OVERHEAD DOOR SYSTEM WITH CONCEALED HYDRAULIC CYLINDER

SYSTEME DE PORTE BASCULANTE DISPOSANT D`UN VERIN HYDRAULIQUE CACHE

English Abstract

An overhead door system including a frame, a door leaf and a first hydraulic
cylinder. The
door leaf is pivotally mounted to the frame. The first hydraulic cylinder has
a first cylinder end
and a second cylinder end. The first cylinder end is operably attached to the
frame. The second
cylinder end is operably attached to the door leaf. The first hydraulic
cylinder is capable of moving
the door leaf between a closed configuration and an open configuration. At
least one of the frame
and the upper door panel has a slot formed therein. When the door leaf is in
the closed
configuration, the first hydraulic cylinder is substantially recessed in the
slot.

Claims

CLAIMS
1. An overhead door system comprising:
a frame;
a door leaf that is pivotally mounted to the frame; and
a first hydraulic cylinder comprising a first cylinder end and a second
cylinder end,
wherein the first cylinder end is operably attached to the frame, wherein the
second cylinder end is operably attached to the door leaf, wherein the first
hydraulic cylinder is capable of moving the door leaf between a closed
configuration and an open configuration, wherein at least one of the frame and
the
upper door panel has a slot formed therein and wherein when the door leaf is
in
the closed configuration, the first hydraulic cylinder is substantially
recessed in
the slot.
2. The overhead door system of claim 1, wherein the door leaf is pivotally
mount to the
frame with at least one hinge and wherein the door leaf is vertically
pivotable with respect to the
frame.
3. The overhead door system of claim 1, wherein the at least one slot
comprises a first slot
in the frame and a second slot in the door leaf and wherein the first
hydraulic cylinder is
substantially recessed in the first slot and the second slot when the door
leaf is in the closed
configuration.
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4. The overhead door system of claim 1, wherein the slot has a width,
wherein the first
hydraulic cylinder has a width and wherein the slot width is wider than the
first hydraulic
cylinder width.
5. The overhead door system of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a top
frame member,
a first side frame member and a second side frame member and wherein the top
frame member
extends between the first side frame member and the second side frame member.
6. The overhead door system of claim 5, wherein the first side frame member
comprises a
first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, wherein the third
side extends between the
first side and the second side, wherein the fourth side extends between the
first side and the
second side, wherein an opening is defined inside of the first side, the
second side, the third side
and the fourth side and wherein the slot extends through the first side into
the opening.
7. The overhead door system of claim 1, wherein the door leaf comprises an
upper frame
member, a lower frame member, a first side frame member and a second side
frame member,
wherein the upper frame member extends between the first side frame member and
the second
side frame member, wherein the lower frame member extends between the first
side frame
member and the second side frame member, wherein the at least one slot
comprises a first slot
formed in the first side frame member and wherein the first hydraulic cylinder
is mounted for
movement with respect to the first slot.
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8. The overhead door system of claim 7, wherein the first side frame member
comprises a
first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, wherein the third
side extends between the
first side and the second side and wherein the fourth side extends between the
first side and the
second side, wherein an opening is defined inside of the first side, the
second side, the third side
and the fourth side and wherein the slot extends through the first side into
the opening.
9. The overhead door system of claim 7, wherein the at least one slot
comprises a second
slot is formed in the second side frame member and wherein the overhead door
system further
comprises a second hydraulic cylinder that is mounted for movement with
respect to the second
slot.
10. An overhead door system comprising:
a door leaf that is mountable for vertical pivoting, wherein the door leaf has
at least slot
formed therein; and
a first hydraulic cylinder comprising a first cylinder end and a second
cylinder end,
wherein the second cylinder end is operably attached to the door leaf, wherein
the
first hydraulic cylinder is capable of moving the door leaf between a closed
configuration and an open configuration and wherein when the door leaf is in
the
closed configuration, the first hydraulic cylinder is substantially recessed
in the at
least one slot.
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11. The overhead door system of claim 10, wherein the slot has a width,
wherein the first
hydraulic cylinder has a width and wherein the slot width is wider than the
first hydraulic
cylinder width.
12. The overhead door system of claim 10, wherein the door leaf comprises
an upper frame
member, a lower frame member, a first side frame member and a second side
frame member,
wherein the upper frame member extends between the first side frame member and
the second
side frame member, wherein the lower frame member extends between the first
side frame
member and the second side frame member, wherein the at least one slot
comprises a first slot is
formed in the first side frame member and wherein the first hydraulic cylinder
is mounted for
movement with respect to the first slot.
13. The overhead door system of claim 12, wherein the first side frame
member comprises a
first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, wherein the third
side extends between the
first side and the second side, wherein the fourth side extends between the
first side and the
second side, wherein an opening is defined inside of the first side, the
second side, the third side
and the fourth side and wherein the slot extends through the first side into
the opening.
14. The overhead door system of claim 12, wherein the at least one slot
further comprises a
second slot formed in the second side frame member and wherein the overhead
door system
further comprises a second hydraulic cylinder that is mounted for movement
with respect to the
second slot.
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15. A method of operating an overhead door system comprising:
pivotally mounting a door leaf with respect to a frame;
operably attaching the door leaf to the frame with a first hydraulic cylinder;
moving the door leaf between a closed configuration and an open configuration
using a
first hydraulic cylinder that is attached to the door leaf and the frame, and
substantially recessing the first hydraulic cylinder in the slot when the door
leaf is in the
closed configuration.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the pivotally mounting door leaf to the
frame is with at
least one hinge.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the slot has a width, wherein the first
hydraulic cylinder
has a width and wherein the slot width is wider than the first hydraulic
cylinder width.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one slot comprises a first
slot in the frame
and a second slot in the door leaf and wherein positioning the door leaf in
the closed
configuration causes the first hydraulic cylinder to be substantially recessed
in the first slot and
the second slot.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the frame comprises a top frame member,
a first side
frame member and a second side frame member, wherein the top frame member
extends between
the first side frame member and the second side frame member, wherein the
first side frame
member comprises a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side,
wherein the third side
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extends between the first side and the second side, wherein the fourth side
extends between the
first side and the second side, wherein an opening is defined inside of the
first side, the second
side, the third side and the fourth side and wherein the slot extends through
the first side into the
opening.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the door leaf comprises an upper frame
member, a
lower frame member, a first side frame member and a second side frame member,
wherein the
upper frame member extends between the first side frame member and the second
side frame
member, wherein the lower frame member extends between the first side frame
member and the
second side frame member, wherein the at least one slot comprises a first slot
formed in the first
side frame member, wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is mounted for
movement with respect
to the first slot, wherein the first side frame member comprises a first side,
a second side, a third
side and a fourth side, wherein the third side extends between the first side
and the second side,
wherein the fourth side extends between the first side and the second side,
wherein an opening is
defined inside of the first side, the second side, the third side and the
fourth side and wherein the
slot extends through the first side into the opening.
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Description

