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 device (1) for use with a cable-operated door (3), such as garage doors (3) and the like, and a door assembly including the same. 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 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.

Abstract: A ratchet-like assembly for winding a counterbalancing mechanism of a door. The ratchet-like assembly includes at least one plate, at least one ridge, an actuator, and at least one pawling element. Each plate is operatively mounted onto a fixed structure and includes an orifice through which extends a shaft of the counterbalancing mechanism and about which the shaft is rotatable along opposite first and second directions of rotation. Each ridge is provided about an outer edge of the corresponding orifice. The actuator is operatively connected to each plate and is operable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. Each pawling element is mounted onto the actuator and is positioned within a corresponding ridge, adjacent to the shaft.

Abstract: A wall bracket for supporting an overhead door assembly, such as that of garage doors and the like. The wall bracket includes a first portion for fastening onto a fixed structure, such a wall, said first portion extending along a first vertical plane. The wall bracket also includes a second portion for receiving a corresponding component of the door assembly, said second portion extending along a second vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the first vertical plane of the first portion. An important feature of the wall bracket resides in the fact that it further comprises an embossed portion, made integral to the second portion and being shaped and sized for increasing the sectional inertia of the second portion so as to provide said second portion with an reinforcement resistant to warping of said second portion.

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

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 ratchet-like assembly for winding a counterbalancing mechanism of a door. The ratchet-like assembly includes at least one plate, at least one ridge, an actuator, and at least one pawling element. Each plate is operatively mounted onto a fixed structure and includes an orifice through which extends a shaft of the counterbalancing mechanism and about which the shaft is rotatable along opposite first and second directions of rotation. Each ridge is provided about an outer edge of the corresponding orifice. The actuator is operatively connected to each plate and is operable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. Each pawling element is mounted onto the actuator and is positioned within a corresponding ridge, adjacent to the shaft.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for use with an overhead shaft of a sectional door for raising and lowering the door via a rotation of the overhead shaft. The drive mechanism has a support structure, a first gear, a drive shaft, a second gear, a pocket wheel and an actuator. The second gear is interconnected to the first gear so that a rotation of the second gear is transmitted to the first gear and vice versa. The pocket wheel is operable between first and second positions. The second gear is rotatable along a first direction corresponding to a raising of the sectional door and along an opposite second direction corresponding to a lowering of the sectional door. The actuator is used for rotating the pocket wheel about the drive shaft, operating the pocket wheel between the first and second positions, and driving the second gear along the first and second directions when the pocket wheel is in the second and first positions respectively.

Abstract: A plug for use in a counterbalancing mechanism of a cable-operated door. The plug is used for operatively connecting an overhead shaft to a torsion spring co-axially mounted thereon. The plug includes a cylindrical collar and a cylindrical flange. The cylindrical collar has opposite first and second portions and is provided with a hooking slot for hooking a free end of the torsion spring thereon, and the torsion spring having a segment coaxially mounted about the first portion of the collar. The cylindrical flange is rigidly affixed to the second portion of the collar and is used for transferring a torque between the torsion spring and the overhead shaft when the flange is securely fixed about the overhead shaft.

Abstract: A ratchet-like system for winding a rolling door assembly. The ratchet-like 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-like system is particularly useful for adjustably controlling the rotation of the overhead shaft of the rolling door assembly during the winding thereof.

Abstract: A device for bending an extremity of a torsional spring. The device includes a base plate; at least one flange projecting from the base plate; at least one bulge projecting from the at least one flange; a lever arm pivotally mounted onto the at least one flange about a first pivot axis; and at least one cam pivotally mounted onto the lever arm about a second pivot axis. The lever arm is operable between first and second positions and each cam has a contact surface being positioned for operatively cooperating with a corresponding bulge. Prior to the bending operation, the extremity of the torsional spring is inserted between a given bulge and the contact surface of a corresponding cam when the lever arm is in the first position. In operation, the extremity of the spring is bent about the given bulge by the contact surface of the corresponding cam when the contact surface is urged towards the bulge and forced about the same over the extremity of the spring as the lever arm is operated into the second position.

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.

Abstract: A frame assembly (1) and a method for installing a window pane (3) in an opening (5) of a panel (7). The assembly (1) includes an outer frame (9) having connecting devices (15) and an abutment member (17). The assembly (1) also includes an inner frame (19) provided with first connecting devices (25). The first connecting devices (25) cooperate with the connecting devices (15) of the outer frame (9) for disengageably connecting the outer and inner frames (9, 19). The assembly (1) also includes locking device (28) having at least one flexible element (31) cooperating with one of the frames (9, 19) for locking the locking device (28) in locking position, and at least one contacting element (33) for holding the window pane (3) in position with aid of the abutment member (17) when the locking device (28) is in the locking position.

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.

Abstract: A safety braking device configured for use with the counterbalancing system of a garage door. The safety 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: According to the present invention, there is provided a window set comprising a plastic sheet having a first portion which is thermoformed, and a second portion provided with a silk-screen printed pattern. The window set comprises a support member for providing support to the plastic sheet. Both the plastic sheet and the support member are made of a material allowing a least partial transmission of light. The window set also comprises a securing means for securing the plastic sheet to the support member. There is also provided a method for making the window set of the present invention.