JP3362736B2 - Improved closure system - Google Patents

Abstract

A closure system (10) includes a plurality of closure panels (17) adapted to be moved between deployed and stowed positions. All on a pair of carrier tracks (20) on opposite sides (12, 14) of a building opening. The actuator (18) in the deployed position have abutting top and bottom edges (30, 32) and parallel side surface (34) that span across the building opening. The actuators (18) in the stowed position have abutting in inner and outer side surfaces (30, 32) in parallel top edges (30) and parallel bottom edges (32). The top and bottom edges (30, 32) maintain their top an d bottom orientation as their closure panels (17) transition between the deployed and stowed positions.

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to doors, windows, etc. of the type consisting of a number of elongated closure panels movably connected to each other,
In particular, it relates to a retractable closure system capable of stacking multiple closure panels in a retracted position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Closure systems having multiple closure panels are often used in installation locations such as home garages, commercial garages, warehouses, and other equipment where it is desirable to have the enclosures be stored out of the way. Is used everywhere. Conventional closure systems have carrier tracks on each side of the opening, and there must be an overhead space or clearance inside the opening to accommodate the door in the raised position. Folding or roll-up doors are used where conventional overhead doors and carrier tracks are not available. However, conventional folding or roll-up doors have a number of drawbacks, a major drawback being the complex mechanism required to enable operation. Thus, there is currently a need for a closure system that is economical and simple to manufacture, yet that is effective in fulfilling all the functions of a door, such that the opening is fully closed in the deployed position and the opening is fully opened in the retracted position. ing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, it is adapted to be moved between a deployed position and a stowed position along a pair of carrier tracks provided on opposite sides of a building opening, each of two opposite sides. Having a plurality of closure panels having an end and an actuator provided at each end, the actuator has top edges that abut one another so that the closure panels extend from one end of the building opening to another in the deployed position of the closure panel. And a bottom edge and side surfaces parallel to each other, and in the retracted position of the closure panel have inner and outer side surfaces abutting each other and top edges parallel to each other and bottom edges parallel to each other. Section and bottom edge maintain their vertical orientation, non-rigid security links bridge between adjacent actuators, and security links are closed. The jar panel is taut when in the deployed and stowed positions and has a length and attachment point to the actuator that will sag when the closure panel transitions between the deployed and stowed positions. There is provided a pair of carrier rollers that engage the carrier tracks, the width of the carrier tracks being about twice the width of the carrier rollers such that the closure panel is slightly inclined from the vertical in the stowed position. There is provided a closure system, wherein the closure system is mounted on the actuator so as to be spaced apart not only in the height direction of the closure panel but also in the thickness direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a closure system constructed in accordance with the present invention installed within a building opening.

2A is a partially cutaway sectional view taken along the line 2A-2A of FIG.

FIG. 2B is a view similar to FIG. 2A, showing the closure system in the retracted position.

  FIG. 2C is a sectional view taken along the line 2C-2C of FIG. 2A.

3A to 3E are enlarged views showing the operation sequence of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring first to FIG. 1, a closure system
10 is installed in a building opening with sides 12,14. A vertical sidewall 16 extends from the side 12. The closure system 10 includes a plurality of closure panels 17 adapted to be moved between a deployed position and a stored position along a pair of carrier tracks 20 provided on opposite sides 12, 14 of a building opening. There is. FIG. 1 shows the closure system in the deployed position. In the deployed position, closure panel 17 extends across the openings and immediately spans the openings. Closure panel 17 on top of the building opening
An enclosure 22 is provided to store such a closure panel when the is in the stowed position. As can be appreciated, the enclosure 22 is relatively compact compared to the overhead space normally required for conventional overhead doors.

FIG. 1 illustrates closure system 10 in an ambient environment in which it is vertically oriented within a vertical opening. The closure system is not limited to this ambient environment and the closure system may be oriented horizontally, i.e. the closure panels are side to side if the carrier tracks are provided at the top and bottom of the building opening. It will be appreciated that it may be directed to move to. Considering the description of the present specification and claims,
The terms "top (or top)", "bottom (bottom)", "side" are only used for the preferred embodiment, and similar constructions for the system in a horizontal configuration are equivalent. It will be appreciated that it is included. Further, the closure panel 17 may be solid for weather, sound and security or anti-theft purposes, for example in the case of a garage door, and as an equivalent example, the inside is visible, for example for a gate or front of a store, but security or It may be an open lattice that can prevent theft.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 2A-3E in which the same and corresponding elements are designated with the same reference numbers with respect to FIG. Closure system 10 is shown in the deployed position in FIGS. 2A and 3A. Each closure panel 17 has an actuator 18 at each end. In the deployed position, the actuator 18 has top and bottom edges abutting each other as best seen in the enlarged views of FIGS. 3A-3E. For clarity, reference numerals 30 and 32 are shown only once in FIG. 2A. Reference numerals 30 and 32 are used in FIG. 2B in all appropriate cases.

