US2678689A

US2678689A - Overhead door construction

Info

Publication number: US2678689A
Application number: US227901A
Authority: US
Inventors: John F Mckee; Melvin E Hartzler
Original assignee: MCKEE DOOR Co
Current assignee: MCKEE DOOR Co
Priority date: 1948-12-03
Filing date: 1951-05-23
Publication date: 1954-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 1971-05-18

Description

May 18, 1954 J. F. M KEE ET AL OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 3, 1948 56 l I 3WIVU May 18, 1 J. F. MCKEE ET AL OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 5, 1948 WM QM Y 7/5707/ 4 Mai %0 &@

May 18, 1954 .1. F. M KEE ET AL OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Dec. 5, 1948 Wlefma $37 22W;

y 18, 1954 .1. F. MGKEE ETAL 2,678,689

OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Dec. 5, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @WWM 7% Mi)? ZM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION John F. McKee, Aurora, and Melvin E. Hartzler, Downers Grove, Ill., assignors to McKee Door Company, Aurora, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application December 3, 1948, Serial No. 63,372. Divided and this application May 23,

1951, Serial No. 227,901

18 Claims. (01. 160-201) Our invention relates to overhead door constructions and is more particularly concerned with overhead doors of the type which consist of a plurality of sections hingedly connected together and provided with rollers operating in tracks located at the sides of the door opening and having vertical and horizontal sections with connecting curved portions whereby the door is guided in its opening and closing movements.

This application is a division of our co-pending application Serial No. 63,372, filed December 3, 1948, now Patent No. 2,645,807, granted July 21, 1953.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, it will be seen that we have illustrated therein a door A comprising a plurality of sections 20 which may be of any desired size and construction and which will vary in number according to the height of It has been conventional practice to provide the door opening and other relevant circumthe sections of wide doors with reinforcing trusses stances. The door A is illustrated as being in which prevent warping or sagging and maintain the closed position and as firmly sealed against the door rigidly against the pressure of wind the molding or doorjamb 22 of the door opening and other forces. provided by a building B. The tracks 24 are An object of our invention is to provide a new l t o opp sides f the d r opening nd and improved overhead door construction which have vertical, horizontal, and connecting curved is lighter in weight than the prior art doors for portions for guiding the door in its opening and a given rigidity and which is more readily adapted closing movements and holding the door in either for varying conditions of installation. closed or open position, and the door is provided An additional object of our invention is to with rollers 26 (best shown in Figs. 2 and 3), provide new and improved hardware for an overwhich are located in these tracks and support the head door of the aforesaid type. door therein. Suitable counterbalancing means A further object of our invention is to provide for the weight of the door is customarily proa new and improved hinge construction. vided and is connected by a cable or other flexible Still another object of our invention is to promeans 32 to a plate 34 attached to a lower corner vide a new and improved truss construction. of the bottom door section.

A further object of our invention is to provide The individual door sections 20 are connected a new and improved combined hinge and truss by hinges 80 near the outer vertical edges of the construction. door sections. These hinges 8d are preferably Another object of our invention is to provide constructed as shown in our pending United a new and improved combined hinge and truss States patent application Serial No. 63,372, filed support. December 3, 1948, and carry the rollers 26 which Other objects and advantages will become apengage the tracks 24. parent as the description proceeds. The individual door sections are connected in- In the accompanying drawings; 35 termediate the hinges 80 by hinges 36. Each Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of an overhinge 36 comprises a pair of sections 36A and head door construction embodying our inven- 363 preferably formed of sheet metal bent into tion and. showing the door in closed position; U-shape and having interengaging portions Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial rear elevational which we shall now describe in some detail. view showing the truss construction in detail; 40 Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 7, it

Fig. 3 is a partial horizontal section taken on will be seen that the hinge section 36A as upthe line 3--3 of Fig. 2; standing sides or ears 38 to which sheet metal Fig. 4 is a side view of the combined hinge and cups 30 are welded or otherwise suitably secured. truss construction shown at the right-hand side The cups so have comically tapered surfaces enof Figs. 2 and 3; gaged by the complementary surfaces provided by Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear view of the combined the sides or upstanding ears 42 of the hinge sechlnge and truss construction shown in Fig. 4; tion 36B, the cups it being welded to the sides Fig. 6 is a partial view similar to Fig. 4 but 38 after the

hinge sections

36A and 36B and cups showing the use of shims to increase the tension 40 are located in assembled position. The taon the truss bar; pered surfaces of the cups 4%) and sides 42 form Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 bearings about whose axes the hinge sections of Fig. 4; and pivot.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing a In wide doors it has been customary to provide detail of the manner in which the truss bars are truss bars of U-shape cross section to increase attached to the door section. the rigidity of the door structure. We have found that truss bars of O-shape cross section, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 6, are lighter in weight for the same strength than the U-shaped bars heretofore used. We have also provided a novel and improved arrangement for mounting such C-shape bars on the several door sections.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the O-shaped bars 52 are attached at their ends to the rails of the individual door sections by a pair of bolts 54. These bolts 55 have heads which engage one side of a rail and shanks passing through the rail. and a special washer 56 (Fig. 8), the shanks being threaded to receive nuts 58. Each washer 55 is of such size as to overlap the edges of a round hole formed in the C-bar 52 and has projecting prongs 50 which grip the wood of which the door sections are formed and prevent relative movement between the C-bar and door section. Intermediate portions of the C-bars 52 are bent rearwardly of the door sections and are supported on the upstanding sides or ears 33 of hinge section 35A. The support thus formed will be referred to as chair or strut 62.

