Collapsing closure system and operating mechanism
OwnerCharles Lindberghinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Vertical and non-vertical collapsing panel closures for various applications are disclosed. The closure has reduced stacking height when collapsed and possesses a more energy efficient panel section guide roller system operating with a more economical and versatile upper and lower guide roller track arrangement. An insulated closure having an interior flush surface and an exterior rail and stile facade is achieved. A more simplified variable dynamic closure counterweighting system is provided.
Claims25
In a collapsing closure system, a closure including plural equal width panel sections which are hingedly connected along parallel hinge axes to allow overhead collapse and storage of the closure in a compact form and downward extension thereof, linear and upper diversionary guide track means for said closure, and coacting guide roller means for said closure engaging said linear and diversionary guide track means, said guide roller means including opposite side guide roller pairs for the closure located on the hinge axes of said closure panel sections except for two pairs of the guide rollers of two intermediate panel sections which are displaced in a common direction and unequally from the lower hinge axis of the panel sections carrying said two pairs of guide rollers.
A collapsing closure comprising a plurality of hingedly connected closure panel sections having parallel hinge axes and lying in a common plane when the closure is in an extended state, the collective front faces of the panel sections then forming a rail and stile facade and the rear faces thereof being flat and occupying a common plane, the closure panel sections being hollow and being filled with thermal insulating material, each closure panel section having top and bottom spaced parallel frame members, a rear flat panel fixed to the rear faces of said frame members and covering the latter, and a front parallel panel spaced from the rear panel and spaced somewhat rearwardly from the front faces of said top and bottom frame members, and the opposing bottom and top faces of the top and bottom frame members having aligned grooves formed therein receiving top and bottom edge portions of the front panel with sufficient clearance in said grooves to accommodate thermal contraction and expansion of the closure panel section with resultant movement of said front panel relative to the top and bottom frame members without twisting or warping of the closure panel section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.