AU2015275286A1 - Door accessory - Google Patents

Abstract

DOOR ACCESSORY Abstract The present invention relates to a door accessory suitable for use with a roller door. The invention provides for a flexible sheet member to be attached to the roller door and unrolled with the roller door to turn the roller door into a viewing screen or an advertising surface. LnI 'rV

Description

DOOR ACCESSORY

Field of the Invention [1] The present invention relates to a door accessory and in particular to an accessory for use with residential or commercial roller doors.

[2] The invention has been developed primarily for use in/with roller doors and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

Background of the Invention [3] While conventional roller doors are well-known, their functionality typically means that they are composed of a plurality of interlinking elongate members that form a ridged surface when the roller door is deployed. The texture of such a surface is not ideal for the provision of graphics, such as advertising or the like.

[4] The present invention seeks to provide a roller door accessory, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

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

Summary of the Invention [6] According to a first aspect, the present invention may be said to consist in a door accessory suitable for use with a roller door, the door accessory comprising: a. at least one or more flexible sheef members; b. at least one or more rolling mechanisms, each rolling mechanism configured for allowing movement of a flexible sheet member between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration; and c. at least one engaging arrangement configured for engaging the at least one or more flexible sheet members to a door.

[7] In one embodiment, the at least one or more engaging arrangements are configured for engaging an edge of the at least one or more flexible sheet members to a lower edge of a door.

[8] In one embodiment, the door accessory comprises at least one mounting arrangement configured for mounting the door accessory at or towards a door.

[9] in one embodiment, the door accessory comprises a piuraiity of flexibie sheet members.

[10] in one embodiment, the door accessory comprises a piuraiity of roiiing mechanisms.

[11] In one embodiment, said door is movable between an open configuration and a dosed configuration, and each roiiing mechanism is configured for roiling a flexible sheet member from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration, in operable association with the door.

[12] In one embodiment, each roiiing mechanism is biased to roll its associated flexible sheet member towards its deployed configuration from its stowed configuration.

[13] In one embodiment, the door is a roller door.

[14] In one embodiment, the engaging arrangements are configured for engaging an edge of at least one or more flexible sheet member with a lower edge of said roller door.

[15] In one embodiment, the door accessory comprises a plurality of engaging arrangements, each engaging arrangement being configured for engaging an edge of a flexible sheet with a lower edge of said roller door.

[16] in one embodiment, at least one or more of the flexible sheet members comprises indicia.

[17] In one embodiment, at least one of the flexible sheet members comprises advertising indicia.

[18] In one embodiment, the indicia comprises an aesthetically pleasing graphic.

[19] In one embodiment, the door accessory comprises a lighting arrangement configured for lighting the flexibie sheet member.

[20] in one embodiment, the lighting arrangement is configured for lighting in one or more selected from a front face of the flexibie sheet member and a rear face of the flexible sheet member.

[21] in one embodiment, the lighting arrangement is mounted to any one or more selected from the rolling mechanism, the mounting arrangement, and the engaging arrangement.

[22] in one embodiment, the flexible sheet member is composed of a translucent material.

[23] According to a further aspect, the present invention may be said to consist in a door arrangement comprising: a. a door movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and b. a door accessory as described above, the door accessory being operably associated with the door so that one or more of the flexible sheet members are configured to move between their deployed configuration and their stowed configuration as the door moves between its open configuration and close configuration, respectively.

[24] In one embodiment, the door is a roller door.

[25] In the specification, the term “roller door” shall be construed to include, but not be limited to, doors configured for restricting a passage, and comprising a lower edge that is movable between an open configuration in which the lower edge is located at or towards the top of a passage, and a closed configuration in which the lower edge is located at or towards the bottom of the passage.

[26] This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

[27] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings [28] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [29] Figure 1 shows a cutaway top perspective front side view of a first embodiment of a door accessory mounted to a rolling door; [30] Figure 2 shows a cutaway perspective side view of the first embodiment of a door accessory mounted to a rolling door; [31] Figure 3 shows a cutaway bottom perspective side view of the first embodiment of a door accessory mounted to a rolling door,; [32] Figure 4 shows a top perspective assembly view of a mounting arrangement for a first embodiment of a door accessory; [33] Figure 5 shows a cutaway top perspective front side view of a second embodiment of a door accessory mounted to a rolling door; [34] Figure 8 shows a cutaway perspective side view of the second embodiment of a door accessory mounted to a rolling door, with the flexible sheet disengaged from the engaging arrangement; and [35] Figure 7 shows a top perspective assembly view of a mounting arrangement for a second embodiment of a door accessory.

Description of Embodiments [36] It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features.

[37] A door accessory according to a first aspect of the invention is generally indicated by the numeral 1000.

[38] In one embodiment now described, there is provided a door accessory 1000 suitable for use with a roller door 5000, such as those found commonly on residential garages and/or commercial businesses.

[39] In a first embodiment as shown in figures 5-7, the door accessory 1000 comprises a flexible sheet member 1100, and a rolling mechanism 1200. The rolling mechanism 1200 is configured for rolling the flexible sheet member 1100 up from a deployed configuration in which most of the flexible sheet member 1100 extends substantially from the rolling mechanism 1200, to a stowed configuration in which the flexible sheet member 1100 is roiied up, and preferably housed inside a housing 1210.

[40] The rolling mechanism 1200 is biased, preferably by a helical spring (not shown) or resilient elastic member (not shown), to move the flexible sheet member 1100 from its deployed position to its stowed configuration.

[41] The door accessory 1000 further comprises a mounting arrangement 1300 configured for mounting the door accessory 1000 at the top of the door opening or passage, and preferably alongside or just under the rolier mechanism (not shown) of a roller door 5000.

[42] The door accessory 1000 further preferably comprises a pair of engaging arrangements 1400 that are configured for engaging the lower edge of the first flexible sheet member to the lower edge of a roller door. In a preferred embodiment, it is envisaged that a plurality of engaging arrangements 1400 can be provided along the lower edge of the roller door. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the engaging arrangements 1400 are configured as clamping formations 1410 that clamp onto the lower edge 5100 of the roller door 5000. Each of the damping formations 1410 shown in the figures include a clamping member 1420 that is engaged with the lower edge 5100 by means of threaded fasteners in the form of cap screws 1430. Each clamping formation 1410 further comprises a hook 1440.

[43] In a preferred embodiment, the lower edge of the flexible sheet member 1100 comprises an elongate tensioning member, in the form of a batten 1110. It is envisaged that the batten 1110 will allow for the even tensioning of the flexible sheet member 1100. Preferably, the batten 1110 comprises a plurality of apertures 1112 spaced along its length for engaging with hooks 1440. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the apertures could be replaced with recesses [not shown).

[44] In the embodiment shown in figures 1 - 4, the door accessory 1000 comprises a pair of flexible sheet 1100 a&b, each being associated with their own rolling mechanism 1200 a&b, each roiling mechanism comprising its own housing 1210 a&b.

[45] It is envisaged that both of the flexible sheets 1100 a&b can extend downwardly towards a single engaging arrangement 1400, as shown in figure 2. The engaging arrangement 1400 wili in turn be secured to the lower edge 5100 of the roller door 5000.

[46] However, it is also envisaged that one of the flexible sheets 1100a can extend upwardly and over the upper edge of the roller door mechanism to be engaged with the lower edge of the roller door by means of an engaging arrangement 1400 disposed at an opposed side from the other of the flexible sheets 1100b. This is shown in figure 3.

[47] At each end of the rolling mechanisms 1200, mounting arrangements 1300 provided for mounting the rolling mechanisms 1200 in place. As shown in figures 4 and 7, the mounting arrangements 1300 preferably comprise a pair of clamping members 1310 a&b that can be removably engaged with each other via a protrusion 1312 in one clamping member 1310a that is removably engageable with a complementary slot 1314 in the other clamping member 1310b.

[48] In this way, the clamping members 1310 a&b can be located on either side of the runners 5200 of a conventionally known roller door 5000. Threaded fasteners in the form of cap screws 1320 are then inserted through apertures 1316b in clamping member 1310b and into aperture 1316a in clamping member 1310a. An inner surface of aperture 1316a defines thread formations (not shown) that engage with complementary thread formations on the cap screw 1320. When the cap screw 1320 is tightened, this serves to move the damping members 1310 a&b towards each other to thereby clamp onto the runners 5200.

[49] In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the mounting arrangement 1300 can be configured for conventional attachment to a wall alongside the roller door 5000, for example by raw bolts, screws or other fasteners.

[50] A cantilever member 1330 is secured to a clamping member 1310b by means of threaded fasteners in the form of cap screws 1332. The cantilever member 1330 also includes mounting slots 1334 into which support pins 1220 on the rolling mechanism are receivable to support the rolling mechanism(s) 1200 are receivable. The cantilever member 1330 serves to hold the rolling mechanisms at an orientation and distance from the roller door 5000 that will not interfere with operation of the roller door 5000.

[51] Preferably, each rolling mechanism 1200 will comprise a biasing arrangement (not shown) that preferably bias is movement of its associated flexible sheet member 1100 to its stowed position. It is envisaged that such a biasing arrangement can utilise a spring such as a. helical steel spring or a resilient elastic member which is placed under tension when the flexible sheet member is moved to its deployed position.

