OVERHEAD DOORS AND ASSOCIATED TRACK AND GUIDE ASSEMBLIES FOR USE WITH SAME

• US 20110088327A1
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 4Front Engineered Solutions Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: 4Front Engineered Solutions Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Meichtry, Michael M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,297,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/197
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/165 Details, e.g. sliding or rolling guides E05D15/18 - E05D15/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/24 consisting of parts connected at their edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/614 Anti-derailing means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/684 Rails; Tracks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages

Abstract

Overhead door assemblies having both interlocking and releasable guide assemblies, and guide track assemblies for use with same are disclosed herein. An overhead door track configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a first side portion spaced apart from a second side portion to define a channel or gap region therebetween. The first side portion has a first guide surface and a first retention surface. Similarly, the second side portion has a second guide surface and a second retention surface. In this embodiment, the first and second guide surfaces diverge outwardly from the gap region in a first direction, and the first and second retention surfaces diverge inwardly from the gap region in a second direction, opposite the first direction. An overhead door configured in accordance with another embodiment of the invention can include a first guide member configured to extend through the gap region and movably engage the first and second retention surfaces, and a second guide member configured to be removably engaged with the first and second guide surfaces.

Claims

1. A track for use with an overhead door, the track comprising:

a first side portion having a first guide surface and a first retention surface;

a second side portion spaced apart from the first side portion to define a gap region therebetween, the second side portion having a second guide surface and a second retention surface;

wherein the first and second guide surfaces diverge from the gap region toward a first direction; and

wherein the first and second retention surfaces diverge from the gap region toward a second direction, opposite to the first direction.

2. The track of claim 1 wherein the first and second guide surfaces form a V-groove extending outwardly from the gap region in the first direction.

3. The track of claim 1 wherein the first and second retention surfaces form a V-groove extending inwardly from the gap region in the second direction.

4. The track of claim 1 wherein the first and second guide surfaces form a first V-groove extending outwardly from the gap region in the first direction, and wherein the first and second retention surfaces form a second V-groove extending inwardly from the gap region in the second direction.

5. The track of claim 1 wherein the first guide surface is disposed at an angle of from about 60 degrees to about 120 degrees relative to the second guide surface.

6. The track of claim 1 wherein the first guide surface is disposed at an angle of from about 60 degrees to about 120 degrees relative to the second guide surface, and wherein the first retention surface is disposed at an angle of from about 40 degrees to about 180 degrees relative to the second retention surface.

7. The track of claim 1 wherein the first side portion further includes a first corner region positioned between the first guide surface and the first retention surface, wherein the second side portion further includes a second corner region positioned between the second guide surface and the second retention surface, and wherein the first and second corner regions define the gap region.

8. The track of claim 1 wherein the gap region between the first and second side portions is configured to movably receive an overhead door guide member.

9. The track of claim 1, further comprising a seal surface extending outwardly from the first guide surface at an oblique angle, wherein the seal surface is configured to slidably contact an overhead door seal.

10. The track of claim 1 wherein the first and second side portions are formed from sheet metal.

11. The track of claim 1 wherein the first and second side portions are formed from a single piece of sheet metal.

12. A track assembly for use with an overhead door, the overhead door having at least one guide member extending outwardly therefrom along a longitudinal axis, the track assembly comprising:

a first track section, the first track section including;

a first side portion having a first guide surface positioned at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the guide member; and

a second side portion having a second guide surface, wherein the second guide surface is at least approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide member, and wherein the second guide surface is spaced apart from the first guide surface to form a first V-groove configured to movably receive the overhead door guide member; and

a second track section operably coupled to the first track section, the second track section including;

a third side portion having a third guide surface positioned at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the guide member; and

a fourth side portion having a fourth guide surface positioned at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the guide member, wherein the fourth guide surface is spaced apart from the third guide surface to form a second V-groove configured to movably receive the overhead door guide member.

13. The track assembly of claim 12, further comprising a third track section operably coupled to the second track section, the third track section including:

a fifth side portion having a fifth guide surface, wherein the fifth guide surface is at least approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide member; and

a sixth side portion having a sixth guide surface, wherein the sixth guide surface is at least approximately parallel to the fifth guide surface, and wherein the sixth guide surface is spaced apart from the fifth guide surface to movably receive the overhead door guide member.

14. The track assembly of claim 12 wherein the third guide surface is at least approximately parallel to the first guide surface.

15. The track assembly of claim 12 wherein the first V-groove defines a first angle and the second V-groove defines a second angle, larger than the first angle.

16. The track assembly of claim 12 wherein the first side portion is spaced apart from the second side portion to define a gap region therebetween, wherein the first and second guide surfaces diverge from the gap region in a first direction, wherein the first side portion further includes a first retention surface positioned at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the guide member, wherein the second side portion further includes a second retention surface positioned at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the guide member, and wherein the first and second retention surfaces diverge from the gap region in a second direction, opposite to the first direction.

