U.S. patent number 3,894,571 [Application Number 05/361,419] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-15 for roll-up door assembly for vehicles.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Merritt Equipment Co.. Invention is credited to Richard W. Hinchliff.
United States Patent |
3,894,571 |
Hinchliff |
July 15, 1975 |
Roll-up door assembly for vehicles
Abstract
A door is formed of a plurality of extruded sections having side
opening sockets in the upper and lower edges thereof. These sockets
are arranged to receive circular bead portions of side hinge
members which hold the door segments together in hinged relation,
the bead portions of the hinges being connected by a flat body
portion to space adjacent door segments apart and provide
ventilation between the segments. The hinges have head portions
which in the assembled relation of the door project beyond the side
edges of the door and slidably engaged trackways extending
vertically from a lower portion and curved into an upper portion. A
line operating over pulleys is connected to the door for opening
and closing the same, and a latch is provided for holding the door
down tightly in a closed position.
Inventors: |
Hinchliff; Richard W.
(Portland, OR) |
Assignee: |
Merritt Equipment Co.
(Portland, OR)
|
Family
ID: |
23421974 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/361,419 |
Filed: |
May 18, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/201;
160/229.1; 160/235 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05D
15/165 (20130101); E05F 11/54 (20130101); E05D
15/242 (20130101); E05D 15/24 (20130101); E05D
3/12 (20130101); E05Y 2900/531 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E05D
15/16 (20060101); E05F 11/54 (20060101); E05D
15/24 (20060101); E05F 11/00 (20060101); E05D
3/06 (20060101); E05D 3/00 (20060101); E05d
015/36 () |
Field of
Search: |
;160/133,235,229R,201
;16/87R,105,176,178 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
564,926 |
|
Mar 1958 |
|
BE |
|
426,716 |
|
May 1923 |
|
DD |
|
326,088 |
|
Jan 1958 |
|
CH |
|
Primary Examiner: Taylor; Dennis L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Eckelman; Eugene M.
Claims
Having thus described my invention, I claim:
1. A roll-up door assembly for vehicles comprising
a. a pair of spaced apart track members extending upright through a
portion of their length and at their upper ends extending into a
curved portion,
b. said track members having opposed channel portions forming
trackways,
c. a door having top and bottom ends and side edges,
d. said door comprising a plurality of individual horizontal
sections each having top and bottom laterally extending tubular
portions,
e. said tubular portions being open at the side edges thereof,
f. said top tubular portions having a top longitudinal slot therein
and said bottom tubular portions having a bottom longitudinal slot
therein,
g. and a plurality of hinge members,
h. said hinge members comprising a one-piece molded construction
having a flat body portion and a pair of parallel cylindrical
portions along opposite sides thereof,
i. said cylindrical portions being engaged rotatably in top and
bottom tubular portions of adjacent door sections through the side
edge openings of said tubular sections with said body portion
projecting through said slots whereby to connect said door sections
hingedly together for movement in the track members,
j. and a head portion on the other end of each of said cylindrical
portions,
k. said head portions projecting beyond the side edges of the door
sections in the engaged position of said hinge members in said
tubular portions of adjacent door sections and extending freely and
slidably into the channel portion of said track members for guiding
and supporting said door sections in said track members,
l. the door being of a selected width and said head portions
projecting a selected amount relative to the distance between said
track members whereby the door is maintained against lateral
displacing movement in said track members,
m. the body member of said hinge members having a width such that
the interconnected door sections are spaced apart to form a
vertical air space therebetween,
n. said hinge members being of a length to extend only part way
through the width of the door sections from the sides whereby said
air spaces are provided throughout a major portion of the width of
said door.
2. The door assembly of claim 1 wherein said channel portions of
the track members have side walls and said side walls have openings
at least as large as said head portions to provide lateral
installation and removal of the hinge members in the installation
and removal of the door in the track members, said openings being
disposed above the normal path of travel of said head members
whereby said hinge members and door sections must be elevated for
installation and removal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in roll-up
doors and is particularly concerned with a roll-up door for use on
heavy duty vehicles.
Roll-up doors have heretofore been proposed wherein hinge members
connect adjacent door segments together. Such hinge members have
projecting rollers which engage side tracks to provide the door
support. Examples of such roll-up doors are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,056,451 and 3,148,724. The latter patent utilizes full width
hinge members for connecting door segments together. This type of
structure has the advantage that it is expensive to manufacture
because of the use of end wheels and bearings therefor and also
because the hinges extend the full width of the door. Another
disadvantage of this type of door is that no spacing for
ventilation exists between the door segments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, and forming a primary objective
thereof, a roll-up door structure is provided which overcomes the
disadvantages of the prior art.
