Abstract: An apparatus that detects the occurrence of slack in a cable and that compensates for detected slack is disclosed. The apparatus includes body parts that are movable relative to each other between fully extended and fully retracted positions. A bias device biases the body parts toward the fully retracted position. However, normal tension conditions in the monitored cable overcome the bias and extend the body parts to their fully extended relation. If the cable becomes slack, the body parts retract to take up the slack. If the cable slack is to such an extent that the body parts move to a predetermined relative position, the apparatus generates a signal warning of extreme slack conditions. The present invention also is a cable slack control apparatus for a door operator, with such control apparatus including a cable slack detection and compensation device and a door motor drive control device.

Abstract: A high impact shutter capable of withstanding high impacts from flying debris, including large debris, for use on exterior wall openings such as doors and windows, particularly suited for use in violent storms such as hurricanes. The high impact shutter can be retrofit to existing shutter systems using products already installed, or used in entirely new installations. The high impact shutters may be made into panels that include a plurality of interconnected parallel slats held together by a perimeter framework. The shutter slats may or may not have small openings to provide ventilation and to allow passage of light.

Abstract: A track support structure (30) for a sectional overhead garage door (10) having rollers (16) for guiding the door (10) between open and closed positions. The track support structure (30) has a track (38) and a track support beam (40). Track (38) has an upper horizontal flange (38) and a lower trough (72). The free edge of the trough (72) has an inturned tubular bead (74) and the free edge of upper flange (38) has an inturned tubular bead (74). An angle-shaped track support beam (40) has legs (88) and (90). The free edges of legs (88) and (90) have respective tubular beads (92) and (94). Tubular beads (92), (94) have a diameter between 11/2and 21/2times the diameter of beads (74), (76) on track (38).

Abstract: A garage door cover assembly for use on an exterior surface of a garage door of the type having a plurality of door panels permitted to rotate relative to each other when the garage door moves from a closed position to an open position is provided. The garage door cover assembly includes a plurality of horizontal cover panels and, for each cover panel, fixing members to couple the panel to a garage door panel. The cover panels are provided with fanciful holiday, seasonal, or other celebratory indicia. The indicia on the panels together form a composite illustration. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover panels are made from a flexible, waterproof polyethylene.

Abstract: A series of rectangular horizontal, garage door panels are joined together by an integral hinge construction which enables the panels to be manufactured at a factory site and assembled at a construction site. The panels as well as the hinge elements may be fabricated from a fiberglass, reinforced, composite or other polymeric materials to enhance the durability of the garage door construction.

Abstract: An operating system for controllably moving in upward and downward directions a sectional door (D) in relation to a door frame (12) having a pair of jambs (13, 14) and an interconnecting header (15), including a counterbalancing system (30) having a drive tube (31) interconnected with the sectional door proximate the ends thereof, a motorized operator (10) mounted adjacent to the drive tube and between the ends of the sectional door, and a drive train (70) interconnecting the drive tube and the motorized operator for selectively driving the sectional door in upward and downward directions.

Abstract: A push-pull chain garage door operator system includes a drive module and an elongated guide rail for a push-pull chain connected to a carriage assembly mounted on the guide rail. The chain is engaged with a sprocket mounted on a generally rectangular plate-like molded plastic support member which includes a serpentine idle chain storage slot formed therein. The support member is releasably connected to a stamped metal frame plate for covering the storage slot and supporting the drive module. The bottomwall of the support member supports a right angle speed reduction drive unit connected to a drive motor retained in a cradle formed by an integral boss on the support member. The motor and a starting capacitor therefor are retained in respective cradle portions of the boss by a removable retaining strap. A control circuit board is mounted on the underside of the support member and a two-part shroud for the operator mechanism is releasably secured to the frame plate.

Abstract: A lift gate has elements which extend across the gate in its entire width. The elements are positioned vertically above each other, and are interconnected on their rear sides by hinges countersunk with respect to the rear side. The elements are guided in a pair of substantially vertical tracks along the sides of the gate. The tracks are bent at the upper edge of the gate in an approximately horizontal direction toward the rear side of the gate. The elements have a cross-sectionally tooth-shaped projection along their upper edge, and a corresponding depression along their lower edge. The depression accommodates the projection of an adjoining element. A cutting plane extends perpendicular to the element and through the hinge axis, and cuts a profile section which, in cross-section, approximately forms a triangle having a front flank and a rear flank, and which, when the gate is closed, extends from the lower edge of the overlying element upwards toward the vertex of the triangle.

