US2203856A - Door construction - Google Patents

Description

June 1], E E, BEASQN noon CONSTRUCTION Filed July 24, 1935 3 /v VENTOR doua/ad 6 9% A TTORNEV Patented June 11,1940

PATENT OFFICE f noon CONSTRUCTION Edward E. Beason, Kansas City, Mo;, assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Jacob H.

Peters, lndependence, Mo.

, Application any 24, 1935, Serial No. 32,842.

lMy invention, relates to improvements in door constructions. It is particularly well adapted for use in, garagedoor constructions, and is. of

the general type in which the door is swung from .5 a vertical closed position to an open substantially horizontal position overhead.

Oneof the objectsof my inventionis to provide novel, means for, pivotally mounting the doorso that it may be easily and quickly raise-d H}; or lowered, which improvedmeans adapts itself totdoors of different widths and heights, and which holds the door securely in the open position andpreventsits accidental opening.

The novel features, cf my invention are hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed. l

In the; accompanying drawing, which ,illustrates the preferredembodiment of my invention:

,Fig.;1 is a vertical section on theline i--l of 2.Fign 3 showing the doorin closed position in solid lines, and in open position in dotted lines.

of the swinging arms and its connections. Fig. 3 is an inside elevation, partly broken away, showing the door closed. v

Fig, 4 is a section on the plane of the line. AB showing the other swinging supporting arm and its connections. H

0;, Fig. ;5,1is an enlarged section onthe line 5,- -5 of Fig.1, showing one of the supporting guiding rollers and parts connectedptherewithp and Fig. Bis an enlarged view showing in inside elevation one of the guiding: rollers and a portion of the doonthe guiding channel being shown in cross section. I

Similar characters of. reference designate simi-.-

lar parts in the different views. l V I designates, opposite, walls of the garage, 2 the doorway thereof adapted to be closed by the usual garage door 3,,which is provided with means by which itcan be swung from the closed vertical on the samehorizontal transverse axis on asup port, which, as shown consists of two vertical,

posts 4 at the inner side of the door and at op posite sides respectively of the doorway 2. flhe swinging arms are alike in structure and 1 Claims. (01. ze -19) mode of operation, excepting that they are related as right and left. a Eachswinging supportingarmis provided with an inner tubular member 5 having a horizontal ,axial portion 6, which is pivoted in a bearing I .5, u fastened to. the front or outer" side of the adjacentpost 4. Each armis provided with another member 8 which is longitudinally adjustable with respect tothefmemberi and which, as shown, consists of a bar adjustable longitudinally in the 1 tubular end portion of the member 5, to which it can be .releasably locked by meansof a transverse pin 9, adapted tobe disposed in a. hole. in. the memberil and in any one of a longitudinal rowofholes l0 extending through the member 5 transversely. The pin 9 at one end is threaded and has on it a nut I I. Its other end is provided withaneyel2. l

The end of the member 5 .whichiis pivoted in the bearing 1, viz, the axial portion 6, is threaded g0 and has fitted on it a nut 13 to hold the member from sliding out of the bearing. The outer ends of the members Bare respectively provided with horizontal transverse alined extensions I4 which, extend toward each other 25 l and are respectively pivoted in bearings 15 fastened to the inner side of the door 3. The axis of the extensions I4 is parallel with, the axis of the axial portions 6 of the members 5, and,

preferably, saidaxes are in substantially the same 30.

' maximum of strength. i

For enabling the swinging door supporting arms 5- -8to swing as one unit to prevent cramp- 40, ing or binding of the door 3 when it is swung to or from the open position, connecting means are provided between the extensions M. In the form of invention shown, such connecting means comprises a transverse horizontal tube I 6, which may be in theform of a section of pipe Fig. 3, disposed between the bearings I5 and into the ends of which respectively extend the extensions [4. I

To look the extensions Hi to the tube l6, and to enable the extensions being adjusted toward an, and from each other, to adapt them to different widths of doors to which they may be applied, the

end portions of the tube It are respectively provided with longitudinal rows ofholes 11. Two

pins [8. are respectively removably inserted jacent row.

