Door Construction

Abstract

An overhead door construction comprising a flexible door mounted on a spring loaded rotatable drum such that the door may be moved to open and close the opening. The door is constructed of panels having edges hingedly connected together, ends of the panels being locked together with keys and being slidable through a guide channel lined with sound deadening material. A resilient wind baffle is secured to the door, and has free edges to allow the central portion of the baffle to spring outward into sealing relation with the wall adjacent the top of the door. Wind locks prevent lateral deflection of the door.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Rolling or curtain type overhead doors are useful in both residential and commercial constructions for closing openings such as doorways, windows or passageways.

A primary advantage of the use of curtain type doors which are rolled onto and off of an overhead drum or barrel is that overhead space is unobstructed providing maximum utilization thereof as well as enhancement of the appearance of the facility.

A major disadvantage of the use of curtain type doors, heretofore developed, was the excessive expense of construction of a flexible curtain having sufficient strength to withstand forces exerted thereagainst by wind pressure and capable of providing theft-proof security. To provide desired strength, such doors have been constructed of very stiff extruded aluminum slats locked together by hinges, rivets and other elaborate, expensive structures.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

I have developed a rolling, curtain type overhead door constructed of interlocking substantially flat slats or panels having flanges formed on opposite edges thereof to provide a receptacle at one edge and a bearing surface at the other edge. A bearing surface on a first slat is positioned in a receptacle on a second slat, and an end lock is provided to prevent disengagement of the bearing surface from the receptacle. The connection between slats or panels provides a flexible connection therebetween allowing the curtain to be rolled onto a barrel or drum for retracting the curtain from across an opening.

The connections between adjacent panels allows construction thereof from strong thin gauge materials having high tensile strength such as fiber reinforced polyester or cold rolled steel. However, the particular connections between the panels allows fabrication of a curtain of desired length by connecting a desired number of panels together.

The panels are locked together by a key or end lock which extends through openings adjacent edges of an end of the panels. In the preferred embodiment of the invention described herein a single key is employed to connect three panels together, greatly reducing the labor for assembling a curtain without adversely effecting flexibility thereof.

The curtain is mounted on a drum supported above the opening, the drum being rotatably mounted on an anchored shaft, and an adjustable tension counterbalance spring is provided between the shaft and the drum to provide desired force to counterbalance the weight of the curtain to facilitate rolling and unrolling the curtain from the barrel.

An improved weather stripping structure is provided which is particularly adapted to withstand wind pressure without interference with extension or retraction of the door.

Wind locks are provided at each end of the door such that the panels are in tension when wind pressure is exerted against the door, minimizing the necessity for the use of large bulky reinforcing material across surfaces of the door to prevent deflection thereof.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a roll-up type door allowing maximum use of overhead space which is particularly adapted to withstand wind pressure and to prevent passage of water therethrough.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roll-up type door constructed of curtain slats providing a substantially flat exterior surface which are of inexpensive construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roll-up type door in which a single continuous locking key is employed for securing several panels or slats together without interfering with flexibility of hinge connections.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roll-up door having improved weather stripping across the upper end thereof particularly adapted to seal against wind pressure without interfering with positioning of the door relative to the opening.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a roll-up type door equipped with wind locks to secure opposite ends of a slat or panel adjacent the periphery of the opening to be closed by the door such that the door structure is placed in tension by wind pressure exerted thereagainst.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved roll-up type door having an adjustable counterbalancing spring allowing counterbalancing force to be adjusted from outside of the drum or barrel upon which the door is mounted.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent upon referring to the detailed description hereinafter following and to the drawings annexed hereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention are annexed hereto so that the invention may be better and more fully understood, in which:

FIG. I is a rear elevational view of the roll type curtain door installed as viewed from the inside of a building;

FIG. II is a cross-sectional view taken vertically through the wall of the building showing the door in side elevation;

FIG. III is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line III--III of FIG. I;

FIG. IV is a fragmentary elevational view of an edge of a door illustrating the positioning of the end lock;

FIG. V is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line V--V of FIG. IV;

FIG. VI is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line VI--VI of FIG. III;

FIG. VII is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through the drum upon which the door is mounted;

FIG. VIII is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line VIII--VIII of FIG. VII;

FIG. IX is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line IX--IX of FIG. VII.

FIG. X is a perspective view of a guide through which opposite ends of the door move;

FIG. XI is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line XI--XI of FIG. I;

FIG. XII is a fragmentary perspective view of the wind lock;

FIG. XIII is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. III, the drum being rotated to retract the wind baffle; and

FIG. XIV is an enlarged elevational view of the lower end of the guide and wind lock, the lower edge of the door being illustrated in the position which it would occupy when the drum is in the position illustrated in FIG. XIII.

