US3457983A

US3457983A - Upwardly acting door structure

Info

Publication number: US3457983A
Application number: US692574A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul E Pemberton; Sheldon D Loose; Anthony E Greene
Original assignee: Overhead Door Corp
Current assignee: Overhead Door Corp
Priority date: 1967-12-21
Filing date: 1967-12-21
Publication date: 1969-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 1986-07-29
Also published as: GB1217928A; DE6812134U

Abstract

1,217,928. Up-and-over door structure. OVERHEAD DOOR CORP. 9 Dec., 1968 [21 Dec., 1967], No. 58324/68. Headings E2F and E1J. An up-and-over door is made of horizontal panels, each mounted on a frame whereby they are hinged together. The frame of the lower of the two members has a rail 23A formed with a horizontal wall 24A. A flange 29A extending downwardly from the wall has an upper, preferably arced, portion 33A and a lower flat portion 34A which is attached to the rear flange 36A of the end of the panel. A support flange 37A extends inwardly from the lower edge of the arced portion and has a hollow semi-cylindrical portion 38A at its end. The frame of the upper of the two members has a rail 22 with a horizontal wall 42. A flange 52 extends downwards from this wall and has attached to it a flange 56 which extends backwards and preferably carries a cylindrical portion 57 on its end which is disposed within the hollow cylindrical part of the other member. Flange 56 has a ridge 59. A channel shaped bearing member 63 of selflubricating material is disposed between the two hinge members, fitting between the two cylindrical portions. The front edge 65 of this bearing member is preferably curved to engage, with the curved flange 33A.

Description

July 29, 1969 P. E. PEMBERTQN ET AL 3,457,983

UPWARDLY ACTING DOOR STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 21, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 29, 1969 P. E. PEMBERTON ET AL UPWARDLY ACTING DOOR STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 21, 1967 INVENTORS United States Patent 3,457,983 UPWARDLY ACTING DOOR STRUCTURE Paul E. Pemberton, Irving, and Sheldon D. Loose and Anthony E. Greene, Dallas, Tex., assignors to Overhead Door Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Indiana Filed Dec. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 692,574 Int. Cl. E06b 9/08; E05d .l5/24, 1.7/04

U.S. Cl. 160--235 5 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A door structure having a plurality of horizontally hinged sections which are guided between positions in a substantially vertical plane and positions in a substantially horizontal plane by spaced track means. Each pair of adjacent door -sections is connected by a pair of separable hinge elements which extend substantially the full width of the door. The hinge axis is spaced inwardly from the inner surface of the door and the hinge elements are separated from each other by a self-lubricating bearing member.

Background of the invention This invention relates in general to an upwardly acting door structure having a plurality of horizontally hinged door sections and, more particularly, to the hinge mechanism and associated rail structure of the door sections.

While the performance and construction of upwardly acting doors having horizontally hinged sections have been well known and highly developed over a considerable period of time, certain problems have defined satisfactory solutions. Specifically, the hinge structures between the sections of the dors have either been too costly when capable of smooth and maintenance-free operation. or they have been loose, noisy and/or not weathertight, particularly where economy has been an important factor. Moreover, existing hinge structures have in general been comprised of independent members which must be mounted upon door sections thereby increasing the cost of manufacturing such doors.

Another problem, also associated with the hinge mechanism of multiple section doors, results from the desirability of providing frame members for the door sections which are easily adapted for doors of widely varying width, particularly where the material used as panels in the door sections is incapable of adding substantially to the strength of the overall door section. That is, where relatively lightweight materials, such as fiberglass, are used for the panels of the door sections, the frame structure surrounding the panels must be of sufficient strength to meet almost all of the load requirements imposed upon the door section during the normal operation of the door. On the other hand, it is not economically feasible to provide a different type of rail member for each variation in door width.

It is also important that the rail and/or hinge structures of the various sections should be made completely weatherproof not onlyl to render the door more satisfactory for its intended purposes, but also because rain and snow, for example, can damage a door and/ or obstruct its operation if it can get into the hinge mechanism or between the associated rails when the temperature is near or below the freezing level.