More important objects of the present invention are to provide a
roll-up door which comprises a plurality of laterally extending
segments held together by hinge members, the hinge members having
extensions which project beyond the sides of the door and slidably
engage the side tracks, thus eliminating the necessity of providing
wheels thereon; to provide hinge members which are disposed on each
side and which are of short length whereby to allow a vertical
space between the door segments to provide ventilation; and to
provide a hinge of the type described which due to its structure is
simplified in structure, inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to
assemble in the door either for initial installation or for
maintenance.
Another object is to provide novel latch means for holding a door
in a positive closed position.
The invention will be better understood and additional objects and
advantages will become apparent from the following description
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate
a preferred form of the device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a foreshortened, fragmentary elevational view of a
vehicle wall portion showing the present door installed
therein;
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, also foreshortened, taken on
the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line
3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line
4--4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional veiw taken on the line
5--5 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a hinge member for the
door sections;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line
7--7 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a door latch for holding the
door shut, this view being taken on the line 8--8 of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With particular reference to the drawings, the numeral 10 in FIG. 1
designates a vertical wall portion of a heavy duty vehicle such as
a cattle trailer or the like. The numeral 12 designates the bottom
wall or floor and the numeral 14, FIG. 2, designates the top wall
or ceiling. An extension 16 of the top wall is angled down to
overlie a portion of the wall panel 10, and the vehicle has
reinforcing frame members 18 in its side and top walls.
The door assembly of the instant invention includes a pair of side
tracks 20 secured in integral relation in the vertical wall panel
10 between the bottom and top walls. These tracks are spaced apart
to form a door opening 22 therebetween. The door may be provided in
any desired wall panel of the vehicle, such as the rear wall panel
or a side panel.
The cross sectional shape of the tracks 20 is shown in FIG. 4. Each
comprises a body portion 24 having a channel or groove 26 which
faces inwardly or in other words toward the other track so as to
form a trackway for door supports, to be described. An offset base
portion 28 is integral with the body portion 24, by means of an
angled extension 30, and is parallel with said body so that when it
is secured to a wall panel, as by rivets 32, the lateral facing
direction of channel 26 is parallel with such wall. A web 34 on the
opposite side of channel 26 from the body portion 24 extends toward
the base 28 for reinforcement. In addition to being secured to the
wall panel 10, the tracks 20 are secured to the top and bottom of
the vehicle, as by welding.
As best seen in FIG. 2, the upper end of track 20 has an inwardly
directed portion 20a which curves into a horizontal top portion
secured as by welding or riveting to the frame members 18. The
cross sectional shape of the track extension 20a is seen in FIG. 5,
and comprises a channel 26a which leads from channel 26. The track
portion 20a has a web extension 34a for securement, as by welding,
to frame members 18. The end of track 20a is closed by a wall 36,
FIG. 2, which forms an end abutment for upward movement of the
door. Such wall may comprise a channel-shaped member riveted to the
track.
The door is designated generally by the numeral 38, FIGS. 1 and 2,
and comprises a plurality of extruded sections 38a, the cross
sectional shape of which is best shown in FIG. 2. Each of these
sections comprises a body portion 40 having channel portions 42 for
reinforcement and having a laterally extending tubular enlargement
44 at each of the top and bottom. Each tubular enlargement is open
at the sides to form side opening sockets. These enlargements also
have longitudinal slots 46 therein located diametrically across
from the body portion 40.
Door sections 38a are connected together to form the assembled door
by hinge members 50 shown in detail in FIG. 6. These hinge members
have a pair of substantially round cylindrical bead portions 52
interconnected integrally by a flat body portion 54. One end of
these hinge members 50 has side enlargements to form a head 56
therefor which as will be seen hereinafter engages slidably in the
track portions 20 and 20a.
The round bead portions 52 are of selected diameter so as to fit
rotatably in the sockets formed by the tubular enlargements 44 of
the door sections, FIG. 2, the body portion 54 projecting through
the slots 46 of opposed enlargements 44. The door sections are thus
held together and are arranged to pivotally or hingedly move
relative to each other for assuming the contour of the track as the
door moves up and down. It is preferred that the hinge members 50
be constructed of a durable material such as plastic and
furthermore that a self-lubricating type plastic such as nylon or
the like be used. Thus, the bead portions 52 will provide long
lasting hinge connections and the other end, comprising the head
56, will have long lasting sliding engagement in the track portions
20 and 20a.