[52] Once the lower edge 1120 of the flexible sheet members 1100 have been engaged to the Sower edge 5100 of the roller door 5000, the flexible sheet members wili be unrolled from the rolling mechanism 1200 against the bias by movement of the roller door 5000 moving to its closed position. Further, as the roller door 5000 moves to its open position, the flexible sheet members 1100 wili be retracted by the rolling mechanism into their stowed position. In this manner, each roiling mechanism will roll its associated flexible sheet member in operable association with the door, it is envisaged that movement of the roller door 5000 can be actuated manually or by automated means, for example by an electric motor (not shown) in a known manner.

[53] It is further envisaged that, while the term roller door is used throughout the specification for the sake of clarity, the door accessory 1000 could also be used with other door types, for example solid garage doors that move upwardly and/or downwardly.

[54] it will be appreciated that a wide variety of configurations of mounting arrangements 1300 and/or engaging arrangements 1400 are possible, and in this regard, any suitably engineered clamping and/or securing and/or fastening solution can be used, including adhesive bonding.

[55] In this way, the relatively large surface area of a roller door can be utilised to provide either an aesthetically pleasing graphic, or advertising indicia (if used in a commercial context). Further, in this way the problem of not being able to provide [56] It is envisaged that the embodiments having more than one flexible sheet member shown in figures 1-4 could be used to, for example, provide an aesthetically pleasing graphic on the inside or outside of a garage door, and can also be used to provide a white surface, for example for use as a projecting surface for a projector if required.

[57] in use, the mounting arrangement 1300 will initially be installed on the runners 5200 of the roller door 5000 by placing each of the damping members 1310 a&b on either side of the runner, and then inserting cap screws 1320 into apertures 1316 a&b. The cap screws 1320 will then be tightened to clamp the clamping members onto the runner 5200. The cantilever member 1330 will then be mounted to the damping member 1310b by cap screws 1332. This process will be carried out on both sides of the door passage.

[58] The rolling mechanism 1200 will then be mounted in the mounting slots 1334 on each of the mounting arrangements 1300. The engaging arrangements 1400 will then be clamped onto the lower edge of the roller door by locating damping formations 1410 in position around the lower edge 5100, and tightening cap screws 1432 securely engage the clamping formations 1410 in place.

[59] The batten 1110 that is securely attached to the lower edge of the flexible sheet member 1100 is then pulled out, together with the flexible sheet member 1100, and apertures 1112 engaged with hooks 1440 on the engaging arrangement 1400. The bias in the rolling mechanism 1200 will serve to keep the battens 1110 firmly engaged with the engaging arrangement 1400.

[60] in an alternative embodiment (not shown), it is envisaged that the battens of each flexible sheet member can be slightly longer than the housing, in order to prevent retraction of the flexible sheet member 1100 fully into its associated housing (for example during assembly or disassembly). In another alternative embodiment (not shown) it is envisaged that the door accessory 1000 can further comprise stop formations extending outwardly from the flexible sheet member 1100 expressly to stop the flexible sheet member from being attracted fully into its associated housing.

[61] it is further envisaged that in alternative embodiments (not shown), the hook formations may be adjustable in at least a vertical direction in order to ensure that the flexible sheet member is uniformly tensioned to present a substantially flat surface. It is envisaged that the hook formations will be vertically adjustable by thread formations (not shown).

[62] in one embodiment (not shown), if is envisaged that the door accessory 1000 can include a lighting arrangement. The lighting arrangement can be configured to shine a light on to the front or back of the flexible sheet member 1100. It is envisaged that where the lighting arrangement is configured to shine light onto the back of the flexible sheet member 1100, the flexible sheet member 1100 will preferably be composed of a transparent or translucent material.

[63] It is envisaged that the lighting arrangement could be mounted on either of the mounting arrangement 1300, the engaging arrangement 1400 or the rolling mechanism 1200, as long as the lighting arrangement is positioned to be able to radiate light onto the flexible sheet member 1100 in a suitable fashion. In another embodiment, it is further envisaged that the lighting arrangement can be mounted to the roller door 5000.

[64] In one embodiment (not shown) it is envisaged that the mounting arrangement 1300 can further comprise adjustment formations (not shown) that allow for adjustment in the placement of the rolling mechanism 1200. Such adjustment formations can, for example, be the form of one or more slots in which a fastener is receivable to allow movement of the mounting arrangement relative to the rolling mechanism.