It is well known that existing hinge structures on upwardly acting doors become loose, noisy and lose some of their Weather sealing effectiveness after substantial periods of normal operation. With present door structures this problem cannot be overcome without changing the entire hinge mechanism and such a change is not only a major repair problem, but it may not be economically feasible. Thus, as a practical matter, the owner of such a door either accepts the problem or replaces the entire door at a considerable cost.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is the provision of an upwardly acting door construction having horizontally hinged door sections wherein the hinge elements extend along and are integral with the adjacent frame members or rails of the door sections, wherein the hinge elements are separated from direct engagement by means of a self-lubricating bearing member which can be readily replaced at a relatively small cost.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a hinge structure, as aforesaid, which is quiet operating, tight fitting, completely protected from the weather when the door is in either the closed or opened position and which is capable of adaptation to door sections of widely varying widths and lengths, even where the door frame must provide most, if not all, of the strength for the door section.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will become apparent to persons familiar with upwardly acting door constructions, in particular, and door structures in general upon reading the following descriptive material and examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

`FIGURE 1 is a fragment of an upwardly acting door structure in the closed position as seen from the inside of the door.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-I-I in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a broken, sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragment of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a broken, sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIGURE 4.

For convenience in description, the terms upper, lower, front, rear and words of similar import will have reference to the door construction embodying the invention as appearing in FIGURE 2, the rear side of the door being rightwardly therein. The terms inner, outer and derivatives thereof will have reference to the geometric center of the door sections and parts associated therewith.

Summary of the invention The objects and purposes of the invention, including those set forth above, have been met by providing an upwardly acting door construction having a plurality of similar, horizontally hinged door sections, each of which has a rigid frame. The adjacent frame or rail members of each pair of adjoining sections are provided with interconnected hinge elements which preferably extend the full length of the door section and are arranged so that they are virtually weatherproof. The hinge element connected to the one door section comprises a substantially channelshaped member having a pair of opposed concave surfaces interconnected by a planar rearwardly extending portion which is substantially horizontal when the door sections are in the vertical, closed position. The other hinge element connected to the adjacent door section is substantitally L-shaped and has a first portion fixedly connected to the door sections, and a second substantially planar portion integrally connected to the free end of the rst portion. The planar portion of the second hinge element is adapted to be positioned between the opposed concave surfaces in substantial parallel relationship with the planar portion of the first hinge element when the door is in the vertical closed position. The hinge elements are spaced from each other by a substantially channel-shaped self-lubricating bearing member which can be readily and inexpensively replaced. Each door section has 3 at least two roller holders by means of which it is guided along a pair of spaced rails from a substantially vertical closed position to a substantially horizontal open position.

Detailed description The upwardly acting door structure 10, one preferred embodiment of which is shown in FIGURE l, is comprised of a plurality of similar, horizontally hinged sections 11, 11A, 11B and 11C. Corresponding parts of the sections 11A, 11B and 11C will be identified by the same numerals as their counterparts in section 11 with appropriate suflixes A, B or C. Section 11, for example, has a rectangular metallic frame 12 supporting a corrugated fiberglass panel 13 which may be reinforced by a center brace 16. Said frame 12 has a pair of end Stiles 14 and 15, a lower rail 2.2 and an upper rail 23A. The section 11 is hingedly connected to the adjoining section 11A by a hinge assembly 17 which comprises part of the lower rail 22 of section 11 and the upper rail 23A of section 11A. Said

rails

22 and 23A extend approximately the full width of the door 10. A pair of roller holding brackets 18 is secured to each section of the door structure 10, as further illustrated in the copending aplication, Ser. No. 659,922, whereby the door is movably supported upon spaced and parallel track means 19.

The upper rail 23A (FIGURE 4) of section 11A has a horizontal wall 24A from which a pair of

parallel front flanges

27A and 28A extend downwardly. These flanges are spaced to permit the snug reception of the upper edge of panel 13A therebetween. Front flange 27A is spaced inwardly from the edge of horizontal wall 24A such that the flange 31A of end stile 14A may overlap flange 27A and provide a flush surface with the front edge of horizontal wall 24A.

A rear flange 29A, which extends downwardly from wall 24A, includes an upper, arcuate portion 33A and a lower flat portion 34A, which is-attached to the rear flange 36A of end stile 14A.

A support flange 37A extends inwardly and slightly upwardly from the lower edge of the arcuate portion 33A which is concave on its rear side. The flange 37A has a semicylindrical portion 38A at its rearward end which is coaxial with the arcuate portion 33A and opens frontwardly. The horizontal wall 24A- also has a short, upwardly extending ridge 39A for purposes hereinafter described.

