Door leveling apparatuses and associated methods of manufacture and use
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
E05F-011/00
E05F-015/00
출원번호
US-0079437
(2011-04-04)
등록번호
US-8720112
(2014-05-13)
발명자
/ 주소
Eungard, William C.
출원인 / 주소
4Front Engineered Solutions, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Perkins Coie LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
50
초록▼
Door leveling apparatuses are disclosed herein. A door leveling apparatus configured in accordance with one embodiment includes a bracket mounted to a door, such as a vertically-opening sectional door. The apparatus further includes a cable assembly having a first end portion coupled to the bracket
Door leveling apparatuses are disclosed herein. A door leveling apparatus configured in accordance with one embodiment includes a bracket mounted to a door, such as a vertically-opening sectional door. The apparatus further includes a cable assembly having a first end portion coupled to the bracket and a second end portion coupled to a door lifting system, such as a counterbalance assembly. The first end portion includes an adjuster that enables an operator to adjust the operational length of the cable assembly extending between the lifting system and the bracket, thereby enabling the operator to individually adjust the lengths of two such cable assemblies on opposite sides of the door to align the door with a corresponding opening.
대표청구항▼
1. A door leveling apparatus for use with a vertically-opening door having an associated lifting system, the door leveling apparatus comprising: a bracket configured to be mounted to the door; anda cable assembly having a first cable assembly end portion configured to be coupled to the bracket and a
1. A door leveling apparatus for use with a vertically-opening door having an associated lifting system, the door leveling apparatus comprising: a bracket configured to be mounted to the door; anda cable assembly having a first cable assembly end portion configured to be coupled to the bracket and a second cable assembly end portion configured to be coupled to the lifting system, wherein the cable assembly includes: an elongate cable extending between the first cable assembly end portion and the second cable assembly end portion;an end fitting fixedly attached to the cable adjacent the first cable assembly end portion;a lug member operably coupling the first cable assembly end portion to the bracket, wherein the lug member includes a through-hole that receives a portion of the end fitting, and wherein the end fitting includes a cable stop portion sized to abut the lug member and prevent the end fitting from passing completely through the through-hole;a lock member engaging the lug member and preventing the lug member from being removed from at least one aperture in the bracket; andan adjuster configured to be operably engaged with the end fitting, wherein movement of the adjuster relative to the end fitting changes an operational length of the cable assembly extending between the lifting system and the bracket when the cable assembly is installed therebetween. 2. The door leveling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cable assembly further comprises: a spacer disposed on the end fitting between the adjuster and the lug member, wherein the cable stop portion is sized to pass through the spacer but not the through-hole in the lug member. 3. The door leveling apparatus of claim 1: wherein the at least one aperture comprises a first aperture opposite a second aperture; andwherein the lug member has a first lug member end portion configured to be received in the first aperture, a second lug member end portion configured to be received in the second aperture, and the through-hole is positioned between the first and second lug member end portions. 4. The door leveling apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first aperture has a first length and the second aperture has a second length, greater than the first length. 5. The door leveling apparatus of claim 3 wherein the bracket includes a third aperture opposite a fourth aperture. 6. The door leveling apparatus of claim 1: wherein the at least one aperture includes a first aperture and a second aperture;wherein the bracket includes a front portion having the first aperture, a rear portion having the second aperture aligned with the first aperture, and a cutout positioned between the front and rear portions; andwherein the lug member has a first lug member end portion configured to be received in the first aperture, a second lug member end portion configured to be received in the second aperture, and the through-hole is positioned between the first and second lug member end portions, wherein the through-hole receives the portion of the end fitting that protrudes through the cutout in the bracket. 7. The door leveling apparatus of claim 1: wherein the at least one aperture comprises a first aperture aligned with a second aperture;wherein the lug member has a first lug member end portion configured to be received in the first aperture, a second lug member end portion configured to be received in the second aperture, and the through-hole is positioned between the first and second lug member end portions, wherein the through-hole receives the portion of the end fitting; andwherein the cable assembly further comprises a cylindrical spacer disposed on the end fitting and over the cable stop portion between the adjuster and the lug member. 