Remote body detection system for a door

• US 20040075046A1
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
• Inventors: Boerger, James C., Beggs, Ryan P., Paruch, Lucas I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,045,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/436 the beam being parallel to the wing edge
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/45 in or on the fixed frame
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/00 Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6836 sensing obstacle
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/48 Wings connected at their edges, e.g. foldable wings
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/13 with closing members of one piece, e.g. of corrugated sheet metal
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive

Abstract

A detection system for detecting a body near a doorway includes two detectors having one or more activation lines that overlap each other. With certain mounting arrangements, the detectors cover areas within and on both sides of the doorway. The detectors are meant to help prevent an already open door from accidentally closing on the body. The door is powered by a drive unit that ignores the detectors when the door is closed.

Claims

1. A detection system for detecting a body near a door having a path of travel that is adjacent to a doorway defined by a lintel, a right lateral edge and a left lateral edge, the detection system comprising:

a first remote body detector disposed below the lintel of the doorway and having a first activation line that passes completely through the path of travel when the door is open.

2. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the first remote body detector has a second activation line that points at an angle away from the path of travel.

3. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the first remote body detector has a second activation line that is aimed lower than the first activation line.

4. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the first remote body detector is adjacent to the right lateral edge, and further comprising a second remote body detector adjacent to the left lateral edge and having a second activation line that passes completely through the path of travel when the door is open.

5. The detection system of claim 4, wherein the first activation line and the second activation line overlap each other in an area beyond the path of travel.

6. The detection system of claim 4, wherein the first remote body detector has a first activation area, and the second remote body has a second activation area with the first activation area and the second activation area overlapping each other at an overlapping area within the path of travel.

7. The detection system of claim 1, further comprising a drive unit coupled to the door and selectively responsive to the first remote body detector, such that the drive unit responds to the first remote body detector when the first activation line is disturbed and the door is already partially open, and the drive unit is unresponsive to the first remote body detector when the door is closed.

8. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the drive unit opens the door when the first activation line is disturbed and the door is already partially open.

9. The detection system of claim 1, wherein the door moves vertically to open and close.

10. A detection system for detecting a body near a door having a path of travel that is adjacent to a doorway defined by a lintel, a right lateral edge and a left lateral edge, comprising:

a first remote body detector disposed adjacent to the doorway and having a first activation line pointing at an angle away from the path of travel; and

a drive unit operatively coupled to the door and selectively responsive to the first remote body detector, such that the drive unit responds to the first remote body detector when the door is at least partially open and is unresponsive to the first remote body detector when the door is closed.

11. The detection system of claim 10, wherein the first remote body detector is below the lintel.

12. The detection system of claim 10, wherein the first remote body detector is above the lintel.

13. The detection system of claim 10, wherein the drive unit opens the door when the first activation line is disturbed and the door is already partially open.

14. The detection system of claim 10, wherein the first remote body detector has a second activation line that passes completely through the path of travel.

15. The detection system of claim 10, wherein the first remote body detector has a second activation line that is aimed lower than the first activation line.

16. The detection system of claim 10, wherein the first remote body detector is adjacent to the right lateral edge, and further comprising a second remote body detector adjacent to the left lateral edge and having a second activation line pointing away from the path of travel.

17. The detection system of claim 16, wherein the first activation line and the second activation line overlap each other in an area beyond the path of travel.

18. The detection system of claim 16, wherein the first remote body detector has a first activation area, and the second remote body has a second activation area with the first activation area and the second activation area overlapping each other at an overlapping area within the path of travel.

19. The detection system of claim 10, wherein the door moves vertically to open and close.

20. A detection system for detecting a body near a door having a path of travel that is adjacent to a doorway defined by a lintel, a right lateral edge and a left lateral edge, the detection system comprising:

a first remote body detector disposed below the lintel of the doorway and having a first activation line pointing at an angle away from the path of travel; and

a drive unit coupled to the door and selectively responsive to the first remote body detector, such that the drive unit opens the door when the first activation line is disturbed and the door is already partially open, and the drive unit is unresponsive to the first remote body detector when the door is closed.

21. The detection system of claim 20, wherein the first remote body detector has a second activation line that passes completely through the path of travel.

22. The detection system of claim 20, wherein the first remote body detector has a second activation line that is aimed lower than the first activation line.

23. The detection system of claim 20, wherein the first remote body detector is adjacent to the right lateral edge, and further comprising a second remote body detector adjacent to the left lateral edge and having a second activation line pointing away from the path of travel.

24. The detection system of claim 23, wherein the first activation line and the second activation line overlap each other in an area beyond the path of travel.

25. The detection system of claim 23, wherein the first remote body detector has a first activation area, and the second remote body has a second activation area with the first activation area and the second activation area overlapping each other at an overlapping area within the path of travel.

26. The detection system of claim 20, wherein the door moves vertically to open and close.

27. A detection system for detecting a body near a door having a path of travel that is adjacent to a doorway defined by a lintel, a right lateral edge and a left lateral edge, the detection system comprising:

a first remote body detector adjacent to the right lateral edge of the doorway and having a first activation area; and

a second remote body detector adjacent to left lateral edge of the doorway and having a second activation area that overlaps the first activation area to define an overlapping activation area, wherein at least one of the first activation area and the second activation area extends through the path of travel when the door is open.

28. The detection system of claim 27, wherein the overlapping activation area extends into the path of travel.

29. The detection system of claim 27, wherein the first activation area extends completely through the path of travel.

30. The detection system of claim 27, wherein the first remote body also has a lower activation area that extends below the first activation area.

31. The detection system of claim 27, further comprising a drive unit coupled to the door and selectively responsive to the first remote body detector, such that the drive unit opens the door when the first activation area is disturbed and the door is already partially open, and the drive unit is unresponsive to the first remote body detector when the door is closed.

32. The detection system of claim 27, wherein the door moves vertically to open and close.

33. A detection system for detecting a body near a door having a path of travel that is adjacent to a doorway defined by a lintel, a right lateral edge and a left lateral edge, the detection system comprising:

a remote body detector arrangement disposed adjacent to the doorway and having a first activation line and a second activation line each pointing at an angle relative to the path of travel, wherein the first activation line lies along a first vertical plane and the second activation line lies along a second vertical plane, wherein the first vertical plane and the second vertical plane intersect at a vertical line that is offset to the path of travel.

34. The detection system of claim 33, wherein the first remote body detector is below the lintel.

35. The detection system of claim 33, wherein the first remote body detector is above the lintel.

36. The detection system of claim 33, wherein the first activation line and the second activation line extend completely through the path of travel.

37. The detection system of claim 33, wherein the first activation line does not intersect the path of travel.

38. The detection system of claim 33, wherein the first remote body also has a lower activation line that extends below than the first activation line.

39. The detection system of claim 33, further comprising a drive unit coupled to the door and selectively responsive to the first remote body detector, such that the drive unit opens the door when the first activation line is disturbed and the door is already partially open, and the drive unit is unresponsive to the first remote body detector when the door is closed.

40. The detection system of claim 33, wherein the first remote body detector also has third activation line, wherein the first activation line extends through the path of travel, and the second activation line points away from the path of travel.

41. The detection system of claim 33, wherein the door moves vertically to open and close.

42. A detection system for detecting a body near a door having a path of travel that is adjacent to a doorway defined by a lintel, a right lateral edge and a left lateral edge, the detection system comprising:

a first remote body detector disposed above the lintel of the doorway and having a first activation line that passes completely through the path of travel when the door is open.

43. The detection system of claim 42, wherein the first remote body detector has a second activation line, wherein the first activation line and the second activation line extend to opposite sides of the path of travel.

44. The detection system of claim 42, further comprising a drive unit coupled to the door and selectively responsive to the first remote body detector, such that the drive unit responds to the first remote body detector when the first activation line is disturbed and the door is already partially open, and the drive unit is unresponsive to the first remote body detector when the door is closed.