Abstract: A plate for mounting a plunger on each panel is mounted on the inwardly facing surface of each end of each panel. One or more plungers are positioned on each plate and each plunger has a first end biased in a first position within the groove of the track.

Abstract: For mounting a folding/sliding door, a support is connected to a hinge arm of a hinger mounted in the upper outer end area of an outer door leaf in a position in which the side of the retaining part that attaches to the hinge arm is located in the extension of the bearing part. The folding/sliding door can then be joined by its inner leaf via hinges, preferentially standard double-link hinges, to a side panel of the body. The pre-fitted support, already connected to the hinge arm of the outer door leaf, can then be introduced and locked into the guide channel together with its carriage part. First, the carriage part is swiveled through 90 degrees around the retaining part so as to position the carriage part within the longitudinal slot of the guide channel. The carriage part is then locked in place by turning the hammer-shaped head through 90 degrees by means of its supporting pin.

Abstract: A segmented door (10) such as a garage door includes a plurality of adjacent door panels (12, 14) pivotally interconnected for movement between a pivoted position and an alignment position. The edge walls (30, 34) on opposed sides of the juncture (26) between adjacent panels (12, 14) present mated, arcuate surfaces. The preferred door (10) includes a hinge bracket (38) mounted to one panel (12) and a hinge brace (40) mounted to an adjacent panel (14) configured to present hinge pin holes (66, 74) in registration with a hinge pin (42) received therein, adjacent the first panel (12) and spaced from the juncture (26) between the panels (12, 14). The bracket (38) and brace (40) are configured for gradually closing the gap between the edge walls (30, 34) and so that the edge walls (30, 34) slide by one another to prevent pinching in the juncture (26) during movement from the pivoted to the aligned position.

Abstract: A repair and reinforcement apparatus having a sleeve-like structure embracingly encompasses a portion of a door panel for an overhead door, having a thickness corresponding to an insulated or uninsulated panel construction. The door sleeve includes a generally U-shaped construction having front and rear flanges extending from a transverse web portion for bracketing the damaged panel portion and adjacent undamaged portions of the door panel. Selectively located notches and recesses provided in the sleeve flanges are shaped to receive corresponding tabs and fasteners of roller hinge attachment apparatus, to effect speedy repair and replacement of damaged portions of the door panel in an in situ installation.

Abstract: An overhead door includes a plurality of adjacent panels hinged to one another. Each panel includes a first and second side as well as a first and second edge. The first and second edges of adjacent panels are complementary with one another. The first edge includes a convex portion projecting from the panel and a seal contact portion substantially continuous with an apex of the convex portion. The second edge includes a concave portion complementary with the convex portion and a seal retaining portion substantially continuous with the concave portion. A seal is provided in a recess of the second edge to form a sealed joint with the seal contact portion of the first edge. A gap is formed between the concave and convex portions of adjacent hinge panels. The gap has a width or thickness between the concave and convex portion which is substantially constant. Also, the width or thickness remains substantially constant as adjacent panels are articulated or rotated with respect to one another about the hinge.

Abstract: A sectional door includes a plurality of consecutively coupled panels, each panel having at least one profiled form over at least a portion of a length of an end thereof, the at least one form defining a swivel joint between coupled panels. The panels, as coupled, can move between a vertical position and a horizontal position in order to allow door opening or closing. Preferably, the door includes a top panel, a bottom panel and a plurality of intermediate panels coupled there between in which each intermediate panel include a pair of profiled forms along at least part of the length thereof of each end. One of the forms includes an interior curved profile sized to allow the positioning and housing of connecting bars over at least a portion of the length of the profile, the connecting bars being associated to allow moving of all of the coupled panels.

Abstract: A new garage door screen for allowing for a garage to be ventilated. Also included is a screen door having a generally rectangular configuration. The screen door is defined by a peripheral frame including opposed long upper and lower members and opposed short side members. The peripheral frame has a mesh screen extending therewithin. The long upper member is hingedly secured to a bottom edge of a garage door. The screen door hangs below the bottom edge of the garage door in an open orientation.

