Movable door system usable with energy harvesting handicap switch
AssigneeOverhead Door Corporation
InventorsDaniel Seymour, Kevin D. Banta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system includes a movable barrier and a barrier operating system configured to move the movable barrier between open and closed positions. The barrier operating system includes a handicap switch operably coupled to the movable barrier and powered with an energy harvester. The barrier operating system also includes a controller. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the handicap switch and change, in response to the signal, movement of the movable barrier between the open and closed positions.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a movable barrier;
- and
- a barrier operating system configured to move the movable barrier between open and closed positions, the barrier operating system comprising:
- a handicap switch operably coupled to the movable barrier and powered by an energy harvester, the handicap switch comprising:
- a base;
- a push plate;
- and
- a biasing element extending through a surface of the base and comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion coupled to the base and the second portion coupled to the push plate, the biasing element configured to transfer kinetic energy to the energy harvester;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive a signal from the handicap switch;
- and
- change, in response to the signal, movement of the movable barrier between the open and closed positions.
A method comprising:
- moving a movable barrier between open and closed positions using a barrier operating system, the barrier operating system comprising a handicap switch and a controller, the handicap switch operably coupled to the movable barrier and comprising:
- a base;
- a push plate;
- and
- a biasing element extending through a surface of the base and comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion coupled to the base and the second portion coupled to the push plate;
- transferring, via the biasing element, kinetic energy to an energy harvester;
- powering the handicap switch with the energy harvester;
- receiving a signal at the controller from the handicap switch powered by the energy harvester;
- and
- changing, in response to the signal, movement of the movable barrier between the open and closed positions.
A handicap switch operably couplable to a movable barrier movable by a barrier operating system between open and closed positions, the barrier operating system comprising a controller, the handicap switch comprising:
- an energy harvester configured to convert kinetic energy into electrical energy;
- a base;
- a push plate;
- a biasing element extending through a surface of the base and comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion coupled to the base and the second portion coupled to the push plate, the biasing element configured to transfer the kinetic energy to the energy harvester;
- and
- a transmitter powered by the electrical energy and configured to wirelessly send a signal to the controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.