Abstract:
Sectional garage door panels are provided with elongated reinforcing beams secured to the inside surface of the panels by supporting a beam on a panel with spaced apart support brackets secured to the panel and securing the beam to the panels at spaced apart points thereon with mechanical fasteners. The beams are preferably channel shaped and the support brackets each include a beam locating projection for accurately locating the beams on a panel and in engagement with panel reinforcing stiles to facilitate quickly securing the beams to the panel with mechanical fasteners. The panels are erected in a doorway and supported by opposed guide tracks prior to installing the beams on the panel to facilitate handling the panels and the beams during shipment and prior to installation. The reinforcing system may be retrofitted to existing door panels or shipped with new doors to sites where expected wind load conditions favor adding reinforcement to lightweight folded metal or extruded or fabricated plastic sectional doors, particularly residential garage doors and the like.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to a sectional garage door including a windload reinforcement beam system for one or more of the door sections or panels and a method of installing such reinforcement beams. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Sectional doors and sectional upward acting doors, in particular, present unique engineering requirements. Typically, sectional upward acting garage doors are required to be of lightweight construction while also being required to provide a sturdy closure over a relatively large opening in a vertical wall. One longstanding problem associated with sectional garage doors pertains to the so called windload capability of the door in its closed position, that is the ability to withstand pressure forces acting on the door both inwardly and outwardly due to ambient winds. The ability to withstand expected windloads in door applications wherein long term climate conditions may be changing to frequent aggravated windload conditions, or where expected wind loads are already well known, not only requires new door installations to meet the windload requirements but retrofitting existing doors also presents a problem in the art. Although many sectional garage doors are fabricated of lightweight formed or extruded metal or plastic panels, these panels may not be suitably reinforced against high windloads during fabrication in order to facilitate shipping, handling, to permit storing the panels one on top of the other and to provide the installed weight of the door within door operator power limits. Moreover, the longitudinal or spanwise dimensions of sectional garage doors present a problem in reinforcing the door panels against bending along their longitudinal axes under windloads as well as other operating conditions. 
     Certain efforts have been attempted to provide longitudinal reinforcing beams mounted on sectional door panels. However, the additional weight provided by these beams aggravates installation procedures and prior art methods of installing beams on door panels after the panels are installed in their working positions also present problems and require extra time and personnel to hold the beams in place while they are fastened to the door panels. 
     Accordingly, there has been a need to provide an improved door panel reinforcing beam system for sectional doors and a method of installing such beams. It is to these ends that the present invention has been developed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved reinforcing beam system for sectional garage door panels including, in particular, garage door panels for upward acting sectional garage doors. 
     The present invention also provides an improved method of installing reinforcing beams on sectional garage door panels and the like. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention sectional garage door panels and the like are reinforced by installing longitudinally oriented lightweight beam members on one or more panels of a sectional garage door. The beams are preferably secured to vertical spaced apart stiles or other reinforcing members comprising conventional structural elements of sectional garage door panels. In addition, two or more support brackets are mounted on the sectional garage door panels to support the beam, or beams, respectively. The beams and the brackets may be separately secured to the garage door panels by conventional threaded fasteners and the like. The configurations of the support brackets aid in locating the beams as well as resisting bending and twisting loads imposed on the beams, respectively. Spaced apart gussets may be included as reinforcing members to resist deflection of channel shaped beams, in particular. Various beam cross section configurations are contemplated, such as channels, so-called C-channels, I beams or H beams, box beams and other tubular (cylindrical and otherwise) beams. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an improved method of installing reinforcing beams on sectional garage door panels and the like is provided. Door panels may be reinforced by installing beams thereon while the panels are in their working positions extending across a door opening and otherwise supported by conventional door guide structure. The improved method alleviates the problems associated with handling door panels which have had heavy beam elements preinstalled before the door panels themselves are installed in the door opening. The beam system and method of installation are particularly advantageous for doors which are already installed in door openings. 
     Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the above-mentioned advantages and superior features of the invention together with other important aspects thereof upon reading the detailed description which follows in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sectional upward acting garage door shown in its closed position and including the improved reinforcing beam system of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a view of one of the garage door sections or panels for the door shown in FIG. 1, from a different perspective and showing a reinforcing beam installed together with its support brackets; 
     FIG. 3 is a detail perspective view taken generally from the same perspective as FIG. 2 but on a larger scale; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view, from another angle of one of the support brackets for the support beam system; 
     FIG. 5 is a section view taken generally along the line  5 — 5  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a section view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a detail section view similar to FIG. 5 showing one alternate beam and bracket configuration; 
     FIG. 8 is a detail section view similar to FIG. 5 showing another alternate beam and bracket configuration; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a sectional garage door panel including a reinforcing beam system in accordance with the invention installed thereon; 
     FIG. 10 is a detail perspective view on a larger scale of the beam system shown in FIG.  9  and illustrating the location of a beam anti-deflection gusset member installed thereon; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third alternate embodiment of a support bracket for the support beam system of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevation, partially sectioned, showing the support bracket of FIG. 11 in a working position; 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevation, partially sectioned, of a fourth alternate embodiment of a support bracket for the support beam system of the present invention; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a reinforced door panel in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 15 is a view taken from a different perspective of a portion of the door panel shown in FIG.  14 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the description which follows like elements are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numbers, respectively. The drawing figures may not be to scale in the interest of clarity and conciseness. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a sectional upward acting door which has been modified in accordance with the present invention and is generally designated by numeral  10 . The door  10  is characterized by plural generally rectangular sections or panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d  which are stacked vertically on top of each other in the door closed position forming a closure over an enlarged opening in a wall  12 , in a known manner. The door sections or panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d  are interconnected by spaced apart sets of hinges  16  which may be configured similar to the hinges disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/570,618, filed May 15, 2000 by L. Blake Whitley and assigned to the Assignee of the present invention. The subject matter of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/570,618 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The door panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d  are guided, collectively, for movement between the closed position shown in FIG.  1  and an open position by spaced apart guide members comprising, by way of example, channel shaped tracks  18  and  20 . Spaced apart door guide members  22  are preferably mounted on the respective door panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d  and are operable to support the door  10  for movement between open and closed positions guided by the tracks  18  and  20  in a generally known manner. The weight of the door  10  may be counterbalanced by a suitable counterbalance mechanism  13 , FIG.  1 . 
     As will be explained in further detail herein, each of the door panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d  may be formed of relatively thin folded metal sheet, extruded metal sheet, or molded or extruded plastic, for example. For the sake of discussion herein the panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d  are formed of folded metal having a configuration explained in further detail herein in conjunction with the description of the structure shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings. The sheet metal panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d  are reinforced against bending along their transverse axes (vertically extending axes in the door closed position shown in FIG. 1) by spaced apart vertically extending reinforcing members or stiles  24 . The number of stiles shown for the panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d  is seven intermediate stiles  24  and two opposed end stiles  26   a  and  26   b , respectively, for each panel. The stiles  24  are preferably folded metal or plastic column members and are suitably secured to each of the panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d  in a known manner. 
     Apart from the specific configuration of the panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d , sectional doors formed of relatively thin walled panels which are formed of folded, extruded or otherwise formed metals and plastics are typically provided with opposed end stiles and a set of intermediate stiles which may vary in number in accordance with the length or span of the respective door panels. Such door panels may vary in length from about eight feet to twenty feet, and may have a width of about two to three feet, for example. Accordingly, the panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d  are suitably reinforced by the stiles  24 ,  26   a  and  26   b  against bending along their transverse axes but are susceptible to bending along their longitudinal axes, respectively. However, in applications of such doors which do not require substantial reinforcement against wind loading and the like the panels are of adequate strength without any additional structural reinforcement. Certain so-called insulated door panels, not shown, which have a polymer foam filling between the upper and lower edges and the opposed side edges of the panel may be provided and such panels have somewhat greater strength with respect to bending along their longitudinal axes. In all events, the present invention is directed to sectional door panels for upward as well as horizontally acting doors including panels which may have insulation type panel reinforcement or may not. 