Abstract: An improved release mechanism for use in combination with an industrial door, which includes an extension member extending across the doorway opening when the door is in its doorway-blocking positions, the releasing mechanism including a roller mounted for movement with the extension member, and a track including a guideway for receiving the roller and guiding it during normal door operation, the roller and track being movable relative to each other upon application of a breakaway force to the extension member, thereby allowing the roller to escape from the track when a breakaway force is applied to the extension member, the breakaway force being defined as a force that has a component perpendicular to the plane of the door above a certain magnitude.

Abstract: A hinge for a sectional overhead door. The hinge having first and second hinge parts. The second part has side flanges and a connecting base. The first part has a body and an integral sleeve of a length greater than the distance between extremities of the flanges. The side flanges have opposed apertures. The sleeve is received by the apertures as the side flanges are configured to extend substantially at right angles to the base.

Abstract: A counterbalance mechanism for a sectional garage door includes an elongated shaft mounted above the door opening and supporting spaced apart cable drums connected to respective cables which are connected at one end to the door for exerting a counterbalance force thereon. Opposed torsion springs are connected to the cable drums at one end, respectively, and to respective hub members which are axially slidable on but nonrotatable with respect to the shaft. The cable drums are provided with detachable bushing members for engagement with the support brackets. The shaft is connected to a non-reversible worm gear drive at one end. The worm gear drive may be actuated to selectively vary the torsional deflection of the counterbalance springs by rotating the worm and a ring gear meshed therewith.

Abstract: A combined garage door screen and garage door and method is disclosed wherein the garage door screen can be selectively fixedly attached to the back of the garage door in either a lower (closed screen) position when the bottom portion of the garage door is spaced from the ground or an upper (screen up) position when the bottom portion of the garage door screen is raised to a level at least equal to the level of the bottom portion of the garage door.

Abstract: A sectional garage door is formed of rectangular door sections which include hollow extruded plastic rail members interconnected by hollow extruded plastic end and intermediate stile members to form a door section. The rail members and stile members may be fitted with internal tubular or channel shaped metal reinforcing members to minimize deflection of the door sections during use. The door sections may each include an externally fitted strut which is secured to a longitudinal side edge of a section and is connected directly to a reinforcing member disposed within one of the rail members without being forcibly connected to the rail member itself to allow for differential thermal expansion between the rail member and the reinforcing members. Rectangular panel inserts may be removably supported on each door section by removable retainer members and may include insulated panel inserts which may be added to the door sections before or after installation.

Abstract: A secondary security garage door is provided that is attached to and operates behind a primary garage door. The security door is made up of multiple panels composed of an outside frame supporting a wire mesh material. The security door rides along a separate guide rail adjacent to the primary garage door guide rail When assembled and installed, these panels form a barrier that prevents unwanted intruders access to the garage, or the escape of pets. This also allows for the free flow of outside air into the garage, thereby solving the problem of overheated garages during the warmer seasons. The secondary security door is provided with an interlocking system. This system allows both doors to automatically be locked together and ride up and down the rails in tandem. This feature allows the door operator to lift the security door by closing the primary door, which will then engage the interlocking system, thus, allowing the doors to move together.

Abstract: The apparatus relates, according to a first aspect, to an edge guiding arrangement, for a door having a plurality of mutually rotatable panels (2) which are extended between and movable along two elongate guides (4) at opposite edge portions (8) of the panels (2). The edge guiding arrangement comprises such a guide (4), a guide device (16) engaging and being movable along the guide (4), and a joint between the guide device (16) and an edge portion of a panel (2). The edge guiding arrangement is characterised in that the guide device (16) is rotatable relative to the guide (4) in a plane (P) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide (4), and that the joint between the guide device (16) and the panel (2) is resiliently flexible in said plane (P).

