Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Panel for a sectional door, sectional door and packaging
The invention relates to sectional doors which open against
the ceiling with vertical travel such as garage doors.
It more particularly relates to a panel intended specially
for such a door; an assembly comprising two panels
associated together which swivel with respect to each other;
a leaf comprising a succession of panels in articulated
pairs; a door once manufactured, pre-assembled and pre-
adjusted on the one hand, and once installed in the
structure for which it is intended on the other hand; a
package incorporating a number of pre-assembled doors; a
method of assembling for such a door; and finally a
structure incorporating an assembled door.
Sectional doors which open against the ceiling and with
vertical travel such as garage doors are already known.
A known general structure of such doors is described
especially in the documents EP-A-666 401, WO-A-96/36 784,
EP-A-230 499, US-A-3 311 159, FR-A-2 304 756, FR-A-2 244
068, US-A-2 083 467, US-A-3 160 200 and US-A-4 472 910.
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Documents EP-A-304 642, EP-A-370 324 and EP-A-370 376
discuss the structure of the longitudinal edges of two
adjacent panels.
The garage doors under consideration are intended to be
installed in a structure which comprises an opening which
the door is intended to block. The overall dimensions of the
door (horizontal width and vertical height) are for this
purpose greater than the dimensions of the opening in
question.
The structure generally comprises a ceiling and two walls on
each side of the opening defining the apron of a lintel and
corner pieces of appreciable dimensions to left and right
respectively.
The apron of the lintel is necessary as the result of the
presence at this point of rails, a spindle supporting cable
reel drums, and one or more components for retraction of the
leaf . As to the corner pieces, they are necessary to house
roller spindles, rollers and side rails.
The known doors previously considered are stored, delivered
and supplied in a number of separate parts. The builder must
assemble these pieces on site and provide adjustment. These
operations are necessarily long and costly. Furthermore the
adjustment can turn out to be less than optimal.
The object of the invention is in particular to limit the
height of the apron of the lintel and the width of the
corner pieces, and the time taken for assembly and
adjustment on the construction site.
Consequently, for a given opening, it is possible to use a
smaller door than previous doors. Or, conversely, for a
given door, the opening can be larger. In addition, the
storage, delivery, supply and installation (assembly,
CA 02290449 1999-11-19
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mounting, adjustment) are easier, take less time, more
compact in volume and less costly.
Another object of the invention is a door which does not
have the disadvantages of those now known, which is simple
but at the same time strong and easy to make use of.
For this purpose and according to a first aspect, the
invention relates to a panel specially intended for a
sectional door opening against the ceiling with vertical
travel as a typical garage door, the said panel being
designed so that it can be mounted on at least another
analogous panel swivelling around an axis parallel to a
longitudinal direction normally horizontal when the door is
mounted in position, the said panel comprising a first and a
second facing defining the parallel large outer faces
executed in thin sheets of metal or similar, rigidly made
solid with one another towards the two longitudinal edges of
the panel by folding with interleaving; at least one of the
facings including at least one hollow stiffening rib
extending in the longitudinal direction; the space closed at
the periphery by the two facings being - at least partially
- substantially filled with a synthetic material expanded
during manufacture; at least one longitudinal edge being
essentially defined by a number of substantially flat
successive planes on one of the facings, the edge being of a
thickness which decreases continuously from the large faces
of the panel to the longitudinal free border of the said
edge and presenting as a transversal cross section a profile
of generally pseudo-triangular shape; the total thickness of
the said lightened panel being less than 3 centimetres.
In one embodiment, one of the facings includes at least one
longitudinal rib, while the other does not, being indeed
substantially flat.
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A longitudinal rib such as that considered has, in one
embodiment, a substantially triangular or rounded profile.
At least a part of this profile has, with respect to the
large face of the corresponding facing, an inclination
analogous to that of the face of the longitudinal edge
adjoining this face.
More generally, the profile of the longitudinal rib is
analogous or similar to the profile formed by two adjacent
panels in the same plane.
For panels of considerable height, a number of spaces
longitudinal ribs are provided for in particular at least
substantially equidistant.
