US2453554A

US2453554A - Overhead door guiding and latching mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2453554A
Application number: US593136A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-05-11
Filing date: 1945-05-11
Publication date: 1948-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 1965-11-09

Description

Nov. 9, 1948. I J. THOMAS 2,453,554

OVERHEAD DOORGUIDING AND LATCHING MECHANISM Filed May 11, 1945 2 sheets-sheer 1 ,NIMH

. f jlvl/ENTOR.

Afro/@M1425 J. T}1OMA$ OVERHEAD DOOR GUIDINGAND LATOHING MEOHANISM NOV, 99 31948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMay l1,y 1945 Patented Nov. 9, 1948 UNITED I STATES i PATENT OFFICE i, i ,a i 2,453,554 f OVERHEAD Doon GUIDING AND `LATCHING` MECHANISM` i John Thomas, M ilwakeeQWis. ApplicatioirMay 11, 1945, seria1No.593,136 i of the type which includes superimposed and foldably connected sections arranged relative to the tracks or guiding means in a manner so that the rollers, carried by the top section of thedoon are on hingedly mounted supports which may p roject outwardly or collapseirelat'ive to said door section, 'v /hereby, for the elevation of the `door to overhead position, a `pathfutilizing but a minimum expensive .door section mechanism which is `easy to install, which is adinstable` ,to compensate forthe variationsindoor Widths, and which is easy to operate.`

of 'head room is reduired." In doors of the type l under consideration, due to the low elevation Yof i the overhead portion of the guiding tracks for'the door, the top sectionof the door may break or fold inwardly before initiation of movement of the entiredoor, with the result that special separate lmeans must be provided for controlling swinging movement o f the top section of the door and `for latching said door is closed. y I

-With the'foregoing in mind, it is,*therefore, a primary object of thepresent invention to provide, in connection withan overhead door of the type mentioned, unitary and `jointly operated means for simultaneously controlling Vswinging movement of the top .section ofthe door and for controlling :latch mechanism fassociated there- A further object of the invention is to provide, l

in a plural-section overhead door,l `a latching mechanism which simultaneously and jointly latches the upper section of thedoor against in`v IWard swinging movement, and latches the entire door against vertical movement;

A` further object of the invention to provide,`

in an overhead door guiding and latching mechanism, `hinge sections of simple formation made according to a single pattern and adapted forluse individually or` inpairs `in `various arrangements onthedoor. Y, I Aufurther object of the invention is to provide,

in a multi-section overhead door, a simplemechanism traversing the upper: section` of the door" and controllable from an intermediatepoint lon the door for latching thedoorand for operating the roller-carrying supportsfor the top section of the door.

Afurther object of the invention is `to provide, in `a multi-section overhead door, simple and` in-l...

top section when therentire of "the showing `A further object ofthe invention is` to provide 'an overhead door guidingand latching mechanism of` a very simple and inexpensiveconstruc-- tion, which is strong and durable, which issimple and elicie'nt in operation, and which I is `Well adapted for thepurpses described.

Withfthei'above and other objects in View, the invention consists of the improved overhead door guiding andllatchingmechanism, and its parts and combinations asset forth in the claims, and all equivalents'thereof. In the accompanying `drawings,`in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views: l

"Fia 1 is a rearorfinner elevational view 0f the improved overhead door in its closed position and showing the guiding and latching mechanism applied thereto, portions of the supporting structure being shown-in section, said View being I taken on line I-I of Fig; 2;

hingedly associated therewith;

Fig. 5 is a similar view at right angles to the showing `in Fig; 4'with`part`s brokenaway and in section; Fig. 6is anenlarged fragmentary detailsectionalviewtakenon line 6--6 ofFigQ 1; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail sectional view in Fig.` 6 takenat right angles thereto.` Y I Referring [now more particularly to the drawings, the complete Vsectional overhead door I0 is illustrated as having two sections I I and I I 2, but in actual practice the door may include any desired number of illustrated sections. The sections I I controlling" and Ilatching e and I2v are hinged together in superimposed relation by hinges which compriseA complementary plate members I3 and I4, which Iwill be dealt with more fully hereinafter. For the purpose of guiding the door to and from its overhead position there is provided adjacent each side of the door a metal track I5 of channeled formation and comprising an upright section I6, a curved section I1 and an overhead horizontal section I8.

