Vertically stacking panel door with cam levers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11933094-B2
Application number	US-202017039980-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2020
Priority date	Sep 30, 2020
Publication date	Mar 19, 2024
Grant date	Mar 19, 2024

Abstract

A vertical panel door stacking system for a door having panels with end caps coupled thereto. The end caps include a body portion, a cam lever to rotate around an axis to generate a lift force to lift and separate an adjacent pair of panels of the panels of the door, a first track wheel, a second track wheel, and a third track wheel. The track wheels interact with a track system to guide movement of the door panels between a closed position and an open position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vertical panel door stacking system, comprising:
an end cap coupled to a first panel of a plurality of panels of the vertical panel door stacking system, the end cap comprising:
a body portion comprising a top end, a bottom end, a front side, a back side, an inner side, and an outer side;
a cam lever coupled to the top end, wherein the cam lever is to rotate around an axis to generate a lift force to lift and separate a second panel of the plurality of panels adjacent the first panel relative to the first panel, wherein the cam lever comprises:
a cam body portion, wherein a center of the cam body portion is coupled to the inner side of the end cap via a rotatable coupling;
a first cam wheel coupled to and positioned on a first side of the cam body portion and adjacent a first end of the cam body portion, wherein the first cam wheel extends beyond the inner side of the body portion of the end cap; and
a second cam wheel coupled to and positioned on a second side of the cam body portion opposite the first side and adjacent a second end of the cam body portion, wherein the second cam wheel is located between the inner side and the outer side and extends beyond the back side of the body portion of the end cap; and

a first track wheel, a second track wheel, and a third track wheel, wherein the first track wheel, the second track wheel, and the third track wheel are each coupled to the inner side; and

a track coupling to connect to a first track and a second track, wherein the track coupling, comprises:
a first track portion to guide the first track wheel towards the first track;
a second track portion to guide the second track wheel towards the second track; and
a third track portion to receive the third track wheel and guide the first panel in a direction to allow the second track portion to receive the second track wheel.

2. The vertical panel door stacking system of claim 1 , wherein the second track portion and the third track portion have an identical curvature.

3. The vertical panel door stacking system of claim 2 , wherein the second track portion has a greater depth than the third track portion.

4. The vertical panel door stacking system of claim 1 , wherein the third track wheel exits the third track portion as the second track wheel enters the second track.

5. A vertical panel door stacking system, comprising:
a door comprising a first panel and a second panel, wherein the first panel and the second panel each comprise end caps coupled to opposite ends thereof, wherein each one of the end caps comprises:
a body portion comprising a top end, a bottom end, a front side, a back side, an inner side, and an outer side;
a cam lever coupled to the top end, wherein the cam lever is to rotate around an axis to generate a lift force to lift and separate the first panel from the second panel, wherein the cam lever comprises:
a cam body portion, wherein a center of the cam body portion is coupled to the inner side of the body portion via a rotatable coupling;
a first cam wheel coupled to and positioned on a first side of the cam body portion and adjacent a first end of the cam body portion, wherein the first cam wheel extends beyond the inner side of the body portion; and
a second cam wheel coupled to and positioned on a second side of the cam body portion opposite the first side and adjacent a second end of the cam body portion, wherein the second cam wheel is located between the inner side and the outer side and extends beyond the back side of the body portion; and

a first track wheel, a second track wheel, and a third track wheel, wherein the first track wheel, the second track wheel, and the third track wheel are each coupled to the inner side;

vertical door guide portions that include ramps that cause the cam levers of the second panel to rotate and lift and separate the first panel from the second panel as the door is opening;
track couplings coupled to the vertical door guide portions; and
horizontal door guide portions each coupled to a respective one of the track couplings, wherein each of the horizontal door guide portions comprises a first track and a second track, wherein the track couplings guide the first panel towards the horizontal door guide portions via the first track wheels, the second track wheels, and the third track wheels of the end caps of the first panel while the door is opening.

6. The vertical panel door stacking system of claim 5 , wherein the ramps of the vertical door guide portions cause the first cam wheels of the second panel to move downward and the second cam wheels of the second panel to move upward to generate the lift force as the first panel and the second panel move vertically along the vertical door guide portions as the door is opening.

7. The vertical panel door stacking system of claim 5 , further comprising:
an alignment feature, wherein the alignment feature comprises a protruding member and a slot.

8. The vertical panel door stacking system of claim 7 , wherein the protruding member is coupled to the top end of one of the end caps of the second panel and the slot is coupled to the bottom end of one of the end caps of the first panel.

9. The vertical panel door stacking system of claim 5 , wherein the first and second tracks of the horizontal door guide portions have a downward pitch to provide a gravity assist when the door is closing.

Assignees

• Cornellcookson Llc

Inventors

• Janick James
• Balay Thomas
• Smith Brandon C

Classifications

• E05D15/22 Primary

  allowing an additional movement {(E05D15/20 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E06B3/50

  with more than one kind of movement (E06B3/48 takes precedence){(E06B3/92 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E06B9/0676

  stored in a stacked configuration · CPC title

• E05Y2900/106

  for garages · CPC title

• E05Y2900/11

  for industrial buildings · CPC title