In particular, the longitudinal rib or ribs is or are
situated substantially in the central zone of the panel, at
a distance from the longitudinal edges.
In one embodiment, the depth of a longitudinal rib is of an
order of size of one third of the total thickness of the
panel.
Depending on the embodiment, a longitudinal rib extends
between the transverse edges of the panel, or over only a
part of the distance between these two edges.
Depending on the embodiment, the panel considered is such
that the facings do not include, or on the contrary that at
least on facing does include, a substantial stiffening rib,
channel or projection, extending in a transverse direction.
In one embodiment, a facing provided with longitudinal ribs
is also provided with at least one - and if appropriate
several - transverse hollow ribs, especially with a profile
analogous or similar to that of a longitudinal rib.
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Such a panel is then of the so-called cassette type.
The facings of the panel are executed in one embodiment of
thin sheets of steel the thickness of which is of the order
of 0.4 mm.
5 Such a panel may be without internal reinforcement or insert
for substantial stiffening.
The folding with interleaving of facings leaves is flat and
substantially on the same plane as that of the large faces
of the panel.
The folding with interleaving is situated on the side of the
large face opposite that where the longitudinal ribs are.
A fold is situated substantially opposite the ridge formed
by the first inclined face of the longitudinal edge on the
large face opposite; or in the vicinity of the ridge formed
by the first inclined face of the longitudinal edge on the
same large face.
A fold also provides a functional means of fixing a hinge
element for mounting two adjacent panels so that they swivel
relative to each other.
A panel includes two longitudinal edges with a pseudo-
triangular profile. One of the two longitudinal edges is
protruding, the other is recessed. The edge with a
protruding profile shows a general shape with its concave
side turned towards the inside of the panel. The edge with a
recessed profile shows a general shape with the convex side
turned towards the inside of the panel. The profiles of the
two longitudinal edges, respectively protruding and recessed
substantially, are substantially complementary to each
other.
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A longitudinal edge is essentially defined by at most four
substantially flat faces - and more especially two faces -
and a rounding forming the longitudinal free edge. The faces
and the rounding are formed by one of the facings folded and
rolled for this purpose. In one embodiment this facing is
the one which includes the longitudinal rib(s).
In one embodiment, a longitudinal edge includes one face
inclined at between 15° and 25°, in particular at about
20°
with respect to the large faces; one face inclined at
between 40° and 50°, in particular at about 45° with
respect
to the large faces. Two adjacent faces of a longitudinal
edge form between them a ridge and an angle, cant or nook,
of between 150° and 160°, in particular of about 155°.
The rounding of the free longitudinal edge has a radius of
curvature of the order of or less than one tenth of the
total thickness of the panel.
The panel includes, on each of its lateral edges, an added U
section.
As a result of the structure given to it, the panel just
described is lighter than those of the state of the art and
contributes to the objects of the invention.
A panel such as has just been described may have a length of
the order of 4 to 5 m and a height (or width) of the order
of 0.5 to 0.7 m. Its mass may be of the order of 9 to 10
kg/m2, in particular close to 9.5 kg/m2, whereas for known
doors the mass is close to and even exceeds 11 to 12 kg/mZ.
According to a second aspect, the invention relates to an
assembly of two panels such as have just been described,
mounted one on the other so as to swivel with respect to
each other by pivoting means. These pivoting means are
rigidly associated in the case of one panel to its
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protruding longitudinal edge and in the case of the other
panel to its recessed longitudinal edge. The pivoting means
comprise at least two end hinges towards the lateral edges
of the panels and if appropriate one or more intermediate
hinges. The two elements of each hinge are fixed to the
panels at least on the folds of the corresponding
longitudinal edges.
The axis about which the hinges, and therefore the panels,
swivel is outside the overall dimensions of the panels, near
the second large face and the facing which has the fold of
the protruding edge of a first panel. This axis is
substantially situated at right angles with the central part
of this edge. Finally, it is situated substantially at right
angles with the free edge of the recessed longitudinal edge
of the second panel when this latter is in continuous line
with the first panel on the same plane. The faces defining
the recessed longitudinal edge are substantially tangential
to the arc of a circle the centre of which is the axis of
swivel.
