Abstract:
A garage door apparatus is described as having a one or more rotating panel. This rotating panel can also retract into the surrounding garage door structure to create an opening in the garage door. The panels may be rotated and/or retracted automatically by a user or as directed by monitoring software. A user may operate the apparatus through a specially programmed wireless communication device enabled with a user interface and coupled via a communications network. Alternatively, the user may choose to program the apparatus to react automatically based upon environmental inputs such as the detection of unsafe levels of Carbon Monoxide, excessive temperatures, or rain.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention disclosed broadly relates to the field of building structures, and more particularly relates to the field of apparatus, systems, and methods of providing selectively open areas in garage doors through implementation of rotating and retractable panels. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is a common experience for a homeowner to enjoy the space and convenience of their garage. In good weather, this covered space may be enjoyed with the garage door open, effectively creating a covered patio, game area, or just more square footage within which to enjoy life. It is not always desirable, however to keep the garage door open. Whether for safety reasons, or just because the weather is bad, the enjoyment of the garage is often curtailed due to having to keep the garage door closed. Heat buildup, lack of ventilation, or even lack of visibility to the outside are just some of the drawbacks of a traditional garage door. 
         [0004]    Prior attempts in the art have been made to address some of these issues. For example, the addition of a window into the door allows for light and visibility, but does not help with ventilation. Louvered slats allow for airflow, but still obstruct visibility. Hinged panels, or doors-within-the-door, are plainly impractical. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, prior attempts in the art to address these problems and shortcomings, merely provide mechanical solutions. For example, louvered slats may be convenient forms of accounting for ventilation, but will still need to be manually opened and closed. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus, system, and method for providing a garage door with operable rotating and retractable panels, which aims to overcome the above-stated shortcomings of the known art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In this specification and in the appended claims and drawings, words and phrases have the meanings commonly attributed to them in the relevant art except as otherwise specified herein. 
         [0008]    The present invention may address one or more of the problems and deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. However, it is contemplated that the invention may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore, the claimed invention should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed herein. 
         [0009]    In view of the foregoing, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a garage door apparatus with a one or more panel integral to the garage door structure. This one or more panel is rotably operable with respect to the surrounding garage door structure, such that as the panel is rotated it presents an opening in the garage door structure. This rotably operable panel is also selectively retractable into the garage door structure such that a substantially unobstructed opening may be left in the garage door structure. 
         [0010]    Further embodiments of the present invention include electronic actuation means operably coupled to the rotable and retractable panels. In this way, the one or more panels may be rotated and/or retracted automatically by a user or as directed by monitoring software. 
         [0011]    Embodiments of the invention further contemplate logic and sensor means operably coupled to the apparatus so that a user may operate the apparatus through a specially programmed wireless communication device enabled with a user interface and communicatively coupled via a communications network. Alternatively, the user may choose to program the apparatus to react automatically based upon environmental inputs such as the detection of unsafe levels of Carbon Monoxide, excessive temperatures, or rain. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    To describe the foregoing and other exemplary purposes, aspects, and advantages, we use the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a representation of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a composite of cross-sectional detail views of an apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is simplified representation of system showing a user communicating with the apparatus via a data network, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a simplified block diagram of an electronics control module of the apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    While the invention as claimed can be modified into alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    In the Summary above, in the Description below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. 
         [0019]    The term “comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, structures, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article “comprising” (or “which comprises”) components A, B, and C can consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B, and C, or van contain not only components A, B, and C, but also one or more other components or structures. 
         [0020]    The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40% means 40% or less than 40%. When, in this specification, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)-(a second number),” this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 mm means a range whose lower limit is 25 mm, and whose upper limit is 100 mm. 
         [0021]    Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. 
         [0022]    The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein. Specifically, component names, types, and values, as depicted in the exemplary schematic diagrams, are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention and are presented only as possible embodiments. 
         [0023]    While the specification will conclude with claims defining the features of embodiments of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. 
         [0024]    Before describing, in detail, embodiments that are in accordance with the present disclosure, it should be observed that some of the embodiments may reside primarily in combinations of method steps and system components related to systems and methods for placing computation inside a communication network. Accordingly, the system components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Thus, it will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, common and well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible computing or communications embodiment may not be depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments. 
         [0025]    Apparatus  100   
         [0026]    Referring now in specific detail to the drawings, and to  FIG. 1  in particular, there is shown a simplified block diagram illustrating, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus  100  comprising a garage door  110 , a one or more panel  120  integral to the garage door  110 , a rotating means  130  integral to the garage door and operably coupled to the one or more panel  120 , and a retracting means  140  integral to the garage door  110  and operably coupled to the one or more panel  120 . 
         [0027]    By way of example and not limitation,  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the invention where the apparatus  100  is comprised of a three-section garage door  110 . Each section incorporates a multiple of panel  120  as well as integral rotating means  130  and retracting means  140 . Section A illustrates the one or more panel  120  in the rotated but not retracted state. Section B illustrates the one or more panel  120  in the rotated and retracted state. Section C illustrates the one or more panel  120  in the closed state (not rotated, and not retracted). 
