Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Mechaoism for the o,p.eration of Multiple pa. n eLs door
w'~ increased insulatin"ronerties
FIELD O THE INVEN7MON
51`0011 The invention retates generaily to doors having multiple panels such
as,
for exampie, garage doors but more specificalfy to a mechanism which
provides for better insulating properties.
L3ACKGROUIND AP THE INVENT1pN
[0021 Vertically opening doors having multipfe panels are mostly known for
their use as car garage doors although they can be used for other
applications. Over the years steel, aluminum or vinyl covered doors with
an insuiating core have been developped to increase insulating
properties. No matter the insulating properties of the core, there remains
heat loss due to the poor sealing characteristics of the perimeter seal
1.5 which atlows air to circulate. The problem is not so rnuch that the seal
is
poor, it is because the constant friction of the door opening and closing
against the seal makes it less efficient, plus the fact that, to begin with,
in order not to cause to much of a hindrance to the operation of the
door, the seal cannot create too much fric4ion against the door so that it
can open or ctose relatively effort free so as not to over work the motor
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dning the opening and dosing operation or a user nlanually opening or
dosing the donr None of the prior art adequately addresses these
issues and therefore there is room for improvement in the sealing
characteristics of such doors.
5SUMNAARY Ot= 7HElWMEN'TION
{0031 In view of the faregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices
now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be
described subsequently in greater detait, is to provide objects and
advantages which are:
10041 To provicle for an improved mechanism far the operation of multiple
panels door which improves insulating properties.
[0051 To provide for an improved mechanism for the operation of multiple
t5 paneis door which does not create undue resistance on the door
movement so as to require a more powerful motor or require
unnecessary strain on the part of a user manuaily operating the door.
[006) To attain these ends, the invention comprises a means that keeps the
door panels away from the sea] as they move up or down vertically and
that brings the panels tightly against the seal when the panels have
completed their vertic:al course,
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(007] The invention cornprises a pair of hinge mechanism for each of the door
panel and the hinge mechanism is further comprised of a clamshell
module and a cam.
[008.1 The clamshell module having a first part on one of the panel and a
second part on another panel_ Each of the cam is associated with one of
the clamshell nwdule by way of a plate fixedly attached to any one of
the panels= The plate is located proximal to the clamshell module and
the cam is nMtionaiy attached to the plate at its proximal end and
rotationally attached to a blade at its distal end. Each of the blade is
connected to a caster and each of the caster rblls within the guide rail.
[009] A top cam, rotationally attached to the plate on its proximal end and
the
plate fixedly attached on one of the panels and the top cam is
rotationally attached to a secondary cam on its distal end. The top cam
is situated between a top caster and a top plate.
15[0010) A a Y configuration between the secondary cam, the cam and the top
blade is able to change into ae T s configuration.
[00111 There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof
that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional
features of the invention that wi11 be described hereinafter and which will
form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
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[QOi2l In this r+espect, befoce explaining at least, one embodiment of the
invention in detaii, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
in its application to the details of constn,ction and to the arrangements
of the camponents set forth in the followirlg description or illustrated in
the drawings_ The invention is capable of other embodiments and of
being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are
for the purpose of deescription and shoutd not be regarded as limiting.
10[00131 As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the
designing of other structures, nyethods and systems for carrying out the
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefona, that
the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
1.00141 These together with other objects of the invention, along with the
various
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
disclosure. For a better understending of the invention, its operating
advantages and the specifc objects attained by its uses, reference
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should be rnade to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter
which contains iqustrated prefened embodiments of the invention.
BRtEFI]ESCRIPTIO.u OF THEDRAiNi GS
5[00151 Figs. la-b-c Side views of the mecfianism with the door partially open
and the door closed, with a detail side view of the hinge mechanism,
respectively.
(0016] Figs. 2a-b Front view of the mechanism with detail front view,
respectively_
10[0017'1 Figs. 3a-b Top views of the door interacting with the seal, open and
closed, respectively.
OETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] A mechanism for the operation of multiple panels door (10) works in
conjunation rn+ith a pair of guide rails (12) (only one shown in dattQd lines
in figs.l ab) as are commonly used in the art. The guide rails(12) do not
require any special modifications except that they are set back from a
door frame (14) in a distance greater than is usually used in the art. It is
a tso recommended that the guide rails (12) have additional bracing (not
shown) so that they can sustain more stress than normai in the arrt.
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10019j The door panels (16) are also vuell known in the art and standard off
the
shelf panels (16) can be used in conjunction vvitli standard off the shelf
guide rails (12), where the invention mostly lies is in the hinge
mechanism (18) which is substantially different from hinges of the prior
art (not shown).
10020] When the panels (1fi) have run their course along the path of the guide
rails (12), they are moved away from the guide rails (12) to be put
against the door frat'ne (14), which results in the door panels (16)
applying pressure against an insulating stnp (20). This insulating strip
(20) can be derived fmm ex;sting types keown in the art or it can be
specially cxeated or adapted for this applicafion since, by moving
towards the insulating strip (20), the door (10) applies pressure onto the
strip (20) which can thus be thicker and nesilientiy deformable which can
provide for a better seal. A variety of elastomers could be used to
perform that function. It is not, however, within the scope of this
invention to give more details on the exact composition or properties of
such a sealing strip.
f0021J The hinge mechanism (18) is comprised of a clamshell module (22) and
a cam (24), For each two panels (16), there is a pair of such hinge
mechanism (18) that is shared since the clamsheil module (22) requires
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to have a first part (22') on one panel (16) and a second part (22") on
another panel (161, this is obvious for anyone familiar with the workings
of any hinge.
i0o22] Each cam (24) is associated with a clamshell module (22) by way of a
plate (26) fixedly attached to a panel (16) proximal the clamshell module
(22). The cam (24) is rotationally attached to the plate (26) at its
proximal end (28) and rotationally attached to a blade (32) at its distal
end (30). Each blade (32) is connected to a caster (34) and each caster
(34) rolls within the guide rail (12) as is known for any prior art multiple
panel door except that in this case, the blades (32) act as if they were
door panels (16).
[00231 As the panels (10) move upwardly or downwardly, the cams (24) are in
a substantially parallel relation with the guide rails (12) as per fig.1 a.
When a first caster (34) reaches the end of the guide rail (12'), all
panels (16) are now parallel with the guide rails (12). A top cam (24')
has the unique feature of being, on ifs proximal end (28), rotationally
attached to a top plate (27) on a top panel (16") wherein another plate
(26) is also fixedly attached and, on its distal end (30), being rotationally
attached to a secondary cam (36)_
20[0024] This arrangement induces all cams (24) ta move from a substantially
parallel position in retation to the guide rails (12), to a substantially
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perpendicular relation to the guide rails (12). As can be seen in fig. 9 a,
there is a a Y a corttiguration between the secondary cam (36), the cam
(24) and a top blade (38) whereas in ftg. 1 b there is is a T>)
configuration between these same elements.
5[0()25] The arctuate shape of the guide rails (12) forr.es this change in
configuration between what is seen in fig. 1 a and fsg. 1 b as a top panel
(16") passes from a horizontal position into a vertical position. The top
blade (38) being substantiaily longer than the cams (24) makes the top
panel (16") move faster which has the effer~ of changing that
eonfiguration and rift all other cams (24), which moves the door (10)
away from the frame (14) when the door (10) is opening, and moving the
door (10) against the frame (14) when it is dosing.
(0026) Also, a top cam (40) situated betrn+een a top caster (34') and a top
plate
(26') contributes to the changing in the confrguration by maintaining a
relative distance between the top plate (26') and the top caster (34) so
as to foroe the change between the conTiguration of fig. 1 a and the that
offig.7b.
f00271 As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above
descAption. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of
usage and operation will be provided.
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{00281 Wiih respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that
the
optinwm dinmnsional relationships for the parts of the invention, to
aiclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious
to one skiled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
10[(10291 Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to
limit the invention to the exad constnrction and operation shovrn and
described, and accordingly, all suitabie modifications and equivalents
may be resorted to, failing within the scope of the invention.