' abling their lengthwise adjustment in the bearings it for substantial distances, to accommodate instances where the supports comprising the posts 4 may be required to be set a distance apart considerably greater than the width of the'doorway 2.

For partially counterbalancing the Weight of the door 3, two coil springs l9 have one setof ends respectively attached to two clamps 20 respectively fastened to the outer end portions of the members 5. i

The other ends of the coil springs H) are respectively attached to two bolts 2| longitudinally adjustable respectively intwo brackets 22 respectively'fastened to the posts 4. The bolts 2! have respectively mounted on them two adjustable nuts 23 which respectively bear against the up-- g per sides of the brackets 22. The brackets 22 are disposed higher than and to {the rear of the axis of'the members 5, whereby the springs l9 will, when the door tis closed, exerta tension tending to swing the members Sand with them the door 3 upwardly'and inwardly toward the open position. 7 v

As shown in Figs. 1' and 4, each clamp 20 embraces and grips a cylindrical portion of the member 5,. of the swinging supporting arm, and as it is a clamp, it canbe adjusted lengthwise of and to any desired position on said cylindrical portion, for adapting the spring 19, attached to the clamp, to the weight of the particular doorto be partially counterbalanced.

Forinwardly guiding the upper end of the door 3, when it is swung upwardly on its swinging supporting arms, so that in the fully open position itwill be in a substantially horizontal overhead position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, there are mountedon the door 3 respectively adjacent to its upper corners and upon its inner side, two bearings 24 in which are respectively longitudinally adjustably mounted two horizontal alined rods 25, which are respectively heldinthe positions, to whichthey may be adjusted by two set screws 26 fitted in threaded holes in the bearingsfil. v

' Rotatably mounted on the rods 25 atthe outer ends, thereof aretwo rollers 21 disposed in two channel bars 28, which serve. as guides for the rollers 27 adapted for travel therein. The channelbars 28 are parallel with each other at oppo tically at oppositeedges of the doorway 2 at the inner side thereof.

[For lifting'the door to swing it from the vertical closed position tothe open overhead position, it has fastened to. its inner and outer sides thetwo handles 36 and 3|.

, @W'hen'the d ors is lifted fromthe closed position, the arms 5-8 will swing upwardly with the door, the upper end of which will be guided by the rollers 27 in the channelpguides 28 so as to move inwardly, thereby swinging the ,door on 7s its iaxis on theextensions 14. ,The slightdownward and inward inclination of the channel guides 28 will assist in the ease of swinging the door to the overhead position, and it will also prevent any tendency of the door to accidentally swing downwardly to the closed position. However, with the springs l9 given a suitable tension, the channel bars 28 may be disposed horizontally or even be inclined slightly upward.

. To assist in swinging the upperend of the door inwardly when the door is-being opened, I provide two coil springs 32 which have their lower or inner ends attached to the eyes 12 of the locking pins 9, the other ends of the springs being respectively attached to two screw eyes 33 mounted on the door 3 at the inner side thereof. The tension of the springs 32 is such as to normally tend, but of itself to be insufficient, to pull the door 3 inwardly at its upper end.

Where the space is quite restricted, and where it is desired to dispose the axis of the arms 58 at substantially the height shown, while still keeping the springs IQ of considerable length, the members 5 may have crank portions 34 extended downwardly from the axial portions 6 at the inner sides of the bearings 1', as best shown in Fig. 1. i i

In the operation of the door to swing it from the closed to the open overhead position, a person on the inside can grasp the handle 30, or a person at the outer side can grasp the handle 3| to lift the door. The springs l9 and the springs 32 aid in raising the door and swinging it to the open position. v

To close the door, the operator grasps the handle and pulls forwardly and downwardly upon it, and this force, assisted by the gravity of the door after it has'been started downwardly, results in descent of the door to the vertical closed position.