The lower rail 22 on section 11 has a horizontal wall 42 and a pair of parallel, upwardly extending

front flanges

43 and 44 which are spaced to permit the snug insertion of the lower edge of panel 13 therebetween. Flange 43 is spaced inwardly from the front edge of wall 42 in order to permit an overlapping engagement with flange 31 of end stile 14. Wall 42 has a downwardly extending ridge 51 which overlaps ridge 39A when door 10 is closed, thereby blocking the entry of rain or snow between

rails

22 and 23A. Lower rail 22 also has an upwardly extending rear flange 48, which is attached to flange 36 of end stile 14.

A support flange 52 extends downwardly and slightly frontwardly from wall 42. A hinge flange 56 is integral with and projects rearwardly and slightly upwardly from the lower edge of flange 52. Thus, the flange 56 and wall 42 converge rearwardly, slightly. Flange 56 has a cylindrical portion 57 along its rearward edge which is disposed within the semicylindrical portion 38A. The front side of flange 52 has a ridge 59 near the flange 56.

A portion of the horizontal wall 42 extends rearwardly of the support flange 52 and has a downwardly extending flange 67.which provides additional horizontal reinforcement for the berglass panel 13. If needed, further reinforcement can be provided, as by attaching an angle 68 to wall 42 by bolts 69. The

frame elements

14, 15, 22 and 23 may be formed from metal, such as aluminum or steel, by a rolling or extrusion process.

A channel-shaped bearing member 63, which is preferably fabricated from a selflubricating material, such as a plastic, is disposed between

rails

22 and 23A so that it extends along the lower surface of flange 56 and grips both the cylindrical edge portion 57 and the ridge 59, whereby it is held in position and in snug pivotal engagement within the rolled portion 38A of support flange 37A. The front side of the bearing member 63 has a curved portion 65 which snugly and slideably engages the concave surface of portion 33A. Rail stops 60 (FIGURE 3) are secured by bolts 61 to the opposite ends of flange 29A and have parallel end plates 62 which substantially cover the ends of the hinge 17.

The lower rail 71 on section 11C (FIGURE 2) is somewhat similar to lower rail 22, without the support flange 52 and associated parts of the hinge assembly 17. Rail 71 has grip means 75 for attaching a resilient seal 72 which extends downwardly therefrom.

The upper rail 73 on section 11 (FIGURE 3) is somewhat similar to upper rail 23A without the hinge flange 56A and associated parts of the hinge assembly 17. The upper rail 73 has a downwardly extending flange 74, which is secured by bolts 76 to rear flange 36 of end stile 14, and a rearwardly extending brace flange 77.

Operation Although the operation of the structure embodying the invention will be apparent to skilled persons from the foregoing description, a summary thereof will now be set forth.

The door 10 is opened by lifting same upwardly and thereby causing the rollers in the brackets 18 to move along the track 19. As the section 11, for example, passes around the bend in track 19, said section pivots on hinge 17 relative to the adjacent section 11A. The hinging action between lower rail 22 and the adjacent upper rail 23A is produced by pivoting of cylindrical portion 57 of support flange 52 together with cylindrical portion 64 of self-lubricating bearing member 63 within the semicylindrical portion 38A of the support flange 37A. At the same time the front curved portions 65 of member 63 slides along the arcuate portions 33A of the flange 29A.

During normal operation of the door 10, contact between the front curved portion 65 of member 63 and the arcuate portion 33A prevents displacement of cylindrical portions 57 and 64 from within the semicylindrical portion 38A. However, lower rail 22 can be disengaged from upper rail 23A, as to replace the bearing member 63, by pivoting said rail 22 relative to rail 23A until the portion 65 moves upwardly past arcuate portion 33A, after which the cylindrical portions 57 and 64 can be moved frontwardly out of contact with the semicylindrical portion 38A. To reassemble hinge 17, the cylindrical portions 57 and 64 are inserted into the semicylindrical portion 38A and the portion 65 is moved into sliding engagement with arcuate portion 33A.

Disengagement of the hinge flange 56 and attached bearing member 63 from between the

portions

37A and 38A can also be accomplished by endwise, relative movement thereof. However, at least one rail stop 60 must be removed to effect such endwise disengagement.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations or modifications thereof which come within the scope of the appended claims, are fully contemplated.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Structure for hingedly connecting a pair of adjacent sections of a horizontally hinged, upwardly acting door, comprising:

an elongated, substantially horizontal first frame member on one of said door sections adjacent the other door section;

an elongated, substantially horizontal second frame member secured to the other door section adjacent the first frame member;

an elongated first hinge element projecting away from said first frame member, said first hinge element having a first portion fixedly secured along one edge thereof to said first frame element and a second portion integrally connected to the other edge of said first portion, said rst portion having a support surface and said second portion having a concave arcuate surface contiguous with said support surface;

an elongated second hinge element projecting away from second frame member, said second hinge element having a first part lixedly secured along one edge thereof to said second frame member and having a second part integrally connected to the other edge of said first part, said second part having a bearing surface adapted for movement toward and away from a position adjacent to and opposite said support surface when the door is in a substantially planar position; and

elongated, self-lubricating bearing means disposed between the first and second hinge elements for effecting relative pivotal movement and a seal therebetween, said bearing means having a base portion and an arcuate portion integral with the base portion along one edge thereof, said arcuate portion being in snug engagement with said concave surface and said base portion being connected to one of said support surface and said bearing surface, said base portion being engaged between said support surface and said bearing surface when the door is in said planar position to form a seal between the first and second hinge elements.

2. A hinge structure according to claim 1, wherein said support surface and said bearing surface are planar and parallel when said door is in said planar position.

3. A hinge structure according to claim 1, wherein the second part of said second hinge element is substantially planar and has part of a cylindrical surface formed on the free edge thereof, said cylindrical surface being snugly received within the arcuate portion of said bearing member.

4. Structure for hingedly connecting a pair of adjacent sections of a horizontally hinged, upwardly acting door, comprising:

an elongated, substantially horizontal first frame member on one of said door sections adjacent the other door section, said first frame member having a first concave surface extending lengthwise thereof on one side of said one door section;

an elongated first hinge element rigidly secured to and extending lengthwise of said first frame member and projecting away from said one side of said one door section, said first hinge element having a first portion fixedly connected along one edge thereof to said first frame member adjacent the edge of said first concave surface remote from said second frame member, said first hinge element having a second portion integral with the other edge of said first portion and having a second concave surface facing said first concave surface and spaced therefrom, said first portion having a planar support surface extending between said first and second concave surfaces, said planar support surface being substantially perpendicular to said door when it is in a vertical closed position;

an elongated second hinge element rigidly secured to and projecting away from said second frame member, said second hinge element extending lengthwise of said second frame member and having a substantially L-shaped cross section, said second hinge element having a first part fixedly connected along one edge thereof to said second frame member and having a second part integral with the other edge of said first part, said second part being positioned between said first and second concave surfaces and having a planar bearing surface thereon movable toward and away from a position adjacent said sup- ,port surface when the door is in the vertical closed position; and

channel-shaped, self-lubricating bearing means disposed between the first and second hinge elements for effecting relative pivotal movement and a seal therebetween, said bearing means having a substantially planar base portion and integral, arcuate first and second edge flanges, the first edge fiange being disposed between the first part of the second hinge member and the first concave surface of the first hinge member, the second edge flange being disposed in snug engagement with the second concave surface, and the planar base portion being engaged between the bearing surface and the support surface for creating a seal therebetween when the door is in the closed vertical position.

5. A hinge structure according to claim 4, wherein the channel-shaped bearing means is constructed of a plastic material, and wherein the second part of the second hinge member has part of a cylindrical surface on the free edge thereof and snugly received Within the second edge flange of the bearing means, the first part of said second hinge member having a shoulder formed thereon and engaged by said first edge flange of said bearing means, whereby said bearing means is removably secured to said second hinge member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,039,447 5/1936 Pixley 160-235 2,257,513 9/ 1941 Pilcher 160-235 2,525,309 10/1950 Norberg 160-209 X 2,968,829 1/ 1961 Meddick.

3,015,839 l/1962 Eskridge et al 16-136 3,067,814 12/ 1962 Anthony 160-235 FOREIGN PATENTS 411,304 11/ 1966 Switzerland.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 16--136; 160-209