Abstract: Systems and methods for the modification of loading dock environments are provided that allow trailers and shipping containers on chassis' to park at a loading dock with closed doors and have these doors opened into the loading dock environment and resealed while the trailer remains at the loading dock.

Abstract: A system for allowing a loading dock door to release from a track upon being struck by a fork lift or other sufficiently strong force. The system employs a unique track profile with one or more sidewalls that have an angled sidewall profile to allow a release assembly to move out of the track. The release assembly includes a biasing mechanism that allows the assembly to flex and ride out of the track when the door is impacted.

Abstract: An overhead door system featuring independent, unconnected panels is described. Each panel end is operatively carried within a pair of parallel tracks. The weight of the door decreases as the door is lifted and each panel completely disengages from its adjacent panel as it reaches the stacked position. This allows for a linear spring torque to door weight relationship requiring a very small motor compared to existing designs to provide the lifting torque necessary to operate the door.

Abstract: The present invention is generally concerned with a breakaway door panel system comprising an impact resistant panel pivotally assembled to a pair of connecting members mountable to a door adjacent a first end and a second end of the panel respectively, and at least one impact releasable panel locking device comprising a first compliant holding element mounted at an end of the panel, a second complementary compliant holding element mounted to one of the connecting member adjacent the panel end, and a connecting bar releasably connecting the first holding element to the second holding element, whereby, when an impact force of at least a predetermined strength in applied to the panel, the bars are extracted from at least one of their respective holding elements, leaving the panel break away from the door, pivoting in the direction of the impact force.

Abstract: A wardrobe that may be sold in disassembled form and be readily assembled by a purchaser includes employs lightweight fabric doors, yet provides the fabric doors with sufficient rigidity to enable them to be slid back and forth along associated tracks. The fabric doors releasably attach to the overall wardrobe, enabling them to be removed for repair or replacement, as well as enabling the substitution of differently-colored or patterned doors in accordance with user preference. Substitution of doors of varying width are supported, again in accordance with the preference of the user.

Abstract: Overhead door assemblies having both interlocking and releasable guide assemblies, and guide track assemblies for use with same are disclosed herein. An overhead door track configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a first side portion spaced apart from a second side portion to define a channel or gap region therebetween. The first side portion has a first guide surface and a first retention surface. Similarly, the second side portion has a second guide surface and a second retention surface. In this embodiment, the first and second guide surfaces diverge outwardly from the gap region in a first direction, and the first and second retention surfaces diverge inwardly from the gap region in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combination of a door and door frame defining a door opening. The door frame comprises a horizontal header beam. The door opening has a horizontal top side and a horizontal bottom side, with the horizontal header beam defining the horizontal top side. The door comprises a top panel, a middle panel, a bottom panel, a first horizontal hinge member, a second horizontal hinge member and a third horizontal hinge member, each panel having a horizontal upper edge and a horizontal lower edge. The door is in the closed position when the top panel, the middle panel and the bottom panel are vertically aligned with one another and hanging downwardly from the horizontal header beam in a vertical plane of the door opening, with the horizontal upper edge of each panel above the horizontal lower edge of each respective panel, and the horizontal lower edge of the bottom panel is located in the lowermost position proximate to the horizontal bottom side of the door opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a windbreak system formed by a set of independent, folding panels that move longitudinally along an upper guide rail and another, lower guide rail and a non-movable folding door, in which each panel and the door include a rotating shaft and folding shaft. The panels are moved manually and do not have rollers, the entire weight of the panels resting on two strips of self-lubricating polymer inserted into slots in the lower rail.

Abstract: A screen closure for a garage doorway has a plurality of screened panels movable from an elevated, stored position in which such panels are side-by-side to an extended, operative position in which the panels extend vertically a distance sufficient to close the doorway. Those panels which are at eye level and below when the panels are in their extended position are substantially coplanar.

Abstract: Overhead door assemblies having both interlocking and releasable guide assemblies, and guide track assemblies for use with same are disclosed herein. An overhead door track configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a first side portion spaced apart from a second side portion to define a channel or gap region therebetween. The first side portion has a first guide surface and a first retention surface. Similarly, the second side portion has a second guide surface and a second retention surface. In this embodiment, the first and second guide surfaces diverge outwardly from the gap region in a first direction, and the first and second retention surfaces diverge inwardly from the gap region in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

Abstract: The roof assembly includes guide rails extending parallel and at a distance from each other. The guide rails each include a guide groove being defined between an upper and lower flange of the guide rails. The guide grooves open in a direction towards each other, and further comprise at least one closure panel, in particular a sunshade panel, having two opposite sides substantially parallel to the guide rails and each including at least two laterally projecting tabs for engagement into the respective guide groove. At least one of said lower and upper flanges of each guide rail has at least one cut-out for allowing the tabs of the closure panel to enter the guide groove.

Abstract: Overhead door guide assemblies, guide tracks, and guide track support brackets are disclosed herein. An overhead door track assembly configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a vertical track segment mounted to a wall adjacent an opening therein, and a curved track segment operably coupled to the vertical track segment. The curved track segment includes a first guide surface spaced apart from a second guide surface to define a first gap region that movably receives the door guide members as the door moves away from the opening. The track assembly further includes a non-vertical track segment operably coupled to the curved track segment. The non-vertical track segment includes a third guide surface spaced apart from a fourth guide surface to define a second gap region that movably receives the door guide members from the curved track segment.

Abstract: A portable pet portal insert for a sliding patio door includes separate top, center, and bottom modules that can be assembled together through use of tongue and groove fittings therebetween, with the bottom module having a cutout portion adapted for receiving a pet portal, the pet portal including a pivotal flap, a cam operated lock for preventing movement of the flap away from an associated frame, and a weather seal mechanism.

Abstract: An impact protection device for an overhead comprising an elongated beam shaped to at least partially span the door. The beam includes box members at the ends there of which releasably interfit with channel members at a closed position of the door to laterally secure the beam with respect to a support surface adjacent the door, (when to absorb and transmit lateral impact forces applied against the beam away from the door and against the support surface. The door and beam are connected so that elevational movement of the door will result in corresponding elevational motion of the beam.

Abstract: Doors and breakaway mechanisms for use with a door are disclosed. A disclosed door includes a panel; a guide located adjacent a doorway opening; a carriage; and a coupling releasably securing the carriage to the panel. The coupling releases the panel from the carriage in response to a breakaway force. The magnitude of the breakaway force is dependent on a condition such as the position of the door relative to the doorway or the position of a roller carried by the carriage.

Abstract: A gate assembly for closing an open end of a storage compartment that is defined by a pair of side walls includes an upper member that is mounted on the side walls of the storage compartment so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position. The gate assembly also includes a lower member having a top side and a bottom side. The top side is pivotally attached to the upper member along a generally horizontal axis. The gate assembly also includes a cam that is attached to one of the side walls of the storage compartment and a follower that is adapted to interact with the cam. The cam and follower are mounted and arranged with respect to a side wall of the storage compartment and the lower member so that as the upper member is moved from the open position to the closed position, interaction between the cam and follower will cause the lower member to pivot about the generally horizontal axis so that its bottom side moves toward the open end of the storage compartment.

Abstract: An impact protection is described for an overhead door. An elongated beam is shaped to at least partially span the door. Channels and box members releasably interfit at a closed position of the door to laterally secure the beam with respect to a support surface adjacent the door, so the beam is secured in lateral spaced relation to the door (when closed) to absorb and transmit lateral impact forces applied against the beam away from the door and against the support surface. Provisions are further made to allow interaction between the door and beam such that elevational movement of the door will result in corresponding elevational motion of the beam.

Abstract: A guiding mechanism for use in combination with an industrial door that includes an extension member extending across a doorway when the door is in a doorway blocking position is provided. The guiding mechanism includes a guard bracket extending along the doorway and having a mounting segment and a guard segment, and a track extending along the doorway and including a guideway for receiving a roller of the extension member and for guiding the roller as the door moves between blocking and unblocking positions. The track is affixedly mounted to the mounting segment such that the guard segment protects the track from an obstacle during a track impact condition.

Abstract: A releasable vertical lift overhead door for an opening of a structure includes a plurality of tracks with one of a pair of the tracks adapted to be disposed on a side of the opening of the structure and another of the pair of the tracks adapted to be disposed on another side of the opening and at least one door leaf disposed between the pair of the tracks. The releasable vertical lift overhead door also includes a release assembly attached to the at least one door leaf on each side thereof. Each release assembly has a support bracket attached to the at least one door leaf and a guide bar disposed within the support bracket for receiving a portion of one of the tracks to guide movement of the at least one door leaf along the tracks. The guide bars releasably disengage the pair of the tracks when a force of a predetermined magnitude is applied to the at least one door leaf.

Abstract: A hinge mechanism particularly suitable for hinging releasable rectangular panels of overhead sectional doors. The hinge mechanism includes first and second hinge plates hinged to each other wherein one of the hinge plates is slidably mounted within a base plate affixed to a rectangular panel to enable the entire hinge mechanism to move longitudinally with respect to the base plate, and thus enable the rectangular panels to move longitudinally with respect to each other, to enable pivoting or rotation of the releasable panel in a direction opposite to the face where the hinge and face plate are mounted.

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 protective system for overhead doors on loading dock platforms for use in connection with a pair of pipe bollards permanently erected at each of the sides and in front of the door. The system includes a pair of net securing devices each having a mounting bracket allowing the assembly to be attached to the door, a variable linkage, and a bollard collar for fitting over the existing pipe bollard when the door comes down. A spring loaded bracket in connection with the bollard collar and variable linkage allows a netting connected between the bollard collars to move for a distance until the bollard collar abuts the pipe bollard to preclude damage to the door.

Abstract: An overhead door for occluding an opening in a structure. The door includes a pair of tracks having inwardly facing surfaces which define a channel. A door panel is located intermediate the pair of tracks and moveable along a predetermined path of travel which is defined by the tracks. A release assembly is borne by the door panel and is operable to releasably engage at least one of the tracks. The release assembly includes a moveable plunger which is received in the channel of one of the tracks and which guides the door panel along the path of travel. The plunger disengages from the channel when force of a predetermined magnitude is applied to the door panel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a door of the type having two parallel guide rails, a plurality of guide means (10, 50), which are adapted, when the door moves, to be guided by and run along the guide rails, a plurality of neighboring door leaf panels (2), which at opposite ends are connected to the associated guide means (10) of said plurality of guide means, and a bottom panel (4) which is pivotally connected to an adjoining panel (2) of said door leaf panels and, via releasable joints, connected to two associated bottom guide means (50) among said guide means.

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 sectional door installation comprises a series of horizontal door panels mounted on opposite ends on scissors linkages to move between a deployed generally vertical position closing the doorway to a withdrawn position wherein the panels are arranged generally horizontally at the upper end of the doorway. The panels are transparent and are detachably connected to the scissors mechanism at their opposite ends so that they can readily disengage therefrom when impacted by an object such as an automobile, without damaging the object or themselves being damaged.

Abstract: A roll-up door for a contained 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 folding closure having an emergency folding door therein which has a height less than the height of the closure. A folding top closure section is provided in the closure above the folding door. Means detachably connect the folding door and the folding top closure section together. The arrangement allows the folding top closure section to guide the folding door about corners when folding or unfolding the closure.