IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0331978
(2008-12-10)
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등록번호 |
US-8584401
(2013-11-19)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Planck, Randy L.
- Freese, Theodore Brent
- Gioia, William G.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
Fitch Even Tabin & Flannery LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
10 인용 특허 :
31 |
초록
▼
A post (200) for use with an automatically-movable barrier (1203) and a motive actuator (1204) is configured to interact with the barrier to thereby facilitate movement of the barrier with respect to the post. This post can have at least one cavity (201, 801) formed axially therein and a mains-power
A post (200) for use with an automatically-movable barrier (1203) and a motive actuator (1204) is configured to interact with the barrier to thereby facilitate movement of the barrier with respect to the post. This post can have at least one cavity (201, 801) formed axially therein and a mains-power-bearing pathway (202) disposed within this at least one cavity to convey mains electrical power to movable barrier control circuitry (1202) as well as the motive actuator. Such a post can further comprise one or more integral pivot points (1001) that are configured to pivotally engage the automatically-movable barrier such that the automatically-movable barrier can selectively pivot about the integral pivot point. By another approach, such a post can further comprise one or more rollers (1101) that are configured to engage the automatically-movable barrier such that the latter can selectively move in a lateral direction through engagement with the roller(s).
대표청구항
▼
1. A method of installing a movable barrier, the operation of which is controlled by movable barrier control circuitry, the method comprises: providing a non-rotating longitudinal post with a longitudinal axis, the post configured to support the movable barrier to thereby facilitate pivotal movement
1. A method of installing a movable barrier, the operation of which is controlled by movable barrier control circuitry, the method comprises: providing a non-rotating longitudinal post with a longitudinal axis, the post configured to support the movable barrier to thereby facilitate pivotal movement of the movable barrier with a linear actuator arm attached to the non-rotating longitudinal post, wherein the non-rotating longitudinal post comprises: a top portion and a bottom portion;a point of access at an external surface of the post, the post configured to provide access to power through the point of access;at least one cavity extending axially and parallel to or along the longitudinal axis of the post;a mains-power-bearing pathway from the bottom portion of the post to the top portion of the post, the mains-power-bearing pathway disposed within the at least one cavity to convey mains electrical power to the movable barrier control circuitry mounted on the post without exposing the pathway to view outside the post after installation and configured to convey mains electrical power to the point of access at the top portion of the post, the mains-power-bearing pathway configured to supply power at the point of access to a device remote from the movable barrier and unrelated to driving the movable barrier;a linear actuator arm support surface extending from the post perpendicularly from the longitudinal axis of the post, the linear actuator arm support surface configured to support the linear actuator arm which pivots on an actuator arm axis of pivot which is perpendicular to the linear actuator arm support surface;a barrier pivot configured to pivotally engage the movable barrier such that the movable barrier can pivot about the barrier pivot and a barrier pivot axis which extends through the barrier pivot and is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal post; andthe barrier pivot and linear actuator arm support surface each extend from the longitudinal post, the barrier pivot axis and the actuator arm axis of pivot being along lines which correspond to a first and second axis which intersect at an intersection point, the first and second axes are perpendicular to each other and each of which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal post, the actuator arm axis of pivot is located on the linear actuator arm support surface at a distance A from the intersection point, the barrier pivot is located axis through the barrier pivot at a distance B from the intersection point, the distances A and B being equal, and one of the first and second axes is in a plane formed by the barrier when the barrier is at an end of its pivoting travel,the method further comprising:installing the post by burying at least a portion of the bottom portion of the post underground such that the post is generally perpendicular to the ground;coupling an electric mains to the mains-power-bearing pathway;installing the movable barrier on the barrier pivot, the barrier being in spaced relation to the longitudinal post after installation;coupling the movable barrier control circuitry to the mains-power-bearing pathway; andconnecting a distal end of the linear actuator arm to the movable barrier and a proximal end of the linear actuator arm to the longitudinal post such that the proximal end of the linear actuator arm rests on the linear actuator arm support surface for pivotal movement of the arm as the arm moves the movable barrier. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises: coupling at least one peripheral system element to the mains-power-bearing pathway at the point of access. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the peripheral system element is selected from the group consisting of: an obstacle detector,a vehicle detector,an access-control user interface,lighting,a camera,a wireless interface, andcontrol electronics. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one cavity extends through a bottom end of the post and wherein coupling an electric mains to the mains-power-bearing pathway comprises coupling the electric mains to the mains-power-bearing pathway through the bottom end of the post. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the post has a predetermined installed burial depth and wherein the at least one cavity extends to a point that is proximal to the predetermined installed burial depth and that is above the installed burial depth, and wherein the post further comprises a second externally-accessible point-of-access to the at least one cavity, wherein coupling an electric mains to the mains-power-bearing pathway comprises coupling the electric mains to the mains-power-bearing pathway via the second externally-accessible point-of-access. 