US2656561A - Overhead door wheel mount - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 27, 1953 J McKEE 2,656,561

OVERHEAD DOOR WHEEL MOUNT Filed Jan. 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet .l

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OVERHEAD DOOR WHEEL MOUNT Filed Jan. 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 27, 1953 J. H. MCKEE 2,556,561

OVERHEAD DOOR WHEEL MOUNT Filed Jan. 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 fiY- J (mum "mum? In IQ hp 9 9 o o (Zlorggeg/S Oct. 27, 1953 Filed Jan. 12, 1949 J. H. 'MGKEE 2,656,561

OVERHEAD DOOR WHEEL MOUNT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 T (W H A i U l 34 jl/w 2411471 Patented Oct. 27, 1953 OVERHEAD DOOR WHEEL MOUNT James H. McKee, Aurora, IlL, assignor to McKee Door Company, Aurora, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 12, 1949, Serial No. 510,512

2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to overhead door constructions of the kind commonly used in garages and similar buildings.

The type of overhead door to which my invention relates is commonly made in a plurality of sections which are located one above the other when the door is in closed position and which are connected by hinges or other suitable means to permit relative pivotal movement between such sections. Tracks are provided on opposite sides of the door opening, such tracks having vertical or substantially vertical portions for holding the door in closed position, and horizon tal or substantially horizontal portions extending rearwardly from the door opening for holding the door in open position. These portions of the track are connected by curved portions and the door sections are commonly provided with rollers adjacent their upper and lower edges which are guided by the tracks to guide the door sections during the opening and closing movements of the door, and to hold the door in rest position when either opened or closed.

An important feature of such an overhead type of door is the provision of counterbalancing means for minimizing the effort required to move the door from closed to open position and vice versa. Such counterbalancing means usually takes the form of springs of various types or counterweights arranged on the principle that the weight of the door will increase at a substantially even rate as the door is moved from opened to closed position, and will decrease at a. substantially even rate as the door is moved from. closed to open position. This principle only holds true or approximately true where the door sections are of readily low and uniform height and because of this, it is customary to make such door panels approximately two feet in height.

This limitation that the door panels be of relatively low height and all of the same height is disadvantageous in several respects. In the first place it is more expensive to manufacture a greater number of low panels than it would be manufacture a lesser number of higher panels. It is also more expensive to provide a greater amount of door hardware consisting principally of hinges and rollers required by the larger number of sections. Furthermore, these limitations to low and uniform sections might materially limit the scope of design variations which may be adopted for the purpose of blending the door more harmoniously with the rest of the building.

Another difliculty with present types of overhead door construction lies in the fact that where the sections vary greatly in weight, as, :for example, where One section is made completely of wood panels whereas another section is made largely of glass, the counterbalancing is unsatisfactory because the weight on the counterbalancing means is not evenly applied as the door is moved toward closed position or evenly relieved as the door is moved toward open posiion.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved overhead type of door construction which avoids these disadvantages of the prior art.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved overhead type of door con struction wherein proper counterbalancing can be obtained with sections of different heights 01 different weights.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved type of overhead door construction which is less expensive to manufacture than the prior art door constructions.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved overhead type of door construction which permits the utilization of a minimum number of door sections for a given height of door.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved overhead type of door construction which requires a minimum amount of hardware for a given size of door.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved overhead type of door construction which permits the use of door sections of difierent heights and still provides adequate counterbalancing so that the door can be readily opened by women and children.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved overhead type of door construction which permits much greater variations in design and appearance and which makes it possible to match the doors with design variations in individual buildings.

Another object of my invention is to provide an overhead type of door construction having a new and improved load distributing beam.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an overhead type of door construction in which the door consists of two sections;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing 3 my invention applied to a door having three sections;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of an adjustable type of load distributing beam;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the load distributing beam of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an adjustable load distributing beam like that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 but illustrating the adjustable ends of the beam as being unevenly extended;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 but showing a fixed type of load distributing beam with a centrally located trunnion;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a fixed type of load distributing beam in which the trunnion is closer to one end; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing in full lines a two-section door in midposition. The door has glass panels and utilizes fixed beams like the beam of Fig. 6. The closed position of the door is indicated by dot and dash lines.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, it will be seen that I have therein illustrated a building 10 having a door opening I2 provided with an overhead type of door l4 guided by tracks 16 located on opposite sides of the door opening. These tracks have horizontal portions 18, curved portions 20, and vertical portions 22 which are preferably tapered slightly with respect to the door jambs so that the upper ends of the vertical portions are farther back of the door jambs than are the lower ends of the tracks. Such tapered arrangement of the vertical portions of the tracks is commonly employed in order to facilitate shutting and sealing of the door but forms no part of my invention and the vertical portions of the track may be made truly vertical if desired.

The door l4, illustrated in Fig. 1, consists of only two sections designated by reference numerals 24 and 26, respectively. Each of these sections is relatively high as compared with the sections ordinarily used in doors of this type and the upper section 26 is illustrated as having glass windows 28, whereas the lower section is formed entirely of solid panels of plywood or similar material.

The sections 24 and 26 are pivotally connected by hinges 30 and it (will be readily apparent that the use of only two sections requires only a single set of hinges in lieu of the multiple sets required Where three or more sections are necessary to make up the complete door. The center hinge may be an ordinary hinge whereas each hinge adjacent a door edge is customarily designedto carry a track-engaging roller.

A metal plate 32 is attached to the inside lower corners of the lower section and carries the usual roller located in and guided by one of the tracks 16. A different plate 34 is attached to the inside of each upper corner of the upper section 26 and likewise carries a roller which is located in and guided by one of the tracks l6. It will be noted that the rollers carried by the plates 34 are located a greater distance to the rear of the door than are the rollers carried by the plates 32.

In one conventional practice a third roller is attached to each side of the door adjacent the pivotal connection between the sections 24 and 26. In some constructions the hinge pins of the hinges 30 adjacent the door edges would extend laterally from the edges of the door and form trunnions for such rollers. In other instances such rollers are mounted adjacent to but slightly spaced from the hinge pins of the edge hinges 30. In my new and improved construction, however, the hingedly connected edges of sections 24 and 26 are pivotally mounted on load distributing beams, indicated generally by reference character 36 which in turn have rollers at their opposite ends located in and guided by the track It.

One form of load distributing beam which may be used for this purpose is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. This beam comprises a main or central section 38 having a trunnion 40 which is pivotally connected to the hinged edges of the door sections 24 and 2B. This pivotal connection may be effected by utilizing the trunnion 40 as the hinge pin for the adjacent hinge 36, or by positioning this trunnion in a sleeve, or other suitable receiving member carried by one of the sections of a hinge 30, or independently mounted on one of the door sections adjacent its hinged edge. In the particular form of beam shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the trunnion 49 is located equidistant between the ends of the central section 3%.

Attached to each end of the central section 38 is an end section 4| carrying a roller 42 adapted to be located in and guided by one of the tracks It. The end sections 4| are attached to the central section 38 by means of nuts and bolts 44 and the central section 38 is provided with a plurality of openings 46 for receiving these bolts so that the end sections 4! may be adjusted through a wide range to vary the effective length of the beam. The end sections 4| may be adjusted so that the trunnion 40 is equidistant be tween the rollers 42 or so that this trunnion is closer to one roller than the other. The latter adjustment is shown in Fig. 5 wherein the trunion is closer to the right hand roller 42 than it is to the left hand roller.

Where one of the end sections is adjusted so that the stud 48 on which the roller 42 is mounted overlaps the central section 38, means must be provided to accommodate the projecting portion of this stud. In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 this means constitutes a second series of holes 50 formed in the central section 38 for receiving the projecting portion of the stud 48 when either or both end sections M are adjusted so that they are located closely adjacent the trunnion 40.

Referring back to Fig. 1, it will be apparent that the load distributing beams shown in this figure are of the adjustable type illustrated in more detail in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. In Fig. 1 the end sections of the beam are equally spaced with respect to the trunnion 40, but if the glass 28 in the upper door section 26 substantially increases the weight of this section as compared to the lower door section 24, it would be preferable to adjust the upper end section 41 so that its roller is closer to the trunnion 40 than is the roller carried by the lower end section. In other Words it would be desirable to use a beam adjustment like that shown in Fig. 5 with the righthand end of the beam of Fig. 5 being uppermost when the door is in closed position.

