position wherein the door panels are in a folded, generally horizontal, and parallel relation. Brace members are provided pivotally mounted to the upper door panel and adapted to engage the vertical door jambs when the door is in its second, open position to provide an angular support therebetween. The brace members are held by cables extending from the lower door panel allowing rollers located at the bottom edge of the lower door panel to engage and roll upon the vertical door jambs when the door is moved between its open position and adjacent to its closed position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device in particular for an overhead door or the like comprising fastening means for blocking the door which means are operated by an auxiliary cable under tension. The auxiliary cable having a breaking element is on the one hand connected to a reel provided with speed-limiting means for blocking the reel in case the rotation speed becomes beyond certain limits and on the other hand to the door via a lever shaped locking member which cooperates with the fastening means. The fastening means are held in an inoperative position by said locking member, while upon breaking of the breaking element the fastening means are released for blocking the door.

Abstract: A shutter adapted to be attached in hinged relation to a frame defining an opening, whereby at least part of the opening may be covered by the shutter, includes a shutter body. The shutter body has opposed top and bottom and opposed side body members, the body members defining a shutter opening. A plurality of movable slats extend horizontally across the shutter opening. The slats are individually suspended and vertically spaced from each other by at least two flexible ladder suspension harnesses. Each harness has two parallel vertical strands with each slat held in fixed relation to a selected location on each of the vertical strands. Lateral movement of the slats is limited by the vertical strands and longitudinal movement of the slats is limited by the side body members. Means are provided to selectively lower and raise at least one of the vertical strands of each harness to rotate the slats about their longitudinal axes.

Abstract: A twin drum cable helical gear worm drive garage door opener which provides positive drive in either direction and ensures positive cable take-up and supply spool synchronization and ensures positive position relationship between the trolley and the operator head and has pre-assembled anchored cable ends which allow easy assembly and disassembly. The cable is oriented in the vertical plane which allows the point of cable latch to be in the same load/force plane and minimizes bowing of the support shaft under severe load conditions. The integral motor worm reels and support shaft results in a compact light weight unit and cable tensioning means are provided for allowing easy and simple adjustment of the unit when it is installed.

Abstract: A safety lock assembly for use with a garage door to prevent the latter from falling uncontrollably in the event the counterweight system supporting the garage door fails. The invention has a pivoted arm biased into a position blocking door movement. The counterweight system is attached to the pivoted arm to overcome the bias. In the event of a failure in the weight supporting members, the built-in bias will move the arm into its position where further significant movement of the door is prevented.

Abstract: An improved door elevating system for use with a door having a plurality of horizontal door panels hinged together at their horizontal edges and guided at their vertical edges between a pair of guide rails. The system comprises means to displace the door along the guide rails and having a door lifting cable secured at one end to a bottom portion of the door and extending along a vertical edge of the door. An opposed end of the cable is wound on a rotatable drum rotatably supported in alignment with the vertical edge. The drum has an outer cable receiving surface on which the cable can be wound. The drum further has a vertical bearing side face and a free side face. The free side face faces inwardly of the door and a cable passage is provided inside the drum and has an exit port in the free side face whereby the opposed end of the cable exits. An adjustable fastening means is provided to secure the cable in the passage.

Abstract: A cover for servicing holes in automotive service stations consists of a band of pivotably connected support members, the ends of which are supported on the longitudinal hole edges. The band is displaceable longitudinally in opposite directions by at least one motor drive to open and close the servicing hole. During the opening movement the band is moved downwardly at one front end of the longitudinal hole. In order to avoid a broadening of this region of the hole the support members are telescopically assembled and are compressed to a reduced length in this region than in the covering region of the servicing hole.

Abstract: A structure for mounting and apparatus for opening, closing, and locking a large, overhead door is adapted for buildings constructed on terrain which is not level and having floor and overhead structures that conform to the terrain. A sloping overhead truss spans a door opening and includes a widened faceplate along the length of its span to accommodate mounting a large overhead opening door along a horizontal line between vertical columns. A combination manual and automatic electrically powered door opening apparatus includes a counterweight, a coil chain and sheave for manual operation which is interchangeable with an electrically powered motor for automatic operation, all connected to a common lift cable which applies substantially vertical lifting force to the lower edge of the door for opening. Bias means for causing initial folding of door sections for opening, and locking apparatus for resisting folding of the door sections to prevent opening are also provided.

Abstract: A container and cover arrangement such as a ship's hold and hatch cover comprises a plurality of cover elements. Hinges are provided for inter-connecting adjacent ones of the cover elements so as to permit pivotal movement of the cover elements outwardly of the container in response to a pulling force. A latching arrangement is provided which comprises an engagement portion on the container and a latch element displaceably mounted on a cover element for co-operating latching engagement with the engagement portion. The latch element is displaceable in response to said pulling force prior to movement of the cover elements to permit release of engagement between the latch element and engagement portion.

