Abstract: A drive unit for driving an open-and-close body and a method for attaching the drive unit to the open-and-close body. The drive unit includes a cable, a drum, a pulley, a fix member, an elastic member, and a limiting member. The cable has a portion connected to the open-and-close body and another portion wound on the drum. The pulley is movable between a first position, where the pulley does not tension the cable, and a second position, where the pulley engages the cable and applies tension to the cable. The fix member is capable of fixing the pulley in the first position. The elastic member urges the pulley towards the second position. The limiting member is provided between the drum and the fix member, and the limiting member allows or limits rotation of the drum in accordance with the position of the pulley.

Abstract: A method of arresting a forward motion of a moving vehicle travelling on a surface includes moving a barrier beam to a position blocking a vehicle passage over a base plate that is positioned on the surface, contacting the moving vehicle with the barrier beam, and rotating the base plate due to the contacting the vehicle causing the base plate to contact an underside of the vehicle during the forward motion of the vehicle, lifting at least front wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: A barrier, for extending across a passageway of a residence, that includes first and second gates. The first gate has width and height, each of which is less than the width and height of the second gate. The first gate is co-planar with the second gate when the first gate is closed. The first gate is pivotally engaged to the second gate. The second gate can be closed to, for example, minimize access of toddlers to the passageway, while the first gate can be opened to, for example, maximize access of small dogs to the passageway. One example of the passageway is the head or bottom of a stairway. The second gate, when closed, minimizes toddlers from falling down or climbing up stairs. The first gate, when open, permits small dogs to walk down or climb up the stairs.

Abstract: An automatic door operator includes a lead screw having a first end connected to an output end of an actuating unit and a second end extending away from the output end. A lead screw nut is attached to the lead screw. A slider is attached to the lead screw nut. The slider is provided with a rack portion extending in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the lead screw, and during a movement of the lead screw nut, a length of an overlap of the rack portion and the lead screw in the axial direction varies. The operator includes a housing having a guide hole configured to be slidably engaged with the slider and an output shaft is mounted in a mounting hole disposed on the housing. The output shaft has a gear portion positioned in the guide hole and engaged with the rack portion.

Abstract: A vertical panel door stacking system for a door having panels with end caps coupled thereto. The end caps include a body portion, a cam lever to rotate around an axis to generate a lift force to lift and separate an adjacent pair of panels of the panels of the door, a first track wheel, a second track wheel, and a third track wheel. The track wheels interact with a track system to guide movement of the door panels between a closed position and an open position.

Abstract: A tilt-up door having vertical side members each having a pivot point, the pivot points move upward or downward when an actuator is activated to move the door between open and closed positions. First and second cams connected to the vertical side members at a lower end of the cams, each of said cams extend from the lower end thereof upwardly and arcuately toward an interior of a building to a distal terminal end thereof, each of the ends contacts a cam follower. The cam followers slide along the first and second cams and guide the first and second cams and the door as the door moves between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: In example implementations, a track system of a vertically stacking door includes a vertical track, a track coupling coupled to the vertical track, a first curved track portion coupled to the track coupling, a second curved track portion coupled to the track coupling, and a ramp coupled to the vertical track. The ramp interacts with a cam lever to separate adjacent panels of the vertically stacking door.

Abstract: A garage door has panels pivotally interconnected and spanning horizontally across a door opening defined by a door frame. The panels have rollers that are movably engaged with tracks extending along lateral sides of the door frame. A motorized opener is coupled with the garage door and is configured to move the garage door along the tracks between an open position and a closed position. The motorized opener has a controller for controlling movement of the garage door. Electro-permanent magnets are disposed adjacent the lateral sides of the door frame. The magnets are configured to magnetically engage the garage door in the closed position and to release the magnetic engagement with the garage door in response to a signal from the controller.

Abstract: A hinged safety gate can include a gate frame and a retainer assembly. The gate frame can have a distal upright member, an upper cross-arm, and a lower cross-arm. The hinged safety gate can have a retainer assembly that is configured to be attached to a proximal end of the gate frame and to hingedly couple the gate frame to a stationary vertical surface, permitting the gate frame to swing between an open position and a closed position. The gate frame is horizontally adjustable in two different manners relative to the retainer assembly to accommodate a range of access area widths.

Abstract: Implementations of detachable door systems may include: a main panel, an upper panel, and a connection mechanism by which an upper side of the main panel hingedly couples to the upper panel. The connection mechanism may include a hinge locking system with a fixed open position and a closed position and with a fixed bracket secured to the main panel, the fixed bracket hingedly coupled to a non-fixed bracket that is secured to the upper panel. A locking pin may be configured to engage in a first pair of slots in the fixed bracket corresponding with the fixed open position and configured to engage in a second pair of slots in the fixed bracket corresponding with the closed position. A removable fastener may be included to prevent the locking pin from engaging in the second pair of slots corresponding with the closed position.

