Patents by Inventor Willis J. Mullet

Willis J. Mullet has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20040134149
    Abstract: A sectional door (10) and an assembly method for attaching a component (40, 41, 90) to a panel (11) of the sectional door (10) including the steps of fabricating a panel (11) for the sectional door (10), preparing a component (40, 41, 90) for attachment to the panel (11), dispensing a first adhesive (71, 72) on a surface where the panel (11) and the component (40, 41, 90) are to be joined, locating the panel (11) and the component (40, 41, 90) in a predetermined relative attachment position, and dispensing a second adhesive (71, 72) along at least one surface where the panel (11) and the component (40, 41, 90) abut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: WAYNE-DALTON CORP.
    Inventor: Willis J. Mullet
  • Publication number: 20040107639
    Abstract: A system for signaling the position of a movable barrier includes a movable barrier; a motor coupled to the movable barrier for moving the movable barrier between limit positions; a position detection device that monitors the movable barrier to generate a barrier position signal; and an indication device that receives the barrier position signal and indicate a position of the movable barrier relative to the limit positions. The system also includes an operation mechanism for controlling the motor and at least one transmitter device which generates a transmission signal received by the operator mechanism to energize the motor. The system further includes a blocking switch which generates a blocking signal received by the operator mechanism to prevent receipt of a transmission signal from a device other than one associated with the indication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: WAYNE-DALTON CORP.
    Inventor: Willis J. Mullet
  • Publication number: 20040103997
    Abstract: A sectional door including, a plurality of panels pivotally joined to each other, the panels including a facer having a front surface, a first joint member and a second joint member extending rearwardly of the facer, a pair of end stiles received at lateral extremities of the panels and placed in supporting relation thereto, the stiles having a recess adjacent one of the joint member, a hinge receiver located adjacent the recess and a hinge pivotally coupled to one of the panels at the hinge receiver and fastened to another of the panels at the end stile, wherein the recess provides a clearance for pivoting movement of the hinge and the storage or stowage of door components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventor: Willis J. Mullet
  • Publication number: 20040099382
    Abstract: An upwardly acting sectional door (24), including a plurality of panels (40), body portions (50) of the panels constructed of a flexible polymeric material and having a front surface (55), a cladding (80) covering the front surface of the body portions and having hooks (83, 84) at the upper and lower edges thereof, a hinge member (51) at an edge of the body portion operatively engaging the hooks of adjacent of the panels to provide relative pivotal motion between adjacent panels. Another embodiment is an upwardly acting sectional pan door (224) including, a plurality of panels (240), facers (250) of the panels defining a front surface of the door and having cooperatively engaging couplers (270) at the upper and lower edges thereof; stiles (280) at the ends of the facers receiving and attached to the facers, and hinge assemblies (290) located at the end stiles to provide relative pivotal motion between the stiles and the couplers of adjacent panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Gregory M. Rusnak
  • Patent number: 6739372
    Abstract: A system for raising and lowering a sectional overhead door between an open position and a closed position including, a counterbalance system adapted to be connected to the door, an operator motor assembly mounted proximate to the sectional overhead door in the closed position of the sectional overhead door, at least a portion of the operator motor assembly movable between a door operating position and a door locking position, and a locking assembly (370) having an engaged position to hold the motor assembly in the operating position and a disengaged position to release the motor assembly allowing it to move to the door locking position. The system may be provided with a remote light assembly having a switchable light source in sensing communication with the operator motor such that operation of the motor activates the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Donald Bruce Kyle
  • Patent number: 6725898
    Abstract: A door (10) made in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of panels (20) with opposed stiles (24, 25) being positioned at the longitudinal edges of a faceplate (21) of each panel (20) and with opposed rails (26, 27) being positioned at the lateral edges of the faceplate (21) of each panel (20). An insulation assembly (30) includes a sheet of insulation material (31) and a backing sheet (32) which has edges (33) which overhang the lateral edges of the sheet of insulation material (31). The insulation assembly (30) is installed in the door (10) by engaging the stiles (24, 25) with the longitudinal edges of the sheet of insulation material (31) to flex the same until the edges are received in notches (34) formed in the stiles (24, 25). Then the overhanging edges (33) of the backing sheet (32) engage the rails (26, 27) and deform to press the sheet of insulation material (31) against the faceplate (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Dewayne J. Davidson
  • Publication number: 20040069421
    Abstract: A sectional door D having a plurality of panels (35), a first hinge leaf (44) formed on one edge of a panel and a second hinge leaf (42) formed on a second edge of the panel, wherein first and second hinge leaves on adjacent panels interrelate to form a hinge pivotally joining the panels, and a strengthening member (50) having a body portion (51) adapted to capture the hinge leaves and attachable to the panels near at least one of the first hinge leaf and the second hinge leaf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: WAYNE-DALTON CORP.