The axis of swivel of the hinges is distant from the facing
of the first panel by a value of the order of one third, one
half or even less of the total thickness of the panel.
The two longitudinal edges opposite the two adjacent panels
are separated by a small free space, forming an external
guard against pinching of fingers.
The end hinges are fixed on the added sections of the
lateral edges.
An internal guard against pinching of fingers is also
provided in the form of added plates or sections, fixed flat
on the second panel, on the second large face where the fold
is. Such a plate or section as guard against pinching of
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fingers extends until it is substantially at right angles
with the central part of the protruding longitudinal edge of
the first panel when the two panels are in a continuous line
in the same plane.
In one embodiment, such a plate or section is folded back to
come up against the facing of the first panel when the two
panels are in a continuous line in the same plane.
In one embodiment, one of the two elements of the end hinge
has the form of a bracket having on the one hand a plate for
fixing the hinge element to the panels, and on the other
hand a lug with an elongated hole which substantially
extends perpendicularly to the plane of the panel, in which
is fixed, rigidly but so as to be adjustable, a roller
support spindle. In the embodiment considered the said
spindle has, as a transverse cross section a profile which
is not circular but polygonal for the purpose of fixing it
in place.
Consequently the panels according to the invention are not
only light, flexible but nevertheless rigid, they are also
provided with internal and external guards against pinching
of fingers.
According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a leaf
for a door of the type considered which comprises a
succession of panels such as have just been described,
similar or identical to one another.
In a conventional application of the door of a garage for
personal use, the number of panels used is limited to only a
few, of the order of three to ten in the considered
embodiment. In a typical embodiment the number of panels is
from four to six.
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Such an embodiment is possible because the structure of the
panels is such that they are notably lighter than the
conventional panels known from the state of the art. They
are nevertheless sufficiently rigid, especially as regards
bending.
According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a
door opening against the ceiling with vertical travel
manufactured, pre-assembled with a view to its installation,
able to be thus stored, delivered and supplied on the
installation site, comprising on the one hand a first
assembly including lateral guide rails; a leaf, the rollers
which operate in conjunction with the side rails; a shaft
positioned longitudinally towards one end of the side rails;
one or two cable reel drums key-mounted on the extreme parts
of the shaft towards the outside of the leaf between the
latter and the side rails; one or two cables connected on
the one hand to the lower end panel, on the other hand wound
on to the cable reel drum or drums, thus ensuring that these
cables are not subject to unauthorized access; one or more
resilient return components mounted on the shaft, such as a
spiral spring; manual and/or motorized manoeuvring means,
the said first assembly being pre-assembled and pre-
adjusted; and on the other hand a second assembly including
upper guide rails.
The door thus manufactured is presented pre-mounted while
remaining compact and manoeuvrable since it is of a suitable
weight.
According to another characteristic of the door, the second
assembly is placed flat against the leaf of the first
assembly, the two together forming one package.
According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to
packaging for such a door which includes a support forming a
CA 02290449 1999-11-19
pallet and rack capable of housing a number of doors placed
side by side.
The support has two side flanks to which are movably fixed
the side rails and also two flat iron bars to which are
5 movably fixed the side rails opposite the side flanks.
This packaging can contain up to nine doors, symmetrical two
by two.
According to a sixth aspect, the invention relates to a
method for positioning in a structure provided with an
10 opening of a door opening against the ceiling and with
vertical travel, the said door being manufactured, pre-
assembled and pre-adjusted, if appropriate packaged as
indicated above, in which the said manufactured, pre-
assembled and pre-adjusted door is brought on to the site of
the structure where the first and second assemblies are
positioned and fixed to the said structure.
