US2143439A - Door operating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 10, 1939. s. w. FRIEND DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed April 2'?, 1936 f ..w z

x5'. Mfg/EMD.

' INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR UPERATING MECHANISM Samuel W. Friend, Glastonbury, Conn.

Application April 27, 1936, Serial No. 76,518

2 Claims. (Cl. 213-18) 'Ihis invention relates to doors and particularly to self-opening doors adapted for application generally to individual automobile garages.

An object of the invention is to provide a door supported for swinging or pivotal movement about a horizontal axis so that the door may move upward when being opened to a position directly above the support and substantially at 90 from its closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a framework on each side of the door adjustably secured to the door at one of its ends each frame work having a pivot substantially centrally thereof rotatably engaging a bearing for supporting the door. Also provided on each of the frameworks is a counterweight at its opposite end adjustable toward and from the pivotal bearing so that the entire moving structure may be maintained slightly unbalanced to facilitate upward movement of `the door when unlatched.

And iinally it is an object of the invention to provide latching means to retain the door in its closed position, there being means to release the latch when itis desired to open the door, these 25 means operating by manual means or by passing over a projection at a short distance from the door with the wheel of a vehicle.

One rfeature enabling me to accomplish the above-named objects is that a resilient catch is provided on the door at its lower edge engaging under a xedledge mounted in the floor of the garage, so that by forcing this catch from be` low the ledge either by manual or other means the door may be released for movement upward by the counterweight.

And another feature of the invention is that uponl closing of the door the catch ,on the door will engage the ledge and retain the door in closed position until again released.

With the above and other objects in view my invention includes the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawmg.

In the accompanying drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, I have shown my invention embodied in a garage or other building structure for a single automobile 50 but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specication being relied upon for that pur- 55 pose.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation in section showing the entire door operating structure in its open and closed positions.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the complete latch parts shown in section in its latclin'g and unlatching positions.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation in section of the door securing latch in its position as opened by the manually operated means.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the manually operated unlatching means; and

Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the pivotal supporting means for the door being a vertical section as viewed from the rear and toward the entrance with the door in closed position.

In the above mentioned drawing, I have shown but one embodiment of the invention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the inven- A tion.

Briefly, and ln its preferred aspect, my invention may include the following principal parts:

first supports fixed permanently within the building structure in which the door is to be mounted; second, a bearing provided at the upper end of each support; third, frame members or frameworks preferably built up of piping each having a short shaft extending into one of the bear-v ings; fourth, a door adjustably secured to the frame members on opposite sides adjacent the edges thereof; fth, counterweights on each frame member adjustable toward and from the axis of the framework; sixth, a latch on the bottom edge of the door; seventh, releasing means for the latch, and eighth, means to operate the releasing means manually and by passing over a projection with a vehicle wheel.

Referring more in particular to the figures of the drawing, I show my improved door mounting and operating means within a garage I0 shown in outline in Figure 1- of the drawing. Within this structure IIl on each side thereof is provided a fixed support II, one only of which is lshown. On each support II at its upper end l is provided aI bearing I2. These bearings I2 are in alignment with each other and are spaced 'apart suiiiciently to permit a vehicle to enter bearing I2. As will be best seen from an inspection of Fig. l of the drawing, each framework I8 is made up of sections of piping coupled together by suitable T connections. One T connection I6 in a central cross member of the framework I3 has the short shaft I l extending therefrom and entering the bearing I2.

The door I6 along opposite sides and adjacent their edges is attached to the frameworks I8 as shown. Preferably the ends of th pipe sections forming the frameworks have th end portions threaded and provided with nuts I1, vpositioned on opposite faces of the door I6. By adjustment of the nuts I1 the position of the door may be ad- Justed limited distances toward and from the bearing I2 about which the door I6 and the frameworks I3 oscillate.

