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US 12,098,585 B1Granted
Powered garage door
AssigneePREMIER DOOR Co.
InventorNicolas Dale Schuft
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A powered garage door pivots about a fixed pivot axis extending from the one side edge to the other side edge beneath the top edge of the door panel, such that when moving from the closed position to an opened position the top edge moves rearwardly while the bottom edge moves forwardly. A front top header finishing plate is fixed so as to extend downwardly from the header in front of and beneath the top edge of the door panel. An inclinometer sensor is secured to the door panel, sensing the angle of the door panel as it pivots between closed and opened positions. Hydraulic cylinders are controlled by the electronic controller based on the inclinometer signal, and a graphical user interface allows the user to set both zone sizes (based on inclination angle) and zone speeds, independently for opening and closing.
Claims17
A powered garage door for use in a building having a door opening defined underneath a header and between two uprights, the powered garage door comprising:
- a door panel having a top edge, the top edge, when the door panel is in a closed position wherein the door panel extends generally in alignment with the two uprights, extending underneath and abutting a bottom side of the header, the door panel having two side edges which, with the door panel in the closed position, abut the two uprights, the door panel having a bottom edge which, with the door panel in the closed position, extends between the two uprights;
- pivot connectors attached to the door panel to pivotally connect the door panel to the two uprights for pivoting about a fixed pivot the fixed pivot axis extending from one of the two side edges to the other of the two side edges such that when the door panel is moving from the closed position to an opened position the top edge moves rearwardly into the building while the bottom edge moves forwardly away from the building;
- at least one linear actuator positioned behind the door panel so as to be within the building when the door panel is in the closed position, the at least one linear actuator being attached to the door panel with an attachment bracket, the attachment bracket, when the door panel is in the closed position, being lower than the fixed pivot axis, the linear actuator being controllable to extend from a shortened configuration to a lengthened configuration or to retract from the lengthened configuration to the shortened configuration;
- a front top header finishing plate fixed to the header or one of the two uprights so as to extend downwardly from the header in front of and beneath the top edge of the door panel when the door panel is in the closed position, such that the front top header finishing plate resists precipitation entry between the header and the top edge of the door panel when the door panel is in the closed position;
- wherein the door panel comprises:
- a frame skeleton having a hollow tubular crossbar running between the side edges;
- and
- sheet material secured to the frame skeleton;
- and wherein the pivot connectors each comprise:
- a pivot arm received partially within the hollow tubular crossbar;
- and
- a cylindrical door pivot integrally formed with the pivot arm and extending horizontally along the fixed pivot axis laterally outside the hollow tubular crossbar;
- wherein the cylindrical door pivots are received within cylindrical bushings supported by the uprights at an elevation from three to twelve inches lower than the top edge of the door panel when the door panel is in the closed position, and wherein a top of the hollow tubular crossbar is lower than the top edge of the door panel when the door panel is in the closed position;
- wherein each said upright comprises a hollow tube supporting a solid bushing support, wherein each of the solid bushing supports comprises:
- a back bracket in contact with and supporting a portion of a respective one of the cylindrical bushings;
- and
- a front bracket in contact with and supporting another portion of the respective one of the cylindrical bushings;
- wherein the front brackets are releasably secured to the back brackets by fasteners, so the front brackets and the cylindrical bushings can be removed from the back brackets during assembly or disassembly of the door panel to the uprights.
15 more elements
A powered garage door for use in a building having a door opening defined underneath a header and between two uprights, the powered garage door comprising:
- a door panel having a top edge, the top edge, when the door panel is in a closed position wherein the door panel extends generally in alignment with the two uprights, extending underneath and abutting a bottom side of the header, the door panel having two side edges which, with the door panel in the closed position, abut the two uprights, the door panel having a bottom edge which, with the door panel in the closed position, extends between the two uprights, wherein the door panel comprises:
- a frame skeleton having a hollow tubular crossbar running between the side edges;
- and
- sheet material secured to the frame skeleton;
- two pivot connectors attached to the door panel to pivotally connect the door panel to the two uprights for pivoting about a fixed pivot axis, the fixed pivot axis extending from one of the two side edges to the other of the two side edges, such that when the door panel is moving from the closed position to an opened position the top edge moves rearwardly into the building while the bottom edge moves forwardly away from the building, wherein each of the two pivot connectors comprises:
- a pivot arm received partially within the hollow tubular crossbar;
- and
- a cylindrical door pivot integrally formed with the pivot arm and extending horizontally along the fixed pivot axis outside the hollow tubular crossbar;
- wherein the cylindrical door pivots are received within cylindrical bushings supported by the uprights at an elevation from three to twelve inches lower than the top edge of the door panel when the door panel is in the closed position;
- wherein a top of the hollow tubular crossbar is lower than the top edge of the door panel when the door panel is in the closed position;
- wherein each of the two uprights comprises a hollow tube supporting a solid bushing support, wherein each of the solid bushing supports comprises:
- a back bracket in contact with and supporting a portion of a respective one of the cylindrical bushings;
- and
- a front bracket in contact with and supporting another portion of the respective one of the cylindrical bushings;
- and
- wherein the front brackets are releasably secured to the back brackets by fasteners, so the front brackets and the cylindrical bushings can be removed from the back brackets during assembly or disassembly of the door panel to the uprights;
- and
- at least one linear actuator positioned behind the door panel so as to be within the building when the door panel is in the closed position, the at least one linear actuator being attached to the door panel with an attachment bracket, the attachment bracket, when the door panel is in the closed position, being lower than the fixed pivot axis, the linear actuator being controllable to extend from a shortened configuration to a lengthened configuration or to retract from the lengthened configuration to the shortened configuration.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.