When the actuator 18 is in the closure panel deployed position, the closure panels 17 straddle the building opening, in other words, side surfaces parallel to each other so as to extend from one end to the other.
It has 34 more. For reasons similar to those described above, reference numeral 34 is only used once in FIG. 2B,
In Figure 2A, it is used in all appropriate cases.

In the closed position of the closure panel, as best shown in FIG.3E, the actuator 18 has inner and outer surfaces 34 that abut each other, parallel top edges 30 and parallel bottom edges 32. is doing. Top edge 30 and bottom edge 32
Maintain their vertical orientation as shown in Figure 3E. Thus, the closure system of the present invention is not an "accordion" style foldable door whose upside down orientation is reversed with every other closure panel. The present invention is
It is a stackable closure system, unlike the folding "accordion" type closure system. As shown in FIG. 3E, it is not necessary to move the lowermost actuator 18 'to a position where these sides 34 abut each other. The object of the invention is achieved provided that substantially all actuators have inner and outer sides which abut one another when in the retracted position and parallel top and bottom edges.

A non-rigid security link 36 extends to bridge the actuators 18 together. The security link 36 is shown in FIG.
Best seen in Figure 3E. The security link 37 is taut when the closure panel 17 is in the deployed and stowed positions, and has a length that allows it to sag when the closure panel 17 transitions between the deployed and stowed positions and the point of attachment to the actuator 37. have. In Figure 2A, all security links are in tension. This provides a reasonably rigid building opening closure with no gaps. Similarly, in FIG. 2B, the security link 36 is in a taut state. However, in some cases as an exception, the security link located at the bottom
The 36 'should be slack to allow for quick deployment from the stowed position, but this is optional. FIG. 3E also shows the security link 36 taut in the retracted position. 3B, 3C, and 3D show the transition state of the closure panel 17 between the deployed position and the storage position and the slack state of the security link 36 when the closure panel 17 is undergoing such transition. If the security links 36 sag during the transition of the closure panels, this effectively disconnects the closure panels from each other and allows the carrier rollers 38 to run smoothly in the carrier track 20. Figure 3A ~
As best shown in FIG. 3E, carrier track 20 is split within enclosure 22 into an upper carrier track 40 and a lower carrier track 42. The carrier track 20 located below the enclosure 22 is about twice as wide as the carrier roller 38, as best shown in FIG. 2C, but has tight mounting tolerances for increased air tightness.

The actuator 18 is provided with a pair of carrier rollers 38 which engage the carrier track 20 such that the height of the closure panel 17 is such that the closure panel 17 is slightly inclined from the vertical in the stowed position. It is mounted on the actuator 18 not only in the thickness direction but also in the thickness direction.

As best shown in FIGS. 3A-3E, the vertical orientation of the security link mounting location 37 is determined by the closure panel 17
The opposite occurs when changes between the deployed and stored positions. Top edge 230 and bottom edge 32 form a slight angle from horizontal when the closure member is in the deployed position, while side surface 34 forms a slight angle from vertical when the closure member is in the retracted position. Make up. The carrier roller 38 provided on the actuator 18 has an orientation (Fig. 2A) in which the closure member is slightly inclined from the vertical direction (Fig. 2A) when the closure panel 17 transitions between the deployed position and the retracted position.
3A to 3E) so as to be engaged with the carrier track 20 so as to be inclined. Closure member 17
It allows for a smooth separation of the closure member 17 as it transitions from the deployed position to the retracted position, and as shown in FIG. 3A, for example.
As shown in FIG. 7, the lip-shaped weather strip and the groove provided at the top edge and the bottom edge of the closure member 17 which accompanies the lip-shaped weather strip can be separated.

As best shown in Figure 3A, the preferred embodiment, in the preferred embodiment, is a closure panel 17 during transition.
The degree of inclination can be as much as the dimension "x" between the curvature starting points of the upper carrier trajectory 40 and the lower carrier trajectory 42.
The dimension "x" is less than the dimension "y" defined by the vertical separation between the carrier rollers 38 of the actuator 18.

