Moveable barrier systems

• US 7,997,324 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Olmsted, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson; Blair M
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARDENAS-GARCIA, JAIME F
• Application Number:
  US11/517,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20070095487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,803 Days
• Field of Search: 160/188, 160/201, 160/310, 160/189, 491/99, 492/00, 403/348
• US Class Current: 160/201
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/686 by cables or ropes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages

Abstract

A support assembly for a barrier movable between open and closed positions over an opening comprises a track. The track is attached to the wall for guiding movement of the barrier between substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position. A jack shaft assembly is attached to the track and to the barrier for movement thereof. A mounting assembly is attached to the track for receiving a drive unit comprising a motor for supplying power to the jack shaft assembly to move the barrier and for limiting rotational movement of the drive unit.

Claims

1. A support assembly configured to support a moveable barrier which moves between open and closed positions in an opening in a wall comprising:

a track configured for attachment to the wall which track guides movement of the barrier between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position, the track having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion and a curved portion therebetween;

a jack shaft configured for attachment to the barrier for movement thereof and having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the track, the jack shaft having an end portion;

a bayonet mount having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the track;

a drive unit; and

a support member coupled to the track at about the curved portion thereof and which support member supports and holds the drive unit away from the wall, the drive unit coupled to the support member in a lockable engagement via the bayonet mount, the connection between the bayonet mount and the support member effective to support and hold the drive unit against the support member and above the ground, the longitudinal axis of the jack shaft being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bayonet mount such that the end portion of the jack shaft extends through at least portions of the bayonet mount into the interior of the drive unit to power the jack shaft for rotational movement around the longitudinal axis of the jack shaft and to move the barrier and the support member holding the drive unit and supporting the drive unit with the track away from the wall and limiting rotational movement of the drive unit being translated to the wall.

2. The support assembly of claim 1 wherein the support member is coupled to the track such that the drive unit received by the support member is positioned to be substantially entirely above the curved portion of the track.

6. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the support assembly further includes stand off attachments which are configured to couple the track with the wall and space the track from the wall.

13. The support assembly of claim 1 wherein the bayonet mount comprises a male portion and a female portion, and the male portion has two or more flanges.

3. A method of assembling a movable barrier support structure which guides movement of a movable barrier from a horizontal open position to a vertical closed position in an opening in a wall, the method comprising:

attaching at least one barrier guiding track to the wall in proximity to the opening, the track having a horizontal portion, a vertical portion and a curved portion therebetween;

attaching a support member at about the curved portion of the track;

attaching a drive unit to the support member in a lockable engagement with a bayonet mount to support the drive unit with the track without direct attachment between the drive unit and the wall, the drive unit having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the track;

aligning a longitudinal axis of a jack shaft with the longitudinal axis of the bayonet mount and extending an end portion of the jack shaft through at least portions of the bayonet mount into the interior of the drive unit to couple the drive unit to the support member and to the jack shaft, the jack shaft having a longitudinal axis which is perpendicular to the track, the drive unit providing for rotational movement of the jack shaft around its longitudinal axis, a power output of the drive unit configured to move the jack shaft for movement of the barrier;

the connection between the bayonet mount and the support member being effective to support and hold the drive unit against the support member and above the ground.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein attaching the drive unit to the at least one barrier guiding track comprises attaching the drive unit to the at least one barrier guiding track such that the drive unit is positioned to be substantially entirely above the curved portion of the at least one barrier guiding track.

5. A support assembly configured to support a moveable barrier which moves between open and closed positions in an opening in a wall, the support assembly comprising:

a track configured for attachment to the wall which track guides movement of the barrier between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position, the track having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion and a curved portion therebetween;

a drive unit coupled to the curved portion of the track;

a support member coupled to the track;

a jack shaft having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the track;

a bayonet mount having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the track;

the support member attached to the drive unit in a lockable engagement via the bayonet mount, the connection between the bayonet mount and the support member effective to support and hold the drive unit against the support member and above the ground, the longitudinal axis of the jack shaft being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bayonet mount such that the end portion of the jack shaft extends through at least portions of the bayonet mount into the interior of the drive unit, the jack shaft coupled to the barrier for movement thereof between the open and closed positions;

the support member supporting the drive unit and the support member holding the drive unit in a spaced relation from the wall without the drive unit being attached to or supported by the wall except through the track and support member.

7. The support assembly of claim 5, wherein the support assembly further includes stand off attachments which are configured to couple the track with the wall and space the track from the wall.

8. The support assembly of claim 7, wherein the support assembly further includes a support member attached to the curved portion of the track and the drive unit is attached to the support member.

15. The support assembly of claim 5 wherein the bayonet mount comprises a male portion and a female portion, and the male portion has two or more flanges.

9. A support assembly configured to support a moveable barrier which moves between open and closed positions in an opening in a wall comprising:

a track configured for attachment to the wall which track guides movement of the barrier between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position, the track having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion and a curved portion therebetween;

a drive unit coupled to the curved portion of the track;

a support member coupled to the track;

a jack shaft having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the track;

a bayonet mount having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the track; and

the support member operatively coupled to the drive unit in a lockable engagement with a bayonet mount, the connection between the bayonet mount and the support member effective to support and hold the drive unit against the support member above the ground, the longitudinal axis of the jack shaft being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bayonet mount such that the end portion of the jack shaft extends through at least portions of the bayonet mount into the interior of the drive unit, the jack shaft being coupled to the barrier for movement thereof between the open and closed positions, the bayonet mount being operable to connect the drive unit to the end of the jack shaft during an installation time period,

the support member supporting the drive unit and the support member holding the drive unit in a spaced relation from the wall without the drive unit being attached to or supported by the wall except through the track and support member.

10. The support assembly of claim 9, wherein the support assembly further includes a support member attached to the curved portion of the track and the drive unit is attached to the support member.

11. The support assembly of claim 9, wherein the support assembly further includes stand off attachments which are configured to couple the track with the wall and space the track from the wall.

12. The support assembly of claim 10, wherein the support assembly further includes stand off attachments which are configured to couple the track with the wall and space the track from the wall.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the bayonet mount comprises a male portion and a female portion, and the male portion has two or more flanges.

16. The support assembly of claim 9 wherein the bayonet mount comprises a male portion and a female portion, and the male portion has two or more flanges.

17. A support assembly configured to support a moveable barrier which moves between open and closed positions in an opening in a wall, the support assembly comprising:

a track configured for attachment to the wall which track guides movement of the barrier between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position, the track having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion and a curved portion therebetween;

a jack shaft configured for attachment to the barrier for movement thereof and having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the track, the jack shaft having an end portion;

a bayonet mount having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the track;

a drive unit; and

a support member coupled to the track at about the curved portion thereof and which support member supports and holds the drive unit away from the wall, the drive unit coupled to the support member in a lockable engagement via the bayonet mount, the connection between the bayonet mount and the support member effective to support and hold the drive unit against the support member and above the ground, the longitudinal axis of the jack shaft being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bayonet mount such that the end portion of the jack shaft is coupled to the drive unit to power the jack shaft for rotational movement around the longitudinal axis of the jack shaft and to move the barrier and the support member holding the drive unit and supporting the drive unit with the track away from the wall and limiting rotational movement of the drive unit being translated to the wall.