Abstract: Garage door opener for simple installation and to fully actuate various counterbalanced doors of different makes with minimum mechanism, and to be packaged and sold as a compact kit. The opener is built around a short main drive shaft adapted to be coupled coaxially to the end of the door counterbalance shaft. The drive shaft is journalled in two frame side members and therebetween carries a worm gear and two friction drive disks spring-pressed against the gear to transmit limited drive torque therefrom to the shaft. The gear is driven by a worm on the shaft of a motor on a carrier which is slidable on the frame. A manual cam moves the carrier between a worm-engaged position for drive and a worm-disengaged position to release the door for manual operation. A threaded extension of the main shaft carries a pair of traveling nuts which actuate switches to limit door travel both directions.

Abstract: A canopy door including a pivotally mounted leaf adapted to swing on a fixed horizontal axis between an open and a closed position, and an extensible strut having an intermediate pivot point disposed in an over-center position when the door is closed. Operating cables, driven by a common shaft, are attached to the leaf and strut; and are payed out and taken up to move the door between its open and closed positions. One of the operating cables exerts an upward force on the strut to move it from its over-center position, thereby exerting an initial outward opening force on the door.

Abstract: An operator for an overhead door comprises a fluid actuated device including a cylinder and a cooperating piston. The piston rod carries a pair of cable sheaves. Another pair of sheaves are rotatable on a fixed mounting. A cable is wound around pulleys in corresponding pairs. Each cable has one end anchored and another end fastened to the door so when the fluid actuated devices spread the pair of sheaves, the door lifts. Pressurized fluid is relieved from the cylinder to let the door close under its own weight. Electric circuits for actuating the hydraulic circuit are shown.

Abstract: A combination security shutter and awning assembly adapted to be secured to a wall of a building such as a store front or the like having one or more wall openings therein such as doors, display windows, and the like. The assembly includes upper and lower sash portions which are positionable to an opened awning position wherein the sash portions are disposed above the wall openings and function as an awning which is pleasing to the eye and which provides an unobstructed passage or view of the various wall openings. The sash portions of the assembly are also selectively positionable to a closed security shutter position whereby access to the wall openings is prevented by relatively burglar-resistant panels. The assembly includes a frame rigidly secured to the wall about the wall openings and is adapted to carry the upper and lower sash portions each of which mounts at least one protective panel.

Abstract: A window construction including a frame and inner and outer window structures is provided. The inner window structure is vertically shiftable in the frame a limited amount and may be swung horizontally inwardly toward an open position after being upwardly shifted in the frame from its lower position, the inner window structure and frame including coacting portions locking the inner window structure against swinging movement to the open position when the inner window structure is shifted downwardly relative to the window frame. The outer window structure includes upper and lower sections pivotally joined together along their adjacent marginal edge portions and the opposite ends of the upper and lower marginal portions of the upper and lower sections, respectively, includes outstanding guide pins slidably and rotably received in opposing vertical grooves formed in the opposite side upright portions of the window frame.

Abstract: A counterbalancing mechanism for an articulated rolling door mounted for movement horizontally away from the doorway when the door is opened, with the weight of the vertical portion of the door producing variable forces urging the door towards its closed position as the door is moved between its open and closed positions. A drum is connected to the door and mounted for rotation in response to movement of the door between its open and closed positions, the drum having a spiral groove formed in the outer surface for guiding a cable along the drum when the drum is rotated. A cable is connected to the drum and adapted to wrap around the drum in the spiral groove in response to rotation of the drum in one direction, and to unwrap from the drum in response to rotation in the opposite direction. A weight is suspended from the cable for applying a torque to the drum, and thus applying a force to the door, urging the door toward its open position.

Abstract: An upwardly-acting door structure is adapted to close an access opening of a body member, such as an automobile-carrying railroad car. The door structure includes a stationary track on either side of the opening, movable tracks mounted for upward and downward movement along the stationary tracks, an upper panel mounted on the movable tracks, a lower panel mounted to move upwardly and downwardly along the movable tracks at twice the speed, flexible chains arranged to interconnect the lower panel with the movable tracks, torsional springs arranged to counterbalance and support the aggregate weight of the raised movable tracks, and handles operatively arranged to raise and lower the movable tracks. The upper and lower panels may be raised to uncover the access opening, or lowered to cover the access opening.

Abstract: A cover arrangement for a container comprising two cover elements hinged and movable together to open and close the container under the action of pulling means attached to one of the cover elements, the pulling means acting through direction changing means to enable opening of the container to be carried out by an upward pull on the pulling means. A tripping lever provided on the same cover element as the pulling means extends towards the other cover element and a guide ramp cooperating with and guides the tripping lever in a downward direction to pivot the cover element bearing the tripping lever into a substantially vertical position on opening of the cover arrangement by the pulling means.