    Inventor: Willis J. Mullet
  • Patent number: 6715236
    Abstract: A door system including a door movable between a closed vertical position and an open horizontal position, a cable interconnected to said door near the bottom thereof, the cable extending along a vertical line adjacent the door and being normally, substantially taut, and an anti-drop assembly having a pawl pivotally supported on the door, a stop surface formed adjacent the door and a spring operable to urge the pawl toward engagement with the stop surface, wherein the pawl is oriented such that it rotates in a plane passing through the cable and placed in contact therewith such that the taut cable opposes the biasing force of the spring, whereby upon the cable going slack, the spring biases the pawl into engagement with the stop surface to decelerate the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventor: Willis J. Mullet
  • Patent number: 6672362
    Abstract: An upwardly acting sectional door (24), including a plurality of panels (40), body portions (50) of the panels constructed of a flexible polymeric material and having a front surface (55), a cladding (80) covering the front surface of the body portions and having hooks (83, 84) at the upper and lower edges thereof, a hinge member (51) at an edge of the body portion operatively engaging the hooks of adjacent of the panels to provide relative pivotal motion between adjacent panels. Another embodiment is an upwardly acting sectional pan door (224) including, a plurality of panels (240), facers (250) of the panels defining a front surface of the door and having cooperatively engaging couplers (270) at the upper and lower edges thereof, stiles (280) at the ends of the facers receiving and attached to the facers, and hinge assemblies (290) located at the end stiles to provide relative pivotal motion between the stiles and the couplers of adjacent panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Gregory M. Rusnak
  • Publication number: 20030205337
    Abstract: A system for raising and lowering a sectional overhead door between an open position and a closed position including, a counterbalance system adapted to be connected to the door, an operator motor assembly mounted proximate to the sectional overhead door in the closed position of the sectional overhead door, at least a portion of the operator motor assembly movable between a door operating position and a door locking position, and a locking assembly (370) having an engaged position to hold the motor assembly in the operating position and a disengaged position to release the motor assembly allowing it to move to the door locking position. The system may be provided with a remote light assembly having a switchable light source in sensing communication with the operator motor such that operation of the motor activates the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Donald Bruce Kyle
  • Publication number: 20030205338
    Abstract: A system for raising and lowering a sectional overhead door between an open position and a closed position including, a counterbalance system adapted to be connected to the door, an operator motor assembly mounted proximate to the sectional overhead door in the closed position of the sectional overhead door, at least a portion of the operator motor assembly movable between a door operating position and a door locking position, and a locking assembly (370) having an engaged position to hold the motor assembly in the operating position and a disengaged position to release the motor assembly allowing it to move to the door locking position. The system may be provided with a remote light assembly having a switchable light source in sensing communication with the operator motor such that operation of the motor activates the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Donald Bruce Kyle
  • Patent number: 6640496
    Abstract: A door system including, a door movable between a closed vertical position and an open horizontal position, a cable attached to the door and normally providing a counterbalancing force to the door, the cable extending along a vertical line adjacent the door and being normally substantially taut, and an anti-drop assembly having a pawl pivotally supported on the door and attached to the cable, a stop surface positioned adjacent to the door, and a spring operable to urge the pawl toward engagement with the stop surface, wherein when taut the cable opposes the biasing force of the spring and wherein upon the cable going slack the spring urges the pawl into engagement with the stop surface to decelerate the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventor: Willis J. Mullet
  • Patent number: 6640872
    Abstract: A sectional door movable between a closed vertical position and an open horizontal position having, a series of adjacent panels, each of the panels having an upper joint member and a lower joint member, the lower joint member having a configuration to establish a clearance with the configuration of the upper joint member of an adjacent panel during angular articulation of the adjacent panels in moving between the closed vertical position and the open horizontal position, end hinge assemblies located proximate the longitudinal ends of the panels and connecting the adjacent panels at a first pivot axis, and at least one center hinge assembly connecting the adjacent panels at a second pivot axis offset from the first pivot axis, whereby a portion of the clearance is maintained irrespective of variations in the deflection of the panels in moving between the closed vertical position and the open horizontal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventor: Willis J. Mullet
  • Publication number: 20030201079
    Abstract: A sectional door movable between a closed vertical position and an open horizontal position having, a series of adjacent panels, each of the panels having an upper joint member and a lower joint member, the lower joint member having a configuration to establish a clearance with the configuration of the upper joint member of an adjacent panel during angular articulation of the adjacent panels in moving between the closed vertical position and the open horizontal position, end hinge assemblies located proximate the longitudinal ends of the panels and connecting the adjacent panels at a first pivot axis, and at least one center hinge assembly connecting the adjacent panels at a second pivot axis offset from the first pivot axis, whereby a portion of the clearance is maintained irrespective of variations in the deflection of the panels in moving between the closed vertical position and the open horizontal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: WAYNE-DALTON CORP.