17. The track assembly of claim 12, further comprising a third track section operably interposed between the first and second track sections, wherein the third track section includes:

a fifth side portion having a fifth guide surface that is parallel to the first and third guide surfaces; and

a sixth side portion having a sixth guide surface that transitions from the second guide surface to the fourth guide surface.

18. An overhead door for use with a guide track, the overhead door comprising:

a first door panel having a bottom edge extending between a first side edge and a second side edge;

a first guide assembly attached to the first door panel proximate to the first side edge, wherein the first guide assembly includes a first guide member having a first head portion configured to be movably received by the guide track, and wherein the first head portion is spaced apart from the first side edge by a first offset distance;

a second door panel having a top edge extending between a third side edge and a fourth side edge, wherein the top edge of the second door panel is hingably attached to the bottom edge of the first door panel; and

a second guide assembly attached to the second door panel proximate to the third side edge, wherein the second guide assembly includes a second guide member having a second head portion configured to be movably received by the guide track, wherein the second head portion is smaller than the first head portion, and wherein the second head portion is spaced apart from the third side edge by a second offset distance that is less than the first offset distance.

19. The overhead door of claim 18 wherein the first head portion of the first guide member includes a conical surface.

20. The overhead door of claim 18 wherein the first head portion of the first guide member includes an outwardly flared, conical surface, and wherein the second head portion of the second guide member includes a spherical surface.

21. An overhead door assembly for use with an opening in a building, the overhead door assembly comprising:

a track configured to be mounted to the building proximate the opening, the track including;

a first side portion having a first guide surface; and

a second side portion having a second guide surface, wherein the second side portion is spaced apart from the first side portion to define a gap region therebetween;

a first door panel having a bottom edge extending between a first side edge and a second side edge;

a first guide assembly attached to the first door panel proximate to the first side edge, wherein the first guide assembly includes a first guide member that movably extends through the gap region of the track;

a second door panel having a top edge extending between a third side edge and a fourth side edge, wherein the top edge of the second door panel is hingeably attached to the bottom edge of the first door panel; and

a second guide assembly attached to the second door panel proximate to the third side edge, wherein the second guide assembly includes a second guide member having a distal end portion movably received between the first and second guide surfaces.

22. The overhead door assembly of claim 21:

wherein the first side portion further includes a first retention surface and the second side portion further includes a second retention surface; and

wherein the first guide member includes a head portion configured to be movably retained by the first and second retention surfaces.

23. The overhead door assembly of claim 22 wherein the first and second guide surfaces diverge outwardly from the gap region toward a first direction, and wherein the first and second retention surfaces diverge inwardly from the gap region toward a second direction, opposite to the first direction.

24. The overhead door assembly of claim 21:

wherein the first and second guide surfaces extend outwardly from the gap region toward a first direction;

wherein the first side portion further includes a first retention surface and the second side portion further includes a second retention surface;

wherein the first and second retention surfaces extend inwardly from the gap region toward a second direction, opposite to the first direction;

wherein the first guide member includes a first head portion configured to be movably retained by the first and second retention surfaces;

wherein the second guide member includes a second head portion configured to be movably received between the first and second guide surfaces; and

wherein the first head portion of the first guide member is larger than the second head portion of the second guide member.

25. The overhead door assembly of claim 24 wherein the first head portion of the first guide member has a first diameter, and wherein the second head portion of the second guide member has a second diameter, smaller than the first diameter.

26. The overhead door assembly of claim 21 wherein the gap region defines a gap dimension, wherein the distal end portion of the second guide member has a diameter that is greater than the gap dimension.

27. The overhead door assembly of claim 21:

wherein the bottom edge of the first door panel is a first bottom edge;

wherein the top edge of the second door panel is a first top edge;

wherein the first door panel further includes a second top edge extending between the first side edge and the second side edge;

wherein the overhead door assembly further includes a third door panel, the third door panel having a second bottom edge extending between a fifth side edge and a sixth side edge; and

wherein the second bottom edge of the third door panel is hingeably attached to the second top edge of the first door panel.

28. The overhead door assembly of claim 21:

wherein the bottom edge of the first door panel is a first bottom edge;

wherein the top edge of the second door panel is a first top edge;

wherein the first door panel further includes a second top edge extending between the first side edge and the second side edge; and

wherein the overhead door assembly further includes;

a third door panel, the third door panel having a second bottom edge extending between a fifth side edge and a sixth side edge, wherein the second bottom edge of the third door panel is hingeably attached to the second top edge of the first door panel; and

a third guide assembly attached to the third door panel proximate to the fifth side edge, wherein the third guide assembly includes a third guide member that movably extends through the gap region of the track.