AU2007100747A4 - Door operator mechanism - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent Applicant(s): Smart Openers Pty Ltd Invention Title: DOOR OPERATOR MECHANSIM The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: 2 DOOR OPERATOR MECHANISM ;This invention relates to a door operator mechanism and relates particularly but not exclusively to a domestic type door operator mechanism.

Hitherto, door operator mechanisms such as domestic door operator mechanisms have been known. These mechanisms usually comprise either a DC or AC motor which io operates through gearing to cause a door such as a garage Sdoor to be raised or lowered. Typically doors of this CI nature comprise tilt-up doors, roll-up doors, or sectional doors. Particular door operator mechanisms have been designed to operate with these types of doors. In all cases, the door operator mechanisms have a safety release which is operable such as from a pull cord or similar so that in the event of power failure, the safety release can be operated to in turn, disengage part of a gear drive to allow the door to be manually raised or lowered. The pull cord or similar carries a handle at the free end which can be grasped by a user. Typically, the pull cord hangs downwardly so that the handle is at a convenient user accessible position. In this case, the actual door operator mechanism that includes the DC or AC motor is positioned at some point generally too high for reach by the user.

It is also known that the door operator mechanisms include one or more control buttons to allow the door to be operated directly at the door operator mechanism to raise and/or lower the door. Door operator transmitters have been designed to permit a wireless connection with the door operator mechanism to allow a user to carry the door operator transmitter and operate the operator from a remote location to raise and/or lower the door. A dilemma exists when a person wishes to raise and/or lower the door if they do not have a door operator transmitter ready to N AMelboum\Cases\Paient\72000-72999\P725SS AL\Specis'72558AU Specification 2007.8- doc 8/08/07 3 Q)hand. Usually, a ladder or some other step is required to t permit the user to have sufficient height to reach the one ;or more operator control buttons provided with the door operator mechanism.

Therefore, according to a first broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a door operator mechanism having a safety release operable from a pull cord or similar and wherein a free end of the cord or similar carries a door operator transmitter that Swirelessly permits operation of the door mechanism to raise and lower the door, and wherein said door operator transmitter forms a user grip part for said cord or similar to permit release of the operator safety release, and also provides an easy user accessible control for the raising and lowering of the door.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a holding case for fitting to a free end of cord or similar of a safety release mechanism of a door operator, said holding case permitting snap-lock holding of a door operator transmitter thereto so that when held to the holding case, and with the holding case fitted to the free end of said cord or similar, the holding case will provide a user grip for said cord or similar, and will hold said door operator transmitter at a convenient user position relative to said door operator.

In order that the invention can be more clearly ascertained, examples of preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a top isometric view of one known type of door operator mechanism, Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the door operator mechanism shown in Figure i, Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 showing N\Melboume\Cases\Patcn\72000-72999\P72558 AU\Specis\P72558.AU Specification 2007.8-1 do 8/08/07 -4one example of the present invention, Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 but showing a side elevation of the example shown in Figure 3, Figure 5 is an isometric view of a holding case and a door operator transmitter, Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the holding case shown in Figure 5 with the door operator transmitter fitted therein, Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken io along section line 7-7 of Figure 6, Figure 8 is a front elevation view of the holding case shown in Figure Figure 9 is a rear elevation view of the holding case shown in Figure Figure 10 is a plan view of the holding case shown in Figure Figure 11 is an underneath view of the holding case shown in Figure Figure 12 is a side elevation view of the holding case shown in Figure Figure 13 is a top isometric view from the front of the holding case shown in Figure 5, and Figure 14, is a rear isometric view of the holding case shown in Figure Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a known door operator mechanism 1 of the type used for raising and lowering tilt-up doors. Here, there is an elongate track 3 that carries a carriage 5. The door operator mechanism 1 has a motor housing 7 that contains an AC or DC drive motor and appropriate gearing for advancing or retreating the carriage 5 along the track 3.

The motor housing 7 also contains electrical/electronic control gear for permitting operation of the door operator mechanism. The housing 7 also contains a receiver to allow a door operator transmitter to interact and to effect remote raising and/or lowering of a door. The N \Melboume\Case\Palent\7200-72999\P725S AU\Specis\P7258 AU Spccificaton 2007-8-I doc 8/08/07 5 carriage 5 is usually attached via a link (not shown) to the top of the lift-up door. Thus, as the carriage advances or retreats, the door is able to swing between open and closed positions. The carriage 5 typically includes a safety release 9 which can be operated via a pull cord or similar 13. The safety release 9 is provided so that if there is a power failure, the mechanical advantage of the drive link with the AC or DC motor can be disengaged to allow the door to be manually raised or lowered. Various forms of safety release are known. In some cases, the safety release is inbuilt within gear drive chains within the motor housing 7, where in other cases, such as in the case shown, it is with the carriage The pull cord or similar 13 has a user grip part such as a plastic handle fitted thereto at the free end.

This user grip part 15 is usually positioned to hang at a position within easy grasping reach by a user. Typically, the motor housing 7 has one or more push buttons to enable operation of the door operator mechanism 1 to raise and/or lower the door. Typically however, the door operator mechanism is fitted high near the ceiling of a garage.

