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US 11,814,886 B2Granted
Bi-fold door latch assembly
AssigneeSorrel Quarters, LLC
InventorMichael L. Schweiss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A latch assembly connected to the drive unit of a bi-fold door for retaining the bi-fold door secure to a building has elongated straps attached to rotatable latch drums mounted on the outer ends of the drive shaft of the drive unit. Lift drums powered by a motor driven gearbox raise and lower the bi-fold door. Latch assemblies having springs attached to the straps maintain tension on the straps during the opening and closing of the bi-fold door.
Claims16
A door latch assembly for holding upper and lower panels of a bi-fold door in an aligned position in engagement with an upright column of a building comprising:
- an elongated flexible member having a first end and a second end,
- a rotatable latch drum configured to be operatively attached to the building above the upper panel of the bi-fold door,
- the first end of the flexible member connected to the latch drum whereby on rotation of the latch drum the flexible member selectively winds around and unwinds from the latch drum,
- a support configured to be connected to the upright column,
- a roller mounted on the support, said flexible member being engageable with the roller mounted on the support,
- an anchor configured to be secured to the bi-fold door,
- said anchor including a connector securing the second end of the flexible member to the anchor whereby on rotation of the latch drum in a first direction the flexible member is wound on the latch drum and moves and retains the upper and lower panels of the bi-fold door into the aligned position in engagement with the upright column and on rotation of the latch drum in a second direction opposite the first direction the flexible member unwinds from the latch drum to allow the upper and lower panels of the bi-fold door to move from the aligned position in engagement with the upright columns to a side-by-side position spaced from the upright columns,
- the connector securing the second end of the flexible member to the anchor comprises
- a sleeve rotatably mounted on the anchor,
- the second end of the flexible member being secured to the sleeve whereby rotation of the sleeve winds the second end of the flexible member on the sleeve, and
- a device for holding the sleeve in a selected fixed position on the anchor.
8 more elements
A door latch assembly for holding a bi-fold door in an upright closed position in engagement with an upright column comprising:
- an elongated flexible member,
- a rotatable latch drum connected to the elongated flexible member,
- a first member operable to selectively rotate the latch drum in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction,
- a support configured to be connected to the upright column,
- a second member mounted on the support and engageable with the elongated flexible member,
- an anchor configured to be secured to the bi-fold door, and
- said anchor including a connector securing the elongated flexible member whereby on rotation of the latch drum in the first direction the elongated flexible member is wound on the latch drum to move and hold the bi-fold door in the upright closed position in engagement with the upright column, and on rotation of the latch drum in the second direction the elongated flexible member unwinds from the latch drum to allow the bi-fold door to move from the upright closed position and out of engagement with the upright column to an open position,
- the connector securing the elongated flexible member to the anchor comprises
- a sleeve rotatably mounted on the anchor and secured to the elongated flexible member, and
- a device for holding the sleeve in a selected position on the anchor.
7 more elements
A door latching apparatus for holding a bi-fold door in a closed position with a first upright column and a second upright column laterally spaced from the first upright column comprising:
- a first elongated flexible member,
- a second elongated flexible member,
- a rotatable first latch drum, said first elongated flexible member being connected to the first latch drum whereby on rotation of the first latch drum in a first direction winds the first elongated flexible member on the first latch drum and rotation of the first latch drum in a second direction opposite the first direction unwinds the elongated first flexible member from the first latch drum,
- a rotatable second latch drum, said second elongated flexible member being connected to the second latch drum whereby on rotation of the second latch drum in a first direction winds the second elongated flexible member on the second latch drum and rotation of the second latch drum in a second direction opposite the first direction unwinds the second flexible member from second latch drum,
- a first support configured to be mounted on the first upright column,
- a first anchor configured to be secured to the bi-fold door adjacent the first support,
- said first elongated flexible member being engageable with the first support and connected to the first anchor,
- a second support configured to be mounted on the second upright column,
- a second anchor configured to be secured to the bi-fold door adjacent the second support,
- said second elongated flexible member being engageable with the second support and connected to the first anchor, and
- a member operable to concurrently rotate the first latch drum in a first direction to wind the first elongated flexible member on the first latch drum and rotate the second latch drum in the first direction to wind the second elongated flexible member on the second latch drum whereby the first elongated flexible member and the second elongated flexible member concurrently move and hold the bi-fold door in engagement with the first upright column and the second upright column,
- the first anchor including a first connector mounted on the first anchor and attached to the first elongated flexible member,
- the second anchor including a second connector mounted on the second anchor and attached to the second elongated flexible member,
- the first connector comprises
- a first sleeve rotatably mounted on the first anchor, and
- a first device for holding the first sleeve in a selected position on the first anchor,
- the second connector comprises
- a second sleeve rotatably mounted on the second anchor, and
- a second device for holding the second sleeve in a selected position on the second anchor.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.