MXPA03006195A - Overhead door lock system and control unit therefor. - Google Patents

Abstract

A locking mechanism includes a frame having a movement obstruction arm movable into a track on which rollers of an overhead door will move. When any roller on the door abuts against the arm, it will obstruct any further opening movement of the overhead door. A camming means is associated with the movement obstruction arm to automatically shift the same to a position out of the trackway when the door is moving back to the closed position. A control module is operable with the locking mechanism and receives a signal from a locking mechanism indicative of whether or not the locking mechanism is opened or closed. The control module will thereupon provide an opening signal to an opener for the overhead door.

Description

HIGH DOOR LOCK SYSTEM AND CONTROL UNIT FOR THE SAME Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention. This invention relates in general to certain useful and new improvements in raised door closing mechanisms more particularly, to an elevated door closing mechanism which operates in conjunction with a garage door opener control circuit for sensing the condition of the lock and control the operation of the garage door opener in response as well or not the lock is in the open or closed condition. 2. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART The automatic elevated garage door mechanisms are well known and are used in a variety of installations. There is also a large number of automatic door operators to open and close these doors. In some cases, the doors are comprised of individual panels connected with hinges that are capable of pivoting in relation to other vertically arranged panels when the door is opened. Each of the panels is moved successively through an arched route during the opening movement and also during the closing movement or an inverted movement. In other cases, the door is an individual panel door and is capable of being moved through an arched route to an open position where it can be placed in a horizontal position parallel to the floor of the installation. Usually, a pair of rails are placed on opposite sides of the access opening on which the door extends and the door can move on these rails. In addition, the door itself is provided with rollers mounted thereon and extending laterally from the sides of the door for movement with rollers on the rails and thus allowing the movement of the door relative to the rails. In many cases, the elevated door is operated by a door operator, as mentioned above, and only the door operator itself provides any closing activity. However, in many cases, the closing effects offered by an operator are limited. When security is necessary to access an installation, these operators usually do not have sufficient closing capacity or closure capacity. Consequently, it is sometimes necessary to provide an additional locking mechanism that operates in conjunction with, but is independent of, the door operator itself.

There have been garage door operators that provide a locking mechanism, for example, as in U.S. Patent No. 6,089,626 to Shoemaker, the present applicant herein. In United States Patent No. 6,027,148 a closure mechanism is also provided which provides a safety closing action and can be used with a raised door, and is operated with a control module therefor.

Brief Description of the Invention Therefore, it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide in combination a lock mechanism and control module therefor that can be used in an auxiliary capacity for a garage door opener apparatus or the called "door operator" or that may be part of a door operator to provide a safety lock condition to the raised door. It is another object of the present invention to provide a lock control module that is connected to a lock mechanism and provides a signal to the garage door opener depending on whether the lock mechanism is in a closed condition or a non-lock condition. closed, or not. The present invention provides a door lock system primarily for use with raised doors, such as garage elevated section doors, in which a lock mechanism is provided, as well as a relatively simple lock control circuit., often referred to as a "lock control module". This module is relatively simple and is capable of controlling the security functions of the system of the present invention. The lock mechanism as well as the lock control circuit are used in conjunction with a conventional garage door opener and is sometimes referred to as an "operator". In this case, the garage door opener will be partially controlled through the action of the lock control module which in turn, senses the condition of the closing mechanism, all in a manner as described hereinafter. , In more detail. The closing mechanism of the invention comprises a housing that is installed independently of the garage door opener apparatus. Mounted inside the housing is a sliding arm that is adapted to extend on a rail that receives rollers in the garage door. When the lock mechanism is in the closed condition, it will form a barrel and thus prevent the rollers of the garage door from moving. The arm can also be slid back from the rail path in the open condition thus allowing the movement of the rollers and therefore of the raised door. The closing mechanism of the invention further includes a solenoid which causes movement of the arm to the non-closed condition and is also pushed with spring to the closed or secured condition. In addition, a switch is mounted in the lock mechanism and is designed to transmit a closed or secured condition signal or an unlocked or unsecured condition signal to the control module in its response to the closed or unlocked condition of the control mechanism. closing. A manual override is also part of the lock mechanism of the invention, in which a user can automatically move the arm to the closed or secured position where it extends in the rail to block the path of the rollers. The user can also manually move the arm to the open position to remove any obstruction in the rail and thus allow the movement of the raised door. The arm that forms part of the closing mechanism is automatically pushed backwards from the rail by the action of the rollers when the raised door is moving from an open position to a closed position.

