US 11,428,036 B1 · Bi-fold overhead door with concealed hydraulic cylinder

Abstract

A bi-fold overhead door system that includes a frame, a bi-fold overhead door and a hydraulic cylinder. The bi-fold overhead door has an upper door leaf and a lower door leaf. The upper door leaf is pivotally mounted to the frame. The lower door leaf is pivotally mounted to the upper door leaf. The hydraulic cylinder has a first cylinder end and a second cylinder end. The first cylinder end is operably attached to the frame. The second cylinder end is operably attached to the upper door leaf. The hydraulic cylinder is capable of moving the bi-fold overhead door between a closed configuration and an open configuration. At least one of the frame and the upper door leaf has a slot formed therein. When the bi-fold overhead door is in the closed configuration, the hydraulic cylinder is substantially recessed in the slot.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A bi-fold overhead door system comprising:

a frame;
a bi-fold overhead door comprising:
an upper door leaf that is pivotally mounted to the frame;
and
a lower door leaf that is pivotally mounted to the upper door leaf;
and
a hydraulic cylinder comprising a first cylinder end and a second cylinder end, wherein the first cylinder end is operably attached to the frame, wherein the second cylinder end is operably attached to the upper door leaf, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is capable of moving the bi-fold overhead door between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein at least one of the frame and the upper door leaf has a slot formed therein, wherein the slot has a first slot section and a second slot section, wherein the first slot section is wider than the second slot section, wherein the first slot section is wider than a width of the hydraulic cylinder and wherein when the bi-fold overhead door is in the closed configuration, the hydraulic cylinder is substantially recessed in the slot.

4 more elements

A method of operating a bi-fold overhead door comprising:

pivotally mounting an upper door leaf of the bi-fold overhead door with respect to a frame of the bi-fold overhead door;
pivotally mounting a lower door leaf of the bi-fold overhead door with respect to the upper door leaf, wherein the frame has a frame slot formed therein, wherein the frame slot has a first slot section and a second slot section, wherein the first slot section is wider than the second slot section, wherein the bi-fold overhead door further comprises a guide wheel assembly attached to the lower door leaf and wherein the guide wheel assembly comprises a linkage arm and a roller assembly;
operably attaching the upper door leaf to the frame with a hydraulic cylinder;
moving the bi-fold overhead door between a closed configuration and an open configuration using the hydraulic cylinder that is attached to the upper door leaf and the frame,
moving the hydraulic cylinder into the first slot section as the bi-fold overhead door is moved toward the closed configuration;
substantially recessing the hydraulic cylinder in the frame slot when the bi-fold overhead door is in the closed configuration;
positioning the guide wheel assembly so that the linkage arm extends through the second slot section and the roller assembly is on one side of the second slot section and the lower door leaf is on a side of the second slot section opposite the roller assembly and wherein the roller assembly has a width that is wider than a width of the second slot section;
and
retaining a lower end of the lower door leaf proximate the frame as the bi-fold overhead door moves between the open configuration and the closed configuration using the guide wheel assembly.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bi-fold overhead door with concealed hydraulic cylinder

Life of this patent

Bi-fold overhead door with concealed hydraulic cylinder

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12