According to a seventh aspect, the invention relates to a
sectional door opening against the ceiling and with vertical
travel, such as typically a garage door, intended to be
installed in the opening of a structure, comprising side
guide rails and upper guide rails; a leaf, the rollers being
intended to operate in conjunction with the side and upper
rails in order to guide the leaf in an appropriate way; a
shaft positioned longitudinally towards the function of the
side rails and the upper rails; one or two cable reel drums
mounted on the extreme parts of the shaft towards the
outside of the leaf and between it and the side rails; one
or two cables attached one or two cables connected on the
one hand to the lower end panel, on the other hand wound on
to the cable reel drum(s); one or more elastic return
components mounted on the shaft, such as a spiral spring;
manual and/or motorized manoeuvring means.
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Thanks to the smaller weight of the leaf, it is possible to
have drums of smaller diameter, e.g. between 65 and 75 mm.
Finally, according to an eighth and last aspect, the
invention relates to a structure comprising an opening in
which is installed a door such as has just been described.
The structure is such that the apron of the lintel and the
corner pieces are of reduced size, possibly less than 10 cm,
especially of the order of 8 cm and of the order of 9 cm
respectively.
In the structure considered, the upper guide rails and the
hinges are situated on the inner side and the longitudinal
ribs on the outer side.
The invention will be better understood thanks to the
following description with reference to the appended
drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of the inner
side of a structure including a door according to the
invention, shown closed;
- Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the leaf of the door of
figure 1, on a larger scale, from the inside;
- Figure 3 is a view in elevation of a panel of the leaf of
figure 2, on a larger scale, from the outside;
- figure 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the panel of
figure 3 along the line IV-IV;
- figures 5a and 5b are two diagrammatic sectional views of
the two facings, respectively outer and inner, of a panel;
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- figures 6a and 6b are two partial diagrammatic views, on a
larger scale, of figures 5a and 5b, showing the foldings of
the facings;
- figure 7 is a partial sectional diagrammatic view, along a
vertical plane, on a larger scale, of two panels in the same
plane, showing more especially their longitudinal edges;
figure 7a is an analogous view of a variant of this
embodiment;
- figure 8 is a view analogous to that of figure 7, the two
panels here being in their extreme relative swivelled
position - not in the same plane - corresponding to the open
door;
- figures 9 and 10 are two diagrammatic views similar to
figures 7 and 8 showing the panels with their end hinges;
- figure 11 is a perspective view showing an end hinge with
its spindle and roller;
- figure 12 is a front view of door packaging according to
the invention;
- figure 13 is a side view of the packaging of figure 12.
In the figures is shown a structure having an opening 1 for
which the door 2 is intended.
The opening 1 is typically that giving passage to a motor
vehicle, the door 2 thus being a garage door.
3 designates the floor, 4 designates the apron of the
lintel, and 5 designates the corner pieces on each side.
According to the structural measures considered, the apron 4
of the lintel and the corner pieces 5 are of reduced size
with respect to those of the state of the art.
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For example, in one embodiment, the sizes are less than 10
cm and specifically substantially 8 cm for the apron of the
lintel and 9 cm for each corner piece.
The door 2 comprises a leaf 6, mobile between a closed
position (figure 1) and an open position.
In the closed position, the leaf 6 is positioned vertically
or substantially vertically within the opening 1.
In the open position, the leaf 6 is positioned horizontally
or substantially horizontally towards the ceiling next to
the apron 4 of the lintel.
The door 2 considered is thus of the type that opens against
the ceiling with a vertical travel. It is further of
sectional type, the leaf 6 comprising a series of panels 7
similar or identical to one another. Two adjacent panels are
arranged and mounted one on the other in such a way as to be
associated together by pivoting means 8.
The door 2 also comprises side guide rails 9 and upper guide
rails 10.,These rails are respectively positioned vertically
or substantially vertically, horizontally or substantially
horizontally. They are positioned inside the structure,
respectively on each side of and above the opening 1. They
are situated near the openingl. The rails 9 and 10 form two
assemblies, one on each side of the opening 1. Each of these
two assemblies includes one or two side rails 9 and one or
two upper rails 10, the latter being adjacent to the extreme
upper parts of the side rails 9. The two assemblies of rails
9 and 10 are positioned in two mutually parallel vertical
planes, perpendicular to the plane of the opening 1. The
rails 9 are fixed, directly or not, to the wall of the
construction in which the opening 1 has been made. The rails
10 are more particularly fixed to the ceiling.
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D designates a horizontal direction situated in the plane of
the opening 1, perpendicular to the plane of the two
assemblies of rails 9 and 10.
Rollers with axis D cooperating with the rails 9 and 10 are
supported by the panels protruding from their vertical side
edges 12. The rollers 11 can slide in the rails 9 and 10 to
allow the movement of the leaf 6 between its open and closed
positions.
The door 2 also comprises, in the embodiment considered a
mechanism 13 including a shaft 13a with axis D positioned
towards the junction of the rails 9 and 10 - and therefore
towards the upper end of the rails 9 -, two cable reel drums
13b key-mounted on the extreme side parts of the shaft 13
towards the outside of the leaf 6 and between the latter and
the side rails 9; two cables connected on the one hand to
the lower end panel of the leaf 6, on the other hand wound
on to the cable reel drums 13b; one or more resilient return
components 13c mounted on the shaft 13a, such as a spiral
spring; manoeuvring means 13d, in this case manual means,
such as a handle controlling a latch cooperating with a
catching hole provided in the doorframe 2.
The cables are positioned vertically or substantially
vertically between the side edges of the leaf 6 and the
rails 9. They are positioned in the immediate vicinity of
the plane of the opening 1. They run between this plane and
the roller supports 11. They are therefore not subject to
unauthorized access.
The panels 7 comprise a lower end panel 7a, an upper end
panel 7b and one or more intermediate panels 7c. In the
embodiment of figure 1, the leaf 6 includes in all of four
panels 7, which are identical.
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The panels 7 in front elevation have a rectangular general
outline, the longer side being horizontal in the direction D
and the shorter side being vertical (when the door 2 is
installed and closed).
5 A panel 7 is delimited by the two side edges 12 and the two
longitudinal edges 14.
Where appropriate the free longitudinal edges 14 of the
panels 7a and 7b have associated with them a sealing gasket,
a sensor bar or other appropriate devices.
10 The longitudinal edges 14 have in transverse cross section
,a profile of generally pseudo-triangular shape.
Two adjacent panels 7 are associated so as to swivel with
respect to each other around an axis 15 parallel with the
direction D. They have two longitudinal edges which
15 substantially match each other, i.e. a so-called protruding
(male) edge 14a and a so-called recessed (female) edge 14b.
In the embodiment considered, the protruding edges 14a are,
when the door is installed and closed, facing upwards and in
the upper position. And, conversely, the recessed edges 14b
are facing downwards and in the lower position. A panel 7
thus includes, at the top, a protruding edge 14a and at the
bottom a recessed edge 14b.
The protruding edge 14a has a general shape with concavity
turned towards the inside of the panel 7. The recessed edge
14b has a general shape with the convexity turned towards
the inside of the panel 7.
The protruding edge 14a and the recessed edge 14b will be
described hereunder with reference to the association of two
panels 7 in which these edges are contiguous.
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A panel 7 comprises a first and a second facing respectively
16 and 17, defining its large visible outer faces 18 and 19,
which are parallel. The facings 16 and 17 are made from thin
metallic sheets, rigidly made solid one with another. In
particular, the facings 16 and 17 are made from steel sheets
of a thickness of the order of 0.4 mm.
The two facings 16 and 17 are, in this embodiment, made from
the same type of thin leaf.
Depending on the embodiment, the two facings 16 and 17 are
made from different types of sheets. The sheets of facings
16 and 17 may be made from material other than steel,
provided that this material is appropriate to the required
use and performance.
The first facing 16 is the one situated on the outside of
the structure, i.e. towards the visible "show" face 18 of
the door 2. The second facing 17 easily seen in figure 1 is
situated on the inside of the structure (face 19).
At least one of the facings - in this case the first facing
16 - includes at least one longitudinal hollow stiffening
rib 20 extending between the two edges 12. The other facing
17, in this embodiment has no such channel and is
substantially flat. In the embodiment illustrated, the
longitudinal rib 20 extends across the whole distance
between the two edges 12. According to another embodiment
the rib 20 extends only across a part of this distance.