The arm has an inclined surface that engages the rollers as the door is moving to the closed position and thus automatically pushes the arm out of the rail path, thereby allowing the door to move to the completely closed or folded position. The closing mechanism operates with the previous module, since the lock control module will provide a ground signal that is sent to the garage door opener and will cause the opener to open the raised door in response to an activation signal . When there is a signal to open the lock with authorization, the module transmits the signal to the lock mechanism, and this will cause the closing arm to move to a position against the action of a spring, where it will not interfere with the movement of the rollers of the door. In this way, in this last condition, the door will be allowed to move freely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic circuit diagram showing a door closure assembly of the present invention used in conjunction with a raised door and an operator for it; Figure 2 is a perspective view of one side of a door lock mechanism forming part of the assembly of the present invention showing the door lock mechanism in the unsecured condition; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the door lock mechanism of Figure 2 in the door closing position; Figure 4 is a side elevational view, separated and partly in section, showing the complete components of the door lock mechanism of the invention and in a door closing condition; and Figure 5 is a side elevational view, partially broken away and in section, and similar to Figure 4, but showing the lock mechanism in an unlocked or unlocked condition.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Modality With reference now in more detail, and to the reference characters of the drawings, Figures 2-5 illustrate a door closing mechanism A of the present invention used in conjunction with a raised door of D as shown in FIG. shown in Figures 4 and 5. In this case, the raised door D is illustrated schematically, although it should be understood that the door D will be mounted within a suitable frame as described hereinafter. Although the door closing mechanism of the invention is shown as being used in conjunction with a conventional door opener or operator, it should be recognized that the closure assembly, per se, includes the lock mechanism and the module ( both as described hereinafter), can be used independently and not in conjunction with an opener. More specifically, the door D and one of the rails 10 forming part of the frame is illustrated more fully in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings with the track also more fully shown in Figures 2 and 3. In this case, it can be seen that the track is formed by a channel defining a slot 12 for receiving the rollers 14 mounted on the door D. In this regard, the rollers 14 are secured to the door D by means of the roller axles 16 . As indicated above, a pair of rails 10 are mounted with each of the pair located on opposite sides of the door and the door is thus provided with rollers 14 on each of the opposite sides that will roll on the rails 10 and that they allow the movement of lifting and abatement of the door. The door closing mechanism A is illustrated more fully in Figures 2-5 of the drawings and is generally mounted on an outer surface of the track 10 in the manner best shown in Figure 2. For this purpose the mechanism A for closing the door is comprised of a housing or frame 20 in a somewhat U-shape having tabs 22 for securing the rail 10 by any conventional fastener such as bolts 24 or the like. Mounted on frame 20 is a moving obstruction arm 26 which is somewhat L-shaped and has an inclined leg 28 connected to a leg 30 generally located horizontally. Leg 28 has an inclined surface 32, ramp type exterior that operates as a cam surface, as described later in more detail. The moving obstruction arm 26 is secured to the inner side of a rail 10 and is located in the channel 12, as best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. With reference to Figures 2 and 3, it can be seen that the leg 30 generally positioned horizontally of the moving obstruction arm 26 extends through an opening 34 located in the channel. In addition, the obliquely arranged leg 28 is generally provided with an upper tab 36 secured to the track and provided with a hinge portion 38 to allow the arm 26 to move to a moving obstruction position, as shown in FIG. Figure 3, so that the closing mechanism is in a secured