For foldably connecting the superimposed door sections II and I2, sets of spaced complementary hinge plates I3 and I4 are utilized, as previously mentioned. The hinge plates are of very simple 'constractionv and adapt themselves.. to.. different usages and installations` For the hinged connection of the door sections each hinge is composed of a section I3 and a complementary section I4, the latter being narrower than the section I3 so as to t within the flangedt sides-thereof, as shown. A hinge plate or section I3 is screwed or otherwise secured to one section of the door and the complementary hinge plate or section I4 is screwed or otherwise secured to! the other-section of the door, with the adjacent portions vof the hinge sections telescoping and said telescoping portions being provided with registering apertures through which a pintle I9` is extended, the pintlel being enclosed in a sleeve 20 welded or otherwise secured within-an end portion of one` of the, hinge sections, as the section I4. As for'the hinge members, which are adjacent the side margins ofthe door, the pintles' I9 are relatively long andthe outer ends of the same carry rollers 2;I "to ride, in the tracks I5'.r On the lower face portions ofY the door section II, adjacentthe side margins, thereof," plates. I3 may be secured carrying sleeves 20"which have. j ournalled therein.

the pintles I9 carrying lower. track engaging rollers 2 I, on their outer ends. The roller-carrying pintles I9 are longitudinally, shiftable in their Sleeves, 20, and this.ner-mits thel rollers 2l to be brought intoaccurate registrationwith the tracks I5, when the door is installedirrespective of slight inaccuraciesin the positions. of they hinges orA in thev door sectionI width.,

The improved, mechanism` :for guiding. the door to and from, its overhead,y position is. of.y impor tance inthe present invention. The, upper, inner corner face portions ofthe topsectionA I2` of the,

doorhaye sorewedtheretoplates I4Y similar to those previously described in connectionwith the hinges, Onlyffpostoned, withtheir. sleeve portions 20,11ppermost. As the. constructiomof the upper. roller-carrying elements,V on each.V side1 of. the door areidentical, onlyonewill be describedl in cie--V the opposite. rollerecarrying; bracketvr 22, ,with its-v Afbracketpplate 22,7in its swingableiassociationwith a fixedl plate I4, is shown in detail infl-igs.- 4 and,.,5. Withinagsleeve-20f vinthe freeend: O f

the plate 2,2 isre'volubly mounteda shaft 24 car.4 rying= anY uppertrack roller` atits outer end:

Said, shaftis .axially adjustable.v in its sleeve for adiuaiments, and installation alnement. Fast on the elongated horizontal rod 23 adjacent an inner face portion of the bracket plate 22 is a crank 26 having on its free end an inwardly pro-i jecting stud 21 extending into an arcuate slot 28 in an inner side flange of the bracket plate 22; Obviously, when oscillatory movement is imparted to the elongated rod 23, through means herein `after to be described, swinging movement will be imparted to the crank 26 to oscillate the stud 21 in the bracket plate slot 28. The 'slot provides for a certain degree of lost motion before the stud 21' contacts end portions of the slot to thereby swing the roller-carrying bracket plate 22.

Mountedonsthe building,` supporting l structure adjacent each horizontalgitrack section. I8 is a counter-balancing spring 29 (see Fig. 2). One end of va spring is anchored, as at 30, while the other end of a spring carries a sheave 3| about which is extended an elongated cable 32, a portion of the cable also being engaged by another shear/re 33.f suspended from the supporting structure atsome distance from the sheave` 3I. One end of the cable 32 is anchored, as at 34, While the. oth-erend of the cable, passing downwardly from the sheave 33, is anchored on a bracket 35 projectinglaterally from a lower inner.face.p.or tion, ofk the, lowermost door section Il.

Mountedon the inner surfaceof, awall or. support,r over the door opening and, intermediate theV sideedges thereof is a latchsocket plate 3Iiadaptf-` ed to be entered by aspring-urged latchbolt 31A vertically, reciprocatably mounted in` a. bracketV plate 3,8.. securedl to a, face portion of` the door section I 2. adlacentfitsv .upper margin .and in ver"-Y tical alinement with, the` socket plate 36. lrlter-` gral` with. and depending from the; bracketplate 3B isl a, bifurcated.- bearingfbracket 39 in which anintermediate portion of the horizontal rod k23 is. journalled.-` .Theinner eyed, extremity of abifur cated, lever40. is. securedy to ,the rod 23 yandthe outerendiportions ofsaid lever 40fhave pivotally connected` therebetween, as at 4I, the upperextremity of4 theangledgendof a vertically reciprocatable, operating linie` 42.

