Guide track assemblies and mounting brackets for upward acting doors

• US 6,554,047 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Cogger, Robert S., Mondragon, Joseph J., Compton, James W., Wright, Robert K., Hoofard, Richard K., Krupke, LeRoy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEV, BRUCE ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US09/610,806
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 160/188, 160/189, 160/200, 160/201, 160/209, 160/133, 491/99, 492/00, 248/224.8, 248/225.11, 248/225.21
• US Class Current: 160/201
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 13/1261 specially adapted for overhead wings E05D13/1269 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/24 consisting of parts connected at their edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/684 Rails
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/626 Plates or brackets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages

Abstract

Guide track assemblies for upward acting doors include substantially linear vertical and horizontal track sections and curvilinear transition sections formed as portions of each of the vertical and horizontal linear sections. The track assemblies are supported, respectively, by mounting brackets which also support a counterbalance mechanism for the door. The curvilinear transition track sections are formed integral with the vertical and horizontal track sections and may have a constant or elliptical radius of curvature, the latter to provide clearance for the guide track assemblies in low headroom installations. The mounting brackets are formed of stamped metal plates which are folded to provide a first flange for attaching the mounting bracket to a structural wall, a support part including a flag portion for connection to the guide track sections and a second flange for connection to a door counterbalance mechanism.

Claims

1. A guide track assembly for guiding movement of an upward acting door between open and closed positions, said guide track assembly including:

a first track section including an elongated linear track portion adapted to be mounted to extend substantially vertically;

a second track section including an elongated linear track portion adapted to be mounted extending substantially horizontally and separable from said first track section;

a curvilinear track section extending between said first and second track sections and forming a continuous curved part of said guide track assembly extending between said linear track portions, said curvilinear track section being formed as respective integral curvilinear portions of said first and second track sections, respectively, and said first and second track sections being adapted to be placed directly adjacent each other at cooperating ends of said respective curvilinear portions and supported at said ends for forming a continuous guide track assembly for guiding said door between open and closed positions; and

a mounting bracket including a first part for connecting said mounting bracket to a wall and a second part connected to and supporting said curvilinear portions, respectively.

2. The guide track assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said curvilinear track section has a substantially constant radius of curvature.

3. The guide track assembly set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said curvilinear track section comprises substantially equal length respective integral curvilinear portions of said first and second track sections, respectively.

4. The guide track assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said curvilinear track section has a substantially elliptical curvature.

5. The guide track assembly set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said elliptical curvature of said curvilinear track section is characterized by a major axis and a minor axis, said major axis having a length approximately twice the length of said minor axis.

6. The guide track assembly set forth in claim 5 wherein:

a portion of said curvilinear track section formed on said first track section is defined by an arc having a center on the major axis of said elliptical curvature, said arc having a center spaced from one edge of said first track section approximately half the length of said minor axis of said elliptical curvature and extending over an angle of 35°

to 45°

.

7. The guide track assembly set forth in claim 4 wherein:

a major portion of said curvilinear track section is formed as said curvilinear portion of said second track section.

8. The guide track assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said curvilinear portion of said first track section supports a guide member for said door in a closed position of said door.

9. The guide track assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said first part of said mounting bracket includes a first flange for mounting said bracket on a vertical wall adjacent said guide track assembly and said second part comprises an integral support part extending substantially normal to said first flange and including a distal flag portion having plural elongated slots formed therein for receiving fasteners for connecting said first and second track sections to said mounting bracket at said curvilinear portions, respectively.

10. The guide track assembly set forth in claim 9 wherein:

said mounting bracket includes a second flange formed integral with said first flange and extending substantially normal thereto and spaced from said support part for connection to a counterbalance mechanism for said door.

11. The guide track assembly set forth in claim 10 wherein:

said mounting bracket includes a bearing bore formed therein for supporting bearing means for supporting a shaft of a counterbalance mechanism for said door.

12. The guide track assembly set forth in claim 10 wherein:

said mounting bracket includes plural mounting tabs formed thereon and extending substantially coplanar with said first flange and formed integral with said first flange.

13. The guide track assembly set forth in claim 12 wherein:

said mounting bracket is formed from a stamped metal plate which is folded along a first fold region to form said first flange and said support part and is folded along a second fold region to form said second flange integral with said first flange.

14. The guide track assembly set forth in claim 13 wherein:

said mounting tabs are formed by cutting said plate to define an outline of at least all but one side of said tabs, respectively, whereby upon folding said plate to form said first flange and said support part, said mounting tabs are formed by remaining unfolded with respect to said first flange.

15. In an upward acting door, opposed guide track assemblies for guiding movement of said door between open and closed positions, and opposed mounting brackets for supporting at least portions of said guide track assemblies, respectively, said brackets each including:

a first flange for mounting said bracket on a vertical wall adjacent a guide track assembly;

an integral support part extending substantially normal to said first flange and including a distal flag portion having plural elongated slots formed therein for receiving fasteners for connecting first and second track sections of said guide track assembly to said bracket, respectively; and

plural spaced apart mounting tabs extending from one side of and coplanar with said first flange and operable to be engaged by fastener means for securing said bracket to said wall.

16. The invention set forth in claim 15 wherein:

said bracket includes a second flange formed integral with said first flange and extending substantially normal thereto and spaced from said support part for connection to a counterbalance mechanism for said door.

17. The invention set forth in claim 16 wherein:

said bracket includes a bearing bore formed therein for supporting bearing means for supporting a shaft of a counterbalance mechanism for said door.

18. The invention set forth in claim 15 wherein:

said bracket is formed from a stamped metal plate which is folded along a first fold region to form said first flange and said support part and is folded along a second fold region to form said second flange integral with said first flange.

19. The invention set forth in claim 18 wherein:

said mounting tabs are formed by cutting said plate to define an outline of at least all but one side of said tabs, respectively, whereby upon folding said plate to form said first flange and said support part, said mounting tabs are formed by remaining unfolded with respect to said first flange.

20. In an upward acting door, opposed multisection guide track assemblies for guiding movement of said door between open and closed positions, and opposed mounting brackets for supporting at least portions of at least two separate sections of said guide track assemblies, respectively, said brackets each including:

a first flange for mounting said bracket on a vertical wall adjacent a guide track assembly;

an integral support part extending substantially normal to said first flange and including a bearing bore formed therein for supporting bearing means for a shaft of a counterbalance mechanism for said door, and a distal flag portion having plural openings formed therein for receiving fasteners for connecting said two separate sections of said guide track assembly to said bracket, respectively;

plural mounting tabs formed integral with and coplanar with said first flange for connecting said bracket to support structure;

a second flange formed integral with said first flange and extending substantially normal thereto and spaced from said support part for connection to a counterbalance mechanism for said door; and

said bracket is formed from a metal plate which is folded along a first fold region to form said first flange and said support part and is folded along a second fold region to form said second flange integral with said first flange.

21. The invention set forth in claim 20 wherein:

said mounting tabs are formed by cutting said plate to define an outline of at least all but one side of said tabs, respectively, whereby upon folding said plate to form said first flange and said support part, said mounting tabs are formed by remaining unfolded with respect to said first flange.