condition or in an open position, out of the way, as best shown in Figure 2. Figure 2 also shows the closing mechanism in its open condition. The leg 30 generally positioned horizontally of the moving obstruction arm 26 is secured at its outer end to a locking lever 40 as shown in Figures 4 and 5 and which in turn is pivotally mounted on the frame 20. U-shaped by means of a pivot pin 42. A releasable, manually engageable handle 40 can be displaced in engagement with the upper end of the locking lever 40, as best shown in Figure 4. The handle is pivotally mounted on the frame by a pivot pin 46. This manually engageable handle 44 can be held by the thumb and index finger of a user and rotated clockwise in Figure 4 in order to move the motion obstruction arm to the unlocked or unlocked position as is shown in Figure 5. The locking mechanism is in the secured position, as shown in Figure 4. In addition, the motion obstruction arm will remain in a position that extends in the rail path, such that the mechanism The closure end is in the closed position through the action of a spring 52. The upper end of the activation handle serves so that it can be manually engaged by the index finger and thumb of the user, in a manner to be described later in the present in more detail. However, it can be seen that when the manually engaged handle 44 is moved to the position as shown in Figure 5 (the moving obstruction arm 26 moves out of the channel 12 in the rail 10, and back into the position retracted as shown in Figure 5. However, when the actuating handle 44 is moved to an opposite position as shown in Figure 4, the moving obstruction arm 26 is moved to a position where it will prevent movement of the rollers 14 and therefore of the door D. With reference again to Figure 4, it can be seen that the manually engageable driving handle 44 is secured on pivot to the frame 20 by means of the pivot pin 46. In this way, the manually engageable driving handle 44 can be rotated in a clockwise direction, with reference to Figure 4, in order to move the moving obstruction arm 26 in the path of the clockwise direction. rail in a roller blocking position, so that the locking mechanism is in the secured position, as shown in Figure 4. The manually engageable handle 44 can also be moved to a position where it is pressed against the lever 40 of closure and therefore the moving obstruction arm 26 will move to a position outside the rail, and that is, to an unsecured position, as shown in Figure 5. The spring 50 is a double actuated spring, which it is also connected to the frame 20. In this manner, and in accordance with this construction, the handle can be moved to a position where it allows the moving obstruction arm 26 to remain in a secured or closed position and will remain in this position. Else, the handle can be moved in an opposite position which allows the moving obstruction arm 26 to remain open and again the arm will remain in that position. In this way, the manual release handle will remain either in the secured position or in the unsecured position. The closing lever 40 is also spring-biased so as to push the obstructing arm 26 in motion to the obstructed or secured position, by means of a spring 52 located above the pivot pin 42, as shown in FIG. Figure 4. In this way, when the manually engageable driving handle 44 is not used, the spring 52 will always tend to push the closing lever 40 back to a position where it is shown in Figure 4 and thus can cause the movement of the obstruction arm 26 in motion to the secured position. With further reference to Figures 4 and , it can be seen that an electrically operable solenoid 56 is mounted within the frame 20 and includes a displaceable plunger 58 capable of engaging the closure lever 40. In this way, when plunger is retracted, according to the action of the solenoid 56, the upper end of the closing lever 40 will push to the left, with reference to Figure 4, around the pivot pin 42. In this way, the moving obstruction arm 26 is moved back to the open position, as shown in Figure 5. In this manner, energizing the solenoid 56 will cause an opening of the lock mechanism. In a similar manner, the de-energization of the solenoid 56 allowed that spring 52 pushes both the closing lever 40 and the moving obstruction arm 26 back to the closed position where it will prevent the opening of the raised door. A simple circuit board 62 is also mounted within the frame 20 and is further provided with a connector pin 64 for a connection to the control module.