Mounted on the frameworks I3 and oppositely disposed relative to the door I6 are' counterweights I8. These counterweights I8 are in the form of blocks preferably of concrete or other heavy but inexpensive material and are mounted adjustably upon the threaded ends of the framework members I3. As shown in Fig. 1 nuts I9 engage the threaded ends of members I3 on opposite faces of the counterweights I8 so that these weights I8 may be adjusted to give any desired balance or unbalance to the door I6. Usually the weights I8 on each of the frameworks I3 are adjusted so that they will cause the door I6 to slowly move upward when released as presently to be described. The unbalance is not suflicient however to prevent closing the door I6 easily by manually grasping the edge of the door while in its upper position and forcing it downward. As the doorv I 6 reaches its lowermost or closed position the latch presently to be described engages its lower edge and retains the door `in closed position.

Adjacent the lower edge of the door I6 and substantially centrally of the door laterally is a resilient catch member 20. This catch 20 may be secured to the lower end of a flexible metal strip 2I ixed to the front surface of the door I6. A plate 22 xed to the floor of the garage is engaged by the catch 20 when the door I6 is in its closed position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and prevents opening of the door until the catch 20 is disengaged from the plate 22.

To disengage the catch 2li from the plate 22 a movable member 23 is provided. This member 23 is normally held in retracted position by a spring 24. As shown the member 23 and its operating means are housed within an enclosure 25 below the level of the ground in front of the garage I 0. To move the member 23 to a position forcing the catch 20 from below the plate 22 so that the door I6 will open a bell crank 26 is mounted for oscilation about a horizontal axis within a portion of the housing 25. An arm of this bell crank 26 extends upwardly far enough to be engaged and forced downward by passing over it with the wheel of an automobile or other vehicle. 'I'he lower arm of the bell crank 26 is secured to one end of a cable 21 the opposite end of which is made fast to the' movable releasing member 2 3. By depressing the bell crank 26 the member-23 is forced toward the left far enough to disengage the catch 20 from its locking plate 22. Immediately upon the bell crank 26 being released the spring 2l returns the member 23 and the bell crank to their normal positions. Plate 22 may be adjustably mounted upon the oor of the garage as by means of screws 33 entering elongated slots provided for them in the plate 22.

Also the catch 20 may be vertically adjusted upon the strip 2| as by means of bolts 3l passing Y through elongated slots within the catch 20. \t In addition to the bell crank. 26 for releasing he catch 2li there may be provided manual means for this purpose operable from the inside or outside of the Adoor I6. This means. is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and includes a latch 28 having a handle on opposite sides of the door and connected to the upper end of a reach rod 29, 'I'he lower end of this rod 29 is attached to an arm of a small bell crank 30 pivoted on a horizontal axis within the door I6. Oscillation of the latch 28 raises the rod 23 and forces the bell crank 30 in a direction to press its arm 3| against the strip 2| to disengage the catch 20 from plate 22. As soon as the catch 20 is released the resilient strip 2l will force the bell crank 30 and rod 29 to their initial or normal position.

As soon as released by bell crank 26 or latch 28 the door I6 will swing slowly upward due to the weight of the counterweights I8. -The catch 20 will return promptly to its initial position due toY the resilience of strip 2I and member 23 will be returned due to the spring 24. 'I'he latching means of the door I6 will be ready therefore to again retain the door in closed position as soon as it is again lowered.

I claim as my invention:

1. A door supporting ande operating means comprising in combination, opposed rigid supports, frame-works having parallel arms formed thereon and having a pivoted bearing in each support, screw threads on the outer ends oQsaid arms, a door mounted on said arms and connected by said screw threads to the outer ends of said arms of said frameworks at variable distances from said bearings whereby oscillation of said frameworks will permit oscillation of said door to a predetermined closed and to an open position, counterweights secured adjustably on the ends of said frameworks opposite said door and' normally holding said door in open position, and a catch comprising a resilient metal strip attached to said door adapted to engage a metal o plate adjustable within the opening for said door,

whereby said door may sition.

2. A door supporting and operating means comprising in combination, opposed rigid supports, frameworks having parallel arms formed thereon and having a pivotal bearing in each support. a door adjustably secured to the outer ends of said arms of said frameworks at variable disbe retainedin closed potances from said bearings whereby oscillation of said frameworks will permit oscillation of said door to a predetermined closed and to an open position, counterweights secured adjustably on the ends of said frameworks opposite said door and normally holding said door in open position,

f and a catchcomprising a resilient metal strip attached to said door and adapted to engage over a metal plate adjustably positioned within the opening for said door.

` SAMUEL W. FRIEND.

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