Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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IMPROVED FLEXIBLE DOOR ASSEMBLY
RELATED APPLICATIONS
100011 This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Application
No.
62/185,024 filed on June 26, 2015.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCI I
[0002] NONE.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] This invention relates generally to roll up doors and more
particularly to
flexible roll up doors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
100041 Roll up flexible doors are well known. Typical roll up flexible
doors have a
flexible material that is mounted upon a shaft to allow the material to be
rolled upon and
unrolled from the shaft. Some of these doors include tracks mounted on the
sides of the
opening to guide and hold the flexible material in place.
[0005] One of the problems with known doors is the lack of a tight fit
across the
opening. Even with track mounted doors, the doors can have a lose fit,
particularly after
repeated use. This can create numerous disadvantages, such as unsightly
appearance and
reduced thermal barrier.
[0006] Another problem with flexible doors that are mounted in tracks is
when the
door is inadvertently hit by for example a fork lift. Typical doors are
damaged and require
replacement. Either the flexible door has to be reinstalled or replaced, or in
more severe
situations, the tracks have to be replaced.
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100071 It is desirable to provide a flexible door that tightens laterally
as it is lowered to
eliminate the problems associated with loose doors. Additionally, it is
desirable to provide a
flexible door that is resistant to damage and easily reinstalled if
inadvertently hit during use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
100081 In general terms, the present invention provides an improved
flexible door
assembly that overcomes the problems of known flexible doors.
100091 The present invention provides a roll up flexible door assembly
which includes
a flexible door having opposed sides and a front face and rear face. Guides
are mounted
along the opposed sides of the flexible door.
1000101 Opposed tracks are mounted on the opposite walls of an opening.
The tracks
are mounted vertically at a spaced distance from one another. Each of the
tracks has an upper
end and lower end, a rear surface and a front surface spaced from the rear
surface generally
covering the rear surface. The front and rear surfaces of each track have
inner edges with the
inner edges of each track being positioned opposite one another.
1000111 First and second angled guide liners are mounted to the front and
rear surfaces
of each track and extend longitudinally along at least a portion of the
surfaces. The angled
guide liners have a top adjacent the upper end of the track and a bottom
adjacent the lower
end of the track. The angled guide liners are angled with respect to the inner
edges with the
angle increasing from the top to the bottom of the tracks. It should be
appreciated that only
one guide liner could be used in each track if desired, but applicant has
found that having two
provides for better control and tightening of the door as it is closed.
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[00012] The guides are operatively received within the tracks and adapted
to engage
the angled guide liners as the flexible door is raised and lowered in the
tracks. The guides and
the angled guide liners tighten the flexible door as the flexible door is
lowered. It should he
appreciated that with two guide liners in each track, it is desired to have
two guides, one on
the front face of the flexible door and the other on the rear face spaced
along the edges. With
one angled guide liner, only one set of guides on one side would be needed
spaced along the
edges.
[00013] These and other features and advantages of this invention will
become more
apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description of a
preferred embodiment.
The drawings that accompany the detailed description are described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00014] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the flexible door of the present
invention.
1000151 Figure 2 is a front view of the flexible of the present invention
with the angled
guide liners and guides shown in phantom.
1000161 Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the track of the present
invention.
1000171 Figure 4 is an exploded view of the track of the present invention.
[00018] Figure 4A is a partial perspective view of the angled guide member
and
retention member.
[00019] Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the track of the present
invention
positioned near the top of the track.
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1000201 Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of the track of the present
invention
positioned near the bottom of the track.
1000211 Figure 7 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the guide
members.
1000221 Figure 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the guide
members.
1000231 Figure 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the guide
members.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
1000241 The flexible door assembly of the present invention is generally
shown at 10 in
figure 1. As illustrated, an opening 11 has sidewalls 15 with each sidewall
having a door
track assembly 12 mounted to it. A flexible door 17 is operatively mounted
within the
opposed door track assemblies 12 and can open and close the opening 11 by
moving up and
down the side track assemblies 12. The flexible doors 17 are typically made of
vinyl, cloth or
other flexible materials.
1000251 With reference to figures 1 and 2, the flexible door 17 is wound
and unwound
upon a shaft within a housing 19 to open and close the door. The shaft is
either rotated by a
motor 21 or by hand through the use of for example a pull chain (not shown). A
bottom bar 25
is typically mounted to the bottom of the door 17 to assist in unwinding it.
The bottom bar 25
is relatively heavy when compared to the door 17 to assist in closing the door
17 and holding
the door in the closed position. In the example door shown, the bottom bar 25
is a one piece
extruded aluminum bar, but could also be several pieces of metal, aluminum
etc.
1000261 As illustrated in figure 3, the door track assembly 12 includes a
rear section 14
and front section 16. In the disclosed embodiment, the front and rear sections
16 and 14 are
extruded from aluminum. The rear section 14 is adapted to be mounted to the
sidewall of the
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opening in the doorway. As disclosed, the rear section 14 is generally u-
shaped. The front
section 16 is generally L-shaped and covers the rear section 16 and is fixed
to the rear section
14. The front and rear sections 16 and 14 are spaced from each other to define
the opening 20.
In the disclosed invention, the front and rear sections 16 and 14 are
connected together by
screws inserted into the sides opposite the opening 20.
[00027] The front and rear sections include longitudinal track edges 22.