Abstract: A cover system for the truck box of a pickup truck includes upstanding sides and front portion which define inwardly thereof an open area to be covered by a series of parallel edge to edge cover panels. The cover panels slide forwardly and rearwardly on a guide track and the guide track is divided at the front so that the panels form accordion folds in a fold section stored at the front of the structure. Two rear side parts at the rear of the cover can be pivoted about a a horizontal axis across the top. These rear portions carry a part of the guide track and a whole number of panels fill the area from the hinge to the bottom edge of the rear portion. Thus the rear portion can be pivoted about the hinge while the panels flex. Thus only a rear portion can be opened or the cover panels can be moved forwardly to various set locations or folded fully.

Abstract: A jack shaft garage door operator is used for positively opening and closing a garage door and includes a jack shaft garage door operator drive having an electric motor. The electric motor is connected to a jack shaft garage door operator transmission. The transmission includes an opening flexible link storage unit or cable drum having an opening flexible link cable drive wrapped around it. Also connected to the jack shaft is a second cable drum having a closing flexible link or closing cable wound in the opposite direction from the opening cable. A compressional force transmitting member comprising a quick-turn bracket couples the closing cable to the garage door and is itself connected to an upper portion of the garage door to transmit a positive closing force to the garage door throughout its entire travel as the closing cable is drawn in and the opening cable is payed out under the operation of the electric motor.

Abstract: A roller bracket apparatus includes a roller assembly which includes a carriage portion and a link portion projecting from the carriage portion. A push/pull assembly is provided, and a pivot assembly is connected between the link portion of the roller assembly and the push/pull assembly. The carriage portion includes a wheel-support portion and a plurality of axle/wheel assemblies supported by the wheel-support portion. Each of the axle/wheel assemblies includes an axle and a roller wheel connected to the axle. The link portion extends from the carriage portion at an oblique extension angle. The push/pull assembly includes a first member connected to the pivot assembly, and a second member is connected to the first member. The push/pull assembly also includes a third member connected between the first member and the second member.

Abstract: A pinch-proof garage door for protecting human fingers from being pinched is disclosed. The garage door includes a plurality of horizontally-aligned garage door panels. Each garage door panel has a top male portion and a bottom female portion. Top male and bottom female portions of adjacent garage door panels cooperate with each other in such a manner so as to minimize a gap therebetween, thereby protecting human fingers from being pinched by both the inside and the outside of the garage door. Each garage door panel is securely fastened to a structural member which supports the weight of the panel. Adjacent structural members are vertically aligned with one another and are coupled together by a hinge pin and hinge leaf. Each structural member cooperates with an adjacent hinge leaf so as to prevent human fingers from being pinched by the inside of the garage door.

Abstract: A damage minimizing closure door moveable vertically between open and closed positions wherein the closure door is a continuous flexible curtain having a rigid bottom bar that is releasably connected to guide structures adjacent a door opening. The side edges of the curtain may separate from the guide structures upon being impacted by an externally applied force. During relatively high wind pressure or differential pressure conditions across the door, causing the flexible curtain to tend to billow or move transversely in directions into and away from the door opening, frictional contact develops between the faces of the curtain and the guide structures as well as between a wind bar and windstrip associated with the door and guide structures. The rigidity of the bottom bar tied into the guide channel structures reduces this effect of friction, thus easing the upward and downward movement of the door within the guide structures.

Abstract: A folding garage door with specially shaped reinforcing struts fastened in a horizontal position to the rear of the door for strengthening the folding garage door against strong positive and negative wind pressures.

Abstract: A self storage warehouse facility (10) has a plurality of separate insulated self storage rooms (12) each having an exterior foldable door (14) mounted for movement between open and closed positions to permit access to the insulated storage room (12). The foldable door (14) has a plurality of insulated partitions (50, 52, 54) having rollers (66) mounted in guide rails or tracks (42) for movement. In closed position, the lower partition (54) has a lower tubular seal (74) which seals against the foundation (11) and an adjacent ledge (74, FIG. 4). The entire outer perimeter of the door (14) is sealed against a rubber strip (40) along the side edges and upper edge of the door (14). A tubular seal (72) seals along the bottom edge of the door (14). A solenoid operated damper (82, FIG. 7) in a cool air duct (80) is moved to a closed position by energizing of the solenoid (87) upon opening of the door (14). The damper (82) is opened upon return of the door (14) to a closed position.