Therey -is intermediately lpivotallyA mountedA bek-v tween depending ear portions of the bifurcated; bracket39- a yoke-like lever 43 which encloses the upwardly, extending flattened portion of 1 the; link;

mounted on; anainnerlfaceportion ofthe door sec-.- tion- I-Z'byfmeans ofjstaplesor guides-48." On-.thexinner` face oflthe door. section.I I intermediate the f side edges thereof andiadjacentits hingedly con-.- nected; lowern'iargin` is a revolubly mounted plate 49; having aixedj thereto, the inner end of'anV operating; handle-Iii` The ilower end portion .ofa connectionrl is pivotally,v mounted on` thei handle l. 50 and. theuppersendportion i off said connection 5I is in hooked engagement with the. depending lower; extremityzofrthelink 4'2. Thus, a movementyoff the: handle 50 2 is f effective to partially re volve theplate 49fand'to also raise'or lower the jointedf1inkages-5'I--42 to impart, through'the :mechanismpreviously,4 described and illustrated in ,ligsv Ii4 andufl; movementl tothe latch bolt 3l and simultaneous oscillatory movement`v tothe elongated ihorizontali rod 23 which, through the V`arrangement;y of: Figs. Iband .5,1 swingsthel upper-if roller-carrying supporting plates 22. In` actual practice, al similar, handle member 50 `may be provided on theouter face of the door and connected withthe plate 49 in` order` to operate the latchingmechanism and door section swinging mechanismfrom exterior of the building. @It will be noted that `the circular plate 49 is formed with anotch 52 which, when the mechanism-is locked is engaged by a lock plunger 53. Projection and retraction of the lock plunger 53 is eiTected in the conventional manner by a key inserted` into a lock cylinder y54, and upon movement,` of the lock tumblers thereby, the lock plunger 53 is actuated whereby the handle 50 and associated mechanism is free to be moved, or is locked against, movement, as the case may be.

`In the operationof the overhead door incorporating the improved guiding and latching mechanism, let it be` assumed that the door `is in its closedand latched conditionillustrated in Figs. 1, 2i, and 6. I-f it is desired to unlatch the door prior tomanually shifting itto its overhead open position, the lock is first manipulated to release thelock `plunger 53` from the disc recess 52. Thereupon, the handle 50 is raised or turned in a counterclock-wise direction relative to Fig. 1.

Through, the jointed `linkage 5I42, which is thereby` shifted upwardly, the lever 43 is turned in a` clockwise direction relative to Fig. 6 to thereby lowergthe latch bolt 31 and to withdraw it from `the lat-ch socket l36 against the tension of the coiledspring 55. Simultaneously the upward shifting of the jointed linkage 5|-42 will operate `to raise the` lever arm 40 to thereby turn the elongatedhorizontal `rod 23 in a clockwise direction relatiyeto Fig.` 6. The outer ends of said rod carry the levers 26 and said levers are shifted from `the `position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 3 with theirstuds 21 riding in the bracket slots 28. z The position of Fig. 3 is attained approximately simultaneously with the release of the latchbolt and wedging :pressure against the inner face` of the upper door section I2 is released sothat said door section, becauseof. its weight and mounting, swings or breaks inwardly slightlygto the position of Fig. `3, with a slight shift ofthe `bracket-carrying rollers 22 relative to the curvedportions of the track l1. Thereafter,` the door may be manually pushed toits horizontal overhead open position, such movement being accomplished with little effort due tothe spring `and cable arrangement; which counterbalances the door. Also, the various rollers 2| and 25 ride` freely in the tracks. The door is closed in` a `reverse manner and when the position of Fig. 3 is attained, then the handle 5llis swungldownwardly to shift the jointed linkage 5| -ll2V downwardly and the rod 23 turns inI `a direction to kick the levers 26 from the positionof Fig. 3 to the position of Fig. 2, wherein the levers and brackets 22 then exert a wedging or pushing action against the slightly open i upper portion lof the upper door section to cause itto assume `the completely closed position of Fig. 2.., whereupon ,expansion of the spring will cause the latch bolt 31 to snap into the latch socket 36.r It .will thusrbe seen that the improved mechanism is eiective through a single` manual manipulation to simultaneously and jointly oper-l ate the latch bolt and to dispose the upper rollercarryingbrackets 22 in a manner to exert a pushing force against the upper section of the door, .lor/to release` such pushing force to permit the doorsection to break inwardly, ,as the case maybel l m The door `mechanism is susceptible ofjeasy mounting to permit installation of the doorregardless of slight inaccuracies or difierencesin door widths. The roll shafts |9'are axially shiftable in their hinge or bracket sleeves ,to l

