Track Guided Patents (Class 160/201)
  • Patent number: 7228883
    Abstract: A movable barrier operator system includes a motorized operator which moves a barrier between limit positions, and a photo-electric safety system connected to the motorized operator. The photo-electric safety system monitors for obstructions at more than one height along the barrier's path between limit positions. This is done by installing a supplemental photo-electric safety system to work in conjunction with a pre-existing photo-electric safety system connected to the motorized barrier operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventor: James S Murray
  • Patent number: 7219392
    Abstract: An overhead garage door (10) includes a plurality of panels (11) each carrying rollers (12) which ride in a track assembly (15). The track assembly (15) includes a generally vertically positionable component (16), a generally horizontally positionable component (17), and an arcuate transitional component (18) positioned between the vertical component (16) and the horizontal component (17). The vertical component (16) is generally U-shaped in end profile having a base portion (22) with branches (20, 21) extending from the edges thereof. The vertical component (16) is provided with a plurality of spaced separating systems (25), each of which includes a web (26) extending across the base portion (22) and the slots (28, 29) in the branches (20, 21). A selected portion of the length of the vertical component (16) may be removed by inserting a tool in the slots (28, 29) of one of the separating systems (25) and twisting it to break the webs (30, 31) adjacent to the slots (28, 29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Derek S. Paquette
  • Patent number: 7201207
    Abstract: An overhead door and associated mating panels includes a number of hinges to pivotally couple adjacent overhead door panels. Each door panel includes a back metal skin presenting a back face. Each hinge includes a lower hinge leaf a pair of hinge legs projecting generally parallel to each other. The lower hinge leaf is mounted to the lower panel and a backer plate is mounted to the interior face of the back skin of the lower panel and screws or bolts project through the lower hinge leaf, the skin and into the backer plate. Each hinge leg on the lower hinge leaf includes a hinge pin hole near a terminal end thereof for alignment with the hinge pin holes in an upper hinge leaf. The lower hinge leaf has a tongue projecting from an upper edge of the mounting base. The tongue is formed into a hook-shaped arcuate projection and aids in the alignment, support and positioning of a hinge pin inserted through the aligned hinge pin holes in the upper and lower hinge leaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Clopay Building Products R&D Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Colston, Jeffrey W. Stone
  • Patent number: 7172010
    Abstract: An upward acting sectional door is has pinch-resistant joints and hinges. The hinges have a top member securable to an upper panel of the door and a base member securable to a lower panel of the door. The base member and top member are connected by first and second links, each of which have a first end pivotally connected to the top member and a second end pivotally connected to the base member. The geometry of the links insures that a foot which depends from the upper panel is always spaced closely enough to the lower panel that a person cannot easily insert a fingertip into the joint. The foot also acts to push a fingertip away from the joint as the door is closed. The hinge may further include a cover which acts to prevent a person from being pinched by the links or hinge members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: TMW Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Welsh
  • Patent number: 7152889
    Abstract: A latching system includes a rotatable cam formed of substantially symmetric pieces with a cable, connected to oppositely disposed bolts, extending therethrough. The configuration of the cam is such that when rotated, the cable is pulled in both directions with respect to each of the bolts, allowing for the bolts to move so as to disengage from their respective strikers, unlatching the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Austin Hardware & Supply, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Jeffries
  • Patent number: 7134471
    Abstract: A sectional door (20) having a plurality of panels (21)joined for moving between open and closed positions of the door and having pinch resistant panel-to-panel interfaces (41), said panels having a body portion (21?) spacing said interfaces, an inner surface (23) and an outer surface (22) of said body portion, and decorative components (31, 32) arranged in a patterned design upon said outer surface of said body portion, said decorative components being positioned on said panels proximate to said panel-to-panel interfaces and attached to said panels for movement of said decorative components to provide a pinch resistant interface between decorative components on adjacent of said panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas B. Bennett, III, Albert W. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7121317
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventor: Willis J. Mullet
  • Patent number: 7117916