Abstract: A safety cover (36) for an opening (16) formed by an automotive service pit (14). The cover (36) is formed of a plurality of longitudinal columns (46) of a webbing material, and a plurality of transverse rows (48, 50) of webbing material stitched to each other to form a flexible safety cover. Looped ends (60) of alternate rows (48) of the webbing material are mounted by end support members (54) for sliding movement along a pair of side guide rails (38) between covered and uncovered positions of the opening (16). One end of the movable cover (36) has a fixed bar (70) on which looped columns (46) of the webbing material are secured. The other opposite end of the cover (36) have looped columns (46) around a movable end bar or rod (80) which may be releasably locked by a locking mechanism (90). One embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 10-14 discloses a safety cover (36C) supported on cables (41C) for sliding movement between open and closed portions.

Abstract: A roll up door which may be used in the back of a van body has a plurality of panels arranged edge-to-edge with a thin flexible sheet glued to the outside face of the panels and a flexible belt attached to each pair of adjacent panels at the rear face of these panels. A roller extends from each end of each panel and is received by a generally inverted L-shaped guide track. With this arrangement, the panels may cant while moving from the vertical to the horizontal leg of the guide channels by virtue of the belts which hinge and collapse allowing the outer sheet to bend as well.

Abstract: A base member and a fascia are assembled to form a hollow door section which is filled with insulative material. Adjacent sections are coupled along respective longitudinal edges for angular and spatial displacement. The base member is extended from a selected plastic with male and female coupling components extending continuously along respective longitudinal edges. A plurality of mounting members projecting from the lateral edges of the sections matingly and slidably engage the semi-cylindrical guide surface of a tract for reciprocal vertical movement of the door. The door may be partially raised for spatial displacement of the sections whereby flow-through ventilation openings are exposed. In a specific embodiment, a flexible drive screw is rotatably carried within the track for powered operation of the door. In alternate embodiments a generally tubular door track is either grasped by a door guide apparatus having a clip, or the guide is slit and a rounded guide rides within the track.

Abstract: A support assembly for doors, garage doors, or window shutters that cover building apertures. A support bar is mounted on a pivoting mount. Spring loaded locking assemblies are actuated by a lever assembly. With the locking assemblies retracted, the support can be pivoted from a horizontal passive position to a vertical engaged position. As the support assembly bar approaches the vertical position, the top lock assembly engages a top fixture and the bottom lock assembly engages a bottom fixture which are attached to the structure. External forces on the door or the shutter are transferred through the engaged support bar, through the fixtures, and to the building. The support bar mountably stays attached to the aperture cover, or door, in the passive position when the cover or door is opened.

Abstract: A vertically-movable overhead door comprising at least one non-releasable rectangular panel and at least one releasable or breakaway panel pivotable or rollable with respect to said non-releasable panel. The releasable panel may include a pair of rectangular sub-panels having rigid frame portions or may be formed as one rigid frame. Retainer members are connected to one of the rectangular sub-panels to retain the releasable panel with respect to channels positioned adjacent the overhead door. When a sufficient impact force is applied to the releasable panel, the retainer member releases the releasable panel to enable free swinging movement of the panel with respect to the channels.

Abstract: An impact panel assembly is provided for use with a sectional overhead door. The assembly includes a rigid impact panel structure. A frame structure is pivotally connected with the impact panel structure for supporting the impact panel structure and allowing the impact panel structure to pivot up to 90.degree. from the frame structure from a closed position with the impact panel structure generally vertically oriented to an impacted position with a lower horizontally extending portion of the impact panel structure being outwardly extendible. A resilient member is operatively connected between the frame structure and the impact panel structure for automatically and resiliently moving the impact panel assembly from the impacted position to the closed position.

Abstract: A hinged panel door comprises a plurality of thermoplastic panels each having a main body with an outside wall, an inside wall, an open ended female receptacle formed centrally in one end and a male receptacle protruding centrally from the other end of the main body. The male connector has a rounded head and a neck joining the head to a shoulder on the main body of the panel. Both the head and the shoulder are wider than the neck. The female receptacle is formed by a rounded wall circumscribing the major part of a circle and interrupted by a mouth having a width slightly greater than that of the neck of the male connector. The inner wall of the panel is shorter than the outer wall which provides a one way hinged connection between the receptacle of one of the panels and the connector of another one of the panels.

