Abstract: A high-speed sectional overhead door covers a door opening with panels stacked in a single plane and lifted from the bottom-most panel. As panels are lifted, each rolls in its own individual track. As the panels move into the head area, they run through curved tracks and are nested there. The stored panels stacked horizontally one atop another with the door open. This design utilizes a dedicated panel-track pairing as well as a unique hook/cam device which allows for the upper panel to be both locked in the closed position and pushed away for separation and storage in the open position.

Abstract: A high-speed sectional overhead door covers a door opening with panels stacked in a single plane and lifted from the bottom-most panel. As panels are lifted, each rolls in its own individual track. As the panels move into the head area, they run through curved tracks and are nested there. The stored panels stacked horizontally one atop another with the door open. This design utilizes a dedicated panel-track pairing as well as a unique hook/cam device which allows for the upper panel to be both locked in the closed position and pushed away for separation and storage in the open position.

Abstract: Overhead door panels are used in a variety of overhead doors styles and construction designs, each of which may be of different panel thicknesses and construction. Each of the panels includes a window opening to receive a window assembly therein. Window frame sub-assemblies are substantially interchangeable with one another and may be used in the variety of overhead door panel construction styles. Each window frame sub-assembly may include a front frame to be installed in the window opening. Glazing elements are mounted within each of the front frames and fasteners secure the glazing element to the front frame. Retainers may be juxtaposed to the back face of the door panels and coupled to one of the window frame sub-assemblies to thereby provide a window in the respective first or second overhead door panels.

Abstract: A sectional garage door has a roller track and a plurality of sections pivotally coupled together for movement along the roller track to and between open and closed positions relative to a door opening. A first one of the sections is heavier than other sections. The sectional garage also includes a counterbalance mechanism coupled to the sections to assist an operator in moving the sections along the roller tracks to and between the open and closed positions. The sectional garage door also has a weight assist mechanism coupled to the door and engaged with at least one of the sections to assist at least one of the sections to assist in the movement of the first one of the sections during movement along at least a portion of the roller track due to the weight of the first section relative to the other sections.

Abstract: A sectional garage door has a roller track and a plurality of sections pivotally coupled together for movement along the roller track to and between open and closed positions relative to a door opening. A first one of the sections is heavier than other sections. The sectional garage also includes a counterbalance mechanism coupled to the sections to assist an operator in moving the sections along the roller tracks to and between the open and closed positions. The sectional garage door also has a weight assist mechanism coupled to the door and engaged with at least one of the sections to assist at least one of the sections to assist in the movement of the first one of the sections during movement along at least a portion of the roller track due to the weight of the first section relative to the other sections.

Abstract: A panel (14) for an overhead sectional door (10) offers increased performance and economy by optimizing the panel skin (38, 42, 50, 52). The upper and lower structural rail areas (46, 48) which typically mate with corresponding lower and upper rails (48, 46) of an adjacent panel (14) have thicker skin (38, 42, 50, 52). The non-structural areas or the front face of the panel (14) in one embodiment has a thinner skin (38, 42) which is typically embossed with a wood grain or other pattern. The structural rail areas (46, 48) which have the thicker skin (50, 52) add rigidity and resistance to deflection from wind loads and similar dynamic forces. The overhead door panel (14) with differing performance characteristics for specific portions of the skin (38, 42, 50, 52) may be utilized with a variety of rail configurations (46, 48) such as a lap joint, tongue and groove joint, and convex/concave joint between adjacent panels (14).

Abstract: A garage door has pivotally connected door panels, with each of the door panels including an outer skin having an outer surface. The outer skin has a metal, such as steel, having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. An overlay element, such as a decorative element, is coupled to the outer surface of at least one of the outer skins. The overlay element includes a fiber-reinforced thermoset material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. In one specific embodiment, the first and second coefficients of thermal expansion are substantially equal. In one embodiment, the overlay element includes a pultruded fiber-reinforced thermoset material. In yet another aspect, the overlay element is adhesively coupled to the outer surface. Adhesive coupling may, for example, include a hot-melt adhesive, a two-part glue, or double-sided adhesive tape.

Abstract: A panel (14) for an overhead sectional door (10) offers increased performance and economy by optimizing the panel skin (38, 42, 50, 52). The upper and lower structural rail areas (46, 48) which typically mate with corresponding lower and upper rails (48, 46) of an adjacent panel (14) have thicker skin (38, 42, 50, 52). The non-structural areas or the front face of the panel (14) in one embodiment has a thinner skin (38, 42) which is typically embossed with a wood grain or other pattern. The structural rail areas (46, 48) which have the thicker skin (50, 52) add rigidity and resistance to deflection from wind loads and similar dynamic forces. The overhead door panel (14) with differing performance characteristics for specific portions of the skin (38, 42, 50, 52) may be utilized with a variety of rail configurations (46, 48) such as a lap joint, tongue and groove joint, and convex/concave joint between adjacent panels (14).

Abstract: A mechanism for regulating the closing speed of a rolling fire door during an emergency condition. The speed regulating mechanism includes a viscous speed governor which is operatively connected to the support shaft of the fire door for providing a speed regulating damping torque as the door moves to a closed position. Methods for regulating the closing speed of a fire door during an emergency condition are also disclosed.

Abstract: A universal overhead door system includes a pair of horizontal track members, a pair of vertical track members and a pair of track radius members interconnecting the horizontal and vertical track members. A pair of short radius members extend from the track radius members to guide uppermost rollers of an overhead sectional door. The short radius members terminate close to the top of the door opening and thereby eliminate the need to guide the uppermost rollers below the level at which the curved portion of the track radius members begin. The ability to install the short radius members when needed for smaller door opening sizes and low head room environments provides a universal track system for most overhead door installations.

Abstract: An overhead door includes a plurality of panels pivotally connected to one another with the mating upper and lower edges of the adjacent panels providing a pinch-resistant configuration during articulation of the overhead door. Additionally, the installation and assembly of the door is more easily and efficiently accomplished because of first and second contact locations between the mating upper and lower edges of the panels and the configuration of those contact locations provides registration or alignment of the panels relative to one another during installation. Additionally, the hinge assembly includes a pivot axis which is positioned between the front and back faces of the panel to enhance the pinch-resistant operation of the door and the installation of the hinge is easily accomplished with a reduced number of parts because of cooperating keyhole slots and key on the pivot pin of the hinge.