Patent ID: 6041844
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: E05D,E05Y,E06B,Y10T

Abstract:
An overhead door for a structure, the overhead door comprising:a pair of tracks capable of being mounted on the structure, each of the tracks having an inwardly facing, substantially smooth engagement surface having an angled disengagement portion and a u-shaped channel, the angled disengagement portion continuing smoothly to a disengagement point;a substantially rigid door panel capable of being located intermediate the pair of tracks and moved along a path of travel which is defined by the pair of tracks; anda release assembly borne by the door panel and operable to releasably engage at least one of the tracks, the release assembly including:a substantially rigid plunger borne by the substantially rigid door panel, the plunger having a distal end which is received in the u-shaped channel of one of the tracks, and being reciprocally moveable along a predetermined linear path of travel between a first, engaged position, where the distal end of the plunger is received in the u-shaped channel, and a second, retracted position, where the distal end of the plunger is displaced from the u-shaped channel, the plunger capable of guiding the door panel along its predetermined path of travel, and further being capable of disengaging from the u-shaped channel, moving along the angled disengagement portion of the engagement surface to disengage from at least one track when the door panel is subjected to a force of a predetermined magnitude which acts substantially perpendicular to the door panel; andmeans borne by the door panel for biasing the plunger into the first, engaged position.