Apparatus for opening and closing overhead sectional doors
First Claim
1. An apparatus for opening and closing an overhead door, comprising:
- a door assembly for mounting to the overhead door;
an operator for securely engaging the door assembly, the operator having a chassis, and a cable reel rotatably mounted to the chassis and coupled to a main cable;
wherein, when the main cable is coupled to the door assembly, as the cable reel is rotated in a first direction, the door assembly is drawn towards the operator so as to close the door;
a latch assembly for securing the door assembly to the operator when the door is closed;
a latch release mechanism for selectively disengaging the latch assembly so as to disengage the door assembly from the operator, wherein the latch release mechanism is a latch release wheel;
a shuttle assembly rotatably mounted to the chassis between the cable reel and the latch release wheel,wherein the shuttle assembly is movable along a linear axis into a first engaged position wherein the shuttle assembly engages the cable reel so that rotation of the shuttle assembly in a first direction causes the cable reel to wind up the main cable to pull the door assembly towards the operator; and
the shuttle assembly is movable along the linear axis between the first engaged position and a second engaged position wherein the shuttle assembly engages the latch release wheel so that rotation of the shuttle assembly in a second direction rotates the latch release wheel to open the latch assembly to disengage the door assembly from the operator;
and wherein;
the shuttle assembly includes first and second clutch members on opposite ends thereof;
the cable reel includes a third clutch member configured to face the first clutch member on the shuttle assembly; and
the latch release wheel includes a fourth clutch member configured to face the second clutch member on the shuttle assembly;
wherein, when the shuttle assembly is in the first engaged position, the first and third clutch members are engaged, and when the shuttle assembly is in the second engaged position, the second and fourth clutch members are engaged.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for opening and closing an overhead door, having a door assembly for mounting to the overhead door, and an operator for securely engaging the door assembly. The operator has a chassis, and a cable reel rotatably mounted to the chassis and coupled to a main cable. When the main cable is coupled to the door assembly, as the cable reel is rotated in a first direction, the door assembly is drawn towards the operator so as to close the door. The apparatus may include a latch assembly for securing the door assembly to the operator when the door is closed, and a latch release mechanism for selectively disengaging the latch assembly so as to disengage the door assembly from the operator. The overhead door may be biased so that when the latch assembly is disengaged, the overhead door automatically opens.
256 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for opening and closing an overhead door, comprising:
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a door assembly for mounting to the overhead door; an operator for securely engaging the door assembly, the operator having a chassis, and a cable reel rotatably mounted to the chassis and coupled to a main cable; wherein, when the main cable is coupled to the door assembly, as the cable reel is rotated in a first direction, the door assembly is drawn towards the operator so as to close the door; a latch assembly for securing the door assembly to the operator when the door is closed; a latch release mechanism for selectively disengaging the latch assembly so as to disengage the door assembly from the operator, wherein the latch release mechanism is a latch release wheel; a shuttle assembly rotatably mounted to the chassis between the cable reel and the latch release wheel, wherein the shuttle assembly is movable along a linear axis into a first engaged position wherein the shuttle assembly engages the cable reel so that rotation of the shuttle assembly in a first direction causes the cable reel to wind up the main cable to pull the door assembly towards the operator; and the shuttle assembly is movable along the linear axis between the first engaged position and a second engaged position wherein the shuttle assembly engages the latch release wheel so that rotation of the shuttle assembly in a second direction rotates the latch release wheel to open the latch assembly to disengage the door assembly from the operator; and wherein; the shuttle assembly includes first and second clutch members on opposite ends thereof; the cable reel includes a third clutch member configured to face the first clutch member on the shuttle assembly; and the latch release wheel includes a fourth clutch member configured to face the second clutch member on the shuttle assembly; wherein, when the shuttle assembly is in the first engaged position, the first and third clutch members are engaged, and when the shuttle assembly is in the second engaged position, the second and fourth clutch members are engaged. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for opening and closing an overhead door, comprising:
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a door assembly for mounting to the overhead door; an operator for securely engaging the door assembly, the operator having a chassis, and a cable reel rotatably mounted to the chassis and coupled to a main cable; wherein, when the main cable is coupled to the door assembly, as the cable reel is rotated in a first direction, the door assembly is drawn towards the operator so as to close the door; wherein the door assembly includes a first subassembly having a latch pin, and a latch assembly includes a latch in the chassis sized and shaped for receiving the latch pin therein; wherein the first subassembly is affixed to an elongated shaft, and further comprising a second subassembly coupled to the first subassembly via the shaft wherein the second subassembly comprises; a tracking hinge rotatably coupled to the shaft and having an idler wheel coupled thereto, the idler wheel configured to be received in a track member adjacent the door; a tab rigidly coupled to the shaft and having a first end that extends so as to engage the tracking hinge; and a biasing member configured to bias the tracking hinge and tab together. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification