Cone Apparatus

Abstract

The invention is a cone for use with, for example, a torsion spring in a counterbalancing mechanism of a door. The cone body has a frusto-conical exterior surface. A first plurality of spaced partially circular ridges are provided on the exterior surface. Each of the ridges has first and second ends adjacent the surface and a central portion spaced above the surface. A second plurality of spaced partially circular ridges are alternately disposed between respective ones of said first plurality of ridges. The second plurality of ridges have first and second ends adjacent the surface and central portions spaced above the surface at locations opposed to the central portions of the first plurality of ridges. The cone threadably receives either right-or left-hand wound springs.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Counterbalancing mechanism for doors, particularly overhead doors, are numerous and well known in the art. Many of these doors utilize a torsion rod or bar which extends horizontally above the door. Pulleys are positioned on the outer ends of the torsion bar and receive force members, for example cables which are operatively attached to the lower side portions of the door.

Torsion springs often surround the torsion bar and as the door is moved to the lower or closed position, the springs are loaded. As the door is opened, the spring force acting through the cable serves as a counterbalancing force which aids the operator in overcoming the force generated by the weight of the door.

Often, two torsion springs of relatively short length are positioned at opposite ends of the door. One of the torsion springs is a left-hand wound spring while the other spring is a right-hand wound spring. By having the springs wound in an opposite direction, there is a reduction in the tendency of the door to cant as it moves to its upward or open position.

One of the prior art devices which served as end connectors for the torsion springs were cones having a frustoconical surface. Either a right-hand or a left-hand thread was cut or formed on the exterior surface. If two torsion springs of opposite winding were utilized on a given door installation, as mentioned above, it was necessary to supply a set of four cones, two having right-hand threads and two having left-hand threads as part of the installation. These prior art sets often consisted of two winding cones, one having a right-hand thread and one having a left-hand thread and two stationary cones, one having a right-hand thread and one having a left-hand thread. The prior art winding cones were utilized to pre-tension the spring and then were locked in place by, for example, a set screw. The prior art stationary cones were essentially end connectors that were, for example, operatively connected to the door frame or a separate structural member.

This type of prior art construction resulted in many problems for both the manufacturer and the door installer. It was often necessary to keep a large inventory of cones having the proper threading.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cones for use with torsion springs. Cones according to the present invention may be used with either a right-hand wound or a left-hand wound torsion spring.

The cone body has a frusto-conical exterior surface. A first plurality of spaced partially circular ridges are provided on the exterior surface of the cone. The peak of the ridges would be the crest under screw thread terminology while the bottom of the valley between the ridges would be the root under screw thread terminology. In the following description, the ridges are at some times termed threads even though they are not continuous and under normal helical screw thread terminology.

The ridges have first and second ends adjacent the surface of the cone and a central portion spaced above the surface. Therefore, the crest of an individual ridge starts at a point adjacent the surface, elevates to the central portion and returns to the surface.

A second plurality of spaced, partially circular ridges are alternately disposed between respective ones of the first plurality of ridges. The second plurality of ridges also have first and second ends adjacent the exterior surface and central portions spaced above the surface. The central portions of the second plurality of ridges are in an opposed relationship to the central portions of the first plurality of ridges. In a normal situation, the central portions of the respective plurality of ridges would be 180.degree. apart.

The cone threadably receives either right- or left- hand wound springs and eliminates the inventory problems which have been present in the art for numerous years.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cone according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cone shown in FIG. 1, having a fragmentary sectional torsion spring shown on the cone;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a cone according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a cone according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of still another embodiment of a cone according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the cone shown in FIG. 6, having a fragmentary sectional torsion spring shown on the cone; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8--8 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a cone according to the present invention is generally indicated by the reference number 10. The cone 10 includes a base 11 and an integral body 12 extending from the base 11. The body 12 has a frusto-conical shape with its largest diameter next to the base 11. The frusto-conical body 12 includes an exterior surface 13 and in the present embodiment an inner cup-shaped recess 14. The cone 10 of the present embodiment is a winding cone and includes an opening 15 which is coaxial with the cup-shaped recess 14. The opening 15 receives, for example, a torsion rod or bar which also extends through the cup-shaped recess 14. A plurality of tubular sockets 16 extend radially outwardly from locations adjacent the opening 15 and receive a tool, indicated by dashed lines in FIGS. 1-3, by the reference number 17. The tool 17 is used to pre-tension the springs.

Threaded openings 19 extend through the base 11 and communicate with the base opening 15. The threaded openings 19 receive set screws 20, which secure the cone 10 after pretensioning.

Referring to FIG. 2, a first plurality of spaced, partially circular ridges 22a, 22b, 22c, etc., are provided on the exterior surface 13 of the cone 10. Each of the ridges 22 has a first end 23 adjacent the exterior surface 13, a central portion 24 which is spaced above the surface 13 and a second end 25 (see FIG. 1) which is adjacent the surface 13. In other words, the crest of each of the ridges 22 is at a minimum at the first end 23, rises at an even rate to a maximum at the central portion 24 and returns at an even rate to a minimum at the second end 25.

A second plurality of spaced, partially circular ridges 27a, 27b, 27c, etc., are also defined on the exterior surface. The second plurality of partially circular ridges 27 are alternately disposed between respective ones of the first plurality of ridges 22. Each of the second plurality of ridges 27 has a first end 28 adjacent the exterior surface, a central portion 29 spaced above the exterior surface and a second end 30 which is again adjacent to the exterior surface. The central portions 29 of the second plurality of partially circular ridges 27 are in an opposed relationship to the central portions 24 of the first plurality of partially circular ridges 22. In the present embodiment, the central portions 24 and 29 are 180.degree. removed from one another.