The bar receiving end of each side of a chair or strut section 52 is provided with a central recess 64 in which the C-shaped bar 52 seated. This bar is held in place by a sheet metal cap 55 secured by bolts 58 to laterally projecting ears 10 integral with the sides of chair section 52. The cap 66 has inwardly projecting tongues 12 provided with tapered sides which are wedged into the open side of the C-shaped bar 52 and grip this bar so firmly that the result is the same as though the cap were welded thereto. it will be noted that the cap 66 has a downwardly directed edge 14 overlapping the ears 18 located on one side of the bar 52.

In some instances it is desirable to increase the tension on the truss bars by inserting shims therebeneath. Such a shim is indicated at '15 in Fig. 6 wherein this shim is illustrated as being located between the chair 62 and bar 52. The shim also has lateral extensions 18 located between the ears 10 and adjacent portions of the cap 66.

It may be desirable to stiffen the

hinge sections

36A and 36B and this can be accomplished by forming the fillets or gussets 82 in the hinge sections. 7

At the upper and lower edges of the door the truss construction is similar to the intermediate truss constructions except that only hinge sections 36A are used to support the bar 52.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that we have provided a very simple combined hinge and truss support member. Likewise, we have provided an improved truss construction which is simpler, less expensive, and lighter in weight for a given rigidity than the truss constructions of the prior art. Our truss construction incorporates a novel means for securing a rigid load-carrying connection between the truss bar and its supporting chair or strut which requires no drilling of the truss bar and permits the chairs to be quickly affixed to the truss bar and door sections at any positions along the truss bar.

It is to be understood that our invention is not limited to the precise details shown but includes all modifications, variations, and equivalents coming within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A combined hinge and truss support com prising a first hinge section having a substantially fiat attaching portion and upstanding sides, a second hinge section, means to rotatably connectsaid upstanding sides and said second hinge section, said upstanding sides extending up wardly above said rotatably connecting means, and a seat for a truss bar on the upper end of said upstanding sides.

2. A combined hinge and truss support comprising a first hinge section having a substantially flat attaching portion and upstanding sides, a second hinge section, means to rotatably connect said upstanding sides and said second hinge section, said upstanding sides extending upwardly above said rotatably connecting means, a cap transversely disposed above said upstanding sides, and means to fasten said cap to said sides.

3. A combined hinge and truss support comprising a first hinge section having a substantially fiat attaching portion and upstanding sides, a second hinge section, means to rotatably connect said upstanding sides and said second hinge section, said upstanding sides extending upwardly above said rotatably connecting means, flanges formed on the upper end of said upstanding sides, a cap transversely disposed above said upstanding sides, and means to fasten said cap to said flanges.

4. A hinge for overhead doors of the multisection type comprising a first section formed of sheet metal and having a substantially flat attaching portion and upstanding sides with cups attached thereto, said cups having frusto-conical bearing surfaces and a second hinge section of sheet metal having upstanding sides with frustoconical bearing surfaces engaging the frustoconical bearing surfaces of said cups, one of said hinge sections constituting a strut for supporting a truss member.

5. A combined hinge and truss support for overhead doors of the multisection type comprising a first section formed of sheet metal and having a substantially fiat attaching portion and upstanding sides with cups attached thereto, said cups having frusto-conical bearing surfaces, a second hinge section of sheet metal having upstanding sides with frusto-conical bearing surfaces engaging the frusto-conical bearing surfaces of said cups, the upstanding sides of one of said sections extending above said bearing surface, and a seat formed on the upper end of said last mentioned upstanding sides for supporting a truss member.

6. A combined hinge and. truss support for overhead doors of the multisection type comprising a first section formed of sheet metal and having a substantially fiat attaching portion and upstanding sides with cups attached thereto, said cups having frusto-conical bearing surfaces, a second hinge section of sheet metal having upstanding sides with frusto-conical bearing surfaces engaging the frusto-conical bearing surfaces of said cups, the upstanding sides of one of said sections extending above said bearing surface, a cap disposed transversely above said last mentioned upstanding sides, and means to fasten said cap to said sides, said cap and said fastening means being adapted to connect a truss member to said last mentioned upstanding sides.