Numeral references are employed to designate like parts throughout the various figures of the drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. I and II of the drawing, the numeral 1 generally designates a rolling curtain door for closing an opening 2 in a wall 4. The door 1 is mounted such that it may be extended to the position illustrated in FIG. I for closing the opening 2 or retracted by rolling same on drum 6 to remove door 1 from across opening 2. The sides or edges of the door are slidably disposed in guides 8 and 10 positioned adjacent the periphery of opening 2. Wind locks 12 are positioned between guides 8 and 10 and the edge of door 1 to prevent lateral movement of the door 1.

PANEL CONSTRUCTION

Referring to FIGS. III-V, it will be noted that door 1 has an outer surface 1a which is substantially flat and an inner surface 1b and is constructed of panels 15 having flanges 14 and 16 formed at opposite edges thereof.

Flange 14 has an outwardly curved surface forming a groove or hollow receptacle 18 for receiving the inwardly curved tongue-like protrusion or bearing surface 20 formed on flange 16 of panel 15.

Each panel 15 has an aperture 22 formed adjacent flange 14 and an aperture 24 formed adjacent flange 16, said openings 22 and 24 being positioned in aligned relation for receiving end lock key 26.

As best illustrated in FIG. VI, end locks 26 are positioned adjacent end 15a of panels 15, preventing longitudinal movement of the protrusion or bearing surface 20 through the receptacle or protrusion receiving means 18. It will be noted that the other end 15b of each panel 15 does not have end locks 26 extending therethrough.

Each end lock has a deflected upper end 26a formed to engage the outer surface of receptacle 18 when locking key 26 is positioned through aligned apertures 24 in a first panel 15f, apertures 22 and 24 in a second panel 15s, and aperture 22 in a third panel 15t. When the deflected upper end 26a of end lock 26 is positioned against receptacle 18 on a first panel 15f and the lower end 26b if deflected outwardly, as illustrated in FIG. V, away from the inner surface 1b of the door 1, longitudinal movement of lock 26 is limited to prevent disengagement from apertures 22 and 24 in panels 15f, 15s, and 15t. End 26a of end lock 26 may be formed in other configurations, such as bending the end to a position against the elongated body portion thereof, to prevent passage of the end 26a through aperture 24.

As best illustrated in FIG. XIII, end locks 26 are positioned such that protruding bearing surfaces 20 are free to pivot within elongated receptacles 18 on adjacent panels providing flexibility to the door 1 allowing same to be rolled upon drum 6.

From the foregoing it should be readily apparent that a single end lock key 26 positioned as hereinbefore described is employed to lock three panels 15 together without using elaborate locking means of the type heretofore employed which are both expensive and require substantial time for installation.

EXTENDING AND RETRACTING MECHANISM

As best illustrated in FIGS. III, VI and VII, the door 1 is secured to a drum 6 which is rotatably disposed on a shaft 30 having opposite ends 30a and 30b secured to support arms 32 and 34 connected to wall 4 above opening 2 formed therein.

Support arms 32 and 34 have slots 36 formed therein in which shaft 30 is rotatably disposed. Stop means such as members 38 are secured to support arms 32 and 34 and extend across slots 36 to prevent disengagement of shaft 30 from said slot. Suitable anchor means is provided on at least one end of shaft 30 to prevent rotation of said shaft relative to support arms 32 and 34.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, discs 40 and 41, having indentations 42 formed in spaced apart relation around the periphery thereof, are rigidly secured as by welding to shaft 30. A member 44 is detachably secured by screws 48 to support arm 32. Bar 46 is selectively positionable within indentations 42 to lock disc 40 relative to support arm 32. When bar 46 is inserted through indentations 42 in discs 40 and 41 the central portion of the bar engages the side of slot 36 preventing rotation of shaft 30. Member 44 prevents radial movement of bar 46 relative to discs 40 and 41.

The drum 6 comprises shaped end walls 50 and 52 and at least one stiffener member 54 positioned therebetween encircled by sheet material 56 rigidly secured thereto by fasteners 58.

As best illustrated in FIG. III, end walls 50 and 52 and stiffener member 54 are shaped in the form of an involute to cause panels 15 of the rolling curtain door 1 to assume a substantially circular configuration when rolled upon drum 6.

As best illustrated in FIG. VII, stiffener member 54, intermediate opposite ends of drum 6, has an anchor plate 60 secured thereto by suitable connectors 62. Anchor plate 60 has an aperture 64 extending therethrough in which shaft 30 is rotatably disposed.

