US3000048A - Overhead door - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 19, 1961 A. J. HARSCH 3,000,048

OVERHEAD DOOR Original Filed March 9. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jl lf. Z

INVENTOR. ARTHUR d. HA RSCH A TTORNE Y5.

Sept. 19, 1961 A. J. HARSCH 3,000,048

OVERHEAD DOOR Original Filed March 9. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

5i ARTHURJ. HA RS CH 4 32 BY 46: 3 @M,M,MY@% 34 E "Q 34 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent G 3,000,048 OVERHEAD DOOR Arthur J. Harsch, Eggertsville, N.Y., assignor to Morrison Steel Products, Iuc., Buffalo, N .Y. Original application Mar. 9, 1955, Ser. No. 493,089. Divided and this application May 2, 1958, Ser. No.

2 Claims. (Cl. 16-128) This invention relates to improvements in sectional overhead door and track constructions, and more particularly to the so-called sectional or multi-panel overhead door types such as are currently in widespread use for residential and commercial garage doors and the like.

The present application is a division of copending application Ser. No. 493,089, filed March 9, 1955, and now abandoned.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved door and track construction as aforesaid, the component parts of which may be shipped to the trade from the factory in knock-down condition and subsequently assembled and installed by relatively unskilled persons with utmost facility.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a sec tional overhead door as aforesaid improved means for hinging together adjacent panels or sections of the door, so as to facilitate assembly of the door in the field, while at the same time providing a rugged and fool-proof hinged connection between the door panels.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the specification hereinafter.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sectional overhead door and track construction of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view of several door panels of the construction of the invention, shown in hingedly connected relation; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 2.

As illustrated in the drawing, a door of the invention may comprise any desired or required number of sections or panels such as are individually designated generally at 20 and which are readily fabricated as identical subassembly components comprising plates formed of sheet metal or molded plastic sheets or the like which are of generally rectangular form and preferably comprise panel portions 22 intermediately beaded as indicated at 24 and more deeply corrugated at their junctures as indicated at 26, for stiffening purposes. As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, for example, each panel piece 20 is inwardly bent at its upper edge as indicated at 28 and terminates in a forwardly directed reversely bent edge or pad portion 30 for abutting contact with a reversely bent edge pad portion 32 formed on the inturned bottom edge portion of the panel piece next adjacent thereto and thereabove when the adjacent panel pieces are relatively assembled by hinged connections therebetween, as will be explained hereinafter. Thus, each panel piece 20 is inherently stiffened against twisting or binding deflections by means of the beads 24 and the corrugations 26 and the top and bottom inturned edge and pad portions 3032, as explained hereinabove.

At their opposite ends, each panel piece sheet 20 is embraced by a channel-sectioned metal strip 34 which may be conveniently spot-welded or bolted or otherwise permanently affixed to the opposite side edges of the panel sheets; thereby completing formation of a boxtype structure in the case of each door panel sub-assembly. As illustrated in FIG. 1, if the completed door is required to be of such a width dimension as to call for relatively long door panel sheets, it may be required and/ or preferred to add intermediately disposed vertical K 3,000,048 Patented Sept. 19., 1961 stiifeners as indicated at 36. The use of such stiifeners is optional, but in any case they may be formed to comprise struts of pressed metal or plastic or the like, shaped generally to complement the sectional contour of each door panel; and they are spot-welded or otherwise suitably attached thereto so as to provide individual stiffenings for each door panel.

Also, an additional optional stiffening device may be employed in connection with each door panel 20, if desired, in the form of a truss bar as indicated at (FIGS. 1 and 2). The truss bars 40 may comprise simple angle irons or U-sectioned pressed metal or plastic pieces spot-welded or bolted or otherwise suitably aifixed to the door panel sheets so as to run lengthwise thereof, as may be preferred. Thus, it will be appreciated that use of the vertical reinforcements 36 and of the horizontal truss bars 40 are entirely optional, and that they will be employed whenever the thickness and stiffness characteristics of the sheet stock and the dimensional requirements of the door panels dictate the use of such additional stiffening devices in order to provide the overall door assembly of suitably rigid form.

To hingedly interconnect the required number of subassembly door panels previously fabricated as aforesaid and shipped to the job in disassembled relation, the lower edge of each door panel sub-assembly is fitted at its opposite sides with a pivot bracket piece 44 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which is bolted or otherwise afiixed as indicated at 45 to the panel end piece 34 and is shaped so as to include a downwardly extending circularly contoured nose portion 46 which journals in a concave, arcuately surfaced abutment bracket 48 which is spot-Welded or riveted or otherwise suitably affixed to the corresponding upper side edge portion of the next adjacent door panel disposed therebelow. Each bracket 44 carries by means of a metal screw 49 (FIG. 3) a pivot pin 50 which slip-fits into and through a similarly shaped circular opening in the corresponding end piece 34 of the door panel next adjacent therebelow.

Thus, the pivot pins 50 at opposite ends of the door panels hingedly interconnect the adjacent door panel sections in articulated relation so that they may follow the curved door trackway when being moved between closed and open positions, as will be explained hereinafter. It will also be apparent that the ballsocket type bearing relation of the members 46-48 provide mechanical reinforcements for the pivot pins 50 against excessive shock loads, such as whenever the the door is slammed downwardly into closed position, or the like. In order to facilitate final assembly of the door installation on the job, assuming that the door panel sub-assemblies have been previously shipped to the job in disassembled relation; the bolts 45 are employed to mount the bracket 44 to the upper door panel so that whenever the parts are relatively assembled and the bolts 45 are tightened, the hinge connections between the adjacent door panels are permanent unless subsequently deliberately detached by means of suitable tools.

Thus, it will be appreciated that whereas only one form of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changed may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a multi-section door including first and second door sections, an improved door section pivotal connection comprising, a pivot bracket secured to the lower portion at each side of said first door section with such pivot brackets depending from the first section to overlap the second door section, a pivot pin extending laterally from the depending end of each of said pivot brackets and pivotally received in said second door section, a pivot bracket connected to the upper portion of said second door section at each side thereof, each of the depending ends of the first pivot brackets including a curved bearing surface formed thereon concentrically about the pivot axis of said pivotpins, each of the last pivot brackets having a complementary curved bearing surface receiving the bearing surface of an associated one of said first pivot brackets.

2. In a multi-section door including first and second door sections, an improved door section pivotal connection comprising a pivot bracket fixed to each side of said first door section with such pivot brackets projecting from the first section to overlap the second door 15 section, pivot means extending laterally from the projecting end of each of said pivot brackets and pivotally received in said second door section, a pivot bracket fixed to each side of said second door section, each of the projecting ends of the first pivot brackets including a semi-circular bearing surface formed thereon about a center common with the pivot axis of said pivot means, each of the last pivot brackets having a complementary semi-circular bearing surface receiving the bearing surface of an associated one of said first pivot brackets, said semi-circular bearing surfaces being adapted to bear in mutually abutting relation and relieve said pivot 10 means from door-slamming shock loads.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,755,852 Wagner Apr. 22, 1930 1,860,198 Moore et a1. May 24,1932 2,300,265 Siess Oct. 27, 1942 2,315,030 Whitechurch Mar. 30, 1943

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