    Abstract: A transition shield for a door system (10) having a pair of tracks (15), which include a vertical track section (16) and a horizontal track section (17) connected by a transition track section (18) supported at least partially by a door jamb (11) to prevent objects from entering a transition space defined between the jamb and the transition track section, the transition shield (60) including a plate-like member (61) having a vertically extending forward edge (64) configured to fit proximate the jamb and extending rearward an extent sufficient to overly at least a portion of the transition track section to cover the transition space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Edward Carl Johnston, Dwayne Joseph Kornish
  • Patent number: 7114753
    Abstract: A door-latching system for a sectional door with multiple door panels helps hold the door at its fully open position in case the door's counterweight torsion spring fails to do so. The door-latching system includes a latch assembly that moves between a maintained release position and a door-blocking position. In the door-blocking position, the latch assembly helps hold the door open by providing an obstruction to the door panels. In the maintained release position, the latch assembly allows the door to move freely between open and closed positions without the door-latching system clacking as the door panels or their guide rollers travel past the latch assembly. Movement of the door panels automatically shifts the latch assembly from its release position to its door-blocking position, and manual actuation returns the latch assembly back to its release position. The latch assembly is especially suited for mounting to a track that guides the movement of the door panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Jeff Nodorft
  • Patent number: 7114291
    Abstract: A door drop stop safety system which is adapted to be installed on existing building overhead doors which employ a central axle; slab doors, bifold doors, and rollup doors which contains structure for raising and lowering the the door including a rewind box including an inertia reel and a length of strap. The inertia reel allowing normal motion, but is adapted to lock as soon as a predetermined rate of rotation is reached due to the door beginning to free fall. The system includes structure means for mounting the rewind box on an existing door, including slab doors, bifold doors, and rollup doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Enterprise Safety Products I, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth David
  • Patent number: 7111661
    Abstract: A quick-action rolling shutter door and modules thereof used for closing openings in the walls of warehouses or factory buildings in order to restrict the loss of energy from heated or cooled rooms, and to protect the environment by keeping escaping noise, odors and dust emissions to a minimum. A flexible quick-action rolling shutter door hanging (12) can be wound up onto a roller, is guided on at least one side by a guiding device, and has at least one thick-walled insulating layer (36, 38) consisting of plastic foam material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Guido Laugenbach
  • Patent number: 7111660
    Abstract: A lightweight roll-up door comprises multiple lightweight panels that can be transversely installed/removed with a simple hinge assembly. The panels are hinged about one edge and have outer complementary arcuate portions that fill the gap at the edges of the door as the panels rotate about the hinge. The panels are extruded from a lightweight material. Additionally, the panels are structurally capable of supporting the necessary door hardware without deformation or breakage. A latch assembly is mounted to an extruded bottom panel forming a latch recess for receiving the latch assembly and with multiple mounting supports disposed within the hollow interior and extending between the latch recess and the interior wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Fleet Engineers Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Hartmann
  • Patent number: 7100665
    Abstract: A rolling shutter and a slat for use in a rolling shutter are provided. The slat comprises a first receptacle and a second receptacle, wherein each receptacle is c-shaped and adapted to receive a retention screw, and wherein each receptacle projects from one or more of interior surfaces of the shutter slat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventor: James V. Miller
  • Patent number: 7100339
    Abstract: The present invention is a garage door system having durable, yet cost effective characteristics. In one embodiment, a garage door system is comprised of a frame and a garage door. The frame comprises a top jamb and two side jambs. Each side jamb has upper- and lower-jamb portions in an end-to-end relationship. The upper-jamb portions are constructed from a first material and the lower-jamb portions include a durable material made from at least one material different from the first material. The garage door comprises an upper portion consisting of a first material and a lower portion secured to the upper portion wherein the lower portion includes a durable material made from at least one material different from the first material. Associated hardware may also be added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: FrameSaver, LP
    Inventor: Richard C. Hagel
  • Patent number: 7089990
