Track assembly for an overhead door

• US 7,721,387 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2005
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Paquette, Derek S., Rusnak, Gregory M., Mullet, Willis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller; William L.
• Application Number:
  US11/147,006
• Time in Patent Office: 1,814 Days
• Field of Search: 16/87.R, 16/90, 16/874.R, 16/91, 16/94.R, 16/96.R, 16D/IG.1, 16/96, 16/87, 16/4.R, 16D/IG.10, 491/99, 492/00, 160/201, 160/209, 160/188, 160/189, 160/178.1 R
• US Class Current: 16/96.00R
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/24 consisting of parts connected at their edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/684 Rails; Tracks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/626 Plates or brackets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/01 Overhead door

Abstract

A track assembly for an overhead door (10) includes a generally vertically positionable track segment (14) and a generally horizontally positionable track segment (15). The track segment (14) includes a curvilinear portion (17) at one end thereof which telescopically receives a curvilinear portion (21) of the track segment (15). The curvilinear portion (17) of the track segment (14) has a smaller radius of curvature than the curvilinear portion (21) of the track segment (15). In one embodiment, a bracket (30) has tabs (40) which are received in a slot aperture (42) in the curvilinear portion (17) to attach it to the bracket (30), and the bracket (30) has a lug (41) which is received in a slot (44) in the curvilinear portion (21) to attach it to the bracket (30). In another embodiment, the track segment (14) is carried by a bracket (51), and the track segment (15) is carried by a bracket (52) with the telescopic relationship being the only connection between the track segments (14, 15).

Claims

1. An overhead door track assembly adapted to be carried by a jamb of an overhead door comprising a one-piece first track segment having a length including a substantially straight portion and a curvilinear portion having a first radius of curvature, a one-piece second track segment separate from said first track segment and having a length including a substantially straight portion and a curvilinear portion having a second radius of curvature different than the first radius of curvature, a cross-section of said first and second track segments defining a generally U-shaped profile, the curvilinear portion of one of said segments being telescopically received within the curvilinear portion of the other of said segments to provide the only connection between said segments, a first bracket adapted to attach only said first track segment to the jamb, and a second bracket adapted to attach only said second track segment to the jamb.

2. The overhead door track assembly of claim 1 wherein said second bracket is attached to said first bracket.

3. The overhead door track assembly of claim 1 wherein said second bracket is attached to said second track segment at at least two spaced locations.

4. The overhead door track assembly of claim 1 wherein said first radius of curvature is smaller than said second radius of curvature.

5. The overhead door track assembly of claim 1 wherein said first track segment has no radius of curvature other than said first radius of curvature.

6. The overhead door track assembly of claim 5 wherein said second track segment has no radius of curvature other than said second radius of curvature.

7. The overhead door track assembly of claim 1, the end of the curvilinear portion of one of said segments having an enlarged U-shaped profile that receives the end of the curvilinear portion of the other of said segments.

8. An overhead door track assembly for an overhead door comprising a one-piece first track segment having a length including a substantially straight portion and a curvilinear portion having a first radius of curvature, and a one-piece second track segment separate from said first track segment and having a length including a substantially straight portion and a curvilinear portion having a second radius of curvature different from the first radius of curvature, a cross-section of said first and second track segments defining a generally U-shaped profile, said curvilinear portion of said first track segment being attached to said curvilinear portion of said second track segment.

9. An overhead door track assembly to receive rollers of an overhead door comprising a one-piece first track segment having a generally straight portion and a curvilinear portion having a first radius of curvature, the rollers being adapted to move along said substantially straight portion and said curvilinear portion of said first track segment, and a one-piece second track segment separate from said first track segment and having a substantially straight portion and a curvilinear portion having a second radius of curvature, the rollers being adapted to move along said substantially straight portion and said curvilinear portion of said second track segment, said second radius of curvature being different from said first radius of curvature, a cross-section of said first and second track segments defining a generally U-shaped profile, said curvilinear portion of said track segments being attached to each other so that as the rollers move along said curvilinear portion of said first track segment they are received by said curvilinear portion of said second track segment.