Patent ID: 8935883
Filing Date: 2015-01-20
Classification: E05F,E05Y

Abstract:
1. A barrier operator apparatus comprising: at least two side tracks, at least first one of the a two side tracks disposed on a first side of a barrier for a barrier opening and a second one of the at least two side tracks disposed on a second side of the barrier for the barrier opening, the second side of the barrier opposite the first side of the barrier, the at least two side tracks configured to support and guide up and down movement of the barrier between an open position and a closed position; a motor which is configured to move the barrier along the at least two side tracks; a push-pull drive mechanism riding along at least one of the at least two side tracks, the push-pull drive mechanism configured to drive the barrier along the at least one of the at least two side tracks between the open and the closed positions by pushing on the barrier and pulling on the barrier to move the barrier when the drive mechanism is coupled to the barrier; and a coupling assembly which includes a drive mechanism engagement device, a pin engagement device and a bistable engagement device, the drive mechanism engagement device is disposed between the barrier and the drive mechanism, the drive mechanism engagement device configured to engage the drive mechanism; the pin engagement device configured to be mounted on the barrier and situated adjacent to the at least one of the at least two side tracks, the pin engagement device disposed between the barrier and the drive mechanism; and the bistable engagement device is housed with the pin engagement device, the bistable engagement device having at least two stable states, wherein when the bi-stable engagement device is in one of the stable states the drive mechanism engagement device engages with the pin engagement device and wherein when the bi-stable engagement device is in the second stable state the drive mechanism engagement device is not engaged with the pin engagement device.