    Abstract: A door including a leaf which is closable between an open position and a closed position. A guide rail arrangement directs the movement of the door leaf. A fastening arrangement fixes a rail element of the guide rail arrangement to a wall by a plurality of fastening elements, each of which can be fixed to the wall as well as to the rail element. The wall has an opening which can be closed with the aid of the door leaf. A pulling arrangement can be fixed to the door leaf as well as to a drive unit and/or a weight-balancing device. At least one protective element is assigned to the guide rail arrangement. The protective element can be fixed to the rail element and/or at least one of the fastening elements and is used for bridging an intermediate space between the rail element and the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Hürmann KG Brockhagen
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hörmann, Herbert Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 7064296
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an oven having a flexible and retractable door is described. The oven door is adapted to move from a closed position wherein it effectively closes an open side of the oven box and an open position wherein the door is retracted into the body of the oven, typically below the oven box. In variations, an electric motor is provided to selectively move the oven door between the open and closed positions. In other variations, the oven includes an oven rack that is moveable between extended and retracted positions by way of a second electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Culinary Logic, LLC
    Inventors: Gary V. Harned, Kim A. Williams, Kenneth W. House, Douglas P. Collins
  • Patent number: 7062806
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible door for use in enclosing a protected area, thus limiting ingress or egress. The invention includes a tracking system for accommodating the door from above and below and has both top and bottom portions. Also a bendable portion that is engageable with both the top and bottom portions of the tracking system is provided. Further, mesh faces can be attached to the bendable portions for the door and can be engageable with the strip-like portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Inventor: Katherine Merlin
  • Patent number: 7055571
    Abstract: A door system (10) used in connection with an opening defined by a pair of jambs (11) and a laterally extending header (12) connecting the jambs, the door system including, a pair of tracks (15) mountable on the jambs, the tracks having a vertical track section (16) running adjacent the jambs, wherein a space (25) is defined between the tracks and the jambs along at least a portion of their length, a door (D) mounted for movement on the tracks and movable between an open position and a closed position, and a shield (30) mounted laterally outward of the tracks and adjacent thereto, the shield extending rearward from the jamb and overlying at least a portion of the tracks along the length of the vertical track section, wherein the overlying portion of the shield contacts the vertical track section along the length thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Edward Carl Johnston, Dwayne Joseph Kornish
  • Patent number: 7055573
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing gap space between sections to enhance safety and to enable one section of the door to support the weight of another. An overhead door having a variety of sections comprises a first section that includes a contour and a corresponding second section that includes a surface, wherein the surface corresponds to the contour so that as the sectional door follows a track system the surface follows the contour to maintain a joint gap within a particular range between the surface and the contour to prevent or reduce the risk of injury due to the joint gap. A pivot point of a hinge used to secure the first section to the second section is located between the first and second panels. The opposing surfaces of the first and second sections touch the hinge, without causing the hinge to bind when in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Martin Door Manufacturing
    Inventor: Kenneth David Martin
  • Patent number: 7048029
    Abstract: A sectional door having a door frame, a door panel comprising sections coupled to another in articulated manner, a weight equalization device coupled to the door panel, and an electrical door drive for opening and closing movements of said door panel. The uppermost section in the closed position of the door panel, is guided on running rails as the header section, wherein said rails extend essentially horizontally up to the door frame, and have a vertical end segment on the frame side. The other sections that follow below the header section are guided in guide rails that have a vertical segment along the door frame, a horizontal segment parallel to the running rail that holds the header section, and an arc that joins the two segments. With this device, the door drive is attached to one of the sections connected below the header section, and has at least one power take-off shaft having an impeller at the end. The driven impeller engages in the guide rail and moves the door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Novoferm GmbH
    Inventors: Franz-Wilhelm Rieder, Marco Göckus, Stefan Höfling
  • Patent number: 7036548
    Abstract: A roller stop (50) for a sectional door (D) having a plurality of hinged panels 20, rollers (30) attached to the panels, and a pair of tracks (T, T?) receiving the rollers for guiding the sectional door between a closed vertical position and an open horizontal position, the roller stop having a body portion (27), and at least one clamping member 67, 68 associated with the body portion adapted to engage one of the tracks, wherein the body portion is adapted to contact at least one of the rollers to temporarily maintain the sectional door in a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Edward C. Johnston, James M. West