At least one
angled guide liner 24, and as disclosed, a second angled guide liner 25 are
mounted within the
opening 20 adjacent the track edges 22. As will be discussed below, the
flexible door 17 is
positioned within the opening and between the angled liners 24 and 25. Guide
members 30 or
40 are mounted to the sides of the flexible door and engage and traverse the
guide liners 24
and 25.
[00028] With reference to figures 2, through 6, the angled guide liners 24
and 25 have a
guide surface 26 angled with respect to the track edges 22 and the vertical
centerline 28 of
each track. The guide surface 26 guides the guide members 30 or 40 mounted to
the opposite
edges of flexible door 17, see figures 7, 8 and 9. As the door or curtain is
closed, the guide
members 30 or 40 engage the guide surface 26 and are forced outwardly as the
door is
lowered. This tightens the flexible door 17 as the door is lowered to the
bottom of its travel
path. The angled guide surfaces 26 are illustrated in figures 5 and 6. In
figure 5, the flexible
door 17 is near the top and the width of the liners 24 and 25 is narrower than
the width of the
liners 24 and 25 nearer the bottom of the track as shown in figure 6.
1000291 With reference to figures 3, 4 and 4A, mounting channels 60 are
formed to
receive retention members 62 that generally mate with the channels 60. As
disclosed, the
channels 60 are generally T-shaped in cross-section. The retention members 62
of the
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disclosed embodiment are square inserts that protrude from the guide liners 24
and 25 and
generally mate with the channels 60. Screws 64 are driven through the liners
24 and 25 and
into the retention members 62. In the disclosed embodiment, the retention
members 62 arc
spaced apart on about one (1) foot centers along the length of liners 24 and
25. The retention
members 62 are inserted onto the channels 60 and then the screws 64 are
tightened to retain
the liners 24 and 25 to the track 12.
[00030] The guide members 30 and 40 are disclosed in figures 7, 8 and 9.
In Figure 7,
the guide roller bearing 30 is illustrated as track roller bearings. The outer
ring of the track
roller bearing rides upon internal bearings, normally mounted in a bearing
race which is
positioned upon the axle 34. The guide members 30 have at least one roller 32
and in the
disclosed embodiment two opposed rollers 32 mounted upon an axle 34. The two
rollers 32
that are illustrated are mounted on the front 31 and back 33 of the flexible
door 17.
Reinforcement strips 36 are mounted adjacent the roller 32 to reinforce the
connection of the
roller 32. As shown in figure 2, the rollers 32 are positioned on the edge of
the flexible door
17 and spaced along the length of the door 17.
1000311 In a further embodiment of the present invention, the flexible
door 17 is
adapted to be released from the track 12 if it is inadvertently hit by
something, like a vehicle.
The door 17 releases from the track 12 to avoid damage to the door 17, track
12 or the
building to which the track 12 is attached. To allow release, the door 17 has
a series or guide
members 40 attached along the edge of the door 17. The guide members 40 engage
the
angled guide liner 24 of track 12 and guide the door 17 up and down the track
12. If the door
17 is hit, the guide members 40 snap out of the track 12. Once out, guide
members can be
reinserted into the track 12. For example, reinsertion can be done manually,
or by raising the
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door 17 to the top and then lowering it to reinsert the guide members 40 into
the track 12.
Figure 8 illustrates the use of a single guide member 40 which is preferred
for efficient release
of the door 17. In figure 9, opposed pairs of guide members 40 are
illustrated. As will be
appreciated, if one guide member 40 is used, then only one guide liner 24 or
25 would be
used.
1000321 In order to allow efficient quick release without damage to the
door 17 or the
track 12, the shape of the guide members 40 is important. A large impact
against the door will
force the door away from the opening 11 and pull one or more of the guide
members 40 from
the track. In this way, the track and guide members 40 are not damaged.
1000331 In figure 8, an embodiment of the release guide member 40 is
illustrated. In
this embodiment, the guide member 40 or roller is a generally dome shaped
wheel. The guide
member 40 or roller has a curved outer wall 42 extending from a base 44 to a
top edge 46.
The curved outer wall 42 defines a cavity 48 that is closed by base 44. A hole
50 is formed in
the base 44 for receipt of a fastener, such as a screw or bolt. With reference
to figure 8, the
cavity 48 is closed with a dome shaped cap 51 to create an overall generally
smooth dome
shaped wheel 40.
[000341 In use, the guide members 30 or 40 are installed at spaced
locations along the
flexible door 17. At each location along the door, a pair of guide members 30
or 40 is
positioned on opposite sides of the flexible door 17 and if desired on the
front and back, as
shown in figures 7 and 9. As illustrated in figure 7, a hole is formed in the
flexible door 17
and a bolt or axle 34 is inserted through the aperture and receives a second
guide roller 32 to
attach the opposed guide member 30 to the opposite sides of the door.
1000351 The guide members 30 or 40 roll upon the track 12 as the door 17
raises and
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lowers. As the guide members traverse the length of the guide liners 24 and 25
from top to
bottom, the flexible door 17 is laterally tightened, see figures 2, 5 and 6.
1000361 It should be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that
guide members
30 and 40 could also be attached to only one side of the door 17 instead of to
the opposite
sides of the door. This is illustrated in figure 8. With one guide member 30
or 40, only one
guide liner 24 or 25 would be needed.
1000371 The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the
relevant
legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in
nature. Variations
and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those
skilled in the
art and do come within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of
legal protection
afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following
claims.
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