[65] Further, it is envisaged that in another embodiment (not shown) the mounting arrangement 1300 can comprise a locking formations for locking the support pins 1220 in place when they have been received into the mounting slots 1334. In one embodiment, the support pins 1220 can have threaded formations on which locking nuts are receivable for locking the support pins in place in the mounting slots 1334.

[66] It will be appreciated that the battens may have engaging arrangements securely connected directly to the batten, it will also be appreciated that battens need not be used, and that in other embodiments (not shown) alternative engaging formations couid be used, such as rings, or eyelets in the flexible sheet member.

Interpretation

Markush Groups [67] In addition, where features or aspects of the invention are described in terms of Markush groups, those skiiied in the art wiii recognise that the invention is also thereby described in terms of any individuai member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

Chronological sequence [68] For the purpose of this specification, where method steps are described in sequence, the sequence does not necessarily mean that the steps are to be carried out in chronological order in that sequence, unless there is no other logical manner of interpreting the sequence.

Embodiments: [69] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment" or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

[70] Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention, [71] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Different instances of Objects [72] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Specific Details [73] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details, in other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Terminology [74] In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of ciarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as "forward", "rearward", "radially", "peripherally", "upwardly", "downwardly”, and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

[75] For the purposes of this specification, the term “plastic” shall be construed to mean a general term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic polymerization products, and generally consisting of a hydrocarbon-based polymer.

[76] As used herein the term “and/or” means “and” or “or”, or both.

[77] As used herein “(s)” following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

Comprising and Including [78] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” are 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.

[79] Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Scope of invention [80] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and if is intended ίο claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

[81] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Industria! Applicability [82] it is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applicable to the security industries.

Claims (17)

1. Claims The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1) A door accessory suitable lor use with a roller door, the roller door configured for closing a door passage, the door accessory comprising: a) at least one or more flexible sheet members; b) at least one or more rolling mechanisms, each roiling mechanism configured for allowing movement of a flexible sheet member between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration; and c) at least one engaging arrangement configured for engaging the at least one or more flexible sheet members to a door.
2. 2) A door accessory as claimed in claim 1), further comprising at least one or more engaging arrangements configured for engaging an edge of the at least one or more flexible sheet members with a lower edge of said roller door.
3. 3) A door accessory as claimed in any of claims 1) to 2), wherein the door accessory comprises at least one mounting arrangement configured for mounting the door accessory at or towards said roller door.
4. 4) A door accessory as claimed in claim 3), wherein the mounting arrangement comprises a pair of clamping member is configured for clamping onto the runners of a rolling door.
5. 5} A door accessory as claimed in any one of claims 3) to 4), wherein the mounting arrangement is configured to mount said at least one or more roiling mechanisms to extend across the door passage.
6. 6) A door accessory as claimed in any of claims 1) to 5), the door accessory comprises a plurality of flexible sheet members.
7. 7) A door accessory as claimed in any of claims 1) to 6), the door accessory comprises a plurality of rolling mechanisms.
8. 8) A door accessory as claimed in any of claims 1) to 7), said roller door is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and each rolling mechanism is configured for roiling a flexible sheet member from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration, in operable association with the door.
9. 9) A door accessory as claimed in any of claims 1) to 8), wherein each roiling mechanism is biased to roll its associated flexible sheet member towards its deployed configuration from its stowed configuration.
10. 10) A door accessory as claimed in any of claims 1) to 9), wherein the door accessory comprises a plurality of engaging arrangements, each engaging arrangement being configured for engaging a lower edge of a flexible sheet member with a lower edge of said roller door.
11. 11) A door accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1) to 10), wherein the engaging arrangement is configured to engage securely with a lower edge of said roller door, and provide an engaging formation for engaging with the flexible sheet member.
12. 12) A door accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1) to 11), wherein the door accessory comprises a lighting arrangement configured for lighting the flexible sheet member.
13. 13) A door accessory as claimed in claim 12), wherein the lighting arrangement is configured for lighting in one or more selected from a front face of the flexible sheet member and a rear face of the flexible sheet member.
14. 14) A door accessory as claimed in any one of claims 12) to 13), wherein the Sighting arrangement is mounted to any one or more selected from the rolling mechanism, the mounting arrangement, and the engaging arrangement.
15. 15) A door accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1) to 14), wherein the flexible sheet member is composed of a translucent material.
16. 16) A door arrangement comprising: a) a door movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and b) a door accessory as claimed in any of ciaims 1) to15), the door accessory being operably associated with the door so that one or more of the flexible sheet members are configured to move between their deployed configuration and their stowed configuration as the door moves between its open configuration and close configuration, respectively.
17. 17) A door arrangement as claimed in claim 16), wherein the door is a roller door.