Overhead door locking apparatus and method of operation
First Claim
1. A locking mechanism for automatically locking an overhead door when that door is moved to a closed position and which allows for movement back to an opened position upon actuation of the locking mechanism to provide for opening thereof, said mechanism comprising:
- a) a locking actuator which can be shifted from an unlocking position to a locking position, when a member on a door is shifted into an opened area thereof; and
b) a pivotal latching arm engageable with the locking actuator and holding the same in a locked position or allowing movement to an unlocked position in response to the position of the latching arm; and
c) means operatively associated with at least one of said locking actuator or latching arm to automatically cause the relocking of the locking mechanism when the door reaches the closed position so that the door is automatically locked in the closed position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An overhead door locking apparatus and method which includes a lock housing containing a pivotally mounted locking element having an elongate recess to receive an actuating bolt on or associated with the overhead door. Downward movement of the overhead door to a closed position causes the actuating bolt to pivotally move the locking element, and hold the same in a locked position. An electrically operated solenoid or a mechanical manually operable release arm causes movement therefrom to the unlatched position, allowing the locking element to open. The apparatus and method do not rely upon an electrically operable circuit to cause the door to automatically lock when it moves to the closed position. In this way, the door will automatically lock in the event that personnel overlook the need for locking the same after a certain time period.
27 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A locking mechanism for automatically locking an overhead door when that door is moved to a closed position and which allows for movement back to an opened position upon actuation of the locking mechanism to provide for opening thereof, said mechanism comprising:
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a) a locking actuator which can be shifted from an unlocking position to a locking position, when a member on a door is shifted into an opened area thereof; and
b) a pivotal latching arm engageable with the locking actuator and holding the same in a locked position or allowing movement to an unlocked position in response to the position of the latching arm; and
c) means operatively associated with at least one of said locking actuator or latching arm to automatically cause the relocking of the locking mechanism when the door reaches the closed position so that the door is automatically locked in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of maintaining security for an overhead door by locking the overhead door whenever that door is in the closed position, said method comprising:
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a) inserting a projecting member on the door into a locking actuator when the door is moved to a closed position;
b) causing a latching arm to engage the locking actuator and hold that locking actuator in a locked position when the door is moved to the closed position; and
c) releasing the latching arm from engagement with the locking actuator and allowing the locking actuator to unlock the member on the door when the latching arm is shifted to a position where it can no longer engage the locking actuator. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A locking mechanism for automatically locking an overhead door when that door is moved to a closed position and only authorizedly allowing movement of the door back to the opened position, said locking mechanism comprising:
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a) a locking actuator having an elongate slot to receive a member on the door as the door is moved to the closed position, said member initially causing rotation of the locking actuator to a position where the member on the door is further restrained in the locking actuator; and
b) a latching arm engageable with said locking actuator and holding that locking actuator in a position where the member on the door cannot be removed from the slot until such time as the latching arm becomes disengaged from the locking actuator. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification