US 2025/0012126 A1Published application

Powered Garage Door

AssigneePREMIER DOOR Co.

InventorNicolas Dale Schuft

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Abstract

A powered garage door pivots about a fixed pivot axis extending between side edges 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, which can be housed within uprights defining the door opening, 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.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A powered garage door for use in a building having a door opening defined underneath a header between two uprights, the two uprights including a left upright and a right upright when viewed from outside the building, the header and the two uprights each having a rear face, 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 with a vertical clearance, the door panel having left and right side edges when viewed from outside the building, the left side edge, when the door panel is in the closed position, abutting the left upright, the right side edge, when the door panel is in the closed position, abutting the right upright, the door panel having a bottom edge which, in the closed position, extends between the two uprights;
left and right pivot connectors attached to the door panel to pivotally connect the door panel to the two uprights for pivoting about a fixed pivot axis extending from the left side edge to the right side edge, such that when the door panel moves 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, the fixed pivot axis being forward of the rear faces of the two uprights and forward of the rear face of the header;
at least one linear actuator positioned behind the door panel so as to be protected from precipitation by the building when the door panel is in the closed position, the at least one linear actuator being attached to the door panel at an attachment bracket, the attachment bracket, when the door panel is in a closed position, being lower than the fixed pivot axis, the linear actuator being controllable to extend from a shortened position to a lengthened position or to retract from the lengthened position to the shortened position;
and
a front top header finishing plate, fixed so as to extend downwardly from the header across the vertical clearance and in front of and beneath the top edge 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.

2 more elements

A building with a powered garage door, comprising:

a door opening defined underneath a header between two uprights, the two uprights including a left upright and a right upright when viewed from outside the building, the two uprights each defining an interior chamber;
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 with a clearance, the door panel having left and right side edges when viewed from outside the building, the left side edge, when the door panel is in the closed position, abutting the left upright, the right side edge, when the door panel is in the closed position, abutting the right upright, the door panel having a bottom edge which, in the closed position, extends between the two uprights;
left and right pivot connectors attached to the door panel to pivotally connect the door panel to the two uprights for pivoting about a fixed pivot axis extending from the left side edge to the right side edge, such that when the door panel moves 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;
left and right linear actuators, the left linear actuator being pivotally attached to the left upright within its interior chamber at a position higher than the fixed pivot axis and being pivotally attached to the door panel at a position lower than the fixed pivot axis when the door panel is in a closed position such that, when the door panel is in a closed position, the left linear actuator is within the interior chamber of the left upright, the right linear actuator being pivotally attached to the right upright within its interior chamber at a position higher than the fixed pivot axis and being pivotally attached to the door panel at a position lower than the fixed pivot axis when the door panel is in a closed position such that, when the door panel is in a closed position, the right linear actuator is within the interior chamber of the right upright, each of the left and right linear actuators being controllable to extend from a shortened position to a lengthened position for opening of the door panel or to retract from the lengthened position to the shortened position for closing of the door panel.

2 more elements

A building with a powered garage door, comprising:

a door opening defined underneath a header between two uprights, the two uprights including a left upright and a right upright when viewed from outside the building;
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 with a clearance, the door panel having left and right side edges when viewed from outside the building, the left side edge, when the door panel is in the closed position, abutting the left upright, the right side edge, when the door panel is in the closed position, abutting the right upright, the door panel having a bottom edge which, in the closed position, extends between the two uprights;
left and right pivot connectors attached to the door panel to pivotally connect the door panel to the two uprights for pivoting about a fixed pivot axis extending from the left side edge to the right side edge, such that when the door panel moves 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;
left and right linear actuators, the left linear actuator having a first end pivotally supported at a position higher than the fixed pivot axis and having a second end pivotally attached to the door panel at a position lower than the fixed pivot axis when the door panel is in a closed position, the right linear actuator having a first end pivotally supported at a position higher than the fixed pivot axis and having a second end pivotally attached to the door panel at a position lower than the fixed pivot axis when the door panel is in a closed position, each of the left and right linear actuators being controllable to extend from a shortened position to a lengthened position for opening of the door panel or to retract from the lengthened position to the shortened position for closing of the door panel;
and
left and right compressible seals each extending vertically and compressing against a rear face of the door panel when the door panel is in a closed position, the left compressible seal contacting the door panel at a location which is further from the left edge of the door panel than where the left linear actuator is pivotally attached to the door panel, the right compressible seal contacting the door panel at a location which is further from the right edge of the door panel than where the right linear actuator is pivotally attached to the door panel.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/894,233Filed 24 Sep 2024
Priority: 3 Dec 2019
Published: 9 Jan 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

E05F 15/53
Using fluid-pressure actuators: for swinging wings
E05F 7/00
Accessories for wings not provided for in other groups of this subclass
E05F 15/70
Power-operated mechanisms for wings: with automatic actuation
E05Y 2400/35
Position control, detection or monitoring: related to specific positions

Family

Application62/942,843Us provisional application · filed 3 Dec 2019
Application17/111,326Continuation in part · filed 3 Dec 2020
Application18/894,233Continuation in part
US 12,098,585 B1Related patent
US 2025/0012126 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.