By adjusting the nuts 23 on the bolts 2! the tension of the springs l9 may be adjusted to properly correspond with the weight of the door.

The lengths of the arms 5-8 may be adjusted, as has been described, to suit the height of the door and the height at which it is desired that the axis of the arms shall be.

Many modifications of my invention, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spiritof my invention.

H What I claim is:

1; In a door construction, the combination with a' door, a. support at the inner side thereof, and

sup-porting means pivotedon parallel horizontal transverse axes to said door and to said support, whereby said door may be swung inwardly at its upper end from a vertical closed position to an open position above said supporting means, of a guide at the inner side of said door which inclines from its outer end inwardly and downwardly in a plane at right angles to said axes, and means onsaid door having traveling engagement with said guide and disposed above the axis of said door. i

2. 'In a door construction, the combination with a door, and a support atthe inner side thereof, of a swinging supporting arm pivoted to said door and to said support on parallel horizontal transverse axes, and a spring attached to said arm and to said door above, the axis of said door on saidarm and normally. exerting a tension tending, but of itself insufficient, to swing in- Wardly theupper end of said door when the latter is closed.

3. In a doorconstruction, the combination with a door,ia' support at the. inner side thereof, a

swinging supporting arm pivoted to said support and to saiddoor on parallel horizontal transverse axes, a guide which inclines from'its outer end inwardly and downwardly above said axes, and meanson said door above the axis of the latter on said arm having travelingengagement with said guide, of a spring attached to saidfarm and to said door abovesaid axis of said door on said arm and exerting normally a tension tending, but'of itself insufficient, to swing inwardly the upper end of said door when said arm is upwardlyswung. 3 l l -4. In a door construction, the combination with a door, and a support at the inner side thereof, offltwo swinging supporting arms pivoted on the same horizontal transverse axis to said support andrespectively provided withalined extensions parallel with said axis and pivoted tosaid door, means connecting said extensions by which they maybe made to oscillated with each other, and a spring attached to one of said arms and to said door above the arm towhich it is attached and normally exerting a tension tending, but of itself insuflicient, to swing inwardlythe upper end of said door when the latter is in the closed position.

5,. In a door construction, the combination with adoor, and a support at the inner side thereof,

of bearing means on the inner side and substantially at themiddle of the height of said door, a swinging supporting arm pivoted on a horizontal transverse axis to said support, and pivoted to saidbearing means on an axis parallel with said firstnamed axis approximately in the horizontal plane thereof, whereby said door may be swung inwardly at its upper end and on and with said arm from a closed verticalposition to an overhead open approximately horizontal position, and partial' counterbalancing means including a clamp movable lengthwise of and embracing and griparms being parallel and rigid with each other throughthe front or middle portion of the frame,

a pivotal support for the end of each arm, a garage door, and means for removably bolting the back of the door to the outer side of said frame, so that the dooris movable into an overhead open position, said bolting being adjustable to change the distance between said arms, and thereby the width of said frame, for doors of different widths, or for different distances between one pivotal support and the other.

7. In a garage door construction, the combination of means forming a horizontal frame ex-' tending across the inside of the doorway beyond tions, with the end sections adjustable endwise on the middle section, to vary the distance between said arms.

8. In mechanism for pivotally supporting a door for swinging movement upwardly into an doorway, means for pivotally supporting the door on said axially aligned arms comprising bearing members for attachment to the rear surface ofthe door and engaging over said axially aligned arms for rotation thereon, means coacting with said axially aligned arms and with said bearing members for'permitting relative inward and'outward adjustment between said aligned arms and said bearing members to enable the lateral spacing between said rearwardly extending arms to be adjusted, counterbalancing springsconnected with said rearwardly extending arms, an upper guide track extending inwardly from said doorway, and guide means carried by the upper portion of said door and travelling along said guide track.