Counter balance spring 66 has one end secured by a connector 68 to anchor plate 60 and another end secured by connector 70 to a second anchor plate 72 which is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to shaft 30.

From the foregoing it should be readily apparent that as drum 6 rotates about shaft 30 counter balance spring 66 is twisted, exerting a torque through anchor plate 60 and stiffener member 54.

The counter balancing force exerted by spring 66 to drum 6 is controllable by disengaging bar 46 from support arm 32 and then rotating discs 40 and 41 until a desired tension is achieved. Bar 46 is then positioned in selected indentations 42 in discs 40 and 41 to anchor shaft 30 in the adjusted position.

Spring 66 is preferably a helical torsion spring of proper wire diameter to correctly counter balance the weight of the rolling curtain door 1 when extended as viewed in FIG. III, such that the weight of the door will exert a torque on the drum 6 which will slightly exceed the torque exerted by spring 66 to maintain the door in the closed position. However, only a slight lifting force should be required to cause the door to be retracted. Spring 66 should also be selected so as to provide a slight positive biasing force urging the wind lock 12 into positive engagement with stop member 74 secured to guide members 8 and 10 when the door 1 is in the retracted position.

WIND BAFFLE

Suitable means, illustrated in FIGS. III, VI, and XIII, is provided to prevent passage of air through space between the outer surface 1a of the curtain door 1 and the inner surface of wall 4.

Wind baffle 80 comprises an elongated resilient member positionable across the outer face 1a of the door 1 mounted such that baffle 80 lies in a substantially flat position as illustrated in FIG. XIII when the door curtain 1 is retracted and springs outwardly to the position illustrated in FIG. III when door 1 is extended. Spaced straps 82 have a lower end 84 secured by a connector 86 to one of the panels 15. The upper end 88 of each strap 82 is secured by a connector 90 to a panel 15 and baffle 80 is secured to each of the straps 82 by a connector 92.

As best illustrated in FIG. XIII, when drum 6 is rotated to cause panels 15 to move into engagement with the surface of sheet 56, bearing surfaces 20 rotate in receptacles 18 resulting in separation of the flat portions of panels 15 as indicated at 16. It should be noted that the length of strap 82 is such that the central portion of baffle 80 is moved inwardly toward the center of shaft 30 as panels 15 pivot, forming spaces 16 therebetween. As drum 6 is rotated from the position illustrated in FIG. XIII to the position illustrated in FIG. III spaces 16 between panels 15 close causing straps 82 to spring outwardly carrying connector 92 and the central portion of baffle 80 outwardly from the surface of door 1 into engagement with the edge of wall 4.

It will be noted that the edges 80a and 80b of baffle 80 slide along the outer surface of door 1 as straps 82 spring outwardly.

From the foregoing it should be readily apparent that wind baffle 80 is automatically retracted as door 1 is rolled onto drum 6 and automatically extended into sealing engagement with wall 4 and door 1 when the door is extended to the closed position. No dogs, stops, or camming surfaces are required to position baffle 80 in sealing relationship between the door and the wall.

DOOR GUIDES

Door guides 8 and 10 are positioned adjacent opposite sides of opening 2 formed in wall 4 and opposite edges 15a and 15b of panels 15 are slidably disposed in the guides.

As best illustrated in FIGS. X-XII each door guide 8 and 10 comprises a channel member 94 having a web portion and outwardly extended flange at each side thereof. Channel member 94 is secured through angle member 96 by suitable means such as bolts 97 to a facing 2a around opening 2 in wall 4.

As best illustrated in FIGS. III and X the passageway 99a between the flanges of the upper end of channel 94 is wider than passageway 99b in the intermediate and lower sections of channel 94. When door 1 is rolled upon drum 6 such that the lower edge of the door is above opening 2 in wall 4, the outer surface of the outer layer of panels 15 is positioned in close proximity to wall 4. As the door 1 is lowered through channels 94 the radial distance from the center of shaft 30 to the outer surface of the door decreases as layers are removed from drum 6. Upon initial movement of drum 6, the lower edge of the lowermost panel 15 in door 1 will slide along inclined surface 100 in channel 94. As the door 1 approaches the fully extended position illustrated in FIG. III the suspension point of the door about drum 6 moves toward the center of shaft 30.

To compensate for the change in the radial distance from the center of shaft 30 to the outer edge of door 1 as the door is extended inclined surface 100 is positioned to be substantially tangent to the outer surface of the door when fully retracted and surface 100a on the opposite side of channel 94 is substantially tangent to the inner surface of receptacles 18 when the door is fully extended. Providing the converging passage 99a between surfaces 100 and 100a at the upper end of channel 94 prevents binding between guide members 8 and 10 and the door 1 as the door is extended and retracted.

