Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a smart tool board device that stores at least one tool and ensures said tool is not lost or misplaced during use. At least one RFID reader on the board detects at least one RFID element that is attached to each tool such that the RFID reader can detect when a tool has not been placed back onto the tool board. Once this occurs, the device may communicate to a manufacturing line and/or process to cease the operation of the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A door system includes a panel to translate along a normal path between an open position and a closed position in front of a doorway in a wall. The door system further includes a first track to support the panel from an upper portion of the panel, and a second track to extend along the normal path proximate a lower portion of the panel. The door system also includes a spring to urge the panel toward the second track to maintain the panel in the normal path.

Abstract: An example door system includes a panel to translate along a normal path between an open position and a closed position in front of a doorway in a wall. The door system further includes a first track to support the panel from an upper portion of the panel, and a second track to extend along the normal path proximate a lower portion of the panel. The door system also includes a spring to urge the panel toward the second track by a first force to maintain the panel in the normal path.

Abstract: A door includes a panel assembly including a leading panel and a trailing panel. The leading panel is to be in substantially coplanar alignment with the trailing panel when the panel assembly is in a normal configuration. The leading panel is to be angularly displaced out of coplanar alignment with the trailing panel when the panel assembly is in a dislodged configuration. The door further includes a tension member to connect the leading panel to the trailing panel. The tension member is to resiliently urge the leading panel and the trailing panel toward each other in a horizontal direction. The tension member is to resiliently urge the panel assembly toward the normal configuration when the panel assembly is in the dislodged configuration.

Abstract: Example seals for insulated doors are disclosed. An example seal for a door includes a first mounting rail and a second mounting rail spaced apart from the first mounting rail. The example seal further includes a flexible sheet extending between the first mounting rail and the second mounting rail. The flexible sheet is to be biased away from the first and second mounting rails to sealingly engage the door when the door is in a closed position.

Abstract: Insulated doors with restorable breakaway sections are disclosed. An example door includes a first panel assembly including a leading panel and a trailing panel. The leading panel is to be in substantially coplanar alignment with the trailing panel when the first panel assembly is in a normal configuration. The leading panel is to be angularly displaced out of coplanar alignment with the trailing panel when the first panel assembly is in a dislodged configuration. The example door further includes a tension member to connect the leading panel to the trailing panel. The tension member is to resiliently urge the leading panel and the trailing panel toward each other in a horizontal direction. The tension member is to resiliently urge the first panel assembly toward the normal configuration when the first panel assembly is in the dislodged configuration.

Abstract: Example seals for insulated doors are disclosed. An example seal for a door includes a first mounting rail and a second mounting rail spaced apart from the first mounting rail. The example seal further includes a flexible sheet extending between the first mounting rail and the second mounting rail. The flexible sheet is to be biased away from the first and second mounting rails to sealingly engage the door when the door is in a closed position.

Abstract: A horizontally sliding door includes a resilient retention system that helps hold a door panel tightly against its seals when the door is closed, and resiliently releases the door panel when an external force displaces the panel beyond its normal path of travel. If the door panel is displaced off its normal path, the resilience of the retention system or simply opening and closing the door automatically returns the panel back to normal operation. The resilient retention system can be installed off the floor, so the system avoids creating a tripping hazard and avoids being damaged by nearby vehicles.

Abstract: An example of an inflatable seal for a door includes a bi-directional airflow pattern of frost-inhibiting heated air. The bi-directional flow pattern enables the seal's discharge opening and supply air blower to both be located well above the floor and preferably above the doorway. If the discharge opening is near the suction inlet of the blower, such an arrangement makes it possible to recover previously heated air by returning some of the warm air back to the blower. In some examples, the seal includes a supply air conduit and a return air conduit with one disposed within the other. The internal conduit may include a relatively stiff elbow to prevent that conduit from becoming kinked near an upper corner of the door.

Abstract: Two or more panels of a power-operated folding door are supported by a novel articulated arm assembly that ensures that the door closes tightly against a wall-mounted seal and easily opens. The articulated arm assembly includes a connector with two spaced-apart pivot points about which two adjoining arms of the assembly can rotate as the door opens and closes. The two pivot points allow the panels to readily fold up and store more compactly when the door is open. To provide an airtight seal where two leading panels come together at the center of the doorway, one or more control mechanisms coupled to the articulated arm assembly ensure that the leading panels overlap when the door is closed.

Abstract: Two or more panels of a power-operated folding door are supported by a novel articulated arm assembly that ensures that the door closes tightly against a wall-mounted seal and easily opens. The articulated arm assembly includes a connector with two spaced-apart pivot points about which two adjoining arms of the assembly can rotate as the door opens and closes. The two pivot points allow the panels to readily fold up and store more compactly when the door is open. To provide an airtight seal where two leading panels come together at the center of the doorway, one or more control mechanisms coupled to the articulated arm assembly ensure that the leading panels overlap when the door is closed.

Abstract: A multi-panel sliding door includes a main drive to directly move a leading door panel and includes an auxiliary drive to smoothly accelerate a lagging door panel. In some embodiments, the auxiliary drive includes a hanging weight that urges the lagging panel to its open position. In another embodiment, the auxiliary drive includes a belt and sheave arrangement attached to the lagging panel. The leading panel is coupled to move the belt around two sheaves as the leading panel moves relative to the lagging one. The belt's movement is limited by a bumper that is attached to one point on the belt and is constrained to travel between one of the sheaves and a fixed stop attached to a wall or the track. As the main drive starts moving the leading panel to its open position, the relative movement between the two panels causes the belt to move the bumper up against the fixed stop. From there, continued opening movement of the leading panel continues rotating the belt around the sheaves.