OVERHEAD DOOR SYSTEM WITH
CONCEALED HYDRAULIC CYLINDER
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to US Applic. No. 62/987,823,
which was filed on
March 10, 2020. The contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates generally to overhead doors. More
particularly, the invention
relates to overhead doors with concealed hydraulic cylinder.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Overhead doors are commonly used to provide relatively large
openings such as in
machine sheds, barns and airplane hangars. The overhead doors typically
utilize a hydraulic
cylinder or electric actuators to assist with moving the door leaf between
open and closed
configurations. An example of one such overhead door system is described in
U.S. Patent
Publication No. 2011/0225895, which is assigned to the assignee of this
application.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An embodiment of the invention is directed to an overhead door
system that
includes a frame, a door leaf and a first hydraulic cylinder. The door leaf is
pivotally mounted to
the frame. The first hydraulic cylinder has a first cylinder end and a second
cylinder end. The
first cylinder end is operably attached to the frame. The second cylinder end
is operably attached
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-12-11

to the door leaf. The first hydraulic cylinder is capable of moving the door
leaf between a closed
configuration and an open configuration. At least one of the frame and the
upper door panel has a
slot formed therein. When the door leaf is in the closed configuration, the
first hydraulic cylinder
is substantially recessed in the slot.
[0005] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an overhead
door system that
includes a door leaf and a first hydraulic cylinder. The door leaf is
pivotally mounted to the frame.
The door leaf has at least slot formed therein. The first hydraulic cylinder
has a first cylinder end
and a second cylinder end. The second cylinder end is operably attached to the
door leaf. The
first hydraulic cylinder is capable of moving the door leaf between a closed
configuration and an
open configuration. When the door leaf is in the closed configuration, the
first hydraulic cylinder
is substantially recessed in the at least one slot.
[0006] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of
operating an
overhead door system. A door leaf is pivotally mounted with respect to a
frame. The door leaf is
operably attached to the frame with a first hydraulic cylinder. The door leaf
is moved between a
closed configuration and an open configuration using a first hydraulic
cylinder that is attached to
the door leaf and the frame. The first hydraulic cylinder is substantially
recessed in the slot when
the door leaf is in the closed configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of
embodiments and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification. The drawings
illustrate embodiments and together with the description serve to explain
principles of
embodiments. Other embodiments and many of the intended advantages of
embodiments will be
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readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the
following detailed
description. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale
relative to each other. Like
reference numerals designate corresponding similar parts.
[0008] Fig. 1 is an elevation view of an overhead door system with
concealed hydraulic
cylinder where a door leaf is in a closed configuration.
[0009] Fig. 2 is a side view of the overhead door system with the door
leaf in the closed
configuration.
[0010] Fig. 3 is an elevation view of the overhead door system with the
door leaf in an
open configuration.
[0011] Fig. 4 is a side view of the overhead door system with the door
leaf in the open
configuration.
[0012] Fig. 5 is an elevation view of the door leaf.
[0013] Fig. 6 is an elevation view of a door frame for the overhead door
system.
[0014] Fig. 7 is a side view illustrating attachment of a hydraulic
cylinder to the door leaf
and the door frame.
[0015] Fig. 8 is a front view illustrating attachment of the hydraulic
cylinder to the door
leaf and the door frame.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] An embodiment of the invention is directed to an overhead door
system 30 that is
used to selectively close an opening in a structure such as a machine shed,
barn, airplane hangar
or other structure. The overhead door system 30 is particularly suited for use
with a relatively
wide door leaf such as having a width of more than about 20 feet.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-12-11

