Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for closing a compartment door of a vehicle that enables individuals of small stature to close the door without difficulty. More specifically, the apparatus includes an extension handle that extends below a lip of the fully opened compartment door, thereby enabling an individual of small stature to reach and pull down on the extension handle to close the compartment door. In a preferred embodiment, the extension handle includes a pivot mounting and an extension arm coupled to the pivot mounting. A latching mechanism latches the extension handle in a stowed position in which the extension handle is preferably flush with an inner surface of the compartment door. The extension handle can also be made to deploy from a lip of the compartment door. Alternatively, the extension handle includes a retractable lanyard coupled to a grip.

Abstract: A shutter, as used on fire engines, consists of a number of laths (13), which are hingedly connected together and can be drawn across an opening by handle and can be latched in the closed condition by a latch. The handle, which extends across the shutter, being formed by the mounting bracket (12), which is mounted on a lath (13), and the latch member (11) which is hingedly connected to the mounting bracket (12), thereby reducing the number of parts required and the need for separate opening and closing handles. The latch member (11) co-operates with a keeper (18) which is mounted on the structure (10) which surrounds the opening thereby latching the shutter in position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively securing and unsecuring a movable closure to a support frame is provided. The security device of the present invention comprises a locking assembly attached to the frame and a securing element attached to the closure. The locking assembly comprises a first rotating element having a detent, a second rotating element being engaged with the first rotating element, and a rotating latching element being selectively engageable with the second rotating element. When the movable closure is secured, the detent of the first rotating element is securely coupled with the securing element.

Abstract: An articulated overhead gate for gate openings with particularly small drop heights between the upper edge of the gate opening that is to be closed and an adjoining overhead area or similar with a gate leaf consisting of several panels (3, 5) articulated successively in the direction of movement, which are driven by laterally arranged rollers (2) in first lateral roller rails (6), connected in an approximately vertical and thereby curved horizontal direction, excepting the upper panel (5) in closed position, which engages with its rollers (4) which, in this position, are arranged in the upper edge area (30), in second roller rails (7). Said roller rails are parallel to and located above the facing horizontal segments of the first roller rails (6), each segment having an end part (8) facing the gate frame, a first section (10) of which part is lowered only slightly in relation to the horizontal, and a second section (11) correspondingly inclining only slightly over 90.degree.

Abstract: A drop-catch mechanism for a vertically movable door is provided for preventing the free-fall of the door in doorway guides when a counterbalancing mechanism for the door malfunctions and a tensioning member for the counterbalancing mechanism becomes slack or loses tension. The drop-catch mechanism includes a plunger element, disposed within the door adjacent one of the lateral edges thereof. The plunger element is movable between a retracted position and an extended position where the outboard end extends from within the door and engages a guide. The drop-catch mechanism also includes an actuator crank having a portion rotatably mounted within the door, and operably coupled through a camming element to the plunger element, and having a portion extending through an aperture in the door face with a rotatable external leg coupled to the tensioning member for maintaining the plunger element in the retracted position. When the tensioning member is taut, it biases the plunger element to the retracted position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively securing and unsecuring a movable closure to a support frame is provided. The security device of the present invention comprises a locking assembly attached to the frame and a securing element attached to the closure. The locking assembly comprises a first rotating element having a detent, a second rotating element being engaged with the first rotating element, and a rotating latching element being selectively engageable with the second rotating element. When the movable closure is secured, the detent of the first rotating element is securely coupled with the securing element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for counteracting the effects of warpage, distortion and/or tilting of a support track in a sliding closure assembly, such that a door in the sliding closure may be freely moved along the support track, but, when desired, may be secured in one or more locations such that an external force is required to move the sliding fixture from its desired position.

Abstract: A security locking and reinforcement device to be used with doors, such as residential door and roll-up doors of the type that includes a plurality of horizontal slots defined by adjacent joined horizontal members, wherein the door is mounted within a substantially rectangular opening in a wall, and comprising a supporting plate assembly having a hanging plate removably mounted to the wall adjacent to the door; an elongated plate assembly hingedly mounted to the supporting plate assembly and having inner and outer surfaces. A security locking and reinforcement device also includes an assembly for locking the elongated plate assembly to the supporting plate assembly when the former is brought against the latter, and further including an assembly, such as a threaded rod, to engage the commonly found slots in commercial roll-up doors so that the door is kept locked in place which simultaneously enhancing its structural integrity of the roll-up door.