6. A method of installing a movable barrier onto a non-rotating longitudinal post, the operation of the movable barrier being controlled by movable barrier control circuitry after installation and the longitudinal post preconfigured prior to installation to conduct mains electrical power, the longitudinal post configured to support the movable barrier and to facilitate pivotal movement of the movable barrier with respect to the longitudinal post, the longitudinal post further comprising: a top portion and a bottom portion;a point of access configured to provide access to mains electrical power through the point of access on an external portion of the top portion of the longitudinal post;a barrier pivot configured to rotatably receive the movable barrier, the pivot extending from and being off-center relative to a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal post, the barrier pivot configured to pivotally engage the movable barrier such that the movable barrier can pivot about the barrier pivot and a barrier pivot axis which extends through the barrier pivot and is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal post;at least one cavity extending parallel to or along the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal post;a mains-power-bearing pathway from the bottom portion of the longitudinal post to the top portion of the longitudinal post, the mains-power-bearing pathway disposed within the at least one cavity to convey mains electrical power to movable barrier control circuitry mounted on the post and to the point of access at the top portion of the longitudinal post, the mains-power-bearing pathway configured to convey mains electrical power to the control circuitry and a peripheral device at the point of access; andthe longitudinal post further including a linear actuator arm support integral to the post, the linear actuator arm support having a support surface extending perpendicularly from the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal post, and the support surface configured to support a linear actuator arm which pivots around an actuator arm axis of pivot which is perpendicular to the linear actuator arm support, the barrier pivot and linear actuator arm support configured to position the linear actuator arm to connect to the movable barrier which moves generally horizontal to the ground and to control the pivotal movement of the movable barrier with the control circuitry with the mains-electrical power conveyed by the mains-power bearing pathway so that the mains-power bearing pathway is not exposed to view outside the post after installation, andthe barrier pivot and linear actuator arm support each extend from the longitudinal post, the barrier pivot axis and the actuator arm axis of pivot being along lines which correspond to a first and second axis which intersect at an intersection point, the first and second axes are perpendicular to each other and which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal post, the actuator arm axis of pivot is located on the linear actuator arm support at a distance A from the intersection point, the barrier pivot axis is located at a distance B from the intersection point, the distances A and B being equal, and one of the first and second axes is in a plane formed by the barrier when the barrier is at an end of its pivoting travel, the method comprising:coupling an electric mains to the mains-power-bearing pathway;burying a portion of the longitudinal post underground;mounting the movable barrier on the barrier pivot so that the barrier is held in spaced relation from the longitudinal post;mounting the linear actuator arm on the support surface such that a proximal end of the linear actuator arm is supported by the support surface and is in spaced relation from the longitudinal post; andconnecting a distal end of the linear actuator arm to the movable barrier for pivotal movement of the arm as the arm moves the movable barrier. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the method further comprises: coupling at least one peripheral system element to the mains-power-bearing pathway at the point of access. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the peripheral system element is selected from the group consisting of: an obstacle detector,a vehicle detector,an access-control user interface,lighting,a camera,a wireless interface, andcontrol electronics. 9. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one cavity extends through a bottom end of the post and wherein coupling an electric mains to the mains-power-bearing pathway comprises coupling the electric mains to the mains-power-bearing pathway through the bottom end of the post. 10. A method of installing a movable barrier, the operation of which is controlled by movable barrier control circuitry, the method comprises: burying at least a bottom portion of a non-rotating longitudinal post in the ground, the longitudinal post having a longitudinal axis, a top and the bottom portion, such that at least a portion of the bottom portion of the longitudinal post is in the ground and the longitudinal post is generally perpendicular to the ground, the longitudinal post is configured to support the movable barrier in spaced relation from the longitudinal post and to facilitate movement of the movable barrier with respect to the longitudinal post;mounting the movable barrier to the longitudinal post in spaced relation from the longitudinal post;mounting a linear actuator arm having a distal and proximal end on a linear actuator arm mounting support extending from the longitudinal post;mounting the movable barrier on a barrier pivot extending from the longitudinal post; andconnecting the distal end of the linear actuator arm to the barrier; the longitudinal post further comprising:a point of access at an external surface of the longitudinal post, the longitudinal post configured to provide access to power through the point of access;at least one cavity extending axially and parallel to or along the longitudinal axis of the post;control circuitry mounted on the longitudinal post;a mains-power-bearing pathway from the bottom portion of the longitudinal post to the top portion of the longitudinal post, the mains-power-bearing pathway disposed within the at least one cavity to convey mains electrical power to the movable barrier control circuitry mounted on the longitudinal post without exposing the pathway to view outside the longitudinal post after installation and configured to convey mains electrical power to the point of access at the top portion of the longitudinal post, the mains-power-bearing