Roller assembly

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to roller members, and more particularly to an improved roller member for use in an upwardly-acting door structure.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of the improved roller assembly mounted on a hinge pivotally joining two panels of an upwardly-acting door structure.

#FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the roller assembly shown in FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a further enlarged vertical sectional view of the inner ring shown in FIG. 2.

#At the outset, it should be clearly understood that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same elements and/or structure consistently throughout the several drawing figures, as such elements and/or structure may be further described or explained by the entire written specification of which this detailed description is an integral part.

#Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, the invention broadly provides an improved roller assembly, of which the presently preferred embodiment is generally indicated at 10, which is particularly useful, inter alia, in mounting an upwardly-acting door (not shown) for movement along a track (not shown). Examples of such upwardly-acting doors include, but are not limited to, garage doors, roll-up truck doors, and the like.

#In FIG. 1, the improved roller assembly 10 is shown as being operatively mounted on a hinge 11 pivotally joining an upper door panel 12 and a lower door panel 13. This hinge 11 is of the general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,416,589, the aggregate disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Hinge 11 forms no part of the improved roller assembly claimed herein, and is illustrated only to show one possible environment of use for such improved roller assembly. Hence, suffice it to say here that hinge 11 has an upper leaf 14 secured to the upper door panel 12 by means of rivets 15, 15; has a lower leaf 16 secured to the lower door panel 13 by means of a rivet 18; and has a separable plate-like member 19 mounted on the lower leaf by means of a bolt 20. This member 19 has upper knuckle 21 forming a horizontally-elongated tube in which the shaft of the improved roller assembly may be mounted.