[0017] The overhead door system 30 generally include a door leaf 32 that
is operably
mounted with respect to a door frame 34 for movement between a closed
configuration, which is
illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and an open configuration, which is illustrated
in Figs. 3 and 4. In
certain embodiments, the door leaf 32 is vertically pivotable between the
closed configuration and
the open configuration.
[0018] The hydraulic cylinder 60 is concealed when the door leaf 32 is in
the closed
configuration. As used herein, concealed means that no portion of the
hydraulic cylinder 60
extends past a side of the door leaf 32 that is opposite the door frame 34 as
illustrated in Fig. 7 and
no portion of the hydraulic cylinder extends outside of the door frame 34 when
the door leaf 32 is
in the closed configuration as illustrated in Fig. 8.
[0019] Substantially concealing the hydraulic cylinder 60 when the door
leaf 32 is in the
closed configuration not only enhances the aesthetics of the overhead door
system 30 but also
protects the hydraulic cylinder 60 from damage.
[0020] In certain embodiments, the door leaf 32 has a generally elongated
configuration
that is moved as a unitary structure as illustrated in Fig. 5. A person of
skill in the art will
appreciate that the door leaf 32 may be adapted for use with a variety of
widths and heights using
the concepts of the invention depending upon the structure in which the
overhead door system 30
is installed.
[0021] While it is illustrated that the door leaf 32 is a single panel,
it is possible for the
door leaf 32 to be fabricated in multiple sections that are attached together
when the overhead door
system 30 is installed. Forming the door leaf 32 in a multiple sections
reduces the size for shipping
the overhead door system to the installation location.
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[0022] The door leaf 32 is generally defined by a top frame member 35, a
bottom frame
member 36 and side members 38. Depending on the width of the door leaf 32,
there may also be
at least one intermediate leg 40 to enhance structural rigidity of the door
leaf 32.
[0023] In certain embodiments, the top frame member 35 and the bottom
frame member
36 both extend between the side members 38. The top frame member 35 and the
bottom frame
member 36 may be oriented generally perpendicular to the side members 38.
[0024] In certain embodiments, the side members 38 may have a generally
square profile
that includes a first side 42, a second side 44, a third side 46 and a fourth
side 48. The first side
42 is oriented towards the door frame 34. The second side 44, which is
opposite the first side 42,
is oriented away from the door frame 34.
[0025] The third side 46 extends between the first side 42 and the second
side 44. The
fourth side 48, which is opposite the third side 46, extends between the first
side 42 and the second
side 44. An opening is defined inside of the first side 42, the second side
44, the third side 46 and
the fourth side 48.
[0026] The first side 42 may have a slot formed therein that is adapted
to receive a portion
of the at least one hydraulic cylinder 60. The slot extends through the first
side 43 into the opening.
The slot may have a generally elongated shape that is vertically oriented. The
slot has a width that
is greater than a width of the at least one hydraulic cylinder 60.
[0027] A person of skill in the art will appreciate that it is possible
for the side members
38 to have an alternative configuration with less than four sides. For
example, in an alternative
configuration, the side members 38 may have only two sides using the concepts
of the invention.
[0028] The door frame 34, which is illustrated in Fig. 6, generally
includes a top frame
member 50 and side frame members 52. The top frame member 50 and the side
frame members
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52 are secured to the structure (not shown) in which the overhead door system
30 is installed. In
certain embodiments, the top frame member 50 is oriented generally
perpendicular to the side
frame members 52.
[0029] In certain embodiments, the side frame members 52 may have a
generally square
profile that includes a first side 62, a second side 64, a third side 66 and a
fourth side 68. The first
side 62 is oriented towards the door leaf 32. The second side 64, which is
opposite the first side
62, is oriented away from the door leaf 32.
[0030] The third side 66 extends between the first side 62 and the second