The longitudinal rib 20 has, as a transverse cross section,
an substantially triangular or rounded profile.
The facing 16 includes, in the embodiment illustrated
corresponding to a panel 7 of appreciable width, several
longitudinal ribs 20. These are of identical or nearly
identical profile. The ribs 20 are essentially situated in
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the central zone of the panel 7, distant from the edges 14.
They are at least substantially equidistant from one
another. In the embodiment considered in which the door 2
comprises 4 panels 7, each of the latter has five
longitudinal ribs 20.
The internal space 56 of the panel 7, closed at the
periphery by the two facings 16, 17, is filled - at least
partially - with a synthetic material which expand during
the manufacturing process.
In addition, the panel 7 has no internal reinforcement or
insert for substantial stiffening
A longitudinal edge 14 is of thickness which decreases
continuously from the large faces 18, 19 to its longitudinal
free edge 21.
The edge 14 is essentially defined by a number of successive
substantially flat faces of one of the facings, in this case
the outer facing 16 having the longitudinal rib or ribs 20.
More especially, the edge 14 is defined by at most four
faces (two faces in the embodiment illustrated) and a
rounding forming the longitudinal free edge 21.
For the protruding edge 14a, these two faces are, starting
from the first large exterior face and as regards the facing
16, a face 22 having a greater width followed by a face 23
of smaller width, the latter being followed and terminated
by the rounding of the edge 21 connected with the second
internal large face 19.
For the recessed edge 14b, these two faces are, starting
from the first large exterior face 18 and as regards the
facing 16, taking into account the rounding of the edge 21,
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a face 24 of smaller width and a face 25 of greater width
connected with the second internal large face 19.
The facing 16 is folded and rolled to form the faces 22, 23,
24, 25 and the rounded edges 21.
At least one face 26 of the rib 20 has, with respect to the
first outside large face 18 of facing 16, in the embodiment
considered, an inclination analogous or close to that of
face 22 of the protruding longitudinal edge 14a.
In addition, in this embodiment, the profile of the rib 20
is analogous or close to the profile formed by the two
adjacent longitudinal edges of the two adjacent panels 7
which are associated and in the same plane. This latter
profile is in this case formed by part of the face 22 of one
of the panels 7 and the rounding 21 opposite the other
panel.
A panel 7 has a total thickness less than 3 cm.
The total mass of a panel according to the structure
described may be of the order of 9 to 10 kg/mz, in
particular close to 9.5 kg/m~.
However, despite this lightness, the rigidity of the panel
to bending is excellent.
This result can be achieved even when the facings 16 and 17
have no substantially stiffening rib, channel or protrusion
extending in a transverse direction.
However, it would be possible to provide for one or more
transverse stiffening ribs, channels or protrusions.
Thus it would be possible for the facing 16 to be provided
with longitudinal ribs 20 and also provided with at least
one - and if appropriate more than one - transverse hollow
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ribs, with a profile analogous or close to that of a
longitudinal rib 20, the panel being of the so-called
cassette type.
In one embodiment, the depth of a longitudinal rib 20 is of
an order of magnitude of one third of the total thickness of
the panel 7.
The two sheets forming the facings 16 and 17 are rigidly
made solid with each other towards each of the edges 14 by a
fold with interleaving 27.
This fold 27 is flat and substantially in the same plane as
one of the large faces of the panel 7, in this case the
second internal large face 19, on the side of the facing 17.
In this embodiment, the fold 27 is thus situated on the side
opposite (i.e. facing) the first large face 18 which has the
longitudinal ribs) 20.
The fold 27 is obtained by means of a fold 28 in one
direction of the facing 16 and a fold 29 in the other
direction of the facing 17, the two folds 28, 29 being
interleaved one in the other like a hook (figures 5a, 5b,
6a, 6b) .
The fold 27 is situated, as regards the protruding edge 14a
substantially opposite the ridge 30 formed by the first
inclined face 22 of the edge on the first opposite large
face 18. As regards the recessed edge 14b, the fold 27 is
situated close to the ridge 31 formed by the first inclined
face 25 of the edge on the same second large face 19.
A fold 27 also forms a functional means of fixing a hinge
element of the pivoting means 8. Indeed, a fold 27 makes it
possible to tighten efficiently one (or more) hinge fixing
screws 32.
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In the embodiment described, the facing 16 has the general
shape of a U-shaped tray, while the facing 17 is
substantially flat.
The panel 7 also includes, fixed on each of its edges 12, an
5 added U section 33.
In the embodiment considered, an edge 14 includes a face 22,
24 inclined between 15° and 25°, in particular at about
20°
with respect to the large faces 18, 19. It also includes a
face 23, 25 inclined between 40° and 50°, in particular at
10 about 45° on these two large faces 18, 19.
Two adjacent faces of an edge 14, i.e. 22, 23 on the one
hand and 24, 25 on the other hand form between them a ridge
and a cant or nook respectively 34, 35 of between 150° and
160°, in particular of about 155.°
15 Where the rounding 21 is concerned, it has a radius of
curvature of the order of or less than one tenth of the
total thickness of the panel 7.
Two panels 7 such as have just been described are mounted
one on the other so as to swivel with respect to each other
20 by pivoting means 8 rigidly associated in the case of one of
the panels 7 near its longitudinal protruding edge 14a and
in the case of the other panel 7 near its longitudinal
recessed edge 14b. This rigid association is provided by
means of screws 32. The pivoting means 8 comprise at least
two end hinges 8a towards the side edges 12 and, where
appropriate, one or more intermediate hinges 8b. The two
elements 36, 37 of each hinge 8 are fixed to the panels 7 at
least on the interleaved folds 27. These elements include
parts in the form of a plate 38 provided with holes 39 for
the shoulder-headed screws 32 and curved parts 40 for
housing and fixing a spindle 41 forming the axis 15.
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The axis of swivel 15 of the hinges 8, and therefore of the
panels 7, is situated outside the outer dimensions of the
panels, close to the second large face 19 and to the facing
17 in which is the fold 27, substantially at right angles
with the central part of the protruding edge 14a of the
first panel 7 and substantially at right angles with the
free edge 21 or the recessed edge of the second form when
the two panels from a continuous line in the same plane. In
figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 the so-called "first" panel 7 is in
the lower position and the so-called "second" panel is in
the upper position.
More particularly, the axis of swivel 15 is distant from the
seond large face 19 and from the facing 17 of the first
panel 7 by a value of the order of one third, one half or
even less of the total thickness of the panel 7.
The two facing longitudinal edges 14a, 14b of the two panels
7 are separated from each other by a small free space 42.
The facing longitudinal edges 14 of two adjacent panels are
spaced and not interlinked one in the other. This space 42
thus configured and proportioned forms an external guard
against pinching of fingers.
The faces 24, 25 of the recessed edge 14b are substantially
tangential to an arc of circle with the axis of swivel 15.
The end hinges 8a are fixed on the added sections 33 forming
the side edges 12.
In one embodiment the door 2 also comprises an internal
guard against pinching of fingers 43 in the form of added
plates or sections, fixed flat on the second panel 7, on the
second large face 19 where the fold 27 is (facing 17). Such
a plate or section extends until it is slightly below the
CA 02290449 1999-11-19
22
axis of swivel 15, when the two panels in question form a
line in the same plane.
In a variant of this embodiment (figure 7), the plate or
section 43 is folded back at 44 to come against the facing
16 of the first panel when the two panels are in line in the
same plane.
In another embodiment, the internal guard against pinching
of fingers 43 is not an added piece fixed flat on the large
face of the second panel 7, but is incorporated in the face
19 of facing 17. The large face 19 then extends until it is
slightly offset from the central part of the protruding edge
14a of the first panel 7, when the two panels are in line in
the same plane (figure 7a).
The large face 19 is folded back at 44 to come against the
facing 16 of the first panel 7 when the two panels are in
line in the same plane, and to form the fold for the second
panel 7.