In the embodiment of Fig. l, the door i4 is counterbalanced by a single spring 52 connected by ropes or other suitable means 54 to the plates 32 attached to the lower corners of the door. The rope which is attached to the right-hand plate 32 passes over a pulley 55 carried by a support 53 attached to the door jamb. This particular arrangement for counterbalancing the door forms the subject matter of my copending application Serial No. 70,543, filed January 12,

' 1949, now Patent No. 2,607,410; dated August 19,

1952. It will be understood that any other suitable counterbalancing means may be utilized, such as the conventional arrangement in which a separate spring or weight is attached to each edge of the door.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated my invention as being applied to a three section door l4 comprising the sections 60, 62 and 64. In this form of my invention my novel load distributing means 66 are utilized to support and guide the hingedly connected edges of door sections 60 and 62, whereas the hingedly connected edges of door sections 62 and 64 are supported and guided by conventional roller supports 68. The lower edge of door section 60 may be provided with the usual plate and roller supports 32 and the upper edge of the upper door section 64 may likewise be provided with the usual roller supports 34.

The construction and arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is desirable where one or both of the two lower door sections are wider or heavier than the upper door section 64. In this figure I have illustrated the door as being provided with a fixed type of load distributing beam similar to the beams shown in more detail in Figs. 6 and 7 although it is to be understood that an adjustable beam of the kind shown in Figs. 3, 4 and can be used in lieu of the fixed beam of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 6 the fixed beam 10 is provided with a trunnion 12 equidistant between the track rollers 14. In Fig. 7 the fixed beam Ill has a trunnion 12' located closer to one track roller 14' than it is to the other track roller. This fixed beam has the advantage of being cheaper and thinner than the adjustable beam but makes the stocking of a large variety of such beams necessary if the same flexibility is to be had with respect to the total length of the beam and the location of the trunnion at various positions lengthwise of the beam.

I have found that my novel construction permits an overhead door to be made of fewer sections while still retaining accurate counterbalancing by conventional means so that an ordinary garage door can be easily opened and closed by women and children. My new and improved construction also permits the architect or builder to vary the width of the sections in wide limits for the purpose of providing a more attractive door in and of itself, or for the purpose of harmonizing the door with the lines and construction of the building with which it is used. My novel construction also makes possible the use of door sections of substantially different weights without impairing the counterbalancing of the door or the ease with which it may be opened and closed.

It will be noted that the construction of my new and improved overhead door is simple and that my novel beam construction requires no changes in the design or construction of the individual door sections. These load carrying beams can be made of minimum thickness consistent with the load imposed upon them, and in many instances can be applied to existing door constructions without even trimming away the edge of the door sections to provide increased clearance between the sides of the door and the tracks by which it is supported and guided.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular embodiments shown but may assume a wide variety of forms and includes all modifications, variations and equivalents within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A beam for an overhead type of door construction wherein a multisection door including sections of unequal weight is supported and guided by tracks located on opposite sides thereof so that the door can be moved from a vertical closed position to a horizontal open position and vice versa, a trunnion carried by the beam and adapted to be pivotally connected to a door section, and a track engaging roller carried on each end of the beam to distribute a load on said beam between points lengthwise of the track to increase the ease of operation in opening or closing the door, said trunnion being located intermediate said rollers and substantially closer to one of said rollers than the other to compensate for the unequal weight of said sections.

2. A beam for an overhead type of door construction wherein a multisection door is support ed and guided by tracks located on opposite sides thereof so that the door can be moved from a vertical closed position to a horizontal open position and vice versa, a trunnion carried by the beam and adapted to be pivotally connected to a door section, and a track engaging roller carried on each end of the beam to distribute a load on said beam between points lengthwise of the track to increase the ease of operation in opening or closing the door, said trunnion being disposed intermediate said rollers, and means for adjustably attaching one of said rollers to said beam to compensate for differences in weight between adjacent sections by varying substantially the distance between said one of said rollers and said trunnion.

JAMES H. McKEE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,724,995 Dautrick Aug. 20, 1929 1,983,856 Johnson Dec. 11. 934 2,099,191 Blodgett Nov. 16, 1937 2,171,194 Smith Aug. 29, 1939 2,204,852 Ferris June 18, 1940

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