     The present invention contemplates that at least one and preferably all of the panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d  for the door  10  be reinforced against bending with respect to their longitudinal axes by respective elongated beams  30 , one each shown for each panel  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d . The beams  30  are also, on each panel, secured to at least selected ones of the stiles  24 ,  26   a  and  26   b.    
     Referring now to FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 , the panel  10   b  is shown by way of example. The panel  10   b  includes a longitudinal axis  27  and may be embossed along its front or outer wall  11  to add some rigidity to the wall. The configuration of the embossing is shown as a series of generally rectangular outwardly extending depressions  11   a , respectively, spaced apart along the length of the panel  10   b . The stiles  24 ,  26   a  and  26   b  may be secured to the panel  10   b  in a manner similar to that described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/570,618. Further description is also provided hereinbelow in conjunction with drawing FIGS. 5 and 6. 
     Referring further to FIGS. 2 and 3, in particular, each beam  30  is preferably characterized as a so-called C-channel member which is substantially coextensive with the overall length of the panel  10   b  but is dimensioned to provide clearance for movement of the door  10  between the guide tracks  18  or  20 . The beam  30  shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is supported on the panel  10   b  by securing the beam thereto using conventional self tapping hex-head washer faced screw fasteners  32 , see FIG. 3, at selected ones of the stiles  24 . 
     The beam  30  is also retained in assembly with the panel  10   b  and supported thereon by spaced apart support brackets  34  mounted on alternate ones of the stiles  24  on either side of the center stile and on the center stile. Preferably, each of the brackets  34  is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, formed of folded metal plate including a generally rectangular web part  34   a  having approximately the same width as the width of the intermediate stiles  24 . A stub flange  34   b  is formed integral with the web  34   a  and a second and more extensive flange  34   c  is also formed integral with the web  34   a  and extends generally parallel with the flange  34   b . Flange  34   c  includes an upwardly extending beam locator projection  34   d  interposed beam support surfaces  34   e  and  34   f . Flange  34   b  includes a support surface  34   g  which is coplanar with the surfaces  34   e  and  34   f . The length of the locator projection  34   b  extending between the support services  34   e  and  34   f  is slightly less than the elongated opening or slot  31  formed in the beam  30 . As shown in FIG. 3 by way of example each of the brackets  34  is secured to a stile  24  by a screw fastener  32  disposed generally in line with and below the screw fastener  32  which is used to secure the beam  30  to the stile  24 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, one preferred configuration of the door panel  10   b  is as shown wherein the panel is formed of folded metal sheet to provide an upper edge  11   b  and a lower edge  11   c , the geometries of which are preferably but not required to be such as to provide a pinch resistant joint between door panels, as described in further detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/570,618. The folded metal sheet forming the panel  10   b  includes the front wall  11 , the upper edge  11   b  and an inwardly sloping wall portion  11   d . In like manner, the lower edge  11   c  is also contiguous with the front wall  11  and terminates at an inwardly sloping lower wall portion  11   e.    
     Each stile  24  is preferably formed as a somewhat channel shaped member or so-called C-channel, see FIG. 6, having a web  24   a , opposed parallel flanges  24   b  and  24   c  and in-turned flanges  24   d  and  24   e , as illustrated. Flanges  24   d  and  24   e  are suitably secured to panel front wall  11  by an adhesive or other means known to those skilled in the art. As shown in FIG. 5, the web  24   a  extends beyond flanges  24   b  and  24   c  at opposite ends to form web extension portions  24   a ′ and  24   a ″ which are adapted to be contiguous with the wall portions lid and  11   e  and are secured thereto by respective fasteners  32 , as shown. Panel hinge members  16   a  and  16   b  may also be secured to the panel  10   b  at the points of securements of the stile  24 , as shown. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the specific configuration of the panel  10   b  is exemplary and that other panel configurations utilizing spaced apart stiles or other reinforcing means may be strengthened by the reinforcement system of the present invention. 