A switch 66 is also mounted within the frame 20 and can be operated in response to the closure mechanism that is in the open position. When the closing mechanism is moved to the open position, as shown in Figure 5, a signal generated from the lock control module 70 will pass through the switch 66 and return to the module, as described hereinafter. This constitutes a signal that the lock is in the open position. However, it can be seen that the switch 66 is actuated with the lever 40 of in-response closing movement of the closing lever 40. The closing mechanism of Figures 2-5 can be used independently of or in addition to, with a lock control module 70, as shown in Figure 1. In this case, the module 70 that controls the closing mechanism A and the conventional door operator 72 are all connected together, as shown in Figure 1, with the opener apparatus physically connected to the door D. Conventionally, the opener apparatus is operated by a switching mechanism 74, External, manually operable, which can adapt a wireless signal form a remote control. However, in this case, the switching mechanism 74 is directly connected to the module which, in turn, controls the opening apparatus. The lock control module 70 is also connected to a transformer 76 which provides an energy voltage source for the operation of the module and remaining portions of the closure assembly as shown in Figure 1. The closing mechanism A of the invention it can also be connected to a security mechanism 78 as shown to provide a security output signal to either a remote extension or to an alarm system or the like. However, the security system itself is of conventional construction and is therefore neither illustrated nor described in any further detail herein. The lock control module 70 is activated by the external switch 74 which may be in the form of a wireless signal transmitter, also as a radio frequency signal transmitter, as mentioned above. In many cases, the opener apparatus 72 is provided with a transceiver system that includes a separate transmitter and a receiver operating in radio frequency. In this case, the module itself can be equipped in this way with the transceiver array, if desired. In any case, numerous different types of external input can be provided to initialize a lock mechanism opening signal. In any case, and once an input activation signal from the switch 74 has been detected, the control module 70 will energize an internal relay for a predetermined period of time. This, in turn, will cause energization of the solenoid 56 within the closing mechanism. As indicated beforehand, the energization of the solenoid 56 pushes the plunger 58 inward and thereby moves the obstructing arm 26 in motion to the open position. With reference to Figure 1, it can be seen that the opening signal is sent to cause the closing mechanism to be opened from the module 70 to the closing mechanism A on a pair of conductors 80. A second separate signal is sent from the lock control module to the closing mechanism A and back again to the control module 70 on a second set of conductors 82, as shown in Figure 1. In effect, when the switch 66 in the closing mechanism actuates, it allows the passage of an earth signal through it that effectively returns to the module and essentially informs the module that the closing mechanism is open. In this way, the module 70 will send the opening signal to the opener apparatus 72 on a pair of conductors 84. The control switch 66 operates effectively in such a way that it does not actually generate a signal, but rather allows a electric current pass through it and back to the lock control module 70. This is, in effect, the equivalent of generating a lock-opening signal. In addition, this same signal is used for transmission to the opener apparatus 72 to cause the opener to operate in a conventional manner. The locking mechanism also typically has opening outputs and normally lock outputs supplied by the internal switch 68 which can be used to control the security system 78 to thereby alert the security system when the lock is unlocked.

