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).

Abstract: A method of aligning a door operating system for operating an upwardly acting door including an operator that directly interrelates with a counterbalance assembly in the door operating system to move the door, where the operator is at least partially supported on the counterbalance assembly, loosely attaching the operator to a header adjacent the door, and, moving the door from a closed position to an open position and returning the door to the closed position to achieve alignment. Once aligned, the operator is securely attached to the header to maintain the system's alignment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a flexible curtain is disclosed and claimed. The flexible curtain is used in a windlocking apparatus to prevent the unwanted intrusion of wind, water and debris into a building opening. Strips are attached to the edges of the curtain. The strips may be attached to the curtain by first heating them followed by compressing them to form a welded or bonded construction. The heating may be accomplished by direct heat transfer, electromagnetic excitation, or ultrasonic excitation. Compressing the materials together is accomplished with rollers having cylindrical laminating surfaces to join the excited materials and form a welded or bonded construction. Alternatively, the materials may be glued or stitched together. Preferably the curtain and strips are thermoplastic materials. Semi-crystalline polymer strips may be joined to a thermoplastic curtain to add rigidity.

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.

Abstract: An upwardly acting sectional door system including, a door (D) having a plurality of hinged door sections (16-18) movable between a closed vertical position and an open horizontal position, a drive tube (31) mounted above the door in the closed vertical position, an operator (11) selectively directionally rotatably driving the drive tube, cable drums (35) mounted on the drive tube for rotation therewith by the operator, springs (60) mounted in operative relation to the cable drums, and counterbalance cables (75) reeved about the cable drums and interconnecting the springs and the door to counterbalance the door when moving between the closed vertical position and the open horizontal position.

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), a drive gear (52) 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.

Abstract: A method of aligning a door operating system for operating an upwardly acting door including an operator that directly interrelates with a counterbalance assembly in the door operating system to move the door, where the operator is at least partially supported on the counterbalance assembly, loosely attaching the operator to a header adjacent the door, and, moving the door from a closed position to an open position and returning the door to the closed position to achieve alignment. Once aligned, the operator is securely attached to the header to maintain the system's alignment.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: An upwardly acting sectional door system including, a door (D) having a plurality of hinged door sections (16-18) movable between a closed vertical position and an open horizontal position, a drive tube (31) mounted above the door in the closed vertical position, an operator (11) selectively directionally rotatably driving the drive tube, cable drums (35) mounted on the drive tube for rotation therewith by the operator, springs (60) mounted in operative relation to the cable drums, and counterbalance cables (75) reeved about the cable drums and interconnecting the springs and the door to counterbalance the door when moving between the closed vertical position and the open horizontal position.

Abstract: A wind-resistant sectional overhead door (21) selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position relative to a door opening defined by spaced vertical jambs (23,24) and a horizontal header (25) extending therebetween including, a plurality of elongate horizontal panels (40-43) pivotally connected at the top and bottom edges (48, 49) of adjacent of the panels, roller tracks (31, 32) mounted on the vertical jambs to either side of the door, roller shafts (65) mounted at the ends of the panels, guide rollers (66) carried by the roller shafts and engaging the roller tracks, and restraining members (70, 170) for limiting axial movement of the roller shafts, whereby the roller shafts and the panels are tension-loaded when the door is in the closed position to prevent buckling of the panels under applied wind forces. The restraining members may be replaced by or supplemented with tension rod assemblies (225, 325).

Abstract: A counterbalance system (10) for an upwardly acting door (D) movable on tracks (T, T) between a closed position and an open position having, a drive tube (31) adapted to be mounted above the door in the closed position, a cable drum assembly (30) mounted proximate each end of the drive tube, a cable connecting each cable drum assembly and the door, a cylindrical member (40) on the cable drum assembly, a cable receiving surface (42) on the cylindrical member extending laterally between the door and the tracks and receiving multiple layers (F, S) of the cable during movement of the door from the closed position to the open position, whereby the cable avoids engagement with the door during movement between the closed position and the open position.