     Referring further to FIG. 5, each of the beams  30  is also preferably configured as so called C-channel, each having a web  30   a , opposed parallel flanges  30   b  and  30   c  extending normal to the web  30   a  and distal in turned flange portions  30   d  and  30   e  which are shown resting on the surfaces  34   f  and  34   e , respectively, of the respective support brackets  34 . As previously mentioned, and as shown in FIG. 5, the projection  34   d  fits between the flanges  30   d  and  30   e  and is dimensioned to be only slightly less in length than the distance between the beam flanges, or width of slot  31 . In this way the beam  30  is accurately located with respect to the stiles  24  and the panel  10   b  once it is placed in its working position shown in the drawing figures. Beam flange  30   c  preferably includes a clearance opening  30   g  for each of the fasteners  32  which, as shown in FIG. 5, secure the beam  30  to the stiles  24 . Each of the brackets  34  is secured to the same stile by a fastener  32  also. As shown in the drawings, each beam  30  is mounted substantially contiguous with the webs  24   a  of the respective stiles  24  and as well as the corresponding webs of the end stiles  26   a  and  26   b . As shown in FIG. 2, the beam  30  is preferably secured to the stiles  26   a  and  26   b , also by fasteners  32 . 
     One significant advantage of the panel reinforcing system of the present invention pertains to the ease with which the beams  30  may be mounted on the panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and/or  10   d . The beams  30  do not require to be mounted on each panel of a multi-panel sectional door, however, the overall strength and windload resistance of a door is improved if each panel is reinforced. Alternatively, depending on panel width and windload requirements, multiple spaced apart beams  30  may be mounted on each panel, if desired. 
     In accordance with a preferred method of installing the beams  30  on the panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  or  10   d  the panel to which a beam or beams  30  is to be secured is first mounted in the guide tracks  18  and  20  in the aforementioned doorway or opening in the wall  12  generally in the position shown in FIG.  1 . As substantially a first step, the brackets  34  are located generally co-planar with each other and spaced apart on selected ones of stiles  24 , as shown in FIG. 2, and are secured to the respective stiles in the positions shown in FIG.  2 . Suitable measurements may be made from either edge  11   b  or  11   c  of the panel  10   b , for example, to properly locate each of the brackets. The brackets are then secured to the respective stiles  24  by their respective fasteners  32 . The beam  30  may then be installed on the panel  10   b , for example, by lifting the beam and resting it on the brackets  24  in the position shown in the drawing figures. Thus, with the beam  30  supported by the brackets  24 , self-tapping fasteners  32  may be applied to secure the beam  30  to each of the stiles  24 ,  26   a  and  26   b.    
     If the fasteners  32  are not also self-drilling, suitable fastener pilot holes  32   a , FIG. 5, are provided in the stiles  24  at the time of beam and bracket installation. Alternatively, the fastener pilot holes  32   a  may be provided at the time of fabrication of the door panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d  to obviate the need for measuring the required locations of the beams and brackets at a later time. The method steps are, of course, repeated for installing a beam or beams  30  on each panel  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d , if desired, while each of the panels is mounted in the doorway and supported between the door guide tracks  18  and  20 . In this way the weight of the components, namely the panel  10   b  and the beam  30 , need not be dealt with collectively which would be the case if the beam  30  were assembled to the panel prior to placement of the panel in the doorway or door opening and supported between the guide tracks  18  and  20 . Accordingly, handling of the panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d  during transportation to the erection site and the erection of the door  10  is easier than would be the case if the beams  30  were preassembled to the panels. 
     Moreover, the configuration of the beams  30  is advantageous with regard to the stiffness of the beams and thus the increase in stiffness of the door panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d , once the beams have been assembled and secured thereto. However, other configurations of door reinforcing beams and accompanying brackets may be utilized in accordance with the invention. Another advantage of providing a reinforcing beam  30  having a generally channel shaped cross-sectional configuration, together with the configuration of the support brackets  34 , is that the brackets themselves aid in increasing the stiffness of the beams. Conventional sheet metal materials may be used in constructing the beams  30  and the brackets  34  and, as mentioned previously, conventional self tapping washer faced hex-head screws, for example, may be used in securing the brackets and the beams to the door panels. 