  • Patent number: 7017643
    Abstract: A guard assembly is used near a doorway with an overhead door on a platform having at least one post mounted adjacent the doorway. The assembly preferably comprises a barrier adapted to extend across the doorway and having at least one coupling which is adapted to connect to a respective post to allow the barrier to block the doorway; and a bracket adapted to facilitate connection and disconnection between the barrier and the overhead door. Such an assembly allows the barrier to block the doorway whether connected to or disconnected from the door and to move with the door as the door opens and closes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: Grant Leum
  • Patent number: 7011347
    Abstract: A latch for a section door wherein near the hinges located between the door elements there are provided, at each end of the elements, small rolling wheels which turn on horizontal pivots and slide within side guide bars having a vertical branch, an upper horizontal branch, and a curved connection branch located between the vertical and horizontal branches; the latch is located sideways and is intended for engaging, in its active position, in an opening provided in one of the side guide bars. The side latch is located coaxially with one of the small wheels intended to slide within the side guide bars of the section door. Preferably, the small wheel coaxial to the latch is mounted on a hollow pivot, and the latch is guided to slide within the bore of this hollow pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventor: Ivo Finardi
  • Patent number: 6988527
    Abstract: A plug for operatively connecting a torsion spring onto a corresponding component of a counterbalancing mechanism of a door assembly. The plug includes a connecting portion for removably connecting the plug onto the corresponding component, a substantially cylindrical collar insertable into an end portion of the torsion spring, an anchoring portion disposed on a bottom section of the collar for cooperating with a coil of the end portion of the torsion spring so as to pivotally anchor the collar onto the end portion of the torsion spring, and a clip projecting from a top section of the collar, and being disposed at a location on the collar substantially diametrically opposite from where the anchoring portion is disposed on the bottom section of the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Canimex Inc.
    Inventors: Normand Savard, Yannick Funk
  • Patent number: 6988528
    Abstract: An overhead door assembly as comprised of a plurality of door panels each of which is of hollow extruded plastic material to provide a very light weight panel. The panels are pivotally interconnected with each other and are provided with brush assemblies at opposite ends for engagement with a vertically extending track. Upon impact of the door panels by a vehicle of any type the brushes will disengage from the panel to prevent undue damage to the door panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Inventors: Donald Metz, Dave Martini
  • Patent number: 6981538
    Abstract: A positional control device is provided to prevent accidental drifting of an overhead sectional door upward or downward from a fully opened, partly opened or fully closed position. The device allows the door to be manually moved to a different elevation without requiring a separate operation to release the door from its original position. This is achieved by a mechanism which couples the upward and downward motion of the door to the rotation of a sprocket wheel engaged with a spring loaded ratchet arm with a bifurcated head specially shaped for ratcheting engagement with the teeth of the sprocket wheel. Suitable adjustment of the spring allows the ratchet mechanism to hold the door in its given position by exerting a force which can readily be overcome by manual raising or lowering the door to a different position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: William English
  • Patent number: 6968886
    Abstract: Sectional upward acting doors used in vehicle cargo bodies are provided with multiple generally planar door panels which are interconnected by spaced apart hinge assemblies. At least selected intermediate hinge assemblies are provided with hinge pin receiving bosses to receive elongated hinge pins extending between adjacent hinge assemblies and secured thereto. The hinge pins preferably comprise elongated cylindrical rods which form hinge pins for adjacent hinge assemblies and extend between adjacent hinge assemblies to form a reinforcing member to minimize lateral deflection of the door panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Berry, Charles Frederick Kellogg, Larry Walter Brim
  • Patent number: 6969109
    Abstract: Lightweight sectional doors for cargo bodies and the like are reinforced by a reinforcing member supported on an inner wall surface of at least alternate ones of the panels of a multipanel door. The reinforcing member comprises an elongated, preferably extruded member having spaced apart coplanar flanges and an arcuate web interposed the flanges. An integral rib is disposed at the midpoint of the arcuate web to provide additional stiffness for the reinforcing member. The reinforcing member may be secured to selected door panels by conventional mechanical fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventors: Larry W. Brim, Charles F. Kellogg