8. The door leveling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lifting system is a counterbalance having a cable drum mounted to a spring-biased shaft, and wherein the second cable assembly end portion is configured to be operably coupled to the cable drum. 9. The door leveling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the adjuster is configured to threadably engage the end fitting, wherein rotation of the adjuster in a first direction increases the operational length of the cable assembly, and wherein rotation of the adjuster in a second direction opposite to the first direction decreases the operational length of the cable assembly. 10. The door leveling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the adjuster is a threaded adjuster configured to engage a corresponding threading of the end fitting. 11. The door leveling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lock member is a cotter pin or a Rue ring. 12. A door assembly comprising: at least one door panel configured to extend across an opening in a building, wherein the door panel is movably engaged with vertical guide tracks positioned on opposite sides of the opening;a bracket attached to the door panel;a lifting system attached to a wall of the building proximate the opening;an elongate cable having a first cable end portion and a second cable end portion, wherein the first cable end portion carries an end fitting operably coupled to the bracket and the second cable end portion is operably coupled to the lifting system;an adjuster operably engaged with the end fitting, wherein movement of the adjuster relative to the end fitting changes the length of the cable extending between the bracket and the lifting system;a lug member operably coupled to the bracket, wherein the lug member includes a through-hole that receives a portion of the end fitting, and wherein the end fitting includes a cable stop portion sized to abut the lug member and prevent the end fitting from passing completely through the through-hole when the adjuster is disengaged from the end fitting; anda lock member engaging the lug member and preventing the lug member from being removed from at least one aperture in the bracket. 13. The door assembly of claim 12 wherein the at least one aperture comprises a first aperture offset from a second aperture, and wherein the lug member comprises a cylindrical member having a first cylindrical member end portion received in the first aperture, a second cylindrical member end portion received in the second aperture, and the through-hole extends through the cylindrical member between the first and second cylindrical member end portions, and wherein the end fitting includes the cable stop portion sized to abut the cylindrical member and prevent the end fitting from passing completely through the through-hole when the adjuster is disengaged from the end fitting. 14. The door assembly of claim 12 wherein the lifting system includes a counterbalance assembly attached to the wall above the opening. 15. The door assembly of claim 12 wherein the lifting system includes a rotatable drum configured to apply tension to the cable during door opening, and wherein the second cable end portion is attached to the drum. 16. The door assembly of claim 12 wherein the cable is a first cable and the bracket is a first bracket mounted toward one side of the door panel, and wherein the door assembly further comprises a second bracket and a second cable, wherein the second bracket is mounted toward the other side of the door panel and the second cable has a third end portion coupled to the second bracket and a fourth end portion operably coupled to the lifting system. 17. A system for leveling a vertically-opening door, the system comprising: a bracket configured to be mounted to the door;a cable assembly having a first end portion configured to be operably coupled to the bracket and a second end portion configured to be operably coupled to a lifting system, wherein the cable assembly includes— means for adjusting the position of the first end portion relative to the bracket to change an operational length of the cable assembly extending between the bracket and the lifting system, wherein the means for adjusting is configured to operationally engage the first end portion of the cable assembly, and wherein the system further comprises means for preventing the first end portion of the cable assembly from separating from the bracket if the means for adjusting disengages from the first end portion of the cable assembly;wherein the first end portion of the cable assembly includes an end fitting configured to extend through a lug member coupled to the bracket, and wherein the cable assembly further includes means for preventing the end fitting from passing all the way through the lug member; anda lock member engaging the lug member and preventing the lug member from being removed from at least one aperture in the bracket. 18. The system of claim 17 wherein the end fitting has a threaded portion, and wherein the means for adjusting includes means for threadably engaging the threaded portion of the end fitting. 19. The system of claim 17 wherein the means for adjusting includes threaded member that adjusts the position of the first end portion of the cable assembly by turning relative to the first end portion of the cable assembly.
Mitchell,Michael; Muhl,Timothy; Tourdot,Matthew; Morehart,Jack; Swessel,Michael A.; Leum,Grant; Bender,Brian; Muers,Henri V., Formed front header for a dock leveler.
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