Claims (15)

1. CLAIMS 1.
2. In a door closing mechanism for securing a raised door having a engageable means that can be moved in a channel of a rail when the door is in a closed position and that can be uncoupled to allow the opening movement of the door. the door, an improvement in the closing mechanism comprising: a) a frame means capable of being mounted in proximity to the door; b) a movement obstruction member in the frame means and which can be moved to an obstruction position in the channel to engage an element in the door and thereby prevent the opening movement of the door when the door is in the closed position c) a cam means associated with the movement obstruction member to automatically force the member out of the obstruction position in the channel when the door is moving from the open position to the closed position; and d) means for automatically moving the obstruction member to a position outside the channel to allow opening movement of the door. 2- The improvement in the door closing mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that the movement obstruction member is an elongated movement obstruction arm, that a attachable means is a roller means in the door, and the Cam means comprises an oblique portion of the arm that faces the movement obstruction arm and pushes against the oblique portion, forcing the arm out of the obstruction position, and the means is also provided to push the arm back into the obstruction position in the channel after the roller means has passed over and beyond the movement obstruction arm.
3. The improvement in the door closing mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that the means for automatically moving the obstruction arm member comprises an electrically operated component that can be operated in response to an external signal.
4. 4. The improvement in the door closing mechanism according to claim 2, further characterized in that the mechanism is provided with a manually actuatable activation handle that can be moved to cause the arm to move out of the obstruction or return to the obstruction position, and that the handle is pushed with spring to allow the arm to remain in a position of obstruction in the rail and also be pushed with spring to allow the arm to remain in an open position outside the channel in the selection of the user thereof.
5. The improvement in the door closing mechanism according to claim 2, further characterized in that the closing means comprises a means for continuously moving, which is a solenoid means mounted on the frame and which is energized in response to an electrical signal for opening the closing mechanism to allow movement of the door, and a piston operable by the solenoid means and which can be coupled with the arm to move the movement obstruction arm in a position outside the channel.
6. The improvement in the door closing mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that the mechanism is provided with a manually-releasable and moveable release handle to cause the arm to move out of the obstruction or retractor position. return to the obstruction position, and that the handle is spring-loaded to allow the arm to remain in an obstruction position on the rail and also be pushed with spring to allow the arm to remain in an open position outside the channel in selection of the use of it.
7. The door closing mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that this means is mounted on a side frame that causes the passage of a signal indicative of an open or closed condition of the closing mechanism.
8. 8. An improvement in a control arrangement for controlling the movement of a raised door having a safety locking feature that includes a locking mechanism that can be locked or secured to close or secure the raised door in a closed position and could be unlocked or open to allow movement of the door to an open position, and an opener that operates the raised door for movement from a closed position to an open position and back to the closed position, the control arrangement comprises: (a) a lock control module electrically connected to the opener and the closing mechanism unable to receive a first lock control signal from the closing mechanism when the closing mechanism is in a certain operating state; and (b) a manually operable switching means, operated by a user, and operable to send the signal to the module to either open or close the door and thereby automatically activate the closing mechanism, the control module which receives a second lock control signal from the closing mechanism indicative of whether the lock mechanism is secured or not secured and thus the control operation.
9. The improvement in the control arrangement according to claim 8, further characterized in that the manually operable switching means provides an external signal connected to the lock control module to cause the opening or closing of the closing mechanism.
10. The improvement in the control arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that a synchronization means causes an automatic re-securing of the closing mechanism after a predetermined period of time.
11. The improvement in the control arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the conductive means is connected between the closing mechanism and the lock control module to send a signal to verify that the closing mechanism is either in the insured or unsecured position.
12. 12. In a control arrangement for controlling the movement of a raised door having a safety locking feature with the control arrangement comprising a locking mechanism that can be closed or secured to close or secure the raised door to a position closed and can be unlocked or opened to allow movement of the door to an open position, and an opener that operates the raised door for movement from a closed position to an open position and back to the closed position, the improvement that comprises: (a) a lock control module electrically connected to the opener and the closing mechanism unable to receive a first lock control signal from the closing mechanism when the closing mechanism is in a first actuated state; and (b) a manually operable switching means, operated by a user to either open or close the door, and to send a door opening signal and to automatically activate the lock mechanism to a second actuation state, the module of control that receives a signal from the closing mechanism indicative of whether the closing mechanism is either insured or uninsured.
13. 13. The improvement in the control arrangement according to claim 12, further characterized in that the first lock control signal is a signal that will cause a closing of the closing mechanism and the first operating state is a secured or closed condition of the mechanism of closure, and the second lock control signal is a signal that will cause an unlock of the closing mechanism and the second actuation state is an unsecured condition of the closing mechanism.
14. 14. The improvement in the control arrangement according to claim 12, further characterizes in that the manually operable switching means provides an external signal connected to the lock control module to cause an opening movement of the closing mechanism.
15. 15. The improvement in the control arrangement according to claim 13, further characterized in that the lock control module is operatively connected to the opener apparatus to cause the opener to open the raised door when the closing mechanism is in a second condition. drive.