         [0028]    Garage Door  110   
         [0029]    The garage door  110  described here is a substantially planar structure having at least an outward facing surface (the surface typically facing the driveway), an interior facing surface (the surface typically facing the inside of the garage), and an inner structure between the outward facing surface and the interior facing surface. The inner structure has a thickness (the linear distance between the plane defined by the outward facing surface and the plane defined by the inside facing surface) configured to accept the other components described herein integral thereto. 
         [0030]    The garage door  110  is depicted in  FIG. 1  as having three sections (A, B, and C), but it is within the scope of the embodiments presented herein that the garage door  110  may have any number of sections, but at least one section is preferred. The other components of the apparatus are contemplated to be integral to each one section of the garage door  110  component (as is illustrated in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0031]    Panel  120   
         [0032]    Panel  120 , as illustrated in FIG. 1 , is a substantially planar component configured to selectively and operably rotate in place relative to the garage door  110 , and retract into the garage door  110 . Embodiments of the present invention include at least one rotating and retracting panel  120 , integral to the garage door  110 . A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of panels  120 , each configured to be integral to the garage door  110 , and operably coupled to mechanical, or electromechanical, subsystems that rotate and/or retract the plurality of panel  120  with respect to the surrounding garage door  110  structure. 
         [0033]    Embodiments of panel  120  include solid structure as well as extrusions and nesting, or telescoping, structures. It is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention for panel  120  to be opaque, transparent, or semi-opaque, or semi-transparent. 
         [0034]    Section A-A of  FIG. 1  is illustrated in multiple detailed views as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0035]    It is contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention for the rotation capability and the retraction capability to be combined in one embodiment, or, alternatively, used exclusively one or the other in different embodiments. A preferred embodiment discloses a one or more panel that is configured to rotate (from a closed position, to an open position, or some position in between), as well as retract in order to create a completely open, unobstructed, aperture in the garage door. 
         [0036]    The operable panels  120  could be automatically opened with an electrical switch, remote control, mobile device, or manually opened. While the embodiments shown in the various figures illustrate panels in a horizontal configuration, it is contemplated to be within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure that the panels  120  may be configured and operable in either a horizontal or vertical direction. 
         [0037]    Rotating Means  130   
         [0038]    The rotating means  130  disclosed here is meant to include such mechanical, or electro-mechanical, devices as may be known in the art. For example, it is known in the art to use a rack and pinion mechanism, mechanically attached to the one or more panel  120 , such that the relative motion of the rack and pinion is translated into a rotation of the one or more panel  120 . Other rotating means  130  may include direct drive motors, or servos, communicative with the one or more panel  120 . Said rotating means  130  may be electrically actuated, mechanically actuated, or some electro-mechanical combination. Embodiments of the invention contemplate rotating means  130  that are integral to the garage door. In this way, the mechanisms are safely contained within the inner and outer surfaces of the garage door. Other embodiments of the invention may include a rotating means  130  that is partially or entirely outside of the garage door. 
         [0039]    Retracting Means  140   
         [0040]    The retracting means  140  disclosed here is meant to include such mechanical, or electro-mechanical, devices as may be known in the art. For example, it is known in the art to use a rack and pinion mechanism, where the rack is mechanically integral to the one or more panel  120  and the rotation of the pinion retracts or extends the one or more panel  120  with respect to the pinion location. The retracting means  140  may also include motors, servos, pulleys, or other electrical and/or mechanical means configured to retract and extend the one or more panel  120 . The retracting means  140  are contemplated to be integral to the garage door, between the inner and outer surfaces of the garage door. Other embodiments of the invention may include a retracting means  140  that is partially or entirely outside of the garage door. 
         [0041]    Electronics and Control Module  150   
         [0042]    Further embodiments of the apparatus  100  may also comprise an electronics and control module (ECM)  150 . This ECM is operably coupled to the rotating means  130  as well as the retracting means  140 . The ECM may be configured to provide electrical power to the rotating means  130  and the retracting means  140 . The ECM may also be configured with sensors and logic circuits in order to perform various additional functions. For example, embodiments of the invention may be configured with a one or more carbon monoxide sensor. This sensor would be electrically coupled with the ECM such that, when the ECM detects buildup of carbon monoxide in the garage, the ECM logic circuit sends a signal for the rotating means  130  to actuate the one or more panel  120  into an open position, thereby ventilating the garage. When the ECM detects that the carbon monoxide levels have reduced to a safe level, the ECM may, optionally, re-close the one or more panel  120 . Other such sensors may include, by way of illustration and not limitation, temperature sensors and rain sensors. 
         [0043]    Still further embodiments of the apparatus  100  may also comprise dedicated hardware and software for enabling wireless communication over a network, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In such an embodiment, the ECM  150  may further comprise dedicated hardware and software so that the apparatus  100  appears as a node on a data network  190 . Another node on the data network, such as a specially programmed computing device  195 , may then communicate with the apparatus via the ECM. In this way, a person utilizing the specially programmed computing device may, for example, monitor the position of the panels (open, closed, partially opened, etc.). Additional information may be communicated by the ECM, such as data from the one or more sensors. 