     Referring briefly to FIG. 7, there is illustrated an alternate embodiment of a beam and bracket configuration for use with the door  10  and the door panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  and  10   d , respectively. The reinforcing beam may, for example, be an I beam or an H beam. In FIG. 7, an I beam  130  is illustrated comprising a web  130   a  and opposed flanges  130   b  and  130   c . The beam  130  is adapted to be supported by spaced apart brackets  134 , one shown, similar to the brackets  34  but modified with respect to the geometry of the beam  130 . The beam  130  and the brackets  134  are, of course, secured to respective stiles  24  by fasteners  32  in the same manner as shown and described previously for the beam  30  and the brackets  34 . 
     Still further, as shown in FIG. 8, the beam geometry may be a rectangular, square or cylindrical cross-section tubular member. A cylindrical tubular beam  230  is shown in FIG. 8 supported on spaced apart brackets  234 , one shown. The brackets  234  may each be provided with an arcuate recess portion  234   a  for locating the beam  230  when it is first mounted on a door panel and positioned adjacent the stiles  24 , one shown in FIG.  8 . The beam  230  is provided with suitable spaced apart fastener clearance holes  231 , one shown, to provide access for securing or removing fasteners  32 , one shown, for securing the beam  230  to the respective stiles  24 . Fasteners  32  are also, of course, used for securing the brackets  234  to the stiles  24 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, an alternate embodiment of a sectional door panel is illustrated and designated by the numeral  110 . Door panel  110  includes a longitudinal axis  27   a , plural embossings  111   a  formed in a frontwall  111 , a longitudinal top edge  111   b  and a longitudinal bottom edge  111   c . Spaced apart intermediate vertical stiles  124 , three shown, extend between the top and bottom edges  111   b  and  111   c . Opposed end stiles  126   a  and  126   b  are also secured to the panel  110 . Beam support brackets  34  are secured to the stiles  124  in the same manner that the support brackets are secured to the stiles  24  for the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 6. The brackets  34  are shown in supportive relationship to a beam  30  which is suitably secured to each of the stiles  124 ,  126   a  and  126   b  by fasteners  32  in the same manner that a beam  30  is secured to one of the panels  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  or  10   d.    
     However, the beam  30  mounted on the panel  110  is further reinforced by spaced apart gusset plates  150  which are secured to the beam  30  and to the end stiles  126   a ,  126   b  and the center intermediate stile  124 . As shown in the detail view of FIG. 10, each of the gusset plates  150  includes an L-shaped right angle flange including flange parts  151  and  152  and a gusset plate part  153  coextensive with the flange parts  151  and  152  and extending normal thereto. Fasteners  32  secure the gusset plate  150  to the stiles  126   a ,  126   b  and  124  and to the beam  30 , as indicated by way of example in FIG.  10 . The flange parts  151  and  152  are of equal length to provide symmetry to the gusset plate  150  so that the plate may be installed facing in either direction, as indicated in FIG.  9 . The gusset plates  150  may be used alone to support and reinforce the beam  30 , if desired, but are secured to the web  30   a  of the beam to resist deflection or a somewhat rolling action of the beam about its own longitudinal axis when the panel  110  is undergoing deflection due to windloads and the like. 
     Referring now to FIG. 11, another embodiment of a support bracket for the reinforcement beam system of the invention is illustrated and generally designated by the numeral  334 . Support bracket  334  includes a generally rectangular web  334   a  integrally formed with a flange  334   c  which projects normal to the web  334   a  and includes a projection  334   d  dimensioned to fit between the flanges  30   d  and  30   e  of a C-channel type beam  30 , see FIG. 12 also. The support bracket  334  also includes spaced apart beam support tabs  334   e  and  334   f  which project in cantilever fashion from the plane of flange  334   c  and are integrally formed therewith. Support tab  334   e  also includes an upturned flange portion  334   g  having a suitable fastener receiving bore  334   h  formed therein. Cantilever support tabs  334   e  and  334   f  are coplanar. Web  334   a  includes spaced apart fastener receiving bores  334   i , as shown in FIG.  11 . 