9. In mechanism for pivotally supporting a door for swinging movement upwardly into an overhead open position and downwardly into a vertical closed position relatively to a doorway,

the combination of two door supporting members adapted to be disposed adjacentto the sides of the door and being of L-shaped configuration to form two axially aligned armsextending toward each otherparallel to the backsurface: of the doorand to also form two rearwardly extending arms projecting inwardly from the door, means for pivotally mounting said rearwardly extending arms on a stationary pivot axis disposed a substantial distance inwardly from said doorway, means for pivotally supporting the door on said axially aligned arms comprising bearing members for attachment to the rear surface of the door and engaging over said axially aligned arms for rotation thereon, means coacting with said axially aligned arms andwith said bearing members for permitting relativeinward and outward adjustment between said aligned arms and said bearing members to enable the lateral spacing between said rearwardly extending arms to be adjusted, counterbalancing means connected to counterbalance a portion of the weight'of said I door, and guide means coacting with said door for guiding the opening and closing movements thereof.

10. In mechanism for pivotally supporting a door for swinging movement upwardly into an overhead open position and downwardly into a vertical closed position relatively to a doorway, the combination of a section of pipe extending horizontally across the rear side of the door substantially midway of the height of the door, rod members extending into the open ends of said pipe section at each side of the door, means for mounting the dooron said pipe section and rod members, said rod members being adjustable inwardly and outwardly in the outer ends of said pipe section to adapt the mechanism to different widths of doors and to different conditions of across the rear side of the door substantially midway of the height thereof, rod members extending into the open ends of said tube at each side of the door, means, operatively connecting the door with said tube and rod members, said rod members being adjustable inwardly and outwardly inthe outer ends of said tube to adapt the mechanism to different conditions of installa tion, arms extending rearwardly from said rod members at each side of the door, means for pivotally mounting said arms on a stationary pivot axis disposed a substantial distance inwardly from said doorway and counterbalancing springs connected with said rearwardly extending arms to counterbalance a portion of the weight of said door.

12. In a garage door construction, the combination of a frame extending transversely across the doorway beyond the vertical sides of the latter, and comprising a rigid intermediate member and two rigid end members, each having two arms at angles to each other, means rigidly fastening two of said arms of said end members respectively to said intermediate member, means fastening said frame to one side of the door, and means pivotally supporting the other two arms, so that the door is movable into an overhead open position.

. 13. In a garage door construction, the combination of a frame extending transversely across the doorway beyond the vertical sides of the latter, and comprising a rigid intermediate member and two angled end members, each of said end members having two arms at angles to each other, means for removably bolting two of the arms of said end members respectively to said intermediate member, said bolting being adjustable to change the distance between said end members, means fastening said frame to one side of the door, and means pivotally supporting the other two arms, so that the door is movable into an overhead open position.

14. In mechanism for pivotally supporting a door for swinging movement upwardly into an overhead open position and downwardly into a vertical closed position relatively to a doorway, the combination of a section of pipe extending horizontally across the rear side of the door substantially midway of the height of the door, rod members extending into the open ends of said pipe section at each side of the door, means operatively connecting the door with said pipe and rod members, said rod members being adjustable inwardly and outwardly in the outer ends of said pipe section to adapt the mechanism to different widths of doors and to difierent conditions of installation, arms extending rearwardly from said rod members at each side of the door, bearing members for pivotally mounting said arms on a stationary pivot axis,which is disposed a substantial distance inwardly from said doorway and which is parallel with and in approximately the same horizontal plane of saidpipe section when the door is in closed position, said rearwardly extending arms comprising means enabling the effective lengths of said arms from said pipe section back to said bearing members to be adjusted, counterbalancing springs for counterbalancing a portion of the weight of the door, and adjustable connecting members for connecting said springs with said rearwardly extending arms, said connecting members being adjustable to different positions along said rearwardly extending arms t adjust the action of said springs.-

EDWARD E. BEASON.

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