Abstract: A multiple section door system, such as an overhead residential garage door, wherein a variety of different door front configurations are formed with a limited number of panel designs by flipping or turning at least one panel relative to an adjacent panel. Each panel includes identical structured joint members along two longitudinal edges thereof which enable one panel to be "flipped" or turned such that the lower edge becomes the upper edge and vice versa, while an adjacent panel may remain in its original orientation. A third structured joint member is connected between the two adjacent joint members of adjacent panels. The third structured joint member is a male member, while the two structured joint members attached to each panel are female members. Adjacent female joint members of two panels form a universal pinch resistant joint with the male joint member.

Abstract: Vertically opening sectional doors, such as residential garage doors, are reinforced against high wind loads in their closed positions by a set of reinforcing and locking pin receiving tubes supported on each sectional panel and aligned with each other. Each receiving tube supports a door reinforcing pin or bolt in a retracted position by a removable retaining pin. The retaining pins may be released to allow the reinforcing pins to partially extend from one tube into an adjacent tube on an adjacent door section to prevent pivotal movement of door sections relative to each other. A top wall bracket adjacent the upper horizontal edge of the door includes a member engageable with the door edge and a pair of links connected to one of the pin receiving tubes to retain the top edge of the door from displacement away from the door opening and to prevent opening movement of the door during high wind loads imposed thereon.

Abstract: A closure system includes a plurality of closure panels adapted to be moved between deployed and stowed positions. All on a pair of carrier tracks on opposite side of a building opening. The actuator in the deployed position have abutting top and bottom edges and parallel side surface that span across the building opening. The actuators in the stowed position have abutting in inner and outer side surfaces in parallel top edges and parallel bottom edges. The top and bottom edges maintain their top and bottom orientation as their closure panels transition between the deployed an stowed positions.

Abstract: A system for reinserting a dislodged roller of a movable overhead door and a bracket for accomplishing this result. A reinsertion bracket is positioned along both the vertical and horizontal portion of each side of a door track. The reinsertion bracket consists of a base plate and a pair of guide plates connected to the base plate at an acute angle. When a roller becomes dislodged from the wheel track, the forward or reverse movement of the overhead door will cause the roller and shaft to contact one of the guide plates of the reinsertion bracket. The guide plate contains a roller guide surface which directs the disengaged roller upward and inward until it is reinserted into the door track through a removed portion of the retaining ridge of the door track. The reinsertion bracket is resiliently mounted to the door track such that when a dislodged roller contacts the guide plate, the reinsertion bracket can flex to reinsert the roller within the door track.

Abstract: An overhead door apparatus utilizing a torsion spring counterbalancing mechanism. The counterbalancing mechanism includes a worm drive ring-shaped gear winding mechanism for setting the appropriate torque or number of winds in the spring. A counting mechanism is provided to indicate to the installer the number of winds being given to the spring. Means are also provided for accommodating spring growth and contraction during winding and unwinding using the winding mechanism and during normal raising and lowering of the door. A spring clip gear retainer is disclosed for preventing rotation or creep of the worm drive gear and spur gear during normal raising and lowering of the door. A second embodiment is disclosed allowing more universal interchangeability of components between the left and right sides of the door system, easy snap-in assembly, and including a telescoping spring cover. Each embodiment includes a spring winding counter.

Abstract: A shield apparatus and method for guarding the gap between door sections of a sectional door to inhibit the insertion of fingers into the gap as the sectional door traverses between the elevated open position to the lowered, closed position. The shield apparatus is configured as an outer shield and an inner shield, both of which are fabricated from a resilient sheet material. The outer shield is formed into an L-shaped cross section along its length with the foot portion of the L shape being mounted to the upper edge of the lower door section so that the leg portion of the L shape extends upwardly across the gap between the lower door section and the upper door section. A water diversion channel is formed into the foot to divert water to the ends of the sectional door to preclude the water from dripping from the sectional door as it is raised to the open, overhead position. A pair of double-face tapes are used to secure the shield apparatus to the top edge of the lower door section.

