Abstract: Hardware that improves the safety of operating sectional doors that use torsional coil springs to facilitate door movement. A rotor assembly with centrifugally activated throw-out latches is affixed to the rotating shaft that bears the torsional coil springs. When a spring breaks, the shaft rotates rapidly as cables supporting the door unwind. Rapid rotation causes centrifugal force to bias the latches to an outer position in which they strike a trigger plate, allowing a pawl to move into a position in which the pawl blocks further rotation of the rotor, thus halting the descent of the sectional door. Raising the sectional door manually moves the latches, trigger plate, and pawl to their original position, disengaging the present invention and permitting the door to be lowered slowly without danger of injury.

Abstract: Hardware that improves safety and minimizes the risk involved in installing, maintaining, and operating sectional doors that use springs to facilitate door movement. A lock-on side bearing bracket bears up a spring on a garage door. This side-bearing bracket includes a hook and a perpendicular tab to prevent the spring from dangerously releasing its energy when parts supporting the spring are removed or fail. A lock-on bottom roller bracket having a bottom bearing plate and a safety hook similarly prevents a potential release of energy when the garage door lift cable is tensed. A curled portion at the bottom of the lift cable prevents the cable from coming off the drum. A safety latch with a latch bar and a latch cover acts as a lock for the garage door.

Abstract: A sectional door (2) is disclosed that includes a safety system. The safety system includes a shield apparatus (12), an improved support track (6), reverse angle track shields (80), and hemmed roller track edges (38) to prevent injury or harm to body parts errantly placed within or around the support track (6) during the opening or closing of the sectional door (2). The sectional door (2) includes a plurality of door sections (8) hingedly joined in an edge-to-edge relationship to form the completed sectional door (2). The sectional door (2) further includes support rollers (10) attached to the door sections (8), and a pair of support tracks (6), in which the support rollers (10) are confined.

Abstract: Hardware designed to improve safety and minimize the risk involved in installing, maintaining, and operating sectional doors that use springs to facilitate door movement. A lock-on side bearing bracket bears up a spring on a garage door. This side-bearing bracket includes a hook and a perpendicular tab to prevent the spring from dangerously releasing its energy when parts supporting the spring are removed or fail. A lock-on bottom roller bracket having a bottom bearing plate and a safety hook similarly prevents a potential release of energy when the garage door lift cable is tensed. A curled portion at the bottom of the lift cable prevents the cable from coming off the drum. A safety latch with a latch bar and a latch cover acts as a lock for the garage door. Multiple safety features make the garage door systems of the present invention particularly safe to operate and maintain.

Abstract: Hardware designed to improve safety and minimize the risk involved in installing, maintaining, and operating sectional doors that use spring mechanisms to facilitate door movement. A lock-on side bearing bracket bears up a spring mechanism on a garage door. This side bearing bracket includes a hook and a perpendicular tab to prevent the spring mechanism from dangerously releasing its energy when parts supporting the spring mechanism are removed or fail. A lock-on bottom roller bracket having a bottom bearing plate and a safety hook similarly prevents a potential, dangerous release of energy when the garage door lift cable is in tension. A safety latch with a latch bar and a latch cover acts as a lock for the garage door. The use of multiple safety features makes the garage door systems of the present invention particularly safe to operate and maintain.

Abstract: A sectional door is disclosed that includes a safety system. The safety system includes a shield apparatus, an improved support track, reverse angle track shields, and hemmed roller track edges to prevent injury or harm to body parts errantly placed within or around the support track during the opening or closing of the sectional door. The sectional door includes a plurality of door sections hingedly joined in an edge-to-edge relationship to form the completed sectional door. The sectional door further include support rollers attached to the door sections, and a pair of support tracks, in which the support rollers are confined. Each support roller further includes a circular or rectangular roller shield that is mounted to the axle of the support roller outside of the support track where it is proximate the support track in such a manner as to limit or prevent any fingers from engaging within the support track with the support rollers.

Abstract: A roller shield apparatus and method for shielding a support roller of a sectional door against a finger being inserted between the support roller and the support track. The roller shield is configured as a disc that is mounted to the axle of the support roller so as to be supported in a plane parallel to the support roller and outside of the support track. The support track includes a single hem to eliminate a sharp edge from the support track.

Abstract: A low-profile hinge for hingedly joining adjacent door sections of a sectional door. The low profile for the low-profile hinge is attained by using a relatively small diameter hinge pin fabricated from spring steel. The greater strength characteristic of spring steel compensates for the smaller diameter of the spring steel hinge pin to provide a hinge that has a lower profile while maintaining the necessary mechanical strength at a level equal to or greater than a conventional hinge. The spring steel hinge pin is fabricated to be incrementally shorter than the pin tube and the ends of the pin tube are crimped to retain the spring steel hinge pin in the pin tube.