pathway configured to supply power at the point of access to a device remote from the movable barrier and unrelated to driving the movable barrier;the barrier pivot extending from the longitudinal post, and configured to pivotally engage the barrier to permit the barrier to pivot around a barrier pivot axis when the barrier is installed and which the barrier pivot axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal post; andthe linear actuator arm mounting support extending from the longitudinal post, the linear actuator arm mounting support configured to connect to a proximal end of the linear actuator arm and support the linear actuator arm at the proximal end of the arm so that the arm can pivot around an actuator arm axis extending through the linear actuator arm mounting support, the actuator arm axis being substantially parallel to the barrier pivot axis, andthe barrier pivot and the linear actuator arm mounting support are configured and arranged after installation to hold the linear actuator arm and barrier in spaced relation from the longitudinal post and permit the linear actuator arm to power the barrier between the open and closed positions, andthe barrier pivot and linear actuator arm mounting support each extend from the longitudinal post, the barrier pivot axis and the actuator arm axis being along lines which correspond to a first and second axis which intersect at an intersection point, the first and second axes are perpendicular to each other and which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal post, the actuator arm axis is located on the linear actuator arm mounting support at a distance A from the intersection point, the barrier pivot axis is located at a distance B from the intersection point, the distances A and B being equal, and one of the first and second axes is in a plane formed by the barrier when the barrier is at an end of its pivoting travel. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the method further comprises: coupling at least one peripheral system element to the mains-power-bearing pathway at the point of access. 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the peripheral system element is selected from the group consisting of: an obstacle detector,a vehicle detector,an access-control user interface,lighting,a camera,a wireless interface, andcontrol electronics. 13. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one cavity extends through a bottom end of the post and wherein coupling an electric mains to the mains-power-bearing pathway comprises coupling the electric mains to the mains-power-bearing pathway through the bottom end of the post. 14. A method of installing a movable barrier, the operation of which is controlled by movable barrier control circuitry, the method comprises: providing a non-rotating longitudinal post with a longitudinal axis, the post configured to support the movable barrier to thereby facilitate pivotal movement of the movable barrier with a linear actuator arm attached to the non-rotating longitudinal post, wherein the non-rotating longitudinal post comprises: a top portion and a bottom portion;a point of access at an external surface of the post, the post configured to provide access to power through the point of access;at least one cavity extending axially and parallel to or along the longitudinal axis of the post;a mains-power-bearing pathway from the bottom portion of the post to the top portion of the post, the mains-power-bearing pathway disposed within the at least one cavity to convey mains electrical power to the movable barrier control circuitry mounted on the post without exposing the pathway to view outside the post after installation and configured to convey mains electrical power to the point of access at the top portion of the post, the mains-power-bearing pathway configured to supply power at the point of access to a device remote from the movable barrier and unrelated to driving the movable barrier;a linear actuator arm support surface extending from the post perpendicularly from the longitudinal axis of the post, the linear actuator arm support surface configured to support the linear actuator arm which pivots on an actuator arm axis of pivot which is perpendicular to the linear actuator arm support surface;a barrier pivot configured to pivotally engage the movable barrier such that the movable barrier can pivot about the barrier pivot and a barrier pivot axis which extends through the barrier pivot and is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal post; andthe barrier pivot and linear actuator arm support surface each extend from the longitudinal post, the barrier pivot axis and the actuator arm axis of pivot being along lines which correspond to a first and second axis which intersect at an intersection point along the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal post, the first and second axes are perpendicular to each other and each of which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal post, the actuator arm axis of pivot is located on the linear actuator arm support surface at a distance A from the intersection point, the barrier pivot axis through the barrier pivot is located a distance B from the intersection point, the distances A and B being equal, and one of the first and second axes is in a plane formed by the barrier when the barrier is at an end of its pivoting travel,the method further comprising:installing the post by burying at least a portion of the bottom portion of the post underground such that the post is generally perpendicular to the ground;coupling an electric mains to the mains-power-bearing pathway;installing the movable barrier on the barrier pivot, the barrier being in spaced relation to the longitudinal post after installation;coupling the movable barrier control circuitry to the mains-power-bearing pathway; andconnecting a distal end of the linear actuator arm to the movable barrier and a proximal end of the linear actuator arm to the longitudinal post such that the proximal end of the linear actuator arm rests on the linear actuator arm support surface for pivotal movement of the arm as the arm moves the movable barrier. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the method further comprises: coupling at least one peripheral system element to the mains-power-bearing pathway at the point of access. 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the peripheral system element is selected from the group consisting of: an obstacle detector,a vehicle detector,an access-control user interface,lighting,a camera,a wireless interface, andcontrol electronics.
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