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 motor driven roller shutter (10) employs a curtain (11) having a leading edge (12) and being adapted to slide vertical in a guide channel (14) between a raised position and a lowered position. A locking assembly (13) is secured to the channel (14) and is engageable with the shutter adjacent the leading edge (12) to inhibit the leading edge being levered away from the lowered position. The leading edge includes a flange (15) d the locking assembly includes a retractable foot (16) extending from a housing (17) so that in order to raise the shutter (11), the foot (16) must be retracted into the housing (17). A solenoid inner circuit is used to retract the foot (16) which then engages a limit switch to make the circuit to a motor to raise the curtain. Typically, the two locking assemblies are used opposite ends of the leading edge of the curtain.

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 self-tightening side lock (20) for a roll-up door includes a keeper (25) mounted on the jamb, and a latch member (26) pivotally mounted on a door panel. The latch member is selectively cooperable with a catch (30) to hold the door in a closed position. The latch member is biased to move in a counter-clockwise direction. The latch member is adapted to be moved in a clockwise direction, against the opposing bias or a spring 42, to an out-of-the-way position at which the displaced latch may pass by the catch. The latch member has a side cam surface (33) arranged to engage the catch (30) when the door is lowered and to cause the latch member to pivot in a clockwise direction toward the out-of-the-way position to allow the latch member to pass by the catch. The latch member also has an upper cam surface (34) arranged to engage the catch such that the counter-clockwise movement of the latch member will cause the door to be self-tightening.

Abstract: An automatic opener for a sectional door includes a drive unit mounted adjacent to a door drive shaft and having a reversible motor, a gear linkage for translating rotation of the motor drive shaft into rotation of the sectional door drive shaft, and a clutch which permits the gear linkage to be manually temporarily disengaged from the motor drive shaft. The drive unit is supported within a housing that is connected to an adjustable wall bracket mounting base which itself is fixed to a wall adjacent to the sectional door. A spring-biased lever attached near a lower end of the sectional door pivots in response to slack in a door cable to automatically lock the door when it is completely shut. The locking mechanism automatically unlocks the door either when the drive unit is actuated to open the sectional door or when the clutch is utilized to disengage the gear linkage from the motor drive shaft.

Abstract: A door assembly includes an articulated door with rollers mounted along its edge portions and guide and support tracks for securing the door to a wall with an opening that the door closes. The assembly also includes bracket members for supporting the door when a load displaces the door a predetermined distance in a direction generally perpendicularly to the face of the door when the door lies in a closed position.

Abstract: The large overhead bi-fold doors of the present invention are hinged along a centerline and hung by hinges from the top of the door opening. A motor mounted inside and above the door opening is connected to one end of a cable, the other end of which passes around a pulley at the bottom of the door and then upwardly to a latching mechanism located beneath the horizontal hinge line of the doors. When the motor is activated, the cable pulls on a dog or arm connected to a shaft which also carries the hook of a latching device. The hook engages a strike attached to the frame of the building on which the door is mounted, and when the motor is activated, the cable pulls on the dog which disengages the hook from the strike and further tension on the cable by the motor raises the door to an elevated position.

Abstract: A security mechanism for securing a movable closure supported within a frame, the closure being movable from a secured position to a plurality of unsecured positions, preferably having a securing element having at least one opening, a base element, a slider element movably mounted on the base element and a latch element comprising at least one locking latch pivotally attached to the base element. The locking latch preferably has a first cam surface for engaging a cam post located on the slider element and a second cam surface for engaging the opening of the securing element. When the closure is moved to its secured position, the second cam surface of the locking latch engages the opening of the securing element thereby causing the locking latch to pivot and lock to the opening of the securing element.

Abstract: A garage door-opener security system which automatically positively blocks any unauthorized opening of a sectional garage door that travels, guided by rollers, in a pair of flanking metal guide tracks. The security system is interconnected with a standard, automatic, garage door-opening mechanism that includes an electric drive motor. When the door reaches its fully closed position, a locking device, mounted adjacent one of the flanking tracks, physically inserts a locking pin into the trackway in which the rollers move, which pin is located a few inches above the roller next below. The locking pin is closely confined by a surrounding aperture which prevents its upward deflection or twisting, thus making it impossible for the roller to move therepast in the trackway and positively preventing the raising of the door more than a few inches.

