초록 ▼

An object sensor system is mounted on a garage door controlled by an electric garage door opener. The sensor system senses objects directly in the travel path of the door's leading edge. Each object sensor of the system comprises a mounting plate for permanent attachment to the garage door near a le

An object sensor system is mounted on a garage door controlled by an electric garage door opener. The sensor system senses objects directly in the travel path of the door's leading edge. Each object sensor of the system comprises a mounting plate for permanent attachment to the garage door near a leading edge of the door, an upper hinge plate hingeably connected to the mounting plate, a lower hinge plate hingeably connected to the mounting plate and a connecting hinge plate connected to the upper and lower hinge plates. The plates are connected to move in concert. Each of the object sensors also includes a bracket having a first leg attached to the connecting hinge plate and a second leg extending horizontally towards the mounting plate and under the leading edge of the door. An electronic sensor is mounted on the bracket's second leg at a distal end to transmit or receive a light beam. An anti-friction slide pad is attached to an underside of the second leg of the bracket to allow the bracket with its sensor to move inwardly as the door's leading edge approaches ground surface. As the door travels downwardly, each electronic sensor moves with the door until the bracket hits ground surface, at which time, the upper and lower hinge plates are forced to pivot upwardly thereby forcing the bracket with its electronic sensor to move backwardly away from the garage door.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] An object sensor system for mounting on a garage door having a ground contacting leading edge, said object sensor system comprising a pair of object sensors, each said object sensor comprising:(a) a mounting plate for permanent attachment to the garage door near the leading edge the

[ I claim:] [1.] An object sensor system for mounting on a garage door having a ground contacting leading edge, said object sensor system comprising a pair of object sensors, each said object sensor comprising:(a) a mounting plate for permanent attachment to the garage door near the leading edge thereof, said mounting plate having an upper terminus and a lower terminus;(b) an upper hinge plate hingeably connected to the upper terminus of the mounting plate;(c) a lower hinge plate hingeably connected to the lower terminus of the mounting plate;(d) a connecting hinge plate hingedly connected at a first end to the upper hinge plate and hingedly connected at an opposed second end to the lower hinge plate so that the upper hinge plate, lower hinge plate and connecting hinge plate move in concert;(e) a return spring attached at a first end to one of said plates and attached at a second end to another of said plates to urge said upper and lower hinge plates together;(f) a bracket having a first vertical leg attached to the connecting hinge plate and a second horizontal leg for extending under the leading edge of the garage door;(g) an electronic sensor permanently mounted on the horizontal leg of the bracket to transmit or receive a light beam to a matching electronic sensor on the other object sensor of the object sensor system for continuously sensing objects directly in a travel path of the garage door's leading edge and transmitting a signal to a motor driven garage door opener; and(h) an anti-friction means attached to an underside of the horizontal leg of the bracket to allow said bracket to slide along ground surface; reby when the garage door is at least partially open, the electronic sensor is directly below the leading edge of the garage door to continuously sense objects in the travel path of the garage door until the garage door approaches ground surface whereupon the bracket moves backwardly away from the garage door thereby causing the upper and lower hinge plates to pivot upwardly until the leading edge of the garage door is at rest on the ground surface.