     Referring to FIG. 12, support bracket  334  is shown in its working position secured to web  24   a  of a stile  24  by fasteners  32  in the same manner as the bracket  34 . However, the support tabs  334   e  and  334   f  provide enhanced support for the inturned distal flange portions  30   d  and  30   e  of the beam  30 , as shown in FIG.  12 . Still further, a fastener  32  may be used to secure the flange  334   g  to the beam  30 , as illustrated. The configuration of the support bracket  334  is useful in applications of the door panel reinforcement system wherein, with use of particularly long support beams  30 , for example, the beams tend to twist or roll out of engagement with the support brackets under moderate to severe deflection of a door panel. 
     Referring now to FIG. 13, a further embodiment of a support bracket for use with the reinforcing beam system of the invention is illustrated and generally designated by the numeral  434 . Bracket  434  is similar to bracket  334  except that a web  434   a  is provided with two laterally displaced tabs  434   b  which may be formed by a coining or punching operation on the web  434   a  to displace a portion of the metal of the flange into the configuration shown in FIG.  13 . Corresponding openings  434   b ′ are formed in the web  434   a  as a consequence of displacing the material of the web to form the tabs  434   b.    
     A modified stile  224 , similar to the stiles  24  or  26 , is provided for a door panel  210  and for use with the support bracket or brackets  434  wherein a web  224   a  is provided with spaced apart slots  225  which are operable to receive the tabs  434   b . Accordingly, the bracket  434  may be rapidly and securely mounted on the stile  224  by moving the bracket laterally with respect to the web  224   a  so that the tabs  434   b  project through the slots  225  and the bracket is then moved vertically downward, viewing FIG. 13, to engage the web  224   a  and secure the bracket to the stile  224 . Fasteners  32  may be used to secure the beam  30  to the stile  224  and secure flange  434   g  of bracket tab  434   e  to the beam  30 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, another embodiment of a door panel in accordance with the invention is illustrated and generally designated by the numeral  310 . The panel  310  includes a longitudinal central axis  27   c  and opposed end stiles  326   a  and  326   b , an outer wall  311  and an inner wall  313 . A space between the inner and outer walls may be filled with a suitable insulation material or the inner and outer walls may, in fact, be the surfaces of a solid panel member. If the door panel  310  is comprised of inner and outer sheet-like walls comprising the walls  313  and  311 , these walls may be formed of sheet material such as wood, metal or plastic. The door panel  310  is reinforced by mounting support brackets  334  on the opposed end stiles  326   a  and  326   b  between top and bottom longitudinal panel edges  311   b  and  311   c . The brackets  334  are secured to the opposed stiles, as indicated by way of example in FIG. 15, using fasteners  32 . A beam  30  is mounted on the panel  310  supported by the brackets  334  in the manner as previously described for the embodiment shown in FIG.  12  and is secured to the brackets  334 , respectively, by fasteners  32 . The beam  30  is also secured to the end stiles  326   a  and  326   b  by respective fasteners  32 , as shown by way of example in FIG.  15 . Still further, the beam  30  may be secured to the panel wall  313  at spaced apart points therealong by fasteners  32 , as shown in FIG.  14 . 
     Accordingly, the reinforcement system of the present invention may be used with door panels which do not include one or more intermediate support or so-called stile members extending between the top and bottom edges of the panel. By relying primarily on support brackets, such as the brackets  334 , attached to the panel at opposite ends by attaching the brackets to end stiles or to the inner wall of the door panel itself, and then further attaching the reinforcement beam to the inner wall of the door panel at spaced apart points therealong a panel without intermediate support members may be suitably reinforced. 
     Although preferred embodiments of a door reinforcement system and a method of installing same have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that various substitutions and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.