Overhead door header with maximum clearance
AssigneeWabash National, L.P.
InventorsRodney P. Ehrlich, Michael L. Thoma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide a header for enclosing a counterbalance assembly for use with an overhead door assembly. The header comprises a top surface, a rear surface coupled to a rear end of the top surface, a bottom surface coupled to a bottom end of the rear surface, and at least one reinforcement member disposed rearward of the counterbalance assembly and forward of the rear surface. The at least one reinforcement member provides necessary reinforcement to the header while allowing for a vertical height of the header to be minimized.
Claims20
A truck trailer comprising:
- an overhead door assembly including a door opening having a first height and at least one door panel moveable between an open position and a closed position;
- a counterbalance assembly configured to aid in moving the at least one door panel between the open position and the closed position;
- a header having a second height and enclosing the counterbalance assembly and including a top surface, a rear surface coupled to a rear end of the top surface, a bottom surface coupled to a bottom end of the rear surface, and at least one reinforcement member disposed rearward of the counterbalance assembly and forward of the rear surface, the second height being less than about 5% of the first height and the reinforcement member provides necessary reinforcement to the header while allowing for the second height to be minimized, thereby maximizing the first height.
A truck trailer comprising:
- an overhead door assembly including a door opening and at least one door panel moveable between an open position and a closed position;
- a counterbalance assembly configured to aid in moving the at least one door panel between the open position and the closed position, the counterbalance assembly being supported by a shaft;
- and
- a header enclosing the counterbalance assembly and including:
- a top surface,
- a rear surface coupled to a rear end of the top surface,
- a bottom surface coupled to a bottom end of the rear surface,
- first and second reinforcement members disposed rearward of the counterbalance assembly and forward of the rear surface, the first and second reinforcement members being substantially parallel to the rear surface and extending toward a center of the header, and
- first and second shaft support members coupled to and spaced inwardly from ends of the bottom surface and substantially perpendicular to the rear surface, first and second ends of the shaft being coupled to the first and second shaft support members, respectively.
A header for enclosing a counterbalance assembly for use with an overhead door assembly, the header comprising:
- a top surface;
- a rear surface coupled to a rear end of the top surface;
- a bottom surface coupled to a bottom end of the rear surface;
- at least one reinforcement member disposed rearward of the counterbalance assembly and forward of the rear surface, the at least one reinforcement member providing reinforcement to the header while allowing for a vertical height of the header to be minimized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.