Overhead door immobilizer

• US 7,365,635 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Oberhauser
• Original Assignee: Robert Oberhauser
• Inventors: Oberhauser, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, NAM V
• Application Number:
  US10/988,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20050107040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.26, 340/457, 340/573, 340/593.3, 340/825.69, 340/686, 340/426.28, 340/440, 49 25- 28, 491/99, 492/80, 318/16, 318/280, 318/466
• US Class Current: 340/5.71
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/76 responsive to devices carried by persons or objects, e.g. magnets or reflectors E05F15/77 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/322 by using absolute position sensors sensors for electronic control of hinges, wings, windows as such E05Y2400/44
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/54 Obstruction or resistance detection
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• 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: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates

Abstract

An overhead door immobilizer deactivates power to the power head operator in a conventional overhead door system to prevent the door from damaging the hatch portion of a vehicle when the hatch portion is in an open position or orientation. A hatch position transmitter (HPT) module mounted on the hatch portion transmits a coded RF signal. A power receiver module (PRM) receives and decodes the HPT RF signal and operates to deactivate power when the hatch position is in an open position and activate power when the hatch position is in a closed position.

Claims

1. Overhead door immobilizer comprising:

a power receiver module (PRM) electrically connected between an overhead door power head operator and an electrical power source for powering the overhead door power head operator;

a hatch position transmitter (HPT) suitably attached to the hatch portion of a vehicle, said HPT having a first operative state corresponding to the hatch portion being in a first orientation and a second operative state corresponding to the hatch portion being in a second orientation;

said power receiver module (PRM) being responsive to said hatch position transmitter in said first operative state whereby electrical power from the electrical power source energizes the overhead door power head operator to move the overhead door between its vertical orientation corresponding to a closed position and its horizontal orientation corresponding to an open position when an enable command signal is provided to the overhead door power head operator;

said power receiver module (PRM) further being responsive to said hatch position transmitter in said second operative state whereby electrical power from the electrical power source is prevented from energizing the overhead door power head operator to immobilize the overhead door from moving between its vertical orientation and its horizontal orientation when an enable command signal is provided to the overhead door power head operator.

2. The overhead door immobilizer as defined in claim 1 wherein said hatch portion first orientation corresponds to said hatch portion being in substantially a closed position on the vehicle.

3. The overhead door immobilizer as defined in claim 1 wherein said hatch portion second orientation corresponds to said hatch portion being in an open position on the vehicle.

4. The overhead door immobilizer as defined in claim 2 wherein said substantially closed position ranges from said hatch portion being in a fully closed position to a partially open position wherein said HPT remains in its said first operative state.

5. The overhead door immobilizer as defined in claim 3 wherein said open position ranges from said hatch portion being in a fully open position to a partially closed position wherein said HPT remains in its said second operative state.

6. The overhead door immobilizer as defined in claim 1 wherein said PRM includes an alarm warning indicator responsive to said HPT second operative state to alert a user of the vehicle that said hatch portion is in its second orientation.

7. The overhead door immobilizer as defined in claim 6 wherein said alarm warning indicator is an audible alarm.

8. The overhead door immobilizer as defined in claim 6 wherein said alarm warning indicator is a visual alarm.

9. The overhead door immobilizer as defined in claim 1 wherein said HPT transmits a first coded RF signal corresponding to its said first operative state and a second coded RF signal corresponding to its said second operative state.

10. The overhead door immobilizer as defined in claim 1 wherein said PRM is part of the overhead door power head operator.

11. The overhead door immobilizer as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said PRM is responsive to the presence of said hatch position transmitter first operative state after a pre-defined time interval.

12. The overhead door immobilizer as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said PRM is responsive to the absence of said hatch position transmitter second operative state after a pre-defined time interval.

13. Overhead door immobilizer comprising:

a power receiver module (PRM);

a hatch position transmitter (HPT);

said hatch position transmitter (HPT) arranged for attachment to a hatch portion of a vehicle and configured for transmitting a coded hatch-open signal when the hatch portion of a vehicle is in an open position and a coded hatch-closed signal when the hatch portion of a vehicle is in a closed position;

said power receiver module (PRM) activating electrical power to an overhead door power head operator in response to receiving said hatch-closed coded signal and de-activating electrical power to an overhead door power head operator in response to receiving said hatch-open coded signal when an enable command signal is provided to the overhead door power head operator.

14. The overhead door immobilizer as defined in claim 13 wherein said hatch-open coded signal is an RF hatch-open coded signal and said hatch-closed coded signal is an RF hatch-closed coded signal.

15. The overhead immobilizer as defined in claim 14 wherein said power receiver (PRM) includes control circuitry for receiving and decoding said RF hatch-open coded signal and said RF hatch-closed coded signal.

16. Overhead door immobilizer comprising:

a power receiver module (PRM) electrically connected between an overhead door power head operator and an electrical power source for powering the overhead door power head operator;

a hatch position transmitter (HPT) suitably attached to the hatch portion of a vehicle, said HPT having a first operative state corresponding to the hatch portion being in a first orientation and a second operative state corresponding to the hatch portion being in a second orientation;

said power receiver module (PRM) being responsive to said hatch position transmitter in said first operative state whereby electrical power from the electrical power source energizes the overhead door power head operator to move the overhead door between its vertical orientation corresponding to a closed position and its horizontal orientation corresponding to an open position when an enable command signal is provided to the overhead door power head operator;

said power receiver module (PRM) further being responsive to said hatch position transmitter in said second operative state whereby electrical power from the electrical power source is prevented from energizing the overhead door power head operator to immobilize the overhead door from moving between its vertical orientation and its horizontal orientation when an enable command signal is provided to the overhead door power head operator wherein said PRM includes an alarm warning indicator responsive to said HPT second operative state to alert a user of the vehicle that said hatch portion is in its second orientation.

17. The overhead door immobilizer as defined in claim 16 further characterized in that said PRM is responsive to the presence of said hatch position transmitter first operative state after a pre-defined time interval.

18. The overhead door immobilizer as defined in claim 16 further characterized in that said PRM is responsive to the absence of said hatch position transmitter second operative state after a pre-defined time interval.