side 64 towards
an interior of the door frame 34. The fourth side 68, which is opposite the
third side 66, extends
between the first side 62 and the second side 64 away from an interior of the
door frame 34. An
opening is defined inside of the first side 62, the second side 64, the third
side 66 and the fourth
side 66.
[0031] The first side 62 has a slot 58 formed therein. The slot 58
extends through the first
side into the opening. The slot 58 may have a generally elongated shape that
is vertically oriented.
The slot 58 has a width that is greater than a width of the at least one
hydraulic cylinder 60.
[0032] A person of skill in the art will appreciate that it is possible
for the side frame
member 52 to have an alternative configuration with less than four sides. For
example, in an
alternative configuration, the side frame member 52 may have only two sides
using the concepts
of the invention.
[0033] A person of skill in the art will appreciate that the techniques
used to secure the
door frame components to the structure may be selected based upon factors such
as the material
from which the structure is fabricated, examples of which include, wood,
steel, brick and concrete.
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[0034] The door leaf 32 is pivotally attached to at least one of the top
frame member 50
and the side frame members 52 such as using a hinge 56, which is illustrated
in Fig. 7. Depending
on the width of the door leaf 32, there may be at least one central upper
hinge. Alternatively, the
door leaf 32 may be pivotally attached to the side members 52, 54.
[0035] At least one hydraulic cylinder 60 operably connects the door leaf
32 to the door
frame 34 and thereby facilitates a person moving the door leaf 32 between the
closed configuration
(Figs. 1 and 2) and the open configuration (Figs. 3 and 4) because the at
least one hydraulic cylinder
60 reduces the amount of weight that the person needs to lift.
[0036] In certain embodiments, one of the hydraulic cylinders 60 is
attached to each end
of the door leaf 32. A person of skill in the art will appreciate that
alternative structures may be
used instead of hydraulic cylinders. An example of one such alternative
structure is an electric
actuator.
[0037] An upper end 70 of the hydraulic cylinder 60 may be mounted to the
third side 66
in the interior of the side frame member 52. A reinforcing plate 72 may be
used where the upper
end 70 of the hydraulic cylinder 60 is attached to the third side 66 to
minimize the potential of the
side frame member 52 deforming during the operation of the overhead door
system 30.
[0038] A lower end 74 of the hydraulic cylinder 60 may attached to a side
surface of the
door leaf 32 as illustrated in Fig. 7. A reinforcing plate 76 may be used
where the lower end 74 of
the hydraulic cylinder 60 is attached to side of the door leaf 32 to minimize
the potential of the
door leaf 32 deforming during the operation of the overhead door system 30.
[0039] The slot 58 is sufficiently large so that the hydraulic cylinder
60 does not contact
any part of the side frame member 52 when the door leaf 32 is in the closed
configuration, the
open configuration or when moving between the closed configuration and the
open configuration.
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[0040] In the preceding detailed description, reference is made to the
accompanying
drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of
illustration specific
embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard,
directional terminology,
such as "top," "bottom," "front," "back," "leading," "trailing," etc., is used
with reference to the
orientation of the Figure(s) being described. Because components of
embodiments can be
positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology
is used for purposes
of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood that other
embodiments may be
utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from
the scope of the
present invention. The preceding detailed description, therefore, is not to be
taken in a limiting
sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended
claims.
[0041] It is contemplated that features disclosed in this application, as
well as those
described in the above applications incorporated by reference, can be mixed
and matched to suit
particular circumstances. Various other modifications and changes will be
apparent to those of
ordinary skill.
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Representative Drawing