Abstract: A overhead door lock which may be used with both manually operated and motor operated doors. The lock has a base adapted to be mounted on the door, and has a mounting plate and a pair of spaced apart legs. Each leg carries a slide aperture, and one leg includes a lockout hole. A striker plate is attached to the door channel in a position collinear with the base. A spring biased striker is carried by the base and when the door is manually operated, the striker is placed in an operative position where it slides freely through generally aligned slide apertures. When the door is motor operated, the striker may be placed in an inoperative lockout position by placing one end of the striker in the lockout hole. When the striker is in the inoperative lockout position, it cannot contact the striker plate when the door is in the closed position.

Abstract: A garage door includes a door connector assembly in operative communication with a garage door carriage track, wherein the connector assembly mounts a plurality of cables, wherein each cable is mounted along the garage door and secured to a respective latch assembly, whereupon lifting of the door removes latch bolts from an underlying garage floor, whereupon closure of the door directs the latch bolts into the garage floor, and the door connector assembly includes biasing spring structure to bias the door into communication with the garage floor to maintain the latch bolt positioning within the floor.

Abstract: A roll-up door operable to slide between tracks by using an operating mechanism having a handle which extends substantially the width of the door. When the handle is pushed, it pivots in a housing attached to the door to an actuated position so that a latch at the end of the handle is retracted clear of a slot in one of the tracks. A spring is also provided between the handle and the housing for biasing the handle to pivot to a relaxed position where the latch is engaged in the slot in the track. The operating mechanism also has a lock which can be turned to position a lock bar between the handle and the housing so that the handle cannot be pivoted to the actuated position.

Abstract: Release mechanism and method for fire doors and the like. The door is normally held in an open position by an electrically energized actuator and is released for closing upon deenergization of the actuator. An eneergizing current is supplied to the actuator from a source to energize the actuator, and a limited amount of energy from the source is stored in an element such as a capacitor. Upon interruption of the current from the source to the actuator, the actuator is energized with the stored energy to prevent the door from closing for a limited period of time after the current is interrupted. An alarm circuit is included in some embodiments to porivde a warning when the current has been interrupted and the door is about to close.

Abstract: A side lock (20) for a roll-up door (21) mounted on a body includes a keeper (27) mounted on a jamb (23) adjacent an access opening (22). A hook member (28) is pivotally mounted on a panel (25) and is arranged to selectively engage a catch (59) mounted on the keeper. The hook member has an upper cam surface (76) and a concave surface (78). The hook member also has a lower cam surface (75) which is adapted to selectively engage the catch when the door is lowered to selectively displace the hook member against the opposing bias of a spring (91) to permit the tip (66) of the hook member to pass beneath the catch. The improved side lock is self-tightening.

Abstract: Release mechanism and method for fire doors and the like. The door is normally held in an open position by an electrically energized actuator and is released for closing upon deenergization of the actuator. An energizing current is supplied to the actuator from a source to energize the actuator, and a limited amount of energy from the source is stored in an element such as a capacitor. Upon interruption of the current from the source to the actuator, the actuator is energized with the stored energy to prevent the door from closing for a limited period of time after the current is interrupted.

Abstract: Locking latch device for use with roll-up doors on trucks and tractor-trailer vehicles which will automatically latch when closing the door and which can only be opened after a pendulous latch member is set to an unlatching position by the use of a release member. A locking device is provided to render the latching mechanism inoperable to prevent unauthorized opening of the roll-up door.

Abstract: A locking arrangement for use on an enclosure which enclosure has an opening and a roll-up door to close the opening, automatically locks the door when it is closed. The arrangement includes a striker member mounted on one side of the door to define a striker path when the door is moved upwardly or downwardly. A lock mechanism includes a dog and means for biasing the dog to removably extend into the striker path. When the door is moved downwardly, the striker will force the dog out of the striker path to thereby permit the striker to pass over the dog and for the door to extend below the dog. When the striker is below the dog and the door is moved upwardly, the dog will engage the striker and prohibit upward movement of the striker and the door.

