Flexible door with rigid insulation

• US 8,733,024 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jamison Door Co.
• Original Assignee: Jamison Door Co.
• Inventors: Vogel, Lynn D., Berry, Curtis L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEKHAEIL, SHIREF M
• Application Number:
  US12/847,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20110011003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 495/01, 494/09, 494/10, 494/11, 494/04, 493/66, 493/60, 493/70, 491/16, 491/41, 491/20, 160/196.1, 160/199, 160/200, 160/232, 522/431, 523/099, 527/941, 524/041, 527/841.4, 527/841.5, 428/319.3, 428/319.7, 428/492, 428/518, 428/522
• US Class Current: 49/501
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/632 for horizontally-sliding wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 17/004 for wings which abut when closed
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/407 plastic deformation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/102 for cold-rooms
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2003/7023 of foam type
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/4636 for doors E06B3/4609 and E06B3/4654 - E06B3/4681 take precedence; sliding shower doors A47K3/34
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/80 flexible upwardly folding flexible screens E06B9/262
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/021 Sliding doors

Abstract

A door system comprises a door panel, a support member, and a pivoting vertical plate. The door panel comprises a plurality of discrete rigid insulation pieces interposed between flexible layers. An outer skin encompasses the rigid insulation pieces and the flexible layers. The door panel is secured to the support member by the outer skin, such that the outer skin bears the weight of the door panel. The vertical plate is secured to a trailing side of the door panel. The vertical plate includes keepers that selectively engage hooks extending from a casing positioned at a doorway. The rigidity of the door panel depends on the pivotal position of the vertical plate relative to a plane defined by the door panel. The door panel provides sufficient flexibility to withstand impacts from objects and vehicles yet also provides sufficient rigidity to insulate a cold environment from a warm environment.

Claims

1. A door system, comprising:

(a) a door panel, wherein the door panel comprises;

(i) a first layer, wherein the first layer is formed of a first flexible material,

(ii) a second layer, wherein the second layer is formed of a second flexible material, and

(iii) a third layer, wherein the third layer comprises a plurality of discrete insulation pieces interposed between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the third layer further comprises a plurality of pockets, wherein each discrete insulation piece of the plurality of discrete insulation pieces is inserted in a respective pocket of the plurality of pockets, wherein a first portion of each pocket is interposed between the first layer and a respective one of the discrete insulation pieces of the plurality of discrete insulation pieces, wherein a second portion of each pocket is interposed between the second layer and a respective one of the discrete insulation pieces, wherein the each of said discrete insulation pieces is interposed between the first and second portions of a respective one of said pockets, wherein the plurality of pockets are bonded to the first layer, wherein the plurality of pockets are not bonded to the second layer, such that the plurality of pockets are movable relative to the second layer;

(b) a support member coupled with the door panel, wherein the support member is configured to support the door panel; and

(c) a carriage assembly coupled with the support member, wherein the carriage assembly is operable to move the door panel through a range of motion along a path that is substantially parallel to the ground.

2. The door system of claim 1, wherein the first layer comprises a unitary sheet of neoprene foam rubber, wherein the second layer comprises a unitary sheet of neoprene foam rubber.

3. The door system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pockets are formed of a flexible polyvinylchloride material.

4. The door system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of discrete insulation pieces are substantially rigid.

5. The door system of claim 1, wherein the first layer and the second layer each have a respective pair of side edges and a respective lower edge, wherein the door panel further comprises a first edge member secured to the lower edges of the first and second layers, wherein the door panel further comprises a second edge member secured to the side edge of the first layer, wherein the second edge member is further secured to the side edge of the second layer.

6. The door system of claim 1, further comprising an outer skin, wherein the outer skin encompasses the first, second, and third layers.

7. The door system of claim 6, wherein the outer skin is secured to the support member.

8. The door system of claim 7, wherein the door panel is secured to the support member by the outer skin, such that the outer skin bears the weight of the door panel.

9. The door system of claim 8, wherein the outer skin is wrapped about the support member.

10. The door system of claim 6, wherein the outer skin comprises a flexible polyvinylchloride material.

11. The door system of claim 10, wherein the polyvinylchloride material is reinforced with polyester fiber.

12. The door system of claim 1, wherein the door panel includes a side extending substantially vertically, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ground, the door system further comprising:

(a) a hinge; and

(b) a vertical plate, wherein the vertical plate is secured to the side of the door panel by the hinge, such that the vertical plate is pivotable relative to the door panel, wherein the vertical plate is pivotable between a first position and a second position, wherein the vertical plate is configured provide the door panel with a first rigidity when the plate is in the first position, wherein the vertical plate is configured to provide the door panel with a second rigidity when the plate is in the second position, wherein the first rigidity is greater than the second rigidity, wherein the vertical plate is substantially non-parallel to a plane defined by the door panel when the vertical plate is in the first position, wherein the vertical plate is substantially parallel to the plane defined by the door panel when the vertical plate is in the second position.

13. The door system of claim 12, further comprising a casing, wherein the door panel is movable relative to the casing, wherein the vertical plate is selectively engageable with the casing.

14. The door system of claim 13, wherein the casing comprises a plurality of hooks, wherein the vertical plate comprises a plurality of keepers, wherein the plurality of hooks are configured to selectively engage the plurality of keepers to hold the vertical plate in the first position when the door panel is in a closed position.

15. The door system of claim 1, further comprising a second door panel.

16. A door system, the door system comprising:

(a) a door panel, wherein the door panel comprises;

(i) a vertically extending leading side,

(ii) a vertically extending trailing side,

(iii) a horizontally extending upper side, and

(iv) a horizontally extending lower side;

(b) a casing, wherein the casing is mountable to a doorway, wherein the door panel is movable relative to the casing, wherein the casing comprises a plurality of hook members;

(c) a vertical plate, wherein the vertical plate comprises a plurality of keeper members configured to selectively engage and disengage respective hook members of the plurality of hook members; and

(d) a hinge coupling the vertical plate with the trailing side of the door panel, wherein the hinge provides pivotal movement of the vertical plate relative to the door panel about an axis parallel to the vertically extending trailing side of the door panel;

wherein the vertical plate is configured to adjust the rigidity of the door panel based on the pivotal position of the vertical plate relative to the door panel, wherein the vertical plate is configured to pivot to cause the plurality of keeper members and the plurality of hook members to disengage upon the door panel being impacted.