Reed switch device and method of using same

• US 7,057,484 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trackit Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Glendell N. Gilmore
• Inventors: Gilmore, Glendell N.
• Primary Examiner(s): DONOVAN, LINCOLN D
• Application Number:
  US10/369,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20050174204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 335205-207, 335151-154, 160/10, 160/127, 160/133, 160/201, 160/310, 340/457, 340/547, 200 6171- 83, 200/61.62, 200/61.93
• US Class Current: 335/205
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0033 Mountings; Housings; Connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0046 Limit switches, also fail-safe operation or anti-tamper considerations

Abstract

A reed switch device connects to a door facing of a door. The reed switch device includes an impact unit, adapted to stop movement of the door, and a reed switch. In one configuration, the reed switch device replace a pre-existing part on the door facing. In another configuration, the reed switch device is an adaptation of a pre-existing part on the door facing. Additional configurations include an impact unit, which receives a reed switch, and a kit which enables connection of the reed switch to the impact unit. Additionally, methods of installing a reed switch device to a door facing are disclosed In a first method, an impact unit with a reed switch is mounted to the door. In a second method a pre-existing part of the door is utilized. In a third method, a pre-existing part of the door of the door is adapted.

Claims

1. A reed switch device adapted to couple to a portion of a door facing, the door facing communicating with a door, comprising:

an impact unit adapted to stop a moving door upon impact with said impact unit;

a reed switch coupled to said impact unit; and

a buffer for impact protection of said reed switch, said buffer comprised of a mechanical energy-absorbing material.

2. The reed switch device of claim 1, wherein the coupling of said reed switch to said impact unit comprises a coupling apparatus.

3. The reed switch device of claim 2, wherein said coupling apparatus includes a mounting device.

4. The reed switch device of claim 2, wherein said coupling apparatus includes a housing surrounding said reed switch.

5. The reed switch device of claim 4, wherein said coupling apparatus further includes a mounting device.

6. The reed switch device of claim 1, wherein a portion of said impact unit is adapted to support said reed switch.

7. The reed switch device of claim 1, wherein the door includes a magnetic field generator mounted thereto, the magnetic field generator interacting with said reed switch.

40. The reed switch device of claim 1, wherein said reed switch is internally mounted in said impact unit.

8. A reed switch device adapted to couple to a portion of a door facing, the door facing communicating with a door, comprising:

a reed switch;

a buffer for impact protection of said reed switch, said buffer comprising a resilient material; and

an impact unit;

arranged and designed to stop a moving door upon impact with said impact unit, wherein a portion of said impact unit is adapted to couple with said reed switch.

9. The reed switch device of claim 8, wherein the coupling of said reed switch to said impact unit comprises a coupling apparatus.

10. The reed switch device of claim 9, wherein said coupling apparatus includes a mounting device.

11. The reed switch device of claim 9, wherein said coupling apparatus includes a housing surrounding said reed switch.

12. The reed switch device of claim 11, wherein said coupling apparatus further includes a mounting device.

13. The reed switch device of claim 8, wherein the door includes a magnetic field generator mounted thereto, the magnet field generator interacting with said reed switch.

14. In a door configuration, having a door and a door facing, the door facing communicating with the door, wherein the door facing is arranged and designed for an impact unit to be mounted to a portion thereof, the improvement comprising:

an impact unit for mounting to the door facing;

a reed switch;

a mechanical energy absorbing buffer for impact protection of said reed switch; and

a coupling apparatus, which couples said reed switch to said impact unit.

15. The door configuration of claim 14, wherein

said impact unit is a pre-existing part on the door facing, and

said coupling apparatus adapts said impact unit to couple with said reed switch.

16. The door configuration of claim 14, wherein a portion of said impact unit is adapted to support said reed switch.

17. The door configuration claim 14, wherein said coupling apparatus includes a mounting device.

18. The door configuration of claim 14, wherein said coupling apparatus includes a housing surrounding said reed switch.

19. The door configuration of claim 18, wherein said coupling apparatus further includes a mounting device.

20. A method of installing a reed switch device in a door configuration, generally having a door and a door facing, the door facing communicating with the door, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling a reed switch to an impact unit;

buffering the reed switch with a mechanical energy absorbing material for impact protection; and

mounting the impact unit to the door facing, wherein the impact unit is arranged and designed to stop a moving door upon impact with the impact unit.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

utilizing a pre-existing part of the door facing or said step of mounting the impact unit to the door facing.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the impact unit is a pre-existing part of the door facing, further comprising the step of:

adapting the impact unit to enable said coupling of the reed switch to the impact unit.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein a portion of the impact unit is adapted to support the reed switch.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of coupling the reed switch to the impact unit is achieved with a coupling apparatus.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the door includes a magnetic field generator mounted thereto, the magnet field generator interacting with the reed switch.

41. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of coupling a reed switch to an impact unit comprises internally mounting the reed switch in the impact unit.

26. In a roll-up door assembly having a roll-up door in sliding relationship with a pair of door tracks, a door stop mounted to at least one of the door tracks, the door stop adapted to receive the impact from a door member of the roll-up door as the roll-up door moves in a direction along the pair of door tracks and to stop the roll-up door from further movement in the direction along the pair of door tracks, the improvement comprising;

a reed switch;

a buffer formed of a mechanical energy-absorbing material for impact protection of said reed switch; and

a coupling apparatus which couples said reed switch to the door stop,

wherein said buffer promotes said reed switch from breakage upon the door stop being impacted by the door member of the moving roll-up door and stopping the further movement of the roll-up door.

27. The improved roll-up door assembly of claim 26, further comprising a magnetic field gent mounted to the roll-up door, said magnetic field generator interacting with said reed switch.

28. In a roll-up door assembly having a roll-up door in sliding relationship with a pair of door tracks, a door stop mounted to at least one of the door tracks, the door stop adapted to receive the impact from a door member of the roll-up door as the roll-up door moves in a direction along the pair of door tracks and to stop the roll-up door from further movement in the direction along the pair of door tracks, the improvement comprising:

an impact unit adapted to replace the existing door stop and mount to the door track in the same manner as the replaced door stop;

a reed switch;

a buffer formed of a resilient material for impact protection of said reed switch; and

a coupling apparatus which couples said reed switch to said impact unit,

wherein said buffer protects said reed switch from breakage upon the impact unit being impacted by the door member of the moving roll-up door and stopping the further movement of the roll-up door.

29. The improved roll-up door assembly of claim 28, further comprising a magnetic field generator mounted to the roll-up door, said magnetic field generator interacting with said reed switch.

30. The improved roll-up door assembly of claim 29, wherein said coupling apparatus includes a mounting device.

31. The improved roll-up door assembly of claim 29, wherein said coupling apparatus includes a housing surrounding said reed switch.

32. The improved roll-up door assembly of claim 31, wherein said coupling apparatus further includes a mounting device.

33. A roll-up door assembly for a structural unit, the assembly comprising:

a pair of door tracks mounted to the structural unit, each said door track having an upper end portion;

a roll-up door for movement along said pair of door tracks, said roll-up door having a closed position and a rolled-up position;

a rotatable support rod positioned above said pair of door tracks, said roll-up door adapted to coil around said support rod when in said rolled-up position;

a door plate affixed to a lower portion of said roll-up door;

a door stop mounted to said upper end portion of one of said pair of door tracks,

wherein said door stop is adapted to contact said door plate and prevent further upward movement of said roll-up door when moving to said rolled-up position;

a reed switch device mounted to said door stop, said reed switch device including a reed switch and a buffer adapted to absorb mechanical energy; and

a magnetic field generator mounted to said roll-up door, said magnetic field generator adapted to interact with said reed switch when said roll-up door is in said closed position.

34. The roll-up door assembly of claim 33, wherein said reed switch device is externally mounted to said door stop.

35. The roll-up door assembly of claim 33, wherein said magnetic field generator is mounted directly to said roll-up door.

36. The roll-up door assembly of claim 33, wherein said magnetic field generator is mounted to an upper portion of said roll-up door.

37. The roll-up door assembly of claim 33, wherein said door plate is retrained from movement relative to said roll-up door.

38. The roll-up door assembly of claim 33, wherein said buffer is a resilient material.

39. The roll-up door assembly of claim 38, wherein said resilient material is poly-foam, polystyrene, silicone, or rubber.