Overhead bi-fold door construction
OwnerJim Sudermaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An overhead bi-fold door is provided having an upper section and a lower section which are hinged for movement relative to one another between a closed flat position and an open folded position. Each section includes side beams and a frame spanning the side beams which is recessed in relation to an outer surface of the side beams. Sheeted insulation is received within the recess on an outer side of the door so that cladding may be supported across an outer side of both the sheeted insulation and the side beams. The sheeted insulation being supported on an outer side of the frames provides an uninterrupted layer of insulation of constant thickness to prevent thermal leakage which otherwise occurs when insulation would normally be supported on an inner side of the frame in sections mounted between the frame members.
Claims16
An overhead bi-fold door construction comprising a door member and mounting means for supporting the door member on a building, the door member comprising:
- a top beam extending along a top end of the door member;
- a bottom beam extending along a bottom end of the door member;
- two side beams extending along opposing sides of the door member;
- a hinged seam extending across the door member partway between the top and bottom beams of the door member and dividing each side beam into a respective upper section and a respective lower section;
- the door member being separated by the hinged seam into an upper panel including the top beam and the upper sections of the side beams and a lower panel including the bottom beam and the lower sections of the side beams;
- the upper and lower sections of the side beams being foldable relative to one another at the hinged seam between a closed position of the door member in which the upper and lower sections lie in a generally common upright plane and an open position of the door member in which the bottom beam is raised upwardly towards the top beam in relation to the closed position;
- an upper frame spanning the upper sections of side beams;
- a lower frame spanning the lower sections of the side beams;
- an outer surface of the upper and lower frames being recessed in relation to an outer surface of at least one of the top beam, the bottom beam and the side beams;
- sheeted insulation material being supported on the outer surface of the upper and lower frame;
- and
- cladding being supported on an outer side of the sheeted insulation material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.