It should be noted that suitable sound deadening material such as wood strips 102 and 104 are secured to inner walls of flanges of channel 94 to engage surfaces of door 1. Preferably, channels 94 are constructed of a strong, durable material such as metal or plastic, as are panels 15. However, such materials moving in sliding relation are quite noisy. Provision of strips 102 and 104 positioned to engage opposite sides of the door 1 minimizes noise accompanying raising and lowering door 1. Strips 102 and 104 also serve as wear surfaces which may be readily removed and replaced since the material is softer than the material of which panels 15 are constructed.

WIND LOCK

As best illustrated in FIGS. I and XII, wind locks 12 are positioned at each side of the lower edge of door 1. A channel member 106, having a web 107 and flanges 108 and 109, is secured by bolts 110 to angle member 96. The upper end of the outer flange 109 is beveled as indicated at 112, forming a guide surface to direct the inwardly directed portion 114 of member 116 into the space between flanges 108 and 109.

Members 116 are shaped to substantially center door 1 in guides 8 and 10. It should also be appreciated that members 116 are interengageable with channel members 106 to prevent disengagement of edges of door 1 from guide members 8 and 10 by a force directed against a center portion of the door even though panels 15 may be deformed or bent. A lateral force exerted against a central portion of the door is transferred through the lowermost panel 15 and members 116 to an inwardly directed force tending to draw guide members 8 and 10 together.

Wind locks 12, positioned as hereinbefore described, secure door 1 relative to guide members 8 and 10 to provide a lightweight structure which is very strong and virtually theftproof.

From the foregoing it should be readily apparent that I have developed an improved door construction and method of making same to provide a lightweight, inexpensive construction which may be assembled quickly from inexpensive materials, which is counterbalanced to be opened and closed quietly and which is particularly adapted to be automatically sealed against wind and rain.

Claims

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A door construction to close an opening in a wall comprising, support means adjacent the opening; extending and retracting means secured to the support means; a plurality of panels, each of said panels comprising a substantially flat central portion, a protrusion on one edge of the panel, protrusion receiving means on another the panel, of the panel said protrusion and said protrusion receiving means having aligned apertures formed therein intermediate opposite ends thereof, a protrusion on one panel being positioned within the protrusion receiving means on another panel; substantially rigid locking means secured through aligned apertures in adjacent panels, said locking means being adapted to limit longitudinal movement of the protrusion through the receiving means; guide means secured to the wall adjacent the periphery of said opening, said guide means being positioned to engage opposite edges of end portions of the panels; said extending and retracting means being adapted to move the panels toward and away from the opening; projections adjacent opposite edges of panels at the lower edge of the door; means secured to the outside of the wall adjacent said opening engageable with said projections to limit lateral movement of the door; and means secured relative to said guide means adjacent an upper end of the opening engageable with said projections to limit vertical movement of the door.

2. A door construction to close an opening comprising, support means adjacent the opening; extending and retracting means secured to the support means; a plurality of panels, each of said panels comprising a substantially flat central portion, a protrusion on one edge of the panel, protrusion receiving means on another edge of the panel, said protrusion and said protrusion receiving means having aligned apertures formed therein, a protrusion on one panel being positioned within the protrusion receiving means on another panel; locking means secured through aligned apertures in adjacent panels, said locking means being adapted to limit longitudinal movement of the protrusion through the receiving means; and an elongated wind baffle having opposite edges engageable with panels, said baffle being positioned such that a surface thereon intermediate edges thereof is positionable in sealing engagement with a surface adjacent the opening closed by the door, said extending and retracting means being adapted to permit movement of the panels toward and away from the opening.

3. The combination called for in claim 2 wherein the locking means is longer than the width of the central section of each panel, and is positioned to limit longitudinal movement of at least two protrusions in at least two receiving means.

4. The combination called for in claim 2 wherein the locking means extends through an aperture adjacent the protrusion on a first panel, apertures adjacent a receiving means and a protrusion on a second panel, and an aperture adjacent a receiving means on a third panel to secure the first, second and third panels together.

5. The combination called for in claim 2 with the addition of means secured to the baffle and at least one of the panels to urge the central portion of the baffle away from the surface of the panels.

6. The combination called for in claim 2 with the addition of means to urge a first edge of the baffle against a first panel and a second edge against a third panel, the baffle bridging a second panel between the first and third panels.

7. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the extending and retracting means comprises roller means having opposite ends rotatably secured to the support means.

8. The combination called for in claim 7 with addition of a mounting shaft secured in non-rotating relation to the support means, the roller means being rotatably mounted thereon; and resilient means secured to the shaft and the roller to exert a force on the roller urging the door toward a retracted position.