Abstract: A door status monitoring system includes a switch modulator coupled to a door and a control unit in communication with first and second display elements. A first position switch sends a first signal to the control unit when the switch modulator is proximate to the first position switch when the door is in a closed position. A second position switch sends a second signal to the control unit when the switch modulator is proximate to the second position switch when the door is in an open position. The control unit is configured to maintain the first and second display elements in a deactivated state in response to receiving the first signal, activate the first display element when the control unit is not receiving the first and second signals, and activate the second display element and deactivate the first display element in response to receiving the second signal.

Abstract: A latch assembly for a fenestration assembly includes a keeper ridge configured for coupling with a fenestration frame. An assembly housing is configured for coupling with a rail of a sash, including upper or lower rails opposed to a check rail of the sash. A latch mechanism is movably coupled with the assembly housing. The latch mechanism is at least partially concealed with the rail. The latch mechanism includes a handle pivotally coupled with the assembly housing and a latch arm pivotally coupled with the assembly housing and operatively coupled with the handle. The latch arm includes a locking face configured for alignment with the keeper ridge.

Abstract: An overhead door frame assembly has a horizontal header connected to tripod legs with splice assemblies. Each tripod leg has two upright columns connected to an upright I-bar and a support assembly and the upright columns and the upright I-bar are secured to a base adapted to be secured to a floor of a building. One of the splice assemblies is fastened to each upright column. Hinges pivotally mount an overhead door to the header to allow hydraulic cylinders connected to the support assemblies to move the overhead door to an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A first gate is disposed within a second gate of a barrier for extending across a passageway of a residence. The second gate can be closed to, for example, minimize access of toddlers to the passageway, while the first gate can be opened to, for example, maximize access of small dogs to the passageway. The barrier includes a locking mechanism between the second gate and a frame of the barrier.

Abstract: A vehicle door assembly includes a door housing configured for covering a vehicle access opening. A frame member is disposed within the door housing. A module includes an intrusion beam coupled to the frame member and removable from the door housing. The module is configured to accept attachment of a module hinge and a module latch to provide a secondary door assembly. A modular vehicle door assembly and a method of assembling a door assembly to a vehicle are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle door opening and closing apparatus includes a rail mounted on a vehicle body, a roller unit mounted on a vehicle door, the vehicle door having a main latch releasably engaged with a main striker mounted on the vehicle body, the roller unit configured to allow the vehicle door to open and close in a sliding mode and a swing mode, and an outside handle operatively connected to the main latch, and including a handle base mounted on the vehicle door and a handle grip movably mounted on the handle base, wherein the handle grip is slidable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and pivotal in a transverse direction of the vehicle body, and wherein as the handle grip slides, the sliding mode is selected, and as the handle grip pivots, the swing mode is selected.

Abstract: Hinged window drive systems and window assemblies incorporating them provide for a combination of powered or motorized operation in addition to manual operation using a hand crank, with the opportunity for a user to switch between motorized operation and manual operation as needed.

Abstract: A refrigerator door assembly includes a refrigerator door that has a recess and an alignment mechanism that includes a door hinge. A plate is fixedly attached to the door hinge and positioned at least partially within the recess of the refrigerator door. The plate includes an orienting member configured to extend along an axis of rotation of the door hinge and away from a body of the plate. The refrigerator door is movably positionable between at least a first position and a second position relative to the plate to permit adjustment of a location of the refrigerator door relative to the door hinge. The recess includes a track that slides against the plate in a linear path between the first and second positions of the refrigerator door.

Abstract: A structure includes a lower rail mounted to a lower portion of a vehicle body in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. A lower-rail roller part is rollably connected to the lower rail. A lower-rail swing arm is rotatably connected to the lower-rail roller part and a door. A lower guide rail is mounted to the door and defines a lower guide path in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. A lifter has a first end that moves along the lower guide path, and a second end that is fixed to the vehicle body. The lifter applies a force in a direction from the door toward the vehicle body. An upper guide rail is mounted to an upper portion of the vehicle body. An upper-guide roller part is mounted to the door to be seated in the upper guide rail.

Abstract: A sealing pad for sealing between a door and a surrounding doorjamb. The sealing pad is adjustably mounted to a bottom corner of the doorjamb and includes a base and at least three lobes formed on the base. The base has a tail extending from an inside edge of the base and extending away from an inner lobe of the three lobes. The tail is configured to fit into a channel in the bottom corner of the doorjamb. When installed, the sealing pad is adjustable by sliding along the doorjamb with the tail in the channel.