7. In an overdoor truss construction a first hinge section attached to a door section, a second hinge section attached to an adjacent door section, means to rotatably interconnect saidhinge sections, one of said hinge sections coming ends closely adjacent and secured to one of said door sections and disposed away from the door sections intermediate said ends and engaging said upstanding member, said door sections and said bar acting as cords, and said member acting as a strut of said truss construction, and means to fasten said bar to said upstanding member.

8. In an overdoor truss construction, a first hinge section attached to a door section, a second hinge section attached to an adjacent door section, means to rotatably interconnect said hinge sections, one of said hinge sections compr sing a substantial fiat'attaching portion and an upstanding member' thereon, a truss bar having ends closely adjacent and secured to one of said door sections and disposed away from the door sections intermediate said ends and engaging said upstanding member, said door sections and said bar acting as cords, flanges on said upstanding member, a cap spanning the upper end of said upstanding member and said bar, and means to fasten said cap to said upstanding member.

9. In an overhead door truss construction, a first hinge section attached to one door section and having upstanding sides with cups attached thereto, said cups having frusto-conical bearing surfaces, a second hinge section having a relatively flat portion attached to an adjacent door section and having upstanding sides with frustoconical bearing surfaces engaging the frustoconical bearing surfaces of said cups, said first and second hinge sections providing a hinged connection between said door sections, and a truss bar having ends closely adjacent and secured to said one door section and disposed away from said one door section intermediate said ends and engaging the upstanding sides of said first hinge section, said bar and said door sections acting as cords of the truss construction, said hinge sections acting as a strut of the truss construction.

10. In an overhead door truss construction, a first hinge section attached to one door section and having upstanding sides with cups attached thereto, said cups having frusto-conical bearing surfaces, a second hinge section attached to an adjacent door section and having a substantially fiat attaching portion and upstanding sides with frusto-oonical bearing surfaces engaging the frusto-conical bearing surfaces of said cups, said first and second hinge sections providing a hinged connection between said door sections, a truss bar having ends closely adjacent and secured to said one door section and disposed away from said one door section intermediate said ends and engaging the upstanding sides of said first hinge section, and means to fasten said bar to said upstanding sides of said first hinge section.

11. In an overhead door truss construction, a first hinge section attached to one door section and having upstanding sides with cups attached thereto, said cups having frusto-conical bearing surfaces, a second hinge section having a substantially fiat portion attached to an adjacent door section and having upstanding sides with frusto-conical bearing surfaces engaging the frusto-conical bearing surfaces of said cups, said first and second hinge sections providing a hinged connection between said door sections, a truss bar having ends closely adjacent and secured to said on door section and disposed away from said one door section intermediate said ends and en.- gaging the upstanding sides of said first hinge section, said bar and said door sections acting as cords of the door construction, said hinge sections acting as a strut of the truss construction,

said bar being seated in a recess in said up-' standing sides of said first hinge section, flanges formed on the last mentioned upstanding sides, a cap engaging said bar, and means to fasten saidcap to said upstanding sides of said first hinge section. J

12. In an overhead door truss construction, a first hinge section attached to one door section and having upstanding sides with cups attached thereto, said cups having frusto-conical bearing surfaces, a second hinge section having a substantially'fiat portion attached to an adjacent door section and having upstanding sides with frusto-conical bearing surfaces engaging the frusto-conical bearing surfaces of said cups, said first and second hinge sections providing a hinged connection between said door sections, a 0- shaped truss bar having ends closely adjacent and secured to said one door section and disposed away from said one door section intermediate said ends and engaging the upstanding sides of said first hinge section, said bar and said door sections acting as cords of the door construction, said hinge sections acting as a strut of the truss construction, said bar being seated in a recess in said upstanding sides of said first hinge section, flanges formed on the last mentioned upstanding sides, a cap engaging said bar, tongues formed on said cap and disposed within the open face of said G-shaped truss bar, and means to fasten said cap to said flanges.

13. A door section of the class described comprising a bar of G-shaped cross section having its ends closely adjacent and attached to said door section, a chair interposed between said door section at an intermediate portion of said bar, said chair being of substantial length to space the intermediate portion of said bar away from said door section and form a compression member of a truss construction including said bar, a cap attached to said chair and overlapping said bar, and a wedge shaped projection provided by said cap and projecting into the open side of said bar and firmly engaging the inturned edges thereof.

14. A door section of the class described comprising a bar of C-shaped cross section having its ends attached to said door section, a chair interposed between said door section at an intermediate portion of said bar, a cap attached to said chair and overlapping said bar, a wedge shaped projection provided by said cap and projecting into the open side of said bar and firmly engaging the inturned edges thereof, and means interposed between said chair and bar for increasing the tension on said bar.

15. A truss construction for overhead doors comprising a bar having a G-shaped cross section, means attaching the ends of the bar to a door section, said ends being in close proximity to said door section supports of substantial length interposed between intermediate portions of the bar and said door section, said supports constituting compression members of a truss construction including said bar, and wedge-shaped means engaging the inturned edges of said bar and rigidly connecting said bar at spaced intervals to said supports.

16. A truss construction for overhead doors