Abstract: A barricade apparatus for providing a barrier across the gap between door sections of a sectional door. The barricade is fabricated from a strip of resilient sheet material formed into a generally L-shaped configuration along its length. The horizontal foot portion of the L-shaped configuration is secured to the upper edge of a lower door section to thereby support the vertical leg portion across the gap that opens and closes as the adjacent door sections are moved across the curved portion of the support track of the sectional door.

Abstract: A door assembled from a plurality of discrete lengths of door section, the door sections being identical in appearance to the door sections of an adjacent sectional door. The length of each discrete length of door section is selectively predetermined in order to produce the door with the correct width. A body of foam is placed in each discrete length of door section for insulative and structural support purposes. One or more blocks of wood can be included at preselected locations inside the door for mounting purposes. A unitary backing sheet is affixed to the back surface of the door to provide the door with a monocoque construction while the peripheral edges of the door are enclosed in a U-shaped channel member.

Abstract: A shield apparatus and method for guarding the gap between door sections of a sectional door to inhibit the insertion of fingers into the gap as the sectional door traverses between the elevated open position to the lowered, closed position. The shield apparatus is configured as an outer shield and an inner shield, both of which are fabricated from a resilient sheet material. The outer shield is formed into an L-shaped cross section along its length with the foot portion of the L shape being mounted to the upper edge of the lower door section so that the leg portion of the L shape extends upwardly across the gap between the lower door section and the upper door section. A water diversion channel is formed into the foot to divert water to the ends of the sectional door to preclude the water from dripping from the sectional door as it is raised to the open, overhead position. A pair of double-face tapes are used to secure the shield apparatus to the top edge of the lower door section.

Abstract: A water diversion channel for the joint between door sections of a sectional door. The water diversion channel is formed in the leading face of the tongue portion of the tongue and groove of the joint. The leading face of the tongue is formed with a slight undercut so as to provide the water diversion channel with a triangular cross section.

Abstract: A decorative overlay and window system for an opening in a garage door, the decorative overlay including a peripheral framework formed as an integral part of the decorative overlay. Bolt strips having a plurality of bolts extending outwardly therefrom are secured to the inner face of the peripheral framework. The bolts provide an alignment mechanism for aligning the decorative overlay with the opening in the garage door. A windowpane having a plurality of holes in its border is mounted to the peripheral framework by passing the bolts through the holes and then threadedly fastening nuts to the bolts. An insulation liner is provided to cover open edges of adjacent insulation in the event the decorative window system is used on an insulated garage door.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel strut and bracket apparatus for mounting to a section of an overhead garage door, the strut and bracket combination being utilized to selectively impart the desired tensile forces to the section, thereby correcting or repairing or otherwise compensating for any misalignment or tendency for misalignment in the section. Specially shaped brackets are used along with hardened steel bolts to assure secure and safe attachment of the strut to the bracket.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel strut and bracket apparatus for mounting to a section of an overhead garage door, the strut and bracket combination being utilized to selectively impart the desired tensile forces to the section, thereby correcting or otherwise compensating for any misalignment or tendency for misalignment in the section. Specially shaped brackets are used along with hardened steel bolts to assure secure and safe attachment of the strut to the bracket.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel anchor cone and winding cone apparatus and method for mounting a coil torsion spring to an overhead door. Indicia are provided on the cones to assure proper orientation of the cones to the spring and the cone/spring assembly to the overhead door. The winding cone includes arrow indicia to clearly indicate the direction of rotation for the winding cone to increase tension on the coil torsion spring. A groove break is provided in each cone to substantially reduce chafing and wear of the corresponding coil of the coil torsion spring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel torsion spring apparatus and method wherein anchor loops are formed in the end coil of the torsion spring to permit anchoring the spring directly to the appropriate mounting bracket. The provision of anchor loops in the end coil of the torsion spring effectively eliminates the requirement for conventional mounting inserts for the torsion spring and simultaneously increases the effective length of the torsion spring or, alternatively, permits the torsion spring to be shortened by the number of coils that would be otherwise rendered ineffective by the presence of a prior art insert.

Abstract: An end stile apparatus and method for an overhead door section. The end stile is formed from a rectangle of sheet metal folded longitudinally into a modified J configuration in cross section. Mounting elements in the form of tabs and clips are prepared from a side of the end stile and serve as part of the anchoring system for mounting a panel to the end stile.

Abstract: A novel overhead door section system and method, the section including a section facing fabricated from a high tensile steel and secured to a novel end stile and center stile. The end stile includes an angle support secured therein. The angle support clamps an end of the section facing against a front face of the end stile and is secured to ribs in the section facing and to a side wall of the end stile. A novel back facing and method provide additional strength to the panel and may also enclose an insulative layer inside the panel.

Abstract: A novel overhead door section system and method, the section including a section facing fabricated from a high tensile steel and secured to a novel end stile and center stile. The end stile includes an angle support secured therein. The angle support clamps an end of the section facing against a front face of the end stile and is secured to ribs in the section facing and to a side wall of the end stile. A novel back facing and method provide additional strength to the panel and may also enclose an insulative layer inside the panel.