Abstract: A horizontally sliding door includes a resilient retention system that helps hold a door panel tightly against its seals when the door is closed, and resiliently releases the door panel when an external force displaces the panel beyond its normal path of travel. If the door panel is displaced off its normal path, the resilience of the retention system or simply opening and closing the door automatically returns the panel back to normal operation. The resilient retention system can be installed off the floor, so the system avoids creating a tripping hazard and avoids being damaged by nearby vehicles.

Abstract: A resilient, insulated door panel for a sliding door includes a resilient core protected by a compliant outer covering with a seal disposed about the perimeter of the panel. The panel has sufficient resilience to recover from an impact that temporarily deforms it, yet has sufficient rigidity to transmit a compressive force needed for effectively setting the seals. Much of the core is filled with air to not only provide effective insulation and resilience, but to also provide an extremely lightweight door panel that can be operated to travel rapidly along an overhead track. Some embodiments include relatively rigid backup plates that provide a solid foundation to which the perimeter seals can be attached. The backup plates are segmented so as not to completely restrict the flexibility of the door panel.

Abstract: A resilient, insulated door panel for a sliding door includes a resilient core protected by a compliant outer covering with a seal disposed about the perimeter of the panel. The panel has sufficient resilience to recover from an impact that temporarily deforms it, yet has sufficient rigidity to transmit a compressive force needed for effectively setting the seals. Much of the core is filled with air to not only provide effective insulation and resilience, but to also provide an extremely lightweight door panel that can be operated to travel rapidly along an overhead track. Some embodiments include relatively rigid backup plates that provide a solid foundation to which the perimeter seals can be attached. The backup plates are segmented so as not to completely restrict the flexibility of the door panel.

Abstract: A multi-panel sliding door includes a main drive to directly move a leading door panel and includes an auxiliary drive to smoothly accelerate a lagging door panel. In some embodiments, the auxiliary drive includes a hanging weight that urges the lagging panel to its open position. In another embodiment, the auxiliary drive includes a belt and sheave arrangement attached to the lagging panel. The leading panel is coupled to move the belt around two sheaves as the leading panel moves relative to the lagging one. The belt's movement is limited by a bumper that is attached to one point on the belt and is constrained to travel between one of the sheaves and a fixed stop attached to a wall or the track. As the main drive starts moving the leading panel to its open position, the relative movement between the two panels causes the belt to move the bumper up against the fixed stop. From there, continued opening movement of the leading panel continues rotating the belt around the sheaves.

Abstract: A resilient, insulated door panel for a sliding door includes a resilient core protected by a compliant outer covering with a seal disposed about the perimeter of the panel. The panel has sufficient resilience to recover from an impact that temporarily deforms it, yet has sufficient rigidity to transmit a compressive force needed for effectively setting the seals. Much of the core is filled with air to not only provide effective insulation and resilience, but to also provide an extremely lightweight door panel that can be operated to travel rapidly along an overhead track. Some embodiments include relatively rigid backup plates that provide a solid foundation to which the perimeter seals can be attached. The backup plates are segmented so as not to completely restrict the flexibility of the door panel.

Abstract: A multi-panel sliding door includes a main drive to directly move a leading door panel and includes an auxiliary drive to smoothly accelerate a lagging door panel. In some embodiments, the auxiliary drive includes a hanging weight that urges the lagging panel to its open position. In another embodiment, the auxiliary drive includes a belt and sheave arrangement attached to the lagging panel. The leading panel is coupled to move the belt around two sheaves as the leading panel moves relative to the lagging one. The belt's movement is limited by a bumper that is attached to one point on the belt and is constrained to travel between one of the sheaves and a fixed stop attached to a wall or the track. As the main drive starts moving the leading panel to its open position, the relative movement between the two panels causes the belt to move the bumper up against the fixed stop. From there, continued opening movement of the leading panel continues rotating the belt around the sheaves.

Abstract: A generally horizontally sliding door includes a sliding or otherwise translating door panel with a full-perimeter seal that engages sealing surfaces upon closing and at least partially disengages the surfaces upon opening. The door panel travels along an overhead track that is slightly inclined to lower the panel=s upper and lower edge seals into engagement with sealing surfaces as the door closes. To provide a substantially full-perimeter seal, a leading edge seal and a trailing edge seal engage sealing surfaces as well. Some of the edge seals are joined to create corner seals. The seals are adapted for single panel sliding doors, bi-parting doors, multi-panel doors, and various combinations thereof.

Abstract: A generally horizontally sliding door includes a sliding or otherwise translating door panel with a full-perimeter seal that engages sealing surfaces upon closing and at least partially disengages the surfaces upon opening. The door panel travels along an overhead track that is slightly inclined to lower the panel's upper and lower edge seals into engagement with sealing surfaces as the door closes. To provide a substantially full-perimeter seal, a leading edge seal and a trailing edge seal engage sealing surfaces as well. Some of the edge seals are joined to create corner seals. The seals are adapted for single panel sliding doors, bi-parting doors, multi-panel doors, and various combinations thereof.