US 12,492,592 B1Granted

Pivoting garage door

AssigneePREMIER DOOR Co.

InventorNicolas Dale Schuft

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Abstract

A door assembly provides a one-piece, swing up door panel known as a “California-type” garage door, with a mid-height pivot axis travelling vertically during operation of the door. The rotational motion of the door is caused by a follower riding in a slot of a plate, with the follower being offset relative to the pivot axis and fixed relative to the door panel. The slot places forces on the follower during motion of the door panel between the door-closed position and the door-opened position, with the offset causing the forces to act as moments rotationally accelerating and rotationally decelerating the door between the door-closed position and the door-opened position. The slot preferably has a start non-rotational portion and an end non-rotational portion during which the door panel translates vertically without pivoting of the door panel, as well as different intermediate portions which have different rotational speeds.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A door assembly for providing a door for access through a sidewall of a building, the door assembly comprising:

a door panel which is substantially rigid during operation of the door assembly moving the door panel between a door-closed position in which the door panel is substantially vertical and a door-opened position in which the door panel is angled relative to the door-closed position, the door panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;
a door support secured to the door panel at a door-closed elevation between the top edge and the bottom edge, the door support having two ends defining a pivot axis for the door panel, the door support and pivot axis moving at least vertically in a path between a lower door-closed position and an upper door-opened position, the ends of the door support supporting substantially all of the weight of the door panel when in the upper door-opened position;
a constraining member which controls the path of the door support between the lower door-closed position and the upper door-opened position;
a first upright running substantially vertically in a stationary position during opening and closing of the door panel, the first upright defining a track;
a second upright running substantially vertically in a stationary position during opening and closing of the door panel, the first upright and the second upright collectively defining a door opening therebetween which door opening is substantially covered by the door panel in the door-closed position;
and
a follower secured to the door panel at an offset relative to the pivot axis, the follower riding the track, wherein the track places forces on the follower during motion of the door panel between the door-closed position and the door-opened position, the offset causing the forces to act as moments rotationally accelerating and rotationally decelerating the door panel between the door-closed position and the door-opened position, wherein the track provides a corresponding section of vertical movement of the door panel during which the door panel does not rotate as the door support enters or leaves at least one of the lower door-closed position and the upper door-opened position.

4 more elements

A door assembly providing a one piece, swing up door for providing access through a sidewall of a building, the door assembly comprising:

a door panel which is substantially rigid during operation of the door assembly moving the door panel between a door-closed position in which the door panel is substantially vertical and a door-opened position in which the door panel is angled relative to the door-closed position, the door panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;
a door support secured to the door panel at a door-closed elevation between the top edge and the bottom edge, the door support defining a pivot axis for the door panel, the door support and pivot axis moving at least vertically in a path between a lower door-closed position and an upper door-opened position;
and
a control structure which controls the path of the door panel as the door support moves from the lower door-closed position to the upper door-opened position which includes a rotational motion portion during which the pivot axis translates vertically while the door panel pivots and subsequently a non-rotational motion portion during which the pivot axis translates vertically without pivoting of the door panel as the door support enters the upper door-opened position.

1 more element

A door assembly providing a one piece, swing up door for providing access through a sidewall of a building, the door assembly comprising:

a single door panel which is substantially rigid during operation of the door assembly moving the door panel between a door-closed position in which the door panel is substantially vertical and a door-opened position in which the door panel is angled relative to the door-closed position, the door panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;
a first upright adjacent the first side edge while the door panel is in the door-closed position, the first upright remaining stationary during opening and closing of the door panel;
a second upright adjacent the second side edge while the door panel is in the door-closed position, the second upright remaining stationary during opening and closing of the door panel;
a header extending from a top of the first upright to a top of the second upright, the first upright, the second upright and the header collectively defining a door opening which door opening is substantially covered by the door panel in the door-closed position but with a vertical gap between the top edge of the single door panel and a bottom of the header;
a door support secured to the door panel at a door-closed elevation between the top edge and the bottom edge, the door support defining a pivot axis for the door panel, the door support and pivot axis moving at least vertically in a path between a lower door-closed position and an upper door-opened position;
and
a control structure which controls the path of the door panel as the door support moves from the lower door-closed position to the upper door-opened position which includes a non-rotational motion portion during which the pivot axis translates vertically without pivoting of the door panel taking up at least part of the vertical gap and subsequently a rotational motion portion during which the pivot axis translates vertically.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/827,486Filed 27 May 2022 · us provisional application
Priority: 27 May 2021
Granted: 9 Dec 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

E06B 3/5018
Where the sliding and rotating movements are necessarily performed simultaneously: where the pivot axis slides during pivoting of the wing
E05D 15/22
For wings sliding vertically more or less in their own plane: allowing an additional movement
E05D 15/58
With successive different movements: with both swinging and sliding movements
E05D 15/582
With both swinging and sliding movements: with horizontal swinging axis