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US 8,869,450 B2Granted
Overhead door with stacking panels
AssigneeCIW Enterprises, Inc.
InventorsJoseph L. Balay, Joseph D. Kondash, Ian Klish, Thomas Balay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An overhead door system featuring independent, unconnected panels is described. Each panel end is operatively carried within a pair of parallel tracks. The weight of the door decreases as the door is lifted and each panel completely disengages from its adjacent panel as it reaches the stacked position. This allows for a linear spring torque to door weight relationship requiring a very small motor compared to existing designs to provide the lifting torque necessary to operate the door.
Claims29
An overhead door comprising:
- a plurality of unconnected panels, each panel comprising an outer and inner surface, a top and bottom edge, each top and bottom edge comprising a geometry engaging and disengaging an adjacent panel bottom and top edge, respectively, and a first and second end;
- a separate first positioning assembly attached to each end, each first positioning assembly comprising a first engagement member extending outward from the panel operatively engaging a separate first track, one separate first track located on each side of the door;
- a separate panel guide attached to each end;
- a separate activation engagement member attached to each end, each operatively engaging a respective separate panel guide located on each end of an adjacently superior panel engaging and disengaging the adjacent panels;
- and
- a separate second positioning assembly attached to each end, each second positioning assembly comprising a second engagement member extending inward from the panel operatively engaging a separate second track, one separate second track located on each side of the door;
- wherein the plurality of unconnected panels further comprises a bottom panel comprising an operative attachment member;
- and
- every track comprises a radius separating a first track portion from a second track portion, the radius effectively reducing a force required to operate the door and decreasing a stack height.
6 more elements
An overhead door comprising:
- a plurality of unconnected panels, each panel comprising an outer and inner surface, a top and bottom edge, each top and bottom edge comprising a geometry engaging and disengaging an adjacent panel bottom and top edge, respectively, and a first and second end;
- a separate first positioning assembly attached to each end, each first positioning assembly comprising a first engagement member extending outward from the panel operatively engaging a separate first track, one separate first track located on each side of the door;
- a separate panel guide attached to each end;
- a separate activation engagement member attached to each end, each operatively engaging a respective separate panel guide located on each end of an adjacently superior panel engaging and disengaging the adjacent panels;
- a separate second positioning assembly attached to each end, each second positioning assembly comprising a second engagement member extending inward from the panel operatively engaging a separate second track, one separate second track located on each side of the door;
- and
- a drive mechanism;
- wherein the plurality of unconnected panels further comprises a bottom panel comprising an operative attachment member;
- and
- every track comprises a radius separating a first track portion from a second track portion, the radius effectively reducing a force required to operate the door and decreasing a stack height.
7 more elements
A method for raising and lowering an overhead door comprising the steps of:
- installing a pair of first and second tracks;
- inserting a plurality of unconnected panels within the pair of first and second tracks;
- installing a drive mechanism;
- and
- activating the drive mechanism to raise and lower the overhead door;
- wherein;
- the plurality of unconnected panels each comprise an outer and inner surface, a top and bottom edge, each top and bottom edge comprising a geometry engaging and disengaging an adjacent panel bottom and top edge, respectively, and a first and second end;
- a separate first positioning assembly is attached to each end, each first positioning assembly comprising a first engagement member extending outward from the panel operatively engaging the separate first track, one separate first track located on each side of the door;
- a separate panel guide is attached to each end;
- a separate activation engagement member is attached to each end, each operatively engaging a respective separate panel guide located on each end of an adjacently superior panel to engage and disengage the adjacent panels;
- and
- a separate second positioning assembly is attached to each end, each second positioning assembly comprising a second engagement member extending inward from the panel operatively engaging a separate second track, one separate second track located on each side of the door;
- wherein the plurality of unconnected panels further comprises a bottom panel comprising an attachment member operatively engaging the drive mechanism;
- and
- every track comprises a radius separating a first track portion from a second track portion, the radius effectively reducing a force required to operate the door and decreasing a stack height.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.