Patent Application
20100058668
The present disclosure relates generally to swing type garage doors and in particular the present disclosure relates to loading and use of swing type garage doors
Garage doors of the swing-type are typically comprised of a door that remains in a single panel configuration even when the door is being opened and is open. Such doors are often opened and closed using hydraulic cylinders. These swing-type doors are typically of either unitary construction, or are manufactured in sections that must be assembled when the door sections are delivered to an installation site, requiring additional time and effort to assemble the door.
Further, swing type doors may have a truss permanently attached to a bottom of the door that provides added stability against drooping of the door when it is open. These built-on trusses require additional materials, and are permanent, so they can be obstacles in front of a door, as well as potential tripping points. Further doors with permanent trusses either require shipping a more unwieldy portion of door, or additional assembly time and effort when the door sections arrive at the installation location.
Wind loading on doors in high wind conditions can be very high. Such wind loading can lead to bowing or even buckling of doors. Some bracing systems for doors employ additional cross bracing within the door body frame, but even additional bracing cannot prevent damage in higher winds.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for improvements in swing type door bracing, trussing, and load distribution.
In one embodiment, a swing type garage door includes a door body rotationally connected to a door frame, the door body rotatable between a first closed position and a second open position. The door body includes a trussing system with vertical truss members and horizontal truss members, the horizontal members having openings through which the vertical members extend, the openings having sides on either side of the vertical truss member, to distribute a load on the door body to the door frame in both a vertical and a horizontal direction.
In another embodiment, a swing type garage door includes a door body rotationally connected to a door frame, the door body rotatable between a first closed position and a second open position. The door body includes a first section and a second section hingedly connected with a hinge, the door body foldable from a first operating configuration in which the first and the second sections are pinned so that they form a substantially rigid door body, and a second transport configuration for storage and transport in which the first and second sections are folded about the hinge to reduce the effective dimensions of the door body.
In still another embodiment, a swing type garage door includes a door body rotationally connected to a door frame, the door body rotatable between a first closed position and a second open position. The door body has a main door body section and a door load truss section, the door load truss section hingedly connected at a bottom of the main door body and rotatable between a first configuration in which the main door body section and the door load truss section are substantially coplanar and a second configuration in which the door load truss section is substantially perpendicular to the main door body section.
In another embodiment, a swing type garage door includes a door body rotationally connected to a door frame, the door body rotatable between a first closed position and a second open position. The door body has at least one brace rotatably connected to the door body on an interior thereof, the at least one brace rotatably movable between a first bracing position in which the brace is positioned substantially perpendicular to a plane of the door body and a second storage position in which the brace is substantially coplanar and parallel to the door body.
Other embodiments are described and claimed.
In the following detailed description of the embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
Referring to
To accomplish this, the horizontal and vertical trussing is constructed as shown in greater detail in
The interconnection of the vertical and horizontal truss members spreads a load on the door 100 over the entire frame. Loads, such as from lifting of the door 100 and wind loading, are dispersed both horizontally and vertically, as opposed to traditional loads being dispersed only vertically.
Door hydraulics 108 are connected between the frame 106 and the door body 110 so as to open the door 100 by moving the door body 110 in response to the door hydraulics 108. Hydraulics 108 are hinged so as to rotate about their mounting points at the door frame 106 and at the door body 110. When hydraulics 108 are actuated, using a hydraulic motor or hydraulic controller (not shown), a hydraulic cylinder of the hydraulics 108 extends and opens the door. The door body 110 is hingedly connected to door frame 106 along its top 112, and rotates on a rotational axis 114 between open and closed positions.
If there is an increased wind load or expected extra wind load on a door such as door 100, the depth of the horizontal trusses is increased in one embodiment. In contrast, typical doors would increase the number of vertical trusses or make them much larger in size and thickness, adding extra weight. The increase in the depth of the horizontal trusses, that is their depth in a direction substantially perpendicular to the face of the door 100, which adds some weight, but not much, for the resulting increase in handling a wind load.
In yet another embodiment, a door 300 is shown in
As shown in
In still another embodiment, shown in
Door braces are attached to the main door section 412 for added wind loading and stiffening when the door 400 is down. For high wind situations, such as for a hurricane or the like, the normally folded door braces 402 are extended to be substantially perpendicular to the door. When additional wind loading is required, the braces are unfolded to approximately a 90 degree angle to the door, adding additional stability and loading. The braces can then be pinned to the floor or the like. Also, the positioning of the braces breaks the loading down into approximately three equal pieces of the main door. Alternatively, the braces 402 can be permanently or semi-permanently pinned in their first open positions if desired.
One of more of the embodiments and variations described above can be integrated with a door of the type described. The hinged door load truss 304 of
Combinations are within scope of the disclosure, for example a door can have the hinged sections of
A swing-type garage door has been described that includes in various embodiments one or more of: hinged sections for ease of transfer and installation; integrated horizontal and vertical trussing to distribute wind loading; a door load truss that is integral with the door and only folds perpendicular for opening and open doors; and door braces pinnable to a floor for additional structural stability in storms and the like.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