         [0044]    By way of illustration, and not limitation, an embodiment of the apparatus may be configured as a Bluetooth-enabled device. A homeowner may download and install a mobile application onto a Bluetooth-enabled mobile computing device, thereby converting the device into a specially programmed computing device. Through a user interface provided by the mobile application, the user may view the status of the apparatus, open or close the panels, view alerts, or set operation parameters for the apparatus. 
         [0045]    Further embodiments of the apparatus are configured to place the apparatus as a node on a local area network, or as a node accessible via a wide area network, or even the Internet. 
         [0046]    The ECM  150  components can be realized each as one or more computing devices, executing a variety of scripts, databases, processes, and related components. Components of the ECM  150  shown in  FIG. 4  are for illustrative purposes only, to facilitate an understanding of the services and features of ECM  150 . One with knowledge in the art will appreciate that the components may represent all hardware components, all software components, or a combination of hardware and software components. 
         [0047]    The Data Network  190  comprises a single or a plurality of connected data networks, including private and public networks, including the Internet, and such networks may or may not be comprised of circuits or components across multiple business entities, service providers, physical and protocol layer data networking methods and technologies, and located across diverse physical locations. 
         [0048]    In one embodiment, referring now to  FIG. 4 , the ECM  150  comprises a physical computing device configured with network connectivity, such as Ethernet IEEE 802.3, Wireless such as IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, ZigBee, or Cellular Wireless such as GSM. Such dedicated computing device further comprises a microprocessor device  402  which communicates with an input/output subsystem  406 , memory  404 , storage  410  and network interface  490 . The microprocessor device  402  is operably coupled with a communication infrastructure herein represented as bus  422 . Bus  422  is a simplified representation of the communication infrastructure required in a device of this type. 
         [0049]    The microprocessor device  402  may be a general or special purpose microprocessor operating under control of computer program instructions executed from memory  404  on program data. The microprocessor  402  may include a number of special purpose sub-processors, each sub-processor for executing particular portions of the computer program instructions. Each sub-processor may be a separate circuit able to operate substantially in parallel with the other sub-processors. Some or all of the sub-processors may be implemented as computer program processes (software) tangibly stored in a memory  404  that perform their respective functions when executed. These may share an instruction processor, such as a general purpose integrated circuit microprocessor, or each sub-processor may have its own processor for executing instructions. Alternatively, some or all of the sub-processors may be implemented in an ASIC. RAM may be embodied in one or more memory chips. 
         [0050]    Memory  404  may include both volatile and persistent memory for the storage of: operational instructions for execution by Microprocessor  402 , data registers, application storage and the like. The computer instructions/applications that are stored in memory  404  are executed by processor  402 . The I/O subsystem  406  may comprise various end user interfaces such as a display, a keyboard, and a mouse. The I/O subsystem  406  comprises a data network interface  490 . The network interface  490  allows software and data to be transferred between the ECM  150  and external hosts or devices. Examples of network interface  490  can include one or a plurality of: Ethernet network interface card, wireless network interface card, network interface adapter via USB, wireless cellular modem, and the like. Data transferred via network interface  490  are in the form of signals which may be, for example, electronic, electromagnetic, radio frequency, optical, or other signals capable of being transmitted or received by network interface  490 . 
         [0051]    For purposes of this disclosure, the user&#39;s device  195  may also represent any type of computer, information processing system, or other programmable electronic device, including a client computer, a server computer, a portable computer such as a laptop device, an embedded controller, a software or microcode embedded in devices or appliances such as a mobile telephone such as an Apple iPhone, Television sets, Air Conditioning thermostats, home alarm systems, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), special-purpose microcontrollers, and the like that has been specially programmed to perform the functions of interfacing and communicating with the ECM  150  as disclosed herein. 
         [0052]    KIT  1000   
         [0053]    An embodiment of the present invention discloses a kit  1000  to be retrofitted into existing garage doors that are not made with the built in version, as in the previously discussed embodiments. Such kit  1000  would comprise: a one or more panel  120 ; a one or more rotating means  130 ; a one or more retracting means  140 ; a one or more electronics control module  150 ; and installation and mounting hardware. The kit  1000  may also comprise a housing  1100  surrounding the kit  1000  components. 
         [0054]    Further, in view of many embodiments to which the principles of the invention may be applied, it should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary embodiments and should not limit the present disclosure. 
         [0055]    Therefore, while there has been described what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other modifications can be made within the spirit of the disclosure. The above description(s) of embodiment(s) is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting in scope. The embodiment(s), as described, were chosen in order to explain the principles of the invention, show its practical application, and enable those with ordinary skill in the art to understand how to make and use the invention. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described above, but rather should be interpreted within the full meaning and scope of the disclosure.