Movable or removable closures – Safety means responsive to obstruction to closure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-22
2001-01-23
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
Safety means responsive to obstruction to closure
C049S197000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176039
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a garage door object sensor system. More particularly, the invention relates to an object sensor system mounted on the garage door to sense objects directly in the door's leading edge travel path.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electric garage door openers have become very commonplace. A reversible motor is normally mounted on a garage ceiling. The garage door, mounted to move along tracks from a fully open position to a fully closed position, is connected to the reversible motor. A remote controller which is usually kept in the auto is used to open and close the door. A door switch is also normally mounted inside the garage near the garage door frame and hard-wired to the reversible motor. As well known, the common electric door opener is a real convenience to the car owner. It also eliminates back strain oftentimes experienced by having to manually open a garage door.
In recent years, electric garage door opener systems have been required to include safety devices to prevent the door from accidently closing on an individual or object. For example, an infrared transmitter unit and a receiver unit are mounted on the garage door's frame usually near ground surface and usually inside the garage. The transmitter emits a light beam directly across to the receiver. As long as the light beam is uninterrupted, it is presumed no object is in the travel path of the garage door. If the light beam is interrupted by the presence of an object, a signal is sent to the reversible motor to stop further movement of the garage door. The transmitter and receiver are laterally offset a few inches from the garage door. Also, they sense only objects which extend fully or almost fully to the ground surface. In most cases, this is adequate. However, it is possible with this type of detecting system for an object to be located such that it will not be detected by the sensors, yet still be in the travel path of the garage door. For example, an auto may be only partially pulled into the garage such that its wheels are not in the light beam of the infrared ray transmission, yet its trunk lid extends outwardly and is in the garage door's travel path. A closing garage door will hit the trunk lid with sufficient force that noticeable damage occurs.
The ultimate object sensor for an electric garage door opener would sense objects directly in the path of the garage door's leading edge to eliminate “blind spots” associated with present garage door opener systems. The object sensor would also respond promptly to the presence of an object and stop further garage door movement. In accord with this need, there has now been developed a garage door mountable object sensor system which moves with the door to sense objects directly in the path of the door's leading edge. The sensor system is readily mounted on the garage door and either hard-wired to the opener's reversible motor or is battery operated. Most importantly, the object sensor is mounted in a manner which allows the garage door to open and close as normal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object sensor system is for use with an electric garage door opener. The system includes two object sensors mounted on the garage door. Together, they are able to sense objects directly in the door's travel path. Each object sensor 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. The object sensor also includes a bracket having a first leg attached to the connecting hinge plate and a second leg extending horizontally under the leading edge of the door. An electronic sensor is mounted on the second leg of the bracket to transmit or receive a light beam. An anti-friction means is attached to an underside of the second leg of the bracket to allow the bracket with its sensor to freely move inwardly as the door's leading edge approaches ground surface. The electronic sensors are mounted on the brackets so as to be directly underneath the door's leading edge when the door is at least partially open. As the door travels downwardly, each electronic sensor moves with the door until the anti-friction means on 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.
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Cohen Curtis A.
Stodola Daniel P.
Wilson Charles R.
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