Abstract: A ratchet system for winding a rolling door assembly. The ratchet system includes a support bracket, a cam, and a biasing device. The support bracket is preferably mounted onto a fixed structure of the rolling door assembly. The cam is pivotally mounted about the support bracket and positioned adjacent to a portion of an overhead shaft of the assembly. The cam is shaped and sized to cooperate with this portion of the overhead shaft between a first position, where the cam allows rotation of the overhead shaft along a first direction, and a second position, where the cam has a surface engaged with the overhead shaft and where further rotation of the overhead shaft along a second direction, opposite to the first direction, is blocked by the cam. The biasing device is used for urging the surface of the cam onto the overhead shaft. The ratchet system is particularly useful for adjustably controlling the rotation of the overhead shaft of the rolling door assembly during the winding thereof.

Abstract: A drum which receives a cable of a counterbalancing system of a cable-operated door, the cable having an extremity provided with a stopper. The drum includes a substantially cylindrical body, a cable entry groove and a securing slot. The drum further includes an embossment configured about the drum and its components in order to prevent that the cable from coming off its normal position in the drum when there is a “slack” condition in the cable.

Abstract: A braking device configured for use with the counterbalancing system of a garage door. The brake device includes a support bracket, a ratchet wheel, a pawl arm, and a biasing spring. The support bracket is rigidly connected to a fixed structure and has a guiding slot. The ratchet wheel is securely mounted about the overhead shaft of the counterbalancing system and has at least one notch. The pawl arm has first and second ends, the first end of the pawl arm being pivotally connected to the support bracket and the second end of the pawl arm cooperating with the guiding slot and being movable with respect to the support bracket along said guiding slot. The first and second ends of the pawl arm are further connected to flanges of a plug on either side of the overhead shaft. The biasing spring is operatively connected between the support bracket and the pawl arm so as to exert a biasing force for biasing the pawl arm towards the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: A brake device (1) is for use with a cable-operated door (3), such as garage doors (3) and the like. The device (1) is intended to reduce the risk of the door (3) falling, or at the very least slow down its descent, in the event of a failure in the counterbalancing mechanism of the door (3), which is generally represented by a loss of tension in a given tensioned cable (5) operating the door (3). The brake device (1) includes a support bracket (9), and a guiding assembly (15) and a braking assembly (17) mounted onto the support bracket (9).

Abstract: A brake device for a cable-operated door operated by a tension cable, being mountable onto the cable-operated door and configured for cooperating with the tension cable so as to immobilize the cable-operated door with respect to the fixed structure by means of a braking arm in the event of a loss of tension in the cable, the brake device being improved in that it is provided with an anti-theft mechanism including a catcher assembly and a protrusion operatively projecting from the braking arm. The catcher assembly is operatively connectable to the fixed structure and the protrusion is shaped, positioned and sized with respect to the catcher assembly so as to be engaged with the catcher assembly when the braking arm is operated into the engaged configuration caused by a given loss of tension in the cable, thereby preventing the cable-operated door from being displaced upwardly along the fixed structure as a result of the catcher assembly abutting against the protrusion of the braking arm.

Abstract: A kit (1) for assembling a variety of different door configurations adapted to be installed within a predetermined range of dimensions, onto a specific door opening (7) defined within a fixed structure (9) and contained within said predetermined range of dimensions. The kit (1) includes first components (11) for assembling a specific door leaf (13) shaped and sized for substantially covering the specific door opening (7). The kit (1) also includes second components (15) for mounting onto the fixed structure (9) of the specific door opening (7), the second components (15) including components (15) for assembling a track system (17) along which the specific door leaf (13) is configured to travel. The kit (1) also includes third components (19) for assembling a counterbalancing system (21) operatively connectable between the specific door leaf (13) and the fixed structure (9) for counterbalancing the specific door leaf (13) with respect to said fixed structure (9).

Abstract: A braking device configured for use with the counterbalancing system of a garage door. The brake device includes a support bracket, a ratchet wheel, a pawl arm, and a biasing spring. The support bracket is rigidly connected to a fixed structure and has a guiding slot. The ratchet wheel is securely mounted about the overhead shaft of the counterbalancing system and has at least one notch. The pawl arm has first and second ends, the first end of the pawl arm being pivotally connected to the support bracket and the second end of the pawl arm cooperating with the guiding slot and being movable with respect to the support bracket along said guiding slot. The first and second ends of the pawl arm are further connected to flanges of a plug on either side of the overhead shaft. The biasing spring is operatively connected between the support bracket and the pawl arm so as to exert a biasing force for biasing the pawl arm towards the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: A chain guide for guiding a chain within a chain hoist. The chain guide includes a substantially elongated body having an inner side and an outer side, along with first and second extremities. The substantially elongated body is made of a substantially flexible material for curving the substantially elongated body into a substantially arched configuration about a given wheel of the chain hoist. The chain guide also includes first and second chain receiving portions provided adjacent to the first and second extremities respectively of the substantially elongated body, on the inner side thereof. Each chain receiving portion comprises a pair of shoulders protruding from the inner side of the body and defining an open channel shaped and sized for slidably receiving a portion of the chain. The chain guide also includes a deformable connecting portion for interconnecting the first and second chain receiving portions of the chain guide. Also described is a chain hoist provided with the chain guide.