Abstract: A multiple section door system, such as an overhead residential garage door, wherein a variety of different door front configurations are formed with a limited number of panel designs by flipping or turning at least one panel relative to an adjacent panel. Each panel includes identical structured joint members along two longitudinal edges thereof which enable one panel to be "flipped" or turned such that the lower edge becomes the upper edge and vice versa, while an adjacent panel may remain in its original orientation. A third structured joint member is connected between the two adjacent joint members of adjacent panels. The third structured joint member is a male member, while the two structured joint members attached to each panel are female members. Adjacent female joint members of two panels form a universal pinch resistant joint with the male joint member.

Abstract: A shutter device is provided for installation onto an exterior wall of a building over a window comprising a top bracket having a top longitudinal track therealong. A component is for mounting the top bracket horizontally above the window onto the exterior wall of the building, with the top longitudinal track facing downwardly. A bottom bracket is provided having a bottom longitudinal track therealong. Another component is for mounting the bottom bracket horizontally below the window onto the exterior wall of the building, with the bottom longitudinal track facing upwardly. A plurality of vertically extending barrier members are also provided. Element are provided for interlocking the barrier members together along their sides. A top slide assembly engages with the top ends of the barrier members, so that the top slide assembly can move across the top longitudinal track in the top bracket. A bottom slide assembly engages with the bottom ends of the barrier members.

Abstract: An extension spring overhead door system in which the spring may be quickly and easily placed in tension with the door in a closed position. A spring tensioning device is provided which eliminates the need for multiple installers to lift the full weight of the door and then clamp or otherwise prop the door in an open position. An extension spring containment tube is also provided which surrounds the entire periphery of the spring to fully contain the entire length of the extension spring.

Abstract: A retractable screen assembly is disclosed for a standard garage door of the type that is selectively raised and lowered to open and close the garage. The assembly includes one or more screen panels stacked against and extending across an inside surface of the garage door. The panels are telescopically mounted to the garage door such that they are selectively positioned in a retracted condition wherein the panels are held in substantially parallel juxtaposition against the garage door, and an extended condition wherein the panels depend from the garage door and extend generally between the lower edge of the garage door and a floor of the garage when the garage door is raised. The panels are releasably locked in the retracted condition to permit the garage door to be raised with the panels in the retracted condition. The panels are released so that they slide into the extended condition when the garage door is raised.

Abstract: A solar protection device for sun roofs of motor vehicles is provided. The solar protection device includes at least a first lamella and a second lamella which are moved along two guides between an open position and a closed position, the two guides arranged between two guiding profiles which are generally parallel. The invention comprises at least a portion of each lamella arranged in a slanted position with respect to the guides and a mechanism for stacking the slanted portions of each lamella upon each other in the open position. The mechanism for stacking includes at least one link block for moving along the guides, the slanted portions being arranged to form ventilation gaps between adjacent front edges of a second lamella and rear edges of a first lamella in the closed position.

Abstract: A reinforcing arrangement or device which substantially prevents sagging of the lower section of a multi-sectional Up and over type door. The natural load on the lower center of the bottom panel of the door being upwardly and vertically controlled and translated laterally and downwardly to the bottom corners the door by the device, to maintain overall conformity.

Abstract: A panel member for use in an overhead door assembly has an outer frame defining a panel slot, with a swingable panel seated in the slot; the swingable panel is hingedly mounted to the outer frame by a hinge, retainers on the outer frame hold the swingable panel in the panel slot, however, under impact the panel is released from the retainers, whereafter it is free to pivot or swing about the hinge; after removal of the impact the swingable panel is snapped back into the retainers; the swingable panel thus accommodates impact forces which would otherwise dislodge the door from the track assembly.

Abstract: A shutter including a casing, two chain transmission mechanisms bilaterally and vertically mounted inside said casing, two linkages suspended from the top rail of the casing on the inside, a set of louvers pivotably connected between the linkages, a power drive controlled to turn the chain transmission mechanisms, and two hook members fastened to the chain transmission mechanisms and moved to carry the linkages and the louvers between the active position and the inactive position, louvers being carried turned between the horizontal position and the vertical position when the linkages are moved to the active position and the chain transmission mechanisms are continuously turned to a certain extent.