Retractable door protection device

Abstract

A Door Protector for an overhead retractable door comprising a pair of barrier portions, each in pivoting communication with a pair of saddle portions. Each of the barrier portions and the paired saddle portions are generally positioned parallel to first and second ends of a retractable door. The barrier portions comprise one or more barrier foot portions and one or more barrier positioning tabs. Barrier portions pivot in a 90° arc from/to a vertical position to a horizontal position. In the vertical position, barrier portion tabs may be used to support a roller assembly and maintain on open door in a retracted position. Practice of the present invention precludes closing of a retracted door until such time as barrier portions are pivoted to their horizontal position to serve as a barrier and preclude objects from encroaching upon or damaging the lower portion of a closed garage door.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is not related to any pending application.

STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

This application is not federally sponsored research/development.

REFERENCES TO SEQUENCE LISTING

This application is not referenced to any microfiche appendix.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Retractable doors such as overhead garage doors are well known in the art. The practice of stacking or aligning one or more loaded pallets adjacent to closed overhead doors in anticipation of a vehicle's arrival to expedite the vehicle's loading process is also well known. What is not known is a retractable door protection device which inhibits the ability of pallets and other objects from encroaching upon and contacting the closed door's lower portion and buckling or otherwise damaging the door.

The present invention addresses this deficiency in a novel and direct manner and further precludes the ability of a retracted overhead door to be closed absent deployment of the barrier blocking devices of the instant invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A door protector for an overhead retractable door comprising a pair of barrier portions each in pivoting communication with a pair of saddle portions, each of the pair of barrier portions and of the pair saddle portions generally positioned parallel to first and second ends of a retractable overhead door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a prior art perspective view of a garage door with encroaching pallets causing damage/buckling to the door's lower portion.

FIGS. 2 through 5D are perspective views of the instant invention in various stages of deployment as well as a detailed views of a positioning tab supporting a garage door roller assembly to maintain a retracted door in an open position, and the open/close practice of the invention's pivoting barrier(s).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides for inventive concepts capable of being embodied in a variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which to make and use the invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the instant invention.

The claims and specification describe the invention presented and the terms that are employed in the claims draw their meaning from the use of such terms in the specification. The same terms employed in the prior art may be broader in meaning than specifically employed herein. Whenever there is a question between the broader definition of such terms used in the prior art and the more specific use of the terms herein, the more specific meaning is intended.

Reference drawings of the detail proceeds immediately wherein like numerals designate like parts. In FIG. 1 it is seen where a garage door (3) has a first end (4) and second end (5). Also shown in FIG. 1 is a retractable garage door roller (6) which is typically inserted within a track mechanism (not shown) and a roller assembly (9) which is typically housed in a roller assembly bracket or other similarly intended structure to affix the roller to a panel of the retractable door (not shown). In FIG. 1 it is seen where a plurality of pallets (15 and 19) have been positioned in anticipation of a vehicle's arrival at a loading dock. Such pallet positioning is typically facilitated via forklift partially shown as 12, which places the pallets as close to the door (3) as possible. In practice, a first pallet (15) is typically positioned correctly or aligned flush (25) with a door's normal lowermost surface making contact with a prepared floor surface (25). However, as additional pallets are positioned for loading, it is seen where pallet (19) abuts, hits or otherwise urges pallet (15) into the lower portion of the door (22) causing distinct buckling or damage to the door as evidenced in the spacing between the initial door positioning (25) and the now buckled surface (22). Repeated stacking operations of this sort damage doors to the extent where they sometimes become inoperable.

FIGS. 2 through 5D are perspective views of the instant invention in various stages of deployment as well as detailed views of a positioning tab supporting a garage door roller assembly to maintain a retracted door in an open position, and the inventions barriers' pivoting open/close practice.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 through 5D. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 particularly, it is shown where the barriers (37) (in phantom) are shown deployed in vertical positioning where tab (45) engages or otherwise supports a retracting door roller assembly (9). Additional detail with respect to this supporting feature will be discussed in association with FIG. 4. FIG. 2 is intended to disclose door (3) in its closed position with barriers (37) (non-phantom) deployed along horizontal planes to preclude pallet's (15) encroachment. It is shown where foot portions (40) of the barrier (37) preclude the pallet's (15) encroachment beyond the point of contact. The foot portions (40) may be inserted into a pre-drilled accommodation such as a base plate (not shown) or drilled/sized accommodation to further strengthen resistance to a foreign object urging (See (41) FIG. 3.) A handle (45) is adjustably affixed or permanently attached to barrier portion (37) to facilitate the barrier's movement upward (or downward) from saddle (28). The saddle portions (28) as shown in FIG. 2 further illustrate a saddle base (29) which is bolted (30) to a prepared surface such as but not limited to a garage floor via attachment means readily known to those skilled in the art. When positioned vertically barring (37) are inserted within base lip (38) to further support barrier (37) positioning.