  • Patent number: 6955206
    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 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Gregory M. Rusnak
  • Patent number: 6953074
    Abstract: An antibandit shutter includes a closed frame made up of a lower housing, an upper head and two side mullions defining a space which can be opened or closed. The opening or closing is effected by a plurality of elongate slats adapted to move from a retracted position within the confines of the lower housing to an expanded and raised position substantially closing off the space. The slats are guided along the mullions of the frame by a raising mechanism formed from a plurality of crossed first and second lever arms in the form of a lazy tongs mechanism, where the first lever arms are formed by the edges of the slats and the second lever arms are formed from slave levers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Inventor: Mike Cardinal
  • Patent number: 6951237
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventor: Willis J. Mullet
  • Patent number: 6951236
    Abstract: A plurality of elongated shutter slats of extruded rigid plastics material have co-extruded cores of rigid plastics foam material, and injection molded plastic end caps are attached to opposite ends of each slat. The end caps have elongated flat base portions and retention lugs with head portions integrally connected to the base portion by reduced neck portions. The lugs of the end caps are retained within undercut channels in extruded metal side rails. In one embodiment, each end cap is secured to a slat by screws extending through two retention lugs and into the foam core. In another embodiment, the end caps are secured to hollow slats by integrally molded bosses which project into cavities within hollow slats and are cemented to the walls of the slat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Creative Extruded Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Schlater, Brian A. Wenrick, Jason D. Wenrick, Jack D. Young
  • Patent number: 6948547
    Abstract: An overhead garage door having the appearance of a set of light-transmitting doors, such as French doors. The garage door includes arrays of light-transmitting panels on the door arranged to simulate light-transmitting doors, moldings, doorknobs, and hardware for connecting the garage door to a garage. The door may be formed from a plurality of sections arranged in a stack and pivotally connected to adjacent sections. The garage door may be formed from a kit having a plurality of door sections with light-transmitting panels mounted thereon and hinges for connecting the sections. The garage door may also be formed from a retrofit kit for modifying an existing garage door to have the appearance of a set of light-transmitting doors. The light-transmitting panels permit visible light to enter a garage and may be translucent. The panels may be made of polycarbonate acrylic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: FrenchPorte, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Jennifer Armstrong Maher
  • Patent number: 6935400
    Abstract: An upward acting sectional door is has pinch-resistant joints and hinges. The hinges have a top member securable to an upper panel of the door and a base member securable to a lower panel of the door. The base member and top member are connected by first and second links, each of which have a first end pivotally connected to the top member and a second end pivotally connected to the base member. The geometry of the links insures that a foot which depends from the upper panel is always spaced closely enough to the lower panel that a person cannot easily insert a fingertip into the joint. The foot also acts to push a fingertip away from the joint as the door is closed. The hinge may further include a cover which acts to prevent a person from being pinched by the links or hinge members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: TMW Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Welsh
  • Patent number: 6915832
    Abstract: An impact protection device for an overhead comprising an elongated beam shaped to at least partially span the door. The beam includes box members at the ends there of which releasably interfit with channel members at a closed position of the door to laterally secure the beam with respect to a support surface adjacent the door, (when to absorb and transmit lateral impact forces applied against the beam away from the door and against the support surface. The door and beam are connected so that elevational movement of the door will result in corresponding elevational motion of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventor: Edward J. Stern, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6883578
    Abstract: A method of assembling a sectional upward acting door comprising plural generally planar door panels adapted to be guided between opposed guide tracks. The door panels are provided with hinge assemblies including a hinge plate mounted on the upper edge of one door panel with a pin receiving bore and a cooperating hinge plate with a hinge pin formed thereon mounted on the lower edge of the adjacent panel. One panel may be placed between the guide tracks and suitably supported while the next panel is assembled to the already positioned panel by placing the next panel between the guide tracks and moving it vertically downward to engage the hinge plates on the respective panels. The cooperating hinge plates are configured for snap together engagement which may only be released by intentional manipulation of the hinge plate with the pin receiving bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventor: L. Blake Whitley
  • Patent number: 6883579
    Abstract: A drive system is provided for a moveable barrier, such as a garage door, that limits unauthorized shifting thereof. The drive system includes a flexible actuator for raising and lowering the door. The flexible actuator is tensioned with a biasing mechanism to minimize actuator throw, and a stop assembly of the biasing mechanism limits unauthorized travel of the garage door from the closed position by a predetermined amount that is sufficiently small so as to keep intruders out of the garage. The flexible actuator may for example, be a cable, a belt or a chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Olmsted
  • Patent number: 6880609
    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: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Donald Bruce Kyle
  • Patent number: 6843300
    Abstract: A door system comprising, a plurality of sections pivotally joined to each other by a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly being pivotally supported on one of the sections and having a leg that extends from the one of the sections to an adjacent section to attach thereto, a stop assembly including a stop member extending forwardly from the leg toward a stop receiver carried on the one of the sections, whereby interaction of the stop member and the stop receiver ensure alignment of the sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Albert W. Mitchell, Thomas B. Bennett, III
  • Patent number: 6840300
    Abstract: A track guard for a sectional overhead door assembly comprises an elongate member which may be positioned between the vertical track sections of the door assembly and a wall jamb to which the vertical track sections are mounted to cover the space therebetween. The track guard has a generally C-shaped cross-section and has a width which tapers from a first end to a second end to accommodate variations in spacing between the vertical track sections and the wall jamb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Clopay Building Products R&D Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Lewis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6837296
    Abstract: A barrier assembly for protecting an edge of a loading platform includes: a gate reciprocating between a barrier position approximate an edge of a loading platform and an open position away from the edge of the loading platform, and a toe barrier mounted approximate the edge of the loading platform and operatively coupled to the primary gate to reciprocate between a barrier position and an open position. The toe barrier provides a vertical barrier along a floor of the loading platform approximate the edge of the loading platform in its barrier position, and is operative to reciprocate to its barrier position when the primary gate is in its barrier position and to reciprocate to its open position when the primary gate is in its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Midwest Industrial Door, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Kimener
  • Patent number: 6834464
    Abstract: A locking mechanism includes a frame having a movement obstruction arm movable into a track on which rollers of an overhead door will move. When any roller on the door abuts against the arm, it will obstruct any further opening movement of the overhead door. A camming means is associated with the movement obstruction arm to automatically shift the same to a position out of the trackway when the door is moving back to the closed position. A control module is operable with the locking mechanism and receives a signal from a locking mechanism indicative of whether or not the locking mechanism is opened or closed. The control module will thereupon provide an opening signal to an opener for the overhead door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Inventor: Rodney T. Shoemaker
  • Publication number: 20040256064
    Abstract: A cable tensioner (20) for a sectional overhead door (D) having a motor-driven counterbalance system (30) including, a spring-loaded axle (31), cable drums (24) carried by the axle, cables (C) attached to and interconnecting the cable drums and the door and forming and releasing cable wraps (29) on the cable drums upon raising and lowering of the door, the cable tensioner having, a tension spring (31) adapted to be mounted on the sectional door having a first end (34) and a second end (35), the first end being adapted to engage the door and the second end being adapted to slidingly engage the cable, wherein the tension spring urges the second end to take up any slack in the cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas B. Bennett, Dwayne J. Kornish, Edward C. Johnston
  • Patent number: 6810938
    Abstract: A pivoting bracket for connecting adjacent panels of an articulated door. The pivoting bracket has a generally cylindrical base and an arm rigidly connected to and extending from the base. The arm has a mounting face on a base side which is generally parallel to a tangent to the base. A recess extends into at least one end of the base, generally co-axially therewith, for receiving a guidewheel shaft. The pivoting bracket interacts with adjacent articulated door panels to mount the panels to a guide track and allow articulated movement without requiring or modifying a conventional hinge. The arm has a first part proximal the base and a second part distal the base. The second part is securable to an upper articulated door panel. The base extends into a channel provided on a rearward face of a lower articulated panel. The base form of the arm pivots and interlocks itself relative to the channel while the door articulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Inventor: Anthony G. Aquilina