The structure of the hinge members 50 of applicant accomplishes an
important advantage, namely, the body portion 54 thereof between
the bead portions 52 causes the door segments to be spaced apart so
that ventilation openings are provided in the door between each of
the sections. The hinge members 50 extend only a short distance in
from the sides of the door and thus allow ventilation between the
door sections for almost the whole width of the latter.
The very top and bottom of the door has single bead portions 52a in
the enlargements 44 the bottom one of which is shown in FIG. 2, and
with reference to FIGS. 1 and 7, foot members 60 are provided in
the lowermost tubular enlargement 44 of the door adjacent to the
portions 52a. These foot members have a bead portion 62 which fits
in the bottom tubular enlargement 44. They are formed of a plastic
or the like which has some resilience so as to provide a cushion
stop for the door when it seats against the bottom 12 of the
vehicle.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, the track portions 20a adjacent to
their upper or inner ends are provided with openings 64. The bottom
edges of these openings are spaced a short distance above the
bottom of channel portions 26a. They have a vertical dimension
slightly greater than the thickness of the hinge members 50 at the
head 56 and have a longitudinal dimension slightly wider than the
head portion of the hinge members. In other words, the vertical and
longitudinal dimensions of the openings 64 will allow the hinge
members to be moved endwise therethrough, and to install the door,
a pair of door sections are held up between the tracks 20a to
position the enlargements in lateral alignment with such openings
and the hinge members inserted from the sides through said
openings. A hinge member is shown in phantom in FIGS. 2 and 5 to
illustrate a position at which a hinge is inserted through the
opening 64, and in FIG. 2 one door section 38a is shown in an
angled position as if it were half installed or half removed. The
door can then be moved down the track the length of one section and
the next section installed by another pair of hinges being secured
thereto in the same manner. The door can be removed in the reverse
order or disassembled a selected amount for repair of a section. In
the installed position of the door, the end hinge members 50 cannot
accidentally be displaced through openings 64 since said openings
are disposed above the bottom of the channel 64 and thus out of
true lateral alignment with such hinge members.
The door is operated in its up and down movement by a pull cord 68,
FIG. 1, connected at one of its ends to an anchor 70 to a top
portion of the vehicle. The cord then passes over a lower pulley 72
secured at a bottom portion of the door. From there the cord
extends over an upper pulley 74 secured to a top portion of the
vehicle and then to a cleat 76 provided on the wall 10 adjacent to
the door for holding surplus cord. The door is opened by pulling
down on the end of the cord just above the cleat. The end of the
cord from the cleat is preferably connected to an anchor point 78
at a lower portion of the door whereby when the door is up with the
line off the cleat, the operator can pull on this end of the line
to lower the door.
With references to FIGS. 1 and 8, a latch is provided for holding
the door in a tightly closed position so that it will not jump up
and down as the vehicle travels on the highway. This latch
comprises a rod 80 rotatably supported in a sleeve body portion 82
welded to one of the tracks 20 and having a right angle rubber tip
end 84. The latch is selectively mounted on the vehicle such that
when the rubber tip 84 is directed downwardly it will engage on top
of an enlargement 44 of a door section.
The other end of the rod 80 from the tip end has an angled handle
86. The latch also includes a downwardly extending rod member 88
secured integrally between the sleeve 82 and the vehicle. The
handle 86 of the latch is angled outwardly a slight amount relative
to rod member 88 and a ring 90 is supported around such handle and
the rod. With the diverging relation of rod 88 and the handle 86,
such ring in being moved down will tightly grip these two members
and prevent the handle from rotating. The latch member 84 is thus
held non-rotatably in place. The ring 90 will remain in place by
gravity, and to release the latch, it is merely necessary for the
operator to move the ring upwardly an amount sufficient to allow
the handle 86 to rotate and move the rubber end 84 out of
engagement with the tubular enlargement 44 of the door. A released
position of the latch is shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1.
According to the present invention, a door structure is provided
which due to its sectional construction and its hinge support
provides an efficiently operating structure and one which is
simplified and inexpensive to manufacture. The self lubricating
hinge members 50 provide for long life and furthermore since these
hinges are disposed only at the ends of the door and employ the
spacing body portions 54 between the connecting bead portions 52,
the door provides ventilation therethrough.
It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown
and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and
that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts
may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my
invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.
* * * * *