properly aline them with the side tracks. l Likewise, the lever-carryingnstuds 2 are of suiicient length to engage` in the bracket slots 28` regardless of` slight inaccuraciesin` the positioning of said brackets. Thenlatch mechanism notonly latches the upper section ofthe overhead door in its `vertical position to prevent undesired` inward breaking thereof, but also latchesthe entire door against vertical movement. When the overheadl door` is in itsclosed position, the upper hinged section I2 `ofthe door is automatically retained in a correct closed condition without any special manipulating means therefor. When the door is to be opened simultaneously with the release of the door latch, the upperdoor section i automatically breaks inwardly slightly and the mounting brackets `for the upper rollers compensatingly vary their proximity to the plane of the door section during movements, with' the result that when `the door is in its raised overhead position, said roller-carrying brackets collapse adjacent the'iface `of `thedoor` to` occupy very little space, and this is of considerableadvantage in minimizing the overhead required for the door. The improved overhead door 'guiding and latching mechanism isfurthermore of simple and novel construction `and is well` adapted for the purposes described. l What is claimed as the invention is: i .i 1. Anoverhead door, comprising apairof superimposedI hingedly connected` sections,` tracks" mounted adjacent both sideedges :of the door to guideath'e door'from a vertical to a horizontal positionpguiderollers carried by` the lower sec-` tion of the door, independent bearing units hingedly mounted upon the upper corner portions of the top sectionrof the door and carrying on their free ends rollers to engage saidtracks, and means engaging said bearingunits and .extending to a position on` the door remotetherefrom'for manually controlling relative rockingmovement betweenl the top section of the door and said bearing units.

2. An overhead door, comprisinga pair of su' perimposed,` hingedly connected sections, tracks` mounted adjacent both' sideedges of said door to guide the door froma vertical to a horizontal position, guide rollers carried by thelower section of the door to engage said tracks, independent bearing units hingedly mounted upon the` upper corner portions of the top section `ofthe. door` and carrying on their free ends rollers to engage said tracks, a latch bolt movably mounted on the top section of the door adjacent its free margin Ifor latching `said door section in vertical closed position, `and commonmeans for controlling said latch bolt and for effecting relative rocking movements between said bearing units and the top section of the door.

3. An overhead door, comprising apair of su` perimposed, hingedly connected sections, tracks tion of the door to engage said tracks, a rock shaft movably mounted on and traversing the upper section of th'e door, independent bearing` units mounted upon the upper corner portions of the top section of the door and carrying on their free endsrollers to engage said tracks,\said` rock" shaft formingia common pintle'for hinged movementsof saidfbearing unit, lost motion ycotilleotions'l between `said rock shaft and said bearing 'units for effecting relative vrocking land `vvedging movements between saidv bearing units and the top section of the door, and means extending from said-rock shaft to a remote operating point on 'the door for moving said rock shaft;

42.1An overhead door', comprising a pair of 'supermposed, h'ingedly connected sections,v tracks lmounted adjacent both side. edges offsaiddoor to Iguide the .door from a verticalv to` a horizontal position, guide rollers carried by the-lower sec- -tion ofthe door to .engage said tracks, a rock shaft movably mountedonand traversing the upper section of the door, independentI bearing units'mounted upon the upper corner portions .of the top .section of the .door Iand .carrying on their freeends rollers to `engage said tracks, said rock'v .shaft forming a common pintle for hinged movementsy of said bearing units, lost motion connections between said rock shaft and said bearing units for `effecting lrelative rocking and wedging movements between said bearing units and thetop'. section of theidoor, a latch bolt movably mounted on thetop. sectionof the `door adjacent, its free' margin for latching said door section in vertical 'closed position, and common meansfor moving said rock shaft and for operating said latch bolt. i

15.\` An v.overhead door, comprising a pair ofsuperimposed, hngedly connected sections, tracks mounted adjacent both. side edges of .saiddoor to guide th'e door from a vertical to a `horizontal position, guide rollers carried by the lower section of the door to* engage said'tracks, a` rock shaftfmovably mounted on and'traversing the upperz section of the door, independent bearing units mounted upon the upper corner portions of the top section of the door and carrying on their free ends rollers to engage said tracks, said rock shaft forming a common pintle for hinged movements of said bearing unit, lost motion connections between said rock shaft and said bearing units forueecting relative rocking and wedging movements between said bearing units and the top section of the door, a latch bolt movablly mounted on the top section of the door adjacent its' free margin for latching said door section in vertioalfclosed position, andccommon mea-ns extending from a lower portion of said door tothe rock shaft vand to the latch bolty for simultane ously manually operating the same.