9. In a door construction for closing an opening in a wall, support means adjacent the upper end of the opening; a flexible door secured to the support means; extending and retracting means secured to the door to move the door relative to the support means; an elongated resilient baffle positionable across a face of the door, said baffle having ends positionable adjacent edges of the door, and having edges extending across the door; means secured to the door and to the baffle intermediate edges of the baffle to secure the baffle to the door such that edges of the baffle are free to move relative to the door.

10. The combination called for in claim 9 with the addition of guide means secured to the wall adjacent the periphery of the opening, said guide means being positioned to engage opposite edges of end portions of the door.

11. The combination called for in claim 10 with the addition of a spacer member constructed of non-metallic material secured to the guide means, said spacer member being constructed of material which is softer and less wear resistant that the material of which the door is constructed to minimize wear adjacent edges of the door and to absorb sound.

12. The combination called for in claim 10 wherein the guide means has a converging upper section, at least one surface being substantially tangentially disposed to a surface of the roller when the door is completely extended and another surface being substantially tangentially disposed to the outer surface of the door when retracted.

13. The combination called for in claim 9 with the addition of a wind lock adjacent opposite edges of the door, said wind lock comprising a projection secured to the door; a channel secured adjacent the periphery of the opening, said projection being movable into the channel to limit lateral movement of the door relative to the channel.

14. The combination called for in claim 9 wherein the door comprises panels; and means to secure edges of the panels together.

15. The combination called for in claim 9 wherein the means to secure the baffle to the door comprises spaced straps; means to secure opposite ends of each of said straps to the door; and means to secure said baffle, intermediate edges thereof, to a central portion of each of said straps.

16. A door construction to close an opening comprising, support means adjacent the opening; extending and retracting means secured to the support means; a plurality of panels, each of said panels comprising a substantially flat central portion, a protrusion on one edge of the panel, protrusion receiving means on another edge of the panel, said protrusion and said protrusion receiving means having aligned apertures formed therein, a protrusion on one panel being positioned within the protrusion receiving means on another panel; locking means extending through an aperture adjacent the protrusion on a first panel, apertures adjacent a receiving means and adjacent a protrusion on a second panel, and an aperture adjacent a receiving means on a third panel to secure the first, second and third panels together; said locking means being longer than the width of the central section of each panel, and being positioned to limit longitudinal movement of at least two protrusions in at least two receiving means; deflected ends on the locking means directed away from the central portion of the panels to limit longitudinal movement of the locking means through the apertures, and said extending and retracting means being adapted to move the panels toward and away from the opening.

17. A door construction to close an opening comprising, support means adjacent the opening; extending and retracting means secured to the support means; a plurality of panels, each of said panels comprising a substantially flat central portion, a protrusion on one edge of the panel, protrusion receiving means on another edge of the panel, said protrusion and said protrusion receiving means having aligned apertures formed therein, a protrusion on one panel being positioned within the protrusion receiving means on another panel; an elongated rigid locking member secured through aligned apertures in adjacent panels, said locking member being adapted to limit longitudinal movement of the protrusion through the receiving means; an outwardly directed flange on one end of the locking member positioned to limit longitudinal movement of the member through apertures in the panels, said member being of a length which is greater than the distance between apertures in one of the panels; and said extending and retracting means being adapted to permit movement of the panels toward and away from the opening.

18. The combination called for in claim 16 wherein the extending and retracting means comprises roller means rotatably secured to said support means; means to secure at least one of said panels to the roller means such that rotation of the roller means moves the panels vertically relative to the opening; guide means secured to the wall adjacent the periphery of the opening, said guide means being positioned to engage opposite edges of end portions of the panels; first and second upper surfaces on said guide means, said first upper surface lying in a substantial vertical plane substantially tangentially disposed to a surface of said roller means such that inner surfaces adjacent opposite ends of the panels engage said first surface of the guide means only when panels are positioned across the opening, said second upper surface on the guide means being substantially tangentially disposed to an outer surface of panels positioned in an elevated position above the opening.

19. The combination called for in claim 18 wherein the roller means comprises a continuous shaft; means to secure opposite ends of said shaft to said support means; means to limit rotation of said shaft; a hollow drum; means to rotatably secure said drum to said shaft; a spring positioned around said shaft inside said hollow drum; means to secure one end of said spring to the shaft and the other end of said spring to the inside of the drum such that said spring exerts a force on the drum urging the panels toward a retracted position, said drum being positioned such that the panels while moving longitudinally of the guide means from a retracted to an extended position moves laterally in said guide means toward said first upper surface on the guide means.