Garage door assemblies
OwnerIvar Hoffinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Garage door assemblies having a frame for receiving a door mounted for over head swinging movement and a spring element as an energy storing member which compensates for at least a part of the weight of the door. For the transfer of the force of the spring element to the door, there is provided a lever system including a lever capable of pivoting between a first position in which the spring force has a low leverage and a second position in which the spring force has an increased leverage sufficient to provide a turning moment capable of swinging the door. The lever is retained in its first position by a releasable locking device.
Claims6
A garage door assembly comprising in combination:
- a frame means for receiving a door mounted for overhead swinging movement and for providing rigid support for door suspension and opening and closing levers;
- a single spring element designed for extension between spaced apart points and having one end thereof secured to the frame means;
- a pivotable door support member secured to said door;
- a pivotable lever system connected to an opposite and remaining free end of said spring element and operatively associated with said pivotable door support member to enable said spring element to furnish torque for either opening or closing the door by pivotally moving said lever system so as to alter the leverage ratio;
- and a releasable locking device adapted to cooperate in its locked position with said lever system substantially to prevent pivotal movement thereof from a closed door position to an open door position or vice-versa.
A garage door assembly comprising in combination:
- a frame means for receiving a door mounted for overhead swinging movement and for providing rigid support for door suspension and opening and closing levers;
- a single spring element designed for extension between spaced apart points and having one end thereof secured to the frame means;
- a system of levers comprising at least first and second levers connected together in series, said first lever being connected to an opposite and remaining free end of said spring element, being mounted for restrained movement in one direction as restrained by a releasable locking device as well as for unrestrained pivotal movement in an opposite direction and being pivotally mounted at a location spaced from said locking device to provide pivotal support for said second lever which is itself pivotally mounted between its opposite ends;
- a pivotable door support member secured to said door and operatively associated with said lever system to enable said spring element to furnish torque for either opening or closing the door by pivotally moving said levers of said system to and fro thereby altering the leverage ratio;
- and said releasable locking device being adapted to cooperate in its locked position with said second lever substantially to prevent pivotal movement thereof from a position in which the door is closed to a position in which the door is open or vice-versa.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.