6. An4 overhead door, comprising -a`l pair of s u'- perimposed, hingedlyr connected sections, tracks mounted adjacent both side .edges ofsaid door to guide thedoor from a vertical to a horizontal position, guide rollers .carried by the lowersection of, the door to engage said tracks, a rock shaft movably mounted on and traversing the upper section .of the door, independent` bearing lunits mounted upon the upper corner portionsof the top section vof the door and carrying .on their free ends rollers to engage said tracks, said rock shaft forming acommon pintle for hinged movementsv of said bearing. units, lostI motionlconnecg tions between said.l rock shaft and said bearing units for effecting relative rocking and:- vvedgingV movements betweensaid 4bearing yunits andthe. top` section of the door,` La latch bolt moi/ably. mountedxon' the top sectionrof .the door 'adjacent its free marginfor latching saidadoorisectionin vertical closed position; 4a handleivmovably mounted on the door remote from',the,latchbolt1andf bearing units, andan elongated jointed;` linkage extending from the handle 'to the rockshaftfaknd llatch' boltv for simultaneously operating both'of the l'latter upon movementsof 'Y the handle.

7. A 'bearing assembly mounted upon Ythe upper-- most section of an overhead doorycompri'si-ng'a pair of hinge brackets mounted on-opposite corner face portions of the door section, an elongated rock shaft movably mounted on said door section and extending between said hinge brackets to swingably engage saidbrackets and to form-a. common pintle for thesame, said brackets projecting shiftably inwardly of they plane of said door section face, anti-frictionl devices carriedby thev outer ends of said hinge brackets and projecting laterally therefrom, a connection attached to an intermediate portion of said rock shaft, and an operating member movably mounted on a section of said door and engaging said connection.

8. A bearing assembly mounted upon theuppermost section of an overhead door, comprising a pair of hinge brackets mounted on opposite corner face portions of the `door section, an elongated rock shaft movably mounted on said door section and extending between said hingebrackets torswingably engage said brackets and'to vf-orm a common pintle for the same, said brackets-projecting 'shiftably inwardly ofy the plane of'said door section face,` anti-friction devices carried by the outer ends of' said hinge brackets and projecting laterally therefrom, a latch bolt reciprocatably mounted on said uppermost section of the door adjacent its upper margin and intermediate the hinge brackets, a connectionl attached to an intermediate portion of saidrock shaft to oscillate it and to said bolt to reciprocate it, and"l an operating handle movablymounted'on a section of the door remote from the bolt and brackeets and operatively engaging said connection.

9. Control means for an overhead door of the type which includes a pair of sect-ions hingedtogether in superimposed relation to fit in a door frame with tracks adjacent-'the sides of the door frame curving rearwardly therefrom, comprising hinged brackets on opposite upper corner face portions of the uppermost section of'the-door-carryingantiefriction members to ride in said tracks, means for causing relative-swinging movement asy between said hinged brackets and said door'section, a latch onthe uppermost foldable door sectionv to jointly latch said section againstv independent swinging movement and the en-tire door against `sliding movementl on the tracks, and manual control means mounted on a remote portion of the door for jointly controlling'relativeswinging movement of said hinged 'brackets'and operationlof said'latch. i

10. Control means for an overheadf door of the hinged brackets on opposite upper corner face'- portions of the uppermost section of the door carrying anti-friction members to ride in said.

tracks, means for causing relative swinging move:

ment as between said hinged brackets and said" door" section, a latch on` the uppermost foldab'le door section to jointly latch said sectionagainst independent swinging movement and the entiredoory against sliding movement on theA tracks; manual control means mounted on. a remote portion of the door for jointly controlling relative'I swinging movement of said hingedy brackets and' operation 'of said latch,- and means for locking said control means against operation.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordl in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date i Johnson Dec. 11, `1934 Pixley Mar. 3, 1936 Brunst May 19, 1936 Basile June 8, 1937 Bagley Aug. 31, 1937