Also, in the present embodiment, each of the first and second plurality of ridges 22, 27 lie in planes which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body 12.

In the present embodiment, the ridges 22a, 22b, 22c, etc., are equally spaced 0.333 inches from one another while the distance between alternative ones of the ridges 22 and the ridges 27 are equally spaced 0.167 inches from one another. These dimensions which correspond to the lead or pitch of a screw thread are determined by the diameter of the wire which the cone 10 receives.

Referring to FIG. 4, which is a view 90.degree. removed from the position shown in FIG. 2, the inner relationship of the first plurality of ridges 22 and the second plurality of ridges 27 is shown. As the right-hand wound spring 31 is received by the cone 10, the individual spring coils are received by alternative pairs of the individual ridges 22 and 27. Because the ridges 22 and 27 are discontinuous circular ridges as opposed to helical screw threads, as the spring 31 is forced upon the cone 10 the spring 31 passes to the next alternative pairs of ridges 22 and 27 at the locations where the ends 23-24 and 28-30 disappear or are adjacent the exterior elevation or exterior surface 13 of the body 12.

Because the construction of the cone 10 is symmetrical, it forms an apparent threaded surface in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Therefore, the cone construction, according to the present invention, provides either a "right-hand thread" or a "left-hand thread" suitable for receiving either left-hand wound springs or right-hand wound springs.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. The cone 10a includes a base 11a and a frustoconical body 12a. The body 12a includes an exterior surface 13a and an inner cup-shaped recess 14a. The cone 10a includes an opening 15a which is coaxial with the recess 14a. A plurality of tubular sockets 16a extend radially outwardly.

A first plurality of spaced partially circular ridges 33a, 33b, 33c, etc., are provided on the exterior surface 13a of the cone 10a. Each of the ridges 33 has ends 34 adjacent the exterior surface 13a and a central portion 35 which is spaced above the surface 13a.

It is noted that in this embodiment, while each of the ridges 33a, 33b, 33c, etc., is parallel to one another they lie in planes which are not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body 12a.

A second plurality of spaced, partially circular ridges 36a, 36b, 36c, etc., are also defined on the exterior surface 13a. Each of the ridges 36 has ends 37 adjacent the exterior surface 13a and a central portion 38 which is spaced above the surface 13a.

The second plurality of partially circular ridges 36 are alternately disposed between respective ones of the first plurality of ridges 22. The second plurality of ridges lie in planes which are not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body 12a. Also, in this embodiment, the ridges 22 lie in planes which are angularly disposed to the planes in which the ridges 36 lie.

It has been found that the pluralities of ridges 33 and 36 provide "threads" which are suitable for receiving either right-hand or left-hand wound springs.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 6-8. A cone is generally indicated in these figures by the reference number 40. The cone 40 is normally classified as a stationary cone. While two types of cones have been shown in the drawings, other types of cones are possible. For example, a stationary cone may be constructed having double bodies (not shown). In this structure, two truncated bodies extend in opposite directions from a single base. Other embodiments (not shown) can have different base constructions.

The cone 40 includes a base 41 and an integral frustoconical body 42. The base 41 has opposed wings 43 and 44 which define mounting openings 45 and 46. Screws or bolts may be inserted through the mounting openings 45 and 46 to secure the cone 40 to a supporting structure.

The frusto-conical body 42 includes an exterior frusto-conical surface 47 and an internal cup-shaped recess 48. A coaxial opening 49 is provided in the base 41.

As was true in the first embodiment, the exterior surface 47 has a first plurality of partially circular ridges 52. The first plurality of ridges 52 includes first and second end portions terminating adjacent the exterior surface 47 and an elevated central portion.

A second plurality of partially circular ridges 57 are alternately disposed with the first plurality of ridges 52. The second plurality of partially circular ridges 57 includes first and second ends adjacent the exterior surface 47 and a central portion which is oppositely disposed from the central portion of the first plurality of circular ridges 52. In this embodiment, the interrelationship of the two pluralities of ridges 52 and 57 are similar to the relationship of the first and second plurality of ridges 22 and 27 described above with respect to the first embodiment.

Again, because the circular ridges are noncontinuous, the cone 40 provides apparent left- and right-hand threads which are suitable for receiving either right-hand or left-hand wound springs.

It has been found that the cones constructed according to the present invention solve many of the inventory problem of prior art cones.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A cone for use with a spring comprising, in combination, a base, an integral body extending from said base, said body having a frusto-conical shape with its largest diameter next to said base, said body having an exterior surface, a first plurality of spaced partially circular ridges on said exterior surface, each of said ridges having a first end adjacent such surface, a central portion spaced above said surface and a second end adjacent said surface, a second plurality of spaced partially circular ridges on said exterior surface alternately disposed between respective ones of said first plurality of ridges, said second plurality of ridges having first and second ends adjacent such exterior surface and central portions spaced above said surface at locations on said surfaces which are opposed to the location of such central portions of said first plurality of ridges, whereby said cone threadably receives either right-or left-hand wound springs.

2. A cone according to claim 1, including attaching means on said base.

3. A cone according to claim 1, including winding means on said base.

4. A cone according to claim 1, wherein said first and second plurality of ridges are equally spaced from one another.

5. A cone according to claim 1, wherein the individual ones of said first and second plurality of ridges lie in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body.

6. A cone according to claim 1, wherein the first and second ends of each of the pluralities of ridges is at an elevation adjacent said exterior surface and wherein the elevation of said ridge rises at an even rate to a maximum at the mid-point of said central portion.

7. A cone according to claim 1, wherein the individual ones of said first and second plurality of ridges lie in planes which are not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body.

8. A cone according to claim 1, wherein said first plurality of ridges is angularly disposed with respect to said second plurality of ridges.