Abstract: This anchor lock is designed to prevent a door or cover of a doorway from being forced inward. Primarily, it consists of a sleeve anchorable in pavement in front of the door, and a bar with a tongue at its top end is received in the sleeve, and the tongue is received in a plate attached to the door. The bar is also provided with a projecting pin for preventing its removal from the sleeve when the device is in use, and a slot in the sleeve enables the pin to travel upward and outward of the sleeve, enabling storage of the bar when the device is not in use.

Abstract: A door latch assembly is disclosed for unlatching and opening a door in one motion. The assembly comprises a housing adapted to be mounted on a door and having a handle pivotally mounted about an axis perpendicular to the direction the door opens. A cam driver having a cam surface is fixed to the handle so that the cam driver will pivot with the handle. A cam link is connected with the cam surface of the cam driver to translate pivotal motion of the handle into linear motion. A dish having a cam surface is rotatably mounted on the housing. The cam surface of the dish is in contact with the cam link such that linear motion of the cam link causes rotational motion of the dish. A latch is connected to the dish such that rotation of the dish disengages the latch. When the handle is lifted in the direction the door opens, the dish rotates and unlatches and opens the door.

Abstract: A latching device for overhead-type doors mounted for movement between a closed position and a raised position with respect to an opening defined by a frame. The latching mechanism includes a pivotable arm having a pivot end and an engagement end. The pivot end of the pivotable arm is mounted above the opening for pivotable movement about a substantially horizontal axis between a first position and a second raised position. The engagement end of the arm is adapted to engage a first latch portion associated with the door when the door is in a closed position and the arm is in the first position, and also adapted to engage a second latch portion associated with the door when the door is in the raised position and the arm is in an intermediate position between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A self locking device that is used with a overhead, horizontally pivoted, door in combination with a power operated door opener is disclosed. The device comprises a latch mechanism that is activated by the movement of the door arm and a striker that receives a locking dog. A door arm, which is a part of the door opener, is the member that transfers the movement of the power operated door opener to the door. When the door arm is closing the door, the locking dog is free to interface with a striker. A striker mounted on the header of the door frame receives the locking dog and keeps the door from being forced open which can be done by breaking the door opener mechanism. The latching dog is released by the door opener mechanism with the reverse movement of the door arm and therefore the door is moved to its open position.

Abstract: A door securing apparatus, particularly for securing a garage door, including a first member for securing to a structural member of the garage, a second member for selectively engaging a portion of the garage door, and a bar connected between the first and second members for bracing the second member against the garage door portion. A cable assembly is provided for conveniently selectively moving the apparatus between a locked position wherein the second member engages and is braced against the garage door portion and an unlocked position wherein the second member is spaced from the door to permit unobstructed opening and closing of same.

Abstract: A conventional garage door opener assembly has integrated therewith an electrically actuated solenoid assembly at each side of the garage door actionable between the garage door frame and the door. In the case of a solidly assembled door pivotal between closed and opened position, the solenoid assemblies are mounted near the lower extremities of the door so as not to interfere with door movement, while still being capable of locking the door in closed position. The solenoid assemblies are interiorly secured at the door frame sides with the housings thereof permanently projecting across the clearance spaces between the door frame and door and interiorly overlapping the door with the solenoid plungers projectable therefrom in this overlapping positioning into aligned latch members secured interiorly of the door.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety latch assembly for a warehouse type door that has rollers riding in a vertical guide track, such track having latching holes at various points along its length. The latch assembly has a latch pin with a roller end spring biased toward the track, and rides on the track with the door until it comes into latching engagement with one of the aforementioned holes, and locks the door into its current position. Withdrawing the latch pin from the hole resets the bias spring as the door becomes unlocked.

Abstract: A locking arrangement for doors and the like comprising a key-operated cylinder lock mounted in the door or the like and extending at both surfaces, to be operated by a key, an actuating gear keyed to the cylinder of the lock, which by means of a gear wheel and curved links is adapted to move at least one elongated bolt linearly.

Abstract: A lock assembly for latching an up and down movable door to a keeper secured to a sill of a trailer includes a main lever disposed on main shaft to operate a linkage mechanism to move a hook latch against the keeper.