    Inventor: Willis J. Mullet
  • Publication number: 20030201078
    Abstract: A sectional door including, a plurality of panels pivotally joined to each other, the panels including a facer having a front surface, a first joint member and a second joint member extending rearwardly of the facer, a pair of end stiles received at lateral extremities of the panels and placed in supporting relation thereto, the stiles having a recess adjacent one of the joint member, a hinge receiver located adjacent the recess and a hinge pivotally coupled to one of the panels at the hinge receiver and fastened to another of the panels at the end stile, wherein the recess provides a clearance for pivoting movement of the hinge and the storage or stowage of door components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: WAYNE-DALTON CORP.
    Inventor: Willis J. Mullet
  • Publication number: 20030196767
    Abstract: A door (10) made in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of panels (20) with opposed stiles (24, 25) being positioned at the longitudinal edges of a faceplate (21) of each panel (20) and with opposed rails (26, 27) being positioned at the lateral edges of the faceplate (21) of each panel (20). An insulation assembly (30) includes a sheet of insulation material (31) and a backing sheet (32) which has edges (33) which overhang the lateral edges of the sheet of insulation material (31). The insulation assembly (30) is installed in the door (10) by engaging the stiles (24, 25) with the longitudinal edges of the sheet of insulation material (31) to flex the same until the edges are received in notches (34) formed in the stiles (24, 25). Then the overhanging edges (33) of the backing sheet (32) engage the rails (26, 27) and deform to press the sheet of insulation material (31) against the faceplate (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Dewayne J. Davidson
  • Publication number: 20030196766
    Abstract: An operator (10, 210) for moving in upward and downward directions a sectional door (D) having a counterbalancing system (30) including a drive tube (31) interconnected with the door comprising, a reversible motor (41), selectively driven in two directions by the motor, a driven gear (54) freely rotatably mounted on the drive tube and engaging the drive gear, a slide guide (56) non-rotatably mounted on the drive tube, a disconnect (70) mounted on the slide guide and selectively movable between a first position rotatably connecting the driven gear and the slide guide and a second position disconnecting the drive gear and the slide guide, and an actuator (80) for selectively moving the disconnect between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventor: Willis J. Mullet
  • Publication number: 20030192657
    Abstract: A system for raising and lowering a sectional overhead door between an open position and a closed position including, a counterbalance system adapted to be connected to the door, an operator motor assembly mounted proximate to the sectional overhead door in the closed position of the sectional overhead door, at least a portion of the operator motor assembly movable between a door operating position and a door locking position, and a locking assembly (370) having an engaged position to hold the motor assembly in the operating position and a disengaged position to release the motor assembly allowing it to move to the door locking position. The system may be provided with a remote light assembly having a switchable light source in sensing communication with the operator motor such that operation of the motor activates the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Donald Bruce Kyle
  • Patent number: 6605910
    Abstract: A door operator and related method of setting custom limits on movable barrier travel, includes a motor for moving the movable barrier between two travel limit positions, an operator for controlling operation of the motor, and a disconnect system coupled between the motor and the operator. The disconnect system is switchable between a connected position and a disconnected position, wherein the motor can engage the operator only when the disconnect system is in the connected position. The operator is connected to a potentiometer for ascertaining movable barrier position, regardless of the position of the disconnect system, and provides position information to the operator. A travel limit is set by placing the disconnect system in the disconnected position and manually moving the door to a desired position whereupon the disconnect system is moved to the connected position so that the operator can detect a positional location to be designated as one of the travel limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, David B. Davies
  • Patent number: 6604593
    Abstract: A skate (10) includes a base plate (11) pivotally carrying a platform plate (14) which can be the sole of a shoe (16). There is an aperture (18) in the base plate (11) so that when the platform plate (14) is adjacent to the base plate (11), a pad (17) on the platform plate (14) extends through the aperture (18) so that the user may walk on the skate (10). A frame (23) carries a drive shaft (20) which carries drive wheels (19). The drive shaft (20) is journalled in unidirectional bearings (21) and has a gear (32) which engages a threaded motor shaft (31) of a motor (27). A collar (38) has threads (37) which engage the threads (36) of a motor housing (33). When the motor (27) rotates in the one direction permitted by the unidirectional bearings (21), the drive wheels (19) will power the skate (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventor: Willis J. Mullet