Extension spring system for an overhead door
AssigneeClopay Building Products Company, Inc.
InventorsKenneth E. Carper, Alan R. Leist
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An extension spring overhead door system in which the spring may be quickly and easily placed in tension with the door in a closed position. A spring tensioning device is provided which eliminates the need for multiple installers to lift the full weight of the door and then clamp or otherwise prop the door in an open position. An extension spring containment tube is also provided which surrounds the entire periphery of the spring to fully contain the entire length of the extension spring.
Claims34
An extension spring system for an overhead door, said system comprising:
- an extension spring;
- means for mounting a first end of said extension spring;
- a door operating cable for connection between said overhead door and a second end of said extension spring;
- and,
- a spring tensioning device connected to an end of said cable, said spring tensioning device including a cable winding spool, a rotational mount for said spool and a rotation and locking mechanism operatively connected to said spool for allowing said spool to be rotated and then effectively locked after winding said cable and stretching said extension spring to a desired spring tension.
An extension spring system for an overhead door, said system comprising;
- an extension spring adapted to define a tensioned, stretched length and an untensioned, contracted length of said extension spring when operatively connected to said door;
- and,
- a tubular spring cover for fully surrounding said extension spring at both said tensioned, stretched length and said untensioned, contracted length,
- said tubular spring cover having a length that remains the same when the extension spring is at the stretched and contracted lengths and including an opening extending along the entire length of said cover and a closure for selectively exposing said opening to allow installation and removal of said cover with respect to said spring.
An extension spring system for an overhead door, said system comprising:
- an extension spring;
- a bracket providing a mounting for a first end of said extension spring;
- a door operating cable providing an operative connection between said overhead door and a second end of said extension spring, said cable thereby adapted to exert a pulling force on said extension spring to define a tensioned, stretched length and an untensioned, contracted length of said extension spring when operatively connected to said door;
- and,
- a tubular spring cover for fully surrounding said extension spring at both said tensioned, stretched length and said untensioned, contracted length, said tubular spring cover having a length that remains the same when the extension spring is at the stretched and contracted lengths and including an opening extending along the entire length of said cover and a closure for selectively exposing said opening to allow installation and removal of said cover with respect to said spring.
A method of counterbalancing an overhead door with an extension spring while said overhead door remains in a closed position, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a first end of said extension spring to stationary frame structure;
- connecting a second end of said extension spring to said overhead door while said door remains closed;
- stretching said extension spring with a spring tensioning device operatively connected to the second end of said extension spring;
- and,
- using a locking device connected with said tensioning device to lock said spring in a stretched position after reaching a predetermined stretched spring length while the door remains closed.
A method of counterbalancing an overhead door with an extension spring while said overhead door remains in a closed position, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a first end of said extension spring to stationary frame structure;
- connecting a second end of said extension spring to an operating cable of said overhead door;
- pulling said operating cable with a spring tensioning device connected to the second end of said extension spring while said door remains closed to stretch said extension spring;
- and,
- using a locking device connected with said tensioning device to lock said operating cable after reaching a predetermined stretched spring length.
An overhead door system including an overhead door and an extension spring system, said extension spring system comprising;
- an extension spring;
- means for mounting a first end of said extension spring;
- and
- an operating cable connected between a second end of said extension spring and said overhead door;
- spring tensioning means connected to the second end of said spring for stretching said spring to a desired spring tension;
- and
- spring locking means connected with said spring tensioning means for locking said spring at said desired spring tension when said door is in a closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.