One of the two elements of an end hinge 8a, i.e. element 36
for example, has the form of a bracket having on the one
hand the plate 38 and on the other hand a lug 45 with an
elongated hole 46, extending substantially perpendicularly
to the plate in question, in which is fixed rigidly but so
as to be adjustable, a spindle 47 supporting the roller 11.
The said spindle 47 has, as a transverse cross section a
non-circular, indeed polygonal, profile 48, for the purpose
of fixing it in place.
The panels 7 thus constituted advantageously have a reduced
weight. The same therefore applies to the whole of the
leaf 6.
CA 02290449 1999-11-19
23
A consequence of this structure is that the cable reel drum
can have a reduced diameter, for instance between 65 and 75
mm.
The result is that the apron of the lintel and the corner
pieces can also be of reduced size, as has already been
stated.
The shape of the longitudinal edges 14 described makes it
possible to use less sheet metal to manufacture them, and
the panels are simple to make, by folding. The door is
principally aimed at private dwellings.
Once the various constituent parts of the door 2 just
described have been produced, in particular the panels 7,
the parts are assembled and pre-erected.
This pre-erection enables two assemblies to be made. A first
assembly includes the side guide rails 9, the leaf 6 being
positioned between them, the rollers which cooperate with
the rails 9, and finally, the mechanism 13. A second
assembly includes the upper guide rails 10, and in some
cases a cross-piece 49 the purpose of which is to join them.
The first assembly 6, 7, 9, 11, 13 is compact and fits
within an envelope with the general shape of a flattened
parallelepiped. This is because, as has already been stated,
this assembly is laterally limited by the rails 9, since the
drums 13b do not protruding out of this assembly because
they are positioned between the leaf 6 and the rails 9. As
regards the cables, they are incorporated in the ironwork of
the door 2, i.e. they do not protrude.
The first assembly of the door 2 which has just been
described is such that it can be pre-adjusted at the time of
manufacture. This pre-adjustment applies the length, the
CA 02290449 1999-11-19
24
positioning and the tension of the cables and of the spring
or springs 13c.
This structural disposition is advantageous since it gives
rise to a quality pre-adjustment at the time of manufacture
and avoids tedious, time-consuming or delicate operations on
the site of final installation of the door.
The second assembly 10, 49 can be placed flat against the
leaf 6 of the first assembly on the side of the second large
face 19.
Thus the two assemblies just described form a package which
can fit within an overall thickness of less than 125 mm,
whereas in the state of the art the thickness is closer to
and even exceeds 155 mm.
Doors 2 as they have just been described are packed by means
of the packaging 50.
The packaging 50 includes a support 51 forming a pallet as
to its part 52 and a rack as to its part 53.
The rack 53 is able to house a plurality of doors such as
just described, placed side by side.
The support 51 includes, as regards the part forming the
rack 53, two side flanks 54. In addition the packaging 50
also includes, in the embodiment considered, two side flat
iron bars 55.
Such a packaging can house up to nine doors each in the form
of the package previously described. These doors are placed
symmetrically two by two in such a way that the first two
large faces 18 or the second two large faces 19 face each
other.
CA 02290449 1999-11-19
When the doors are so arranged, they can be f fixed removably
by their side rails 9 to the flanks 54 by means of screws.
As to the flat iron bars 55, they are fixed in the same way
at the other end of the flanks 54.
5 The support 51 is placed at the bottom, forming a pallet.
The flat iron bars are placed at the top.
The overall dimensions of such a packaging comprising nine
doors and fitting within a parallelepiped is for example
1.15 m x 3.20 m by 2.60 m in height, or less.
10 Once manufactured the doors are packaged as just described.
This packaging can easily be transported given the limited
weight of the panels 7. The packaging 50 makes it possible
to store the doors awaiting installation in a structure.
For this installation, a door is taken from the packaging
15 50, carried to the site of the structure, the first assembly
6, ,7, 9, 11, 13 and the second assembly 10, 49 are
positioned and fixed.
Since the door has been pre-mounted during manufacture and
pre-adjusted, the installation can be quick.
