Patent Application
20180305977
This invention relates generally to closures and in particular, to a closure with a hook and tube endlock.
Access openings, for example, in warehouse, manufacturing and industrial settings are often secured by overhead (vertically traveling) closures. One popular type of overhead closure is a coiling closure, for example, mesh or slatted doors, such as rolling steel doors. These closure types move in a generally vertical path coiling above the opening as the door is opened. Because overhead coiling closures have many fewer parts than other door types with less risk for damage and inoperability, they often make a better solution for facilities that cannot afford opening downtime.
An overhead coiling closure is generally provided with a powered operator to power the door to an open or closed position, manually opened and closed with, for example, a looped chain or crank, or is hand lifted aided by spring tension. A shaft is horizontally mounted above the access opening to wind or unwind the coiling closure. The coiling shaft and operator (if present) are usually covered by a hood.
Another popular type of overhead closure is a sectional overhead door. Sectional overhead doors are manufactured from horizontally hinged panels that roll into an overhead position on tracks, usually spring-assisted. Each panel of the sectional overhead door has its own connection to the door track. This increases reliability and robustness compared to monolithic doors which have only a couple of track connections for the whole panel.
A sectional overhead door may be provided with a powered operator (motor) operatively connected to a panel to power the door to an open or closed position, or it may be manually opened and closed, for example with a handle.
Both coiling and sectional closures use a pair of tracks or door guides mounted to the structure at opposite sides of the access opening. In addition to providing operative guidance, the guides insure the closure can act as a secure barrier to prevent unauthorized entry when closed.
For many applications the locking capability provided by the operator alone is not sufficient. Consequently it is necessary to provide additional locking to achieve required security.
Closure designs attempt to minimize the chance for catastrophic displacement, either intentional or unintentional, of the door from the door guide, which would allow unwanted or unauthorized entry. For example, when struck, the door will bow and if the displacement force is great enough the door can dislodge from its guide, allowing passage between the door and side wall, thereby no longer providing a secure barrier.
Accordingly, there is a continuing need for improved door protection designs. The present invention fulfills this need and further provides related advantages.
In a preferred embodiment a novel door locking design is presented that is more resistant to a displacement/dislodgement force. When locked, the tube and hook end lock provides increased end retention to keep the closure within the guide upon receiving a displacing force and simultaneously limits motion of the closure in all three axis. It prevents dislodgement of the closure from being lifted upward, laterally (pulling out of the guides), and normal (pushing or pulling the curtain) to the opening.
A closure end is received by a closure guide first section. A rotatable tube and hook assembly run vertically within a closure guide second section. When rotated to a locking position a hook member of the tube and hook assembly rotates though a slot cut in the guide and through a cutout in the closure end to lockingly engage the closure.
An important feature of the design is that the closure end is not thicker than the closure itself. This provides an advantage particularly with coiling closures because it does not add dimension to the coil diameter as the closure is coiled up, therefore making an evenly round coil with no stress points added.
When used with a sectional door an advantage of the tube and hook endlock is that if a lower or upper panel is defeated the hooks will hold the panels above or below the defeated panel in place, making removal of the closure from the door track more difficult, thereby making the door more secure.
Another advantage of the invention when used with all closure types is that it prevents wind loading or other natural forces from dislodging the closure from the guides.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. Where possible, like reference numerals have been used to refer to like parts in the several alternative embodiments of the present invention described herein.
While an overhead coiling closure is described below to detail the tube and hook end lock, the end lock is not limited to an overhead coiling door. One skilled in the art can readily visualize that the mechanism as detailed with a coiling overhead closure is easily transferred to a sectional or horizontal closure.
With that in mind, turning to
The counterbalance assembly 14 is supported above the access opening and secured at each end by a securing member 20, for example, a bracket. The closure material 10 attaches to the counterbalance assembly 14 and rolls onto and off of the counterbalance assembly 14 for example, as the tube 22 is rotated, optionally by the tube motor 8. A closure end 24 travels within the vertically oriented side guide assemblies 6. The closure end 24 optionally comprises a geometry which is mechanically locked within the guide assemblies 6.
Depending on the type of closure material 10, each closure end 24 optionally comprises a closure end strip fixed to the closure material 10. For example, a slatted closure material would not require a separate end strip to accommodate the retentive features described below, whereas, for example, a closure material comprised of linked horizontal rods would require the below described retentive features be incorporated into an end strip. While the description below references an end strip, it should be apparent that the retentive features described could be incorporated directly into the closure material end without an end strip, depending on the closure material.
As depicted in
The closure end strip 24 travels within the closure guide first section 32. A tube and hook assembly 40 is contained within the closure guide second section 34 which is covered by the guide trim 38, preferably removably covered.
The tube and hook assembly 40 comprises an elongated member 42, for example, a tube or rod, to which is attached at least one hook 44. The elongated member 42 comprises a first end 48 operatively attached to an actuator 50 (
If the tube and hook assembly 40 becomes damaged it is easily repaired or replaced by removing the guide trim 38 and removing the tube and hook assembly 40 upward to remove from the guide assembly 6. Optionally, to aid in removal, the tube and hook assembly 40 is segmented, each segment removably fixed to its adjacent segment(s), for example, threadingly fixed and pinned to its adjacent segment(s), so that full height clearance above the guide assembly 6 is not needed for servicing. Each segment can be disengaged and removed from its adjacent segment(s) as it clears the guide assembly.
In a preferred embodiment the elongated member 42 comprises a tube having an orifice 46 with the hook 44 passing therethrough.
Turning to
While a single hook 44 has been described, preferably a plurality of respective hooks 44, guide assembly slots 56, and closure end strip cutouts 58 are utilized to provide increased closure displacement resistance.
The closure material 10 is fixed to a bottom bar assembly 18 having bottom bar ends 72. Turning to
In one embodiment, the first and second closure material mounted elements 82, 84 are a first and second bottom bar angle 66, 68 (
Although the present invention has been described in connection with specific examples and embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is capable of other variations and modifications within its scope. These examples and embodiments are intended as typical of, rather than in any way limiting on, the scope of the present invention as presented in the appended claims.