  • Patent number: 6796361
    Abstract: A garage door reinforcement arrangement for supporting and anchoring a garage door to a garage door opening includes an I-post beam assembly, a top mounting bracket, a floor plate, and a plurality of cable assemblies. The top mounting bracket is used to secure the top end of the I-post beam against vertical movement. The floor plate is used for securing the bottom end of the I-post against vertical movement. The plurality of cable assemblies are disposed at different vertical positions of the I-post beam for securing the beam immediately adjacent to the garage door so that the garage door is allowed to flex slightly as wind loads are transferred to the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: General American Door Company
    Inventors: James K. Campbell, Thomas F. Brand
  • Publication number: 20040182529
    Abstract: A door system comprising, a plurality of sections pivotally joined to each other by a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly being pivotally supported on one of the sections and having a leg that extends from the one of the sections to an adjacent section to attach thereto, a stop assembly including a stop member extending forwardly from the leg toward a stop receiver carried on the one of the sections, whereby interaction of the stop member and the stop receiver ensure alignment of the sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: WAYNE-DALTON CORP.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Albert W. Mitchell, Thomas B. Bennett
  • Patent number: 6792998
    Abstract: The present invention is a device which is designed to allow a door to give way when impacted by an outside force such as a forklift, reducing damage. The present invention requires less force to be activated, which allows its use on wider doors than were previously possible. The present invention is also able to reset itself, depending upon how much distance was traveled during the impact. The present invention requires less maintenance than other devices currently in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Inventor: Kenneth David
  • Publication number: 20040173326
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lifting gate comprised of a system of a multitude of horizontally extending lamellae, which can move inside a vertical guide, are connected in a radially articulated manner while resisting tension, and which are provided with hinge elements, and the lifting gate is further comprised of a drive device. According to the invention, at least some of the lamellae are mounted in a manner that enables them to be horizontally displaced with regard to the vertical guide and/or to the hinge elements and/or these lamellae have at least one, in essence, vertically extending predetermined rupture point so that forces acting essentially on the front of the gate are absorbed only by the lamellae and not by the actual articulations and guide elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventor: Frank Dittmer
  • Patent number: 6772814
    Abstract: An overhead door and associated mating panels include enhanced wear surfaces and protection against the intrusion of climatic elements or the like in the form of a combined weather seal, light block and wear insert on the upper and/or lower edges of the mating adjacent door panels. The wear surfaces are utilized during the opening and closing of the door so that frictional interaction or rubbing between the mating edges is minimized to reduce wear and damage to the panels over the service life of the door. Additionally, the wear insert portion reduces a gap between the mating edges of the adjacent panels to provide enhanced protection without requiring increased roll forming tolerances on the panel manufacturing process. Moreover, the invention includes upright projecting weather seal and light blocking portions that are positioned in a gap formed at the juncture of the mating panels. When the door is closed, the weather seal and light blocking portions are deflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Clopay Building Products R&D Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Leist, Richard J. Lewis, Jr., Jeffrey W. Stone, Thomas E. Youtsey
  • Publication number: 20040140065
    Abstract: A lightweight roll-up door comprises multiple lightweight panels that can be transversely installed/removed with a simple hinge assembly. The panels are hinged about one edge and have outer complementary arcuate portions that fill the gap at the edges of the door as the panels rotate about the hinge. The panels are extruded from a lightweight material. Additionally, the panels are structurally capable of supporting the necessary door hardware without deformation or breakage. A latch assembly is mounted to an extruded bottom panel forming a latch recess for receiving the latch assembly and with multiple mounting supports disposed within the hollow interior and extending between the latch recess and the interior wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: FLEET ENGINEERS, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew Hartmann