Both the lifting cable 44 and the balancing cable 46 are attached to each of the lowest actuators 18 '. The cables 44, 46 hang on an idler 48 provided at the upper front corner of the enclosure 22. Next, the hoisting cable 44 is hung on the idle wheel 50 and extends into the electric winder 52. Balancing cable
46 extends directly into a spring loaded winder 54 which is connected to a counterbalancing spring (not shown). The balancing spring of the preferred embodiment provides sufficient preload to support the load of the door.

In operation, when opening the closure system, the lowest panel 17 is hoisted by cables 44,46. The cable is connected to the balancing spring,
The balancing spring is designed to keep a programmed weight (about 20-25 pounds, or about 9 kg to about 11.4 kg) constantly exerted on the bottom edge. Lifting cable 44
Is attached to an electric winder 52, a power lifting device. The dual cable construction provides a fail-safe design.

When raising the closure system, the upper carrier roller 38 of each actuator 18 contacts the arcuate portion of the upper carrier track, which causes the closure panel to tilt. This opens the joint between the top edge 30 and the bottom edge 32 like scissors and makes an angle between these edges,
This and the slight diagonal cuts in the joint synergistically push the closure panel into the storage area of the enclosure 22. Due to the inclination of the closure panel, the lower carrier roller also swings into position to capture the lower carrier track, and pushing the closure panel through allows the next lower closure panel to pass through and the final repetition of the above procedure. Will now properly store all closure panels.

When lowering the closure system, the lowest unstored or first closure panel is not in the upper and lower carrier tracks and is suspended in the upper position by the cable. When the lifting cable 44 is moved in reverse, the reprogrammed weight provided by the counterbalancing spring causes the closure panel to descend at a rate determined by the feeding of the lifting cable under the action of a weight closure. If the suspension panel hits an obstacle and the lifting cable sags, an automatic reversing device (not shown) will retrieve the closure panel. If the automatic reversing device malfunctions, the maximum load on the obstacle is about 20-25 pounds.
If there are no obstructions, each closure panel pulls a subsequent closure panel through the use of a security link and is guided in the correct position by the lower side of the carrier track.

This is because the closure system panels are all housed in the storage enclosure 22 and the double cables 44,46 do not have to be used to push down the door system as in the conventional case. It is the safest one. If the counterbalancing spring were torn off, it would be trapped within the enclosure 22 and the lifting cable would safely lower the closure panel. In one conventional system, if the spring were torn, the torn pieces would repeatedly fly around the room like bullets.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of its specific embodiments, those skilled in the art can contemplate various design changes and modifications, and the present invention is such a design as falling within the scope of the invention as claimed. It will be appreciated that it includes modifications and alterations.

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Cook, Charles, E. USA, Texas, USA 75075 Plano, Sierra Lane 2416 (56) References JP-A-4-108979 (JP, A) SAIKAI HEI 2-49491 (JP, U) Jitsuko Sho 62-35840 (JP, Y2) French patent application publication 1303251 (FR, A1) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) E06B 9/06 610

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A structure adapted to be moved between a deployed position and a stored position along a pair of carrier tracks on opposite sides of an opening of a building, each of which has two opposite ends and Having a plurality of closure panels with actuators provided at each end, the actuators having top and bottom edges abutting each other so that the closure panels extend across the building opening in the deployed position of the closure panels. Portions and side surfaces parallel to each other, and in the retracted position of the closure panel having inner side surfaces and outer side surfaces abutting each other, and top edges parallel to each other and bottom edges parallel to each other. The edges maintain these up and down orientations, non-rigid security links bridge between adjacent actuators, and security links have closure panels. It is taut when in the open and stowed positions and has a length and attachment point to the actuator that allows it to sag when the closure panel transitions between the deployed and stowed positions. A pair of mating carrier rollers are provided, the width of the carrier track being about twice as wide as the carrier rollers, the carrier rollers being such that the closure panel is slightly tilted from the vertical in the stowed position. The closure system is characterized in that it is mounted not only in the height direction but also in the thickness direction on the actuator. 2. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the vertical orientation of the attachment points is reversed when the closure panel transitions between a deployed position and a stowed position. 3. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom edges are slightly angled from horizontal when the closure member is in the deployed position. 4. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the side surface is slightly angled from vertical when the closure member is in the retracted position. 5. A dimension "x" between transition points of carrier orbits.
The closure system of claim 4, wherein is less than the dimension "y" between the carrier rollers.