Abstract: A plug for operatively connecting an extremity of a torsion spring to another corresponding component of a counterbalancing assembly. The plug includes a collar and at least one connecting flange. The collar defines a longitudinal axis, and includes first and second opposite ends, the collar being shaped and sized for removably mounting onto the extremity of the torsion spring. Each connecting flange is provided on the first end of the collar for connecting the plug onto the corresponding component of the counterbalancing assembly.

Abstract: A ratchet system for winding a rolling door assembly. The ratchet system includes a support bracket, a cam, and a biasing device. The support bracket is preferably mounted onto a fixed structure of the rolling door assembly. The cam is pivotally mounted about the support bracket and positioned adjacent to a portion of an overhead shaft of the assembly. The cam is shaped and sized to cooperate with this portion of the overhead shaft between a first position, where the cam allows rotation of the overhead shaft along a first direction, and a second position, where the cam has a surface engaged with the overhead shaft and where further rotation of the overhead shaft along a second direction, opposite to the first direction, is blocked by the cam. The biasing device is used for urging the surface of the cam onto the overhead shaft. The ratchet system is particularly useful for adjustably controlling the rotation of the overhead shaft of the rolling door assembly during the winding thereof.

Abstract: A braking device configured for use with the counterbalancing system of a garage door. The brake device includes a support bracket, a ratchet wheel, a pawl arm, and a biasing spring. The support bracket is rigidly connected to a fixed structure and has a guiding slot. The ratchet wheel is securely mounted about the overhead shaft of the counterbalancing system and has at least one notch. The pawl arm has first and second ends, the first end of the pawl arm being pivotally connected to the support bracket and the second end of the pawl arm cooperating with the guiding slot and being movable with respect to the support bracket along said guiding slot. The first and second ends of the pawl arm are further connected to flanges of a plug on either side of the overhead shaft. The biasing spring is operatively connected between the support bracket and the pawl arm so as to exert a biasing force for biasing the pawl arm towards the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: A hydraulic governor device for use with a rotational shaft of a door assembly for controlling a rotation of said rotational shaft.

Abstract: A cable failure device for a cable-operated door operated by a tensioned cable, the cable-operated door having a movement guided along a fixed structure, such as a guide rail. The cable failure device is configured for cooperating with the tensioned cable so as to immobilize the cable-operated door with respect to the fixed structure in the event of a loss of tension in the cable.

Abstract: A chain keeper for retaining a chain operatively connected to a driving mechanism of a chain hoist system. The chain keeper has a support bracket and a pair of plates. The support bracket is mountable onto a fixed structure, and has a substantially vertical longitudinal axis, and opposite top and bottom sections. Each plate has top and bottom portions. The plates project from the support bracket and are slanted with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof. The plates converge towards one another towards the bottom section of the support bracket, a slot being defined between peripheral edges of the plates at the bottom section of the support bracket. The slot is shaped and sized to slidably and removably receive therein a segment of the chain for retaining the same from substantial vertical movement along the longitudinal axis of the support bracket.

Abstract: A plug for operatively connecting a torsion spring onto a corresponding component of a counterbalancing mechanism of a door assembly. The plug includes a connecting portion for removably connecting the plug onto the corresponding component, a substantially cylindrical collar insertable into an end portion of the torsion spring, an anchoring portion disposed on a bottom section of the collar for cooperating with a coil of the end portion of the torsion spring so as to pivotally anchor the collar onto the end portion of the torsion spring, and a clip projecting from a top section of the collar, and being disposed at a location on the collar substantially diametrically opposite from where the anchoring portion is disposed on the bottom section of the collar.

Abstract: A braking device configured for use with the counterbalancing system of a garage door. The braking device includes a support bracket, a ratchet wheel, a pawl arm, and a biasing spring. The support bracket is rigidly connected to a fixed structure and has a guiding slot. The ratchet wheel is securely mounted about the overhead shaft of the counterbalancing system and has at least one notch. The pawl arm has first and second ends, the first end of the pawl arm being pivotally connected to the support bracket and the second end of the pawl arm cooperating with the guiding slot and being movable with respect to the support bracket along said guiding slot. The first and second ends of the pawl arm are further connected to flanges of a plug on either side of the overhead shaft. The biasing spring is operatively connected between the support bracket and the pawl arm so as to exert a biasing force for biasing the pawl arm towards the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: A winding system for winding a rolling door assembly. The winding system includes a support bracket, first and second gears. The support bracket is preferably rigidly connectable to a fixed structure of the rolling door assembly, and has a receiving device and a supporting device. The first gear is pivotally mounted about the receiving device of the support bracket and rotatable thereabout along opposite first and second directions of rotation. The second gear is pivotally mounted about the supporting device of the support bracket and rotatable thereabout along opposite first and second directions of rotation. The first gear is operatively connected to a corresponding end of the counterbalancing spring of the rolling door assembly.

Abstract: A window framework for mounting a glass pane in an aperture of a panel. The window framework includes an exterior frame having a peripheral wall shaped for fitting with and extending into the aperture. The peripheral wall extends between exterior and interior sides of the panel, and is provided along the periphery thereof with an abutment member adjacent to the exterior side. The wall is also provided with stop means adjacent to the interior side. The window framework also includes removable locking means having a flexible element lockable with the stop means when the locking means is in a locking position. The locking means is also provided with an element for holding the glass pane in position with the aid of the abutment member when the locking means is in the locking position. The window framework further includes a securing means for securing the exterior frame to the panel in the aperture. A method for mounting a glass pane in an aperture of a panel is also provided.