Thus, the motor housing 7 and the push buttons are usually out of reach of the user unless the user is able to stand on a ladder or step.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 which show a door operator mechanism 1 of the same type as that shown in Figures 1 and 2, it can be seen that the user grip 15 is replaced by a door operator transmitter 17. In this case, the door operator transmitter 17 is attached at the free end of the cord or similar 13 and acts as a user grip part similar to the user grip part 15 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The door operator transmitter 17 is also positioned to be at an easy user accessible height position without requiring the use of a ladder or step. Thus, in the example shown in Figures 3 and 4, the door operator transmitter 17 can be used to effect operation of the N Melborne\Cams\Paen\72000-72999\P72558 AU\Specis\P72558AU Specification 2007-8-1 doc 8/08/07 6 safety release 9 and can also be used as an easy accessible means for operating the door operator mechanism 1 to raise and/or lower the door via the transmitter.

Accordingly, it can be appreciated, that the replacing of the user grip part 15 such as a plastics handle with the door operator transmitter 17, provides the same function as that in Figures 1 and 2, but with the additional function of having the door operator transmitter suitably positively located and in easy user reach.

Referring to Figure 5 there is shown a holding case 19 for holding the door operator transmitter 17. Figures 8 through 14 show various views of the same holding case 19.

Typically, the holding case 19 is moulded from a plastics material such as an industrial grade plastics to provide rigidity and strength. The holding case 19 is generally hollow and includes a cavity 21 (see Figure The door operator transmitter 17 has its own case 23 (see Figure and at least one control button 25 for permitting the raising and lowering of the door via a wireless connection with a receiver held in the motor housing 7 or some other similar location. The cavity 21 is of a size sufficient to accommodate receipt of the case 23 of the door operator transmitter 17. The Figures also show that the holding case 19 has a front face 27 and a rear face 29. The front face 27 has an opening 31 through which access can be gained to permit user finger operation of the control buttons 25 of the door operator transmitter 17. The rear face 29 has an opening 33 through which the door operator transmitter 17 can be received. Thus, the door operator transmitter 17 can be held within the holding case 19.

Typically, the holding case 19 has snap-lock engaging arms for releasably holding the door operator transmitter within the holding case 19. As shown in the Figures, there are two snap-lock engaging arms 35 one being on one side of the cavity 21 and the other on the opposite side of the cavity 21. Figure 7 shows that the snap-lock N \Melboume\Caws\Pacnt\72000-72999\P72558 AU\Specis\P72558 AU Specificaion 2007-8-1 doc 8/08/07 7 engaging arms 35 have a respective head 37 that locates behind the rear of the transmitter case 23 when the transmitter case 23 is fitted within the holding case 19.

The snap-lock engaging arms 35 exhibit some resiliency and allow manipulation of the door operator transmitter 17 so that it can be manually released relative to the holding case 19 in the event it is required to be removed and carried with a user. It also permits removal of the door operator transmitter 17 to replace its battery.

The holding case 19 has an upper part 39 and an enlarged lower part 41. The upper part 39 has a bore 43 there-through to enable the cord 13 or similar to be located therewith. Typically, the cord or similar 13 is a nylon rope which can be passed through the bore 43 and a knot tied in the cord or similar 13 so it will not pullback through the bore 43. The enlarged lower part 41 provides a grip to permit for the ease of holding of the holding case 19 so that when a force is applied downwardly to the pull cord or similar 13, the holding case 19 will not pull through a user's grasp.

Whilst it is envisaged that the holding case 19 be manufactured from a plastics material in its entirety, it is possible that it could be manufactured from several distinct parts and wherein for example, the snap-lock engaging arms 35 are separate pieces fitted thereto. The arms could be of spring stack or similar material.

The above example enables known door operator transmitter devices 17 to be utilized as a user grip part of the safety release 9 by attaching with the cord or similar 13.

Modifications may be made without departing from the ambit of the invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

N \Melbourne\Cw\Pten\7200O-72999\P7258 ALASpcis\P 7258 AU Specification 2007-8-1 doc 8/08/07 8 In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

N \Mclboum\CaKs\Patent\7200O-72999\P72SS8 AU\Specis'JP7258.AU Specification 2007-8-1 doc 8/08f07

Claims (4)

1. A door operator mechanism having a safety release operable from a pull cord or similar and wherein a free end of the cord or similar carries a door operator transmitter that wirelessly permits operation of the door mechanism to raise and lower the door, and wherein said door operator transmitter forms a user grip part for said cord or similar to permit release of the operator safety release, and also provides an easy user accessible control for the raising and lowering of the door.

2. A door operator mechanism as claimed in claim i, wherein the free end of the cord carries a holding case for releasably holding said door operator transmitter, and wherein said case provides a user grip part for said cord or similar even when said door operator transmitter is released from said holding case.

3. A door operator mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said holding case is configured to snap-lock releasable hold said door operator transmitter thereto.

4. A door operator mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said holding case has a front face and rear face, said front face having an opening therein through which access can be gained to permit user finger operation of control buttons of said door operator transmitter, and wherein said rear face has an opening through which the door operator transmitter can be received for snap-lock releasably holding said door operator transmitter thereto. A holding case for fitting to a free end of cord or similar of a safety release mechanism of a door operator, said holding case permitting snap-lock holding of a door operator transmitter thereto so that when held to the holding case, and with the holding case fitted to the free N.\1.Iboumc\Cas\Pcnt\7200-72999\P72558 AU\Sp-\P72S8 AU Sp-,ifi-io- 2007-8-1 do 8/08/07 10 end of said cord or similar, the holding case will provide a user grip for said cord or similar, and will hold said door operator transmitter at a convenient user position relative to said door operator. N Ielbou~me\CasesPaient\72000-72999\P72558AU\Specis\P72558 AU Specification 2007-8-1 doc 8/08107