FIG. 3 illustrates an arc of approximately 90° (50) whereupon barrier portions (37) may be manipulated to and from accommodation within saddle portions (28) and base lip portion (38). A pivoting aperture (34) allows for a pivoting pin (35) to traverse a first bored section of each saddle, the pivoting aperture (34) displaced within barrier portion (37) and a second (exiting) bored section of the saddle. (Further illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5D.) When the barrier (37) is in its vertical position, the aperture (34) is guided along the pivoting pin/bolt in a manner to allow its seating within base lip (38). Concurrent with this seating, the positioning tab ((45) - reference FIG. 4) may be displaced or otherwise positioned to support roller assembly (9) and maintain a retractable door (3) in an open/retracted position.

Turning now specifically to FIGS 5A through 5D whereupon the pivoting displacement of the barriers of the instant invention may be observed in further detail. In FIGS. 5A and 5B it is shown where a prepared floor surface such as but not limited to a garage floor surface (47) and barrier (37) are positioned along parallel planes. A board accommodation (41) has been drilled or otherwise gouged into prepared floor surface (47) to allow for an appropriate seating of barrier foot (40) in so doing the barrier at foot (40) is positioned to further resist any influencing pressure from encroaching elements such as pallets upon garage door (3). Pivoting pin (31) is shown inserted through saddle (28) and barrier (37) to allow for the rotation downward and horizontal placement of the barrier in consistent with the views illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5D. FIGS. 5C illustrate the pivoting operation of barrier (37) to its vertical stature. In FIG. 5C barrier (37) is pivoted by a pivoting pin (31) along line (50). One so pivoted as can be illustrated in FIG. 5D the barrier (37) is allowed to descend and seat itself within saddle base (38) and saddle (28) providing for a secure seated upright accommodation.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, these descriptions are not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended Claims.

It is therefore, contemplated that the Claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A door protector to prevent damage caused by contact with cargo pallets or the like comprising at least one barrier portion in pivoting communication with a saddle portion; and,

a saddle base portion in communication with the saddle portion and a prepared surface.

2. The door protector of claim 1 wherein the barrier portion further comprises one or more barrier foot portions and one or more barrier positioning tabs.

3. The door protector of claim 1 wherein the barrier portion is cradled within the saddle portion when the barrier portion is in upright vertical position and may be pivoted approximately 90 degrees to a lowered horizontal position, the barrier portion resting upon one or more foot portions when in the lowered position.

4. The door protector of claim 1 wherein the pivoting communication is facilitated by a pivot pin traversing a first bored section of the saddle, a set of pivot apertures displaced within the barrier portion and a second bored section of the saddle.

5. The door protector of claim 1 wherein the barrier portion is cylindrical in configuration and the saddle portion is appropriately dimensioned to accommodate the barrier portion when the barrier portion is in its upright vertical position.

6. The door protector of claim 1 wherein the barrier portion is configured to have three or more distinguishable surfaces and the saddle portion is appropriately dimensioned to accommodate the barrier portion when the barrier portion is in its upright vertical position.

7. The door protector of claim 1 wherein one or more barrier positioning tabs may be utilized to maintain a retractable door in an open position when the barrier portion is in its upright vertical position.

8. The door protector of claim 1 wherein a pair of barrier portions and pair saddle portions are generally positioned parallel to first and second ends of a retractable overhead garage door when the barrier portions are in their upright vertical position.

9. A door protector for an overhead retractable door comprising a pair of barrier portions each in pivoting communication with a pair saddle portions, each of the pair of barrier portions and the pair of saddle portions generally positioned parallel to first and second ends of a retractable overhead door when the barrier portions are in an upright vertical position.

10. The door protector of claim 9 wherein each of the barrier portions further comprise one or more barrier foot portions and one or more barrier positioning tabs.

11. The door protector of claim 9 wherein each of the barrier portions is cradled within a respectively positioned an accommodating saddle portion when the barrier portion is in its upright vertical position and may be thereafter pivoted approximately 90 degrees to a lowered horizontal position, each of the barrier portions resting upon one or more foot portions when in a lowered horizontal position.

12. The door protector of claim 9 wherein the pivoting communication is facilitated via pivot pin traversing a first bored section of each saddle, a set of pivot apertures displaced within the barrier portion section and a second bored section of the saddle.

13. The door protector of claim 9 wherein the barrier portion is cylindrical in configuration and the saddle portion is appropriately dimensioned to accommodate the barrier portion when the barrier portion is in its upright position.

14. The door protector of claim 9 wherein the barrier portion is configured to have three or more distinguishable surfaces and the saddle portion is appropriately dimensioned to accommodate the barrier portion when the barrier portion is in its upright position.

15. The door protector of claim 9 wherein one or more barrier positioning tabs may be utilized to maintain a retractable door in an open position when the barrier portion is in its upright position.

16. The door protector of claim 12, wherein the pivot pin is a bolt and nut combination configured to serve as a pivoting axis.